Fred Swayne of Infinity Entertainment in Ottawa, Ontario had a reaction to WizKids EVP Martin Stever's defense of con sales of products not yet released to retailers (see 'WizKids EVP Martin Stever on Con Sales'). He's more concerned about availability of past product streams than con sales:
While the amount of product concerned may be small, the effort reqiured to manage this feat was great. My only point is, perhaps as much effort should be put into making sure your retailers had product to sell.
I ordered Unlimited and Sinister boosters last week from my supplier only to be told there was none; it would be several weeks before more arrived and from what I hear today, the next Sinister shipment will be the last. MechWarrior seems to be using all production capacity. So perhaps, rather than creating a 'BUZZ' about NEW product you should fill the needs of the marketplace today. Since we have not been able to get Sinister, interest in Mage Knight and related products has waned. And as well, Minions being late is letting the interest die even more. People are getting fed up with waiting.
And another thing, these big figures and packs, while really neat, are no substitute for a new series of figures. Each time a new series comes out our sales shoot up about 40%, with what you have sent out lately sales have been flat. I guess what I am trying to say is, 'coordinate production in such a way that no one thing disappears'. As I have said before in e-mails to your company you have a good product, don't go the way of many other game companies.