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In lugnet.general, Tim Courtney writes:
> "Dave Schuler" <orrex@excite.com> wrote in message
> news:G3D163.K3D@lugnet.com...
>
> > I certainly don't want MegaBloks to take over the whole market, but I just
> > as certainly don't mind their presence in it, if only as a warning against
> > complacency. >Yup. I guess I'm so loyal to the LEGO brand that I could get the shaft -
> but if so, I'll just buy old product secondhand and continue to gripe. I
> don't forsee that happening though - I think that TLC has a good chance of
> pulling through in a reasonable time. I at least hope they do.
>
> > Elsewhere in the thread people have discussed the necessary lag in
> > response time, in terms of development costs, projections, implementations,
> > et al. Understandable, certainly, but not encouraging, either; if it takes
> > X number of months to implement a rudamentary online ordering system of
> > already-existing parts, how much longer will it take to reverse the firmly
> > entrenched, theme-spanning juniorization campaign?
>
> Once they realize its effects, it shouldn't take longer than a year (in
> product line terms) to do that. They for sure still have proofs and molds
> from the older, non-juniorized parts. And unless they fired all the good
> designers - they just need to reprogram them into making good stuff again.
>
> > > TLC has some things to learn from this and I think that parts of the company
> > > are learning. But those parts of the company need to teach the other parts
> > > to respond quicker if they are going to survive. As an informed AFOL, I
> > > want to be giving TLC appropriate feedback so they can make decisions which
> > > will help them. I'm sure there are others who desire to do the same, and
> > > there are some people here with some very good ideas on things that TLC
> > > should be doing on a long term basis.
Whatever TLC are doing, they are obviously basing it on a 'More Sales;
policy by following proven lines (quick-fix excitement for kids with the
Juniorisation to compete with lesser quality ready-made toys).
Yes, this sells right now, but when I was first introduced to LEGO, the
product stood head and shoulders above all other toys because it's very
nature made it what it is. Now it is trying to be something else (plus ca
change?) and finding lots of other 'something elses' to compete with.
> >
> > That's definitely a good goal, and one that we might actually be able to
> > hope for, given the somewhat more approachable corporate presence TLC has
> > demonstrated recently. Before Brad's debut, the only sort of feedback we
> > were able to give came in the form of reduced revenues for TLC and idle
> > ranting to an apparently deaf audience.
It won't change until the accountants are confident!
>
> Yep, that's what I'm saying. I know they're responsive and want to dialog -
> I've dialoged with a few TLC employees about these very issues. These
> people have come from various departments including Lego Direct. They as
> people, at least, hear our concerns and have talked about them - I hope that
> stuff like this is making itself further in to the company though.
>
> > > I hope they learn, and I hope they're able to hold their head above the evil
> > > MegaBloks.
As a die-hard LEGO fan I also refuse to buy MB - but I will do when the
overall product quality (materials and design) overtakes TLG.
> >
> > Yikes! Whatever your opinion of MegaBloks themselves, Ritvik as a company
> > has some good points, at least in terms of market awareness and
> > responsiveness. Perhaps in years to come TLC will learn from them and
> > harvest the good from amid the evil.
A brief lesson from TLG's history - they concentrated on the building brick
system when it was more profitable & fashionable than their wooden toys
(notwithstanding the fire). The LEGO brand now covers clothing, baby toys,
lunch boxes etc. etc. - I wonder which of these will rise from the current
metaphorical 'fire' of competition?
Jon
>
> Ritvik the company is doing good, I can't deny that. But I despise their
> product because of its nature - and that's my cold hard opinion being a
> die-hard LEGO (brand) collector and user - ever since I was a wee lad.
> --
>
> Tim Courtney - tim@zacktron.com
>
> http://www.ldraw.org - Centralized LDraw Resources
> http://www.zacktron.com - Zacktron Alliance
>
> ICQ: 23951114 - AIM: TimCourtne
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