Maybe it's just the 'beating a dead horse issue' for me, but is no one going to take issue with this response from Hasbro in the last QnA?
Question: With the "death" of the Indiana Jones Line coming at the end of the year, are there things you wished you did differently (besides not doing it at all maybe)? I know a lot of collectors who were on the fence with the line and had decided not to pursue it after hearing rumors about it's impending demise over the summer.
Do you think if it was advertised more or if you planned a shorter run and issued more key characters and vehicles up front it would have lived on? I realize it was a movie year but maybe if there was less emphasis on KOTCS and stores were not jammed with the same figures, there would have been better success? (IJC, 10/17/08)
Response: We are *thrilled* to have been able to bring a very ambitious Indiana Jones line to reality after all these years. For many of us, the IJ series remains one of our favorite film franchises, up there with Star Wars, and it was our passion that was instrumental in bringing the franchise to Hasbro. IJ was labor of love for us, and the passion and commitment that we brought to the line are evidenced in the quality and depth of the line, not just the 3-3/4" line up but across the board targeting both kids and collectors.
As for the lineup we had to work with, the reason for doing the line in the first place was the new movie that brought a new excitement and potential audience to the IJ franchise, so that would always form the core of the line. We reacted as quickly as we could to the news of the movie, so getting out more figures from the original films was not the answer when we had all hands on deck trying to bring new movie figures to light as quickly as possible. In hindsight, we would not have done anything differently than we did.
Regarding the fans who "waited"...well, we can't really build lines around those who wait on the fence and if they weren't enjoying the offering after close to 30 3-3/4" figures, deluxe sets, and vehicles, we're not sure what could get them into the line. To repurpose a phrase from the upcoming election, people have to be "in" and voting, otherwise their votes aren't heard.
Seriously?
Great you're thrilled to have brought it to the fans. I'm thrilled you did so too and after the glaring paint errors of the first few figures, it was actually a really nice line.
So the idea was to get the initial figures out based on the new movie? Ok, that's logical, given it will drive the "in the aisle" sales. But doncha think maybe, just maybe ya oughta take a little more care with the paint apps? Really, the response of a significant proportion of the people were that these looked like ****. First impression is worth what? Apparently a lot based on sales.
Or how about your ratios? Any thought given to that? I'm going to go out on a limb and say "no".
You wouldn't have done anything differently? I understand the keep the company line strong BS, but that's what this is. It was a collector driven line from the start. The movie was enjoyable, but not particularly targeted to the kiddies regardless of what you think. You, like the movie itself, gambled on Shia being a success. Hint: this wasn't transformers. Your ratios sucked. Badly.
Bad paint.
Bad ratios.
Poor understanding of who will buy this line.
Wouldn't do anything differently?
I get that Hasbro is a huge company with diverse interests in a competetive marketplace. I also understand that they are a hugely successful company that knows toys and marketing far, far better than I did. Apparently they are also incapable of telling the truth. I wonder how many of them worked in government at a previous point in their careers.
Killed Indiana Jones.
Killed Marvel Legends.
Keep it up boys
