The Energon Pub

I was looking at Jizai toys' website (you know the one with those amazing handmade Cyclonus and Wheelie toys that go for $200+ on ebay), wondering why on Earth neither Hasbro nor Takara have approached this guy and made him an offer to mass market these toys. He's got this little operation going on, but surely he'd make a lot more money if he sold the mold to Hasbro or Takara and got some royalties for each item sold.

Surely the market is there - who here would not pay $20-25 for one of those Cyclonus figures if it were commercially available? This is a figure that is on scale with a Classics Deluxe figure, has a comparable degree of detail and complexity, yet costs ten times as much due to its lack of availability. And I got to thinking about how Hasbro doesn't seem to care that this is something that we the fans would want, and which would sell as well as or better than most of their Classics line.

We all seem to have things that we wish Hasbro would do. We seem to agree that oftentimes, Hasbro doesn't listen to the fans, or even KNOW what the fans want.

I thought about writing to Hasbro, but then I realized that I'd be a lone voice in front of a giant faceless corporation. And maybe many of you never wrote for the same reason.

But what if a substantial number of us got together on a single issue and agreed upon a form letter that we would all address to Hasbro. Instead of mailing a single one, though, we would all mail a copy of the same exact letter, to the word, except for the signature. Obviously we would nominate someone to draft the letter, we would all agree on it and the drafter would post it as a Word attachment here on the forum. Then we would all print a copy, sign it and mail it. The form letter would have to contain language indicating that the writer was part of larger group of fans.

Many of you are patrons of other forums besides this one. You could circulate the drafts on those forums as well, to increase our numbers. You could tell your friends who don't participate in the forum. Hell, you could ask 10 of your friends who don't even collect Transformers to sign a copy, just as a favor. We could get hundreds of these letters sent out.

Alternatively, we could also write to Takara. Depending on the issue, of course, we could write to either Takara or Hasbro, or both. I have the corporate mailing addresses of both companies. In fact, if we decide to do this, I volunteer to draft the form letter.

My only fear with this is that we will never be able to agree upon the topics that we want addressed. This only stands a chance of working if we can all agree on a single topic, or if a substantial majority of us can agree on a limited number of topics.

Who's interested? Who's interested in having a poll/vote in order to narrow down the topics that we want addressed?

We could have discussions debating the topic before we vote. For example, someone might suggest that Takara license Hasbro to put out a cheap US version of MP Megatron. But we know that something like that would be out of their hands for legal reasons. So we don't even put that one to the vote. We hold board-wide discussions on which topics we want put to the vote, and why they are in Hasbro's hands and why they will be money-making ventures for them, and then we vote.

Who's interested?

Complain all you want, but don't you realize if it weren't for Hasbro 20 years ago, and it weren't for Hasbro right now, we wouldn't have Transformers at all? Keep that in mind..

edit- Forgive me.. I didn't even read your post when I posted that. Yes, if it's a petition, i'd sing up for it.

Fine, but this isn't a complaint. We tell them what we want them to sell to us.

they make tons of money doing what 'they' want to do, I doubt they'd really listen to what 'you/we' would want.

Haha, sorry.. like I said when I edited it, I didn't even read the jist of what you were posting.

I do not think that this is a bad idea. The only thing standing in the way of this plan would be motovation of the fanbase. I do not think that as a whole most people would even take the time to send a letter. I would but i wonder how many others would.

Personally I like the idea... Furthermore what large toy making company do you know of that wouldnt want direct feedback from its targeted market telling them exactly what they would pay for! I say DRAW IT UP! Ill sign it... if it will even only help just a little.. Kudos brother! WHOOT

Petitions rarely work. And as large as you might think we are, collectors are a relatively small portion of Hasbro's market. They are probably already giving us as much as a big corporation is willing to, with Botcon exclusives and lines like Alternators and Classics.

If we all asked they'd politely consider, but I doubt it would set any wheels in motion.

This is a good idea, but do you ever think the guy who makes those toys doesn't want his mold used for commercial purposes?

Didn't someone in these forums have a petition for a re-release for the Seacons? Haven't heard anything from that.

the only way they would actually listen to us would be if we all stopped buying tf's. then maybe they'd open there ears a little. lately with the movie garbage and now these retarded tf's animated figures they're making it a lot easier.

tech348 wrote:Didn't someone in these forums have a petition for a re-release for the Seacons? Haven't heard anything from that.

It kinda worked, the Collectors Club are re-releasing them, although I don't think the petition had anything to do with it...

kimmer wrote:the only way they would actually listen to us would be if we all stopped buying tf's. then maybe they'd open there ears a little. lately with the movie garbage and now these retarded tf's animated figures they're making it a lot easier.

Hmm, problem is movie sales are doing quite well in general.

Dispensor wrote:This is a good idea, but do you ever think the guy who makes those toys doesn't want his mold used for commercial purposes?

I'm pretty sure this is exactly what Hasbro is paying him for.

The Cyclonus mold was one suggested topic. It doesn't have to be that (although that's one that I would want); it can be whatever topic the majority of the board decides.

Meanwhile, I will email Jizai and ask them straight up if they'd ever consider selling/licensing the mold to a bigger company.

Count me out. Hasbro does more then enough for me, just ask my wallet

those amazing handmade Cyclonus and Wheelie toys that go for $200+ on ebay), wondering why on Earth neither Hasbro nor Takara have approached this guy

That guy might have had to buy a license to keep producing them so hasbro makes there easy money maybe

Hasbro doesn't listen to the fans, or even KNOW what the fans want

Your learning it's really big biz and the money is in the tons, they listen to market analysts who are clueless to the real world it's all paper to them.

I thought about writing to Hasbro, but then I realized that I'd be a lone voice in front of a giant faceless corporation.

Like trying to throw a rock at the moon

I dig what your thinking
I've seen this many times like fighting the goverment but big biz has it's own rules if you could get walmart on your side they Might listen otherwise to me it's like trying to throw a rock at the moon sure you can try but the results alway they same.
for me I wait and hope they make something cool.
it is there company and we just get to enjoy or not what they produce, trying to customize it to fit your needs will not fit the needs of others

Clusterprime

If you went to BotCon, you'd realize how much they want to do stuff for us and how much they try to sneak in things for fans.

I have one question because topics like these are starting to pop up here a lot and it does bother me a bit. Why does Hasbro have to be evil and heartless and not know what they are doing?

yeah, but they did have an Arcee awhile back they were gonna release..I hope she makes it into classics, even though i don't buy classics... .....I would buy an arcee from that line like the one they showed at the Botcon..

Look what happend with the rest of seekers people said hey we wanted them signed Petitions and were did they end as botcon exlusive so be very carefully how word your ideas. Because you just might see these ideas at next years botcon for close to $500.

Hotrod wrote:I have one question because topics like these are starting to pop up here a lot and it does bother me a bit. Why does Hasbro have to be evil and heartless and not know what they are doing?

because heaven forbid we are actually appreciative of what we(as collecters) have been given.

thats an awful awful thought and ye be damned for ever thinking it, let alone suggesting it.

Hotrod wrote:I have one question because topics like these are starting to pop up here a lot and it does bother me a bit. Why does Hasbro have to be evil and heartless and not know what they are doing?

I blame the Disgruntled Brits. Their complaining is infecting other countries!

I think it's just human nature for people to bitch and complain about the littlest of things.

One person will bitch that Hasbro isn't doing enough, another will say they should shut up and be grateful while another will tell everyone to shut up and remember that Hasbro make TOYS aimed at CHILDREN.

Of course a smart person will step up and say that people have a right to bitch about Hasbro making toys for children because their bitching and whining like little children.

So when I was a preteen and beast wars is the greatest show ever (no, I didn't use the wrong tense), I wrote to Hasbro begging for playsets that resembled their ships, ark/predator. Both my friend and I signed it. I wanted it so bad I had made my own ark from egg cartons lol. the response I received was something like "We're glad you love our toys, but because you had the idea and offered it us we cannot use it without purchasing the idea for legal reasons". I replied instantly saying they can have the idea! Alas, I must settle for a 3 inch titanium and accesory from a 10th anniversary for my fantasy.

My point is, if we want something we should make designs, engineering ones, or even similar prototypes, like jizai. Then market this talent. Also, sending letters to a big corporation I hopeless. I don't want secretarys just throwing it away or replying with a copy/paste answer. I believe the best way to approach this is to go to botcon and let your voices be heard by the real decision makers/designers of Tf's. Isn't that one of the points of the panels?

I'm so grateful for the classics/universe/masterpiece lines. If we want mass produced original designs, we should be sharing molding techniques, mass producing parts, and selling kits similar to gundams.

Just the humble view of a buisiness man and daydreamer.

Burn wrote:
Of course a smart person will step up and say that people have a right to bitch about Hasbro making toys for children because their bitching and whining like little children.

... that is all