I don't think so. I think they put the 14th in there to allow for some that might have mailed in their registration, but it was received too late. My registration was during that time frame, and I'm confirmed for this years set, but I faxed it in.

Not to mention, there was a message on this board several days ago saying they had sold out, so I already wouldn't have expected anything if I tried to register on the 28th.

My personal thinking is they did not make an official announcement for two reasons: they could gauge interest in just how many sets they could have sold (market research) and while they knew they were sold out several days ago by the number of orders, they still had to process payments until they were officially sold out. That is the only explanation I can think of, that makes some sort of sense, for the delay between the email a member received stating they were sold out, and the official announcement that they were sold out. I know about a week ago Kristin told me they only had about 50 sets left, so it really was not a surprise.

 

Bottom line from all the fallout on this issue:

1) FP needs a verifiable online registration system. Far too many people are "in the dark" about their confirmations and have no idea whether they're getting the 2008 toys and thats really unforgivable.

2) FP needs to limit these toys to 1 (one) boxset per Primus package - PERIOD. I've never had a problem with someone buying an extra set to fund their trip but these shortages really need to stop. No more bagged sets either - those toys could be used to bump up the boxed sets in the event of a shortage.

3) They need a staggered registration system. This'll require an earlier registration date for the show, of course, but they need to open registration for Primus packages first, then the non-attendee packages with a set-in-stone cutoff time for both.

 

A lot a people are still wondering if they have gotten the 2008 set when charged for it, but no confirmation email. I am posting the latest email sent out:


*NOTE* Underlining is by me for emphasis!

 

Kranix2K:
Yes, yes, and yes.

 

You make me laugh dude, there are no underlying tones. All I'm doing is stating a fact as in EVERYONE had the same opportunity as me. Not trying to belittle people.

To retort on your other statement that a 5% discount is crap considering the set they want to give, People getting this set at a discount will also be getting the same benefits as everyone else who ordered a Primus package which is entry to Casino night and other little goodies. They are not just selling the set alone at a 5% discount. If they were to go the 30% - 40% that you are recommending, the I should be looking for a discount as well even though my set is a 2008 set. I'll be attending all the events as well with my Primus package and I paid full price! Does this make even a little sense to you? Or is it falling on deaf ears?

 

Since you're a joecon guy, maybe you can answer this - I've always heard that Joecons have *significantly* less people than BotCon. Like, a couple hundred at Joecon, versus the hundreds to a couple of thousand for BotCon.

If thats true, the fact that BotCon doesn't get summer slot every year is still showing he cares alot for Joecon. As well as, there apparently is this mentality that Joecon folks are less technically-oriented (I have no idea how much truth there is to that). But, its because of that, is why we still have this Master Collector that almost every TF member promptly trashes, why their website is archaic, why they still rely on faxes so much...etc. That, with the Joe fandom, the older technologies are more comfortable for them. But with the TF fandom, we're younger and are extremely annoyed with this "fax it in, wait a few weeks, if a problem happened you won't know for a while and then it will probably be too late" stuff. Like I said - I don't know there's truth to that, but it feels that way. The few pictures I've seen of Joecon definitely had a higher concentration of older folk than what I see at BotCon.

As for the 12" versus 3 3/4 side...I never even knew the Joe crowd was divided like that.

 

Disagree on the bag sets. As long as those are preplanned for, they do not impact box set availability.

Theoreticly, you could pull them to make Primus packages - But they could just as easily turn into dead stock.

They don't hurt anything as is.

 

Thanks Kenucme!

 

I heard that the animosity there makes the old BW vs G1 battles look like a game of patty-cake! LOL

Anyway, I will say one thing that should be a significant reason why Botcon should get priority. We are the bigger, more profitable show (or so we are led to believe - I admit, I can't prove that fact).

 

I doubt that anyone who was charged will be switching.

[edit] 1) I signed up already, what set will I get?

If you signed up for BotCon attending or non-attending and we have processed your registration form, you are getting the 2008 set. You can tell this by either the confirmation email we sent to each person or by checking your credit card statement.

If they took your money, then you are confirmed getting the set. If they did not, it means they ran out and will be contacting you.

Things go out of stock and they are going first in first out with orders. Next time order sooner.

 

Not going to happen. At least, not until someone is willing to put their money where their mouth is, and pony up the cash to guarantee all the sets will be sold. Nobody wants to have their money tied up in high price stock, and FP is no different.

Personally, I love the bagged sets, more so on the Joe side of the house than the TF's, but still. It is a nice perk for several hundred people, and I see no problem with it. These are already planned for ahead of time, it's not like there are extra boxes lying around that they can "make" those toys into Primus/Iacon sets.

As far as improvements to registration goes, I think they handled it fairly well this year, by stopping the Iacon packages once it was obvious they were going to run out. A better solution, I think, would be something like the staggered registration you suggested. Open registration for attendees only for the first week or two, then open it up to all. If it appears that it is likely they will sell out again, then curtail the Iacon packages and limit the Primus packages. This way, there is plenty of oppurtunity for everyone to get their orders in, unless you are a procrastinator.

Also, begin showing the toys before registration begins!!! I'm not saying you need to show them all, but have half of them up prior to registration opening up. Most people want to actually see what they are getting before they drop several hundred dollars.

 

Great Rumbles at Con! Yes.

 

i understand exactly what you're saying, but i just don't see how they'd have a problem selling out. if you limit 1 per primus and iacon registration, then allow primus attendees to buy extras at the con, then allow regular convention goers to buy the sets, then throw whatever's left (if any) online after the con, i don't see how they wouldn't sell out as long as they didn't produce bazillions of them.

 

Definitely divided!

I would definitely say there is a bigger crowd at the BotCons than the JoeCons, I've heard this as well. Also, TF's is currently a hotter property than Joes, although the 25th stuff is helping close the gap! Still, I think TF is significantly bigger, especially saleswise, especially to kids.

I'm not too sure about the fandom being more technically oriented, I think that is more a problem with Master Collector (FP). There is plenty of griping about them as well on the Joe boards.

A JoeCon would definitely have more of a mix with an older crowd, just because of the history. Joe has been around since the '60s, so a lot of your 12" guys are going to be a bit older now. The 3 3/4 heyday really was the 80's, so even we are going to be in our late 20's to mid 30's. The recent popularity of the small Joes brings in younger fans, but it doesn't really compare to TF's. I'm more of a G1 guy, but that's because I grew up in the 80s. But people my age are going to be the older ones at a BotCon.

I'm sure, to some degree, that is an accurate statement about the animosity.

I'm not sure I should comment on why the BotCon should or shouldn't get priority, because as a more Joe oriented guy than TF, I'm not sure how unbiased my opinion can be.

I think that alternating them (except in movie years) is probably the fairest thing that can be done, and that's the way they've decided to do it. Understand, there is animosity on the Joe side of the house towards BotCon as well. JoeCon's have been in summer for over ten years, and BotCon is a newer con, especially for FP. I can see why people are upset that their con, that they've been supporting for ten years or more, is getting pushed around to different dates (fall last year) because of the new convention that their club has taken on. I'm quite certain that BotCon is bigger and more profitable, so I think that at least puts in on equal footing with the JoeCon and it's history.

 

Actually, there is-- think about it. They've sold out of Botcon '08 box sets, but have not sold out of the convention exclusive freebies, which they are still giving away to future Primus package purchasers. I can't imagine why they'd make considerably more of the freebies-- i.e., the figure people who have Iacon packages cannot get-- compared to the Botcon '08 box sets. I think that pretty much confirms that a large proportion of the '08 box sets were bought via Iacon packages.

 

I'm more of an 'allow 2 sets per registrant' kind of guy. BUT, I would maybe propose it this way to limit the scalping. The person registering can have one Primus (attending) and one Iacon (non-attending). That way they have to wait for the 'extra' set, making it much more likely they want it to keep and not sell.

Granted, they might just sell the one picked up at the convention knowing another is being shipped in later. But it keeps them from getting a second of the free attending only figure. If the trend is what I think it has been, these figures go somewhere around $100 the first day on eBay.

I have no problems with the loose sets. I hooked up another board member with the loose set I bought last year.

 

Ahh, but that's not guaranteed. Waiting until the convention and hoping you sell out is not the same thing, and is not guaranteed, even if you think it will. The whole "bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" thing.

 

I also only recieved the email that my fax was recieved and The charge for a Primus package, Loose set and club membership on my credit card bill for Feb, but I havn't recieved anything by email or mail confirming anything. I can't even get into the club forums since it requires an expiration date.

 

This is exactly what I was getting at in my first post for this thread. They must have PLENTY of freebie attending only figures available (1 per attending set). Selling more Primus packages while guaranteeing the 2008 freebie figure confirms that too many non-attending packages were going out.

 

Read my previous post:

http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showpost.php?p=1938589&postcount=103

Letter confirmations will be mailed out soon according to an earlier email Brian sent out.