Hasbr-uh-oh - Business and Tariffs Discussion

[Sabrblade]

Another tariff-related email message from TFSource:

We’re Committed to Transparency, Stability,
and the Collector Experience​

As many of you have seen, ongoing discussions around import tariffs are creating uncertainty in the toy and collectibles industry. While some retailers are beginning to adjust prices or delay new listings, we want to share exactly how TFSource is approaching the situation.

No Surprises: Most of our currently listed items already include any tariff-related costs. What you see is what you pay—no unexpected charges at checkout.

Preorder Confidence: If any pricing adjustments become necessary for existing preorders we’ll reach out first.

Customer-First Approach: We've built our reputation around being collector-focused, from Source Points and VIP benefits to our proprietary order stacking system. That commitment isn’t changing.

Monitoring Closely: We're hopeful that in the coming weeks, more clarity will emerge around the long-term outlook. Until then, we're doing everything possible to shield our community from volatility.

Thank you for your continued support and trust. We’re here to make collecting exciting—not stressful.

The TFSource Team
Your Source for All Things Transformers

 

[Platypus Prime]

I think a lot of people are starting to panic, toynewsi posted up a 'best guess' thing, which should be taken with a large amount of salt as they admit it's their estimates, not announcements. But if these are even close, this is going to SUCK.

Hasbro Price Increases Set To Kick In Tomorrow (5/9) - What To Expect

Multiple retailers are now reporting that we can expect to see across the board Hasbro price hikes due to recent tariffs to take place here in the U.S. tomorr

toynewsi.com

 

[Steevy Maximus]

I think his Hasbro estimates are probably pretty close on the low end, but I don't see Hasbro kicking up the prices THAT much on the upper end for Transformers. Not after revamping Titans to be smaller (with a smaller price). Especially with Transformers largely made in Vietnam, I see the collector lines probably being the biggest recipients of the price hikes due to the more captive audience.
Probably see Leaders close to $65-70, Commanders about $110, and Titans back to $200.

We'll see in the coming days, I think the Marvel, GI Joe, Star Wars collector products (largely made in China) are probably prone to the larger price increases, but Hasbro might leverage Transformers to mitigate the immediate price impact and keep the overall pricing structure "accessible"

 

[CoffeeHorse]

Plus Chris Cocks said Hasbro has some options to cut costs to offset the tariffs to a degree. And when this guy says he's found some costs he can cut, I think we should take him seriously.

 

[lastmaximal]

This was part of our April Fool's gag a while back, but maybe now is finally the time for Plastic Free Transformers.

 

[The Mighty Mollusk]

Welp, time to get priced out of the hobby.

 

[Rhinox]

I'd like to thank Trump and every dumbassed motherfucking chode gobbler who voted for him and enabled him. hug each and every one of you don't come at me with excuses I do not care. hug you.

Can't wait to see all the little nazis and magats on the facebook groups complaining about how this is somehow China and Biden's fault.

 

[lastmaximal]

Okay, that's as far as that goes in this thread, please. I don't even necessarily disagree, and it's difficult to decouple this flood of crap from the pipe, but we have to start somewhere.

 

[Rhinox]

That's fair.
With that said, I don't believe this is a topic that can avoid the realities of politics and should be moved to the more appropriate forum. I simply do not see a way to discuss business without getting into the politics.

 

[LordGigaIce]

That's fair.
With that said, I don't believe this is a topic that can avoid the realities of politics and should be moved to the more appropriate forum. I simply do not see a way to discuss business without getting into the politics.

Prices, how it effects Hasbro from a business perspective, how it effects our collecting habits.

Lots of ways to talk about this, and go to P&R if we wanna get into the weeds on the politics.

/notamod but that seems to be a healthy line to draw

 

[Rhinox]

Prices, how it effects Hasbro from a business perspective, how it effects our collecting habits.

Lots of ways to talk about this, and go to P&R if we wanna get into the weeds on the politics.

/notamod but that seems to be a healthy line to draw

Yeah, I don't see discussion on price aside from mere recriminations and curses without delving into the tariffs. Like it or not, that's the driving factor in all business right now, but most especially in toys. FFS, the Cheeto in Chief just referred to toy maker Mattel as a country and said he was looking at punishing them for stating prices are going up because of his actions. There is no legitimate discourse to be had on price without getting into politics. Just anecdotes and anger.

We are past where just earnings calls and business decisions were mundane things with a clear delineation from politics. Now all business hinges on what the elder dementia patient in chief demands today.

 

[Steevy Maximus]

Yeah, I was always a little skittish on posting what I have simply due to how political (and politically motivated) the tariffs are. That’s why I’ve not posted every half assed rumor about how the tariffs MIGHT change every other day. I’ve kept it to more substantive news, and I appreciate the mods and everyone here keeping this thread, largely, on an appropriate track.

And on that note, I lied before: Funko reported softer Q1 earnings and, like Mattel, paused any 2025 outlooks due to uncertainty around consumer spending in light of the fluctuating tariff situation.

Funko Hits Pause on 2025 Outlook as Tariff Tensions Cloud Q1 Earnings

The company cited a volatile economic climate and evolving trade pressures as key reasons for pulling its 2025 forecast.

toybook.com

 

[Rhinox]

Yeah, I was always a little skittish on posting what I have simply due to how political (and politically motivated) the tariffs are. That’s why I’ve not posted every half assed rumor about how the tariffs MIGHT change every other day. I’ve kept it to more substantive news, and I appreciate the mods and everyone here keeping this thread, largely, on an appropriate track.

And on that note, I lied before: Funko reported softer Q1 earnings and, like Mattel, paused any 2025 outlooks due to uncertainty around consumer spending in light of the fluctuating tariff situation.

Funko Hits Pause on 2025 Outlook as Tariff Tensions Cloud Q1 Earnings

The company cited a volatile economic climate and evolving trade pressures as key reasons for pulling its 2025 forecast.

toybook.com

Don't get me wrong. I do appreciate the mods and the attempts to keep things separate. I just don't think its possible any more.
That said I do apologize for my angry outburst, but I've reached the end of my politeness when it comes to that particular political orange stain.

 

[Undead Scottsman]

We are past where just earnings calls and business decisions were mundane things with a clear delineation from politics. Now all business hinges on what the elder dementia patient in chief demands today.

The thing is, that's not really true and never has been; it's just been easier to obsfucate the connections in the past, especially decades removed from them in some cases.

Like, it's not a coinidence that so much manufacturing got moved to China, and then so much started getting moved out of there to places like Vietnam. Those actions are based in economic realities that are a direct result of political decisions.

Even Transformers wouldn't exist as we know it without politics, such as Reagan taking a sledgehammer to regulations and removing the limits of how much children could be advertised to.

Politics is all around you if you just look beyond the surface. Things are rarely ever apolitical.

 

[CrockAlley]

Reagan taking a sledgehammer to regulations and removing the limits of how much children could be advertised to

I think about this from time to time, how so much of our 80s nostalgia culture is owed to a political decision that I strongly disagree with. I have not come to terms with it. We got Transformers and He-Man and all that other fun stuff, but what did we lose?

 

[Sabrblade]

Even Transformers wouldn't exist as we know it without politics, such as Reagan taking a sledgehammer to regulations and removing the limits of how much children could be advertised to.

Not to mention the oil crisis from the 1970s serving as the very foundation for what the story of Transformers was originally about: Two warring factions fighting over energy resources.

 

[Undead Scottsman]

Not to mention the oil crisis from the 1970s serving as the very foundation for what the story of Transformers was originally about: Two warring factions fighting over energy resources.

Yup, I was going to mention that, alongside the whole deal with Megatron's gun mode, but I didn't want to get too in the weeds with that post.

 

[Platypus Prime]

No worries, we'll just alter it a bit so that the Autobots are raising free-range cattle, not for meat or milk, but for Biodiesel. They'll then convert the biofuel into Energon and use it to power up Trypticon, which they will then steal in Battle Station mode for the ultimate joyride, as Old Man Galvatron in his rocking chair outside Skorponok yells at those damn kids to stop messing around.


There, totally politics free. Autobots raise their cattle to deploy the evil fortress of the Decepticons...next on the CYBER NET SPACE CUBE!!!!

 

[Platypus Prime]

Ok, this is weird, it looks like HasbroPulse has put 'temporarily unavailable' on ALL the preorder items on the site near as I can tell. And some like the Dramatic Capture Origins repaint ones are missing entirely now. No idea what this means.

 

[Princess Viola]

I think a lot of people are starting to panic, toynewsi posted up a 'best guess' thing, which should be taken with a large amount of salt as they admit it's their estimates, not announcements. But if these are even close, this is going to SUCK.

Hasbro Price Increases Set To Kick In Tomorrow (5/9) - What To Expect

Multiple retailers are now reporting that we can expect to see across the board Hasbro price hikes due to recent tariffs to take place here in the U.S. tomorr

toynewsi.com

if you go by the new gamestop listings, these price increases were worse

deluxes are $32, voyagers are $45, and leaders (price increase not mentioned in the post) are now $70

ahahah we're fuckin cooked and you know hasbro won't bring these prices down