Hasbro & Sunbow documents to Ziploc proving how much Transformers made from 84 to 86.

Discussion in 'Transformers General Discussion' started by Born 2B Alive!, May 15, 2013.

  1. Born 2B Alive!

    Born 2B Alive! Director Of Entertainment

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    I hope I am not breaking any rules linking to this blog I found yesterday. But one of his articles has over 25 pictures of documents sent between Hasbro and Ziploc talking about how much Transformers made in 1984 to 1986. Some of the goodies are....

    * Transformers single largest first year toy ever.... $100 Million in 1984.

    *Transformers was the number 1 toy in both 1984 and 1985 on track to do over $300 million in 1986.

    This is a must read for all of the doubter stating Transformers was not #1 back then.

    Blog #379: Transformers Artifact of the Week: 1986 Transformers The Movie Ziploc Promotion Salesman
     
    • News Credit News Credit x 1
  2. bigkid24

    bigkid24 Well-Known Member

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    Interesting. My question is what is that toy that they were offering and does it actually exist.
     
  3. Born 2B Alive!

    Born 2B Alive! Director Of Entertainment

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    It was a Powerdasher.... I believe there is actually 3 different ones.
     
  4. Aernaroth

    Aernaroth <b><font color=blue>I voted for Super_Megatron and Veteran

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    Neat! These kinds of promotional items are always interesting to look at.
     
  5. Born 2B Alive!

    Born 2B Alive! Director Of Entertainment

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    These documents need to be saved in a new "G1 Non Toys Thread" along with the countless other pictures of G1 related items that get posted then lost 4ever in these forums. I have seen so many threads posted over and over again in the Gen. Forum saying that G.I. Joe, He Man, or some other toys outsold Transformers in 1984 and 1985. Complete rubbish. I have posted articles on here over and over again showing otherwise. Here you have Hasbro themselves stating it that Transformers was #1.... but in two weeks when this thread is gone someone will make a new thread stating that Transformers wasn't even close to be the top selling toy back then.
     
  6. Aernaroth

    Aernaroth <b><font color=blue>I voted for Super_Megatron and Veteran

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    If people don't read the stickies about the rules, what makes you think that having your idea of a megathread will permanently dispel these inaccuracies?

    Also, what you just posted doesn't disprove the assertion that TF was the biggest selling toyline of 1984 and 1985. This very well may be the case, or maybe they were outsold by barbie and hot wheels, I haven't seen any concrete proof one way or the other. Even if we do take Dow/Hasbro at their word that they were "#1 in 1984 and 1985", this also isn't concrete proof, since it isn't cited fact or objective research.
     
    Last edited: May 15, 2013
  7. Infosaur

    Infosaur Ancient Cybertronian

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    Remember, that was $100 million in 1984 dollars.

    Adjusted for inflation that's probably more like $180-220 million today.

    And that's for a brand that came out of nowhere, not something with a built in "legacy" like GI-Joe or Transformers today. Or had a promoting media like Star Wars or Superman.

    It would be like Motorcity, Kajuto or Adventure Time selling a $1/4 mill in it's first season.

    Probably the only thing close is Angry Birds. Which seems to be hopping on the merchandizing train now (even though I only played the game for the 1st time about 3 weeks ago, I don't have an iPad)
     
  8. firehawc_69

    firehawc_69 cloppers = ignore list

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    Man, I hope something like this kit shows up for the Wonderbread He-Man promotion. That thing is almost mythical because there's no concrete proof of it to be found. Even calling Hostess and Wonder, no one ever could produce any documentation that says it happened, yet many, many people remember it from the '80s.

    This is a really cool find.
     
  9. LegendAntihero

    LegendAntihero Banned

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    Awesome, it must've been as popular as Call of Duty is today.
     
  10. PoweredConvoy

    PoweredConvoy Randy

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    I remember when the Transformers line was coming to an end there was an article in the newspaper about it. In the article it stated how much the series made each year. 1985 was their most profitable year and it was a steady decline every year after.

    Randy
     
  11. KA

    KA Well-Known Member

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    cool news, bro.
     
  12. Dolza_Khyron

    Dolza_Khyron Well-Known Member

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    Sky Dasher (1985) - Autobot Multi-Function Specialist - www.tfu.info

    sky dasher.

    you can probably find one for about 20 bucks these days. lol

    Drill Dasher (1985) - Autobot Multi-Function Specialist - www.tfu.info

    F-1 Dasher (1985) - Autobot Multi-Function Specialist - www.tfu.info

    they're not great toys. but, for a 3 dollar, pull back motored, transforming toy, they're not bad. i also believe they were also apart of Diaclone.

    and i think you could also get them with the "S.T.A.R.S." mail in things too. if i remember correctly.
     
  13. Batman

    Batman The Dark Knight TFW2005 Supporter

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    Cool find! Love all the photos.

    I must say I had no idea how competitive and hardcore the sandwich bag market was, I wonder if it is still this way today :lol 

    FEEL THE HEAT!!!! FUEL THE FIRE!!!!!!
     
  14. rodimuspwnzor

    rodimuspwnzor Nerd-O-tron

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    I got the Hot Rod Iron on from those thing!
     
  15. Snake_eyes1975

    Snake_eyes1975 Well-Known Member

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    this is possibly my most favorite "lost" artifact I have ever seen for Joe or TF. I a sales guy..I LOVE sales..this kit brings sales and transformers into one bag of awesome. If I would have seen that on ebay..I would have tried my ass off to own that.

    wonder why Hasbro does not do this anymore..Everytime we used something like this it worked..

    GIJOE and TRANSFORMERS used to be on EVERYTHING in the mid 80's..
     
  16. Superquad7

    Superquad7 OCP Police Crime Prevention Unit 001 Super Content Contributor

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    Things like this are why I continue to be enthralled with G1. This is such a great find!
     
  17. Grandum

    Grandum Well-Known Member

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    Had to look it up - it's $227 million in todays money or about what Hasbro made of Transformers in 2010. $300 million in 1986 would be more than any
    of the live movie years...

    ...now that we have facts on this maybe we can finally stop the myth of "OMG, nobody had never even heard of TF before Bay made it popular, G1 was nothing compared to how big Bayverse is, etc, etc, etc"
     
  18. Nevermore

    Nevermore It's self-perpetuating a parahumanoidarianised!

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    Poor Sales May Deal Toy Robots Fatal Blow
     
  19. TFW10

    TFW10 Well-Known Member

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    Wow, I don't really collect anything but I would love to have that.

    I too would search for that.
     
  20. DecepticonSpike

    DecepticonSpike Member of the Scrappy Doo Fan Club

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    I remember the ziploc promotion when I was a kid. I begged my mom to buy a box because it said "Transformers" on it. I think I got the Springer iron on.