The Energon Pub

With all the problem getting toys made in china into the united states. From what I'm able to find out shipment of toys from china are now being checked to make sure they meet american safetey laws, and if they don't then they are returned to china. What do you think this means for future shipments of transformer toys and the christmas holiday in general.

I think it's time American toy companies start making them at home. That would ensure a good product I think.
It would also ease the thoughts that the people making these toys are getting proper compensation.

There is a conversation in another thread about the cost of toys increasing by 10%. I would be more complacent with the increase if it was for increasing the wages of the workers
instead of independent panels testing for hazardous material
on toys, which shouldn't be an issue in the first place.

American safety laws are tough, sometimes I agree with them
sometimes I don't. If slowing down shipments to make sure
baby Bonnie doesn't put a poisonous Thomas the Tank Engine
in their mouths it is warranted.

DISCHARGE wrote:I think it's time American toy companies start making them at home. That would ensure a good product I think.

I personally would quit collecting if a Deluxe shot up to $30.00.

I just can't afford that.

shortround wrote:With all the problem getting toys made in china into the united states. From what I'm able to find out shipment of toys from china are now being checked to make sure they meet american safetey laws, and if they don't then they are returned to china. What do you think this means for future shipments of transformer toys and the christmas holiday in general.

Part of the blame can fall on the children's safety standards. Some of the standards are reasonable, ie: will this thing kill a kid if it falls off a shelf. Others are not, ie: will this missile take out an eye.

But really all toys going into the USA should be meeting the USA toy safety guidelines, that is why they were created. If The cheaply and mass produced Chinese made toys do not meet standards, the the companies who way the factories to make the toys should pay the extra $$ to get the toys made to meet the standards.

Fender Bender wrote:

DISCHARGE wrote:I think it's time American toy companies start making them at home. That would ensure a good product I think.

I personally would quit collecting if a Deluxe shot up to $30.00.

I just can't afford that.

I honestly don't think that would happen.

DISCHARGE wrote:

Fender Bender wrote:

DISCHARGE wrote:I think it's time American toy companies start making them at home. That would ensure a good product I think.

I personally would quit collecting if a Deluxe shot up to $30.00.

I just can't afford that.

I honestly don't think that would happen.

One article here said about a 10% increase in price to check things as they come here.

Overall I'm not in favour of globalization. I'd rather countries were more self reliant. I'd rather pay more for things and have less and know that I was supporting my neighbours work and not sweat shops in other countries. Also the environment laws are much more lax in those countries so long term saving a bit now may cost us in the future big time.

Fender Bender wrote:

DISCHARGE wrote:I think it's time American toy companies start making them at home. That would ensure a good product I think.

I personally would quit collecting if a Deluxe shot up to $30.00.

I just can't afford that.

Try living in Australia then we pay up to $25 US for a deluxe!

Not missing out on anything since the Movie toys are pretty poor quality and since they can be nowhere to be found, unless you like Transformers that don't transform.

But if this is happing now just think what will happen in 2008 when the new animated series comes out if china doesn't clean up it act or hasbro doesn't find another place to do it manufactoring with better safety laws. I don't see there being a toy line for upcoming animated series. What do you guys think is the next logical step in this whole thing is.

I wouldn't start worrying yet. Hasbro wasn't included in the 18 million recalls. It was all Mattel.

China wont stop making the figures, they just wont be allowed into the USA.

If Chinese made toys were banned, then Taiwan, India, Vietnam and about another dozen countries could all make the figures for a similar price instead.

If for one reason or another Hasbro could not make Transformers toylines, then they would not make the show. The show sells the toys, not the other way around.

DISCHARGE wrote:I think it's time American toy companies start making them at home. That would ensure a good product I think.
It would also ease the thoughts that the people making these toys are getting proper compensation.

There is a conversation in another thread about the cost of toys increasing by 10%. I would be more complacent with the increase if it was for increasing the wages of the workers
instead of independent panels testing for hazardous material
on toys, which shouldn't be an issue in the first place.

American safety laws are tough, sometimes I agree with them
sometimes I don't. If slowing down shipments to make sure
baby Bonnie doesn't put a poisonous Thomas the Tank Engine
in their mouths it is warranted.

Making toys here,"at home" is ridiculously expenspensive, though it would certainly help our economy and eliminate some unemployment. The thing is, it would also destroy the economy of those third world countries we take the jobs away from. Those people make a couple of dollars A DAY. without jobs, the would make NOTHING, contributing even more to world poverty.

And ultimately, like in any other business, extra fees/expenses in making a product are passed on to the consumer, just like buying a gas. Coincidentaly, oil prices are affecting toy prices because oil is used to make plastic.

Think about what it cost to ship those items across the ocean.
The money saved on that step alone would supplement the
cost paid to the home grown producer,
I'm sorry if this sounds bullish, but I am more for
increasing the wealth of the U.S. over any other country.

China isn't third world although some of it may look like it.
They are paid that because their government beats the people down and they take it out of fear.
Why should the world WANT to help that process?
Why not move all those factories to say Africa over China? They are in serious need of a boost to their economies over there.
Say "Hey guys, don't mess this up or we're out of here."

The major increase to the production of toys here would be
the wage paid to the employees.
I gotta go to work.

Gutsman Heavy wrote:

Fender Bender wrote:

DISCHARGE wrote:I think it's time American toy companies start making them at home. That would ensure a good product I think.

I personally would quit collecting if a Deluxe shot up to $30.00.

I just can't afford that.

Try living in Australia then we pay up to $25 US for a deluxe!

In Hungary, we must pay "only" $20 US to get one... It is even cheaper for us if we order them from US!

(At least we have cheap Alternators... Ravage only cost $27 )

DISCHARGE wrote:

Fender Bender wrote:

DISCHARGE wrote:I think it's time American toy companies start making them at home. That would ensure a good product I think.

I personally would quit collecting if a Deluxe shot up to $30.00.

I just can't afford that.

I honestly don't think that would happen.

I don't really want to think about how much it would cost to make a Transformer in America compared to China or Mexico. Why do you think this labor was outsourced in the first place? We're too damn expensive!

It Is Him wrote:I wouldn't start worrying yet. Hasbro wasn't included in the 18 million recalls. It was all Mattel.

But doesn't Hasbro make their toys in China? It usually seems to be the case with most toy companies nowadays. I read an article in the newspaper by a columnist who tried to find a toy that was not made in China, and it was really hard.

If Hasbro makes their stuff in China, I would love to know what items are possibly made in sweatshops. I don't to get an item made by sweatshop labor.

Damn you all and your knowledge of your own civil rights!
If you didn't know those, we could get cheap toys made in the USA!





If it stops in China, it'll just shift to Africa, India, Vietnam etc etc.
There are plenty of other countries more than happy to make cheap toys for little money. Don't forget that things are cheaper to buy in some of these places.

Fender Bender wrote:

DISCHARGE wrote:I think it's time American toy companies start making them at home. That would ensure a good product I think.

I personally would quit collecting if a Deluxe shot up to $30.00.

I just can't afford that.

Don't worry - Deluxe toys will stay at $10. They'll just shrink down to the size/quality of the Legends line.

DISCHARGE wrote:Think about what it cost to ship those items across the ocean.
The money saved on that step alone would supplement the
cost paid to the home grown producer,

I would be REALLY surprised if the cost of freight ends up being more than 50 cents a figure. That small amount of difference isn't going to make up for the difference in wages between the US and China.

I changed the title of the this topic so it was more accurate of what may happen in the near future. Were already starting to see it with the lack of movie toys at location around the world as well as in on-line stores.

shortround wrote:I changed the title of the this topic so it was more accurate of what may happen in the near future. Were already starting to see it with the lack of movie toys at location around the world as well as on on-line stores.

That's not necessarily true. Transformers is a total gold mine for Hasbro right now with the movie. They've already invested time, energy and money into TF Animated. And they know that the Classics is a total gold mine on the side for them as well. It would take more than lead paint scandals with other toy makers to stop the continuation of Transformers.

This thread's just a lot of baseless and paranoid speculation, nothing more than that. If anything happens and assuming there are no actual lead paint problems with Hasbro, it's just going to be that 10% price hike hinted at in the news due to more extensive testing. Transformers is not dead or even in danger at the height of its popularity.

Sheesh.

DISCHARGE wrote:Think about what it cost to ship those items across the ocean.
The money saved on that step alone would supplement the
cost paid to the home grown producer,
I'm sorry if this sounds bullish, but I am more for
increasing the wealth of the U.S. over any other country.

China isn't third world although some of it may look like it.
They are paid that because their government beats the people down and they take it out of fear.
Why should the world WANT to help that process?
Why not move all those factories to say Africa over China? They are in serious need of a boost to their economies over there.
Say "Hey guys, don't mess this up or we're out of here."

The major increase to the production of toys here would be
the wage paid to the employees.
I gotta go to work.

The reason so much work is sent out over seas is because like it or not, americans don't produce good quality products and the labor laws here are very strict.

We claim to be all about capitalism down with communism and such, and preach it around the world until someone outstrips us like Japan in the 80's then we pout about how “amurcn” (insert good ole’ boy accent, or Yankee labor worker, it is your choice) goods are best and how we need that $30 and hour since we are special.

Even though “amurcn” cars and other goods are perceived by many Americans as being sub par to foreign cars and goods.

Just because we pay some one a lower wage in another country does not make it a sweatshop(our preconception), the global monetary exchange makes our currency vary around the world, if anything I think the 10% increase might be due to the falling dollar, and the fact that they are afraid to admit it.

Every one is blaming China for the poor cheap toys, when it was the U.S. company that paid for these items, it is their fault that they did not inspect their own goods, they more then likely paid for substandard product and got what they paid for.

It would be economic suicide for the Chinese just to decide to tasters choice their normal paint with lead. China is not an ignorant 3rd world country(as we perceive it ) they are a thriving economic power.

This is ridiculous when you question if a product is made in China when if you have any toys at all and you can not read China on the actual toy in front of you, that should show you how great our “amurcn” educational system is.

I say don't worry about any of this "gas gouging" like price speculation that was reported, if it happens it happens. Some stores in the U.S. (K.B Toys, K-mart, TRU kinda and the local Central store Meijer) already have a higher then the manufacturer suggested retail price on certain figures.

Since Hasbro is the I'd say toy giant of well..Toys like at the moment Blizzard is the leading company of games with WoW (for now anyways) I wouldn't be suprised if Hasbro figures remained at the same MSRP while others stay the same since G.I. Joe, StarWars and Transformers are the 3 leading action figures or series that sells the Hasbro name.

Again this is my guesstimation.