I'm curious and I don't think I've actually seen a proper poll before.

With the rumors of FP losing the license, is this change good or bad in your opinion? Instead of fighting about it, let's see some actual numbers.

 

I voted unsure because I don't know what (if anything) would take its place. Between the comics, interviews, and toys, there are definitely things of interest to me that FP does. If you replaced them with a company with a similar mission statement and better execution, sure. If you replace them with nothing, I'm not convinced that's a better overall situation.

 

I selected no, because we don't know what it will be replaced with if anything. So I'll choose the okay magazine, figures and convention I've always enjoyed over the mystery box that could be empty.

If presented with FP and another company that lists what they'll be providing, then I could change that answer to yes, depending on the pros and cons.

 

I voted yes but honestly, that's only because of the handful of things I don't like that could easily be changed:

1) Do away with the mandatory year's membership when I sign up for a convention. I only attend the BotCon because it's local. The extra 100 hundred dollars tacked on to "become a member" isn't... great

2) Do away with the monthly newsletter or at least make it an option to opt out of or make it digital. I care nothing about it as I have the internet.

3) Improve security of online interactions.

4) Do away with the golden ticket nonsense at the Convention. Two thirds of the extra purchases head straight to eBay.

 

I voted yes. I think FP are a poorly performing official club and just like a new TF series refresh it is time for a change. Yes we do not know if any club, convention, or exclusives will replace FP's but while FP held this license it was clear that nothing was going to drastically improve with how the club was run and what it offered us. FP leaving at least gives the opportunity for new growth.

 

I voted no. I like their toy releases a lot. They cater to me a lot more than Hasbro does. It's nice to have stuff to buy.

 

I voted no and that is all

 

I voted yes not just because of the many mishaps the club has had over the years, but because of where Transformers is as a brand today. With the brand becoming mainstream, Hasbro's need for an "official Transformers convention" to help keep excitement behind the brand is unnecessary. Also the brand has become a big enough part of Hasbro's bottom line, I can see where they don't want some third party entity (ironic I know) handling the official anything for the brand.

Lets face it for the last several years, the major reveals and info dumps have been purposely saved for SDCC not Botcon.

I will give credit where credit's due, FP stepped in and ran the conventions and club much better than the previous outfit. Practically every convention they've run has gone smoothly and every toy that was revealed and paid for was available when they said it would be (Hasbro didn't have to step in and at their own expense ship out toys to those who paid for them (I still have my Sentinel Maximus BTW)).

 

There's a difference between being ready for BotCon and the concept of the Transformers Club to disappear and for FunPub's involvement to completely fucking go away. I think there may still be a place for a BotCon-styled convention (Box sets, official partnerships) with some reworking of the concept. I think a Transformers Collector's Club could totally exist with some solid management.

FunPub is not the company for the job. With all the completely indefensible bullshit over the last three years that has happened, it still completely blows my mind that people can be so attached to the name to defend horrendous business practices and the sheer amount of toxic behavior that FunPub pulls off on a regular basis.

To make matters worse, the "Collector's Club" aspect of FunPub was a fucking joke and honestly it was far from a Club. At it's best during the last few years of it's life was a fee to "save money" when registering for BotCon, (A fee you pay anyway if you register WITHOUT being a member, as AFAIK when you register for BotCon without being a member you're signed up for the club anyway) a questionable in quality magazine with an archaic approach to approaching and adapting to a world where print media is on constant life support, paying for access to Club Forums that don't exist except hey now they do on a completely different website that you don't actually pay to access whoops, and an inconsistent grasp on how to handle being on the internet in general (let alone social media or the concept of public relations.)

Whatever concept of professionalism FunPub has consistently just chips and flakes away over time. It's amateur hour, and we don't need them and in a way the success of shows like TFCon and TFExpo show that it isn't all about exclusives or official sponsorship that matters to convention goers (And like Motormaster said above: There's been an increased focus off of BotCon for Hasbro reveals, and a larger importance toward SDCC and even NYCC) and ultimately it's the people: Whether it's those who attend the shows (And hey, that's what saved BotCon 2012 for me) or those that run them. Things are changing, and whatever BotCon or it's inevitable replacement have in terms of a future is all about how they learn to adapt over time, and ultimately as they've shown time and time again? FunPub isn't the way to go.

Good riddance.

 

You know, I keep seeing this stuff about SDCC getting better reveals. And it was the norm for the last few years (or several?) But I'd argue that we got the better reveals out of Hasbro at Botcon than what they revealed at SDCC this year.

Also, I voted "no," but I think by now that should go without saying  

I'd much rather keep a company I'm comfortable and familiar with, who has time and time again brought nothing but the best experiences to the table for Transformers conventions, who also happen to be fans, themselves in charge of the club and official convention.

 

I really unsure about FanPub losing the License,but let's been really honest we've really don't known whatever or not they actually lose the license. So don't say "Good Bye" just yet.

 

I'm just unsure...never experienced major issues with the club...been a member since the second year of Nexus (Prime) Maximus...love the member exclusives and TFSS figures...and...Botcon sets...hoping if the rumours are truth that their is another license holder awaiting...

 

Been lied to by them too many times about figure QC issues and how they'll "fix it" and "make it right". Good riddance. I stopped going to Botcon and skipped the latest TFCC subscription service.

 

A vote/poll on a rumour is a bad thing.

 

I voted unsure. Personally the club stopped being a club a long time ago and just became an exclusive online store with a small bi-monthly pamphlet...but I'm not sure if anything will take their place so I guess we'll see...

 

good riddance to bad management.

we've got other cons and hasbro has the name cybertron con. we'll see more conventions.
exclusive figures, sdcc has its own and we'll get more from hasbro this way
management, well i think unless you let pat lee manage it, i think we'll be able to find better management.

 

Pretty much this. Voted unsure because things could get a LOT worse.


As far as FunPub goes, as long as they make things I'd want to own I'd buy them. I don't shell out for every exclusive, so I don't feel left out when I don't go "all in", and it's a breath of fresh air when a full set doesn't appeal to me. That being said, if they DO go away, HasTak better knock out more Diaclone repaints of Classics molds. ESPECIALLY the older molds.

 

It's about 4 to 1 in favor of them quitting.

Considering pointlessly hating the club is NOT a TFW membership requirement as some would have you believe, I'd say this is pretty telling.

 

I've defended FP, as well as admitted their faults. I'm a bit surprised by the current poll numbers. What I believed was a vocal minority is clearly a much greater number. Even adding No and unsure together it's still not quite half of the number who want FP to end.

Those who have issues with FP have every right to be angry with them, there has been many times the ball has been dropped. Most of the things that people are irritated with are minor annoyances to me. I still think I get some great toys and they put on a great convention.

 

I'm a bit surprised, too. Not that people don't dislike the club (or have reason), but in that we have no idea if anything will replace it (if it goes).

Are the 'yes' votes more "I'm sure something better will take its place" or "I'd rather have no club than a poor one"? Either opinion is valid - I'm just curious what the breakdown of the 'yes' votes is.