We were quite shocked to learn something just yesterday that transpired during SDCC this year with Hasbro that didn't make it to the front page of any fan sites that attended (the pages we visit at least). Hasbro actually surveyed random people and asked them SPECIFICALLY about The Vintage Collection 3.75" super-articulated line and how those people asked about it would rank it against Hasbro's other lines. How this went unnoticed or overlooked is beyond me. Thankfully, the beautiful Victoria from Victoria's Cantina (a regular here at JTA) was one of the lucky ones to be surveyed. We have her experience for you to read through (by clicking through), but we also want something from our 6", 3.75" SA and 5POA collectors too. If Hasbro is looking for a focus group, they have a pretty substantial one here at JTA. Click through for more.
VICTORIA'S EXPERIENCE
So, when I walked into the Hasbro booth I was looking around and then noticed a visitor speaking with one of the lower-level Hasbro guys. The Hasbro rep asked the visitor if he wanted to take a survey, so I listened to the questions asked while looking at the 5 POA display. I then sort of stood around hoping h'ed ask me to take the survey, and after a moment, he began conversing with another Hasbro guy. Basically, it seemed like they were shy about asking people to take the survey. So I stayed there and then finally one of them said to the other “This is how you do it…. Ma’am, would you like to take a survey?” (I was starting to think they’d never ask.) Anyway, he first started with some basic questions:
1. Which line do you spend the most money on between The Black Series 6”, The Black Series 3.75”, and 5 POA 3.75”.
2. How many 6” The Black Series figures do you own?
3. When was the last time you bought a 6” The Black Series figure?
4. When was the last time you bought a 3.75” The Black Series figure?
5. How much do you spend a month on Star Wars toys?
There may have been another question that I’m not recalling right now. Then came the part I mentioned earlier about how I would rank those three lines and The Vintage Collection by importance. I specifically asked if The Vintage Collection meant super-articulation, to which he replied yes. So I ranked [TVC] first, then The Black Series 3.75”, then 6”, and then 5POA. I also made it a point throughout our visit to say a couple times that distribution was terrible and that I would have bought more 3.75” Black Series if I was able to find the latest wave. I think that put him off a little bit because when we finished up he sort of just said “Thanks” under his breath and didn’t look at me again. Oh well.
A few minutes later, that’s when I noticed Steve Evans talking to a group of people about 6” The Black Series. When he finished up, I caught his attention and introduced myself. We had a nice 5-minute chat about all things Hasbro Star Wars. We talked about distribution, and I told him about how Walmart.com and Amazon.com are scalping figures. It’s not his department, but he indicated they need to do better about it. We also talked about 6” and, in particular, the new ANH Leia. I told him what we’d been discussing in the JTA comments about her cheekbones being too pronounced. He told me about how difficult she is to nail down, and that Carrie was heavier in ANH and Empire than in Jedi, so they couldn’t just reuse the ROTJ head as people had been suggesting. He also said that she’s not finished, and that the one that was at Celebration Europe should never have been put out on display. He assured me that the final product will be better, but I’m not sure if that meant a re-sculpt of the head or not. We also talked a bit about Kenner Jurassic Park as that’s one of my favorite toy lines. He also said he’d check out my channel. I mentioned it before, but he was such a nice and down-to-earth guy. I really enjoyed chatting with him and could see that he’s genuinely a fan and loves what he does, and that he was truly interested in what I had to say. (Maybe I should have asked him for help in getting the exclusive Obi-Wan and Jyn, since those two sold out by the time I got to the HTS booth.)
Anyhow, the whole thing was a great experience. Here’s hoping for some good news with that big announcement.
WHAT WE WANT FROM YOU
(1) In the comments, please rank in order of importance (with 1 being the most important) the following lines: (A) The Vintage Collection 3.75" SA, (B) The Black Series 3.75" SA, (C) Droid Factory/Build A Droid 3.75" SA, (D) The Black Series 6", (E) 5POA.
Then please answer the following questions:
(2) Which line do you spend the most money on between The Black Series 6”, The Black Series 3.75”, and 5 POA 3.75”?
(3) When was the last time you bought a 3.75” The Black Series figure?
(4) How much do you spend a month on Hasbro Star Wars toys?
Please take the time to participate because your answers are important. Besides, today is my birthday and this is my birthday wish: for you to participate in our own version of Hasbro's survey. Remember, Hasbro is reading.
