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« on: January 30, 2006, 09:55 PM »
I have to admit, I feel like I am getting an overdose of 3 3/4 these days. Maybe it wouldn't be that way if the saga figures didn't seem like a $2.00 more expensive version of the OTC line I loved in 2004. And with many of the same faces.
I started out 2006 buying the carkoon and Hoth waves, but after seeing Bib # 3 still suck and some of the less than stellar items coming in future waves, well I don't know what to think of the direction Hasbro is taking the line. I know there are others I am looking forward to (just about any trooper, R5-D4 etc), but I have already decided I will not be getting a "complete" saga 2006 collection. And the reasons are equal parts price hike and too many rehashes too close together. I find myself getting into Kubricks and enjoying my older items (action fleet and micro playsets, along with the 3 3/4 scale ships.
Now I'll rant about my favorite pet peeve. Chase figures. If Hasbro perceives a lack of excitement about the 3 3/4 line, and thinks chase figures are the answer to infuse the collecting community, well I think they are #?@@ing nuts. Figures aren't exactly getting ordered in mass quantities by the big discounters these days. Shelf space has been reduced, and the pegs that are there only get a case or two at a time, and sit empty (or with bib) the rest of the time. Chase figures will lure the hot-wheel scalpers back into the action figure aisle, convincing them that a free $5.00 profit is waiting for their unwashed selves if they can beat a collector to the foil card. Stack on top of that the fact that you may have to buy a certain number of harder to find figures in order to get a mail away, and you have all the makings of a disgruntled and disappointed collecting community. I love the idea of mail-aways, and think it is the only way for a company to truly reward their loyal cash cows. If the retailers are squeamish about playsets, make them the mail away offer. Send in POP's for 20 figures, get a chunk of death star. Make 1/2 dozen that go together in some fashion, and I will be all over it. You've got the hanger bay, detention block, garbage chute, chasm, tractor beam control station, govenor tarkins conference room, etc.
OK, enough of the rant.
Give me 30-40 figures a year max. Toss in 2-3 ships, and a couple of evolutions sets, and I might try to keep up. And try to keep figure costs down. I have to agree with Darth Slothus- give us a quality prduct at a good price, then tell us whether it succeeds or not. Hasbro has made a couple of efforts to revive lines (action fleet and 12" come to mind) and then kill it with the assortment choice. The 2002 action fleet line was doomed the moment they released the Xwing and Darth's Tie- those two had been on clearance just a couple of years prior. 12" line? How about poor quality and boring characters (Dengar and Imperial officer anyone?). And now the unleashed line will come back with repaints as a debut. And when it predictably falls on its' own face? "Collectores don't want the line" will be the response.
I can see it's time for my medication. But seriously, less can be more, if it is done right.