Case contents shenanigans
 

I'm not happy about the way Hasbro is choosing to fill out their upcoming cases. 2012 Series 1 case contains:

• Ultimate Spider-Man x2
• Beta Ray Bill x2
• Astonishing Beast x2
• Kraven the Hunter x2
• Hulk (new sculpt) x2
• Ghost Rider (reissue) x1
• Incredible Hulk (reissue) x1

This is all well and good. In a twelve figure case, each of the five new figures get two slots. Retail buyers get a good chance of buying each new figure.

The problem is with 2012 Series 2:

• Shattered Dimension Spider-Man x2
• Punisher (new sculpt) x2
• She-Hulk x2
• Scarlet Witch x1
• Kang the Conqueror x1
• Ghost Rider (reissue) x1
• Falcon (reissue) x1
• Modern Thor (reissue) x1
• Spider-Man (reissue) x1

In this case not all new figures are distributed in equal numbers and this makes Scarlet Witch and Kang the Conqueror chase figures. :mad2

BigBadToyStore.com has noticed and adjusted their prices accordingly. Preorder for a Wave 1 case was $109.99 and Wave 2 is a slight increase at $114.99. But the discrepancy is really pronounced if you only wanted the five new figures from each case. The five new Wave 1 figures were $54.99 whereas the five new Wave 2 figures are a whopping $79.99! That's $16 a figure! :eek:

I planned on waiting until these waves hit retail anyway because I don't want all of the new figures in each wave, I have all the Spider-Men I'll ever need thank you very much. But I don't like the idea that Scarlet Witch and Kang are going to be super hard to find because of these shenanigans.

I was planning on preordering the five new figures in Wave 3 (Nova, Angel, Hercules, Puck, and Nighthawk) because I want them all. But if Wave 3 suffers from similar shenanigans and mark-ups I won't.

What's the deal Hasbro? Why is it so difficult to give each case doubles of the five new figures? :confused:

taken from BBTS's facebook page:

"BigBadToyStore: ‎2 issues- Hasbro raised prices on all 3.75" figures on July 1, that has a small effect, the main issue is that Wave 1 had 2 sets of 5 per case, wave 2 has 1 set of 5 per case (with more old / unneeded figures instead) - so we have less viable product per case, higher cost per product and a need to recoup our investment on the case that can only come through selling the set of 5 - we are unsure how extra singles do as their past performance varies greatly
July 19 at 12:32pm"

explains case price hike and BBTS is prolly equally bummed that those figures are shortpacked since that means more chances to just be sitting on a glut of old product.

Hasbro's inability to recognize their distribution problems is not only making it hard for us to find figures but now we're paying the price. And not just with scalpers but now with the online retailers. I'm thinking more and more of selling off my collection and moving on to other hobbies. This is beyond unacceptable. Short packing figures does not help them or us. All they are doing is loosing money to scalpers and online retailers resulting in higher prices for their customers which only leads to more selective purchasing. I would buy more at retail if all my cash wasn't going to inflated prices and shipping cost. How the hell does this help Hasbro? And how can they still not see this.

So I just got off the phone with Hasbro's customer service and after making all the points we've gone over time and time again here, I was told that Hasbro has NO control over distribution. That Retailers and their distributers make all the decisions. If this is true, why would retailers choice the kind of assortments that leave so much product on shelves for so long? Why would they re-order products that don't move at the expense of items that are new and in high demand?

I think we are all familiar with the kids not being interested excuse, but from my personal experiences and what I've heard from here over the years, this is BS. We all know if these figures were more evenly distributed most would be picked up. This would also leave us with more cash on hand to afford other figures.

So what's the deal? Do you guys think there's a demand? Do you guys know if I'm getting the run around from Hasbro or do all are problems stem from the retailers and their distributers? If this is true than hasbro would have warehouses full of the short packed figures. And as we know retail shelves are commonly known to have a problem with peg warmers. So much that some retailers have dropped lines because of the leftover stock. None of this adds up.

We all live in various parts of the states and most of us seem to have the same problems and see the same figures peg warming across the country.

My last point to the customer service rep was that Hasbro should have a presence on sites like the Ark. That ignoring this large of a national demographic is a waste of existing resources. And should be utilized for whatever benefit it might have.

I'm no expert, I'm wondering what you guys think.

I agree with you, i've had the luck of getting everything either at retail for a reasonable price, or my rare figures from fellow arkers. I'd say screw retail and we just trade amongst each other. I don't like driving anyway.


I have had to resort to ebay for a few guys...MOE pack, my AA, Im2 mandarin

However, some chinese ebay sellers are convenient.


On the opposite side, i'd been building a batman rogues collection. NOT CHEAP. Anybody complaing about a couple dollars extra on MU figures has never had to spend money for DC guys.

As for people who buy the "newest" figures the Philippines or wherever, it is an impatient tax and that's what you get to be the "coolest" guy on toy ark for about 5 minutes.

I'm only after Beast so I'm not that bothered, I'm afraid.

Thats a load. I want all of the new figures but not at 16$ a fig. I will be forced to try and find them at retail or scalper prices. I hope all the other Arkers interested in all the new figures will help out by picking up everything extra they find for trade.

I've said it before, but I guess I will have to say it again: case assortments and distribution are not the same thing.

The Hasbro rep is 100% that Hasbro does not control retail distribution. They do, however, control the ratios within the case assortments. The assortment ratios are mostly based on perceived popularity (i.e. retail demand). But Hasbro cannot control when/if retailers get a particular wave/assortment since it all depends on when the retailer orders product from Hasbro.

This is why Hasbro does case revisions. It it their way of trying to balance out the saturation levels of their products at retail and attempt to counteract the effects of retail distribution (and that horrendous POS system).

So if you must throw blame around, then blame Walmart, Target and co. for their distribution and Hasbro for their assortment ratios.

Finally, someone with the same opinion as myself! If figures were "stocked" individually by retailers (and sold individually by Hasbro to retailers) then there would be less of a problem. They could see what isn't selling and not reorder that particular figure (see: Falcon, Absorbing Man etc)

Yup. Blame the retail outlets also for what they keep saying they want that they think the customer wants.

So all the blame falls on retail outlets and Hasbro's marketing department for listening/not doing proper research into what sells. All that is out of the MU team's hands and they have no control over it.

This is exactly what the Hasbro rep said. And as for case assortments, she said they had nothing to do with them as-well. She basically said they send the distributers the product and they make out the case assortments and ship to retailers. Which makes no since because as far as I know all retailers get the same assortments from their distributers.

None of this adds up. Wouldn't retailers have varying demand?

I think we all should contact Hasbro and communicate our dissatisfaction with their distribution. And suggest they make some effort to address the situation. That we only want the opportunity to support the line. And that having to resort to ebay prices and shipping costs only leaves us with less cash on hand to buy more of their products.

I can't even begin to imagine how much money I've spent on third party sellers. I would have no problem buying items like the Quinjet, Helicarrier, variants, and figures I'm less interested in if all my money didn't go to paying these inflated prices. I would also buy GI Joe figures and vehicles to accompany my MU collection. Another plus for Hasbro.

Making more products available on HTS would be a great first step.