New Universal Monsters in 2014 from Diamond Select

[marsattacks666]

Those were the days. I still can't believe those beautiful 8"ers sitting on a rack for only $9.99 (and they had enough so you didn't have to be there the first day to get one).

I still remember those.days.

[aura of foreboding]

I still remember those.days.

Target was Universal Monster heaven, with the Hasbros, the Little Big Heads, and the Sideshow...  The whole aisle was Monsters.  What's wrong with the buyers of today?

[ravenloft]

Don't you mean what is wrong with Universal Studios and licensing these days?

[aura of foreboding]

No.  I mean what is wrong with the buyers.  The stores buy what they think will sell.  Target, Walmart, etc. did not even consider stocking DST's Monster line.  I guess it wasn't hip enough for them.  Toymakers can come up with a whole bunch of ideas, but if the buyers don't put them on the shelves, we'll never see them.

Same with Halloween costumes.  Twenty years ago, you could walk into any of the big box stores and get a Universal Monster mask or costume.  This year, we have some of the best ever, but you can't even find them at the Halloween pop-up stores.  It's really messed up. 

[Count_Zirock]

And the toys that are on the shelves, suck. Beyblade, these other anime-inspired crapfests, and even Ninja Turtles, I never see any kids looking at that stuff. "Man of Steel" toys are rotting on the pegs. "Star Wars" The Black Series would sell, but they get down to the last three figures of a case, and the store won't re-order until those 3 sell. And, they're not going to sell; they're the pegwarmers! Transformers and Avengers seem to be selling, but not Amazing Spider-Man. I think even Monster High is starting to drop off in popularity.

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[ravenloft]

I think it is time to clue into the fact that all but the youngest kids don't really care about action figures or any other type of plastic toy in this generation, they are an electronic generation playing games on xbox 360, smart phones and I pads. The sooner that toy makers realize that they sell mostly to adults the sooner we will see more quality figures. I think a few companies have it down like the black line of star wars. Kids rarely buy anything regardless, adults make 99% of all toy purchases, they should be trying to appeal to us. Stuff that is really moving is that brilliant marketing scheme of Skylanders, tying collectibles to a video game where several are required to unlock portions of the game. Disney was quick to copy it with the new Infinity line. Kids around 7,8,9 don't play with toys anymore play video games.  Kids used to play outside, then they played with action figures, now they play video games.

[Count_Zirock]

Kids used to play outside, then they played with action figures, now they play video games.

I used to play outside with action figures! The kids across the street from me had an enormous backyard, and we played with 12" G.I. Joes and 8" Planet of the Apes Megos. Man, those were awesome times!

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[Mord]

I have worked in public education for years and have noticed the only ones interested in action figures are collector teachers. The whole concept of action figures is foreign to most kids. The previous posters are right, they only care about the latest high tech gadgets. Most kids have phones that cost more than my entire yearly toy budget.

[horrorhunter]

I have worked in public education for years and have noticed the only ones interested in action figures are collector teachers. The whole concept of action figures is foreign to most kids. The previous posters are right, they only care about the latest high tech gadgets. Most kids have phones that cost more than my entire yearly toy budget.

Kids don't get the pleasure of being kids anymore...not like we were. From preschooler they get shoved into being some sort of child/adult hybrid and miss out on the best years of their life...6-12. Of course, this is a gross oversimplification from a sometimes right bastard curmudgeon, but it all strikes me this way more than occasionally. When I was six if someone offered me a phone I'd be compelled to carry everywhere and be bothered by I would tell them to stick it up their butt. Then I'd go play with toy dinosaurs, or read a comic or monster mag, or go outside and play football.

[aura of foreboding]

And we can only blame Walmart for this.  Had they been stocking the DST Monsters, the kids would have gone wild for them -- and the world would be far different from the one we know now.   

[Universal Steve]

I went to my local comic shop today to snag the DST Hunchback and found it was sold yesterday. But luckily I found the cloth Phantom and grabbed that. I saw the Mutant but I was never a  big fan and I only buy him to complete the set. They are getting another Hunchback in so I should have one next week.  I also got my TRU Mr. Hyde and Mole Man in the mail today. Just waiting for the Monsters In Motion package to come so I will be up to date on the figures.

[Mord]

What kind of shape were your T'r'U packages in? Last year I ordered 2 sets of the T'r'U exclusives and all six figures came in bashed up packages (almost as if they were thrashed on purpose). I had to exchange them for new ones when they came into the store.

[Universal Steve]

What kind of shape were your T'r'U packages in? Last year I ordered 2 sets of the T'r'U exclusives and all six figures came in bashed up packages (almost as if they were thrashed on purpose). I had to exchange them for new ones when they came into the store.

Surprisingly there were in good shape. Same as if you took them off the pegs.  The box was a little oversized and had the figures packed between air filled pads. Maybe they had so many complaints they finally got the idea that these are more than action figures, they are collectables.

[Anton Phibes]

Am I the only person who opens these and displays them? I have kept all my Sideshow stuff MIB/MOC as collectibles----but the DST stuff screams "open me".

[Gillfan]

No.  I mean what is wrong with the buyers.  The stores buy what they think will sell.  Target, Walmart, etc. did not even consider stocking DST's Monster line.  I guess it wasn't hip enough for them.  Toymakers can come up with a whole bunch of ideas, but if the buyers don't put them on the shelves, we'll never see them...

Aura is 100% correct. I can't tell you the number of cool toys I have seen at Toy Fair (the industry only event) that never happen because no buyers were interested.  There are toys that I so desperately wanted that will never see the light of day and will never be played with by a child, simply because buers had been told "Playsets aren't popular anymore"  or "Stay away from 12 inch figures" . It is a sad state of affairs and I don't see it getting any better.

There used to be lots of outlets for edgy items like Tower Records and Virgin. A single order from each could make a line a success. Now they, any many others are gone.