Its probably because the movie line has a larger age range of prospective buyers, and also because they are making a movie sequal. From a suit's perspective, the movie line will have better sales potential and longer appeal. The sequal will take another year to be released, and add another couple years of movie line toy sales on top of that. This equals $$ to suits.

Based on the success of the movie line, the retailers were calling for more movie toys - that's why animated got pushed back, the retailers were concerned they wouldn't sell because it was such a stylistic change from the line that had been bringing in the big bucks. That's also why Universe is being released, to keep "realistic" styled transformers on the shelf next to the Animated figures.

 

Which is why there's a glut of non-moving movie figures on the shelf lately.

Absolutely.

 

But my point is just that it's not Hasbro's fault. A lot of it has to do with the retailers.

 

And of course, since the movie stuff isn't moving as well as it once did at this point, the retailers are probably hesitant to put out a ton more (and different) Animated stuff until their over-ordered movie stock sells out and/or Hasbro takes some of it back.

 

But it isn't Hasbro's fault if the movie merchandise was over-ordered. Hasbro takes a lot of crap from fans for things beyond their control, IMO.

Based on the success of the movie line, the retailers were calling for more movie toys - that's why animated got pushed back, the retailers were concerned they wouldn't sell because it was such a stylistic change from the line that had been bringing in the big bucks. That's also why Universe is being released, to keep "realistic" styled transformers on the shelf next to the Animated figures.

 

Which is why there's a glut of non-moving movie figures on the shelf lately.

Absolutely.

 

But my point is just that it's not Hasbro's fault. A lot of it has to do with the retailers.

 

And of course, since the movie stuff isn't moving as well as it once did at this point, the retailers are probably hesitant to put out a ton more (and different) Animated stuff until their over-ordered movie stock sells out and/or Hasbro takes some of it back.

 

But it isn't Hasbro's fault if the movie merchandise was over-ordered. Hasbro takes a lot of crap from fans for things beyond their control, IMO.

 

And of course, the over ordered movie stock won't move because everyone is either saving their money for :animated or finding it somewhere else.

 

CATCH 22'D

Hasbro takes a lot of crap from fans for things beyond their control, IMO.

While I agree with this, I do think it was a boneheaded decision to delay the launch of Animated's toy line six months after the premier.

Hasbro does take a lot of undeserved crap, but I think this one was one of their screw-ups.

But it isn't Hasbro's fault if the movie merchandise was over-ordered. Hasbro takes a lot of crap from fans for things beyond their control, IMO.

This

 

Hasbro does take a lot of undeserved crap, but I think this one was one of their screw-ups.

It wasn't. Hasbro doesn't control when retailers want toys in stores...only to the extent with which they have them manufactured, and it's obvious that Hasbro had these ready for a long time now. Retailers control the flow of toys into stores/

Hasbro does take a lot of undeserved crap, but I think this one was one of their screw-ups.

It wasn't. Hasbro doesn't control when retailers want toys in stores...only to the extent with which they have them manufactured, and it's obvious that Hasbro had these ready for a long time now. Retailers control the flow of toys into stores/

It was Hasbro's decision to continue the movie line. They could have said "ok, enough of that, we're not making any more movie toys," essentially forcing the retailers to switch over to Animated.

The retailers' desire for more movie toys would have been a non-issue if Hasbro had some foresight and pulled the plug on the line. Instead they got greedy and allowed the movie line to continue to flood the market.

A little foresight could have saved them the mistake.

ah, no wonder TRU and Target weren't giving a rip about getting Animated out since Walmart had already started.

 

When does wave 2 hit?

Instead they got greedy

I'm afraid you've missed the point of this capitalism venture- the retailers wanted more movie toys, so Hasbro supplied (with plenty of repaints). That's how it works...sorry.

ah, no wonder TRU and Target weren't giving a rip about getting Animated out since Walmart had already started.

 

When does wave 2 hit?

 

Knowing that my local TRU has a mildly decent supply of Animated figures in stock, I may head over there today and pick up Starscream.

 

But in the meantime, I think blame has to be shared by both Hasbro and retailers.

Instead they got greedy

I'm afraid you've missed the point of this capitalism venture- the retailers wanted more movie toys, so Hasbro supplied (with plenty of repaints). That's how it works...sorry.

I think you've missed the point where I implied that by cutting off the movie line around say, March, they could have forced the retailers to sell Animated stock. Given the success of the cartoon ratings-wise, it's clear the toys would have sold given an appropriate launch within a sensible period of the cartoon's premier (the premier movie-length episode may have been in December, but the series didn't premier in full until March).

By doing this Hasbro would have guaranteed they were switching from one money-making line to the next. Rather they got caught up in the success of the movie line, and drove it to the point where it's now not selling and clogging shelf space.

This means that not only is the line Hasbro bet on finally tapped out, but it also means there's no space or desire for Animated toys.

 

Had they cut the movie line in March they could have smoothed the transition into Animated, and guaranteed a lot more money coming in. A little foresight on Hasbro's part would have allowed them to excel even further in this capitalist venture.