Subject:
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Re: Fwd from a builder: Colors don't match, among other things!
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.general, lugnet.dear-lego
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Date:
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Fri, 28 Nov 2003 10:38:37 GMT
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Viewed:
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342 times
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In lugnet.general, Eric Brok wrote:
> 1 Replacing or augmenting existing colors with slightly different colors will
> cause confusion and bad publicity.
> - We will have a harder time sorting out pieces and need more storage
> compartments (Or we just toss them together and deal with the differences during
> building)
Two new colours shouldnt be a big issue for sorting. If you are keen eyed, it'll
be easy, and if not, then you won't care about the difference.
> - When rebuilding sets from instructions later on, after the pieces got mingled
> with other sets, we won't be able to tell from the picture which shade of grey
> is meant, especially given the modern instruction graphics with shadows and
> highlights instead of consistent reference colors.
You will be able to figure this out simply by referring to the date of the set.
Also, Lugnet, Bricklink, Peeron etc can help out here.
> - When we buy a new set, from now on you don't know which colors you will get,
> since you can't tell from the box. It's one thing to consult Peeron, but box art
> should be able to show us what we buy.
The AFOL community will surely help handle this.
> - The general public will not be aware of the differences, hence second-hands
> sets will be a random mix of right and wrong shades.
Well, second hand sets are always a bit dodgy. I personally hate getting the new
thin walled bricks in old sets but hey that's life.
> - Many buyers may want to return sets if they discover the colors don't match,
> without knowing this is actual TLG policy.
Very doubtful. Apart from a few AFOLs who shouldn't be surprised.
> - Consumer organisations and tv-shows will love to have a bite at this, LEGO
> suddenly producing off-colored bricks 'No, no, this is not bad quality, the
> newer bricks were *intentionally* colored slightly different. Research shows
> kids like them better'. Explain that to your market.
<sarcasm>Oh yeah, I am sure this will be on 60 Minutes. Its right up there with
New Coke </sarcasm>
> 2 TLG is wasting effort
> Regardless if the new greys look 'better', I find it uncomprehensible that in
> these difficult economic times for TLG, some product developer was lend an ear
> at all by management when he or she raised this issue "Hey guys, now we have all
> that grey in Star Wars and Harry Potter, focus groups say our product line tends
> to look a bit dull. So why don't we spice up the grey colors, so the sets will
> look a little more crisp?!" Yeah, that will safeguard the future of TLG, right.
>
> I'm sorry this all seems harsh and I sincerely hope this will prove to be too
> pessimistic. But remember ZNAP, GALIDOR and the name change of the DUPLO brand.
> All those were major strategic failures based on some optimistic marketing
> belief, and TLG had to discard product lines or change back.
Its the Toy business! You have to try a few things out! What about their gambles
that have succeeded, such as (ahem) Bionicle - despite dire warnings from AFOLs?
Yeah Znap was kinda dumb, Galidor probably would have suceeded if the series it
was based on didn't blow, and I am not aware of the Duplo rebranding being
withdrawn.
> While I don't doubt the sound intentions of TLG designers and marketeers, and
> their valid arguments, recent history shows how changes can backfire because
> certain effects (such as mentioned above) were overlooked or underestimated.
Because Lego is a privately held company, locked in a battle for survival with
brands such as Hot Wheels, Fisher Price and Barbie, plus all the Hasbro brands,
we really never find out what failed or succeeded.
I will be very surprised if the colour change causes more than a blip in sales.
Until I have some of the new greys in my hands (digitised pics can be very
misleading) it looks like the new light grey is near enough not to worry. The
old dark grey was useful for "earthy" things it really doesn't go well with the
other colours.
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