Answered Questions - Sept. 14, 2007

[Darth Zirock]

1.) From Darth_Zirock: In the upcoming EE set of Mandalorians & Clones, there's a female Mando called Rav Bralor based on this art by Tom Hodges:


However, Hodges named the character Vonte Tervho. Any chance we could see a single-carded version eventually, using that name?

ANSWER: We take our character names from Lucasfilm's direction, as they establish canon. A character name like Vonte Tervho would be a different character from Rav Bralor, which is not an issue, but that character would need to be officially endorsed by Lucasfilm before we would consider it for any future offerings.

2.) From pod: I love the inclusion of a separate R5 unit along with the non-removable R5 unit with the new Y-Wing. Any chances of seeing this on re-releases of the Jedi Starfighters?

ANSWER: Glad you like you like it - we have gotten a lot of great comments on that idea. For the Jedi Starfighters that are released in our $19.99 suggested retail 85196 Starfighter Vehicle Assortment it will not happen because of the tight cost constraints. However, we like the approach too for any future sets (such as exclusives) where have more pricing freedom.

3.) From joenubb: Will there be any way to get a complete set of collector's coins without having to buy each figure? Perhaps something through HasbroToyShop.com?

ANSWER: We elected not to pursue this, instead leaving the complete sets of coins a treasure for the fans who have worked hard to chase down all of the versions needed.

[obidad]

ANSWER: Glad you like you like it - we have gotten a lot of great comments on that idea. For the Jedi Starfighters that are released in our $19.99 suggested retail 85196 Starfighter Vehicle Assortment it will not happen because of the tight cost constraints. However, we like the approach too for any future sets (such as exclusives) where have more pricing freedom.

WHAT???? Tight cost constraints? They tooled one mold how many years ago? And how many times have they resused this with different paint apps? How about an honest answer... it's not tight cost constraints, but the fact that their profit margin won't be as large. Of course they want to make a profit on the toys they manifacture, but don't lie that they can't do it due to cost constraints.

[harfo]

ANSWER: Glad you like you like it - we have gotten a lot of great comments on that idea. For the Jedi Starfighters that are released in our $19.99 suggested retail 85196 Starfighter Vehicle Assortment it will not happen because of the tight cost constraints. However, we like the approach too for any future sets (such as exclusives) where have more pricing freedom.

WHAT???? Tight cost constraints? They tooled one mold how many years ago? And how many times have they resused this with different paint apps? How about an honest answer... it's not tight cost constraints, but the fact that their profit margin won't be as large. Of course they want to make a profit on the toys they manifacture, but don't lie that they can't do it due to cost constraints.

Jedi Starfigheters are a $19.99 vehicle if they were to add a $6.99 figure to it then they'd barley be making a profit if any off selling them unlike the y-wing which didn't have to fit into a certain price range since it wasn't part of an assortment. So it is cost constraints since they have to sell basic vehicles while keeping within the $19.99 price range. Thats not to say they wont have exclusives with figures included such ast the y-wing or even the tie intercepter out now. It's just for the average line that all stores get they wont be adding figures anytime soon.

[obidad]

ANSWER: Glad you like you like it - we have gotten a lot of great comments on that idea. For the Jedi Starfighters that are released in our $19.99 suggested retail 85196 Starfighter Vehicle Assortment it will not happen because of the tight cost constraints. However, we like the approach too for any future sets (such as exclusives) where have more pricing freedom.

WHAT???? Tight cost constraints? They tooled one mold how many years ago? And how many times have they resused this with different paint apps? How about an honest answer... it's not tight cost constraints, but the fact that their profit margin won't be as large. Of course they want to make a profit on the toys they manifacture, but don't lie that they can't do it due to cost constraints.

Jedi Starfigheters are a $19.99 vehicle if they were to add a $6.99 figure to it then they'd barley be making a profit if any off selling them unlike the y-wing which didn't have to fit into a certain price range since it wasn't part of an assortment. So it is cost constraints since they have to sell basic vehicles while keeping within the $19.99 price range. Thats not to say they wont have exclusives with figures included such ast the y-wing or even the tie intercepter out now. It's just for the average line that all stores get they wont be adding figures anytime soon.

I really wish I wasn't so argumentative, but here I go again... Neither fact is correct (from a certain point of view) that the Jedi Starfighters are a $19.99 vehicle nor is adding a figure a $6.99 increase. The tooling already exists for the droids, so the only cost to hasbro is the manufacturing. I would argue the profit margin for repaints of even the vehicles they sell for $19.99 is high enough that including a repainted droid would still yield them a healthy profit (if the vehicle sold well). Of course, I have no data, so I'm just pulling this out of my @ss.

But I agree, for the $19.99 "that all stores get, they won't be adding figures anytime soon." Not because they won't make a profit if they do it, but because the profit margin isn't large enough for Hasbro.

[harfo]

I really wish I wasn't so argumentative, but here I go again... Neither fact is correct (from a certain point of view) that the Jedi Starfighters are a $19.99 vehicle nor is adding a figure a $6.99 increase. The tooling already exists for the droids, so the only cost to hasbro is the manufacturing. I would argue the profit margin for repaints of even the vehicles they sell for $19.99 is high enough that including a repainted droid would still yield them a healthy profit (if the vehicle sold well). Of course, I have no data, so I'm just pulling this out of my @ss.

But I agree, for the $19.99 "that all stores get, they won't be adding figures anytime soon." Not because they won't make a profit if they do it, but because the profit margin isn't large enough for Hasbro.

The whole Jedi Starfighters are a $19.99 vehicle is true. They've been the same price since the ROTS line, the exeption was the toysrus exclusives that came with Obi-wan and Anakin which cost $24.99 to compensate for the figures. Also I said the figure was $6.99, not the added price. Like you said the droids would just be repacks, but originaly they were $6.99. Like we've seen with the tru Jedi Starfighter exclusive figure pack-ins, money is saved on packaging since the figure is in the vehicle's package. so you save about $2.00.
Trying to sell something that stores want to sell in the $19.99 price range with an added $5.00 figure isn't a good move. Retailers aren't interested in an unnecessary increase in price for a whole line. So they are constrained because retailers want to sell their basic vehicle line for the same price as its been which means Hasbro has to keep the vehicles within the $19.99 range.
Hasbro isn't just going to randomly start to give out free figures for a vehicle thats sold for almost 3 years strait. First off since the vehicles been out there for so long it's not going to sell as well as the newer ships in the $19.99 assortment. Secondly not even the exclusive with figure pack-ins come with figures for no extra cost, they have the figure cost added into the price. Look at the ROTS exclusive Jedi Starfighters that came with figures they had to add $5.00 to the price which is the last thing Hasbro wants to do for something thats suposed to be in their basic vehicle assortment.