[trebleshot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by flaccideagle

They're actually one of(if not the) biggest toy maker in the world, with a global presence. If you look at what they offer in the US vs. other countries, there are some big differences in what is offered. The stuff we adult collectors focus on is the stuff more oriented towards the US market. Adult collectors in the EU might be a bigger thing there as they are significantly more expensive in those countries, and aren't the "impulse buys" they are for adults and kids alike in the US. They're way too expensive to be playthings nowadays there, and kids generally have zero interest.

And as I said, Hasbro plans toy lines for the US market, not other countries. Yes, they sell toys all over the world - most successful toy companies do that. But Hasbro's toy lines are always done for the US market first. Then their regional sub-dvisions (Hasbro Canada, Hasbro UK, Hasbro Germany, etc) plan around that based on their own market needs. Which is one of the main reasons why some countries don't get some of the releases in a toy line that the US does.

Takara-Tomy does the same thing. They make toys for the Japanese market, even though the toys are sold around the world through importers and online re-sellers.

Quote:

I don't know about that at all. There are a lot of the same, popular toys offered for kids as in the US and EU. For all ages, and they're pretty popular.

Well, of course anyone can buy a toy. My point is Hasbro actually aims for a far younger crowd than adult collectors.

Quote:

Far fewer children are playing with toys now regardless of country. I don't have kids, but every time I'm on an airplane, at someone's house, far more iPads than Transformers are in the kids hands. Everyone's experience will be different. One of my friends doesn't let his kid touch electronics, video games or TV so they of course have lots of toys. Another, has never owned an action figure.

I don't doubt your experiences, but as you said mine are different. And the only reason I mentioned it is to counter the "kids don't play with toys anymore - only adults buy them" hyperbole that seems to crop up whenever these discussions arise.

Quote:

The Japanese lines you mentioned are aimed at adults, just like the US ones I mentioned earlier are, and are better compared to Sideshow or NECA offerings than mass-market like Hasbro.

I think you misunderstood. I mentioned those Japanese toy companies specifically as a counterpoint or contrast to Hasbro, not as a comparison.

Quote:

I'd have to differ on that. You're right about kids dropping stuff, but I think you're skewing toy collectors a little young. Most collectors I've seen, since the 90's if not earlier, they start in their late-teens, early twenties, and most tucker out around 30ish, when they again "move on". Same for comics, and lots of other hobbies.

I guess I was using the term "collect" more loosely than you, but I agree. I wouldn't say an eight-year-old is a collector in the same vein as a twenty-something. I don't expect them to have an MISB collection, set up dioramas, buy multiples of the same toy due to variants. But if they buy toys or get them as gifts, in one sense they're collecting toys. If there's a better term to describe it, I'll be happy to use it instead.

Quote:

You're right, but this years 6-inch line of Star Wars (not to mention calling it "Black Series"- 6yo kids do not get the signifigance of the name like an adult would ) and the new Mission line indicates a 2-pronged shift rather than the "all in one for everyone" approach of the past. As evidenced by walking into a toys r us, in action figures, the market is slowly shifting to a collector-driven one, while children tend to buy other things.

And I feel that's the only way for them to move forward and continue to be successful. Unfortunately for us, it means prices are going to continue to go up, up, up, while the quality and engineering/articulation may stay relatively the same for quite some time.

Quote:

I'm willing to wager they do significant research on all three.

I don't see how that's possible, considering Hasbro sells toys by the case (not individually) and most mass-market retailers do not keep track of statistics on individual toys, such as the age of the buyers and why they are buying a particular toy or toys.

Oh, I'm sure they do marketing surveys and the like to gauge interest as part of their R&D process. But that also means they would already have a target demographic in mind when they conduct the research.

Even still, it does nothing to show them the demographic breakdown of the groups who actually buy the toys at retail. Which is why I say it's all speculation on who is the larger purchasing group: parents/kids or collectors. Well, at least until someone conducts an exit interview with everyone who buys a Hasbro toy.

(And I'm sure the Venn diagram of those interview stats will show some overlap since some collectors are parents, such as myself).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iceman

What about all those capsule toys in Japan? I thought those were everywhere and mostly what the kids bought as opposed to going to stores.

That's a whole different level of discussion. If we include that in this convo, then we'd also have to bring in all the other toys and knick-knacks sold in gum ball and other assorted vending machines in the US and other markets as well. Because those are the domestic equivalent of Japanese capsule toys. The only difference I see is that the capsule toys are arguably of better quality.