With the new changes, TMP will be losing money from me.

[TheFigureFanatic]

Since TMP has changed their chase figure theme to ridiculous themes like no ball, WS patches, and no eye black, there will be no need for me to pick up an extra figure. I have all my figures displayed in my basement (hundreds and hundreds) with the regular next to the alternate jersey chase figure, and I have to say I really admire looking at them set up like that. TMP will be losing money from me because I'm not going to buy 2 figures just because there's no ball in the package. This new idea is cheezy. I wondered if I'm going to spend less money because of this, how many thousand others will do the same thing? I equate this idea with the disco demolition night they had in Chicago 25 years ago. Very damaging!

[UFCFan]

Hey, thanks for letting us know.

[ImessedwithTexas]

http://www.iamfan.com/~justin_timberlake/images/albums/justin-timberlake-cry-me-a-river.jpg

[TheFigureFanatic]

Instead of posting dumb comments, how about giving us some insight on your opinion? Express yourself. Don't cop out.

[Msteg45]

I actually agree with you 100%. I'm going to spend the money I would've spent buying new cases to buy the older chases.

[koreapeekay]

Oh noes.

[sigep001]

How about going to the tons of other threads devoted to this?

[BigMOCats]

I only bought one of each anyway, though it was always the chase if the figure had one, now that will no longer be in effect, so I'll still buy the same amount, just spend less money!:)

Great thread btw!!!;)

[TheFigureFanatic]

Weve been over this... like a month ago.
Goodbye then.

[TheFigureFanatic]

How about going to the tons of other threads devoted to this?
I don't have time to research every thread that's ever been written. If you've been over this, goodbye to you also. Sorry to take up your valuable time. We're supposed to discuss things, not fight like 13 year old girls.

[nathynwest]

Although I do see this thread alot, I do have insight, I personally dont care what TMP is doing, because I only collect Dallas Cowboys. I do hate the package change because it makes my figures on my wall look stupid. Everytime I get a custom done, I have to take down all the odd packaged figs, and move them down so they can look decent with the other older packages. As for the new chases, I always thought those things where variations, or errors. and Chases were different Unis. But now that the chases are just "tweaked" I think it sucks. It just forces me to make customs in Blue Unis, for Cowboys figures. But then again. most customs are way better painted then some stuff TMP does.

[trevisw513]

I'm sure you won't be the only one to not purchase like they use too...

[Soxpicks]

I only collect Red Sox figures & I prefer the grey (away) jerseys. In the past, I would wait & see if there would be a grey chase & buy that one instead of the white.

Now I will only buy the first released figure regardless of what color it is. I am not going to wait through who knows how many series to see if they are going to do a re-release with the color I prefer.

If you enjoy the multiple jerseys displayed together, then I say just buy the regular release & wait & see if they do an alternate jersey down the line.

Ignore the new chase system as it seems to be very bland & has not been too well received.

[WIP1]

Does everybody keep forgetting that the "other" jerseys have a chance of coming out and being included in later waves? Read the interview with Todd in the latest Lee's Toy Review if you need more info.

If the "other" jerseys do indeed come out later and are more readily available, the only peopl who will be crying at that point are the people who are in this "hobby" for the money, which sort of takes it out of the realm of "hobby" to a degree anyway.

[Chewdeezy]

Well, that just means you will be buying more regulars next year once the other jerseys gets released.

[chasefinder]

i,m due for a board name change too.

[TheFigureFanatic]

i,m due for a board name change too.
Your board name will soon be obsolete!

[Fez]

I'll be waiting to see what TMP does in regard to NFL chases. If its no eye black, wrist band, or clean/dirty, then I too am done with chases. I really like chases, but I don't mind if they go away since it will save me a ton of money.

[Fez]

i,m due for a board name change too.

Try "Chaseignorer"

[chasefinder]

lolol;):D

Your board name will soon be obsolete!

[chasefinder]

lolol;):D,... very good!



Try "Chaseignorer"

[lwagner57]

Honestly i don't care what they do with the figures as far as packaging. i liked the newer packaging because of the size. I only kept a few of the olders ones in the package anyway like all the Cooperstown and any figure that i had along with the variant of the same figure. I am an opener and most the variants don't do anything for me so for the cases i do buy i will sell the variant on ebay. These are not going to be like Hartland statues that were made in the 60's and i don't look at these as something to sell to help my kids through school so i do what should be done with all toys and i open them.

[DRYDEN29]

It will be the same as it has been for the past few years. If I like it, I will buy it. If not I won't. I don't think I will get an additional figure because of some small tweak. At least the old way had the choice of jersey colors, but if they release the alternate in a later series, it could be better. Easier to get.

[IsleBePysched]

i,m due for a board name change too.
How about "Tweakfinder"

[RaiderFan18]

Does everybody keep forgetting that the "other" jerseys have a chance of coming out and being included in later waves? Read the interview with Todd in the latest Lee's Toy Review if you need more info.

If the "other" jerseys do indeed come out later and are more readily available, the only peopl who will be crying at that point are the people who are in this "hobby" for the money, which sort of takes it out of the realm of "hobby" to a degree anyway.

Here's what I see the "other jersey down the road in latter lines" thing as. The only players that will have another jersey in a latter line will be players for the Yanks or the Red Sox...

[JaylisJayP]

Since TMP has changed their chase figure theme to ridiculous themes like no ball, WS patches, and no eye black, there will be no need for me to pick up an extra figure. I have all my figures displayed in my basement (hundreds and hundreds) with the regular next to the alternate jersey chase figure, and I have to say I really admire looking at them set up like that. TMP will be losing money from me because I'm not going to buy 2 figures just because there's no ball in the package. This new idea is cheezy. I wondered if I'm going to spend less money because of this, how many thousand others will do the same thing? I equate this idea with the disco demolition night they had in Chicago 25 years ago. Very damaging!

I've been out of the figure game for more than a year now (thank goodness), but if I were still collecting, this stupid trend would be enough to get me to quit. Talk about lazy, half-baked, slap-in-the-face "ideas" from TMP.

So sad the product has gone so far downhill so quickly. The company is never honest with people, either...for a couple years all we kept hearing was that "oh, our figures are showing up in more and more stores!" all the while they were only getting pulled from more and more stores. It's pretty much a joke regardless of what people say. And those that add stupid little quips or comments to this thread topic are secretly just really pissed themselves that they're totally wasting money on these tired, idiotic excuses for chase figures.

Seriously, TMP has run out of steam and run out of ideas. Next up - Randy Moss 9 and Derek Jeter 25.

[UFCFan]

Here's what I see the "other jersey down the road in latter lines" thing as. The only players that will have another jersey in a latter line will be players for the Yanks or the Red Sox...

Probably. Yanks, Red Sox, and any other "big market" team that does a lot of merchandise sales, along with any high profile player. For example, I am sure Adrian Peterson will get one unless he completely falls off the face of the Earth.

[UFCFan]

I've been out of the figure game for more than a year now (thank goodness), but if I were still collecting, this stupid trend would be enough to get me to quit. Talk about lazy, half-baked, slap-in-the-face "ideas" from TMP.

So sad the product has gone so far downhill so quickly. The company is never honest with people, either...for a couple years all we kept hearing was that "oh, our figures are showing up in more and more stores!" all the while they were only getting pulled from more and more stores. It's pretty much a joke regardless of what people say. And those that add stupid little quips or comments to this thread topic are secretly just really pissed themselves that they're totally wasting money on these tired, idiotic excuses for chase figures.

Seriously, TMP has run out of steam and run out of ideas. Next up - Randy Moss 9 and Derek Jeter 25.

Say what you will, and not that I am a big fan of seeing so many rehashes either, but those players are pretty much the only thing keeping the lines afloat at retail, in my opinion.

[TheFigureFanatic]

I've been out of the figure game for more than a year now (thank goodness), but if I were still collecting, this stupid trend would be enough to get me to quit. Talk about lazy, half-baked, slap-in-the-face "ideas" from TMP.

So sad the product has gone so far downhill so quickly. The company is never honest with people, either...for a couple years all we kept hearing was that "oh, our figures are showing up in more and more stores!" all the while they were only getting pulled from more and more stores. It's pretty much a joke regardless of what people say. And those that add stupid little quips or comments to this thread topic are secretly just really pissed themselves that they're totally wasting money on these tired, idiotic excuses for chase figures.

Seriously, TMP has run out of steam and run out of ideas. Next up - Randy Moss 9 and Derek Jeter 25.
This is the kind of honest commentary I was looking for. I'm glad you speak from the heart and tell it like it is. Two thumbs up for you sir!

[blurr]

I have a different opinion on TMP's change of packaging as I think things could be much worse. I posted my thoughts on the toys board over here:
http://board.spawn.com/forums/showthread.php?t=459856

[sigep001]

And those that add stupid little quips or comments to this thread topic are secretly just really pissed themselves that they're totally wasting money on these tired, idiotic excuses for chase figures.

Or we couldn't really care less about chase figures. I'm glad that chase figures are gone...all of the scalpers can go find some other way to afford a new pair of sweat pants.

[Mark Weber]

The company is never honest with people, either...for a couple years all we kept hearing was that "oh, our figures are showing up in more and more stores!" all the while they were only getting pulled from more and more stores.

I dispute the hell out of this notion, and challenge you to find another toy/collectible company that offers this level of direct access and one-on-one feedback with its employees. Think about the other collectibles you purchase - what's your login on their message board, who is the brand manager of that product, and what's his/her e-mail address?

I think McFarlane Toys has built a strong reputation for customer interaction and we do our very best to convey accurate news about our products as quickly as possible.

[quiggle]

there have been times when there's been denial on an upcoming figure or chase that ended up being true

[TheFigureFanatic]

I dispute the hell out of this notion, and challenge you to find another toy/collectible company that offers this level of direct access and one-on-one feedback with its employees. Think about the other collectibles you purchase - what's your login on their message board, who is the brand manager of that product, and what's his/her e-mail address?

I think McFarlane Toys has built a strong reputation for customer interaction and we do our very best to convey accurate news about our products as quickly as possible.
You are absolutely correct on this statement. I just wish things could go back to the way they were with packaging and chases.

[petenfld]

Disco is dead??

[petenfld]

They need new collectors anyway, who else is going to buy these box sets of players everyone already has? or 4th or 5th versions? or same old poses?

[lwagner57]

Like i stated before i was never much into the variants and if people wanna shell out big money for them like the Roys, and Snowy Brady ect the more power to you. Overall i think Mcfarlane has been an overall good product but i think Mcfarlane has made mistakes as well as the consumers. Mcfarlane loves to make certian teams, players ect again and again and they are failing to realize not all of us are Cowboy, Red Sox, Yankee, Ladanian Tomlinosin, Brett Favre, Albert Pujols ect fans and we aren't going to buy products we don't want and a majority of what i just named sits on the shelves where i live forever. When the no helmet and variants came out it was a nice idea but i think doing it in every series made more and more people buy it that weren't even necessarily fans of sports or even like Mcfarlanes l for example the stock boys of a store, or the 40 and 50 yr old men that troll around toy stores looking to sell toys on online for alot more money and i think that also drove alot of people aways including some of the younger collectors of Mcfarlanes. I think ultimately the bottom line everyone is forgetting these are not gold, stocks ect these are TOYS and everyone is at fault Mcfarlane and going out on a limb a majority of the people buying these figures.

[UFCFan]

I truly think they missed the boat by not doing some more regional or hobby only inserts, especially in the NFL and MLB lines. Much like the surprise figures (when it's been a new player like a Josh Hamilton or Matt Leinart, for example), they could and should have had at least an additional 1 or 2 figures per series that were very short printed. They could have been very scarce at the mass retail level, with them being slightly more plentiful in the region where the player plays, as well as hobby dealers. They could have been head swaps only, so the resources TMP would have to expend would be fairly minimal.

In my opinion, it would have been a very good way to not only get more "niche" players and teams out there, but also a good way to spark some interest in the product again from a secondary market standpoint. Over the last few years, they seemed to hit on it from time to time, but it always seemed more like "hey, let's do a figure of him" whimsy rather than a more methodical and calculated approach. I know there are people out there who liked collecting the standard alternate jersey chase pieces, but I think TMP would have been better off pooling some of those resources they spent on those into getting more new players out there.

[lwagner57]

I truly think they missed the boat by not doing some more regional or hobby only inserts, especially in the NFL and MLB lines. Much like the surprise figures (when it's been a new player like a Josh Hamilton or Matt Leinart, for example), they could and should have had at least an additional 1 or 2 figures per series that were very short printed. They could have been very scarce at the mass retail level, with them being slightly more plentiful in the region where the player plays, as well as hobby dealers. They could have been head swaps only, so the resources TMP would have to expend would be fairly minimal.

In my opnion, it would have been a very good way to not only get more "niche" players and teams out there, but also a good way to spark some interest in the product again from a secondary market standpoint. Over the last few years, they seemed to hit on it from time to time, but it always seemed more like "hey, let's do a figure of him" whimsy rather than a more methodical and calculated approach. I know there are people out there who liked collecting the standard alternate jersey chase pieces, but I think TMP would have been better off pooling some of those resources they spent on those into getting more new players out there.
I agree, Sean Casey figures would sell very well here no matter what jersey he wears but if he was in a Reds jersey the stores probably wouldn't be able to keep them on the shelves.

[redsoxnation24]

more figures for the rest of us then

[sigep001]

So...the vibe I'm seeing in this thread is something like this:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y234/wamos001/kicknutstmp.jpg

[Mark Weber]

You are absolutely correct on this statement. I just wish things could go back to the way they were with packaging and chases.

I can understand that reaction. We gave collectors three different packaging styles in under two years, and the current chase versions aren't that interesting for collectors compared to what we've offered in the past.

The only "life preserver" I can throw you is that you haven't had a chance to see the benefit of these decisions yet. When you see Joe Montana 2 arrive in stores without being an amputee (not to mention 80% of our NBA figures) I think you'll see the best benefit of the new packaging style. When you're getting 8- and 9-figure series in 2009 (with what would have been chase figures readily available as lineup expanders) I think you'll see the benefit of the tweaked chases from the previous year. I understand these two SP decisions have been unpopular with some of our collector base - hopefully, they will be more tolerable to those disappointed by next Spring when the benefits are available to you.

[darealdiggler]

Hey Mark do you know that cardboard gets messed up really easily. I am sure alot of collectors are anal about how mint the package is. why couldnt you put the figure in a larger package like your halo or dragon figures?

[dirtysox]

there have been times when there's been denial on an upcoming figure or chase that ended up being true

They can't give away ALL the secrets! Where would the surprise element be if they told you everything before it came out?

[Mark Weber]

Hey Mark do you know that cardboard gets messed up really easily. I am sure alot of collectors are anal about how mint the package is. why couldnt you put the figure in a larger package like your halo or dragon figures?

I'm a longtime collector of the 3.75-inch G.I. Joe toys, and the packaging we are using is similar to the figure two-packs they've offered in recent years. The plastic bubble wraps around the sides of the backer card on both sides and the bottom, and heat seals on the top. I don't think our HALO or Dragon figures had a larger bubble footprint than the upcoming Sports Picks lines.

[TheFigureFanatic]

I can understand that reaction. We gave collectors three different packaging styles in under two years, and the current chase versions aren't that interesting for collectors compared to what we've offered in the past.

The only "life preserver" I can throw you is that you haven't had a chance to see the benefit of these decisions yet. When you see Joe Montana 2 arrive in stores without being an amputee (not to mention 80% of our NBA figures) I think you'll see the best benefit of the new packaging style. When you're getting 8- and 9-figure series in 2009 (with what would have been chase figures readily available as lineup expanders) I think you'll see the benefit of the tweaked chases from the previous year. I understand these two SP decisions have been unpopular with some of our collector base - hopefully, they will be more tolerable to those disappointed by next Spring when the benefits are available to you.
O.K. I'll ride out the storm then. I won't buy as much as I did but I'll still wait and see what happens in the future.