HASBRO HAS-GONE!?!?

[Mousedroid]

We have reports from our forum members have received the below email from Case Fresh. Read on and then join in the discussion in the members only forum area, HERE, and stay tuned as we try to uncover more information on the state of Star Wars in Australia.

It is with great disappointment that we must announce the cancellation of all remaining outstanding Hasbro 2009 pre-orders.

All customers that have pre-ordered any 2009 items with Case Fresh have now had their pre-orders cancelled as we will regrettably be unable to fill your order.

Throughout 2009 Case Fresh experienced ongoing difficulties in securing Hasbro collector licensed products such as action figures, vehicles and multi-packs. Items that we had ordered were never supplied. Cases of figures that were supplied differed from what we had ordered and were either missing some figures or contained extra figures from previous waves that we were not expecting. Simple requests for retail lists so that we could place orders for items were never answered. These problems continue to persist in the Australian marketplace into 2010.

Due to an apparent disregard by Hasbro for Australian collectors we were required on many occasions to seek items from overseas, often at short notice once we were finally informed that the products we ordered would not be supplied locally. While we have done our best under the circumstances there were still a few items that we have been unable to supply to collectors.

It is very unsatisfactory for us to disappoint our customers, and is also frustrating for the staff at Case Fresh when we do all in our power to supply the items you want only to be left to shoulder the blame when others let us down.

Unfortunately it appears that 2010 will be at least as challenging for local collectors with possibly even less support locally for the Star Wars line. Of the little information we’ve been able to obtain it would seem that future case assortments are going to be even worse for collectors, with product still to be ordered ad hock as demand dictates rather than bringing in the full line. Coupled with these persistent problems with Hasbro’s brands we have made the difficult decision to drop all support for their products from Case Fresh.

We understand this will be very disappointing for our customers and regret that we will no longer be able to assist you with your Hasbro collections. We would however like to confirm for you that we have excellent working relationships with all our other suppliers such as Gentle Giant Ltd, Sideshow Collectibles and Hot Toys to name but a few. These relationships continue to strengthen and expand as is reflected in today’s website overhaul. These companies are very focussed on collectors which is clear by their level of professionalism and the quality products they create.

We look forward to continuing to supply your collecting needs with new and exciting products from our retail partners throughout 2010 and well into the future.

Regards,
CASE FRESH

[flyguy]

It was always inevitable as Hasbro scale back there were going to be casualties. Good for Case fresh for standing by quality of service.

Hasbro really need to launch a flippin online store here, just a nightmare at retail.
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www.flyguy.net

[Mike S]

Online store, what a wonderful idea.
What do you reckon Hasbro? Feel like catching up with the modern age?

[Stormie]

Well Done Cash Fresh for standing up to the school yard bully.

One day these toy / gaming companies are going to learn to employ people with passion and understanding of the product and not just a piece of paper from tafe / uni.

[Glennfett]

OK-we need to rally together-if anyone has contact details for Hasbro AU we should hit them tomorrow!!!
I dont really want to buy overseas,NOR do i want to spend a big wad of cash on product though locally....
or shall we just pay our cash overseas???
DAMN i have NO AOTC wave now
at least CF were kind enough to let me know they were outsourcing!!!
Dammit Hasbro!!!

[Commander Collars]

I see this as an opportunity for Case Fresh to rebrand themselves as a collectables business for Australia.
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[Ask Aak]

Absolutely - good on them, Hasbro is on the way out imo - there has been nothing at retail in Australia for a while and the price of their product compared to others leaves a lot to be desired given the quality of the figures. The saddest part in all of this is that the major retailers will drop the line eventually if they cannot turn through enough figures. Disappointing for the kids out there (as well as collectors of course!).

[VintijDroidGutzz]

You actually summed it up in the other thread CC, it's really a blessing in disguise. No more useless trips to the stores to find NOTHING. No more inflated prices for god knows what reason. The internet will provide..

Hopefully TRU will come through with some of the bigger vehicles etc, & maybe sprinklings of TVC will indeed hit, come August - we'll see. I wouldn't bet the farm on it though..
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[brentflynn]

[BC-3po]

Just one less supplier from an already scarce list, CF have come to this decision as they seem sick and tired of the hassle.

The Hasbro stuff will all be available one way or another. It may mean they'll get more collectible lines in their store and can concentrate on that.
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"I am C-3PO, Human-Cyborg relations"

[BC-3po]

Edit: Is that why they're no longer sponsoring us?

This is a Star Wars site and they've just dropped the biggest SW collectible of all time?
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"I am C-3PO, Human-Cyborg relations"

[gofigure-26]

Is this a sign of Hasbro Aus stepping out of the SW figs market? It does not bode well.

Im not particularly keen on shipping the BAT-AT from the states.
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'I want the things that I had before,
Like a Star Wars poster on my bedroom door'
Everclear - Wonderful

[Rik_Biel]

Three cheers for Casefresh !

More money for us to buy really good quality stuff instead of Hasbro rubbish !
Hmmm - would I prefer 20 crappy action figures or acouple of SSC figures or one HotToys figure? Hmmm - no brainer

Hip Hip Hooray !!!