If these are the prices I will buy Grandus and nothing else. Your move, Hasbro.
Hasbr-uh-oh - Business and Tariffs Discussion
- Thread starter Thylacine 2000
- Start date
Yeesh, that is an epic jump for Voyagers. I don't mind the Deluxe price jump quite so much but yeah, gonna have to be far more selective about what I'm picking up in those other ranges.
To be fair though, there isn't much left that I feel I need to have. I keep buying marginally-to-somewhat better versions of characters that I've already got many times over (in some form or fashion). I'll still be there for the crazy one-offs and "didn't see that one coming" odds and ends. But by and large, I've been in kind of a "buy what I likes" mode for the last few years, and it's a mode I'm comfortable with. Well, that one and Depeche
To be fair though, there isn't much left that I feel I need to have. I keep buying marginally-to-somewhat better versions of characters that I've already got many times over (in some form or fashion). I'll still be there for the crazy one-offs and "didn't see that one coming" odds and ends. But by and large, I've been in kind of a "buy what I likes" mode for the last few years, and it's a mode I'm comfortable with. Well, that one and Depeche
What these prices mean I think is I stop buying "A Bit Better" versions of guys I have and probably get only "G1 guys who havn't had Generations figures".
ZacWilliam, there will be some exceptions to that mandate I'm sure but probably a lot fewer than in the past.
ZacWilliam, there will be some exceptions to that mandate I'm sure but probably a lot fewer than in the past.
This is actually one of the reasons I told my sister that I'm going to start letting my nephew 'shop' at my house more (they live next door, and I told people years ago who said "you'll have to be careful that the new baby doesn't get into your collectibles!" that if they didn't think a toy robot collection and a little boy WEREN'T going to collide at an intersection, they were delusional and didn't know what toys were for). He's gotten older and more careful with things, and besides, my logic is that it is MUCH less outlay to let him borrow stuff I already have which in many cases is nearly the same as what they will come out with, often with better play features and sturdier to boot. Besides, at those prices there's no place left for the aftermarket costs to go up in a re-re-remake flooded environment. If he wants to play with my Voyager seekers, TR Triple Changers, or Cybertron Vector Prime, that's anywhere from thirty to over eighty bucks SAVED at a shot (assuming just Skywarp and Thundercracker as he already as a King Starscream).
Curious if the reason they haven't fixed the paint on the Mrs. Potato Head statue outside of their RI HQ is due to penny pinching.
Feel sorry for that toy store; being essentially a secondary archive for Hasbro must have been rad.
A less than encouraging update on this issue:A developing story at the moment:
Everest Toys, a Canada based distributor, has, seemingly, abruptly shut down. Everest is a North American distributor for specialty retailers who handle everything from acquired brands like Crazy Forts and Alex Global Products, to distribution for major companies like Blokees, Mattel, Lego, and Hasbro. Details remain light on the specifics as to the abrupt closure of the family owned business, but its website remains online, even as its phone support line went dark the last couple of days.
Everest Toys is a major foundation for the Putnam Investments Group of properties, which include Sunrise Records, FYE, Famous Toys and the Canadian arms of Toys R Us and Babies R Us. Disruptions in Everest's business would likely have a ripple effect across North American specialty retailers.
Everest Toys Faces Uncertain Future
Sources say a restructuring may be in play, but the sudden shutdown underscores ongoing challenges for distributors navigating tariffs and shifting retail dynamics.toybook.com
Everest has been placed into receivership after reporting that ITS ENTIRE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAD RESIGNED. A bankruptcy filing is expected in the coming weeks due to the company's debt issues and lack of corporate leadership. It has not been made clear how this will impact the other companies under the Putman Investments banner, like Toys R Us.
'Rudderless' Everest Toys Placed into Receivership in Canada
The toy and game distributor has collapsed.
toybook.com
How about some good news? I know, that’s rare these days, but former Hasbro marketing manager Billy Lagor is returning to Hasbro as President of Toys and Games. After leaving Hasbro seven years ago, Mr. Lagor bounced around the toy and non-toy industry with his most recent position being CEO of internet retailer Entertainment Earth. Prior to his absence, he spent 15 years at Hasbro, overseeing Nerf and, most relevant to us toy nerds, GI Joe. He was picked by Darryl DePriest to take over the GI Joe brand in 2004, where he oversaw the back half of Valor vs Venom, the Robot Rebellion/DTC line and the introduction of the Sigma 6 product line.
toybook.com
Hasbro Welcomes Back Billy Lagor as President of Toys & Board Games
The industry vet returns with an expanded skillset and enthusiasm for the future.
toybook.com
That experience at Entertainment Earth might be useful. I'm not familiar with his prior work at Hasbro but I'm glad to have him back.
I quit using EE after the sixth or seventh time they got scooped by Pulse, let alone BBTS.
'course now Pulse sucks ass so damned if I do I guess.
'course now Pulse sucks ass so damned if I do I guess.
But why they got scooped all those times could be useful information.
I mean, EE's fundamental business is a distributor at this point, not "point of sale" type stuff BBTS or Pulse do. As is, EE practically never sold individual items from assorted cases on a regular basis until around 2013-2015 when Hasbro actually started to ship stuff in solid cases as a SOP on the regular. At least part of the delays could well be attributed to the fact they DO serve other, smaller, retailers and there might have been an effort to service that customer base before the stand alone orders.
If anything, I've found AMAZON to, on the average, get stuff in sooner and to me faster than any other fan channel provider.
So, on to less fun things to talk about...
Preorders will be going up the next couple days for 2026 products. Over at Amazon, preorders are going up for 2026 products. Jango Fett for Star Wars Black has a $27.99 price, while the newly revealed Marvel Legends "Micro Comic" Assortment is priced at $29.99.
While Trump's tariffs are still going through the court system, it seems that the uncertainty concerning the Supreme Court outcome is prompting companies like Hasbro to bite the bullet on the price increases...at least for now.
Since it doesn't apply to any one thing, I guess the "Business Thread" will do:
Hasbro has filed a new trademark, but not for any new branding names. This time, they're requesting a specific trademark for the iconic "transformation" sound of the Transformers brand for use in toy and action products.
news.tfw2005.com
While Hasbro HAS used the sound in toys in the far past, this is the first attempt, I know of, to specifically trademark the sound as the property of Transformers toys and products.
Hasbro has filed a new trademark, but not for any new branding names. This time, they're requesting a specific trademark for the iconic "transformation" sound of the Transformers brand for use in toy and action products.
Hasbro Applies For The Transformation Sound Trademark
Hasbro’s latest filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office stands out as particularly unusual compared to their typical submissions. Filed under the same classification used for other Transformers toy trademarks, this application seeks protection for the iconic 'Transformation...
news.tfw2005.com
While Hasbro HAS used the sound in toys in the far past, this is the first attempt, I know of, to specifically trademark the sound as the property of Transformers toys and products.
Did I hear something about Japan Post not shipping to the US because of the tariffs? How will that effect Amazon.jp orders? I just started using Amazon Japan when the Wild King stuff came out. I've got a pre-order in for Missing Link Nemesis and I'm wondering if I should cancel it and order from a state-side store.
amazon japan doesn't exclusively use japan post, there are other couriers that are still shipping to the US like DHL express.
China blames Trump and US for escalating trade war
Beijing accuses Washington of imposing fresh restrictions on Chinese companies after trade talks last month
www.ft.com
Hate to sound gloomy, but I’m wondering if AotP will be the last mainline retail Transformers range of its sort. Among other things. 100% tariffs on China, yeah, that will end well…
I thought they were being made in Vietnam now?
I was getting around to posting here!(Paywall-busting link: https://archive.ph/0eb52)China blames Trump and US for escalating trade war
Beijing accuses Washington of imposing fresh restrictions on Chinese companies after trade talks last month
Hate to sound gloomy, but I’m wondering if AotP will be the last mainline retail Transformers range of its sort. Among other things. 100% tariffs on China, yeah, that will end well…
But yeah, Schrodinger‘s tariffs are back in play after things cooled off this past fall.
Déjà Vu: Toy Industry on Alert as Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on China
New tariffs could kick in November 1, "or sooner," according to the President.
toybook.com
I’m not sure I disagree about Age of the Prime’s being the last “main line” of its style, but I’m not sure I’d attribute as much to the China tariffs as you seem to be.
In so far as action figures, pretty much all of the Transformers product line is made in Vietnam, AFAIK. Hasbro’s 3.75” Epic Hero and 12” Titan figures have been flip flopping between China and Vietnam, but have mostly been in Vietnam. My observations have been that China has been really good at large volume low end (the 3 POA 6” figures and Authentics until this past year or so) and high end precision (the 6” collector lines, basically).
So the biggest irony of these policies is that the consumer base MOST likely to be directly impacted will be the adult fan and collector. Even if Transformers, the brand, is entirely made in Vietnam, Hasbro is not going to price a Generations Deluxe figure drastically below the price of a comparable Marvel or Star Wars product.
What I see happening (and it seemingly has started in some areas) is that the “Vietnam made” products (Transformers and the “kids stuff”) are going shoulder some price increases to offset pricing pressure on the collector side. Instead of pushing the base price of Marvel Legends or GI Joe Classified to $35-40 (or MORE), Hasbro might be able to selectively “off load” some of that pressure by increasing the mid and upper tier kids stuff (Epic Hero X-Wing or Cyberverse Grimlock ups to $40 from $30, while keeping the entry point of figures at $10, for example).
But it’s still very much a “Wait and see” situation. As we saw last spring, the entire global trade situation might change on weekly, if not DAILY, basis. I think Hasbro’s increases for 2026 products is a response to that uncertainty. Courts will review Trump’s Tariffs next month…but who knows how THAT will turn out with the way the Supreme Court is at the moment.
These China tarriffs will last a while then get pulled back, and whoever among the crony class is making money off the dip will pocket their winnings. Lather, rinse, repeat.
They are, and Vietnam cut a deal with the US when Trump started all of this, which is good for the hobby all political reasoning aside.
Still, it'll affect us.
Most of Hasbro's non-TF output is China-based, meaning this will still impact their bottom line and the degree to which they can budget for Transformers.
Secondly, this will likely increase the rush of American companies from China to Vietnam, which will increase the demand for Vietnamese factories and labour, which will raise costs further.
and that's when they move manufacturing to yet another country right