[ Response | Lazer Tactical Action Game Message Board ]
Posted by Sinistrahd
on June 22, 2008, 1:35 pm
Good morning, Operatives of the LTAG Group - This is your mission, should you choose to accept it:
The LTX Phoenix, a powerful weapon in the war to popularize Lazer Tag, is due to ship to stores soon. Unfortunately, many parents and grandparents will see its price point and decide that Laser Challenge or a knock off brand is good enough for their kids... In order to prevent LTX from going under, it is imperative that we do everything we can to educate consumers and kids as to why they should shell out the extra money to buy the Phoenix, especially considering the current recession we are in (fortunately, collected economic data shows that one of the last things that a parent will lower spending on in a recession is anything for their kids).
Even now, there are people searching for the LTX Phoenix on Amazon and then purchasing items like Jakks Pacific's LC PRO
, Laser Command Sets, and even those Shocking Laser Guns
. If we can flood reviews of the gear in comparison to LTTO/LTX, then that may help stem the tide of parents spending good money on inferior products. Now we don't want any false propaganda out there, so please only write something up and post it if you've really tried both the target item and the gear you are comparing it to, and please be truthful in your reviews, conceding any advantages where they are due (are there any?).
The next step to bringing consumers information about the LTX Phoenix is to make sure that Google is displaying properly informative sites about it at the top of its search listings. Google uses calculations based upon how many sites point to a site to determine where it falls on the listings. Currently, Greg's Lazer Tag Page, which seems to have the most info available on the LTX Phoenix (in one place) is ranked as #1, and these boards are ranked second, so we are good for now, but I would urge anyone with an LT site who does not link to these 2 sites to do so. Also, if possible, Greg, could you add all the Youtube and photo links to your LTX section so consumers can see everything about it from one spot? Similarly to John, can you create a stickied post with all of the collected info about the LTX either linked or displayed? This will help in ensuring consumers get the info before giving up and moving down in the search listings.
Now we come to the battle's personal segment: dealing with retailers. This is a three-pronged attack.
First prong: we need to badger all the retailers in our area about LTX Phoenix fairly regularly starting now! If we call up retailers once and ask them about the "LTX Phoenix by Hasbro" (saying Hasbro is very important, and you'll see why soon), then the operator or person on the phone may not think much of it. But if we start calling once or twice a day or even weekly, then the operator is likely to get curious enough to mention it to their manager, and if he or she hears that enough calls are coming in for it, then he or she will likely send a report up the chain to corporate. That's when Hasbro will start getting calls from executives asking when the LTX Phoenix will arrive, and telling them how much apparent interest there is in it. So a few phone calls from each of us (use your nights and weekends minutes so they're free) could eventually reach Hasbro and cause them to ramp up production, or at least have more confidence in the LTX line.
Second Prong: Now the gear is on shelves nationwide, sitting right next to the horribly inferior Jakks Pacific stuff and maybe even some outdated Laser Command gear (though there is a very handsome caricature on the Laser Command box, if I do say so myself 
)... But store employees might not appreciate the differences between the gear, and, as I have seen many times, they may put Laser Challenge, Laser Command, or even completely incorrect items in front of it, leading the average store-goer to bad conclusions about what item to get. Please, please be sure to police the toy aisles any time you pass through a store selling Lazer Tag and make sure that they are displayed prominently and in the correct spot. You could even push the other gear back a few inches so that the LTX stands out, but... would that really be honest of us?
Third Prong: This is one that may not fly with all retailers, but if you are willing to put forth a small effort, it will probably pay off for the sport. Go into all the retailers in your area which sell the LTX and offer to demo a set which you have already purchased so that buyers can get a better idea of how the gear works and compare it with others on the shelves. I know Toys R Us was very receptive of this back when Lazer Tag Team Ops was around, and I am sure the other chains would not object to anything which prevents a repeat of their liquidating stock at a loss to themselves. Be sure to bring a flier with and have some times worked out ahead of time, as well. Demos can be done in the toy section or out in the parking lots. Remember, the more players and gear you have, the better received this will be by those looking on. Also, try to bring some of the old gear with to show that they work together, because not everyone who has LTTO will know that.
Alright, those are the operations which must be completed to ensure a successful mission. Good luck, and, as always, this message will self-destruct in 5 seconds.
PS - If anyone has more suggestions or ideas, please list them here, and also links to any work you do on this project. I'd love to see photos of tag clubs demoing the gear in or at stores carrying it, as well. Let's work together to ensure Lazer Tag stays around for a long time!
PPS - Please post this anywhere and everywhere you think taggers will see it!
http://www.nucleardawn.us
Urbana-Champaign Games
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