by Autobot032 » Sun Dec 02, 2007 6:35 am
- Weapon: Switch Blade Tail
I got to thinking about something (perhaps we've covered this, I don't know) and it dawned on me that they're most likely holding the toy line back so as not to run into another shortage like they did this year with the Movie line.
1.) Loose and packaged figures are hitting eBay already. If it was due out in June, these specimens would hit closer to the release date. (Tells me they've already got batches of the figures pre-made, but they're waiting for more so they can *FLOOD* the shelves and not hear about any shortages.)
2.) As stated before, many of the new lines premiere in the late Summer/early Fall season, and this one would be way too early. (I think it would also be the first of the TF lines to do that as well. IIRC...all of the TF lines, from the '80s on came out in the fall.)
3.) As stated before, the Movie line is still out there and they most likely don't want to have to compete one against the other in terms of sales. (Makes sense too, I mean the Movie line is dying a slow death and coming to an end, and Animated is their main focus. Gives it more of a wide berth and breathing room on it's own.)
4.) Classics/Universe 2.0 is definitely coming out this fall and will have it's own spot on the shelves, but it'll still compete with Animated. (Difference is...the Movie line HAS to make money and they have to move it now, now, now. Contracts and whatnot. Whereas they can take their sweet time with C/U2.0 and let it build in popularity due to us collectors. Oh sure, kids will want a piece of that pie as well, but not as much with Animated plastered on their screens.)
Now, if this *is* the case, and they're holding it back to meet demand...it's a baaaaad idea.
The Movie did stellar box office business with big names attached to it, which helped the adults get into buying the figures. The robots were a hit with people of all ages, especially the kids who were the main buying force of the line. If it wasn't a collector or parent or other adult, it was a kid and they all wanted a Movie figure. (As evidenced by the empty shelves on Black Friday....after a full balls to the wall restock, the likes of which I've never seen before.)
Animated doesn't have a movie to push it through. Collectors are polarized on it. A lot of adults will be turned off by the aesthetics.
Will it sell? Sure. Will it do as well as the Movie line? No.
Because of this, if they plan to meet demand (and a little over) will it raise hell on the pegs and shelves and restocks will be few and far between (especially on subsequent waves)? Yes.
There's the problem. We're gonna be stuck with shelves full of these figures because they'll want to meet the demand of the public, but I think they'll sorely overestimate the demand and we will suffer for it.
Alternators suffered to make room for the current big lines at the time (Armada, Energon, Cybertron) and most people didn't even get to see half of the Alternator figures that were for sale.
For example, the Wal-Mart in Hermitage had Alternators Optimus Prime, Mirage, Ravage and Rumble, but most times even if they were in stock (which was rare) you couldn't find 'em. No room because the pegs and shelves were covered in Cybertron stuff. In fact, the Ravage & Rumble Alts weren't even in the Toys Department. No, they were in the seasonal foods aisle on the other side of the friggin' store and no one paid attention to them. Dust collected, so they move a few over to Toys, they sold out almost instantly, the people were directed over to foods, then (and only then, weeks later) were they finally sold out. (although they are sitting on one last Rumble as we speak.)
The same thing will happen to C/U2.0 because of the space requirements of Animated. If we're even that lucky.
Now, I could be very, very, very wrong on all of this (and I'd like to be, so I'm crossing my fingers) but if I'm right...this is going to suck.
For everyone involved.
NOTE: Realize that I am not a perfect Christian, nor do I profess to be. I apologize if anyone's ever offended by me, I'm not perfect. Don't hold my posts and opinions against other Christians.
