(see also: Overstock Theory)

(see also: Why Variations Occur)

Hey Fred,
I met with the ex-transformer brand manager today from hasbro (he left hasbro because they moved back to RI and he wanted to stay here in Cincy) and I asked him some of the questions you gave me:

Ok, heres what I have gotten from him (I can ask him more later if you want)...All of the US's transformers were manufactured in China or Taiwan under Takara' supervision. Takara was the brains behind everything and they used their usual manufacturers to make the US's toy supply. Some of the manufacturing Takara did, some was sourced out to contract manufacturing. Due to the high level of turnover at Hasbro it seems and their lack of involvement in the manufacturing, I think that it would be impossible to find out where all the original stuff was made and at what foreign plants (much less each line in the plants). I asked him a little about the variations (as well as new molds) that we always see and he said that is was due to the slow turnaround from start of manufacture to first inspection in the US. By the time hasbro saw a defect they had already made quite a bit so if a change was made some of the stuff already got out. For molding changes he said that there were a couple of reason that could occur...1. the tooling wore out and they just needed a new mold. 2. packaging changed and it was easier to change the toy rather than the packaging sometimes 3. childrens toy standards changed over time and sometimes required new molds. If there are any more questions just let me know.... he seems to think that were going to like the lineup thats coming out where they go back to the cars and trucks so be ready!!!! -Mark

++++++++++

(followup:)


--- In autocon@yahoogroups.com, "Curt" wrote:
> Based on the timing, would they have been any different than just the 
> regular store version of the same or did they try to launch in 
> Japan/US simultaneously?  

>Could be like the samples of Diaclone brought to show Hasbro with 
>the little white "Sample" sticker on them.  Where it's just a sample 
>of the actual product.  The Star Convoy salesman's sample seems 
>identical to the full release as well, except it's in a brown box that 
>says "new boys toy figure" or something similar.

(response:)

The way he 
explained it to me was that he and his cohorts would get the first 
samples off of the lines via express mail but they would be making 
product in the mean time as well.  The sample they got (which I then 
got and sold) would let them see the final packaging for the first 
time and would be the first time for them to make changes (changing 
the bubble to see the robot better, changing the pciture on the card 
to see it better, etc).  

My guess is that there were sales samples before that (as they would 
be shipping the stuff above - Fred you GOTTA LOVE THAT) and those 
sales samples for brand new stuff could have some decent differences 
especially for the packaging.


I still have his email address so if you have any decent (read that 
as non-retarded uber nerdy scummy completist collector type 
questions) questions, I can try and pass them along.

Does that help?

-M

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