[Ted Kamensky]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eurolock

This is a screenshot of the picture in question. The tank appears to be attached to the harness which seems unusual if this is a classified part

Thank you sir. Both the helmet and the tank look great.

[Trigger2K]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeachheadMatt

This was mentioned before, and correctly so I believe. Hasbro is still sitting on those exclusive Crimson Strike Team 3 packs from last year. They're currently marked down to nearly half price, and they still haven't sold through, even after being marked down for several months. Same story with that Marvel Legends Detroit Steel figure, an unsold exclusive that's still available at a discount. Also very similar story with that exclusive Star Wars black series Starkiller 3 pack from last year (although that one finally sold through after being discounted).

So that's 3 different con exclusives, from 3 different lines, that they got stuck with leftover stock and had to heavily discount. Just making all new mistakes. Just making all new mistakes.

So Maybe this week's issues are an experiment to gage demand. We're all just rats in a maze.

They also have the TVC SDCC exclusive from last year on clearance. I take it they learned a lesson and won't be repeating the same mistakes. Just making all new mistakes.

[JeepJedi]

To be fair.. that Crimson Strike Team was a big mistake. Xamot and Tomax were perpetually clearance fodder. Slapping red paint on them was not going to sway many to buy them again. Also they wildly overspent on that packaging.

[IzzyTipsy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeepJedi

To be fair.. that Crimson Strike Team was a big mistake. Xamot and Tomax were perpetually clearance fodder. Slapping red paint on them was not going to sway many to buy them again. Also they wildly overspent on that packaging.

Yup.

Had that been Baroness plus two Crimson army builders (say Range Viper and Techno Viper?) it would have sold way better.

[DarthBrett]

I think the CST set is still up just because it was not seen by many as being that good of a value, especially compared to OAMCC. The CST set felt more like it was just straight repaints in nice packaging, even though Baroness did feature new heads and better arms. But Cobra Commander features a lot more "newness". Plus, we'd never had this version of Cobra Commander ever in any line. I think that also added to his appeal.

I agree, if Baroness had come with Crimson army builders instead, probably would have been more popular of an item.

[Trigger2K]

I was disappointed with everything but the packaging with the CST and didn't even get it as an outlet deal. I was really looking forward to it previously, then saw it's all repaints except for Baroness's elbows and big fucking heads. Her head looks so swollen in every pic and review video I watched. The Rattler Baroness looks on point.

[JeepJedi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trigger2K

I was disappointed with everything but the packaging with the CST and didn't even get it as an outlet deal. I was really looking forward to it previously, then saw it's all repaints except for Baroness's elbows and big fucking heads. Her head looks so swollen in every pic and review video I watched.

Maybe that was the similar test the Star Wars team tries... "will they buy anything we put out?"

I think they got their answer.. lol

[wmichben]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeepJedi

To be fair.. that Crimson Strike Team was a big mistake. Xamot and Tomax were perpetually clearance fodder. Slapping red paint on them was not going to sway many to buy them again. Also they wildly overspent on that packaging.

Exactly. While I enjoy that CST set from last year, I completely understand why it wasn't super popular for the reasons you just described. Had that set been Tomax and Xamot in suits, I bet it would have sold better. The box art already played up the Extensive Enterprises aspect of it. That would have been cool as hell.

Sometimes I think that Hasbro just needs a bit of an intuition boost. Mattel makes similar mistakes. For example, letting fans vote on a crowdfund project then building something that looks nothing like the concept the fans voted for. I always wonder if there is someone involved in these discussions/operations that knows the idea is not great and they are just too afraid to speak up.

[Trigger2K]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeepJedi

Maybe that was the similar test the Star Wars team tries... "will they buy anything we put out?"

I think they got their answer.. lol

We'll see how the retro Duke repaint with a new head sells in September. I admit Starduster does look better than anything in the CST set.

[SquishyOH]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeepJedi

To be fair.. that Crimson Strike Team was a big mistake. Xamot and Tomax were perpetually clearance fodder. Slapping red paint on them was not going to sway many to buy them again. Also they wildly overspent on that packaging.

To be fair, Hasbro likely ordered the Crimson Strike Team around May 2022 for a July 2023 SDCC. Back in May 2022 I recall the original Tomax and Xamot appearing once at any of my local Targets and then vanishing. Some kind of Walmart/Target over ordering stock? Ordering stock and then never sending it to stores and just scrapping most of the wave? Target/Walmart realizing they under-ordered and then asked for a second run of Tomax and Xamot which never reached the shelves? I never remember seeing the Twins hanging out and getting clearanced at retail so something went wrong behind the scenes.

It was not until around November or December 2022 that Tomax and Xamot started to flood Ross/Ollies. By that time Hasbro was locked into orders for SDCC 2023. Even if they realized they had too many coming, not much they could do. But at least I got a Crimson Strike set for 1/2 off so things worked out okay for me.