What the hell is this?
And is there any reason anyone in the world should expect to find the following within?
No. No there is not.
In a marketing move that can only be summed up with the word 'Huh?!?!' Kre-o, the
makers of the 'don't call 'em Legos' Transformers building sets and
minifigures have stocked the local K-Mart shelves with...a red box.
The box is factory sealed shut, with no indication on what lies within.
Well okay, there's a picture of a Bumblebee minifigure, or Kreon, on the back; but within all ten of the boxes on the shelf (and yes, I peeked in all of them) Optimus Prime was the only figure inside. If they all contain Optimus Prime, why seal them shut in the first place? Okay, maybe I got there late, and there were other boxes containing other Kreons. But I doubt it.
Once you open the flap it does make a little more sense. Maybe. Looks like they are trying to push Kre-o sets by getting you interested in this little Optimus Prime first. Then why hide him behind a blank red flap?!?!
The box contains one Optimus Prime minifigure with his exposed (scandalous) matrix of leadership. And the block he's standing on. That's it. Big box, little bang. For $4.99.
Weird.
Oh, there is a booklet on the inside flap which shows all the Kre-o sets we've all already seen a million times. Yay.
I admit I bought this to have an Optimus Prime Kreon...and also to take one for the team. This package/presentation is truly terrible product marketing and I just had to share my thoughts. In fact, I bet a lot of folks out there have or would have walked right past these. I almost did.
One last thought: Is this set a mis-shelved Valentine's Day promotion? Possible, but it should still either contain more (ex: Valentine's cards) or be better marked on the outside of the package (ex: I love Kreons!)
The world may never know.
Releasing Kreons individually: smart. Releasing only one Kreon individually, in an unmarked blank red box and charging five bucks? Lame.
EDIT: A little internet sleuthing has revealed that this figure/packaging was a convention exclusive last year. So much for 'exclusive,' eh? Apparently there were a few leftovers and they hit my local K-Mart. Keep your eyes peeled if you too want to find this 'exclusive!'
that IS weird- but i kinda like it, artistically. they don't have a bunch of splashy art on them like the ridiculous (but fun) coffins my 90's Marvel stuff comes in, but their minimalist presentation makes them seem exotic... maybe European or Scandanavian, i dunno. i like a big box/package- it's part of the experience for me :D not easy to see for the consumer though, so it doesn't succeed on a marketing level- that's a shame because they are cute.
ReplyDeleteSuch a big box for a little toy but I this very much!
ReplyDeleteI want one of these! am going to have to hit up K-mart this week.
ReplyDeleteIf I remember correctly, K-Mart did a promotion with these guys last year. Buy x-amount of Kre-Os and get a free blah blah blah.
ReplyDeleteThat makes sense too, Action Ranger Timmy. Apparently not enough people bought x-amount of Kre-os haha!
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