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Hi Eric,
excellent reply! I couldn't have said that better! The guys that complain
about the "collectible system" itself won't buy the masks anyway (and nobody
asks them to do so). I don't complain about that thing, I knew about that
before having purchased the first bag (it's been the same game for disks and
masks). However, what really annoyed me is the fact that Turaga masks were
(at the beginning - first batch) not available at all, they were shipped
about one entire month after the actual release! And also, it's unlogical to
see that many "strange" misprints which have not been shown on the bags -
that's a fault caused by TLC and they better try to fix it soon (by
announcing the fault or else releasing all other Turaga masks in Toa colours).
As for the coincidence of not being able to chose the masks, actually you
*can* push your destiny! It's simple and true AFOLBs already know how to do
that! Since the masks do not come in boxes, but in bags, you are able to
"feel" which shape is inside the bag. You'll not know the colour but you can
easily find out the shape *before* buying the bag. Once you are complete on
one shape (having all six colours of one), then you can start checking the
bags and stop buying that shape. That way, it's way more easy to get "Red
Oni" instead of the "Green Booga" since you know the shape before buying the
bag! That way, I was able to get the last "Akaku" I was missing. I simply
bought a few bags with "Akakus" in them and so I got the missing mask very
soon. This system increases the chances to pick excactly that mask from 1:72
up to 1:6 --- a good idea, right?
Of course, TLC also knows about that trick (I think it's been their
intention by choosing bags instead of boxes). However, in the end, kids will
buy even more masks that way because they'll get their favourite shapes
complete first and go on spending more money rather than stopping the
purchase due to frustration. Having the feeling to be successful in
collection all masks will enable TLC to make even more money. I'm sure
that's also been their resaon to install different batches. Having kids
buying Toa masks first and then finding the Turaga ones next, they'll feel
successful then: "Yeah, finally, Wow, a mask for that Turaga, and there's
one for that other Turaga, excellent - I'm exteremely lucky today, let's buy
more . . . " . The shady side of that trick caused a lot of trouble though:
We (AFOLBs) were able to nearly complete our Toa collection before the first
Turaga masks hit the stores. Now that we may get the Turaga masks as well,
we keep getting the useless Toa masks.
Well, just another way to mention my 0.02$ ...
Bye, Christian --- xTIAN.
--------------------------------------------------
Lugnet Member #479 -- The World is full of AFOLs !
mail: xtian@brickmaster.de web: www.brickmaster.de
In lugnet.technic.bionicle, Eric Joslin writes:
> In lugnet.technic.bionicle, Tom McDonald writes:
>
> > > Why are the masks
> > > sold in such a way that you can't tell what mask you're getting?
>
> Collectability. It's the same reason that Baseball cards, Magic cards, Pokemon
> cards, Pogs, etc are packed so you can't tell which ones you're getting.
>
> Say, for example, that the Red Oni mask (I don't know any real Bionicle names,
> sorry) is very rare. Let's assume that one out of 50 mask packs contains it.
> there are going to be other masks that fall into the same category of rareness-
> let's say, for example, that the Green Booga mask is the same rarity.
>
> Now, there are going to masks that are more common. We will call these Mask1,
> Mask2, Mask3, Mask4, and Mask5 (because I'm sick of making up names). They are
> in 40 out of 50 packs.
>
> So, LEGO wants to sell Mask Packs. They convince you that you want to have all
> of the masks- a complete collection! Joy! So you go out and try to get them
> all.
>
> Let's say you have the Green Booga mask, but not the Red Oni mask. If you can
> see what's in a pack, you will go straight for the Pack with the Red Oni mask
> in it. Good for you. Not good for LEGO. If you can't see what you're buying,
> you will buy a Pack at random. In that Pack is a Green Booga mask! But you
> already have a Green Booga mask. It doesn't fulfill your desire to get all the
> masks. So, you buy another. And another, and another, and another, until you
> finally get the Red Oni mask. Very good for LEGO. Not so good for you.
>
> But those are the rules you have chosen to play by when you decide to collect
> all the Masks. If you really feel that it's not worth it, there is a very
> simple solution- don't buy them! If enough people feel the same way, and the
> Mask Packs don't sell, then LEGO will have a reason to change their strategy.
> If most people are happy with it, then LEGO has no reason to change. You just
> have to change how you go about getting the masks.
>
> As a serious Magic enthusiast (for a while), if I really wanted a particular
> card I didn't buy packs hoping to get it. I found someone who had it and was
> willing to sell it or trade it to me. The same thing is possible with Bionicle
> Masks, I'm sure. Once again, if enough Masks trade hands without LEGO seeing
> money for it (beyond the first sale), then they might have a reason to change
> their strategy. But it's less likely in that circumstance. Making a secondary
> market is always an expected result of creating a collectible.
>
> Anyway, always remember- it's your *choice* to play by their rules and collect
> the masks. No one is compelling you to get them all, and LEGO doesn't owe you
> an easy time at collecting them all.
>
> eric
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Message has 1 Reply:
Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: Do Bioncle Masks hide Greedy Marketing?
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| (...) Collectability. It's the same reason that Baseball cards, Magic cards, Pokemon cards, Pogs, etc are packed so you can't tell which ones you're getting. Say, for example, that the Red Oni mask (I don't know any real Bionicle names, sorry) is (...) (23 years ago, 14-Mar-01, to lugnet.technic.bionicle, lugnet.dear-lego)
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