I agree with your haslab statements (no surprise) But yes I am guilty of feeding the dragon once(sentinel). Since then Ive wanted to be apart of the solution not the problem. Once again I made that video to give you the credit you deserve not for you to give me credit in anyway 😢 Thank you Retro I appreciate it a ton. Since fighting the same fight you have fought alone for years I also now have other TH-camrs and spectators who dedicate alot of their time to harassing me so I can only imagine how long you have had to deal with the same. Ive told you in private I respect you and got your back and this is me stating it publicly. Thanks for leading the charge on these companies, I got your back and as you said 2023 is going to be very different from 2018. "Get this man his shield" was perfect. Thanks Retro for being one of the first to "Keep it Real" even when keeping it real meant being exiled. 🤜🤛
I just watched your video, and subscribed to your channel to boot! The end sequence got me when all of the other collector channels assembled, and backup had finally arrived. Dammit you made me tear up!
Hey man, I'm not a regular viewer of yours or anything, I just heard about you through Articulated Ninja. But I just wanted to say that I appreciate what you do. I think every industry needs those who will speak up honestly and frankly about things, holding companies accountable even if they're accused of being overly negative for it. The videogame industry had the late Totalbiscuit, who, like you, got hate for being a killjoy or overly negative, but in the end really did help people become aware of their power as consumers, and you remind me a lot of him. You just keep on doing you, man. Even if people don't realise it, you're fighting for them. While it's easy to say "just don't buy it", that just shuts down discussion and encourages companies to do whatever they want. It doesn't matter if only 12 people buy all 9000 required Ghost Rider Haslabs -- that still makes Hasbro money, and will thus affect how they approach their entire business. This "milk the few and ruin the experience for the rest" is exactly what the videogame industry has been doing for the past decade with microtransactions, and it seems Hasbro has taken some lessons from that. It's not just about people getting the toys they want, it's about what those sales do to affect how companies operate. Thank you for saying that, because not enough people seem to understand that (or want to accept it).
I've worked nearly 30 years in the production side of the automotive industry . Over 20 at one of the big 3. The last few years I've been working on new product launch teams. When meeting with other teams who are in charge of sales and marketing , a reoccurring story has been told the past few years by many different teams. I'll give the shorthand version. As little as 10 years ago when a new product was launched, all of the magazine people had to be taken care of and treated as VIPs. There were many , by the way. They would fly these people out to a test site , put em up in a 5 star hotel for a few days with a bottomless tab and just overall kiss their ass to the 33rd degree. Everyone read those rags and a bad review could possibly tank sales. Now fast forward and we all know how the magazine racks have aged. As the magazines faltered, online communities stepped in and created a new way to review products, more grass roots , a review straight from another consumer and that format has grown and taken over all of industry . What is talked and laughed about so much is how F%>*&#@ cheap and easy it is to buy these guys. None of that other BS like the magazine guys got. They simply let these people borrow a vehicle for a day or a few hours. Not even a taco voucher. They sign huge disclaimers, only allowed to drive it a set amount of miles, certain paths ect. Hell, they probably make them buy it if they fart in it. But that's about all it takes to get a good review anymore. If someone gives a bad review, no more free day to review one. There's 50 other people waiting to take their place and give a good review. I know that's a long ramble but I see basically the same thing looking at the toy industry, even from the outside. 30 years ago toy companies were hiring entire animation studios to create commercials disguised as shows. Buying up an entire 4th of every Saturdays advertising on every channel. Now today instead of throwing or giving away the test shots , they send em to a reviewer and even make him return it or mail it to his direct competitor in reviewing. And the reviewer kisses thier ass for the privilege. It's unreal. Tell some people you're first name and they'll assume you're a friend and do whatever you ask. Anyway rant over. You're a great asset to the community and as time goes on you've been shown to be right over and over again on your predictions. Aging like wine , keep it up !
I've said the same thing for years now, companies don't need to spend hundreds of thousands creating ads and then a couple more hundred thousand (sometimes millions) on ad space like the days of old. Give a content creator/influencer a couple bucks and some free access and sit back while the cash rolls in.
As a long time fan, just wanted to say that all the hard work you and Melinda put into this channel is very appreciated. I actually rewatched the barge video a few days ago and was thinking about how insane it was you were able to fly the thing over to Australia when I personally don't even like shipping items bigger than a priority box. Keep up the great work.
That video of you taking the sail barge all the way to freaking Australia just to help out another collector is one of the most wholesome things I´ve ever seen here on YT; I will always respect this channel just for doing that. I appreciate your honesty even when I disagree with some of your opinions. I´m just so done with "All positive all the time" channels, specially in the Transformers community which is my niche. Cheers!
I told my daughter once that collecting is only bad if what you collect owns you. Telling someone you will hound them to the day they die is a pretty good indicator that you are possessed by the thing you collect. Such a sick place to be. Appreciate the honesty combined with a proper perspective that avoids unhealthy obsession.
Imagine someone waking up, looking at their collection, having a coffee and a wank and then typing that comment to someone. These are not people to be taken seriously! Your stance on collection is Nietschean. That is some heavy stuff. Thank you for that.
THANK YOU RetroBlasting! I subscribed to your channel some time ago and have NEVER been disappointed with your content and your insight on figures and the market. Quite a few of your vids have influenced as well as inspiring my figure buying habits and has saved me SO MUCH time, money and frustration in seeking out and buying the figures I love. Keep up the great work, you have a fan for life in me.
It's an excellent video with a powerful endgame on the end. You had and will have my respect for the hard work you do with Retroblasting and the message you bring. Thank you.
For what it's worth, I've been a fan of you and your channel for 10 years now, and the Australia trip is still one of my absolute favorite things you've done. It shows your true character and integrity. You speak honestly which is rare to find not just on this platform but really the internet in general. Just my two cents.
Thanks Michael I’m glad I listened to you when u first talked about HasLab a few years ago. With how gas prices are in California that ghost rider car better drive me to work before I choose to fund that!
The fact that people judge RetroBlasting seemingly on a contrived ratio of the quantity of “positive” to “negative” videos produced just boggles my mind, to say the least. I’m about 20 years too young to have had most of the toys of the late 70s and 80s, and 10 or 12 years too old to really care about anything coming out today, but I always enjoy listening to you talk about this stuff, critical or positive. I appreciate all the insight you have to offer as being a kid who played with these toys when they were and an adult looking back on them years later, as well as examining the good, the bad and the ugly of the toy landscape today. Keep on keepin’ on, Michael.
I'm absolutely for holding these predatory price hikes accountable. I wonder if the low productivity of many companies is to boost the secondary market value. Then these companies use this data to also justify gouging.
I love this channel. I don't agree with everything, and that's OK. Despite that, I appreciate what you are doing. I really appreciate this channel! It's something that I think people need to hear. I can only speak for myself, but your channel has been a positive thing in my life and I have been introduced to a lot of creator made items that I would have never seen or heard of thanks to this channel. I THANK YOU for that!!! One of my favorite things that you say and I use it over and over again is "The Fans are making the best toys." So when I find something, I do my best to feature and share it. Again, thanks to this channel. Thanks to YOU! Overall what you are doing for the community is really great. Stay in the fight!! Keep these videos coming! IMUA RetroBlasting!!!! Aloha!
It was probably around the time of the sail barge that I first discovered your channel, Michael. Then I started watching your retrospectives on Voltron, Indy, Star Wars… I loved your older intro where you hopped into the Delorean. I’ve always appreciated your candor on the industry and your education on toylines from yesterday. I’m sorry I didn’t speak up more often. Keep doing what you do! I’m already a subscriber, and i’m here for the long haul. Thank You!
This is the type of content that helps fortify me personally to keep my mindset out of the whole FOMO phase. Excellent points very straight and solid thoughts. Thanks!
Hey, Michael. I have been a subscriber for quite a while and don't even collect toys. But I like listening to you and I appreciate pretty much everything you do. Your channel SHOULD be bigger but whatever. You stay true to you. Keep up the good work and... more VADER!!
Another great video Michael. I was proud to be mentioned at the end of the Ninja's video in good company with folks like yourself. Keep up the good fight!
That Endgame ending literally gave me chills. But Michael, he's right. We all owe a debt to you and even people like me who are only foot soldiers for our community are standing behind you.
While I dont collect basically any of the lines you talk about, I still love your content because of how honest you are with whatever you talk about. It sucks you had to deal with so much bs because of it. I have no idea why toy collecting fandoms are so toxic.
I am not really that into the toy community, but I find your unplugged moments help me a lot in dealing with my own political and social communities. I am no longer letting myself get carried into being agreeable and enabling others while being harassed into conforming. Now I speak up and say my truths, and I find that even my thinking has cleared up, I no longer have to twist myself into a pretzel trying to rationalize things that I didn't agree with. I really want to thank you Michael.
I stumbled across Articulated Ninja where I saw your channel referenced. Refreshing to see TH-camrs calling out the big companies. I've been out of the game for a few years due to finances, but coming back I am realistic about collecting and glad to find channels with similar minds sets even if I don't agree on every single detail, which makes it more interesting.
Michael, you are a voice of honesty when we need to hear it the most and I don’t say this lightly because I find it really refreshing to listen to these unplugged videos.
This man is a strong willed man. He has been here , with real love for this game , all this time , taken mass hits , from a lot of angles , for no reason . He STILL has his SAME credo , & stands by his convictions , & tells the truth. what does this tell you. ..... he,s in the right , & will prevail .
I'm going to admit something. However many years ago I first stumbled on you and your channel Michael I found myself being one of those "this guy is so fucking negative" people, granted I never commented anything as far as I remember, I think it was just my money at the time being tight and my toy purchases were very limited and I think I was just defensive of what I spent my money on. Last few years I'm finally in a place financially that I can afford stuff but I've found myself being more discerning and critical of what I buy. It was around that time I realized you weren't some negative internet toy jerk and I'd like to I guess apologize for ever thinking that in the first place. While I don't think I'm ever gonna be done with Hasbro, I do think I'm at the point of dialing back on buying stuff, mostly because I'm pretty much where I want my displays at along with not really expecting Hasbro to make characters I want in a few of my displays, sucks to be a Hulk and Thor fan sometimes. Edit: Just had to clean up some spelling, as I typed this on my phone. I couldn't leave that alone it just felt weird to have so many terrible spelling mistakes in there. Probably a bunch of grammar mistakes but gotta draw the line somewhere.
I haven't finished your video yet. The more I watch, the more it parallels with the various social groups I've interacted with, directly or indirectly over the years. I live in a city that tends to have a lot of cliques and packs in its communities. More often than not, the infighting, sabotaging and following the alphas and the "loud hippoes" have as a result, resulted in my distancing from these groups altogether. I feel your struggle, more than I realize and I hope you come out of the situation relieved, satisfied and in a place of peace.
Also I'm that guy from a while ago who asked you about getting help reclaiming my TH-cam channel I wasn't able to do it but I'm still thankful that you took the time out of your day to address my issue
Here's what's going on. They realize they F'd up the roll out of the Engine of Greed, and they know that people have seen through the lack of value. It's not going to fund. They won't waste time revealing anything. If anything on 1027 they will try to generate some FOMO by showing all tiers just to dick with Collectors. It won't be enough because the value isn't there. What they will do, is figure out a way to get a win out of this lemon. Hasbro will put this into production regardless of backers and failed Haslab. They are a billion-dollar company talking about 3-4 million to fund this. Then, they are going to push this all out around Fall or Christmas time next year (Remember, Yesterday's price isn't today's price, and tomorrow's price won't be today's price), In parts or pieces. 250 for the car alone, 35 for the Robbie on a Retro Card release, 35 for the Ghost Rider on Retro Card, 75 for Deluxe Mephisto ala Surtur, 50 for Deluxe Goblin Queen, 75 for Black Heart ala Surtur, and anything else they put out will be 35 and up. At the end of the day, they will make over 500 bucks per unit, and make MORE than what they projected with the HASLAB. That's what they are going to do =).
I’m glad you heard his video and his praise of you! Your my go to for honesty! And I love that about retroblasting! I love when you crap on what doesn’t pass the smell test! And I agree with 99% of your opinions! I do have to admit I was had by haslab 1 time with the razor crest. But I hated having to play into it because I knew that I wouldn’t have one if I didn’t and to be honest with the falcon going for 400 I was ok with the price and what I got, but I hate the modal!
I still think about that debate Michael had with Toy Guru and how pissed it made me. Scott, on many occassions, was telling an audience full of product consumers that a company using them as cattle to slaughter was a great thing. Did this audience jeer Scott? Oh no, they jeered Michael because they simply didn't like him. Hell, one of the TH-camrs that joined the after show on that channel has taken some mild shots at Michael afterwards while now making multiple videos about how overpriced toys have become. I simply don't understand these people at all. They can not see cause and effect relationships at all. We are a country of simple-minded sycophants that need our vices at any cost so any criticism of said vice is an attack on us personally. Its pathetic.
Another example is the internet. You can try to live without it, but it would be a difficult way to go through life now. We need to get a hold of ourselves and stop encouraging these companies. Great discussion 👍🏽 😎✌🏽
“We teach corporations how to treat us”. If you indicate that you’re willing to buy crap they’re going to sell you crap. If you buy tickets for crappy movies they’ll keep making crappy movies. These points are so blindingly obvious that I’m appalled people are so eager to argue against them. It’s why so little of what I buy anymore is new.
Great vid. I have a couple releasing in the next couple hours, one introducing me and what I'm doing and one about haslab. And as usual you and articulated ninja already said how I feel in a much better way than I. I have been a fan since the beginning and am now a fan of articulated ninja and 3poa. All of you keep up the great work and I hope to be at least a tenth as good as you all one day.
Hey man new sunsciber and middle aged collector here. I am finally getting back to buying collectibles that I want now that my kid is grown and HOLY SHIT what are these prices? I haven't payed more than $130 and that was because I have wanted the figure for years. I can't imagine paying $300, $500 or even over $1000 for some of the admittedly cool stuff I have seen. I have burned through five or six of your videos in the last day or two and it's been really eye opening.
Whoever said that predatory business practices are a good thing needs to be fired. I work on Wall Street and even some of the biggest financial firms I work with would never say anything like this. Granted, a lot of them do have shady business practices that my company is trying to help them resolve, but the intentions of implementing better business practices are there. I’ve never heard, even from my shittiest clients, that predatory business practices are a good thing. In college, when I studied corporate finance, macro, and micro Econ, I never heard from any of my professors that predatory business practices are a good thing. Whoever said that is an absolute clown and should never be allowed to work in corporate ever again.
I never tough Michael was negative, I always see it like, he haves his opinions, I agree and disagree with him, on video by video basis, keep the great work, or bad work however people see it, I think is always great to see him and all the retroblasting team doing great work.
Hi i once watched your old cartoon reviews not knowing its a toy collecting channel. Im here to just say thanks for putting what always in my mind to word 🙂🙂🙂 Almost all youtube channel is a sellout these days, i only sometimes watch anthony customs since he has his own opinion, but then i find your channel. Again thanks a lot for spreading the word!!
Michael, your videos continue to be compelling, insightful and entertaining. Keep doing what you’re doing. You are a bright star in the toy galaxy! Thank You for your commitment to the collectors and not the corporations. We applaud you 👏👏👏
Thank you for staying the course. This channel and you have not changed in all the years I've watched. Do not change and keep up the good fight! Those that really care will always back you.
Yeah, that was a great vid by Ninja. He got my sub and I've been subbed to you since your amazing "So you got a Sentinel. You screwed up." vid. Agreed 200 percent with everything you said in that, and why I refuse to ever support Haslab. Honestly, I think a lot of people are just straight up addicted. To the point they can't even see straight. They won't or can't say "No", no matter what Hasbro does. Hasbro keeps raising prices and they keep right on buying. Hasbro whips out Haslab, they happily throw their money at it. "I NEED that Sentinel! I NEED that Galactus! I NEED that Hell Charger! I don't care how much they cost!". They keep buying despite the price hikes. They keep blindly supporting Haslab, even cash grabs like the Engine of Greed. They scoff at the idea of quitting, saying things like "The figures are the best they've been in years! They're doing all the characters we want! We're in the golden age of ML collecting! Why in the hell would I quit!?". All the while, damaging and ruining this hobby. Some know it, and they just don't care. "Plastic crack" used to be a playful joke or meme in this hobby. Not anymore.
I may have said this before, but it bears repeating: Thanks for all you do and have done. And the fact you stood your ground in all the adversity with countless schmendricks and fools, that nothing short of courageous and heroic. Captain America is truly your analog. I am proud and honored to know you and call you friend. Keep on truckin' and chooglin' on, Michael. 😎👍
The problem is that some people are scared that your negative opinion makes them feel insecure about their own purchase and they only want to hear "the good things" so they can feel positive about their purchases. and I've seen them admit that is what they want word for word in some forums. I find that just sad that you are so insecure about your own decisions but just because someone else have an opinion about something that you liked that doesn't sound good to you that it shakes your own personal opinions/belief/choices to its core and you have to lash out.
A multi-billion dollar company crowd funding their products is a very bad sign for the health of the industry. It never sat right with me first and foremost because crowd funding was always meant to be for people starting out so that they could get a leg up. It's not a model that was intended to be used by one of the world's largest toy companies to hedge their bets because they're too scared to take an actual risk.
Assemble!!! Again with the facts! Or maybe just overwhelming evidence suggests all “be positive” people are really just “be positive or else”. Same people that say “you can’t joke about that” or “you have to like this”. I’ve watched you for a while and I can tell you have tough skin made tougher by informing yourself on topics before giving your opinions. It’s appreciated. And no I do not always agree with your opinions but I can respect the work you put into them. Love the channel! Never stop!🇺🇸🤙🏼
My biggest concern at the moment with Hasbro is making Classified Pulse only in the UK. I was able to get hold of figures often cheaper than Hasbro and ones they no longer had instock. Also how much stock will the UK now get? Missed out on preordering Serpentor as from what I've been hearing the UK got very little stock of him and he was sold out as soon as orders went live for non Pulse members.
Hasbro had loose all credibility with those "new" packages without windows to hide lack of QC, price increases (specially for us living in Latin America) and HasLab fiascos. What I like of your channel is that you're the way you are and say things most just hide under the rug. Keep doing the good content and keep being honest as you are.
Hopefully we see more of this paradigm shift, with other YTs supporting what is right, and not being beholden to the corporations. You have always been the tip of the spear Micheal, cheers!
To RB Team I started watching the channel when the pandemic started. I would like to say that even when I have disagreed with the opinions brought up, I have always enjoyed the created content and the insight that has been provided through the years Thank you
Dear Melinda, Michael, & Broken Vader, You have my sword ⚔️. I love you guys. You’ve entertained me for years and literally kept me company during Lockdown. You’ve been an inspiration to me for real and I’m a content creator now. You are very much on the level and if there’s ever a rumble with the trolls, count on me to stand with you. Huzzah. Fricking Trolls 🧌 eh? Sheesh 🙄
Michael, did you ever know that you're my hero? You're everything I wish I could be I could fly higher than an eagle For you are the wind beneath my wings
I've been in your corner this whole time and haven't done any haslab stuff, but sadly I am now priced out of new toy vehicles and playsets. I was able to buy the Legacy Collection Millennium Falcon in 2008 for $85. I can afford that every n ow and then, but similar items now are in the $300 range. It's insane to see this stuff go up so much, regardless of my own lack of support for such.
People hate hearing conflicting opinions, but they REALLY hate hearing the truth. I've been a fan since you tore down the pretense of the SW Black series and put into words (and pointed examples) of why I couldn't get into them despite being an ESB super nerd. But oh, man... I bet that one ruffled a few feathers. You're a battleship of righteousness in a sea of trash. Keep going, man. Don't let the rabble drag you down.
Wow...I also have to thank @articulatedninja...it's because of him now I know of your channel. I've been collecting but never came across you...which I know im of many individuals that collect and have the same thoughts as you. ( I don't publicly tell people that I'm collecting toys) Keep doing your work....we need more of you!!!
Michael, your videos relieved that lonely feeling in many of us (definitely myself included) that shared your views about the state of toy collecting over the past few years. Many of us don’t have a loud voice in this community, and we truly appreciate yours!
MTG Community is in full revolt not buying new product, and dumping collections, flooding the market and tanking prices on older cards. The 30th Anniversary offering of a 4 pack set for 999.99 dollars has set the fire that is burning hasbro down. MTG accounts for 15 percent of Hasbro profits and 44 percent of their Margin profits. WallStreet and Bank of America have estimated Hasbro stock to drop down to 42 from 73 a share based on their mishandling of MTG alone. Reply
I agree with your haslab statements (no surprise) But yes I am guilty of feeding the dragon once(sentinel). Since then Ive wanted to be apart of the solution not the problem. Once again I made that video to give you the credit you deserve not for you to give me credit in anyway 😢 Thank you Retro I appreciate it a ton. Since fighting the same fight you have fought alone for years I also now have other TH-camrs and spectators who dedicate alot of their time to harassing me so I can only imagine how long you have had to deal with the same. Ive told you in private I respect you and got your back and this is me stating it publicly. Thanks for leading the charge on these companies, I got your back and as you said 2023 is going to be very different from 2018. "Get this man his shield" was perfect. Thanks Retro for being one of the first to "Keep it Real" even when keeping it real meant being exiled. 🤜🤛
I'd not heard of your channel before, subbing.
I just watched your video, and subscribed to your channel to boot! The end sequence got me when all of the other collector channels assembled, and backup had finally arrived. Dammit you made me tear up!
This is beautiful. Unity
Articulated Ninja Is The Man And So Are You MICHAEL!!! Much LOVE!!!
Two of my favorites in the fight together. I love it
Hey man, I'm not a regular viewer of yours or anything, I just heard about you through Articulated Ninja. But I just wanted to say that I appreciate what you do. I think every industry needs those who will speak up honestly and frankly about things, holding companies accountable even if they're accused of being overly negative for it. The videogame industry had the late Totalbiscuit, who, like you, got hate for being a killjoy or overly negative, but in the end really did help people become aware of their power as consumers, and you remind me a lot of him. You just keep on doing you, man. Even if people don't realise it, you're fighting for them.
While it's easy to say "just don't buy it", that just shuts down discussion and encourages companies to do whatever they want. It doesn't matter if only 12 people buy all 9000 required Ghost Rider Haslabs -- that still makes Hasbro money, and will thus affect how they approach their entire business. This "milk the few and ruin the experience for the rest" is exactly what the videogame industry has been doing for the past decade with microtransactions, and it seems Hasbro has taken some lessons from that. It's not just about people getting the toys they want, it's about what those sales do to affect how companies operate. Thank you for saying that, because not enough people seem to understand that (or want to accept it).
I've worked nearly 30 years in the production side of the automotive industry . Over 20 at one of the big 3. The last few years I've been working on new product launch teams. When meeting with other teams who are in charge of sales and marketing , a reoccurring story has been told the past few years by many different teams.
I'll give the shorthand version. As little as 10 years ago when a new product was launched, all of the magazine people had to be taken care of and treated as VIPs. There were many , by the way. They would fly these people out to a test site , put em up in a 5 star hotel for a few days with a bottomless tab and just overall kiss their ass to the 33rd degree. Everyone read those rags and a bad review could possibly tank sales. Now fast forward and we all know how the magazine racks have aged. As the magazines faltered, online communities stepped in and created a new way to review products, more grass roots , a review straight from another consumer and that format has grown and taken over all of industry . What is talked and laughed about so much is how F%>*&#@ cheap and easy it is to buy these guys. None of that other BS like the magazine guys got. They simply let these people borrow a vehicle for a day or a few hours. Not even a taco voucher. They sign huge disclaimers, only allowed to drive it a set amount of miles, certain paths ect. Hell, they probably make them buy it if they fart in it. But that's about all it takes to get a good review anymore. If someone gives a bad review, no more free day to review one. There's 50 other people waiting to take their place and give a good review.
I know that's a long ramble but I see basically the same thing looking at the toy industry, even from the outside. 30 years ago toy companies were hiring entire animation studios to create commercials disguised as shows. Buying up an entire 4th of every Saturdays advertising on every channel. Now today instead of throwing or giving away the test shots , they send em to a reviewer and even make him return it or mail it to his direct competitor in reviewing. And the reviewer kisses thier ass for the privilege. It's unreal. Tell some people you're first name and they'll assume you're a friend and do whatever you ask.
Anyway rant over. You're a great asset to the community and as time goes on you've been shown to be right over and over again on your predictions. Aging like wine , keep it up !
I've said the same thing for years now, companies don't need to spend hundreds of thousands creating ads and then a couple more hundred thousand (sometimes millions) on ad space like the days of old. Give a content creator/influencer a couple bucks and some free access and sit back while the cash rolls in.
As a long time fan, just wanted to say that all the hard work you and Melinda put into this channel is very appreciated. I actually rewatched the barge video a few days ago and was thinking about how insane it was you were able to fly the thing over to Australia when I personally don't even like shipping items bigger than a priority box. Keep up the great work.
That video of you taking the sail barge all the way to freaking Australia just to help out another collector is one of the most wholesome things I´ve ever seen here on YT; I will always respect this channel just for doing that. I appreciate your honesty even when I disagree with some of your opinions. I´m just so done with "All positive all the time" channels, specially in the Transformers community which is my niche. Cheers!
That was one of my first RB vids I watched .
This said a lot about him.
I told my daughter once that collecting is only bad if what you collect owns you. Telling someone you will hound them to the day they die is a pretty good indicator that you are possessed by the thing you collect. Such a sick place to be. Appreciate the honesty combined with a proper perspective that avoids unhealthy obsession.
Imagine someone waking up, looking at their collection, having a coffee and a wank and then typing that comment to someone. These are not people to be taken seriously!
Your stance on collection is Nietschean. That is some heavy stuff. Thank you for that.
Articulated Ninja did a fantastic job! It's not 2018 anymore!!!! Michael you are our Captain America!
THANK YOU RetroBlasting! I subscribed to your channel some time ago and have NEVER been disappointed with your content and your insight on figures and the market. Quite a few of your vids have influenced as well as inspiring my figure buying habits and has saved me SO MUCH time, money and frustration in seeking out and buying the figures I love. Keep up the great work, you have a fan for life in me.
It's an excellent video with a powerful endgame on the end. You had and will have my respect for the hard work you do with Retroblasting and the message you bring. Thank you.
For what it's worth, I've been a fan of you and your channel for 10 years now, and the Australia trip is still one of my absolute favorite things you've done. It shows your true character and integrity. You speak honestly which is rare to find not just on this platform but really the internet in general. Just my two cents.
Thanks Michael I’m glad I listened to you when u first talked about HasLab a few years ago. With how gas prices are in California that ghost rider car better drive me to work before I choose to fund that!
This isn’t pessimism. This is informed skepticism. And we need more of it.
The fact that people judge RetroBlasting seemingly on a contrived ratio of the quantity of “positive” to “negative” videos produced just boggles my mind, to say the least. I’m about 20 years too young to have had most of the toys of the late 70s and 80s, and 10 or 12 years too old to really care about anything coming out today, but I always enjoy listening to you talk about this stuff, critical or positive. I appreciate all the insight you have to offer as being a kid who played with these toys when they were and an adult looking back on them years later, as well as examining the good, the bad and the ugly of the toy landscape today. Keep on keepin’ on, Michael.
Hi Michael, Thank you for being one of the clear voice of reason and beautiful and insightful commentary in the community! Sending our love!
I'm absolutely for holding these predatory price hikes accountable. I wonder if the low productivity of many companies is to boost the secondary market value. Then these companies use this data to also justify gouging.
I love this channel. I don't agree with everything, and that's OK. Despite that, I appreciate what you are doing. I really appreciate this channel! It's something that I think people need to hear. I can only speak for myself, but your channel has been a positive thing in my life and I have been introduced to a lot of creator made items that I would have never seen or heard of thanks to this channel. I THANK YOU for that!!! One of my favorite things that you say and I use it over and over again is "The Fans are making the best toys." So when I find something, I do my best to feature and share it. Again, thanks to this channel. Thanks to YOU! Overall what you are doing for the community is really great. Stay in the fight!! Keep these videos coming! IMUA RetroBlasting!!!! Aloha!
It was probably around the time of the sail barge that I first discovered your channel, Michael. Then I started watching your retrospectives on Voltron, Indy, Star Wars… I loved your older intro where you hopped into the Delorean.
I’ve always appreciated your candor on the industry and your education on toylines from yesterday. I’m sorry I didn’t speak up more often.
Keep doing what you do!
I’m already a subscriber, and i’m here for the long haul.
Thank You!
Once again thank you Articulated Ninja, for showing me another awesome channel to support 💯🤙🤙
Keep being that voice of honesty, a lot of good comes out from your videos and your point of view. And definitely you are not alone.
This is the type of content that helps fortify me personally to keep my mindset out of the whole FOMO phase. Excellent points very straight and solid thoughts. Thanks!
RB You said one out of fourteen million, we win, yeah? Tell me this is it.
If I tell you what's gonna happen, it won't happen......
Hey, Michael. I have been a subscriber for quite a while and don't even collect toys. But I like listening to you and I appreciate pretty much everything you do. Your channel SHOULD be bigger but whatever. You stay true to you. Keep up the good work and... more VADER!!
Another great video Michael. I was proud to be mentioned at the end of the Ninja's video in good company with folks like yourself. Keep up the good fight!
That Endgame ending literally gave me chills. But Michael, he's right. We all owe a debt to you and even people like me who are only foot soldiers for our community are standing behind you.
While I dont collect basically any of the lines you talk about, I still love your content because of how honest you are with whatever you talk about. It sucks you had to deal with so much bs because of it. I have no idea why toy collecting fandoms are so toxic.
I am not really that into the toy community, but I find your unplugged moments help me a lot in dealing with my own political and social communities. I am no longer letting myself get carried into being agreeable and enabling others while being harassed into conforming. Now I speak up and say my truths, and I find that even my thinking has cleared up, I no longer have to twist myself into a pretzel trying to rationalize things that I didn't agree with. I really want to thank you Michael.
I stumbled across Articulated Ninja where I saw your channel referenced. Refreshing to see TH-camrs calling out the big companies. I've been out of the game for a few years due to finances, but coming back I am realistic about collecting and glad to find channels with similar minds sets even if I don't agree on every single detail, which makes it more interesting.
The one collaboration I never thought I'd see.
Michael, you are a voice of honesty when we need to hear it the most and I don’t say this lightly because I find it really refreshing to listen to these unplugged videos.
This man is a strong willed man. He has been here , with real love for this game , all this time , taken mass hits , from a lot of angles , for no reason . He STILL has his SAME credo , & stands by his convictions , & tells the truth. what does this tell you. ..... he,s in the right , & will prevail .
Michael you're too kind to them. I doubt they even understand what cynical means!
I gotta admit, the visual metaphors on Articulated Ninja's video was spot on. Valaverse flying out of the portal was an especially nice touch. ;)
Right on this is what we need more of! I love both your channels cause, your both real. And honest and relevant!
I'm going to admit something. However many years ago I first stumbled on you and your channel Michael I found myself being one of those "this guy is so fucking negative" people, granted I never commented anything as far as I remember, I think it was just my money at the time being tight and my toy purchases were very limited and I think I was just defensive of what I spent my money on. Last few years I'm finally in a place financially that I can afford stuff but I've found myself being more discerning and critical of what I buy. It was around that time I realized you weren't some negative internet toy jerk and I'd like to I guess apologize for ever thinking that in the first place. While I don't think I'm ever gonna be done with Hasbro, I do think I'm at the point of dialing back on buying stuff, mostly because I'm pretty much where I want my displays at along with not really expecting Hasbro to make characters I want in a few of my displays, sucks to be a Hulk and Thor fan sometimes.
Edit: Just had to clean up some spelling, as I typed this on my phone. I couldn't leave that alone it just felt weird to have so many terrible spelling mistakes in there. Probably a bunch of grammar mistakes but gotta draw the line somewhere.
Another great entry to the catalog. Well done, Michael.
Thanks for your valuable insight and fighting spirit, a true blue champ. Keep it up Sir.
Nice to get an honest and refreshing take on the community. Thanks!!👏
I haven't finished your video yet. The more I watch, the more it parallels with the various social groups I've interacted with, directly or indirectly over the years. I live in a city that tends to have a lot of cliques and packs in its communities. More often than not, the infighting, sabotaging and following the alphas and the "loud hippoes" have as a result, resulted in my distancing from these groups altogether. I feel your struggle, more than I realize and I hope you come out of the situation relieved, satisfied and in a place of peace.
On your left.
I worked with a kid, who joined the navy and joined the seals. He made it through the whole process!
Well ‘Mr. Negativity’, I will continue to follow you because I appreciate integrity above all other traits.
Thank you RetroBlasting for the hours of highly entertaining content. Much appreciated good sir.
Also I'm that guy from a while ago who asked you about getting help reclaiming my TH-cam channel I wasn't able to do it but I'm still thankful that you took the time out of your day to address my issue
Thank you for everything you do to try and make this hobby and community a better place.
Here's what's going on. They realize they F'd up the roll out of the Engine of Greed, and they know that people have seen through the lack of value. It's not going to fund. They won't waste time revealing anything. If anything on 1027 they will try to generate some FOMO by showing all tiers just to dick with Collectors. It won't be enough because the value isn't there. What they will do, is figure out a way to get a win out of this lemon. Hasbro will put this into production regardless of backers and failed Haslab. They are a billion-dollar company talking about 3-4 million to fund this. Then, they are going to push this all out around Fall or Christmas time next year (Remember, Yesterday's price isn't today's price, and tomorrow's price won't be today's price), In parts or pieces. 250 for the car alone, 35 for the Robbie on a Retro Card release, 35 for the Ghost Rider on Retro Card, 75 for Deluxe Mephisto ala Surtur, 50 for Deluxe Goblin Queen, 75 for Black Heart ala Surtur, and anything else they put out will be 35 and up. At the end of the day, they will make over 500 bucks per unit, and make MORE than what they projected with the HASLAB. That's what they are going to do =).
I’m glad you heard his video and his praise of you! Your my go to for honesty! And I love that about retroblasting! I love when you crap on what doesn’t pass the smell test! And I agree with 99% of your opinions! I do have to admit I was had by haslab 1 time with the razor crest. But I hated having to play into it because I knew that I wouldn’t have one if I didn’t and to be honest with the falcon going for 400 I was ok with the price and what I got, but I hate the modal!
I appreciate you and your videos. Some of my favorites on youtube about toys.
Thank you for your honest and open thoughts. I hope your having a good day. :)
Love your channel and content, Michael.
Thank you sir for this informative video!
This is my favorite TH-cam channel. Thank you for the great content Michael! But way more than that, thank you for the honesty.
I still think about that debate Michael had with Toy Guru and how pissed it made me. Scott, on many occassions, was telling an audience full of product consumers that a company using them as cattle to slaughter was a great thing. Did this audience jeer Scott? Oh no, they jeered Michael because they simply didn't like him. Hell, one of the TH-camrs that joined the after show on that channel has taken some mild shots at Michael afterwards while now making multiple videos about how overpriced toys have become. I simply don't understand these people at all. They can not see cause and effect relationships at all. We are a country of simple-minded sycophants that need our vices at any cost so any criticism of said vice is an attack on us personally. Its pathetic.
Another example is the internet. You can try to live without it, but it would be a difficult way to go through life now. We need to get a hold of ourselves and stop encouraging these companies. Great discussion 👍🏽 😎✌🏽
Very well articulated message! Great Job
“We teach corporations how to treat us”. If you indicate that you’re willing to buy crap they’re going to sell you crap. If you buy tickets for crappy movies they’ll keep making crappy movies. These points are so blindingly obvious that I’m appalled people are so eager to argue against them. It’s why so little of what I buy anymore is new.
RetroBlasting your a true champ, I'm by your side
Great vid. I have a couple releasing in the next couple hours, one introducing me and what I'm doing and one about haslab. And as usual you and articulated ninja already said how I feel in a much better way than I. I have been a fan since the beginning and am now a fan of articulated ninja and 3poa. All of you keep up the great work and I hope to be at least a tenth as good as you all one day.
Thank you for this video. I'm 100% with you.
I enjoy your videos because they are positive and honest and I respect you because of that. Just wanted you to know that Michael.
Hey man new sunsciber and middle aged collector here. I am finally getting back to buying collectibles that I want now that my kid is grown and HOLY SHIT what are these prices? I haven't payed more than $130 and that was because I have wanted the figure for years. I can't imagine paying $300, $500 or even over $1000 for some of the admittedly cool stuff I have seen.
I have burned through five or six of your videos in the last day or two and it's been really eye opening.
Whoever said that predatory business practices are a good thing needs to be fired. I work on Wall Street and even some of the biggest financial firms I work with would never say anything like this. Granted, a lot of them do have shady business practices that my company is trying to help them resolve, but the intentions of implementing better business practices are there. I’ve never heard, even from my shittiest clients, that predatory business practices are a good thing. In college, when I studied corporate finance, macro, and micro Econ, I never heard from any of my professors that predatory business practices are a good thing. Whoever said that is an absolute clown and should never be allowed to work in corporate ever again.
You guys are fantastic people and I love both of your channels. Thanks for having integrity
I never tough Michael was negative, I always see it like, he haves his opinions, I agree and disagree with him, on video by video basis, keep the great work, or bad work however people see it, I think is always great to see him and all the retroblasting team doing great work.
Same here. Don't agree with everything he says, but I respect his opinion. Extremely knowledgeable.
Hi i once watched your old cartoon reviews not knowing its a toy collecting channel. Im here to just say thanks for putting what always in my mind to word 🙂🙂🙂
Almost all youtube channel is a sellout these days, i only sometimes watch anthony customs since he has his own opinion, but then i find your channel. Again thanks a lot for spreading the word!!
I love your content bro you speak for a lot of us Champ
Michael, your videos continue to be compelling, insightful and entertaining. Keep doing what you’re doing. You are a bright star in the toy galaxy! Thank You for your commitment to the collectors and not the corporations. We applaud you 👏👏👏
Thank you for staying the course. This channel and you have not changed in all the years I've watched. Do not change and keep up the good fight! Those that really care will always back you.
I watched your sailbarge trip and loved it, as I do all the work you do! I think it was a great thing you did.
Yeah, that was a great vid by Ninja. He got my sub and I've been subbed to you since your amazing "So you got a Sentinel. You screwed up." vid. Agreed 200 percent with everything you said in that, and why I refuse to ever support Haslab.
Honestly, I think a lot of people are just straight up addicted. To the point they can't even see straight. They won't or can't say "No", no matter what Hasbro does. Hasbro keeps raising prices and they keep right on buying. Hasbro whips out Haslab, they happily throw their money at it. "I NEED that Sentinel! I NEED that Galactus! I NEED that Hell Charger! I don't care how much they cost!".
They keep buying despite the price hikes. They keep blindly supporting Haslab, even cash grabs like the Engine of Greed. They scoff at the idea of quitting, saying things like "The figures are the best they've been in years! They're doing all the characters we want! We're in the golden age of ML collecting! Why in the hell would I quit!?".
All the while, damaging and ruining this hobby. Some know it, and they just don't care.
"Plastic crack" used to be a playful joke or meme in this hobby. Not anymore.
It's great to see some solidarity and reasoning growing in the TH-cam toy community.
I whole heartedly agree with everything you said. Thank you for being true yo yourself and making these videos.
I may have said this before, but it bears repeating: Thanks for all you do and have done. And the fact you stood your ground in all the adversity with countless schmendricks and fools, that nothing short of courageous and heroic. Captain America is truly your analog. I am proud and honored to know you and call you friend. Keep on truckin' and chooglin' on, Michael. 😎👍
I found you on TH-cam first so now I guess it's time to check out Articulated Ninja.
The problem is that some people are scared that your negative opinion makes them feel insecure about their own purchase and they only want to hear "the good things" so they can feel positive about their purchases. and I've seen them admit that is what they want word for word in some forums.
I find that just sad that you are so insecure about your own decisions but just because someone else have an opinion about something that you liked that doesn't sound good to you that it shakes your own personal opinions/belief/choices to its core and you have to lash out.
A multi-billion dollar company crowd funding their products is a very bad sign for the health of the industry. It never sat right with me first and foremost because crowd funding was always meant to be for people starting out so that they could get a leg up. It's not a model that was intended to be used by one of the world's largest toy companies to hedge their bets because they're too scared to take an actual risk.
Assemble!!!
Again with the facts! Or maybe just overwhelming evidence suggests all “be positive” people are really just “be positive or else”. Same people that say “you can’t joke about that” or “you have to like this”. I’ve watched you for a while and I can tell you have tough skin made tougher by informing yourself on topics before giving your opinions. It’s appreciated. And no I do not always agree with your opinions but I can respect the work you put into them.
Love the channel! Never stop!🇺🇸🤙🏼
The "positive people" dont want you to be negative towards haslab, but they are certainly willing to be negative towards you.
My biggest concern at the moment with Hasbro is making Classified Pulse only in the UK. I was able to get hold of figures often cheaper than Hasbro and ones they no longer had instock. Also how much stock will the UK now get? Missed out on preordering Serpentor as from what I've been hearing the UK got very little stock of him and he was sold out as soon as orders went live for non Pulse members.
You are Right. Thank you. Keep up good. Work.
Hasbro had loose all credibility with those "new" packages without windows to hide lack of QC, price increases (specially for us living in Latin America) and HasLab fiascos. What I like of your channel is that you're the way you are and say things most just hide under the rug. Keep doing the good content and keep being honest as you are.
Hopefully we see more of this paradigm shift, with other YTs supporting what is right, and not being beholden to the corporations. You have always been the tip of the spear Micheal, cheers!
To RB Team
I started watching the channel when the pandemic started. I would like to say that even when I have disagreed with the opinions brought up, I have always enjoyed the created content and the insight that has been provided through the years
Thank you
You are truly a leader of the collecting community. Keep on rockin Mike!!! 🤘🏻😎🤘🏻
I love your content and how straight forward you are with your opinions. Great channel
I'm a new subscriber. I appreciate your consumer advocacy. Keep up the good fight.
Dear Melinda, Michael, & Broken Vader,
You have my sword ⚔️.
I love you guys.
You’ve entertained me for years and literally kept me company during Lockdown.
You’ve been an inspiration to me for real and I’m a content creator now. You are very much on the level and if there’s ever a rumble with the trolls, count on me to stand with you. Huzzah. Fricking Trolls 🧌 eh? Sheesh 🙄
I will never disagree with you that we need to hold the toy companies responsible. I appreciate what you do
We appreciate you Michael 🙏
Awesome. I am so happy for you. Ninja's video was amazing, and this one was great.
Michael, did you ever know that you're my hero?
You're everything I wish I could be
I could fly higher than an eagle
For you are the wind beneath my wings
😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅
People need validation especially if they have just come up and are pushing out great content, well deserved for articulated.
I've been in your corner this whole time and haven't done any haslab stuff, but sadly I am now priced out of new toy vehicles and playsets. I was able to buy the Legacy Collection Millennium Falcon in 2008 for $85. I can afford that every n ow and then, but similar items now are in the $300 range. It's insane to see this stuff go up so much, regardless of my own lack of support for such.
People hate hearing conflicting opinions, but they REALLY hate hearing the truth. I've been a fan since you tore down the pretense of the SW Black series and put into words (and pointed examples) of why I couldn't get into them despite being an ESB super nerd. But oh, man... I bet that one ruffled a few feathers.
You're a battleship of righteousness in a sea of trash. Keep going, man. Don't let the rabble drag you down.
Wow...I also have to thank @articulatedninja...it's because of him now I know of your channel. I've been collecting but never came across you...which I know im of many individuals that collect and have the same thoughts as you. ( I don't publicly tell people that I'm collecting toys) Keep doing your work....we need more of you!!!
a thoughtful and concise explanation. no edits, no scripts... just off the top of your head.. it says a lot.
I'm too impatient to pay a couple hundred bucks for something I won't get for a year and a half.
Michael your work pulled me into the toy world of TH-cam. It mirrors many of my own opinions. Thank you for your videos and your voice matters 100%.
Keep going RetroBlasting. Love your content and the 100k subscriber milestone is so close now
Michael, your videos relieved that lonely feeling in many of us (definitely myself included) that shared your views about the state of toy collecting over the past few years. Many of us don’t have a loud voice in this community, and we truly appreciate yours!
Great message Micheal. Keep it up.
MTG Community is in full revolt not buying new product, and dumping collections, flooding the market and tanking prices on older cards. The 30th Anniversary offering of a 4 pack set for 999.99 dollars has set the fire that is burning hasbro down. MTG accounts for 15 percent of Hasbro profits and 44 percent of their Margin profits. WallStreet and Bank of America have estimated Hasbro stock to drop down to 42 from 73 a share based on their mishandling of MTG alone.
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