You really can't acknowledge that there are parents at both ends of the spectrum? Because some marketing person once told you something or something?

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If the less articulated MU figures actually sold at the price point you describe in any store that also sold the more articulated figures at the higher price point, your example might have some bearing on the discussion (or reality). But the only place I've seen the 5PoA MU figures selling for close to $6 (actually $6.99) is Dollar General, and they don't carry the more articulated MU figures (some of those DGs do also carry more articulated G.I. Joes at the same $6.99 price point, but those are hard to find becaus they sell through quickly).

The far more common scenario is going to be 5PoA versions of Iron Man 3 figures in close proximity to more articulated IM2 figures and even MU versions of the character (because Modular Armor Iron Man is still clogging pegs at most of the Targets in the three major Midwestern cities I check regularly), all at the SAME price point.

Might parents who aren't aware of the articulation differences between the figures grab the ones with fewer PoA because of how they're displayed or advertised? Sure. But price won't play a role in that comparative purchase decision...at least until the IM3 figures are clearanced to $4.99 each.

I never understood where this idea that parents just lumber into a toy aisle, grab the first, cheapest thing they can find, and then leave comes from. Some parents ARE concerned with things like quality and fun-factor. In fact, I would say most of them are. Now, they may not value the same things we do (for instance, light and sound may be bigger selling points to them than rocker ankles), but they do care. They're not always just looking for the nearest, cheapest thing to throw at the kid to shut them up. I know many more parents who would rather spend a few dollars extra on a toy that will last (both in terms of physical quality and keeping the kid's interest) than save a few dollars on something that the kids will get bored with. If you don't believe me, go on Amazon (or any other toy selling site with reviews) and read all the parents complaining about things like the Shield Helicarrier or the other Avengers vehicles for lacking play features, figures with good articulation (the Avengers drivers have the same articulation as these IM3) and general quality, most of them boiling down to "I'm pissed off I bought something that my kid got tired of an hour later.

....But then again, I don't have any SECRET INFORMATION to back any of that up, so it's probably safe to ignore.

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I also think the current generation of young parents, dads in particular are more versed in toys than ours were.

Just because a guy doesn't post on board about GI Joes, doesn't men he doesn't still love the ones he had a s a kid. I know tons of people my age wo have never ventured on a toy board, never gone to a con, never considered themselves a collector, yet they still collect. Either through their kids toys or just to hav a handful of figures of their favorite characters.

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sorry guys, this response just in...

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Today's parents of young kids are probably from our generation so they live and played through the evolution of action figures from Adventure People and Kenner's SW figures to the more articulated GI Joe.

Like many of us back then, they probably looked at their Secret Wars Iron Man figure and wished it was as poseable as their GI Joe figures so to notice this huge backward step today might direct them towards another toy.

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Where did I say that?

You know what? I don't care. You believe whatever you want. Nothing I say is obviously going to make a difference here and people are going to hate Hasbro/FunPub/Matt Damon no matter what. They could be handing out bricks of gold to homeless people and someone would complain that the bricks were too rectangular or something. Maybe if people would stop looking for reasons to maintain their hate-erection and pay attention to the information you're given, you'd know all this damn stuff already. If your reality is so dependent on the belief that they're the most evil and incompetent people alive, then you just go right on and do that. I certainly don't want to ruin your perfect little world.


Go to hell.

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Pump the brakes bro.

I might think groups like Hasbro, and fun pub lie through their teeth in a meek attempt to keep fanboys in line. I might think a large corporation like Hasbro exploits its workers and rises price based on what they know people will spend, all while using forced scarcity to make their products seem more appealing, or sought after. I might think a group like fun publications should not call themselves a club, since clearly that is not what they are.

but how dare you infer that I have issue with Matt Damon. He's an American treasure.

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Aaaand that's enough of that. Pyre, in blatant violation of the site's respect rule, I'm forced to issue an official warning. Everyone else, cool it off lest the thread be locked down.



And "LASER BLAST" dude, you leave Matt Damon out of this. He could Jason Bourne us all into the next big thing.

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This thread has turned out to be very productive!



This is a really good point. The generation of dudes who are having kids right now are probably more interested and well-versed in toys than any before them. I have a bunch of friends who've had kids in the last few years, and they've all mentioned how much they're looking forward to the point when the kids are old enough to start playing with, as one of them put it, interesting toys. Most of these guys aren't collectors or hobbyists; they're just dudes with good memories of Joes, Transformers, etc. And they're certainly smart enough and observant enough to be aware of what they're buying and how it stacks up to the toys they remember. I'm pretty sure most of you guys know plenty of people who feel the same way. So, yeah, I think a lot of parents will know the difference. Whether they're the majority or not is hard to say, but there are a lot more who do than just hard-core toy collectors.

...I don't really understand how "Hasbro is making bad decisions which seem to be based on faulty logic" is the same as "Hasbro is basically Hitler." And I don't think it takes an industry inside to realize that selling an inferior product at the same price you were selling superior products isn't a going to go over well with your consumers. And especially in this case, where there have been multiple Iron Man figures available in the very recent past, parents are going to notice the distinct drop in quality. They may not put it in terms of articulation, but they're not blind, and they will notice that their $10 is buying a much different figure now than it did a few months ago.

...and also....



Unless you're going to pull off your mask and reveal yourself as head of Hasbro market research or something, the "information" you're giving us isn't information at all, it's conjecture. You don't "know" any more than any of us, so stop acting like you're delivering the gospel truth and we're just too dumb to listen.

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To be fair, he did admit earlier in this thread that he may not know what he's talking about. I just kind of feel like that quote should be sig'ed under his name so that every time he goes off on one of these uninformed rants everyone can keep his opinions in the proper perspective.

those new power rangers have pretty decent articulation too.


it is clear that hasbro has seen their "main" competitor put out happy meal toys attached to a film, and been successful enough that it made them go that route too. even as the bulk of us mock those toys there were still plenty of us lining up to get to them. Maybe it is for the love of a character, maybe the love of toys in general, or the love for DC... but maybe it many ways it is just addiction. the new thing to have the new figure to chase. as long as hasbro and matty can keep us chasing figures, and get casual fans and parents to buy stuff attached to an over hyped block buster, then why would they change? Why would movies get any better? Sure Nic Cage is horrible, but he is a big name, he'll have another blockbuster...one day. People keep lining up to eat crap they'll keep feeding it to us. and there will always be some guy on some board quoting some PR line defending a company they think can do no wrong.

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