Where does the hobby go from here?

[Raylen]

Perish the thought that TVC 2.0 will start like that because it will be DOA. I honestly think most of the carded completists from this hobby are gone, so Hasbro shouldn't expect repacks to fly of the pegs. This hobby and action figures sales have changed pretty drastically over the years, and Hasbro needs to adjust for that. They release far too many lines, all of which have some pegwarmers, and later waves are a chore to find. The hobby isn't fun when you need to try to find someone from another country to get a figure for you (looking at you Fenn Rau!). Also, when it comes to the basic line, I have no desire to buy them all online if I have to pay for shipping as well, it defeats the purpose of having a reasonably priced line for consumers if you pay $8 for the figure and another $6-7 to ship it!

Is Fenn Rau not even gonna be available in Spain or just impossible to find? Cause "impossible to find" in no longer an international thing. Its everywhere. I live near one of the biggest trucking hubs in the country, yet we get some of the worst distribution. Apparently product will just pass right through my area. And I completely understand not wanting to pay extra in shipping. My point is that's just reality now. Getting your hands on a figure in stores is like gambling. Most likely YOU WILL LOSE. Meanwhile the casino... er Hasbro, will talk about record profits. Well if the brick and mortars are apparently buying a lot of product, but don't put it on store shelves.... where's is all going?!!! Its bizarre.

[darth_sidious]

That's true it might be the reality for many, I just refuse to pay double. I'll wait it out - which is what I did for RO wave 3 - I bought some online for MSRP and free shipping, the others I just found at Target this week - so I think there is hope, but you might have to wait months to find what you're looking for at retail. As for wave 4, I ordered the three that were available online, but Fenn Rau was never listed on Amazon that I'm aware of - that's just not something that should happen, especially when these aren't hitting retail in the US. I know they showing up in Canada, but importing them raises the price beyond double - and that's only if you can find someone that with pick one up for you...

[Jodo]

The Fenn think is pretty weird IMO. I wonder why Selfie, Galen, and Raddus were produced for online production, yet Rau was not. It also makes me wonder about that RO two-pack, which has the Monkey sounding guy and the Scarif Trooper. Will it even go into production?

[Darth Vlad's Clone]

Perish the thought that TVC 2.0 will start like that because it will be DOA.

I believe that is the case for TVC 2.0 as Hasbro has already shown a mock-up for Rey at Toy Fair, which I take as all of the TFA figures will be wave 1. It's obviously conjecture on my part, but that's what I'm thinking is going to happen.

[Jodo]

I still think the TBS flood would have worked just find had it been delayed until the end of this year. Clog the pegs with Cassian and Scarif Troopers...Save the TFA stuff for The Last Jedi because then it would have at least been relevant to the movie release.

[YAK_Chewie]

The Fenn think is pretty weird IMO. I wonder why Selfie, Galen, and Raddus were produced for online production, yet Rau was not. It also makes me wonder about that RO two-pack, which has the Monkey sounding guy and the Scarif Trooper. Will it even go into production?

It's because the brains at Hasbro have finally realized that Finn was overproduced for TFA, and these geniuses think that Finn and Fenn are the same character.

[Diddly]

I had a chance to hit some stores on the other side of town this afternoon and to the surprise of no one, it was the same old stuff (or same old lack of stuff). But what shocked me is I saw a 4 inch Guardians of the Galaxy 5 pack with all the main characters that is apparently a TRU exclusive. It was my first time seeing it, meaning someone, either Hasbro or my local TRU, is dropping the ball. Probably both. I have yet to find the TRU exclusive Sipder-Man/Mary Jane 6 inch 2 pack, and none of my TRUs ever got that giant Jabba/Rancor 4 inch set from a few years ago.

But I just need to vent at how HORRIBLY the 40th Anniversary Collection was run. This same TRU had pegs for the 40th Anniversary merch, but all of it was full of other random crap. The only 40th figures Target got were full cases of Leia. Walmart and TRU got absolutely nothing. The only place I saw those awful 4 inch statues were at Gamestop and a local comic book store. I saw a Luke, Obi-Wan, and Leia at Walgreens once. The only product to make it to every store was the Vader with stand, which is shelfwarming like crazy.

Part of me wishes Hasbro would just nuke everything and clean out toy aisles before Force Friday. Star Wars is a mess. Marvel is a mess. I don't collect Transformers but their aisles/shelves are always bare too. Something has to give!

[YAK_Chewie]

Nice vent Diddly. It's all very much in line with how most of us feel these days.

Wouldn't it be nice if Hasbro cared?

[Raylen]

So I was really bored today. Enough that I did a toy run in an area rather out of the way for me. First stopped by Walmart. Typical selection as everywhere and I can add that to the list of stores that are not supporting the 40th Ann 6" line. No peg space allotted at all. Hopped over to TRU. This store, despite looking small and dilapidated from the parking lot, tends to have better selection than the one near me (despite the fact its only a few years old). Any time I've bought an online "ship to store" item, it will only let me pick it up here. Wow, what a beautifully packed full SW aisle. Tons of full pegs of figures. Downside is they are the same figures we've be seeing for months now. They had a whooping TWO 40th Ann 6" figures. Leia (of course!) and an Obiwan. Both it cards that were smashed to hell. This Obiwan means I have now seen THREE figures from this line! Leia, Luke, and now Obiwan. So My tally on these to date:

Walmart 1 - x1 Luke
Walmart 2 - no pegs for them
Walmart 3 - no pegs for them
Walmart 4 - no pegs for them
Walmart 5 - no pegs for them
TRU 1 - no pegs for them
TRU 2 - x1 Leia, x1 Obi wan
Target 1 - x1 Leia
Gamestop 1 - x3 Leias, x3 Lukes

4 outta 9 stores aren't even making peg space for these!!!! How the hell is anyone supposed to collect this line? They may as well made this on online exclusive. I mean, that's apparently the only place you will be able to get these. Glad I'm not collecting them myself but I feel bad for those that are. Oh, and I was not counting the Vader with display. Almost every single store listed above had that. Do they realize it makes no sense to carry a single figure with display stand for additional figures they aren't even carrying? And then on Hasbro's end I wonder how many displays will be floating around which can never have a complete set since they are cutting off production of wave 2?

Hasbro is a mass market seller. These aren't high end items. They (40th Ann collection) may be collector focused but they aren't to be considered "rare". Why does the common man or woman have to go online and treat these freakin toys like they are a limited edition Sideshow figure or something?!!! Hasbro tried to build all this excitement over this line. Well Hasbro, you failed. Once again. How damn hard is it to get actual product on store shelves?

[YAK_Chewie]

Seems to need that a lot of the problem is they are trying to manage too many different scales and gimmicks and it's just too much crap for the retailers to try and keep up with.

It's well past time to stop the nonsense, Hasbro. No more micro machines, end the 12" junk, and focus on 3.75" and 6" scale. Broaden the appeal for 3.75" again with mini rigs, creatures, and some freaking playsets.

I really wish they get their heads out of their @$$e$.

[Raylen]

Seems to need that a lot of the problem is they are trying to manage too many different scales and gimmicks and it's just too much crap for the retailers to try and keep up with.

It's well past time to stop the nonsense, Hasbro. No more micro machines, end the 12" junk, and focus on 3.75" and 6" scale. Broaden the appeal for 3.75" again with mini rigs, creatures, and some freaking playsets.

I really wish they get their heads out of their @$$e$.

I think that micro machines are fine as they have their own niche. Before I became more focused in my collection, I had all those ships back in the 90s. The 12" stuff is garbage though. It fills a market for cheaper items but can't imagine they sell well. But who knows? The thought had occurred to me about the 40 Ann 6" though.... The fact they are a different type of packaging, maybe stores feel that a short 2 wave run of a subline isn't worth reconfiguring their aisle layouts? The 6" boxes can go on pegs OR shelf. The 40th Ann, you need (or should have) pegs. Not sure how the reasoning would then go on the Vader with display package.

[Darth Vlad's Clone]

Walmart usually puts the carded figures on the bottom shelf in my experience. I almost forget to look there since I don't usually buy vehicles.

[darth_sidious]

Seems to need that a lot of the problem is they are trying to manage too many different scales and gimmicks and it's just too much crap for the retailers to try and keep up with.

It's well past time to stop the nonsense, Hasbro. No more micro machines, end the 12" junk, and focus on 3.75" and 6" scale. Broaden the appeal for 3.75" again with mini rigs, creatures, and some freaking playsets.

I really wish they get their heads out of their @$$e$.

I think that micro machines are fine as they have their own niche. Before I became more focused in my collection, I had all those ships back in the 90s. The 12" stuff is garbage though. It fills a market for cheaper items but can't imagine they sell well. But who knows? The thought had occurred to me about the 40 Ann 6" though.... The fact they are a different type of packaging, maybe stores feel that a short 2 wave run of a subline isn't worth reconfiguring their aisle layouts? The 6" boxes can go on pegs OR shelf. The 40th Ann, you need (or should have) pegs. Not sure how the reasoning would then go on the Vader with display package.

Micro Machines certainly do have a following (just like Titaniums), and I'm one of the collectors that love them (though the originals remain my favorite). Unfortunately the MM line is poorly managed, so I don't know if it will return for TLJ, though the RO offerings were nice, distribution was bad compared to TFA. The MM line existing, or any other product line someone doesn't buy, doesn't tend to impact the 3.75 lines - those will continue to be made regardless of what other lines Hasbro is working on.

[Raylen]

[/quote]

The MM line existing, or any other product line someone doesn't buy, doesn't tend to impact the 3.75 lines - those will continue to be made regardless of what other lines Hasbro is working on.[/quote]

I think what Chewy meant was in regards to shelf space, retailers have to decide what they want to carry and a bunch of garbage (Command anyone?) can end up taking peg/shelf space better used for the tried and true lines. On top of that, and I'm just guessing here, there's a certain amount of resources allocated to the brand. The more junk they make, the greater percentage of resources get pulled from developing the 3.75" line. Let's say that 2 molds are made at the cost of $xxxx. And its for two crap items no one wants. That cost could go towards an actual vehicle that people DO want.

[StooperZero]

if you missed any 40th stuff, almost all of it is going to be put back out just in the regular red/black boxes around the end of september.