The Energon Pub

TFCC dicked me around with getting a membership for over two weeks. Every time I went, there was something different broken with the ordering process, and by the time they were able to process my club membership, OverRun was sold out. I'm going to call them and tell them they had better do a second release because it's bull that I missed this opportunity because they can't operate a website.

Blozor wrote:TFCC dicked me around with getting a membership for over two weeks. Every time I went, there was something different broken with the ordering process, and by the time they were able to process my club membership, OverRun was sold out. I'm going to call them and tell them they had better do a second release because it's bull that I missed this opportunity because they can't operate a website.

1 second this! Sadly even calling them would cost a bomb for me, as I live in Asia.

For those that suggest a cap, it sounds good on internet but in reality it's not a good idea.

1) Hype sells toys. Putting a cap on would lower the hype and the club would be forced to produce fewer toys.
2) Scalpers buying toys are taken into consideration. Doing anything to prevent scalpers from buying results in fewer toys being made at higher costs.
3) The same applies for bulk buys for non-members.

For example. If the club was to limit orders to two-per member then they would estimate that they would only sell 2,000 toys and produce them for $56 each. If the club didn't place on limit on the orders it believes it can sell 2,500 toys for $54 each.

Which option makes more money for the club? $2,500 @ $54
Which option makes the toys cheaper for members? $2,500 @ $54
Which option get more toys out to the fandom? $2,500 @ 54

The big issue here is not whether they should set a limit or not. Obviously they shouldn't. The hardest part of this equation is estimating demand. Unfortunately, that task is almost impossible so the club uses the extras the scalpers buy as buffer. G2 Ramjet sold out in 22 hours but now a year later his prices hasn't risen all at. Instead of sitting on stock the club has pushed the risk to the scalpers.

I would not support a full limit, but I would certainly support something that limited multiple purchase to two per member for a limited time, say 24 hours. That seems the best of both worlds, allowing people who want the toy but are physically unable to purchase in the first few hours to have an increase chance while still preserving the total number sold. However, I am not sure any new income would be gained....it would just be nice as a consumer.

The first 24 hours limit can really make or break the toy. It would scare the scalpers away and the club would have to produce the low end of toys just to be safe (2,000 instead of 2,500 in my example).

My suggestion would be either no limit initially, but it the toys sells out over 90% within the first three days then to put a limit 1-2 per order in at that time. This would prevent the tale-end scalpers that show up when items start selling out and still reserve over 200 toys. (The problem with this suggestion is that I've been told that the systems aren't set up for limit and it would be coding nightmare).

An alternate suggestion would be that if the toy hits 90% within the first three days then the club goes back and reviews any big orders. If the big order cannot prove that they are doing a bulk order for members then the club can reduce their order to the limit (2-3).

videriant wrote:The first 24 hours limit can really make or break the toy. It would scare the scalpers away and the club would have to produce the low end of toys just to be safe (2,000 instead of 2,500 in my example).

My suggestion would be either no limit initially, but it the toys sells out over 90% within the first three days then to put a limit 1-2 per order in at that time. This would prevent the tale-end scalpers that show up when items start selling out and still reserve over 200 toys. (The problem with this suggestion is that I've been told that the systems aren't set up for limit and it would be coding nightmare).

An alternate suggestion would be that if the toy hits 90% within the first three days then the club goes back and reviews any big orders. If the big order cannot prove that they are doing a bulk order for members then the club can reduce their order to the limit (2-3).

The best solution is to start the preorders much earlier (before TFCC places their order to Hasbro). We're talking 8-10 months before the figures are released. The benefits:
• People can order as many figures as they want. No limits.
• There is no ceiling in the amount of profits that TFCC can make.
• TFCC is not stuck with any extras.
• The ordering period can stretched out over a month or longer. No more ordering blitzes. No more site crashes from too many visitors. No more frustrated customers.

Stormrider wrote:The best solution is to start the preorders much earlier (before TFCC places their order to Hasbro). We're talking 8-10 months before the figures are released. The benefits:
• People can order as many figures as they want. No limits.
• There is no ceiling in the amount of profits that TFCC can make.
• TFCC is not stuck with any extras.
• The ordering period can stretched out over a month or longer. No more ordering blitzes. No more site crashes from too many visitors. No more frustrated customers.

Unfortunately, this causes a chicken-egg situation. How do you know how to price it when you don't know how many you are making? For small runs like the club does with high fixed price costs the difference in the run size can really affect the prices. When Takara produced a limited edition preorder/straight repaint for $80 nobody bats an eye. When the club trieds to produce one but with a remolded head you get people screaming bloody murder on the price difference between $58 and $64.

Timing is also a huge problem. The club doesn't get a final sample from the factory but maybe a month before everything goes into production. How do you set up pre-orders a half a year before the figure is released when you don't have any final product pictures? As the Club/Hasbro/Takara/Takara's factory relationship improves we may start seeing this idea but we've been told that the logistical nightmare has only begun to improve.

Money's an issue also. Do you really trust the club to sit on your money for six months. And you'll still get your whiners who don't have the money when the pre-orders going up complaining when the items are shipped.

Face it, there are no easy solution. Especially since we're dealing with a club that's conservative.

The solution I mentioned is very simple and it isn’t anything new. Many Transformers retailers and clubs have been following this process for years with their limited figures they are sponsoring. Some of the companies include: e-Hobby, Toy Ganbo, Toy Hobby, Million Publishing.

videriant wrote: How do you know how to price it when you don't know how many you are making?

This is a silly argument. All of this can be determined well in advance with good business planning.

videriant wrote: Money's an issue also. Do you really trust the club to sit on your money for six months. And you'll still get your whiners who don't have the money when the pre-orders going up complaining when the items are shipped.

How is that any different that than TFCC taking our money now and sitting on it for two months? How is it any different than TFSource taking your money for a FansProject Insecticon or a Neck Breaker Hercules for a preorder 8 months ahead of time. I really don’t see the difference. There will always be people complaining that they don’t have the money before and after the figure has been released.

videriant wrote: Timing is also a huge problem. The club doesn't get a final sample from the factory but maybe a month before everything goes into production. How do you set up pre-orders a half a year before the figure is released when you don't have any final product pictures? As the Club/Hasbro/Takara/Takara's factory relationship improves we may start seeing this idea but we've been told that the logistical nightmare has only begun to improve.

I don’t know what you are basing your preconceptions on. There is no rule that says that final samples are released 1 month before production. Also, you are not taking into consideration – prototypes and concept images, which available months ahead of time. Heck, the samples for the Botcon figures came out last month, and they won’t be released for several months. So that theory doesn’t hold water.

Also do you really think that TFCC or any other sponsoring club places an order with Hasbro or Takara without knowing every detail about the figure? I guarantee they discuss head sculpts, paint apps, weapons, packaging, materials, etc down to the detail – months and months in advance. There will be images. So why doesn’t TFCC share that with us sooner? Because their marketing department is whacked. They think it’s cool to keep people in the dark as long as possible.

Stormrider wrote:The solution I mentioned is very simple and it isn’t anything new. Many Transformers retailers and clubs have been following this process for years with their limited figures they are sponsoring. Some of the companies include: e-Hobby, Toy Ganbo, Toy Hobby, Million Publishing.

All the companies you mentioned are Japanese companies that deal directly with Takara. There's fewer chefs in the pot for them and their business models are different. The club has said more then once that they have to talk to Hasbro who talks to Takara who talks to the factory and then the process filters back the other way.

Stormrider wrote:

videriant wrote: How do you know how to price it when you don't know how many you are making?

This is a silly argument. All of this can be determined well in advance with good business planning.

You say my argument is silly but yours is just as inconsequential. It's not like there are a bunch of datapoints out there to help with this. What exactly is "good business planning?".

Stormrider wrote:

videriant wrote: Money's an issue also. Do you really trust the club to sit on your money for six months. And you'll still get your whiners who don't have the money when the pre-orders going up complaining when the items are shipped.

How is that any different that than TFCC taking our money now and sitting on it for two months? How is it any different than TFSource taking your money for a FansProject Insecticon or a Neck Breaker Hercules for a preorder 8 months ahead of time. I really don’t see the difference. There will always be people complaining that they don’t have the money before and after the figure has been released.

So you agree that there will always be complaining and that the club has to sit on money both ways. In this regards, you current solution is about equal to the club's current process. Call it a tie.

Stormrider wrote:

videriant wrote: Timing is also a huge problem. The club doesn't get a final sample from the factory but maybe a month before everything goes into production. How do you set up pre-orders a half a year before the figure is released when you don't have any final product pictures? As the Club/Hasbro/Takara/Takara's factory relationship improves we may start seeing this idea but we've been told that the logistical nightmare has only begun to improve.

I don’t know what you are basing your preconceptions on. There is no rule that says that final samples are released 1 month before production. Also, you are not taking into consideration – prototypes and concept images, which available months ahead of time. Heck, the samples for the Botcon figures came out last month, and they won’t be released for several months. So that theory doesn’t hold water.

Also do you really think that TFCC or any other sponsoring club places an order with Hasbro or Takara without knowing every detail about the figure? I guarantee they discuss head sculpts, paint apps, weapons, packaging, materials, etc down to the detail – months and months in advance. There will be images. So why doesn’t TFCC share that with us sooner? Because their marketing department is whacked. They think it’s cool to keep people in the dark as long as possible.

We've seen this happen with the club many times already. Nightbeat's antennaes got axed at the last minute. The factory changed the size of Punch/Counterpunch's head. Cheetor's spots got changed from hexagons to circles because the designers felt the final product didn't work as well with the hexagons.

There are a lot of things I feel that the club does wrong and can improve upon, but anybody who thinks any solution is easy needs to put their money where their mouth is.