Dear Hasbro: about those minis

[Desdichado]

I just got done buying a lot of minis on eBay today, and they were arranged in thematic sets. I got a big set of undead minis like skeletons and ghasts and wights. I also got a nature-themed package with bears and wolves.

It would be so cool if I could just BUY them like this straight from WotC instead of hunting them down and getting bid sniped on eBay.

Well, eBay works fairly well. Most game stores I know also have opened and sell individually (with market-based, or least market-estimated pricing) the minis, I don't see what the big deal is. Would I like it if WotC sold their minis that way? Sure. However, since I can still buy minis that way without them selling them that way, I don't see what the big deal is.

 

[molonel]

Well, eBay works fairly well. Most game stores I know also have opened and sell individually (with market-based, or least market-estimated pricing) the minis, I don't see what the big deal is. Would I like it if WotC sold their minis that way? Sure. However, since I can still buy minis that way without them selling them that way, I don't see what the big deal is.

I wasn't comparing the purchase of WotC minis to cancer, or nuclear war or even stubbing my toe.

It's just really annoying.

The benefit of this discussion is that a lot of different avenues of obtaining minis were revealed and linked, including a lot of good folks on eBay who sell at good prices and you don't have to bid. I've already added three sellers to my eBay account because of that. I don't like auctions. I don't like following them. I'll pay more NOT to do them.

The system is substantially less than perfect, and I'd rather just buy what I want.

But I, personally, am glad this discussion took place. I appreciated the input of people who know more about the business than I do - even if I don't entirely agree with some things - and I *definitely* appreciated the links.

 

[blargney the second]

I thought that the partially random nature of the War Drums starter pack was an interesting foray. I wonder if they'll be doing more like that in future?

Molonel, I agree that the Buy It Now sellers on eBay are much less harrowing than the auctions. I started with the auctions a couple of years ago, and found it very intense and frustrating. One of my favourite sellers is Lee's. He has free shipping if you buy 10+ auctions, and it applies to both US and Canada!

-blarg

 

[nerfherder]

...

Charles, sorry to hijack the thread for a moment, but I wonder if I could direct you to this thread in "Off Topic" about whether it was you on BBC Radio Newcastle over the holidays? http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=183822

Thanks,
Liam

 

[MerricB]

Does anyone know how well WoTC did with their Attack On Endor scenario pack for the Star Wars minis game? I bring it up as an interesting anomaly with regards to much of this thread's discussion: the non-random pack consisted of an already released random "desirable" mini (the AT-ST), a handful of commons, and a double-sided map. I believe the cost was about $20.

This pack strikes me as an in-between compared to the rest of WoTC's minis line (neither a $12 purely random box, nor a $50 single "iconic" like the Colossal Red Dragon).

Why did they release the Attack On Endor scenario pack thusly? Did it sell well? If so, could it be repeated for DDM? How does the scenario pack approach fit into Merric's Law?

Here it goes: It doesn't have a "large range of figures.", so you can get a cheaper price and the fixed figures.

Not sure about sales, though.

Cheers!

 

[CharlesRyan]

Charles, sorry to hijack the thread for a moment, but I wonder if I could direct you to this thread in "Off Topic" about whether it was you on BBC Radio Newcastle over the holidays? http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=183822

Thanks for the link, Liam. It was in fact me, as I've posted over on the other thread!

 

[Mark CMG]

I'd love it if they came out a few packs of standard creatures, like orcs, skeletons, etc., twenty in each or, perhaps, two, three or four poses.

I should be clear that I do not mean to suggest using older molds or poses but, rather, to have, perhaps, four new poses (maybe two different types of spear poses and two different types of bow poses) for each new twenty pack, five of each figure and complete with as many cards. I do not believe such a model has been tried. I believe they would sell both to DDM completists and to D&D DMs who want ranks of typical fodder creatures (orcs, skeletons, etc.) They could even sell them with a battlemat and special DDM and/or D&D scenario/adventure.

 

[Vigilance]

If you have a few million sitting around doing nothing, I will be happy to risk it on my ideas. I'll be doing well to pay the rent next month, and lacking manufacturers, distributors and connections for shipping, WotC need have no fear of me threatening their market share any time soon.

No no... YOU have to risk YOUR money.

Then you're in exactly the same boat as WOTC.

Funny how things look differently the nanosecond it becomes YOUR rent money on the line and not a company's huh.

 

[RFisher]

No no... YOU have to risk YOUR money.

Then you're in exactly the same boat as WOTC.

Funny how things look differently the nanosecond it becomes YOUR rent money on the line and not a company's huh.

Some of us do have our mortgage money on the line. Just because we've choosen products other than minis doesn't mean we don't know anything about business & risk. My most successful business ventures have been about ignoring my industry's conventional wisdom & changing the rules of the game. I've found it much more risky to do otherwise. What people tell you is impossible is often not only possible, but the key to success. Of course, it isn't easy, but that's only to be expected.

 

[smootrk]

I was going to add something similar. Merrick's law is a convenient explanation.... until someone figures out a way to defy the so called 'law' profitably.

Happens all the time in business. How many mp3 players were there, then iPod came out. There is always innovation. Who knows.. some intrepid person in China may figure out a better way to cast these things (enough Engineers there to work on it) and then look out... then all these folks will sound as absurd as the ones who told Mr. Ford that the assembly line was a waste of time.