Hasbr-uh-oh - Business and Tariffs Discussion

[lastmaximal]

This is currently where I'm at with AOTP as just one venue. I'm still wavering on the fence for a few things, but my wallet may decide for me.

It's frustrating, but it's small beer compared to the rest of the expenses that have also relentlessly been creeping upward in price.

 

[Platypus Prime]

I do find this odd that it keeps happening for me with the Combaticons. In Energon days I got a few of the team, rounded it off with a couple other limbs, never did have a 'complete' Bruticus Maximus. Missed out on the game Combaticons in every color, just got CW Swindle now, had an Amazon Blastoff and a G2 Brawl that were sold in emergency fiascoes because clearly someone cared a lot more than I did about them. Got AOTP Vortex, then this happened. I am beginning to think that Bruticus is doomed in whatever my personal continuity actually is.

 

[Undead Scottsman]

I'll stick around for the next year, but I'm getting pretty close to a complete S1-3 set (side from the titans), Beast Wars is nearly complete for me, and I'm in for the 13 primes. But after that, uhhhhh... might be time to withdraw back to just being a media fan.

 

[Tuxedo Prime]

I'll stick around for the next year, but I'm getting pretty close to a complete S1-3 set (side from the titans), Beast Wars is nearly complete for me, and I'm in for the 13 primes. But after that, uhhhhh... might be time to withdraw back to just being a media fan.

Been media-primary for a while myself (more of space issues than funding, but either way it's been hard to justify toy collection compared to the 1990s). Welcome aboard!

 

[Undead Scottsman]

Eh, ain't my first time. I got back in for RiD '01 but bailed on Energon. Came back to collecting for Classics and the first film, bailed again shortly aftewards (I wish I had collected Animated at least) and when Animated got canceled I was entirely out of the game, until I think the popularity of MTMTE/RiD got me back into things, but aside from a figure or two, didn't come back to collecting until Titans Return.

 

[Blot]

I'm starting to move from "Only really interested in the Combaticons anyway" to "Y'know, the Combiner Wars set is still pretty good, really."

And then you remember Brawl.

 

[The Mighty Mollusk]

He's a fine enough leg.

 

[LBD "Nytetrayn"]

Everything corporations do is centered around money. Costs for everything have been rising for years, even without the pandemic or Trump's idiocy (although he's certainly not helping anyone). Of course it's about greed.

Oh, no one's suggesting otherwise. But at least there's usually some sort of facade of begrudgingly-understandable, mild justification for it.

Inflation, tariffs, price of gas going up, etc.

But doing it to stuff that's already long ago made, shipped, distributed, and priced accordingly?

That's a new low.

Bluntly put, these tariffs and this economy spell the end of toys for collectors. I'm sure small, baby toys will still be available, but these prices are unsustainable and this business model cannot continue. If collectors are priced out, imagine what every parent in the country is going through.

Christmas is about to get a lot less jolly.

Might be a banger of a way for Metal Cardbots to get a foothold here, from what I hear of their prices.

 

[Steevy Maximus]

Some good news for Hasbro ahead of their Q3 results later in the week:
Netflix has split a master license for pop-hit KPop Demon Hunters between Hasbro and Mattel. Hasbro’s side will focus on games, plush, role-play and youth electronics. Mattel is getting the dolls/action figure side of the deal, with an initial preorder from Mattel Creations hitting in November. Hasbro’s initial offering is a new version of Monopoly Deal available for preorder with an expected delivery in January

Netflix, Mattel, and Hasbro Unite for 'KPop Demon Hunters' Toy Line

Two of the biggest names in toys are joining forces with Netflix to bring the world of "KPop Demon Hunters" off the screen and into playrooms with dolls, collectibles, and games launching in 2026.

toybook.com

 

[CoffeeHorse]

I love to see it. It really serves no purpose for Hasbro and Mattel to take their rivalry all that seriously anymore.

 

[Platypus Prime]

Seeing as Hasbro let Mattel make an actual transforming Optimus which usually is a licencing no-no, I don't see what the limits are anymore. Also, Omega Supreme is in at BBTS. $200, not as bad as expected.

 

[LBD "Nytetrayn"]

Hasbro and Mattel to merge come 2030.

The new company will be called "HasMat".

 

[Platypus Prime]

No, Mat got laid off in the last round...

 

[Steevy Maximus]

Hasbro Q3 results. Basically, the quarter saw growth largely on the back of continued success in Wizards of the Coast and the various tie in Magic The Gathering offerings. Among Hasbro's notes was some point of sale decline in Transformers, but that can be attributed to the lack of build up for a feature film release as we saw last year. In the management remarks, GI Joe, of all things, was mentioned as a significant driver during the 3rd quarter. Much of the Q3 softness in consumer products is being attributed to retail ordering shifts, which pushed some point of sale numbers into Q4 (as we saw with stores not doing their typical fall resets until the end of September or early October).

'Magic' Powers Hasbro’s Q3 Growth as Gaming and Wizards Deliver Record Results

Strong gains in Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming offset softness in Consumer Products as Hasbro charts steady growth heading into the holiday season.

toybook.com

https://investor.hasbro.com/news-releases/news-release-details/hasbro-reports-third-quarter-2025-financial-results

Also of note, Hasbro will be launching a Peppa Pig FAST channel in the coming weeks on Samsung TV Plus. However, like Power Rangers and Transformers, the FAST channel is apt to be carried by other providers in the future. Also noted is an upcoming "Hasbro Legends" FAST channel which will focus on legacy series like GI Joe, Jem and the Holograms, and VR Troopers.

Hasbro Launches Peppa Pig & Friends Free Channel on Samsung TV Plus | Cord Cutters News

Hasbro is expanding its preschool streaming footprint this fall with the launch of the PEPPA PIG & FRIENDS FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) channel on Samsung TV Plus. The new channel will feature Peppa Pig alongside other preschool programming such as Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom, creating...

cordcuttersnews.com

Hopefully, Hasbro Legends will end up like WB's Cartoon Rewind network and cycle through all the B- and C-tier shows Hasbro's got. They actually got a decent back catalog worth exploiting.

 

[LordGigaIce]

Hasbro Q3 results. Basically, the quarter saw growth largely on the back of continued success in Wizards of the Coast and the various tie in Magic The Gathering offerings. Among Hasbro's notes was some point of sale decline in Transformers, but that can be attributed to the lack of build up for a feature film release as we saw last year. In the management remarks, GI Joe, of all things, was mentioned as a significant driver during the 3rd quarter. Much of the Q3 softness in consumer products is being attributed to retail ordering shifts, which pushed some point of sale numbers into Q4 (as we saw with stores not doing their typical fall resets until the end of September or early October).

'Magic' Powers Hasbro’s Q3 Growth as Gaming and Wizards Deliver Record Results

Strong gains in Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming offset softness in Consumer Products as Hasbro charts steady growth heading into the holiday season.

toybook.com

https://investor.hasbro.com/news-releases/news-release-details/hasbro-reports-third-quarter-2025-financial-results

Also of note, Hasbro will be launching a Peppa Pig FAST channel in the coming weeks on Samsung TV Plus. However, like Power Rangers and Transformers, the FAST channel is apt to be carried by other providers in the future. Also noted is an upcoming "Hasbro Legends" FAST channel which will focus on legacy series like GI Joe, Jem and the Holograms, and VR Troopers.

Hasbro Launches Peppa Pig & Friends Free Channel on Samsung TV Plus | Cord Cutters News

Hasbro is expanding its preschool streaming footprint this fall with the launch of the PEPPA PIG & FRIENDS FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) channel on Samsung TV Plus. The new channel will feature Peppa Pig alongside other preschool programming such as Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom, creating...

cordcuttersnews.com

Hopefully, Hasbro Legends will end up like WB's Cartoon Rewind network and cycle through all the B- and C-tier shows Hasbro's got. They actually got a decent back catalog worth exploiting.

Not to sound like a shill for corporate a**holes but...

Year-to-date, Hasbro’s total revenue climbed 7%, led by a 33% boost from Wizards and Digital Gaming. Adjusted operating profit rose 14% to $825 million, showing the continued payoff from cost control and mix improvements.

... this is a good thing, as far as our hobby is concerned. There was real doom and gloom not even a year ago that Hasbro would collapse and they seem to be handling the uncertain market and tariff situation as well as can be expected.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

Revenue climbed. So it's not just the cost cutting. They're solidly performing.

 

[lastmaximal]

Frankly, it's a wonder anyone is able to under these execrable circumstances.

 

[Platypus Prime]

Well, seeing as they're charging for an extra half bot per bot, I imagine revenues will be up considerably...IF people keep buying...and it does lead to the question of why prices jumped AFTER they had this information, which you would think would justify keeping prices where they were to avoid upsetting a winning strategy.

 

[lastmaximal]

Yup, this isn't something that will likely be sustainable for very long. Something's gonna give.

 

[LordGigaIce]

Well, seeing as they're charging for an extra half bot per bot, I imagine revenues will be up considerably...IF people keep buying...and it does lead to the question of why prices jumped AFTER they had this information, which you would think would justify keeping prices where they were to avoid upsetting a winning strategy.

To be fair, Trump backtracked and delayed the implementation of the tariffs so often that it must have been nuts for any company to actually guess what the final result of all of this will be, and even now that we're there who knows how long this new normal will last before it all changes on Trump's whims again?
So I can understand just waiting to see where we (appear) to land before committing to anything.

I don't think these prices are sustainable, but frankly I don't think these tariffs are either.
China likes money and trade as much as anyone, so I'm guessing some sort of deal will be struck to lower the prices of everything at some point.

The situation is far from ideal, but Hasbro seeing growth, even if it's only in the single percentages, through all of this is pretty good on the whole.

Frankly? I want them to make it work. That probably means something beyond their control getting prices down again, but overall it's nice to see the doom and gloom people were claiming was coming isn't manifesting.