Points-to- Ponder (1 Viewer)

[uksubs]

Of course another aspect is not just about the in and out and costs of making Russian, it's also about the good business sense of concentrating on the lines that are proven sellers year in and year out like D Day, North Africa, Bulge etc, not easy to just divert for an experiment.

I think you make a very good point Rob :wink2: Are be just happy with the Hawker Typhoon this year add some figures & trucks to go with it how cool will that look ^&cool

 

[Wraith]

....Similarly, if an event like “The Death of Bin Laden” happens then… hey presto… Seal Team Six and the now deceased Osama will appear, as if by magic on their shelves.
And yes, yes, yes… they will definitely buy it… but only, as they like to add, “If the price is right!”
Gordon C. & Andy C.
“The Neilsons”

If you make that one guys, I'll be several, even if the price is wrong.

 

[Rutledge]

I've never fully understood the rationale that the forum doesn't reflect the opinion of the larger collector base. Obviously, not every toy soldier collector in the world participates here, but you don't need everyone in the hobby to participate to get a good sense of the likes and dislikes of collectors. ...

The key is basic statistics. For a sample population to reflect the overall population accurately, with the smallest possible degree of error, it must be of sufficient size and a RANDOM sample. Collectors and those that comment here do what is known as "self-select" and therefore are, by defintion, not at all random. Thus, statistically speaking, opinions here, while interesting perhaps, may have no relevance whatsoever to the topic at hand. Not to mention the sample must be of sufficient size.

This is really 101 statistics stuff when it comes to making production decisions and quantity estimates.

 

[PanzerAce1944]

Right now on this forum there is the poll regarding K&C Russian figures.This poll appeared out of nowhere to ask the collectors whether or not they would buy an item if it were produced.Currently out of 85 votes received 57 of those are in favor of production. This equates to a greater than a 2 to 1 ratio in favor. So it appears that from a totally random sampling the collectors have spoken. This forum serves as an excellent source to gather information on the collectors interests. You could not simply go to your local Mcdonalds restaurant and ask 100 or 200 people which toy soldiers they would like to see made because chances are maybe 1 or 2 people would have any interest.Here on Treefrog birds of a feather flock together.
This too is basic 101 math...... 67.6 % wanting to buy if made.
Now all that counts is whether K&C decides down the line to use this info as "they" are the actual subject matter experts. {sm4}

 

[Louis Badolato]

Right now on this forum there is the poll regarding K&C Russian figures.This poll appeared out of nowhere to ask the collectors whether or not they would buy an item if it were produced.Currently out of 85 votes received 57 of those are in favor of production. This equates to a greater than a 2 to 1 ratio in favor. So it appears that from a totally random sampling the collectors have spoken. This forum serves as an excellent source to gather information on the collectors interests. You could not simply go to your local Mcdonalds restaurant and ask 100 or 200 people which toy soldiers they would like to see made because chances are maybe 1 or 2 people would have any interest.Here on Treefrog birds of a feather flock together.
Now all that counts is whether K&C decides down the line to use this info as "they" are the actual subject matter experts. {sm4}

Yeah, but out of more than 2,000 members, only 85 cared enough to vote, and only 57 indicated that would buy the item. I'm one of the members who didn't care enough to vote, and if I did, you would not like my vote. If I'm in Andy's shoes, this poll isn't making me reconsider my conclusion that Russian stuff just doesn't sell well enough to invest the time and money to design, sculpt, approve, manufacture, package and ship a run, especially when the production run would interfere with the production of items he knows historically sell better.

 

[Northgate Woods]

Louis mate,
Ditto to that. Have a good day cobber.
Cheers Howard{sm4}

 

[Louis Badolato]

Louis mate,
Ditto to that. Have a good day cobber.
Cheers Howard{sm4}

Howard, how are you, mate?:smile2: You have a great day as well.

 

[PanzerAce1944]

There are items currently produced that Myself personally would not touch with a 10 foot pole. Sons of the Empire......Never . Glossy sons of the empire...Never never never . It is all about each collectors personal taste. Based on that we have the right to voice our opinion just like everbody else here. Out of 2,000 members, how many of these have not interacted on this site in weeks or even months ????? The majority of them.
There are probably 100 or less dedicated members who interact here on at least a weekly basis.
So Cheers all of you cobbers and fellow Mates !!!

 

[jazzeum]

As Rutledge has pointed the aforementioned poll isn't a scientifically random sample. It's random but too random to be predictive of how the toy soldier buying populace will act.

Moreover, even if scientific, the fact that one third of your universe has said they won't purchase Russians would be worrisome.

 

[PanzerAce1944]

I guess this is an interesting subject here in many eyes. I will just wait on a SOTE
gloss yellow biplane with camels as pilots to be released and jump for joy !!!!

 

[Northgate Woods]

There are items currently produced that Myself personally would not touch with a 10 foot pole. Sons of the Empire......Never . Glossy sons of the empire...Never never never . It is all about each collectors personal taste. Based on that we have the right to voice our opinion just like everbody else here. Out of 2,000 members, how many of these have not interacted on this site in weeks or even months ????? The majority of them.
There are probably 100 or less dedicated members who interact here on at least a weekly basis.
So Cheers all of you cobbers and fellow Mates !!!

PanzerAce mate,
Agreed cobber, that everybody is entitled to their opinions.:smile2: Now be a great Texican and get down to the San Antonio ( I love that town) Show and get with my good mate, young Micheal Miller and enjoy.^&grin^&grin
Life is too short to worry about polls and price increases when you can party in beautiful down town San Antonio.
Cheers from the Land Downunder, Howard:smile2:

 

[wayne556517]

The Russians aren't coming the Russians aren't coming..............{sm3}

 

[Louis Badolato]

There are items currently produced that Myself personally would not touch with a 10 foot pole. Sons of the Empire......Never . Glossy sons of the empire...Never never never . It is all about each collectors personal taste. Based on that we have the right to voice our opinion just like everbody else here. Out of 2,000 members, how many of these have not interacted on this site in weeks or even months ????? The majority of them.
There are probably 100 or less dedicated members who interact here on at least a weekly basis.
So Cheers all of you cobbers and fellow Mates !!!

Don't get me wrong. You, like all collectors, absolutely have a right to ask manufacturers to produce sets that fit your interest. I am addressing the methodology of your request - a specific poll - not your right to make a request. If, for example, your poll quickly generated several hundred positive responses, I would argue that Andy would be foolish to ignore the result. But 57 positive votes does not necessarily encourage a manufacturer to launch a production run on a subject that has been a financial disappointment on two prior occasions.

 

[Rutledge]

Right now on this forum there is the poll regarding K&C Russian figures.This poll appeared out of nowhere to ask the collectors whether or not they would buy an item if it were produced.Currently out of 85 votes received 57 of those are in favor of production. This equates to a greater than a 2 to 1 ratio in favor. So it appears that from a totally random sampling the collectors have spoken. This forum serves as an excellent source to gather information on the collectors interests. You could not simply go to your local Mcdonalds restaurant and ask 100 or 200 people which toy soldiers they would like to see made because chances are maybe 1 or 2 people would have any interest.Here on Treefrog birds of a feather flock together.
This too is basic 101 math...... 67.6 % wanting to buy if made
Now all that counts is whether K&C decides down the line to use this info as "they" are the actual subject matter experts. {sm4}

Louis and brad have it right. Self selecting polls are utterly unreliable. It's why every legit online "poll" caveats itself with a "this is not a scientific poll" disclaimer.

I'm sure K&C knows this and is why they don't use these "out of nowhere
polls" in making their production run decisions.

 

[PanzerAce1944]

I was there last month and made my way into the Kingsx K&C shop. Both arms were full leaving.A big kid in a sweet candy shop. By the way ......... there were no Russians in any of my bags ^&grin
O.K. guys I'm going to hang out my flag of "truce" here and drink one of those pints of beer in honor of our great hobby and passion that we all enjoy and share.

 

[Rob]

I've always thought polls are just a bit of fun between Dispatches and not to be taken seriously myself . We can sit and discuss whether they are representative or not until the cows come home and in the process totally forget something, K&C might just plain not want to make what we are asking for ! . There is no obligation on them whatsoever, as Panzer ace has said here's to the fun of the hobby and also the good old fashion surprises K&C spring on us, like the new M7 ! ^&cool

Rob

 

[breslau]

I was both excited and disappointed by the comments from K&C. Excited by the news of new buildings especially for the desert village. Disappointed because Russians would remain off the K&C agenda. But I respect their view and that it's their call what they produce.

I don't want to open-up debate or create false hopes but the more I read the K&C post and though it does appear very negative for those wanting Russians, Gordon did not say that circumstances could change nor did he say K&C would never produce them.

I'm resigned and accepting that K&C wont produce Russians but I live in hope for a change of mind.

 

[Mitch]

I have seen in many collector mags and other speel from K&C about contacting their best buyers about future releases. Thats not exactly a science either so, I would think a poll is as representative as that IMO.
Mitch

As Rutledge has pointed the aforementioned poll isn't a scientifically random sample. It's random but too random to be predictive of how the toy soldier buying populace will act.

Moreover, even if scientific, the fact that one third of your universe has said they won't purchase Russians would be worrisome.

 

[jazzeum]

I have seen in many collector mags and other speel from K&C about contacting their best buyers about future releases. Thats not exactly a science either so, I would think a poll is as representative as that IMO.
Mitch

That may be but they have been in the business quite a long time and they probably know better than you or me what research and marketing techniques work.

We are merely collectors and look at this as a hobby not a business. It's a different perspective. It reminds me of fans who call for this or that player to be signed but don't consider the economic impact. It's easy for us to make suggestions when it's not our money at risk.

 

[WWii addict]

I give Andy credit for coming to our forum and answering our questions.:smile2: