Transformers 4 Age of Extinction Toy Sales Off to Slow Start - Retailers Eying Markdowns to Boost Sales

[BaCon]

As many Transformers collectors know, you can only follow so many lines before the wallet runs dry. According to a report in the New York Post, a lot of people are experiencing what the article calles "action figure fatigue" due to all the new movies that are flooding the stores with licenses merchandise. The report specifically cites the "Transformers Age of Extinction" movie products who's toys have only been on shelves for a few weeks with new �Transformers� toys at less than 50 percent below levels seen from the 2011 "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" film. Read the Full News Story Here

[TheTfboy]

I don't think it's the simplified Transformations that is ruining sales, it's just the lack of different characters for each gimmick/line. For example, let's look at a new character coming out first time for the film, Drift. If you look at each of the different versions of Drift coming out, you have one for the One-step changers, Power Battlers, Dino Sparkers ( with Slug ) Titan Heroes, Generations Deluxe, and a Generations Voyager. Now, naturally, I would think that kids, teens, and adults collectors would like to get a version of Drift, but he/she would be likely to get one one version of this character. Now, which ever one that he/she decides to get is up to them, but once they make a choice it's likely that you cannot depend on having that seller choosing to buy another version of Drift. This could be the person thinking "One is all I need." and/or it could be financially since the prices of some of the figures have gone since the last film. If you look at a new character in the Dark of the Moon line, say, Roadbuster, you'll see that for the entire toyline, we did have him in a few lines, being; the Cyberverse, two Deluxes, Human Alliance, and Robo Fighters. Do you see a difference? Hasbro, you can only reuse the same character over and over again so many times, as when you stock the shelves with dozens and dozens of figures, don't expect anyone to buy all four versions of Drift that are in the first two waves of your toy line.

 

And that's another thing. Why is it that some lines of Transformers, such as the Bayformers, Beast Hunters, Constrictobots, etc never seem to clear out the shelves, but lines like the Generations, are always the first the go? I mean, I do understand that the Generations line is mainly for the older collectors, and that we only make about 30% of their revenue, but we can provide more for you, if you were to cut back on the AMOUNT of figures in the bayformers, and produce more in the Generations line, we can buy it. The market is there, because you have the adult collectors who want the figure, you have Scalpers, who generally always tend to go for the collectors line, rather then the kids, and you even have kids, who might look at a figure, say Generations Armada Starscream, and want to check it out because you have a comic book inside, and kids love comics. The market is there Hasbro, take advantage of it. I myself want to still find a Generations Waspinator, but from what I heard, that wave was very low in the amount that was produced for stores. I just couldn't find him.

 

To sum it up, like I said, even though you've tried to make many different versions of a character to try to sell it to many different people, you've made too many, and you need to focus on using your resources a bit smarter, because I know that their a people who have worked at a Walmart that have tried to contact you saying "Hey, this Generations line is selling out like crazy, can we order more?" and your response being "No, sorry, we don't make them anymore, can I suggest that you buy more of these Movie toys with five different toys made off of the same character? I'm sure these will sell out in no time." SIX MONTHS LATER: ( Sign at Walmart ) "Buy one version of a character at 80% off and get two other version of the same character for free!"

 

That is all.

[jeffafa]

I still havent bought a single AOE toy - they are all crap. As many Optimus Primes that I have collected over the years and I still couldnt bring myself to buy a $25 voyager Evasion garbage Prime. I dont think a markdown will entice me to buy them either...

[AnimatedPlastic]

I felt the same way about all the AOE toys as well Jeffafa, but after getting Evasion Prime, I think there are a couple of gems in the bunch. I don't like more than 90% of them, but figures like Voyager Hound, Evasion Prime, Deluxe Drift are probably the ones to look out for. I am also curious on the Deluxe Lockdown. I will admit being a care enthusiast I bought deluxe BB and Crosshairs for their Alt modes. I also bought the only Dinobot I will get with the 2 pack evolution Strafe, which was surprisingly a neat figure. My point is, Evasion prime IS the one figure I think people should get even if they think the line is crap, it is a truly nice figure, has tons of articulation (can do the Iron Man stance), and is a really solid figure. My only complaint with it is the lack of paint apps on the wheels and that the headsculpt doesn't have the faceplate. That should change once I get that Optimus 2-Pack given that I can find it. :tfevil

[TheTfboy]

I felt the same way about all the AOE toys as well Jeffafa, but after getting Evasion Prime, I think there are a couple of gems in the bunch. I don't like more than 90% of them, but figures like Voyager Hound, Evasion Prime, Deluxe Drift are probably the ones to look out for. I am also curious on the Deluxe Lockdown. I will admit being a care enthusiast I bought deluxe BB and Crosshairs for their Alt modes. I also bought the only Dinobot I will get with the 2 pack evolution Strafe, which was surprisingly a neat figure. My point is, Evasion prime IS the one figure I think people should get even if they think the line is crap, it is a truly nice figure, has tons of articulation (can do the Iron Man stance), and is a really solid figure. My only complaint with it is the lack of paint apps on the wheels and that the headsculpt doesn't have the faceplate. That should change once I get that Optimus 2-Pack given that I can find it. :tfevil

Can I buy the Classics Optimus from you if you do find it? :D I really want to get that two pack, but I had already planed to get the nice and shiny version as a two-pack with Grimlock.... Decisions, decisions.... :schin

[AnimatedPlastic]

Sorry I don't own the Classics mold, that is the only reason I am buying that set. The only bonus with that Evasion Prime that comes with it is the headsculpt has the faceplate. I suspect the Classics Prime will go down in value a little with Cloud Optimus and this one as well. Good luck. :tfevil

[formerly nortagem]

I still havent bought a single AOE toy - they are all crap. As many Optimus Primes that I have collected over the years and I still couldnt bring myself to buy a $25 voyager Evasion garbage Prime. I dont think a markdown will entice me to buy them either...

 

DITTO! Just went to the store a bit ago to pick up something else, decided to peruse by the toy aisle, and, wow...what garbage. :tdown

 

Terrible aesthetics - enough with trying to make robots look like humans!

Crap transformations - I get the gimmick, but this combined with the terrible aesthetics just make them look like junk.

Decepticons? - Yeah, where the hell are they?!

 

Also, we should've known better than to scream about Dinobots for the past two movies, because once again, what Bayverse/Hasbro is giving us ain't what we wanted. :doh

[SuperSaiyanGoku]

 

 

I still havent bought a single AOE toy - they are all crap. As many Optimus Primes that I have collected over the years and I still couldnt bring myself to buy a $25 voyager Evasion garbage Prime. I dont think a markdown will entice me to buy them either...

DITTO! Just went to the store a bit ago to pick up something else, decided to peruse by the toy aisle, and, wow...what garbage. :tdown

 

Terrible aesthetics - enough with trying to make robots look like humans!

Crap transformations - I get the gimmick, but this combined with the terrible aesthetics just make them look like junk.

Decepticons? - Yeah, where the hell are they?!

 

Also, we should've known better than to scream about Dinobots for the past two movies, because once again, what Bayverse/Hasbro is giving us ain't what we wanted. :doh

I like the dinobots that are being offered in this movie toy line. I know they are not what people wanted, but I don't care. I like the movie stuff and the look of the characters, so they don't look like the originals, big fat hairy deal. I know a lot of people like the look of the G1 dinobots and would like them to look like the originals, but I've learned to accept that times change, and nothing will look like G1 no matter how much we want it.

[formerly nortagem]

I don't really mind that they 'don't look like the originals'...and I'll give you that out of the entire line the Dinobots look the best. That's not my beef. It's really everything else about them...

 

Dinobots are probably the more interesting designs, but HIDEOUS colors that, from the previews I've seen, aren't accurately portrayed in the slightest.

Hound with the wire beard...gimme a break.

Drift looks like something out of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Galvatron and Lockdown really don't look all that menacing.

 

The overall aesthetic is something different that we started to see creeping in. When the movie line began, the designs were somewhat humanoid, but still maintained the 'robot' feel. RoTF, though perhaps the worst movie of the bunch, really pushed the envelope in some aspects of the robot design (wheel-formers, crawlers, etc.), but then there were the Twins and Jetfire. Then in DoTM, we started seeing things like Que and dreadlocked Cons. Now half of the designs look like they're pulling pictures of human beings off the web, skinning them with a robotic texture, and then giving them names that don't particularly matter (especially in the case of the Cons). And speaking of, again, where are the Cons?!

Lost are the designs like Blackout or Bonecrusher...or in some cases, even Barricade. Yes, I'm mostly focusing on Decepticons, because that's where my biggest disappointment lies. I don't know if we ever really got an adequate Megatron, but this Galvatron is doing nada for me.

 

Just not really feeling these particular Bayformers. Anybody feel the same? :shrug

[SuperSaiyanGoku]

I don't really mind that they 'don't look like the originals'...and I'll give you that out of the entire line the Dinobots look the best. That's not my beef. It's really everything else about them...

 

Dinobots are probably the more interesting designs, but HIDEOUS colors that, from the previews I've seen, aren't accurately portrayed in the slightest.

Hound with the wire beard...gimme a break.

Drift looks like something out of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Galvatron and Lockdown really don't look all that menacing.

 

The overall aesthetic is something different that we started to see creeping in. When the movie line began, the designs were somewhat humanoid, but still maintained the 'robot' feel. RoTF, though perhaps the worst movie of the bunch, really pushed the envelope in some aspects of the robot design (wheel-formers, crawlers, etc.), but then there were the Twins and Jetfire. Then in DoTM, we started seeing things like Que and dreadlocked Cons. Now half of the designs look like they're pulling pictures of human beings off the web, skinning them with a robotic texture, and then giving them names that don't particularly matter (especially in the case of the Cons). And speaking of, again, where are the Cons?!

 

Lost are the designs like Blackout or Bonecrusher...or in some cases, even Barricade. Yes, I'm mostly focusing on Decepticons, because that's where my biggest disappointment lies. I don't know if we ever really got an adequate Megatron, but this Galvatron is doing nada for me.

 

Just not really feeling these particular Bayformers. Anybody feel the same? :shrug

I agree with your opinion on Galvatron, I like the truck mode which is a very nice Coe. But I don't like his robot mode, it looks both ugly and goofy looking, pass. Voyager Hound I am looking forward to, as someone has said he looks like an armed up John Goodman, and I agree as I was and am a huge fan of the Roseanne sitcom and ol' Dan Conner was one of my favorite characters played by Mr. Goodman.

 

Reading some of these responses makes me think that people are referring to the AOE Robots In Disguise figures(which are pure crap in my opinion), instead of the AOE Generations figures which are awesome. I just picked up the evolution 2-pack Strafe and I really like him. And once you paint up Evasion Mode Prime, he looks totally awesome, even the Leader Class Prime is a great figure even with all the back kibble.

 

I still like the dinobots and can't wait until Slog, Slash, and Snarl are released to have the full dinobot team.