The Muppets Figures Have Problems!

[bhg738]

A couple of weeks back I started a thread about my concerns about collecting the Muppets figures. I felt that due to the re-paints, exclusives etc that this line would self destruct!

I put the post in Muppet Central to see what you thought and I got some pretty good responses. The only problem is that most of you are die hard muppet fans so some may say the replies could be biased.

Since then I have discussed my feelings with other collectors on action figures boards and it would seem there are a LARGE amount of people who agree with me!

I had a large volume of replies most of which were along the lines of:

Too many exclusives - I wont collect!
If I cant get hold of things with ease I dont want any!
This line is destryoed before it started!

Another general feeling was that people flat out will not buy any in dispute of the exclusives and some people have already sold there wave 1.

The most important feeling and trust me it was mentioned by many...people feel this line will die sooner than later due the exclusives.

Oh and before you all jump at me...... Everyone remember this and if you dont call them and they will be happy to tell you. Playmates destroyed their own toy line due to their exclusives and low production numbers. They admit it and said they would never do it again. They learnt their lesson and realised collectors want to be able to get everything and give up if they cant.

It is no use someone saying oh there is no need to buy Beaker in the bag it was an error...rubbish! Collectors see this as a different figure and want it. How many Star Wars collectors buy 10 of the same figure just because it may have a picture of typing error.

It is this simple and plenty of people backed me up - this line is NOT aimed at collectors! At the end of the day that could be the downfall of the line!

I hope not but when one of the main reps at Palisades tells us not to buy a beaker in a packet as its a mistake that is enough proof to prove they dont appreciate the feelings of true collectors.

 

[MaxGoof]

What? You're waaaaaaaaaay off-base.

First off all, I am NOT a hardcore Muppet fan, and you shouldn't generalize and say that everyone here is. I think that a LOT of the people here are fans of the figures and movies and don't know a great deal about the Muppet Show. Palisades is the most collector-friendly company I've ever heard of. What other company has a rep that comes online and answers collectors' questions and concerns several times DAILY?

Second of all, "The Muppet Show" is not exactly the hottest propety on the market--the exclusives were necessary to get press and to kick-start the launch of the line.

Third of all--the exclusives are FANTASTIC figures that we otherwise might not get. I adore Vanishing Spray Fozzie from Muppets from Space, and Kermit in his Tuxedo, and all versions of Beaker... these are great exclusives that a lot of time and effort went into.

Fourth of all and most importantly--there are no more "impossible-to-get" exclusives. The Palisades Collector Club has arrived--Hallelujah. From now on, people can buy that Vanishing Spray Fozzie or Invisible Beaker right from the comfort of home. And EB Piggy and Tuxedo Kermit have always been easy to get. So that leaves ONE rare figure--the Dr. Teeth repaint. And if someone is that pathetic that they wouldn't collect a line because they can't get one repaint of a figure in an outfit he never wore in the series to begin with, maybe they shouldn't be collecting anyway.

If you don't want to collect the line--don't. No one's making you. But Palisades is doing an INCREDIBLE job for both action figure collectors and Muppets fans. They have made the line as accessible to collectors as anyone could possibly, possibly expect them to. Their Collector's Club is a huge service to us all, and proves Palisades is perhaps the most fan-friendly and collector-friendly company ever. To offer all regional limited exclusives to collectors world-wide goes well beyond the call of duty for such a small company. Palisades deserves commenations for their efforts--not complaints.

Any other complaints?

 

[uncleduke]

Originally posted by bhg738

...The most important feeling and trust me it was mentioned by many...people feel this line will die sooner than later due the exclusives.

Oh and before you all jump at me...... Everyone remember this and if you dont call them and they will be happy to tell you. Playmates destroyed their own toy line due to their exclusives and low production numbers. They admit it and said they would never do it again. They learnt their lesson and realised collectors want to be able to get everything and give up if they cant.

Wow, like those Pinpal Burns that sold out in one day, you are right, that Killed the line..... hey, that line is still alive and healthy, with plenty more on the way!

Originally posted by bhg738

It is no use someone saying oh there is no need to buy Beaker in the bag it was an error...rubbish! Collectors see this as a different figure and want it. How many Star Wars collectors buy 10 of the same figure just because it may have a picture of typing error.

Ok, I will concede this one. Like the exclusive Luke that was only given away at theaters. So many people are disenchanted......
I was at Toys R Us, and there were only 3 aisles of Star Wars toys. Man, you could practically hear the funeral dirge starting up.

If you are so anal you need everything, there is a websight you might find usefull click here
They have all of the variants available for sale.
These toys are such a failure, that is why it took them almost 2 weeks for the production run to completely sell out......
Mike, Ken......
You must wear the ribbons of shame
(name that film)

BTW that was all intended to be extremely sarcastic.

 

[bhg738]

Oh the controversy!

Thanks for the replies. First let me point out a couple of things.

Palisides must have realised they were making a mistake about the exclusives and thought it could damage them. The club is a refelction on that.

No other toy company still issues exclusives like they did. The current Mer-man and Gold iron Man figures are short packed but can all be found with a little effort. There is a big difference to having to in some cases travel 1000s miles to a convention.

Palisides are a newish company and I could be wrong but maybe they did not realise that other companies have suffered through exclusives!

Yes Ken is a great guy to come here but that is customer relation based NOt marketing which is the domain exclusives come under!

It is a fact of life that people collect and some want everyting be it due to compulsiveness or greed! It is human nature so if people cant meet their needs they dont care!

I would also like to point out there are many ways to get interest in a line without giving stuff away! The press can look at prototypes, press releases etc! Most lines succeed without industry giveaways!

On the Mr Burns point - that is no comparison. The first set of Simpsons did not sell amazingly. The exclusives numbers were based on this Glow Homer was still around months after the issure release! Burns was produced in a comparitive quantity of 10,000. By this time the line had picked up and it sold out. Since then Playmates learnt their lesson and realised the exclusives needed to be made in more quantity! 10,000 is a far cry from 500 so there is NO comparison at all. This fiasco was a few years ago so there was plenty of time for other companies to take note!

As far as Star Wars go again no comparison. Star Wars looses collectors of the figures all the time. The thing is Star Wars is so popular and appeals to kids so much and exclusives make no differnce. It is and always will be a hot property! For every collector that cant bear the exclusives and gives up another 10 come along and start up! What is important to note is that Kenner in the UK HAVE realised Kenner USA are hurting the line and have ensured UK collectors that all exclusives will be made avliable to them in some way.

Bottom line is give away figures in the run of 500 hurt lines. Every toy company knows it from years of business. If I am so in the wrong why have they all made ajustments!

Action Figures are no longer for kids but collectors too and most collectors have compulsive behaviour. If that cant be met they steer away from a line!

 

[ResidentLilly]

Every company I am aware of still does indusrtry give aways from time to time...including Star Wars.

You know, I could argue each of your comments, but it is really pointlesss...and everyone else...leave the guy alone too.

If you don't want to collect the line, then just don't. I stand by what we are doing, have explained all over the place why and think we are doing a decent job. If you consider a giveaway or a factory error and a part of the line that you must have and now since you can't get them you don't want any figs...well, welcome to America.

 

[bhg738]

Ken,

Thanks for the reply!

First I must point out that I DO want the line to be a success. I really hope that it works and continues a long way down the line.

My only real concern is that the exclusives do turn some people away. I have encountered a large volume of posts from people whoo have felyt this way and found it very difficult to come to terms with the fact that a line in its infancy has produced so many variants!

Do you or the company feel that this could lead to problems down the road or not? It would be interesting to know now down the road your feelings!

In my case do not see every error as a variant. For example I would not buy something that had a spelling error but do feel that a complete change in packaging is a difference! There are many who agree!

I DO NOT agree you are doing a decent job - I feel you are doing an amazing job! The figures are well crafted and very appealing. I just would hate to see this go to waste if people are being turned away!

In my oppinion and am willing to be proofed wrong I do feel you may have had some regrets about the giveaways etc due to the opening of the club and the announcement of no more exclusives.

 

[ResidentLilly]

My only regret is the low number on the Dr. Teeth. I don't regret the amount of exclusives in Series One or the creation of a collector's club to get people better access in the future.

Yes Series One has an unusually high number of variations. But we need something to get people to notice this line at launch...after all, the show is not on the air (Simpson's) and their is no movie to boost it (Star Wars, LOTR) and there is no comic book to support it (GI Joe) and no cartoon to watch about it (He-Man). Something had to get people to take notice. The extra exclusives did that.

I know that turns some people away. That is outside of my ability to control. At the end of the day, I have to ask myself if the company is doing all it can do to please most of its supporters.

I believe it is.

 

[uncleduke]

I just wanna make sure I get the point

bhg738, I am not trying to be evil, nasty, or hostile. I just cannot think of any other way to phrase this, so please do not take offense:

Now, if I understand this correctly:

1. you started a similair thread a couple of weeks ago
2. the majority of us did not agree with you
3. you went to a different website, that caters to collectors
4. you found people who agreed with you
5. you came back with a big fat I told you so
   [/list=1]
   is that a fair assesment?
   I, like you, am a toy collector, who happens to love the Muppets.
   I do not think the exclusives are going to negatvely affect the line. If anything the number of exclusives are doing exactly what they are suppoded to do: get people talking about the Muppets
   I think this is a prestige line at the moment, in boutique shops (no Walmarts, Targets et al).
   To your contacts who say 'If I can't have them all, I won't get any' I say a hardy EXPLATIVE DELEATED!!! What say we take a look through their collections, and see if they have any McFarlane figures? That company does more (intentional and unintentional) variants than any other company on the planet, and they seem to get by. Heck there are 3 variations of each of the 6 Monsters in the current line. I bet all your friends have a set of those, and did not buy 3 Frankenstiens, 3 Draculas, 3 Werewolve, etc. I also bet they did not get the Randy Johnson with the Purple Jersey and Gold Glasses, the Randy Johnson with the Black Jersey and Gold Glasses, the Randy Johnson with the Black Jersey, Gold Glasses and grass stains on his pants, the Randy Johnson with the Purple Jersey and Black Glasses. No, most people buy one or two.
   Granted there are people who will drive themselves half crazy looking for every stinking variant, and good ol' Todd McF is taking full advantage of them.
   Palisades is doing the oposite, going out of there way to make these affordable for the collector. When they saw the demand for the VC (god, I hate that abbreviation) Beaker was greater than the supply, they MADE MORE!!
   Do You think Hasbro would make more of one specific figure because the fans wanted it? NO WAY JOSE
   I think they deserve support, and your critisism is misplaced (IMHO)

 

[bhg738]

Uncleduke - First I take no offence whatsoever so no worries! You have got my feelings wrong but that is my fault. I was thinking about my post after I posted it. What I was trying to get across is not that I want the line to fail or try to proof a point but more of a case of letting people know what others are thinking.

There were actually a large number of posts from people who had posted the same subject. I did not even have to start the thread they were there already.

My new post was not a told you so but more of a people are thinking this way and I am concerned about the lines reputation and lonetivity being damaged!

Let me point out these are not all my friends just simple collectors. Some are not even completists but had a feeling of being put off by the exclusives!

I am a muppet fan but not a major one! It is therefore easy for me to make comments and also as I am a toy collector. On this board it is easy for people to stick up for the line beacuse they are to some degree Muppet Fans. People do not agree with me on many points here because of that reason. You need to go to other boards to see what other peoples oppinions are. That is what I did and without me starting anything people had the same feeling I originally had.

Since my original post with the help of you guys I had some of my feeling irnoed out!

One thing I must agree on and I never thought of (who knows it may have been a plan all along) is that the exclusives ARE making people talk!

 

[uncleduke]

Yes, I have worked to come to grips with that.

I am a toy collector who happens to love the Muppets
I am conversing with
People who love the Muppets and are now Toy collectors

So some of the posts leave me scratching my head.
I completely disagree with you on one point. Palisades is not coming up with the club because they screwed up. The only mistake the (might have) made was under-estimating the popularity of the line.
If you go to the Diamond Comics websight (a national distributor) they have in stock, Convention exclusives from past years (Edward Scissorhands, Vampira, some McFarlane stuff)
So I don't think Palisades thought these would be nearly as popular as they are.