Big Setback for Hasbro?

[swordsmasher]

Now, if kids had been dying left and right due to the product that could be a problem.

Smilex, anyone?

 

[Mark]

Seriously guys, lighten up.

Not sure where you're getting the impression that people aren't "lightened" because we're simply discussing the matter. Please, try not to mischaracterize the tone of the thread. It's unnecessary to the process of giving your opinion.

Thanks to everyone for their input thus far (especially swordsmasher).

 

[Scribble]

Eh, I doubt one toy will break hasbro, as others have pointed out.

For a better idea of Hasbro's standings? Check out their financials. It's what you'd do before determining if you want to buy their stock. Read their annual report, and comb through their balance sheet and such. Then take a look at the management and Hasbro's current state in the market, and determine if the management team has been sucessfull thus far at doing what they said they'd do.

It's not as much fun as speculating though

 

[DanMcS]

Hasbro financials

We've heard before that D&D is such a small fraction of WotC sales that is barely gets its own line-item on the quarterly WotC report to the parent corporation.

A small blip (wotc) is extraordinarily unlikely to be affected by another small blip (recall of a couple hundred thousand rockets) in a company as big as Hasbro.

 

[kenobi65]

That's like a recall of Pepsi cola products should affect the Pizza Hut restaurant chain. (Pizza Hut is a subsidiary of parent company, PepsiCo.)

Not exactly. At least, not anymore.

Just for the sake of clarification, PepsiCo spun off their restaurant businesses (Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, KFC) several years ago. The new company was originally called Tricon, but is now called Yum! Brands. They also now own Long John Silver and A&W Restaurants.

(I know too much about this, because the ad agency I work for has several Yum! restaurants as clients.)

Doesn't change the gist of Ranger REG's comment, however.

 

[Varianor Abroad]

At worst if one of those parents whose kid got stiches decides to sue Hasbro will settle out of court for $10k and admit no wrong doing and then they will make the payoff disapear in some tax code and never feel it at all.

Argo, correct on most of your points. The only caveat I will offer is that companies tend to pay a lot less than $10k these days for "stitches." The going rate for a scar claim is $5,000 or under. Manufacturers and self-insureds rarely like to pay more than $2,000 unless you're dealing with a substantial injury. Reason? They don't collect premiums and set aside claim reserves, so they are very chary with payments.

I will also agree, now that I've reread the article, that this is unlikely to have a substantial effect on Hasbro.

Credentials (forgotten in first post): litigation adjuster/senior claims specialist with a major insurer - environmental, bodily injury, municipal litigation and misc tort claims.

 

[The Grumpy Celt]

Yea I second that, I don't see this having any impact at all on Hasbro as a company let alone Wizards as a subsidiary of it.

You're kidding right? This will ruin the hobby. Editon 4.0 was totally going to be delivered to people's home on water propelled rockets fired by people in goblin costumes and bathing suits. And as part of the marketing gimick gobins were going to be using super soakers. Now what will we do without the damp goblins?!?

 

[Imagicka]

Greetings...

Hazard: The cap on the water tank can unexpectedly and forcibly project off when it is quickly unscrewed from the tank, posing a risk of impact injuries to users or bystanders . In addition, the rocket’s tail can strike a user or bystander on descent, if the rocket is not fully launched, posing a risk of injury.
Incidents/Injuries: Hasbro has received four reports of the cap being unexpectedly projected off the rocket, resulting in three injuries, including a slight concussion and a cut requiring stitches. Additionally Hasbro has received four reports of children being struck by the descending rocket, including three cuts that required stitches.

So, let me get this straight...
If your foolish enough to unscrew the cap when the rocket is under pressure, it might have a tenancy to fly off and forcably project itself?
Also, if you don't pay attention to the rocket when it is launched there is a chance that it might actually fall back down to earth and possibly hit someone who isn't paying attention?

You know, when I was a kid, we had great toys like lawn-darts. I say that we should let kids play with them, and we can weed the stupid ones out of the gene-pool. There really should be a clause in legal mitigation that states, "If your an idiot, you shouldn't be able to be rewarded any damages."