Quote:
Originally Posted by Sun Swipe Prime
Came across this video of someone who worked in the toy industry explaining why big playsets aren't sold in retail anymore. Their channel has some interesting takes on toy collecting if anyone is interested.
https://youtu.be/W9nxL54mM20 |
Interesting video BUT.. some huge flaws in his arguments.
1) there are a LOT of very big "toys" and such still in stores that sell for less than what a similar sized Transformers would sell for. So it's not as clean cut as he's making it to be about only space and value of sale of the item really matters.
2) space wise, I rarely see any store that doesn't have a fair amount of empty shelves, so empty space would equal loses according to what he's saying. Seriously.. better to have a shelf filled with something that can sell, over a client finding nothing on a shelf and walking empty handed and going elsewhere to buy it.
3) there are still a LOT of playsets in stores, some examples: Barbie stuff are all huge, TrU has a 3rd party line of giant military vehicles that are fairly on the cheap (compared to TFs), then the younger kids stuff with giant Power Rangers or Marvel or DC playsets (Imaginext and such).
https://www.toysrus.ca/en/Soldier-Fo.../14A52C32.html
https://www.toysrus.ca/en/Fisher-Price-Imaginext-DC-Super-Friends-Super-Surround-Batcave---English-Edition/E4C44BA1.html
(heck, change the bat symbol to an Autobot/Decepticon one and do a few adjustment and that one could sell as a TFs one easily)
So while I'm not saying that his arguments are all bad, but it's not as clear cut as he's making it to be. It's about maximizing profits according to what the manufacturers will provide/produce and actually be able to distribute. It's a balancing act for sure, but not really why they aren't doing large playset... Unicron has proven that there is a solid demand (hell, every Titan has), but why sell one large toy for 300$, when they can try and sell you 10 smaller ones at 50$ each, or sell you an incomplete one and make you get the "accessories" to complete it.
