Where I live (Nova Scotia, Canada) I go to two stores (Zellers and Toys R Us *Yes there's one near where I live, I so lucky*) and they both have movie toys still out. Zellers doesn't even have any Animated figures out at all!

 

But I only look there. I shop at TRU, that have movie toys, but at least the have Animated figures out. And what I saw was this: A Crapload of Voyager Megatrons, Starscreams and Bulkheads along with quite a bit of deluxes. And get this, they were sharing space with he movie toys. I'm pretty sure that the selection was at least five pegs long for both. Plus there was no Star Wars toys and the movie basics were in a bin! What do you think of that?

 

But then again, they came out first where I live, so I shouldn't really brag about it.

I went yesterday morning to my nearest Wal-Mart thinking maybe I could finally find a Voyager Prime.

 

 

They had bupkis.

 

Well, I take that back, they had a Battle Begins 2-pack.

 

And a WHOLE LOTTA Stockades and Overcasts.

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.

Not if the retailers felt unsure of how Animated would perform and were pissed that Hasbro discontinued the line that was definitely selling. Hasbro's not a bartender and the retailers aren't drunk, so Hasbro would do themselves more harm than good to tell them "Okay, buddy. I think you've had enough."

What sucks is that those movie figures that have been over ordered will continue to take up space and retailers will not order additional Animated and Classics figs based on the fact "TF figures aren't selling".

 

 

In 5 months all those Movie toys'll be in a discount bin, but who knows how much better stock we'll have missed out on by then.

Ive got all the movie toys i wanted. i finished my movie wants when i got a premium bb yesterday. so hasbro needs to recall all movie toys and put out animted and the new universe toys.

Where I live (Nova Scotia, Canada) I go to two stores (Zellers and Toys R Us *Yes there's one near where I live, I so lucky*) and they both have movie toys still out. Zellers doesn't even have any Animated figures out at all!

LOL, I gave up on Zellers months ago. They were suppose to have the exclusive rights to the Premium movie figures in Canada, and for the past two months they've had nothing but Payloads, Overcasts, and wave 1 Real Gears. Oh and one Scout Hardtop. That bugger mocked me for weeks.

Zellers= :fail

 

But I only look there. I shop at TRU, that have movie toys, but at least the have Animated figures out. And what I saw was this: A Crapload of Voyager Megatrons, Starscreams and Bulkheads along with quite a bit of deluxes. And get this, they were sharing space with he movie toys. I'm pretty sure that the selection was at least five pegs long for both. Plus there was no Star Wars toys and the movie basics were in a bin! What do you think of that?

Yeah, the local TRU in London ON has a decent selection of Animated figures, and has since late April. It's still just about 10% of their TF stock though. Movie Deluxe shelf warmers, Scouts, Real Gears, TransTech (I hate that stuff so much), and a few Leader Brawls still dominate the other 90%.

The good news is that they've finally cleared out the movie Voyagers. Only Animated Voyagers to be found.

 

The two local Wal-Marts, however, have about five Animated Deluxes and four Voyagers in total, hidden amongst the pre-mentioned movie clog.

 

So for my fellow Canucks, check out TRU if you want Animated figures. It seems they're your best bet.

Hasbro's not a bartender and the retailers aren't drunk, so Hasbro would do themselves more harm than good to tell them "Okay, buddy. I think you've had enough."

thx

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.

Not if the retailers felt unsure of how Animated would perform and were pissed that Hasbro discontinued the line that was definitely selling. Hasbro's not a bartender and the retailers aren't drunk, so Hasbro would do themselves more harm than good to tell them "Okay, buddy. I think you've had enough."

I understand that, but I also think Hasbro has an upper hand in that advantage, that being that they make Transformer toys. If they said "ok, no more movie stuff, start selling Animated" what can the retailers do? No sell Animated? Refuse to order Animated? If that's the case then they're losing out on a brand that's guaranteed to bring in cash, and if Hasbro really wants to play hardball they can always say "sell it or else."

Again what can the retailers do? Transformers, especially since the movie has basically been a licence to print money. Are they going to risk losing that brand just because they don't like the design aesthetic of the latest line?

 

I think if Hasbro wanted to push the issue they could have gotten Animated out at a reasonable date. Maybe the retailers could have used some extra insurances from Hasbro (like Animated ratings), or maybe Hasbro could have just said "come on guys, we're not stretching a line out for an entire year when we have an other one ready to go and supported by a top rated cartoon."

Essentially I think Hasbro had the option and and ability to push the issue, and they didn't. Which I think has cost them and the retailers potentially amazing sales numbers on Animated.

Further more it could have this effect....

 

What sucks is that those movie figures that have been over ordered will continue to take up space and retailers will not order additional Animated and Classics figs based on the fact "TF figures aren't selling".

 

 

In 5 months all those Movie toys'll be in a discount bin, but who knows how much better stock we'll have missed out on by then.

I don't want to see Animated and Universe/Classics 2.0 get the shaft because the market's flooded with movie stock that just won't move.

I goes down like this.

 

RETAILER: Wow! Hey, Hasbro, these movie toys are selling like hotcakes! We want more!!! If you build it we will come!

 

At this point, Hasbro can say

 

1) Well...we had this new line of toys in mind. They're in conjunction with the cartoon that is airing on Cartoon Network on Saturday mornings and is aimed at 7-10 year olds, its doing pretty good in the ratings! Would you maybe, possibly consider buying those instead?

 

or

 

2) You mean, you want more of these toys that we have sold a ba-zillion of and already have the molds for and all we'd have to do is slap a new paint job on them?

 

Which one would be the more prudent business decision?

I goes down like this.

 

RETAILER: Wow! Hey, Hasbro, these movie toys are selling like hotcakes! We want more!!! If you build it we will come!

 

At this point, Hasbro can say

 

1) Well...we had this new line of toys in mind. They're in conjunction with the cartoon that is airing on Cartoon Network on Saturday mornings and is aimed at 7-10 year olds, its doing pretty good in the ratings! Would you maybe, possibly consider buying those instead?

 

or

 

2) You mean, you want more of these toys that we have sold a ba-zillion of and already have the molds for and all we'd have to do is slap a new paint job on them?

 

Which one would be the more prudent business decision?

You have to factor in the possibility of flooding the market, however. Which is what happened when Hasbro went with #2.