The Energon Pub

Now up until recently Hasbro has always favoured the US as a customer and handled all other markets pretty poorly. The US was their main market, their home market. However, recently Hasbro seems to have changed that thinking a bit.

To me it kinda looks like Hasbro is re-shifting their focus on a new favourite customer and main market. Asia.

In previous years Hasbro's Asian market sometimes got something out of the ordinary but never anything too major.

In recent years however the Asian market has received special treatment with getting an increasing number of exclusive stuff, now they're even getting a whole line filled with nostalgia and things that would usually seem more an American thing, you know the Movie trilogy line with it's G1 remolds and repaints of various characters.

While the US distribution has been increasingly loosing it's quality.

Thoughts? do you think we're at a turning point with Hasbro's market focus?

If you ask me, Hasbro just wants to tap into the rising economies there. It's no less favoritism than looking for other (greener) pastures for their cows. No big deal really, all I do is import nowadays.

Careful, this sounds like anti-hasbro propaganda! J/K but interesting point you've made, I'm curious to see how this pans out later on down the road.

I think you have a point. A smart company would expand instead of changing focus.

Too true. And while the US market drops, Hasbro is more and more neglecting Europe - hell, I've only spotted wave 1 of the RiD Cyberverse commanders yesterday (it's april, and that's the first RiD wave here!) for an insane 23$ per figure!

Especially in China.....the TF brand is really hot over there, KOs notwithstanding.

Mykltron wrote:I think you have a point. A smart company would expand instead of changing focus.

I was thinking the same thing. It'as fine and dandy to expand one market, but when you sacrifice another to do it you're not really getting anywhere.

I'd say yes. The Asian exclusive classics-ish line due end of this year is a big indicator. Please hasbro, lower the prices here. A deluxe here costs $22 US.

@ gavinfuzzy

Not until the prices of oil go down mein freund!

Chaoslock wrote:Too true. And while the US market drops, Hasbro is more and more neglecting Europe - hell, I've only spotted wave 1 of the RiD Cyberverse commanders yesterday (it's april, and that's the first RiD wave here!) for an insane 23$ per figure!

PRID has already hit your shores? Over here stores are currently discounting the first few waves of DOTM...

And yes I did notice how the Chinese seem to be addicted to Transformers, I mean just a year ago I posted a news article about a crazy awesome life sized TF statue or homage and or a TF convention/ gathering in China every day. The Chinese really love their giant alien robots.

Maybe soon we'll all have to import our Transformers and comics from China once Hasbro kills the brand completely in the rest of the world.

Dead Metal wrote:

Chaoslock wrote:Too true. And while the US market drops, Hasbro is more and more neglecting Europe - hell, I've only spotted wave 1 of the RiD Cyberverse commanders yesterday (it's april, and that's the first RiD wave here!) for an insane 23$ per figure!

PRID has already hit your shores? Over here stores are currently discounting the first few waves of DOTM...

Over here in the Netherlands Wave 1 Cyberverse Legion has hit a week ago, and some stores are listing the rest of Cyberverse online. No Deluxes though...

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:

Chaoslock wrote:Too true. And while the US market drops, Hasbro is more and more neglecting Europe - hell, I've only spotted wave 1 of the RiD Cyberverse commanders yesterday (it's april, and that's the first RiD wave here!) for an insane 23$ per figure!

PRID has already hit your shores? Over here stores are currently discounting the first few waves of DOTM...

Over here in the Netherlands Wave 1 Cyberverse Legion has hit a week ago, and some stores are listing the rest of Cyberverse online. No Deluxes though...

Hasbro NL seems to only concentrate on Cyberverse for this line.

Positively.

In fact, Hasbro's new logo should be one of their lovable characters pitching the middle finger to both the U.S. and U.K. flags. Like a fickle girlfriend, Hasbro has dumped us without ceremony or apology. "Thanks for enjoying our product since the eighties, America, but you're no longer man enough to satisfy us."

Though I do not in any way hold it against the posters of such articles (fine job!) I am nonetheless sick of constantly seeing huge splashes about "arms microns" and all the other stuff we in the US are not getting unless we pay outrageous import prices. We want them, and could afford them if they were distributed in our own country, but no-"f**k you America, we love Sasuke now!"

Our wounds are thus getting thoroughly salted.

How dare Hasbro not treat Americans like they are the center of the universe? Don't they know that Americans are entitled to preferential treatment in all pursuits? By not giving us what we want and giving it to us before other countries, they're basically bending us over and sodomizing us. They should be putting us on pedestals and treating us like the kings we are.

GuyIncognito wrote:How dare Hasbro not treat Americans like they are the center of the universe? Don't they know that Americans are entitled to preferential treatment in all pursuits? By not giving us what we want and giving it to us before other countries, they're basically bending us over and sodomizing us. They should be putting us on pedestals and treating us like the kings we are.

This is merely an observation and a point I would like to discuss. And Hasbros distribution in the US at the moment is still better than the distribution in my countries ever was, so you can't really make this look like it's from an Angry American complaining about stuff, cos I'm neither angry nor American.

Dead Metal wrote:

GuyIncognito wrote:How dare Hasbro not treat Americans like they are the center of the universe? Don't they know that Americans are entitled to preferential treatment in all pursuits? By not giving us what we want and giving it to us before other countries, they're basically bending us over and sodomizing us. They should be putting us on pedestals and treating us like the kings we are.

This is merely an observation and a point I would like to discuss. And Hasbros distribution in the US at the moment is still better than the distribution in my countries ever was, so you can't really make this look like it's from an Angry American complaining about stuff, cos I'm neither angry nor American.

My sarcastic comments were directed more toward the comment directly before mine, about Hasbro "giving us the middle finger and pouring salt in the wounds".

GuyIncognito wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:

GuyIncognito wrote:How dare Hasbro not treat Americans like they are the center of the universe? Don't they know that Americans are entitled to preferential treatment in all pursuits? By not giving us what we want and giving it to us before other countries, they're basically bending us over and sodomizing us. They should be putting us on pedestals and treating us like the kings we are.

This is merely an observation and a point I would like to discuss. And Hasbros distribution in the US at the moment is still better than the distribution in my countries ever was, so you can't really make this look like it's from an Angry American complaining about stuff, cos I'm neither angry nor American.

My sarcastic comments were directed more toward the comment directly before mine, about Hasbro "giving us the middle finger and pouring salt in the wounds".

Ah OK.

Yes, and sarcastic you were.

You are a very clever fellow, guy incognito. Very clever indeed!

I have been hoisted upon the spar of your rapier wit.

Made to eat crow before your perspicacity for the most heinous crime of voicing my opinion.

I salute your perfection in the grand art of cheekiness, Sir!

Well done!

Cobalt Prime wrote:Positively.

In fact, Hasbro's new logo should be one of their lovable characters pitching the middle finger to both the U.S. and U.K. flags. Like a fickle girlfriend, Hasbro has dumped us without ceremony or apology. "Thanks for enjoying our product since the eighties, America, but you're no longer man enough to satisfy us."

Though I do not in any way hold it against the posters of such articles (fine job!) I am nonetheless sick of constantly seeing huge splashes about "arms microns" and all the other stuff we in the US are not getting unless we pay outrageous import prices. We want them, and could afford them if they were distributed in our own country, but no-"f**k you America, we love Sasuke now!"

Our wounds are thus getting thoroughly salted.

Keep in mind that Arms Microns etc. are out of Japan, and not from Hasbro at all. In Japan, it's Takara running the show. If Hasbro chooses not to reproduce or distribute Takara's creations/alternate takes on the figures/lines, then that's their choice (the Masterpiece, Henkei, United and countless other lines from the past were no different).

Takara is an entity unto itself, with their own market to cater to, one more focused around collectors, not children. That's the reason Hasbro is so different with what they offer vs what Takara creates.

Well, Hasbro might just say: "I did care about every country, especially US. But the retailers are not ordering from us because they still have tons of DOTM toys to clean up and some even still have ROTF toys. So, not our fault. Really."

It's not too surprising with the way the US economy has nosedived since 2008. Until that gets fixed, look for more and more of this sort of treatment. And not just from Hasbro.

xyl360 wrote:

Cobalt Prime wrote:Positively.

In fact, Hasbro's new logo should be one of their lovable characters pitching the middle finger to both the U.S. and U.K. flags. Like a fickle girlfriend, Hasbro has dumped us without ceremony or apology. "Thanks for enjoying our product since the eighties, America, but you're no longer man enough to satisfy us."

Though I do not in any way hold it against the posters of such articles (fine job!) I am nonetheless sick of constantly seeing huge splashes about "arms microns" and all the other stuff we in the US are not getting unless we pay outrageous import prices. We want them, and could afford them if they were distributed in our own country, but no-"f**k you America, we love Sasuke now!"

Our wounds are thus getting thoroughly salted.

Keep in mind that Arms Microns etc. are out of Japan, and not from Hasbro at all. In Japan, it's Takara running the show. If Hasbro chooses not to reproduce or distribute Takara's creations/alternate takes on the figures/lines, then that's their choice (the Masterpiece, Henkei, United and countless other lines from the past were no different).

Takara is an entity unto itself, with their own market to cater to, one more focused around collectors, not children. That's the reason Hasbro is so different with what they offer vs what Takara creates.

Yes, that is true. You raise a good point.

I suppose that one could take this back to the eighties and early nineties when Japanese fans got such greats as Overlord, Deszanrus, and Star Saber among others, while the U.S. did not.

Of course, this raises another question; that particular era basically marked the death of TFs in America, perhaps through oversaturation or general loss of interest on the part of retailers. The quality and intricacy of the TFs we started getting at that time declined until finally there was nothing. Japan and even Europe continued to get cool new TFs and comics, however.

Using past history, one can ask if the U.S. is perhaps heading towards another TF crash, despite the popularity of the movies.

Cobalt Prime wrote:

xyl360 wrote:

Cobalt Prime wrote:Positively.

In fact, Hasbro's new logo should be one of their lovable characters pitching the middle finger to both the U.S. and U.K. flags. Like a fickle girlfriend, Hasbro has dumped us without ceremony or apology. "Thanks for enjoying our product since the eighties, America, but you're no longer man enough to satisfy us."

Though I do not in any way hold it against the posters of such articles (fine job!) I am nonetheless sick of constantly seeing huge splashes about "arms microns" and all the other stuff we in the US are not getting unless we pay outrageous import prices. We want them, and could afford them if they were distributed in our own country, but no-"f**k you America, we love Sasuke now!"

Our wounds are thus getting thoroughly salted.

Keep in mind that Arms Microns etc. are out of Japan, and not from Hasbro at all. In Japan, it's Takara running the show. If Hasbro chooses not to reproduce or distribute Takara's creations/alternate takes on the figures/lines, then that's their choice (the Masterpiece, Henkei, United and countless other lines from the past were no different).

Takara is an entity unto itself, with their own market to cater to, one more focused around collectors, not children. That's the reason Hasbro is so different with what they offer vs what Takara creates.

Yes, that is true. You raise a good point.

I suppose that one could take this back to the eighties and early nineties when Japanese fans got such greats as Overlord, Deszanrus, and Star Saber among others, while the U.S. did not.

Of course, this raises another question; that particular era basically marked the death of TFs in America, perhaps through oversaturation or general loss of interest on the part of retailers. The quality and intricacy of the TFs we started getting at that time declined until finally there was nothing. Japan and even Europe continued to get cool new TFs and comics, however.

Using past history, one can ask if the U.S. is perhaps heading towards another TF crash, despite the popularity of the movies.

Yep, that's very true. Hasbro moved on from TF's for the most part in the late 80's/early 90's after the failure of G2 etc. (then we got Beast Wars ). I think the biggest problem was not only that G2 was almost entirely bizarre looking repaints of old figures, but also that there was no cartoon to go with it (cartoons sell toys obviously).

I think TF's in the US are still doing fine, and if Prime gets enough kids excited about the franchise in this post-movie era, then I think Hasbro will continue to do a lot in the US.

Overall, the limited edition FE line notwithstanding, I think Hasbro has done an OK job so far, but of course, this comes from a collector who buys exactly 0 toys in stores and only shops online (BBTS, ToyArena, ebay etc.) so my views may be skewed a bit on that front.

As long as the toys sell well, stores will have a demand for them, and as long as the stores are ordering the product, Hasbro will be more than happy to supply them.

I think kids in the states might just be a bit TF'ed out at the moment after being bombarded with all the movie stuff. Once things settle down a bit (as they have been for the past several months) and as we get closer to the 3rd quarter (early holiday shopping etc.), I suspect that we'll see the volume of new TF's in the stores really pick up.

Cobalt Prime wrote:Yes, that is true. You raise a good point.

I suppose that one could take this back to the eighties and early nineties when Japanese fans got such greats as Overlord, Deszanrus, and Star Saber among others, while the U.S. did not.

Good example.

Cobalt Prime wrote:Of course, this raises another question; that particular era basically marked the death of TFs in America, perhaps through oversaturation or general loss of interest on the part of retailers. The quality and intricacy of the TFs we started getting at that time declined until finally there was nothing. Japan and even Europe continued to get cool new TFs and comics, however.

This is one of the things I've been worried about for awhile now.

Cobalt Prime wrote:Using past history, one can ask if the U.S. is perhaps heading towards another TF crash, despite the popularity of the movies.

Absolutely. Since Hasbro states that they are a multimedia company and not just toys, anymore, I can see there being a good chance that their focus will shift from toys completely.

A large number of the movie audience doesn't buy the toys and the movies were big hits. No reason to assume the next film won't be a hit. Toys or no, Hollywood doesn't need Hasbro's merchandise, and the movie will flourish. Why make the toys if you don't need to?

Dark Optimum Supreme wrote:It's not too surprising with the way the US economy has nosedived since 2008. Until that gets fixed, look for more and more of this sort of treatment. And not just from Hasbro.

My cousin lived and worked in China for years. He said one of the reasons there's so many bootlegs/knock offs is because the people couldn't afford the real deal. They made them, just couldn't afford them. Now, they can. China (and Asia, as a whole) is getting bigger and bigger and their economy is becoming a force to be reckoned with. We owe them money!

paul053 wrote:Well, Hasbro might just say: "I did care about every country, especially US. But the retailers are not ordering from us because they still have tons of DOTM toys to clean up and some even still have ROTF toys. So, not our fault. Really."

It's been said before, and it's true, that the retailers ARE at fault. Wal-Mart, especially. They helped create this mess. Ultimately, the fault lies with Hasbro, though.

They do have some say in what's released and when. As evidenced by DOTM. Also, they had no faith in their movie or product the first time around, and with improper wording, basically admitted it. By that, I mean saying "We weren't expecting or prepared for the demand." or something along those lines. Back then, when we were hyped, that sounded awesome, but hindsight is 20/20 and some of us see it as "Wait. You knew Paramount was releasing it, Bay was directing it, and preview buzz/word of mouth was good and you still doubted it? You didn't make enough toys because you weren't entirely sure of it? Fantastic. That's...fantastic."

Had they worded it something like "Due to unexpected manufacturer delays and public demand, we are currently unable to fulfill current orders. We're working as hard as we can to make sure TransFormers toys return to stores as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding. We hope to continue to serve you!" It definitely would've sounded better and we wouldn't have given it a second thought.

Then the stores said "Give us more!" So, Hasbro over compensated. Again, and again, and again. Wal-Mart and Hasbro are to blame for this.

It still boggles me how people think that it's all Hasbro's fault that people aren't getting the toys that they want. If retailers don't allocate a certain amount of $$$ to Transformers in their toy budgets (all retailers as we know have budgets that they must adhere to)how can you turn around and say that it's Hasbro's fault for not supplying you with toys?
If your Walmarts etc don't give Hasbro business, what did you expect them to do? Of course they're going to go elsewhere to sell their product. 2 + 2 is 4 people. Hasbro isn't going to waste its energies on a market that isn't going to do business with them. Would any of you?