[Snowflakian]

Quote:

Originally Posted by redx24

I figured but I've never done such a thing and I've shopped this location since 92 so it's kinda of a kick to the neck since I've talked and laughed with this lady.

Well, I'm guessing too.

If she was trying to keep you in line of sight though, that generally means she already thought she saw you pocket something. Not that she thought you were going to.

Sometimes employees that have worked long days though can make mistakes. Like if you put your hand in your pocket or anything, or adjusted your keys or anything. She could have mistaken that for thinking you pocketed something. She's only trying to do her job, and the managers are trying to protect her for doing her job. It's best not to give them the run around like that either, as it only makes you look more guilty like you're hiding that you did.

So that whole scenario on her end made it seem like you really did pocket something and were trying to get away to put it on a shelf in case they confronted you.

It's pretty common that shoplifters will do stuff like that, and if they think they are caught, put it back then create a reason to complain about store harassment, but mistakes also do happen too. So cut the store slack. They are only trying to do their job to protect the store.

[redx24]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowflakian

Well, I'm guessing too.

If she was trying to keep you in line of sight though, that generally means she already thought she saw you pocket something. Not that she thought you were going to.

Sometimes employees that have worked long days though can make mistakes. Like if you put your hand in your pocket or anything, or adjusted your keys or anything. She could have mistaken that for thinking you pocketed something. She's only trying to do her job, and the managers are trying to protect her for doing her job. It's best not to give them the run around like that either, as it only makes you look more guilty like you're hiding that you did.

So that whole scenario on her end made it seem like you really did pocket something and were trying to get away to put it on a shelf in case they confronted you.

It's pretty common that shoplifters will do stuff like that, and if they think they are caught, put it back then create a reason to complain about store harassment, but mistakes also do happen too. So cut the store slack. They are only trying to do their job to protect the store.

What u say is true I should cut them some slack. I do tend to overreact to things like this. I literally wouldn't talk to my mother the other day because she asked if I had gotten high the night before. Guess something in me just takes extra offence since I don't do these things or have ever wanted to.

[MUfan97]

Quote:

Originally Posted by redx24

I literally wouldn't talk to my mother the other day because she asked if I had gotten high the night before.

"Hey mom! How are you doing?"

"Oh, I'm doing fine! How are you? Gotten high recently?"

"...No..."

Just trying to visualize that conversation.

[redx24]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MUfan97

"Hey mom! How are you doing?"

"Oh, I'm doing fine! How are you? Gotten high recently?"

"...No..."

Just trying to visualize that conversation.

Not sure how it happened just know we were having an argument and when she knows I'm right she pulls this card because she knows it pisses me off and I shut up before I go to far with my next set of words. My brother knows this too

[Snowflakian]

I had that conversation once with my mom in highschool. She found a 'roach' in the sand ash tray by the pool. Pulled it out and had it set aside to lecture me about it.

I laughed so hard right in front of her, it's never come up since. One of my friends went to Jamaica with his family and brought rolling papers back for us as a joke gift, and one of my other friends had taken apart a cigarette to use one as a joke, so I was laughing because she was giving me this whole lecture about drugs and it was only tobacco.

Still have those rolling papers somewhere probably. Used to use them to patch up broken cigarettes because of how much prices went up.

Never was a fan of joints. It's far too wasteful. xD

[ukmu]

Jeffery the Giraffe dude!!!! He is the mascot of Toys R Us and "a Jeffrey" is a security agent to watch you on cctv. Because, like a giraffe, they have BIG EYES and LONG NECKS.

[Jay West]

Quote:

Originally Posted by redx24

What u say is true I should cut them some slack. I do tend to overreact to things like this. I literally wouldn't talk to my mother the other day because she asked if I had gotten high the night before. Guess something in me just takes extra offence since I don't do these things or have ever wanted to.

Probably just an under paid over worked employee just trying to do her job. Also she never accused you of anything so she was just being cautious...or she called your mom...and mom told her you'd been smoking weed in the bathroom...just kidding, mate! Seriously probably just an overworked employee.

[Exodus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by K Dubious

And if you need that Thor Comic pack my targets are flooded with all 3 comic packs. I bet we don't see the new ones for a couple more months even though they are already being distributed to Comic Shops.

Same with mine, I should have waited to get these on a sale price :P Didn't realize they would get waves of them. Doesn't bode well for the newer stuff to come through either which sucks...

Quote:

Originally Posted by AFU

I'm feeling the same about the 3.75 line as of late, as well. The quality is so different, and quality matters more to some and less to others. To me it matters more, Hasbro can't keep trying to sell the same figure with less articulation and at a higher price point. And, keep repainting old figures and calling them new, really! I once preferred the 3.75 over the 6 inch, but now atleast in the 6 inch line I can cherry pick figures in the wave, the 3.75 line, I just walk by them when I see them in the wild because nothing catches my eye in this line anymore because of Hasbro's decision to go in this direction with the 3.75 line. Don't get me wrong, the 6 inch figures have their problems too, with quality, repaints, and distribution. That is why I buying less and less with each passing wave of both 3.75 and 6 inch.

Kind of there with you....but so far my interest has been still there.

[LordMudd]

My TRU just restocked the CA,CW 2 figure boxes.


CCC.

[En Sabah Nerd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by redx24

she asked if I had gotten high the night before. Guess something in me just takes extra offence since I don't do these things or have ever wanted to.

Drugs... drugs are bad, m'kay.

[AFU]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exodus

Same with mine, I should have waited to get these on a sale price :P Didn't realize they would get waves of them. Doesn't bode well for the newer stuff to come through either which sucks...

Kind of there with you....but so far my interest has been still there.

I still have interest, I still have my 3.75 inch collection, and they are not going anywhere soon. I just miss the day when Hasbro was, I guess, more creative. At one time we had box sets for Ironman, Avengers, FF, and Capt. We even got Galactus, Sentinel, Giantman, Goliath and others. These days, we don't got that, and I don't understand why? I know the cost have role to play in what companies produce, but I really think it was the quality that is hurting the line...For example, Abomination and A-bomb are some fantastic figures in my opinion, but the Phoenix and Psylocke are just awful, they could of payed better attention to detail and those figures could have been better than end result...but, like I said before, I buy way less of 3.75 inch figures these days, but I still pick up some every now and then because I'm a fan...

[redx24]

Quote:

Originally Posted by En Sabah Nerd

Drugs... drugs are bad, m'kay.

Mmm'kay Mr.macky

[Jackieboy]

sup fellow arkers,i think this works!!!

[Snowflakian]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AFU

I still have interest, I still have my 3.75 inch collection, and they are not going anywhere soon. I just miss the day when Hasbro was, I guess, more creative. At one time we had box sets for Ironman, Avengers, FF, and Capt. We even got Galactus, Sentinel, Giantman, Goliath and others. These days, we don't got that, and I don't understand why? I know the cost have role to play in what companies produce, but I really think it was the quality that is hurting the line...For example, Abomination and A-bomb are some fantastic figures in my opinion, but the Phoenix and Psylocke are just awful, they could of payed better attention to detail and those figures could have been better than end result...but, like I said before, I buy way less of 3.75 inch figures these days, but I still pick up some every now and then because I'm a fan...

It also has to do with major retailer orders. If major retailers don't want to order them, or don't put them on shelves, or feel they don't sell, then hasbro cuts back.

Some of those packs you mentioned were Walmart items. Walmarts are currently cutting heavily back on 4'' figures. So no shelf space for them or stores willing to order them. (Giant battle packs were walmart, though the masterpiece line was all-retailer, and target was getting non-comic 2 packs while Toys R Us was getting 3 packs. Now TRU is the only one getting exclusives with the non-comic two packs.) The team packs ended up on clearance by the end, so retailers probably are tired of carrying them if they clearanced them out.

The masterpiece line that had galactus and the sentinel also got cut back. Th next one was supposed to be fin fang foom, but that got dropped for now.

If merchandise doesn't move, retailers don't order more, stock backs up, then the line needs to get rebranded to get the new figures on shelves. This is why MU has gone through several renamings.

It all comes back to sales and cost of production.

This isn't on hasbro, it's on middle man syndrome. If walmart starts carrying them again and target's sales increase of the comic packs they do have, stuff will start getting back on pace again. But we're also in a very light summer currently with no movie pushes anymore after the spring push, and only the home media release left. This is typically the sales lull until about September-October.

It's not that hasbro is lacking creativity, it's that retailer interest isn't there right now because sales on their end are dipping on this product line.

[Universe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jackieboy

sup fellow arkers,i think this works!!!

Good idea!

[ukmu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowflakian

This isn't on hasbro,

It's not that hasbro is lacking creativity.

I love you brother..... but that is a big pantload. This shit lies directly on them. Squarely and wholly on Hasbro. That bunch of monkey brain half wits have done this. No way is a store owned by hillbillies in Arkansas to blame for a global meltdown.

It started and stops at the top of Hasbro. The mismanagement of this scale is on an epidemic level. They have driven the line so far to extinction and tried everything they can to rid the world of 3.75" and yet it has the largest and most loyal fan base. It has the largest marketable "new appeal" to casual collectors (like office workers and students putting a figure on a shelf) to children vying for mum to buy it.

Time and time and time and time again you defend these idiots and their actions. No more..... and now it is Wal-Marts fault?

It has been Marvels fault. Disney's fault. Consumers fault. Parents fault. Shipping cost fault. Price of oil fault. Collector fault. Retails fault. Dock workers strike fault. Economic downturn fault. Anti war movement fault. Woman's liberation fault. Labour costs in China fault. Increased licencing fault. And yet it has NEVER been Hasbros fault......

Not buying that buckshot anymore bro. I think you are a wonderful and intelligent stand up guy and I root for you. But come on dude, surely it can not be everyone's fault? When do they wear the crown? At what point CAN we blame them?

[Pilkster]

On a less serious note my latest Stryfe

[Snowflakian]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ukmu

I love you brother..... but that is a big pantload. This shit lies directly on them. Squarely and wholly on Hasbro. That bunch of monkey brain half wits have done this. No way is a store owned by hillbillies in Arkansas to blame for a global meltdown.

It started and stops at the top of Hasbro. The mismanagement of this scale is on an epidemic level. They have driven the line so far to extinction and tried everything they can to rid the world of 3.75" and yet it has the largest and most loyal fan base. It has the largest marketable "new appeal" to casual collectors (like office workers and students putting a figure on a shelf) to children vying for mum to buy it.

Time and time and time and time again you defend these idiots and their actions. No more..... and now it is Wal-Marts fault?

It has been Marvels fault. Disney's fault. Consumers fault. Parents fault. Shipping cost fault. Price of oil fault. Collector fault. Retails fault. Dock workers strike fault. Economic downturn fault. Anti war movement fault. Woman's liberation fault. Labour costs in China fault. Increased licencing fault. And yet it has NEVER been Hasbros fault......

Not buying that buckshot anymore bro. I think you are a wonderful and intelligent stand up guy and I root for you. But come on dude, surely it can not be everyone's fault? When do they wear the crown? At what point CAN we blame them?

Did you even read anything I wrote?

It's always been on the major retailers. Hasbro can make anything they want to make, but it won't reach shelves or production for them to make money off of it if major retailers don't support it.

Hasbro is a business. Major retailers buy what they make to put on shelves for customers to buy. If major retailers don't order it or want it, it doesn't get made. Unless it's a small production run which then costs are even higher on. Bulk orders are how they make money. Major retailers do the biggest amount of orders.

The toy market has been this way for decades. That still hasn't changed since 2009 to now. Major retailer sales are what drive the line. Not fan demand or opinions.

This has always been why we've had so much spider-man, Ironman, and captain america figures. Major retailer support wants those for name recognition, but right now due to the way the market is, major retailers are moving away from action figure markets as they aren't as profitable as other areas right now. The market trends do bounce around like that.

So yeah, I'm going to defend Hasbro because it isn't their fault, and no amount of name calling by other fans aimed at Hasbro is going to change that fact.

We've always been stuck behind that sales wall of major retailer demands and what they want to support, because that's how Hasbro makes their bread and butter. When sales are high, major retailer demand is high, which gives hasbro more room to move. When sales are down, major retailer demand is low, Hasbro gets more limited with what they can do. A lot of this should change towards infinity war though. As a two year movie cycle of blockbusters, retailer demand and hype should be high, so sales should be higher. It's a matter of how the market turns and moves. For a bit there, Hasbro had an entire toy aisle to themselves for Marvel, but now with demand lower on Marvel, and higher on star wars, Star Wars has the full aisle to itself.

This is why on transformers, we see the biggest pushes right after movies. Sales are high from movie toys selling, so retailer demand is high for wanting those lines, which led to some amazing lines like Hunt for the Decepticons after ROTF.

The same is true for Marvel, Iron man 2 figure sales were extremely high, which made the line last an extra year before it completely peg warmed, so the other lines were higher on demand too as Marvel figures were a hot commodity. As sales dipped, major retailers wanted something else to push sales. Which led to Hasbro experimenting with other toy forays to push sales.

Hasbro is a business and they have to make a net gain on what they make for it to be profitable. Sales at major retailer outlets and what major retailer outlets order is what dictates what we get. It's always been that way.

This is the way the toy market works. Until that changes, yes, we're stuck behind what major retailers support or think will sell, or what they see is selling.

[K Dubious]

We know where I stand, but Snow you act like Infinity War is going to be this major MCU event that the world will stop to recognize, and Hasbro will capitalize on that because they are in the business of making money.

You say it like Age of Ultron and Civil War were nothing and that is why Hasbro has chose to give us very little for our scale, and that we just need to be patient because that is when our payday will hit???

Where do you come up with this? I loved Age of Ultron so much that I went out and completed my Legends BAF for him because I had to have him in toy form. (Which has also led me to collect many more MCU Legends) What did we get for Ultron? 3.75" figures from the 80's. I refuse to put that gray monstrosity next to my MU figures.

I can tell that you will not back down from your decision to put Hasbro on an untouchable pedestal, but as smart as I feel like you are I don't understand why you chose to ignore the other side of the argument. I know these are all just our opinions, but asking UKMU if he read what you wrote, when it seems you blindly follow Hasbro and defend their every action despite what almost every other 3.75 collector says is baffling.

Seriously do you live in Rhode Island? Hook some of us up with Protos or something, hell we are passionate about our line even if that passion has become more hate than love recently.

I have not seen the BP/Agent 13 pack yet at TRU, but I am still looking forward to picking it up when I see it(Have seen 5 or 6 CA and IMs). I may have to eventually get that Captain with bike if I can find that for cheaper than $20. I'm expecting Gamestop to eventually clearance them out.

[Exodus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by K Dubious

I have not seen the BP/Agent 13 pack yet at TRU, but I am still looking forward to picking it up when I see it(Have seen 5 or 6 CA and IMs). I may have to eventually get that Captain with bike if I can find that for cheaper than $20. I'm expecting Gamestop to eventually clearance them out.

I snagged an extra one forgot to mention it, let me know if anyone needs it or I'll return it back to TRU pm. Thanks.

[snake5289]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilkster

On a less serious note my latest Stryfe

Very nice.

[Pilkster]

I could do with a set Exodus

[Snowflakian]

Quote:

Originally Posted by K Dubious

We know where I stand, but Snow you act like Infinity War is going to be this major MCU event that the world will stop to recognize, and Hasbro will capitalize on that because they are in the business of making money.

You say it like Age of Ultron and Civil War were nothing and that is why Hasbro has chose to give us very little for our scale, and that we just need to be patient because that is when our payday will hit???

Where do you come up with this? I loved Age of Ultron so much that I went out and completed my Legends BAF for him because I had to have him in toy form. (Which has also led me to collect many more MCU Legends) What did we get for Ultron? 3.75" figures from the 80's. I refuse to put that gray monstrosity next to my MU figures.

I can tell that you will not back down from your decision to put Hasbro on an untouchable pedestal, but as smart as I feel like you are I don't understand why you chose to ignore the other side of the argument. I know these are all just our opinions, but asking UKMU if he read what you wrote, when it seems you blindly follow Hasbro and defend their every action despite what almost every other 3.75 collector says is baffling.

Seriously do you live in Rhode Island? Hook some of us up with Protos or something, hell we are passionate about our line even if that passion has become more hate than love recently.

I have not seen the BP/Agent 13 pack yet at TRU, but I am still looking forward to picking it up when I see it(Have seen 5 or 6 CA and IMs). I may have to eventually get that Captain with bike if I can find that for cheaper than $20. I'm expecting Gamestop to eventually clearance them out.

Because it's a two year movie cycle of back to back main team films, with a long ass drought before it which previously hasbro has done to save budgets to do something big later. In this instance with Marvel, the only big thing coming up is the 2 year team movie blockbuster cycle and the hype building for it which even retailers will notice and want merchandise for. As those 2 years will probably be extremely Marvel heavy, especially with the Russos at the helm and how well Winter Soldier did in comparison to Age of Ultron.

The same as a star wars main movie release after episode 7, will be a star wars heavy year on merchandising because of expectations from the previous.

Marketing data would suggest as such.

Also by then, Legends may hit a bigger back flow, probably take a turn for lowering main retailer orders, but they'll still want a decent supply of merchandise for this two year blockbuster cycle. Which means the 3.75'' line will get the focus instead as it's had no main draw for awhile, which means the audience and demand are fresh for it as compared to other lines that are already flooding pegs as is and not moving the desired quantities. Similar to how sales of Ironman 2 were strong enough for it to stay on shelves all the way until getting clearanced out near Ironman 3's release. It sold so well, an actual blockbuster line was sustained on shelves all the way until its sequel. A market rarity outside of star wars.

So that's where the big push for a revitalizing of the 3.75'' market would make the biggest effect for the highest sales.

It's not a pedestal, it's actually looking at data and past habits of the company for the choices they make where and when.

Let's look at transformers for example. The advent of classics to the sidelines, to movie lines, generations and now the current combiner wars and titans return.

All of this had lulls inbetween, as well as slow sales moments and later booms of new material with rebranding and parsing their time as well as spreading out the releases. Recouping costs where they could to come back later with bigger and better.

Power Core combiners to combiner wars for example is about the same comparison of the AoU line now to what the infinity war 2 year movie cycle could be. The difference being that instead of having it be side toy lines in post movie years, it's the actual blockbuster movie lines themselves.

You have to balance what can sell now, versus what'll sell in high volume later. While also still pushing what major retailers are saying they want.

I've been watching the 3.75'' marvel markets since they started. The same for the Transformers markets. And if you go over that, you see hasbro's habits. What's cut where to do bigger later to generate larger sales.

One thing that did set us back was the Avengers Assemble Shieldtech line. If the sales of that were stronger, we might still have that line doing more villains. Instead, it got canned by retailers before the 3rd wave even hit shelves, which is why the Clint Barton, Nick Fury, and The Leader figure were discount stores. To clear those out of inventory of the warehouse hasbro took a hit on sales because major retailers weren't ordering them. But that's also a cartoon line. Not a blockbuster movie line. Blockbuster movie lines if expected to sell, move high volumes of merchandise so major retailers can't ignore those. Especially on proven franchises like Marvel and Transformers that have a great track record of strong sales on blockbuster films.

Whereas something like ID4-2 doesn't because the only market data of that is from the 90s. So it's unproven entirely as a draw. DC has the opposite problem as the Green Lantern movie didn't quite move the volume expected and neither did Man of Steel, so they are trying to find new ways to bring that market back. If BVS sales were strong, that one would grow, but they seem awfully mixed, so that makes whatever we get for Justice League a who knows factor because it doesn't have the market strength for retailer demand with the lack of a proven track record.

Then you also have to factor what the retailer focuses are on right now. The current market has them focused on role play toys and video games. Physical interactive stuff for active children. This has happened previously too prior to 2009, so the turn back to figures for the market should be in a few years. Which conveniently is also when the infinity war movies hit.

So looking at this data where the market is focused and should re-focus later based on sales, the best course of action is to provide material that can be cost-efficient to bolster the budget later when the stronger sales should be present because of market trends.

We saw this dip coming back when hasbro had to talk TRU into getting the newer comic packs that had the future foundation figures among others. Comic Packs were already getting dropped by retailers around then, and the market was slowly turning away from action figure sales. The masterpiece fin fang foom was canceled because retailers didn't want to order it. Consumed too much shelf-space at too little of a profits return rate when they could put other merchandise there in higher quantities that does move.

It's not "blind faith in hasbro" or even "putting them on a pedestal." It's looking at the actual market info we have present from past and current trends and where the market should go next and how best to capitalize on that. Essentially, it's you have to think like how hasbro would do business to make the most money based on market climate, and when that climate will change and how best to use that change to market your material to bolster sales for larger revenue returns.

Hasbro is a business. Their business is to make money. We think like collectors and consumers. We want immediacy and don't look at the bigger market, hasbro has to look at the bigger market because that is their corporate portfolio. So we're thinking about it wrong in how we harass and name call them as opposed to realizing they want to make money and give the market what it wants, but it's a matter of where the best retailer support will be for that and how.

The action figure market is cutting back currently to the point even other companies see that. This is why Ben 10 hasn't been on shelves for a bit too now. Sales are low, so retailers don't want the line, and are waiting for actual demand to come back up for them to decide it warrants more merchandise. You have to look at the market as a whole. Not our narrow band fan views and demands.

Titans Returns over in Transformers seems to be doing well though while Combiner wars itself has created a backlog stop gap. It needed the rebranding to sidestep the backlog, and get back on shelves. If the sales continue to maintain strong, then the retailers will want to order more and open up more peg space for it and other transformers lines.

This is what we're seeing with marvel too. A good blockbuster movie line, which a 2 year cycle will need, will open up more peg space and stronger retailer support. So right now is creating demand for later and keeping the fans as satiated as the can where they can until they have the open room to do bigger again with having the stronger retailer support.

GOTG was unproven, as was Ant-man. Age of Ultron was balancing with those retailers unsure of the line strength because of all this talk of market over-saturation on superheroes. It was rapid fire after already some big sales years and some overstock already needing to get clearanced out. Deadpool though created a new demand thought that may carryover to Wolverine 3 in retailers wanting merchandise, but that's also an unknown because of the whole rated R thing. Which means retailers may want more X-Men based figures around that time for the comic lines. Infinity War on the other hand has got a massive amount of hype behind it as it's the culmination of all the mcu movies from start to now. They'll definitely want to support that because the sales will be there.

Like I said, market trends and consumer buying habits is what we have to look at. We're roughly 10% of the sales, if even that. But larger exposure and growth is creating more demand and broadening the support. Blockbuster films are the best junction point for large pushes then because it provides the largest amount of sales across the board.

[ukmu]

I would like to step forward and nominate Dwight Stall for humanitarian of the year.....

Wait, where's my ballot. Must have left it under my big pile of market research papers.

I will agree to disagree and bow out. Me and K-Dub are gonna go ride our unicorns on reality island now.

I for one would like to nuke Hasbro HQ. Pretty sure it's next to George Bush's house....

[ukmu]

Oh...that Stryfe is bad ass. Perhaps the best version of that character I have seen.

NAILED IT.... hashtag that