The Action Figure and Toy Collecting and Discussion Thread!

[cooleddie74]

Hasbro just cancelled the 6" Black Series case assortment with three Boba Fetts and two Darth Vaders in it. They'll replace it with some other case ratio, but as of right now the plan to get all those extra Bobas into stores to help meet demand has been shelved.

It's a tradeoff. Some think Boba would actually turn into a pegwarmer if a lot more of him suddenly shipped to retail, others would prefer seeing more of the newer figures like Vader, the Sandtrooper Corporal variant or Chewbacca (or the current, very hot Stormtrooper that never seems to last more than a few minutes anywhere).

 

[Gepard]

Hasbro just cancelled the 6" Black Series case assortment with three Boba Fetts and two Darth Vaders in it. They'll replace it with some other case ratio, but as of right now the plan to get all those extra Bobas into stores to help meet demand has been shelved.

In a related subject (that also happens to be good news, if true), Bleeding Cool has this rumor:

This week, Hasbro, for the first time, has decided to make individual figures available to the direct market and Diamond. This is a pretty big deal. For those who do not know, usually figures like these can only be ordered by the case, which Hasbro controls the packouts to. So instead of buying a case and getting only one of the most desired figure, now your local comic shop for example can order as many as they want of the “short packed” character.
...
To say their distribution is “spotty” is an understatement. Pegs sit empty for months, stores get 1 or 2 cases and are not restocked for months on end. Filling the lines and cases with unwanted characters or making the case packouts skew towards reissues of the same characters that are still sitting unsold on the pegs.
......
These kinds of practices are what kills toy lines, and also can kill TV shows. But, if stores can order as little or as much as they want of specific characters, Hasbro will be able to gauge better which ones are actually selling on shelves. Retailers can move the more desired figures at a brisker pace, without having to worry about getting stuck with unwanted toys. And the aforementioned scalpers market will be hit hard as well.

 

[cooleddie74]

Nice. That would be a game changer for many stores if they didn't get saddled with a bunch of pegwarmers that they probably didn't want but were stuck with because - well, that's just what Hasbro decided to stick inside the case assortments. The more figures we actually want to buy on pegs, the more the retail chains will sell and the more money Hasbro makes. Everybody wins.

 

[LordMudd]

Retail stores really need to up their A game if they plan to stay in the toy business. Selling toys is a 2 sided coin for them. They sell toys as an impulse buy to people with kids who are shopping for other things, or sell other things to people who just came in looking for a toy. The problem is it doesn't work if shelves are clogged with unwanted toys because the manufacturer ships a skewed assortment. It really is the manufacturer's fault, they are packing themselves out of business, and destroying their relationship with the sellers. Online stores who can get the selection buyers want hurt that even more. This is a problem the manufacturer caused and must also solve. The retailer can't do it for them.

Hasbro seems to be doing this...with one line, which makes it look like just an experiment. Hopefully it will catch on. That is not to say others like Mattel will be smart enough to figure it out.

CCC.

 

[Kira's Mom]

Finally found a cheap Black Widow from Winter Soldier! She'll arrive early next week. I got one without the Build a Figure part, which is fine with me.

 

[OdoWanKenobi]

^Yay! I'm so glad. It was almost to the point where if I happened across another Widow, I was just going to buy it and then ask where to send it to.

This week, Hasbro, for the first time, has decided to make individual figures available to the direct market and Diamond. This is a pretty big deal. For those who do not know, usually figures like these can only be ordered by the case, which Hasbro controls the packouts to. So instead of buying a case and getting only one of the most desired figure, now your local comic shop for example can order as many as they want of the “short packed” character.
...
To say their distribution is “spotty” is an understatement. Pegs sit empty for months, stores get 1 or 2 cases and are not restocked for months on end. Filling the lines and cases with unwanted characters or making the case packouts skew towards reissues of the same characters that are still sitting unsold on the pegs.
......
These kinds of practices are what kills toy lines, and also can kill TV shows. But, if stores can order as little or as much as they want of specific characters, Hasbro will be able to gauge better which ones are actually selling on shelves. Retailers can move the more desired figures at a brisker pace, without having to worry about getting stuck with unwanted toys. And the aforementioned scalpers market will be hit hard as well.

This. Changes. EVERYTHING!

Can't find that Black Series Stormtrooper or Marvel Legneds Nova? Have your LCS order one for you! No more hunting store after store for months. Get that shortpacked figure with little hassle. Good move, Hasbro. This can only be fantastic for their business.

 

[cooleddie74]

Every so often they manage to get something right. I hope this is successful. Retail might not pick up steam until just before Episode VII premieres so this could really help some collectors.

 

[OdoWanKenobi]

What a bunch of a-holes:

 

[Kira's Mom]

^

I just realized there's another Black Knight figure out there, a six inch one. I may have to get that one next!

 

[OdoWanKenobi]

This one?

Not trying to steal any of your thunder, I promise. I just felt like, since I had Black Knight out, showing off Excalibur in 6" forms. The costumes are all wrong, of course, but I make do with what I have:

 

[shivkala]

What a bunch of a-holes:

While they'll always be the "Ass-kickers of the Fantastic" to me, "A bunch of A-holes" works, as well. Though, "Rocket Racoon and his Human Hangers-On" does have a nice ring to it!

 

[LordMudd]

I tolerated C'Hp in GL because he did not appear often, but I just don't like anthropomorphic characters, mainly because of crap like the Zoo Crew that they have done. Makes it hard to take them seriously. I don't like Starlord or Drax, but he is better that the Cosmic Hulk Drax. I prefer the first Drax.

CCC.

 

[C. Cole-Chakotay]

Since this is a Star Trek board, here are some pictures of my Playmates Voyager crew figures.








My Star Trek Barbie and Ken

 

[C. Cole-Chakotay]

My original Barbie with a new hairdo. I braided her hair, put it in a small rubber band, and fluffed the bottom out. I figured after 50+ years, she was due a new look. She was originally a ponytail, so all that really changed is the braided part. Her bangs have never been touched with a brush/comb.

This little doll has given me so much joy since I got her back in the early 1960's. She's still giving me joy.

 

[Kira's Mom]

This one?

Not trying to steal any of your thunder, I promise. I just felt like, since I had Black Knight out, showing off Excalibur in 6" forms. The costumes are all wrong, of course, but I make do with what I have:

Yep, that's the one.

Love it! All it needs is Meggan.

I have those Star Trek Barbies, too! And the ones from the 2009 movie. Love them.

 

[Kira's Mom]

This guy has made up sets of Excalibur teams: http://osvaldoeaf.tumblr.com/post/87343813386/excalibur-through-the-years#notes

He had Pete Wisdom and Meggan custom made, I think.

(actually Pete is kind of messy. And he has that stupid fake eyepatch from X-Force.)

 

[cooleddie74]

Love those Trek figure and doll pics!

 

[Kira's Mom]

Some fun with Clint, Tasha, and Thor:

And Nightcrawler, just hanging out:

 

[Hound of UIster]

From Botcon

A new upcoming Headmaster Brainstorm

Spoiler: ...

The long awaited Classics Arcee.

Spoiler: ...

Chomia, who apparently isn't a remold or repaint of Arcee and who turns now into a motorcycle. This mold needs to be repainted into Firestar/Flareup and Moonrace so we can get the entire female Autobots set.

Spoiler: ...

 

[Unicron]

Those look nice. I'll have to keep an eye out for them.