azraelms
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jun 26, 2010 8:41:07 GMT -5
Posts: 1,761
|
Post by azraelms on Sept 6, 2015 22:55:15 GMT -5
It was a combination of bad case assortments, bad figure selection, and price all contributed.
I seem to remember the few few elite lines didn't have the 4 figures evenly distributed in the case. If there are 4 figures needed to make a complete BAF, the case should have 8 or 12 figures in it, and make each figure evenly divided in the case. 2 or 3 of each, not 1 of one figure and 3 of another in the same case.
Figure choice is another bad point - as people pointed out above having Dolph and Del Rio in two BAF in a row really hurt the line. CM Punk leaving the company when he did also left a glut of Punk figures on the BAF shelf too.
TRU having these figures be 4-5 bucks more than the regular Elites also hurt. Maybe a buck more - fine - but 4-5 more is excessive.
|
|
|
Post by The-Rock on Sept 6, 2015 23:11:43 GMT -5
The BAF concept came out after I stopped collecting, so I can't speak to the distribution. But there are a few issues.
The subject matter/collecting patterns is not relatable to Marvel/DC/whoever else has tried the BAF concept. WWE, and wrestling in general, doesn't have the same collecting appeal to "complete a series" as super heroes do. As was mentioned above, for most of the figures they were just repaints, where as with superheroes there is always someone else they can make. But the reality of the situation is a WWE Fan would rather spend $20 to just buy John Laurinitis, than $20 to buy an extra Randy Orton to get the leg pieces to complete John Laurinitis.
While I am not super familiar with non-WWE BAF concepts, as was also mentioned, Marvel usually built a larger character who would have been too big on his own/would have been a higher price point figure. A better concept would have been like Jakks utilized with those build n brawl figures, where the complete series creates a cage/stage/ladder match/elimination chamber etc. I know Mattel did this with the backstage area and announcers table, but neither of those is really that substantial to warrant buying the entire series.
One of the above posters said he felt like the Marvel BAF was an added bonus, where as with WWE it was the main gimmick. I have to disagree - especially with regard to the Elite BAF's. Each of the TRU sets usually had 3 solid/must have figures and the 4th was kind of a consolation prize if you felt inclined. Let's not forget most of these lines always came out right around when TRU had a buy 2 (or buy 3) get 1 free sale AND spend $30 get a free figure. I remember in 2012 doing the math for fun and realizing that for like the price of 4 elite figures, you were getting 9 figures (buy 2, get 1 free, get free figure for spending over $30...do that twice...complete the build a figure...and then trade/exchange the extra TRU promotional free figure).
In regards to the new character argument, that's never ever been the case with store exclusives besides the Legends/Jakks CS 2-packs. I never remember jakks or mattel releasing a wrestlers first figure as a store exclusive or in a PPV set... With the exception of a bonus figure in a playset (dating back to Kmart's ring and announce table set with JR/Earl Hebner; Spike Dudley RA belt set) and the Vince McMahon mail away promotion.
|
|
|
Post by kiloinnorcal on Sept 6, 2015 23:20:23 GMT -5
Hasbro's Marvel Legends BAF works because they put the parts in the main line. Mattel WWE put them in their own separate exclusive line, with many repeat, unwanted, and often outdated characters. Could you imagine if each Elite wave had a BAF? That's how Hasbro does it.
|
|
Joel
Main Eventer
WF 10 Year Member
Joined on: Dec 19, 2003 23:27:42 GMT -5
Posts: 1,642
|
Post by Joel on Sept 6, 2015 23:27:39 GMT -5
For me it would have to be the fact I was never able to complete them. I never once saw Christian nor Curtis Axle in stores. So for that reason I don't even bother anymore.
|
|
gregrules420
POSSIBLE BAD TRADER
Joined on: Dec 29, 2014 9:17:09 GMT -5
Posts: 4,884
|
Post by gregrules420 on Sept 6, 2015 23:28:19 GMT -5
It being a TRU exclusive, shoddy distribution, bad line ups (always seemed to be a Punk, Orton, Del Rio & Sheamus in every set), and the figure price left the concept limp. Also releasing very similar Paul Heyman, Ricardo, & to an extent Kane in the main lines kind of left people feeling somewhat cheated. this... and it still hurts me that they haven't released a paulbearer that they don't make us build
|
|
|
Post by JNH2248 on Sept 7, 2015 0:14:20 GMT -5
For me it would have to be the fact I was never able to complete them. I never once saw Christian nor Curtis Axle in stores. So for that reason I don't even bother anymore. Axel hung around at TRU in my area for a while, then disappeared fast all of a sudden once I finally decided to pick one up...
|
|
|
Post by JNH2248 on Sept 7, 2015 0:16:17 GMT -5
It being a TRU exclusive, shoddy distribution, bad line ups (always seemed to be a Punk, Orton, Del Rio & Sheamus in every set), and the figure price left the concept limp. Also releasing very similar Paul Heyman, Ricardo, & to an extent Kane in the main lines kind of left people feeling somewhat cheated. this... and it still hurts me that they haven't released a paulbearer that they don't make us build Exactly. No need to be building greats like Bearer, just release him directly...like no one would buy him...
|
|
RWF
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Feb 3, 2014 20:04:00 GMT -5
Posts: 341
|
Post by RWF on Sept 7, 2015 0:26:49 GMT -5
Because in order to build anyone, you had to buy another Orton, Cena, Sheamus and Del Rio... And frankly, with MOST of those, no one wants to buy those figures to begin with. Forcing us to be crappy repaints to BAF, is a horrible idea. At least had they been popular repaint concepts, like say proper Slaughter, Snuka, LOD, etc, it would have sold better.
I remember the case packs were wonky a few series too. Where like, you needed 5 guys to build the figure, but one was Cena nd he was like 4X to a pack, meaning the guy you needed was packed 1 to every other case or something incredibly stupid like that. Which meant tons of people would be unable to complete the BAF because there were more Cena parts than anything else. And some guys were super short packed.
It was inane.
|
|
|
Post by AmericanMadeLesGold on Sept 7, 2015 0:42:22 GMT -5
The extra $ on each figure hurt it. Plus you are buying a lot of figures you don't want to get one that you do.
|
|
Deleted
Joined on: May 29, 2024 6:10:47 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2015 1:24:16 GMT -5
this... and it still hurts me that they haven't released a paulbearer that they don't make us build Exactly. No need to be building greats like Bearer, just release him directly...like no one would buy him... I'm not sure little Timmys mum would buy a manager from the 90s. They are, after all, predominantly aimed at kids and kids are the majority of the market. 90s managers wouldn't sell well enough on their own in my opinion
|
|
|
Post by Chip on Sept 7, 2015 1:27:24 GMT -5
having a basic & elite set come out at the same time having the basics be shelf-warming repaints having the elites be figures of guys who had other elites on the shelves at the same time price
|
|
|
Post by Halloween King on Sept 7, 2015 1:50:32 GMT -5
I probably already know, but really, why did the Build a Figure concept get botched so bad by Mattel? I'm currently two pieces away from completing the Hulkbuster Marvel Legend BAF, and two pieces shy of the Rhino BAF. And I want them bad. I'm excited to make them. Generally speaking, the most tantalizing concept of the past ten years has been the build-a-figure for me. I built my first BAF in 2005 with Toybiz's Galactus. I was already accustomed to buying complete or near-complete sets anyway. The coolest part was receiving the piece as a bonus. That brings me to what irked me. The pieces weren't a bonus. I have seen the price on previous Mattel WWE BAFs fluctuate from $22.99 to $24.99 during a time when Mattel elites were $15.99 to $18.99 at most. So you were paying for the figure, firstly. Second, especially in the basic line, you were buying figures you didn't need. In Marvel Legends or DC Universe Classics, you were getting the meat of the series with your BAF dessert. You got new characters you would want for your collection and a FREE bonus piece (I mean Legends scrapped bases to make room for the piece but I never needed the bases to begin with). Did anyone truly like the concept? Or would they like it if it was more like the Marvel Legends line and had a BAF every normal set? Imagine it: every commentator, every manager, and every era could be unlocked with that idea! The concept is cool when done properly. Common sens would tell you that if I made 1000 legs, 1000 arms, 1000 torsos, I should also make 1000 heads. But with Mattel they'll make 1000 legs, 1000 arms, 1500, torsos, and 500 heads. Or at least that's the way the cases break down. You'll get cases with 1 of a certain figure. So if I really wanted to get the Kane BAF it wont be as easy as it should be to complete the figure. It just makes no sense. It's like Mattel wants there to be a shortage of one figure and a surplus of another. Also as you stated the price point. The BAF figures are more expensive. They usually charge 3 to 4 dollars more for the BAF, at that price point why not just sell us the BAF Kane or BAF Ross on it's own? Which brings me to my next point...... If you want me to buy a BAF series of figures by giving me an exclusive BAF, that's cool. What's not cool is when they want me to by 3 or 4 of the same guy so that I can get the one exclusive BAF. How many times did the BAF line up include Cena as one of the characters you HAD to buy if you wanted the BAF? And it wasnt just Cena, they kept doing it over and over. They would force people to buy characters that were released in the previous BAF line up or characters that were out at the same time in the ELite line up. They go over board with these rehashes. At least when it's Marvel or DC there is a vast selection of characters that they make, so you wont end up with 3 batman figures in one year. But at least with Batman there is a big variety of different looks. With cena all they can really do is change his Jean shorts color.
|
|
|
Post by Duck Holliday on Sept 7, 2015 2:06:15 GMT -5
Didn't mind it. Could have been done better. As stated WWE was hampered by fewer characters, and couldn't as easily do thematic groups like Legends with Guardians where you want the whole team and build Groot. Also, as likely stated, with superheroes you've known the characters in some cases for 70 years with (all things considered) not extraordinary differences in costumes.
I've never completed a BAF of any kind, and I've collected Mattel WWE, DC Classics, and Marvel Legends. I've always made peace with not doing so and just sold or traded the pieces away.
|
|
Deleted
Joined on: May 29, 2024 6:10:47 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2015 2:06:47 GMT -5
Making it a store exclusive to TRU. WWE should make their official home Walmart. I see more and more people buying from Walmart than any other store.
|
|
|
Post by kgchampion on Sept 7, 2015 3:21:19 GMT -5
There are a number of reasons. I personally liked the BAF concept. I liked the BAF figures. I'm the kind of guy that really loves managers and non-wrestling personnel figures because it makes it more like what I see on TV. I like having a Teddy Long figure. I like having Booker T in a suit. But very few of the figures are ones I actually wanted or needed. I'd say the only ones really worth it to me were Daniel Bryan's Hell No attire, Bret Hart, HHH, Daniel Bryan's first elite, CM Punk with the WWE title, Shawn Michaels, and Curtis Axel's first (and only) elite. The other figures are kind of wasted space.
Also, it shouldn't be exclusive. I'm sure that TRU and now Walmart paid a lot of money for exclusive rights to that series, but TRU and Walmart are a pain to drive to for me. I have to drive outside the city in every direction just to check to see if they have them in stock. If they don't I'm out of luck and wasted a ton of time and mileage and gas. I don't have a lot of free time where I can check stores that are a 30 minute drive in any direction. I can't call and ask them to check because they just check the computer where it simply says "Best of PPV" and TRU's staff is incredibly unhelpful 95% of the time. It's not always their fault, they just don't know the ins and outs of that series. But when I try to explain to them that it won't be in the computer, they realize it's too much of a hassle and say they don't have it without even checking.
Lastly, distribution is bad. I can't tell how many times I've seen the BAFs only have like a John Cena or whoever on the pegs and no one else. I understand that some people are going to just want the figures for themselves and not care about BAF pieces. But it's annoying to not be able to find the pieces you need. I still haven't seen Bray Wyatt or Undertaker from the Kane BAF. They just haven't been at any TRU I've been to, but there have been countless of the JR series which is about a year old. It took me forever to find Curtis Axel and 6 months later I started seeing him regularly. I hope to hell I'll find Bray and Taker before 2016, but I'm not holding my breath. They don't even restock on the website. The Kane series was on TRU.com for about a day before they sold out. Then D-Bry and Cena came back in stock like a month later, but I never saw Bray and Taker show up on there. I would much rather TRU have my money for these than have to buy them for inflated prices on the secondary market. But TRU apparently thinks I want more Booker T BAFs or JR BAFs. There were legit 3 entire series of the JR BAFs last time I went to a specific TRU. An additional 3 without Axel. That's why I can't get the Kane series. Too much old crap on the shelves so no new stock can come in. They should just send all the extras back to put on the website.
|
|
|
Post by Flair Forever on Sept 7, 2015 6:02:09 GMT -5
Because in order to build anyone, you had to buy another Orton, Cena, Sheamus and Del Rio... And frankly, with MOST of those, no one wants to buy those figures to begin with. Forcing us to be crappy repaints to BAF, is a horrible idea. At least had they been popular repaint concepts, like say proper Slaughter, Snuka, LOD, etc, it would have sold better. I remember the case packs were wonky a few series too. Where like, you needed 5 guys to build the figure, but one was Cena nd he was like 4X to a pack, meaning the guy you needed was packed 1 to every other case or something incredibly stupid like that. Which meant tons of people would be unable to complete the BAF because there were more Cena parts than anything else. And some guys were super short packed. It was inane. I became SUPER-frustrated with the short-packing..... they should not be short-packing on a set like this, where many people are trying to complete the set. Because the figures packed 4X a set just shelf-warmed - and then the TRU's didn't restock, because the over-packed figures warmed the shelves. So the inventory just sat there.... and the warehouses didn't move the product... killed the line. Throw in the scalpers who just scooped up the short-packed figures, and many of us never stood a chance.... I've still never seen the BAF Kane complete set, never seen the WM30 Undertaker at a retail store..... I had to buy it from a scalper.....
|
|
Kyle
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jun 18, 2008 22:51:03 GMT -5
Posts: 1,485
|
Post by Kyle on Sept 7, 2015 6:13:17 GMT -5
I love the idea but as someone who only collects figures I REALLY WANT, paying $22 for Big Show, Miz, ADR, and guys who have better elite figures at lower prices is out of the question.
|
|
|
Post by @.@ Hempsterdance @.@ on Sept 7, 2015 6:41:38 GMT -5
I loved the BAF line, I can tell you for me the price was a huge factor along with figures I didnt want. I would always find 3 that I would grab and buy the missing part on ebay. I hate paying the prices on ebay but I would wait a while and end up finding it for cheap. If they switched the line to another store and have a better line up in sure the line would go better.
|
|
popyduggan
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jun 24, 2010 5:31:32 GMT -5
Posts: 4,601
|
Post by popyduggan on Sept 7, 2015 6:53:50 GMT -5
Putting a $3-$5 premium on characters that shelfwarm consistently(Cena, Rey, Sheamus, Show, ADR, Miz, Christian, etc.), for figures we want a lot, but are more obscure than "must have"(Teddy, Kane, elderly Booker T, John Laurinitis, Jim Ross, etc.).
Having CHASERS(Yay for Ebay resellers!), being exclusive, and unavailable online until 6 months after they hit doesn't/didn't help either.
I'm kind of worried for the Walmart version, the Y2J will sell all day, but the Undertaker looks identical to other 576 2010 versions of Taker. I mean, they could've just released the Summerslam Heritage with lighter purple gloves and brown hair, or just the Entrance Great, with a molded shirt this time. At least that would've tied into the Paul Bearer figure. I hope the other two aren't redundant choices.
|
|
gregrules420
POSSIBLE BAD TRADER
Joined on: Dec 29, 2014 9:17:09 GMT -5
Posts: 4,884
|
Post by gregrules420 on Sept 7, 2015 7:08:51 GMT -5
Exactly. No need to be building greats like Bearer, just release him directly...like no one would buy him... I'm not sure little Timmys mum would buy a manager from the 90s. They are, after all, predominantly aimed at kids and kids are the majority of the market. 90s managers wouldn't sell well enough on their own in my opinion agreed but no kid wants Sheamus Del Rio Either
|
|