The Fans’ Choice Polling Is Broken

We're picking up on this observation from our friends at JTA that the Doctor Aphra SDCC exclusive is bewilderingly still in stock on Hasbro Toy Shop. Doctor Aphra was the Fans' Choice poll winner and this clearly indicates that the polling is baaaaa-roken.

First off, let me state that I already know what the defenders are going to say: "But the price point!" Well, you can stuff that excuse in a sack, mister. Yes, 3 single figures would cost $39, so that $50 asking price represents a perceived $11 surcharge. That is not out of line for a convention exclusive and if this character actually represented the kind of demand commensurate with winning a Fans' Choice poll, it still would have sold out in seconds. Convention exclusives have a lower production run and most fans do not attend. The $11 hump would have been easily surmountable if Dr. Aphra was the most wanted Vintage Collection figure by the fan base.

No, what this shows is that online polls are about as scientific as Theodoric of York. When there is no consequence for the voter, the vote is meaningless. It's not a vote of "I would buy this.” In reality, it becomes a vote of "this is neat" or "I like this.” In order for Fans' Choice votes to carry any weight, the voter needs to have some skin in the game. The solution is obvious and has already been mentioned by Hasbro.

HasLab is the answer. Instead of merely clicking a consequence-free button on a web page, which permits "ballot stuffing,” Hasbro should simply suggest a range of figures on HasLab, and whichever figures meet the minimum backing then get made. Hasbro should know what these figures are. They're figures in the parking lot that can't find space in the mainline. This eliminates all the woes of the Fans' Choice polling. It stops becoming a measure of "I know that guy" and immediately becomes a declaration of intent to purchase.

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