[Kirathis]

Been thinking about this for awhile and I wonder how Hasbro would fare doing a joint exclusive between their SDCC booth and HTS during SDCC. It did not seem like they limited the boxes to 1 or 2 at the booth, although I am basing that on the pics I see from people with 3 or 4 so I could be wrong. Anyone know for sure?

I completely understand the idea of convention exclusives. However, not everyone can make it to SDCC for any number of reasons. Heck, this year's con sold out in less than an hour and a half. Maybe they should try something like limiting the set on the first day or two to 1 or 2 both at the booth and on HTS. Sure enterprising people at SDCC could buy two there and two online but that would give everyone else a reasonable chance too. Then open up the limit at the con for the rest of the days. Sell any left-over stock on HTS after that. There are always new collectors or returnees like me. I would easily fork over money to Hasbro for a decently priced 2013 Thunderbolts set.

I would honestly even be willing to pay a reasonable premium for a chance to just order the current year's exclusive on HTS during SDCC. Say $100 at SDCC and $120 on HTS. I am fine with paying a little more when I did not make the trip and having them ship it to me. Plus it gives Hasbro some more income and every bit helps to keep the line going. I am fine with paying them the money, not so fine with paying someone online who bought a bunch just to cash in.

This also somewhat feeds into some other thoughts I have been having for a while. First off, does anyone ever see a parent buy a Legends figure for their kid when you are in the stores? I have never seen it. At $20+ it seems like more of an adult collector line than something parents buy for their kids. If that is the case, the whole idea that double packing figures like Iron Man in the Guardians line for his kid recognizability is a bit off. I would also think the need for the cheapo lines would be less if parents were buying up Legends for their kids all the time.

I would also personally be OK with just buying the line directly from HTS and bypassing stores all together. I understand why they still sell through stores (to a point) and also why there are store exclusives but I have to wonder how well the sales would do as an HTS only brand. Of course this would have to be different for the countries who get the lines but where HTS does not ship. Still a thought.

That idea feads into the fact that figures such as the infamous Cap 2 Black Widow were virtually impossible to find in stores thanks to the short pack, BAF requirement and apparent belief that female figures still do not sell. Sure, I wanted the BAF piece but I also wanted a damn nice Black Widow. It seems from comments here and elsewhere that many others were in the same boat. Really the biggest thing seems to be that the supply vs demand is off for a number of figures. I am sure it is not easy to tell what will and will not sell well but I really wonder about the possibility of a better system than exists today.

I am sure my ideas are riddled with holes that someone could drive a truck through. Even so, I am curious to see what everyone else's thoughts are.