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12-11-2008, 02:46 PM | #1 |
#voteblackjack
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Northwood, NH
Posts: 35,747
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This is a serious question and discussion, please refrain from the smart-ass remarks.
So alot of people do their Joe-shopping online, thru BBTS and other such stores, or even from Hasbro direct. I know I have cases ordered for Wave 13 and Wave 11. So for the most part, if you have a figure coming in an internet sale, you're not going to buy the figure off the shelves. So how much of the overall Joe sales is actually done on the store shelves? People complain about stores having a small selection of figures, not getting new stuff that often, etc.. But how much of that is actually our fault? This isn't Star Wars or Transformers that have a pretty large child following (from the shows on TV and other things). And kids buy toys in the store. Adults buy toys online. So for every Joe figure that we buy online, that's one less sale at the actual store. So why would they keep up with the waves, or have a good amount on the shelves? Yes, the Joe line sells good, but what amount of that sale is actually from the store itself? As far as the stores are concerned, is the Joe line a big seller? Probably not, which would account for the lack of product on the shelves. I'm sure there is a good size of in-store sales, but I think it's only enough to justify what the turn-around and amount of product on the shelves is. So for all the complaining, are we actually causing the problem? Some people buy multiple cases of the stuff, but that is bought online, not at the store. So as far as the stores are concerned, the Ghost H.A.W.K. may be a huge seller but they're not seeing it themselves, they have 'em sitting on the shelves. Why would Target order Wave 12 if they still have Wave 11 warming the pegs because the majority of people that would buy Wave 11 already bought 'em online. Now I have no clue what the actual amount of people that buy online is, but from comments here and elsewhere, I have a feeling that the majority of the sales of G.I. Joe is done online. And for each thing sold online, that's one that won't be sold at the store. Very small numbers just to illustrate a point. So in Concord, NH there are only 6 people that would buy Joes. There are 3 stores in Concord, TRU, Wally-World and Target. 4 of those people buy their Joes online. That means there's only 2 people hunting at 3 stores. So why would the stores order new product, keep the shelves fully stocked, etc.. for only 2 people? Yes, the numbers aren't realistic, but the general idea is. So the question is, are internet sales hurting the line? It's obviously hurting the sale of the line at the stores. The line is strong, but it's obvious from the comments here and the actual stores that the line really isn't that strong in-store. Could this be the actual reason why Hasbro is going to put the line on hiatus for the movie? So that the movie toys will be on the shelves where the target audience (that doesn't buy online) will be able to find them? One person may order up 8 Sting Raiders and buy 1 in the store. As far as Hasbro is concerned, the Sting Raider is a great seller (9 units), but as far as the store is concerned they only sold 1 so it's not a good seller. Could we be heading for a time when it will be only internet sales for the Joes? And if that happens, I don't see the line lasting very long.
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12-11-2008, 02:54 PM | #2 |
Iron Grenadier
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Cleveland
Posts: 700
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They might hurt the health of the line - that is, if sales are skewed towards online retailers, B&M stores will stock less, so it won't have the mainstream exposure - but sales numbers are sales numbers regardless of where they come from.
That said, I think you'll find most (for example, me) initially did their purchasing in stores. At some point you realize the stores (whether by their fault or their distributors, or Hasbro) have awful supply chain management and it's far too troublesome to rely on them. That's where internet retailers come in. So I think the B&M stock issues are the chicken, rather than the egg. |
12-11-2008, 02:58 PM | #3 |
#voteblackjack
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Northwood, NH
Posts: 35,747
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Quote:
That said, I think you'll find most (for example, me) initially did their purchasing in stores. At some point you realize the stores (whether by their fault or their distributors, or Hasbro) have awful supply chain management and it's far too troublesome to rely on them. That's where internet retailers come in. So I think the B&M stock issues are the chicken, rather than the egg.
Stores stock by supply and demand. If there's no demand (sales off the shelves) then they won't supply (order more and order often). So again, by us turning to the online retailers (because we're impatient for stores to order, carry or restock) then we're hurting the chances of them wanting to order, carry and restock.
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12-11-2008, 03:01 PM | #4 |
Cobra Sith Lord
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Surf City, CA
Posts: 9,585
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A lot of toys are still purchased at the store by parents with their kids or kids alone. I think collectors are buying more and more online now days but that won't kill a toy line. In fact, I'm sure if internet sales started to become the norm and sold more than the stores were selling, the toy companies would adjust their business decisions and adapt to the evolving toy market. I don't think it hurts the line enough to impact sales that much....at least not yet. And as I said, if Hasbro and retailers noticed this change occurring they would certainly re-evaluate their strategies and adjust accordingly.
I'm making a guess, but I would say only 10-15% of toy sales are from online purchases right now. I think in a few years that number could go as high as 25%, though. Look at it this way. Video games are available to buy online, too. But that hasn't stopped retail chains from carrying them in the stores (and video games are still big sellers at the stores). A lot of people are afraid to buy online, don't have the means (kids or people with no credit or bad credit) and people who don't have the internet (in 2008 that is becoming more unlikely, but there are still people who refuse to progress).
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12-11-2008, 03:08 PM | #5 |
Strato Viper
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Va.
Posts: 979
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From a store owners perspective I have to say that Internet sales do have a very profound effect on sales. Not just of Joes but of any online offered toy product.
I have carried Joes for quite some time. A number of customers would see it online and become impaitent waiting an extra week or two before I got it and go ahead and purchase it online. So Yes it does hurt a stores sales, especially a small business like mine. I had to do something, either adapt or let go of the line. Many stores that sold Joes,Star Wars and so on would often opt to drop the line when they saw it go for sale online. But I instead opted to offer what was on my racks for online sale. The majority of my Joe sales are online now, primarily through the TANK. If not for that then I would have dropped the line long ago due to internet sales hurting my instore sales. It is true that for Star Wars, Gears of War, HALO and so on that have a game or TV show or movie that kids buy the majority of it. BUT, I do have a number of kids that buy Joes, thanks to their parents and the comic books as well as the fact that they are cheap compared to SW,GOW,HALO figures. Will the line become online only? I hope not and I don't believe it will. Overall the majority of the Joe sales are through stores(off the shelf). The secondary market for example someone buying it then putting online or like my store putting my stock online are the majority of internet sales. According to my distributor the majority of Joe sales are off the rack with a strong secondary market on the internet through trade and second hand sales. |
12-11-2008, 03:13 PM | #6 |
Banned
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Monrovia, CA
Posts: 12,065
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considering retailers still seem to be moving product rather consistently, I'd say no.
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gunslingercbr |
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12-11-2008, 03:20 PM | #7 |
Cobra Viper
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 313
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If that large amount of people are buying online and nobody is buying in stores, why can't I find Croc Master? And I'm sure that there are other people here looking for other figures that I have. And while some people do buy multiple cases and whatever, I don't think that all the troop builders buy every figure online. Maybe someone from that niche can chime in on how they compile their armies. My "troop building" of 2 doesn't really cut it.
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12-11-2008, 03:21 PM | #8 |
has been warned
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 2,039
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Im not understanding the lack of product on the shelves argument. I find everything I need at stores and tons of it. A year ago I searched 7 stores several times a week and maybe 1 of them would get a case of singles in stock. We have come a long way.
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12-11-2008, 03:23 PM | #9 |
Master of Disguise
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Sarasota, FL
Posts: 4,757
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The bottom line is.. do internet sales hurt the Brick & Motor Stores.. Of course they do.. Does it hurt the GI Joe line, not unless its After Market because sales are sales and Hasbro is still getting money.
The problem though is we are overpaying because we are ordering online.
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12-11-2008, 03:26 PM | #10 |
Banned
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 2,691
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I would say that the online retailers have gained some clout in the past year. Look at when stuff is arriving now. It used to be that you could buy online and be sure to get your Joes sometime. Now you can preorder them and be almost assured to get them from the online retailer (BBTS, EE, HTS, others) before they ever see the light of day on a shelf or pet at Walmart, Target or TRU.
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