Blind vs. Clear booster preference

[YodaBreaker]

Maybe this'll be useful marketing research for Hasbro...I dunno.

I prefer clear because:
1a) It avoids the problems involved in people opening packages to see or get what they want,
1b) It may be a way for stores to minimize their loss to booster-rippers,
2) It follows the packaging models of other Star Wars figures (but not of certain other collectible games, like Star Wars miniatures),
3) I like knowing what I'm buying before I buy it.
4) I'm not into the collectible aspect of this game, which ends up frustrating me by having blind boosters.

[malform]

I vote commons clear, others blind. I like not knowing what Im going to get. Its like christmas opening boosters sometimes.

I also had a thought, that if they were just flat out clear, you would never get the super rares you need. But then I remembered how I have seen several opened boosters that had a yoda or a #16 vader just sitting right there on top. So who knows, maybe all clear would be alright.

[webhead817]

I'd like to see the common fig displayed action figure style, with the Rare and Super Rare hidden as is the case now, and the whole thing shrink-wrapped.

By having the common fig visible, each booster shows off the product inside, without giving too much away to the collectors (as the commons are of equal low rarity.)

[greyelephant]

I like the commons clear and the Super Rares covered and that's what I voted. I wish I could change it to JUST CLEAR. I like the idea of knowing what you are paying for. Just Clear will eliminate some of the pillaging but not all.

[Yaggleberry Finn]

malform said:

I also had a thought, that if they were just flat out clear, you would never get the super rares you need. But then I remembered how I have seen several opened boosters that had a yoda or a #16 vader just sitting right there on top. So who knows, maybe all clear would be alright.

That's a good point! I was thinking it would make it impossible to pick up a destroyer droid or boba fett, but you're right.

And if that's the case, then perhaps clear boosters wouldn't solve anything at all. If it's not a case of finding the figures you want that is leading to the pillaging, then what is? Is it flat out stealing? Is it making custom boosters? Neither of those would be solved by a clear booster pack.

I vote clear, because I also would like to know what I'm getting.

[anton]

I voted for the common clear, rest blind. I like that in principle because that allows you to build your "army" with the commons you want and then accessorize with the rares and supers through purchases or trades. For example, I didn't really care to build a wookiee army with series 1, yet it seemed that a majority of my commons ended up being wookiee scouts. Grrr.

However, does that mean the elimination of the common chrome? I think those would tend to be scooped up first. Unless a rare (only!) could be replaced by a common chrome in the blind.

[Phoenix]

I'm in the minority here I know but I went with 'Blind.'
I like blind. It keeps the cost of boosters lower, promotes you to 'trade' with your friends (meaning selling more product), and keeps the fun alive! I have to admit, at first hated it in general. I remember when we were into heroclix we were always pissed when we got all lame thugs in a pack but with the C/R/SR format I've been really happy w/the Attacktix line. Eventually heroclix fixed their opening of boosters problem w/clamshelling their boxes and I'm sure this is going to eventually happen with the line and no more 'peeking'/'tearing open boxes. I do NOT think they will leave behind this booster format because it's selling very well. I give the whole thing A+.

[Lonestar]

Part of the whole appeal to me to Attacktix was the collectibilty of it, and I personally like blind boosters.

If you want to know exactly what you are getting then you can easily and affordably purchase specific singles or sets off ebay.

I am a fan of opening the blind pack like a kid at xmas and the feeling of getting the super rare vader or yoda or better yet one in chrome! (of which I have yet to open a chrome vader myself from a booster and I have opened a TON!)

[sfx5000]

Plus clear boosters = less profit for Hasbro.

Because the boosters are blind we have to purchase more to get what we want. We'll never see clear boosters.

[suprmanwannabe]

i like all blind. i like the excitement of not knowing what i'm getting. also, if they were all clear, all the packages with the best figs would sell out quickly. soon, the only boosters left would be the ones with the figs that no one wants. even if they ordered more for the store, the good ones would sell, and the less desireable ones would be left. pretty soon, all the shelves would be full with packages no one wants. PLUS, most stores restock only when they get low on an item. the shelves would be full therefore they would not order any more until those were gone. its the same concept with action figures. all the cool ones (the superstars, the varients, etc.) are the first to go and shortly you are left with a peg full of unwanted toys that never get re-ordered.

[Joe Manzo]

suprmanwannabe said:

...and shortly you are left with a peg full of unwanted toys that never get re-ordered.

Exactly, blind packaging sells more boxes AND keeps costs down and allows more figures. I have learned this through Palisades. I am sure it differs from company to company but the business model is the same. Read the whole thread cached here:

Palisade's said:

First off, let me say hello to everyone.

My name is Michael Renegar and I am the EVP here at Palisades. I spend 98% of my days and nights on the business side of Palisades Toys and Factory X, so I rarely post on these boards (ok, I never post on these boards ).

Well, that is going to change. Many of our fans and supporters have become intrested in how we do business, how we choose licenses and basically, how we come up with product ideas such as, well, "blind packaging." I am a strong believer in supporting the consumer and giving a little insight on how the "machine" works. I believe that we need someone that can answer those type questions.

So, that being said, here I am. And the big topic is Blind Packaging.

...

Good Question. Some retailers ARE asking for blind packaging, but not all of them. Several of the lines we will release, will have a combination of carded and blind packaging(BP), but not all of them. For example, some AOD may be BP for retailers in Japan or maybe for Suncoast stores. Where as the rest will be carded. Will there be different figures in the BP than in the carded? Probably. The Point of BP is the Treasure hunt effect, there is a quest there, and many people enjoy the hunt.

...

In the retailers mind, BP helps them sell more products and drives the demand for the line.

...


Another good question. We want rare figures special. To be special, they have to be different. If they are something that is just ho hum, then where is the desire to have this special figure. It's too easy to say, "why hunt/trade for this, it's just a repaint of X."

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Another thing about Chases and BP is the trading. There are tons of opportunities to trade, especially here on the boards. Trading will be a great way for the casual collector to get alot of chases and BP products.

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I'll give Kubricks as an example. Most online retailers, sold these open and by the case. MANY times the open(revealed figures) sold for less than the SRP of the blind box. Did the rares sell for more? Yes they did, and I think it is only fair. They open the cases, and take the risk, so you don't have to..

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Will it be difficult to get? Yes, it's not going to be easy. Will it be impossible? No. My advice is to get the figures you can and eventually someone (or you will get the Rare figure) you need. As far as Ebay, wait and let the furor die down a bit. Most of the time, even the rarest and the hardest figures get to be reasonable after some time(ie Blue Tux Gonzo ).

...

[redemptionrocks]

I would like to be able to see the common...I am getting a lil fed up with arc troopers. Blind still rocks tho...but with a blind booster, radar and other dark siders would be able to peek ezily into the boxes.

[YodaBreaker]

Interesting find, Joe. It certainly highlights the difference between how you'd want to produce figures in totally different ways if you're shooting for the "pure toy" vs. "collectible" market. In the "pure toy" market, you'd want to have your most desirable figures be commons and the the least desriable figures be rares. That way, the casual fan and the collector will pick up the most popular characters, and only the collector or statistically aberrant fan will pick up the least desirables. In contrast, in the "collectible" market (as Attacktix is packaged now), you'd want the least desirable figures be rares and the most desirable figures be commons. That way, everyone has to wade through lots of commons to get to the rares, which is good if you want to build an army.

Too bad for me that I'm in the "pure toy" camp; as such, my enthusiasm for Attacktix is dampened by the blind system, and it'd be even further dampened (to the point where it wouldn't be worth my buying them to me) if things like shrinkwrapping happened. Guess I'm just not genuine Attacktix material.

[immortaljedi]

I voted blind. I like the "kid at Christmas" feeling that was written about earlier. Also, the feeling of joy that you get when you see the figure you've been hoping for.

[copes]

If tix were more popular here, I'd be a lot more in favor of blind than I already am. That way, people who go to school and can't go check wal-mart during lunch would drown in Tion Medons and Clone Captains. AAARRGH! Clone Captains haunt my dreams... well not really, but I freakin hate clone captains!