*OFFICIAL* 'Dear Hasbro, Oh how we adore this 'love/hate' relationship with you...'

[Urban Saboteur]

Ok,
on the back of what has been discussed about "What's keeping you in GI JOE at the moment" and baring in mind what was discussed in that thread and mentioned by both myself and Ender098. ;)

So i got the new Hasbrotoyshop catalog in the mail today. Nice full color slick catalog. Great features on star wars & marvel but........1 crappy page on joes.

Whats worse is it only shows the first 2 five packs and 2 sigma six figures, leatherneck & desert wolf. They don't mention who is in 5 packs.
There is no mention of single carded figures at all.


Hasbro released their toyshop catalogue. . it's let a few people down already on Yojoe.com, the 20 or images of Transformers & Star Wars and apparently.. get this 1/2 page of GI Joe stuff. :(

The shocking thing is.. when the line gets canned hasbro will say its because of poor sales and lack of support from the consumer, hasbro won't mention that their p*ss poor marketing and advertising and rather shoddy product design are what killed the line before it got going.

For what it's worth has anyone seen this catalogue, what did you make of it?
I think most people that have access to the internet would of seen the toys in there as old news anyway.. however what about the casual parent, surely if GI JOE is being outgunned and outnumbered to this staggering ratio it can't have a hope of surviving?
Rich

[General Scarlett]

I remember back in the 'old days' when I had EVERYTHING Joe in the catalog......good times......... ;)

[Scarrviper]

Yeah, I just got the new catalog, and for me these catalogs are worthless. The website never has everything that is in the book.

[ender098]

[QUOTE=Urban Saboteur]Hasbro released their toyshop catalogue. . it's let a few people down already on Yojoe.com, the 20 or images of Transformers & Star Wars and apparently.. get this 1/2 page of GI Joe stuff. :(

The shocking thing is.. when the line gets canned hasbro will say its because of poor sales and lack of support from the consumer, hasbro won't mention that their p*ss poor marketing and advertising and rather shoddy product design are what killed the line before it got going.
however what about the casual parent, surely if GI JOE is being outgunned and outnumbered to this staggering ratio it can't have a hope of surviving?
Rich[/QUOTE]


Amen!!!

[Sonneilon]

Well, usually print catalogues take a lot longer than ads on the web. So it's possible that the stuff was pretty much already sold out. Or they knew that the stores had all ordered their stock so there wasn't much point in trying to advertise 'em. Certainly, HTS has the stuff for an hour and then it's gone so it'd almost be false advertising.

Unless they are doing a quick reproduction to get stores Waves 1 and 2 again. But I wouldn't hold my breath.

[G.I.*Jock]

This doesn't surprise me in the least, Rich... I mean their marketing of the 2002 JvC and VvV Figures was non existant in the UK... :confused:

D :D

[yorktownjoe]

I received this catalog, and it felt a little sad.

But seeing my 6 yr old, point and say "Hey, G.I.Joe!" in an excited voice after pages of Spider-Man and Star Wars...that was kind of worth it.

Maybe the Hasbro execs are feeling anti-war sentiment and sub-consciously making the mental of error of equating "anti-war" with "anti-soldier." There are mixed feeling in the country and the world about the war, but I have never, ever heard one negative word about a soldier from anyone I know personally. WE honor the fallen as well as the living here in Wisconsin.

I admire the men and women serving our country and who really are "fighting for freedom wherever there's trouble."

Like all print advertising affiliated with e-commerce, the catalog is designed to drive you to the website (if you didn't know it was there). But an email with an internet coupon/gift code could have done the same thing...for past customers....(how do they think they got our home address if it wasn't for a past purchase from their website...?)

[giTom]

October 30, 2007
Message to G.I Joe Fans

Hasbro�s G.I. Joe Team wanted to take this opportunity to clarify some of the facts regarding the G.I. Joe live-action movie that we are developing with Paramount Pictures.

First and foremost, we are not changing what the G.I. Joe brand is about. The name �G.I. Joe� will always be synonymous with bravery and heroism.

The G.I. Joe brand has enjoyed a successful 43-year history, spanning two key generations. The first was the line of 12-inch �realistic military� figures that were popular with kids in the 1960s and 1970s.

The second generation, was created in 1982, and is based on a cast of fictional heroes and villains that make up the �G.I. Joe vs. Cobra� fantasy. The premise of this fantasy is the story of the G.I. Joe team, led by Duke, and their �fight for freedom wherever there is trouble� against the evil Cobra Commander and his Cobra force. This storyline was an instant hit with kids in the early 1980s, spawning a highly popular 3-3/4-inch action figure line, comic book collection and animated series.

This movie will be a modern telling of the �G.I. Joe vs. Cobra� storyline and its compelling characters that Hasbro created 25 years ago. The G.I. Joe team will not be based in Brussels. Instead, they will be based out of the �Pit� as they were throughout the 1980s comic book series. And, in keeping with the G.I. Joe vs. Cobra fantasy, the movie will feature characters and locations from around the world. Duke, the lead character and head of the G.I. Joe team, will embody the values of bravery and heroism that the first generation of G.I. Joe figures established.

G.I. Joe is a very important property to Hasbro and we thank all of our fans for their enthusiasm. Without all of you, the brand would not be where it is today.

Thank you.

GI Joe Movie News (http://www.hasbro.com/gijoe/default.cfm?page=News/Item&newsid=F285F255-D56F-E112-46FAEBF95750D7E9)

[Flint]

THanks for the Update giTom!!! :D Nice to here somethings will be the same!!! :)

[Flatline]

that Is Very Prommising :d

[Acantilado]

Thats coll new, BUT I don't really like Duke being the leader of G.I.Joe, as Hawk is supposed to be. That makes the film kind of cartoon-inspired, leaving us comic fans a bit off game:o

Anyway, I really expect they make a reasonably good film.

[Hammerfel]

Hasbro has created some killer wallpapers (http://www.hasbro.com/monkeybartv/default.cfm?page=Entertainment/DesktopArt/WallpaperResults&brandFilter=520) celebrating the 25th Anniversary.

http://www.joedios.com/newsimages/wp_gijoe814_800.jpg (http://www.joedios.com/dioramas/showimage.php?i=10460)

http://www.joedios.com/newsimages/wp_gijoe812_800.jpg (http://www.joedios.com/dioramas/showimage.php?i=10461)

http://www.joedios.com/newsimages/wp_gijoe810_800.jpg (http://www.joedios.com/dioramas/showimage.php?i=10462)

http://www.joedios.com/newsimages/wp_gijoe809_800.jpg (http://www.joedios.com/dioramas/showimage.php?i=10463)

http://www.joedios.com/newsimages/wp_gijoe808_800.jpg (http://www.joedios.com/dioramas/showimage.php?i=10464)

http://www.joedios.com/newsimages/wp_gijoe665_800.jpg (http://www.joedios.com/dioramas/showimage.php?i=10458)

http://www.joedios.com/newsimages/wp_gijoe666_800.jpg (http://www.joedios.com/dioramas/showimage.php?i=10459)

[Renegade]

HOLY CRAP!! Nice shots and thank you. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!

[Prince Adam]

These are really nice! I think that the Cobra one with CC and Destro is available in poster form, at least the CC half of it. Really great stuff from Hasbro! It's nice to see GI Joe in general getting the attention it deserves!!!

[Stormer]

Do we know who did these pictures? Hasbro actually employed Luke Ellison to do wallpaper dios with Marvel toys, and that was after he'd been talking to the GI Joe people about the online dio-scene when he was getting turned into Red Zone. It'd be nice if he actually got to work with the toy line that put him in touch with them in the first place...!

[General Scarlett]

Wow!! I want that 'super weapon' that the Cobra's are on!!!! :eek:

[Acantilado]

I've been using the Snake-Eyes one for a while, but I didn't know about those others!

I can't help but notice Hasbro is geting more and more involved with the Joes as months go by. I mean, they never did such a thing with the DTC or the G.I.Joe vs Cobra, nor the Collector's...

[DaveCW2]

Suh-WEET!!! These really give me something to aspire to!

Have fun, gang!!!

[Hammerfel]

Might be old news, but I just noticed:

http://www.hasbrotoyshop.com/ProductsByCategory.htm?CD=2&BR=520&SBR=539

Some amazing dio figs here. I'd love it if someone started reviewing figures in relation to how they could be best used in dios, like that version of SE with the torn up uniform.

[General Scarlett]

At the turtle's pace rate that these find their way into the market, buying from HTS online is frighteningly the fastest, easiest method!! :rolleyes:

[Flint]

Awesome News!!!!!!!! :) Thanks for the info!!!! :D

[yorktownjoe]

I have seen them start popping up at TRU and Wal-Mart near me, which is only weird b/c Green Bay is near the end of the world as far as distribution goes... ;)


But buying from the source insures you get what you ordered... Thanks for the link!

[haradrel]

Wow - I now have everything 25th there :eek:
Cool! :D

[jjsvipers]

they look awesome
http://i.marvelousnews.com/g/index.php?mode=view&album=Hasbro%2FHulk_Movie%2FSeries_01&pic=02_Hulk_Buster_Squad_01.jpg&dispsize=600&start=0

[yorktownjoe]

Agreed...O-ring lovers should be able to get more than a little satisfaction from these. They look like they could slide right into a joeverse, possibly after removing any factory paint apps referencing the Hulk... Come up with some code-names, and you're good to go...

[Sonneilon]

WHOA! I might have to hook up with some of those! Love the colors.

[Outrider]

Yep, I've seen these before, and they are a definite pick up. Now why can't Hasbro do stuff as good as this for the joe line? :confused: :rolleyes:

[General Scarlett]

Scoop these up.......I heard today that the word is this new Hulk movie isn't much better than the first one was....... :(

But at least the toys can work to our advantage!! :D

[sgcaper]

I am definitely picking these up for customs

[Agent Viper]

The dude without the helmet can be a Rollbar for me and the other, I don't really know for sure.
Thats if i find them.

[Da Talent]

they still look cheap. Hasbro is always taking short cuts. What the hell is the dude on the left gonna do with that giant 50. cal. It has a peg on the bottom, so please tell me it comes with a vehicle other wise. gags-ville

[Flatline]

those 2pks Will Be A Great Addition For My Custom Box :d

[vader9900]

[QUOTE=fireflyed]they still look cheap. Hasbro is always taking short cuts. What the hell is the dude on the left gonna do with that giant 50. cal. It has a peg on the bottom, so please tell me it comes with a vehicle other wise. gags-ville[/QUOTE]
Its for a crappy movie, the only people who will buy these are Joe fans. They could not give the crap from the 1st movie away - remember those stupid Hulk hands? I think they still have those here at my WalMart on the clearance isle!

[Mobius_1]

If you click NEXT on the page, it will scroll until you get to the vehicle... a Night Ops Humvee with bright neon stickers on it....... :mad: i swear hasbro......

[Agent Viper]

[QUOTE=Mobius_1]If you click NEXT on the page, it will scroll until you get to the vehicle... a Night Ops Humvee with bright neon stickers on it....... :mad: i swear hasbro......[/QUOTE]


I saw that...

If you can glue the hood so it doesn't smash and peel off or paint over those crappy stickers then add some light gray and dark gray then you got yourself an awesome Night Op's Humvee :D :D

[Prince Adam]

I might pick up a set or two. The weapons and paintjobs are pretty hardcore. As for the hummer, that's easily remedeed with a can't of flat black spraypaint. But I really don't need another humvee.

[Da Talent]

HULK Smash HASBRO!!!

[Stormer]

Definitely going to take the silver paint to the guy with the helmet and make a Grand Slam in DDP colours...

[Tracker]

Interesting i'm looking forward ti the figs and the Humvee

[battlewagon]

awesome, I'm personally not digging the new 25anniv. molds but to those who like them, that's cool.

saw the hummer. awesome, looks like a 4 seater and yes the yellow may look bad but that can always be corrected. wow, looking forward to these. wonder what's in store for series 2...

[rds13601]

Dear Hasbro, could you release the new wave of 25th figs with Alpine, Vipers, and Wild Bill already!!! I'm suffering from delerium tremors from figure buying withdrawal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[GoCards]

I second that. I want Vipers!

[Mysterious Stranger]

When did Alpine get thrown in that wave?!?!?!

[ender098]

I wanna see someone do a video for the 25th anniversary line like that one guy did for the director of the movie, where he says "dear Hasbro, Don't F*&k it up".....

Whoops..too late! They already F&*ked it up! LOL!

[silentdusty]

[QUOTE=ender098]I wanna see someone do a video for the 25th anniversary line like that one guy did for the director of the movie, where he says "dear Hasbro, Don't F*&k it up".....

Whoops..too late! They already F&*ked it up! LOL![/QUOTE]

Word! :D

[nando]

ender u are right bro .....

[Self-Modifier]

[QUOTE=Mysterious Stranger]When did Alpine get thrown in that wave?!?!?![/QUOTE]

I'm guessing he mis-spoke and meant to say Sprit...?

Either way, I have no problem waiting for that wave to show up, since first I'd like Rock n' Roll, Torpedo, and Battle Armor Cobra Commander to show up in my area... :(

[Sonneilon]

Seriously, does Hasbro really know what it's doing? It wants to make a profit. It wants to create enterainment. It also wants to protect it's properties by doing what they think is right. But honestly...

It's been discussed on the JBL (and probably other Joe websites) that the prices will be going up. It's said that the single figures will be going up 25%. The WalMart fans are whining cuz it'll push Joe figures to around $6. Maybe $7. Sure, oil prices are going up which means that it affects not only transportation, but whatever else uses oil in their processes.

I can't help but come to a sense that Hasbro doesn't know what it wants to do. Does it want to create collector-oriented 'things' or do they want to supply the demand for toys? IF the price is going up, then it starts to become a collector's game. It's already been stated that the 25A is geared for Collectors. Be it nostalgiac or not. At the same time, Hasbro is a toy company and they have always tried to cater to the kids. I canj't help but feel that they are at a crossroads.

Hasbro can't figure out what to do with most of their toy properties. You got Star Wars which has MULTIPLE lines and a million other things. Then you have something like Transformers and they've done classic, re-releases, binaltech, etc. Those lines have HUGE fanbases but what about GI Joe? It's a pretty niche market. Hasbro is raising prices but not increasing production to meet demand. Economists have their views but let's face it, is Hasbro creating a DEMAND market they feel they don't need to meet? HOW does that factor into that Hasbro is a toy company???

NOW, we know that Hasbro wants to do a Hall of Heroes. Is it a way to grab more collectors? Is it a STar Wars thang? Are they trying to get figures out there that 'kids' may have missed?

I feel that Hasbro needs to figure out WHY they are in the game. The world is already too money-grubbing as it is. Hasbro should just make toys for the kids, period. Collector-base? That's what different series are for. I don't know, Hasbro has made some weird choices w/ the 25A and I have no idea where it's going.

Cheers.

[Sonneilon]

http://joebattlelines.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=5616

http://joebattlelines.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=5553

[LordRaven]

In the end, it all comes down to, what can we do?
Grandma won't stop buying them for her grandkids, and Hasbro will go on thinking that the line is fine.
I have an open line with them, supposedly, with the "ask hasbro" B.S. and we always get the same answer
"Not right now, but who knows what the future may hold".....lame
In another year, the movie will come out....once the movie is done it's run, Hasbro will once again put Joe on the back burner, and we'll have to go back to relying on Ebay and trades to get our Joes.
Hasbro sucks. We hate em.

and they don't care.

[Outrider]

I lost my faith in Hasbro long ago. From their total disregard of the collectors who have supported the line since day one, to their generic, meaningless answers to fan-submitted questions. Nothing they do surprises me anymore. Disappoints me, yes, but surprises me, no. Heck, I don't even care enough to get angry anymore. As long as the $$$ are rolling in, why should they give a *#@% ?

[haradrel]

[QUOTE=Outrider] As long as the $$$ are rolling in, why should they give a *#@% ?[/QUOTE]


Which is mostly true for every company out there.
They are out to make the big bucks, if the cash keeps rolling in, and there isn't a noticable discrepancy then they won't change a thing.

You really think that if they started catering to all the whims and whishes of us "old school" types that they would sell more? I actually highly doubt it.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.
I think this discussion will come up again in oh, 5 years when Gijoe has its 30th anniversary.

we can only wish for the best, but expect the worst (as I always do).

[Sonneilon]

Well here's the thing. When Hasbro first started, did the Has- Brothers get in the game to make a buck or did they want to make toys for kids? Back in 1982 when they released the 3.75" Joes, did they really plan on making HUGE DOLLARS? Haven't Hasbro reps said in the past that between GI Joe and Transformers, it ended up bigger than they ever expected?


Hasbro is raising prices across the board. To me, that starts to sound like they are getting cocky and as Craig has pointed out, Hasbro's out to make money.

I can believe that oil prices are effecting things. But not increasing product and rising prices can only mean a larger profit for them. What sort of strategy is that?

IF Hasbro wanted to make the toys to be accessible to kids, why are they doing such low runs and the distribution spotty?

I can't help but question whether Hasbro has bit off more than it can chew. THey have so many toylines. Look at HTS and check out ALL the brands! It's crazy!




And yet, here I sit still buying these darned things!

[ender098]

Not that I get a lot of 25th stuff, but it irks me that you can't find more than one or two packages of new stuff in the stores (If You're lucky enough to find that!) and on HasbroToyShop.com the stuff goes from "Coming Soon" to "not in Stock" Even if I wanted to collect this stuff, how could I? The only way is through online retailers or eBay scalpers. Hasbro is too busy looking for a new cash cow/windfall line to be bothered with the line that made it famous.

They don't care about collectors or regular consumers. they care about squeezing every penny until it bleeds. They only put out enough product to make sure they sell ALL OF IT and screw the consumers. And they allow the big three to dictate what is offered. I understand the purpose in business it to make money, but they are SOOOO overly cautious about not taking risks they are killing the profits they could make on the collectors side of things! Why don't they offer stuff on HTS a little more liberally?

[Urban Saboteur]

I don't think hasbro has known for some time 'what it's doing' the mid life crisis.. if they are suffering from it, had started around 94.
"we're canning the line" I write to them, they explain
"we don't foresee that we will be making or releasing GIJOE at any point in the near future"
3 Years pass, and they are back out. :confused:

I spoke at length to Stormer a while back about Hasbro's poor distribution to the stores. Why can't people get the 25th product. Not that i'm bothered so much anymore, but like Ender says "Even if i wanted to get them, my only hope is ebay scalpers or if i get lucky on HTS" :(

Stormer stated a while back he thought that hasbro might of done this on purpose, to make the line and the product appear more popular than it actually is. In the line being constantly out of stock, it means when they do appear on shelves people are panic buying in bulk usually. I can almost see it happening and it has to be said whatever the reasons hasbro began making figures and releasing them back in the 80s, i'm sure "making money" was definately one of their own targets.

The problem with them is that back in the 80s they didnt have as many lines, Hasbro's focus and end game was the GIJOE line, they had to put everything into it and focus on fan complaints, now they have so much financial power and their hands are in so many pockets (they have more toy lines to manage).. they are disinterested in 'what fans want' they do have that Q & A thing, but i'm with the others on this that it's just a ruse for fans to believe they are listening.

The only thing they've learned is that we don't like neon on our joes.. they haven't gone back to that........... yet. :rolleyes:

[Sonneilon]

See, there's some malfunction with Hasbro. People WANT to give them their money (or the stores, whatever). Put the product out there, they'll buy it. Why they are holding back, it feels like they want to be a Collector's Toy Company like McFartlane Toys. If Hasbro feels that way, that's fine. But they're as bad as Britney Spears when trying to get their act together. Those guys need to look at what their mission statement is and get someone in there who BELIEVES that what they do is for the good. NOT just to make money so the execs can buy another house or island.

[rds13601]

I'll start buying hasbro stock and we'll take over the company. It's a business Sonny. They don't care about people just the bucks. The greed of a ceo and a board knows no bounds. I think the current line is not geared toward kids. The advertisement for the then Snake Eyes and now Snake Eyes proves it. Try not to let it discourage or weaken the fun you have with the line. Wherever there is steak there is bound to be fat for sure!! I hate Hasbro becuz we demanded the October Guard be made and it wasn't for twenty years. They don't care period!! But don't let it get to you.

[Rambo]

I am with Sonny. hasbro has some serious problems...


cool toys -> o-ring for oldies -> :) customers buying -> more $$$ -> more cool toys
new scultp for kids

and if you add some marketing like cartoons, comics, a movie, etc... the process could flow faster...

;)

[General Scarlett]

....thanks for 25+ years of laughter, tears, happiness and frustration........

Here's to another 25!!!! :cool: