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Cybertron.ca Exclusive Hasbro Q&A for October 2008
We submitted the top 5 questions you guys wanted answers to and Hasbro sent us their answers, check them out below:
Cybertron.ca: When will Hasbro Toy Shop start shipping to Canada?
Hasbro: "HTS is looking to add Canada as a shipping destination No firm date yet but would estimate Spring 09."
Cybertron.ca: Will Canada be getting the Universe Special Edition figures?
Hasbro: I don't think anything has yet to be confirmed for Canada. But we will
try to get an answer to you when we hear something.
Cybertron.ca: Will Activator class toys continue for other lines?
Hasbro: There are no plans for Activators in other lines yet, but if proven successful we will likely do it in other lines as an "easier to convert" toy alternative to the regular Transformers toys.
Cybertron.ca: Are there any other G1 molds being reissued in the 25th anniversary line?
Hasbro: Nothing yet officially, but we have a couple in mind for Fall 2009 that may show up as retailer exclusives.
Cybertron.ca: There seems to be a general feeling in the fandom that remolding a toy does not amount to significant cost, and that remolded heads/components would be greatly preferable to straight repaints. Could you share some numbers on exactly what it costs to make a new head/component versus what it costs to just make a new paint mask? In other words, what's the cost difference between a remold and a re-deco?
Hasbro: For many reasons I can't get into specific cost comparisons, but let's see if I can answer your questions. Firstly, remolding a toy is the same cost for the most part as an original mold when it comes to tool cost if you are referring to remolding an entire toy - you just save design and development time and cost (but that's what the teams are paid to do, so the cost is already there). Remolding new heads is much less expensive because the head molds are small, but the biggest issue we run into is timing. The time it takes increases lead time dramatically compared with a straight-up redeco. And there's a lot less of a designer's and engineer's time for a re-deco (time they need to spend on all the other projects they are working on). So what we've done recently is planned new parts for the redeco at the time of the first toy (like on Universe Sunstreaker and Sideswipe). That process is not a new rule we are using, just a more effective option up-front. Cost is still the same as if we mold up an new head later, but we decreased the lead time of the 2nd toy. I hope that helped answer your question.
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