No. RoC Baroness didn't sell because RoC wave 1 DIDN'T SELL. None of them sold well at all.

Billy, I understand my example is nothing more than just that. And I agree that on the big picture of female figure sales, the retailers are to blame arguably more so than Hasbro. That is of course distinct from the specific Zarana question in most ways, which is a Hasbro issue, but still a very valid point which spoke to what I said.

I also agree there's some overzealous rage being displayed, but I still tend to think it's mostly simple frustration amplified by the internet. That particular figure handled in that particular way - I can see how collectors emotionally invested in this hobby can feel a bit stepped on - mainly because it seems like such an unnecessary sleight (real or perceived). End of the day, we all have bigger problems to worry about? Sure. And I think that's what you're saying also - keep it in perspective. Can't argue with that.

Anyway, I personally appreciate the diverse female figs as fodder. So I'm disappointed if the Zarana mold doesn't gain wide release. But if I were a collector, I could see where that disappointment would be amplified. And hell, sometimes you feel better just typing it out in the midst of other people with similar interests, and that act alone helps you gain perspective.

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So did anyone receive any shipping notices yet?

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Actually, no, I didn't think it would happen again, a simple reason is that MOST companies try to avoid making the same mistake twice. Mistakes happen and that's a given, but companies know they have to maintain a reputation, most costomers will forgive one mistake, however that same mistake keeps happening the customers will just stop buying product out of frustration. A company is only as good as it's reputation, that's Business 101.

As for entitlement, how is it entitlement to expect an online store to run efficently? Without constantly crashing every few minutes and causeing everyone to lose out on the "chance" for these exclusives. Last year was actually better because you could get through if you were persistant, but this year it didn't pay to keep trying, that was the fail, and a business is only as good as it's last failure.




Ms. Marvel, Slave Leia, Mara Jade, Agent Helix,

Point is for every name of a bad selling female I could probably pull out the names of good sellers. And if this rational were true, Hasbro would quit producing Storm Shadows, The ROC ones lingered everywhere and everywhere. I still find them all the time.



Really, funny how Scarlett Witch and She Hulk are going to be coming out in the same wave. I think you need to look again at the MU offerings for this year (also you need th check case ratios, that "case pack out doesn't favor them" is simply untrue, there were just as many Ms. Marvels, Kitty Pryde's Black Widows, Mystiques, ect, ect as there wer the other new figs in the cases. Actually the most recent shortages were Cyclops and Cabe-Both dudes).




Said it before and I will say it again, there is no measure to who is buying what out there, NO ONE knows.

But IF hasbro want to cater to the kids, why is thier marketing directed ONLY at the adult collector market, Marketing 101-you market to your primary audience, and they simply do not do that.

Was the same mistake they consistently make with the Transformers movie toys; they massively over bought the first wave, and didn't have room for any newer waves for months.Though, the last of the Baronesses did finally sell, long before the last of the Destros, Storm Shadows, and all those Neo Vipers.

So many Neo Vipers.... *shakes*

Anyway, I've noticed that in the last five years or so, that I've been paying attention to the line, that the worst of the shelf worming girls, seem to still sell out before the last of the "Big Name These Guys Sell Lots" figures. Hasbro keeps telling us that "Girls don't sell." Yet, they keep turning out figs that sell even worse.

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THEY DO.

If you have an item in your cart, it should be yours unless you take it out of your cart.

/end.

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If Hasbro doesn't owe their customers good service, then exactly what do they owe, and to whom?

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Couldn't agree more. Putting it in your cart should at least entitle you to a "hold" on the item till you can check out.

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While I agree with this, I don't think it would have helped in this case as many people couldn't get past the second stage of checkout without getting an error message.

The issue on Tuesday was more technological than philosophical.

I couldn't get the site to load in time for me to get a Sentinel before he sold out. Didn't want to waste those groupons though, so around 2PM EST I managed to very easily buy the Indiana Jones exclusive for a total cost of about $43 shipped to me.

Just checked the going rates on eBay, and the Indy set runs about the same as a Sentinel. So chances are I'll basically be getting the Sentinel for the same price I would have paid on HTS, just with a little more middleman involved. I have no problem with this.

It was strongly hinted at the con that the exclusive Sentinel deco wasn't going to stay exclusive. So that version may be seen at retail.

I got my tracking number an hour ago.

Like I had mentioned before, the only way I got through was having 2 computers running with IE and Firefox on both loading, and my Ipad. I had 5 options going and would have loaded Chrome if I didn't finally get through on a Firefox load for 1 regular version Zarana. It took til just before that version sold out to get through. I was getting error messages all around on just about every page. An of course when the Skystriker sold out I had to go back and remove that, then the other Zarana sold out so I had to remove that. I think sold out items should ahve automatically dumped out of the cart.

But yeah it was a pain and I almost gave up. I learned the trick of hammering a page through all the times of trying to order from Mattel. 1 browser and 1 computer just does not work. I still don't know how scalpers get in so easy though and place multiple orders.

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Asking an online store to operate in the same way as a real store? SHOCKING! I know if someone came up to my cart in a store and just took something out "because I haven't paid for it yet" I'd be annoyed, probably beyond annoyed and I think anyone would too. An online store should operate the same or there's no advantage to buying online.

I think another HUGE flaw with HTS, Matty and the like is they have high quantity limits because they are only concerned with fast sales and not the fans, loyal customers. The only reason anyone needs 10 of an item is if most are to resell. I know some people but for overseas customers but admit it, most people buying the full quantity are scalpers or online stores. I think a maximum quantity of 3 would be best and it'd please me to see Matty stop worrying about selling out in an hour to scalpers to see them drop their limits to 3. It'd ensure more actual interested collectors and such can buy them. It should not be the responsibility of Hasbro, Mattel or anyone else to ensure resellers get stock. HELL, the video game industry is livid over people selling used games for less than retail but the toy industry seems okay with people selling for above? These aren't wholesale goods meant for retailers, these are retail goods and should be treated as such.

I know Target has signs posted stating that toys are limited in quantity per customer to keep people from buying up entire stock. That's because they don't want someone buying up all the Star Wars or Hot Wheels and leaving none for the kids or the genuine fans who want one for a personal collection. I do not see online selling knocking out retail stores anytime soon if they can't operate on the same principles.

Maybe we are acting entitled, entitled to some sort of basic respect as customers for wanting to give these people money. Can't find most of it in stores? Great. So the stores that make these supposed demands of case packs won't stock them even when Hasbro gives in, then why do it? I'm not even convinced Hasbro considered offering Zarana to retail, either carded, in a multi-pack or in any form. I think they went straight for SDCC knowing it'd maximize profits with a minimal production run. I say that because about a week after they said "we will work our butts off to get this at retail and SDCC will be a last resort"... it took almost no time to confirm it as SDCC. But would it have mattered if stores are barely stocking the retail stuff anyway? I'm concerned that Walmart all but dropped them and Hasbro had no clue. Or maybe Zarana will be like SDCC TF Blaster or ROC 12" Baroness, suddenly showing up in quantity at Ollies or some other discount chain in a year or so. If Slaughter or ROC Destro shows up at a discount chain, I'm not sure it'd surprise me.

And going back to the MLP examples I posted... there are a lot of people on the Ponychan board ticked at Hasbro for the constant wrong-colored Celestia, Rainbow Dash repaint as Fluttershy and numerous other things. Hasbro is paying a lot of money to animate the cartoon yet they can't even watch it? If Hasbro started making the Joe line with the same level of care they make MLP, there'd probably be a riot.

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Damn those wrongly coloured ponies!

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