Comments on: Spidey toy sales slacking?

by: Justin

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 09:29:46 +0000

I think it could all fall on Hasbro this time. From what I keep hearing they are making inferior Marvel action figures across the board. And expecting more money for it. Because honestly, a higher rated movie is not indicative of the last two movie runs of toys selling better. Even if I were a kid who did not get to see Spidey 3, I might want some toys still.

If Toybiz overdid their action figures, and were setting sights to high. Hasbro needed to be aware of that and price accordingly. Because I bet if one were to analyze alot of Marvel/Hasbro product they would find similar sales indications. Of course, as people have been saying it could probably be a trend in most action figures period.

by: Sphinx Magoo

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 01:09:15 +0000

Not a dig on the new Superman actor, but the artwork on the toy boxes for movie tie-ins made Superman look kinda… dorky. It was such a strong contrast with the strong Jose Garcia-Lopez artwork used for stuff like bedsheets and such.

by: Todd Alcott

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 22:51:53 +0000

My son (6) loves Spidey and Spidey toys and he has not looked twice at the new toys.

by: MadGoblin

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 22:37:39 +0000

Hasbro really missed the boat on their Spider-Man toys. The action figures are smaller and inferior to their Toy Biz predecessors. I’ve purchased figures from all 3 movies for my son. They have less articulation and detail, and they simply LOOK cheaper. You can’t mix and match with the older action figures because their smaller size. If they were a couple of bucks cheaper than the old figures, that might be one thing - but you’re paying as much or more for a clearly inferior product. And then there are the versions with stupid accessories like the slime or the sand (which can only guarantee parents rolling their eyes at the prospect of more messes to clean up) that, of course, costs MORE - and who wants to pay for that? I expected much better from Hasbro.

by: Pete

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 21:29:43 +0000

My son felt the Spiderman 3 figures were smaller than the ones before and that turned him off. He loves his action figures and has numerous Spidey 1 and 2 figures. They did look smaller to me as well but I’m not sure if they are.

by: Alan Coil

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 20:43:16 +0000

And let’s also not forget one of the most important things—Money!

With gas still over $3 in most places, there is little money for “discretionary spending”.

by: Matt M.

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 19:57:46 +0000

I think we have a winnah!

There’s a fundamental disconnect between the marketing device (movie) and the market that the toys are traditionally aimed at (kidlings). The kidlings don’t see the movie and aren’t driven by want of the toy.

Of course, the kidlings may not care where the toys came from and may just think that the idea of Spidey and Sandman fighting on motorcycles is too silly for even them. If my kids are any indication, Spidey is old and busted and Star Wars are the new hotness (to borrow an old and busted phrase.)

by: Sphinx Magoo

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 18:43:38 +0000

Maybe it’d help if the kids to whom the toys are being marketed could actually watch Spidey in action? Maybe conscientious parents see the PG-13 rating and don’t take their kids to go see it, which means the kids don’t clamor for them as they go through Target or Wal-Mart?

Ditto with all those clearance X-Men and Ghost Rider I always see at Kay-Bee Toys…

by: A-rod

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 17:59:43 +0000

Maybe Hasbro could make an MJ laundry room playset.

by: Bentcorner

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 17:35:06 +0000

It’s not just that the Spider-Man The Third stuff isn’t selling. It’s that there is just so much of it. The pegs are choking with it.

by: Val

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 17:12:12 +0000

Problem is, children largely don’t buy action figures anymore, only collectors do. But the collectors see the Spidey 3 figures as not “collectable” enough — kid stuff. Same for “Superman Returns” merch.

by: Kneon Transitt

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 16:46:08 +0000

I suspect that Spider-Man 3 merchandise will be this year’s Superman Returns. You can *still* find Supes stuff on clearance in many toy stores.

Hopefully it’s not a double-whammy for Hasbro this year. I’ve been collecting Transformers for over 20 years now, and the movie toys don’t seem to be flying off the shelves either.