Do companies really care what we think ?

[Spinosaurus Aegyptiacus]

Concavenator and Mauro, I'll say this again. Perhaps your suggestions and the production of those models was a happy coincidence...I doubt it caused Safari decide to do the Sucho and plants in the first place. To say the opinion of one or even ten people matters to a company whose purpose, in the end, must be to make money, is simply illogical. Read my above comments and those of TQ for the information. To simply continue to say "Well, Safari did the Prehistoric Plants because of me," is just disregarding all of the reasoned points everyone else has made. Maybe Doug Watson, who we are fortunate enough to have on the DTF, observes dinosaurs suggested by others, and maybe he suggests them to Safari; I don't know. But to say that one customer's personal suggestion (keeping in mind that some of these members that are saying they have suggested dinos to Safari are children) matters to Safari is, in my opinion, illogical. I would love, however, to hear a reasoned and logical reason why my opinion is wrong (or right, that works too!  ).

[Takama]

Yeah, I see now. I guess I got a bit excited about the possibility considering I suggested a walking Quetzalcoatlus to Safari a while ago.

Quite honestly, (and this isn't to quash anyone's dreams...) I think that Safari and other companies could care less what people suggest. For instance, Papo probably didn't come out with a Dilo just because people from the DTF suggested it; the Dilophosaurus was bound to come from Papo sooner or later. Same with other dinos and other companies.
So when people say things like, "Oh, Papo will probably come out with a Giganotosaurus in 2014 because we suggested it," that's probably not true; you're thinking a bit too highly of yourself! 
Just my opinion, though. Companies might be willing to listen to random individuals who say "Hey, you should do a Quetz!" but I seriously doubt it.

Safari Cares about the suggestions that we members come up with.  That Monolophosaurus was Requested by me(Though I doubt that I was alone when it was requested) Safari comes up with an inspiration list that is full of fan and customer requests.  I can say the same for CollectA, but I can not say the same for Papo, and Schleich doesn't give a hoot about collectors, all they care about is the cash rolling into there bank account.

Pardon me for saying this, but I seriously doubt that your suggestion had anything to do with the fact that Safari decided to produce the beautiful Monolophosaurus. If it did, awesome, but it would probably take more than even 10 suggestions for the same dinosaur for Safari to even read the suggestion. Companies, as a general rule, exist to make money. Not to cater to every single person or even dino model collector in the world.
However, again, this is just my opinion.

Im not saying That they did it because of my single request, im sure there's plenty of people who asked for one

PS Perhaps Someone with the ability can split this topic into a thread discussing rather or not Company's care about our suggestions.

[Spinosaurus Aegyptiacus]

Yeah, I see now. I guess I got a bit excited about the possibility considering I suggested a walking Quetzalcoatlus to Safari a while ago.

Quite honestly, (and this isn't to quash anyone's dreams...) I think that Safari and other companies could care less what people suggest. For instance, Papo probably didn't come out with a Dilo just because people from the DTF suggested it; the Dilophosaurus was bound to come from Papo sooner or later. Same with other dinos and other companies.
So when people say things like, "Oh, Papo will probably come out with a Giganotosaurus in 2014 because we suggested it," that's probably not true; you're thinking a bit too highly of yourself! 
Just my opinion, though. Companies might be willing to listen to random individuals who say "Hey, you should do a Quetz!" but I seriously doubt it.

Safari Cares about the suggestions that we members come up with.  That Monolophosaurus was Requested by me(Though I doubt that I was alone when it was requested) Safari comes up with an inspiration list that is full of fan and customer requests.  I can say the same for CollectA, but I can not say the same for Papo, and Schleich doesn't give a hoot about collectors, all they care about is the cash rolling into there bank account.

Pardon me for saying this, but I seriously doubt that your suggestion had anything to do with the fact that Safari decided to produce the beautiful Monolophosaurus. If it did, awesome, but it would probably take more than even 10 suggestions for the same dinosaur for Safari to even read the suggestion. Companies, as a general rule, exist to make money. Not to cater to every single person or even dino model collector in the world.
However, again, this is just my opinion.

Im not saying That they did it because of my single request, im sure there's plenty of people who asked for one

PS Perhaps Someone with the ability can split this topic into a thread discussing rather or not Company's care about our suggestions.

Yes, that'd be great. Dr. Admin? or Blade?
As to your comment about it possibly not being just you who asked for Monolophosaurus (a pretty obscure dino, and not likely to get recommended by Safari's main customer base, but whatever), please just read the comments already posted by TQ and I. I'm not going to repeat myself again, because that'd get really annoying, but you can just read what my response is by reading what I've already said about three times.
Cheers!

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Why not just re-title this one ?  Since there is no new Carnegie Quetz to speak of. 

[Spinosaurus Aegyptiacus]

Why not just re-title this one ?  Since there is no new Carnegie Quetz to speak of. 

Lol. 
Great idea. Let the conversation resume!

[SBell]

Concavenator and Mauro, I'll say this again. Perhaps your suggestions and the production of those models was a happy coincidence...I doubt it caused Safari decide to do the Sucho and plants in the first place. To say the opinion of one or even ten people matters to a company whose purpose, in the end, must be to make money, is simply illogical. Read my above comments and those of TQ for the information. To simply continue to say "Well, Safari did the Prehistoric Plants because of me," is just disregarding all of the reasoned points everyone else has made. Maybe Doug Watson, who we are fortunate enough to have on the DTF, observes dinosaurs suggested by others, and maybe he suggests them to Safari; I don't know. But to say that one customer's personal suggestion (keeping in mind that some of these members that are saying they have suggested dinos to Safari are children) matters to Safari is, in my opinion, illogical. I would love, however, to hear a reasoned and logical reason why my opinion is wrong (or right, that works too!  ).

I don't know about the Suchomimus (I am guessing that the original was not a point of pride for Safari though--it came out the same year as the Dunkleosteus, one of their best ever).

I do know that, several years ago, I had a thread in the original forum where we put together a list of 12 potential prehistoric animals. Within a couple years we had at least the Inostrancevia, of all things! The Edmontosaurus was a later sell--literally. I was on the phone with Ramona who asked me to sell her on a dino with no 'remarkable' physical features. Of course, this was because of where I was working, the contacts I had made, and because they asked me to do it.

Later, in around the same time frame, we had also discussed the plants and how to make them fit with the dino line. This included doing a bit of quick research on varieties (they wanted ones that could be fairly broad in geographic and geologic scope).

Finally, in a late season request, they asked me to determine lists of prehistoric sharks, crocs and amphibians as toob figures. Again, I crowd-sourced here for suggestions, edited to keep it to 12 each (the norm at the time) and we actually have two of those toobs now (the amphibians was considered a little too risky at the time).

AND while discussing the crocs one with a list already together, the Sereno paper with the weird variety of Cretaceous African crocodilomorphs came out, at which point I suggested revisiting the toob list. My suggestion was that at least Kaprosuchus belonged there. I received a one-word email. "Done." I then confirmed--it would be a full-size figure.

The point of all of this?  They do listen. But you have to be more than a collector--I was managing a dinosaur museum, I was introduced directly to the president of the company by another collector that they respect greatly (Hi Randy!) and I had a good blend of business, science and hobbyist experience when creating suggestions and trying to justify them. It was a fairly involved process, and required more than me simply writing a message that said "we need plants" (well, a more nuanced version anyway). I actually created a full-on report with representative images to facilitate discussions.  It's probably part of the reason the Edmontosaurus has the turn-and-run pose; one of my arguments was that it was a classic T.rex dinner item! Also, some of these took a couple years from start to finish. It's not a quick turnaround.

But the big one? THEY asked ME for suggestions, which means they were already listening. Which helps, I suppose.

Oh, and one more from the days of glory--after 4 years at that museum pestering every company to make a brontothere, it was direct contact with Anthony Beeson that made the CollectA one happen. Again, introduced to him first, suggestions later.

I kind of miss doing that stuff, but the market is way more crowded now! And some, like Mojo, are willing to directly request suggestions. Others, less so.

[Spinosaurus Aegyptiacus]

SBell, thanks for a reasoned and logical post. This is basically exactly my point, however. You were not just a 13 year old child who emailed Safari and said "Hey, do an Edmontosaurus!" You had a relationship and they asked you for advice. You in turn asked DTF members. So I guess my basic point is that While I have no problem with people like you saying that a model happened because you recommended it, many people who say they're sure a model is going to happen because they suggested it are just thinking too highly of themselves. Does that make sense, or am I way off?

[tyrantqueen]

many people who say they're sure a model is going to happen because they suggested it are just thinking too highly of themselves. Does that make sense, or am I way off?

Sounds reasonable to me

[SBell]

many people who say they're sure a model is going to happen because they suggested it are just thinking too highly of themselves. Does that make sense, or am I way off?

Sounds reasonable to me

I don't know about the wording. Maybe, overestimating their influence?

[Spinosaurus Aegyptiacus]

many people who say they're sure a model is going to happen because they suggested it are just thinking too highly of themselves. Does that make sense, or am I way off?

Sounds reasonable to me

I don't know about the wording. Maybe, overestimating their influence?

Perhaps so. Or, just wishful thinking (quoting an earlier post from TQ)?

[Concavenator]

SBell, thanks for a reasoned and logical post. This is basically exactly my point, however. You were not just a 13 year old child who emailed Safari and said "Hey, do an Edmontosaurus!" You had a relationship and they asked you for advice. You in turn asked DTF members. So I guess my basic point is that While I have no problem with people like you saying that a model happened because you recommended it, many people who say they're sure a model is going to happen because they suggested it are just thinking too highly of themselves. Does that make sense, or am I way off?

When I suggest a dino for s company,I don't say "(E.g)Hey Carnegie why not releasing a new Allosaurus?"
I try to give at least two or three reasons,explaining why I think that figure would be succesful or even good.
For that matter,I think a WS Kosmoceratops would be great:they like to release ceratopsians,so this is one of the weirdest available.It'd be succesful as the other three are being,and it.'s an exotic species,and collectors love odd species.
An example 

[sauroid]

well, if dinosaur toy/figure collectors number by the several thousands, im sure those companies would be here in the DTF every single day listening all ears to what we say we want them to make.

[Spinosaurus Aegyptiacus]

SBell, thanks for a reasoned and logical post. This is basically exactly my point, however. You were not just a 13 year old child who emailed Safari and said "Hey, do an Edmontosaurus!" You had a relationship and they asked you for advice. You in turn asked DTF members. So I guess my basic point is that While I have no problem with people like you saying that a model happened because you recommended it, many people who say they're sure a model is going to happen because they suggested it are just thinking too highly of themselves. Does that make sense, or am I way off?

When I suggest a dino for s company,I don't say "(E.g)Hey Carnegie why not releasing a new Allosaurus?"
I try to give at least two or three reasons,explaining why I think that figure would be succesful or even good.
For that matter,I think a WS Kosmoceratops would be great:they like to release ceratopsians,so this is one of the weirdest available.It'd be succesful as the other three are being,and it.'s an exotic species,and collectors love odd species.
An example 

No offense, Concavenator, but again, I find it unlikely that Carnegie would really listen all that much to one or even multiple children, or for that matter, even most adults! Even those with three reasons. 
Companies exist to make money. If they catered to everyone's suggestions, we'd have tons of models every month! But we don't. As SBell's post pointed out, companies will listen to professionals they have a relationship with. But not everyone fits into that category.

[Mauro "Raptor86"]

"Companies exist to make money."

Yes, but to make money they have to give people what they want.

Anyway, even if Safari ltd. does not listen directly to our suggestions, it makes us believe they did it! Because they give us what we want. And this is very important for a company, IMO. Moreover, Safari ltd. is very active in the social media field and sometimes they have really asked the fan base for suggestions (in their facebook page, for instance), even if they were not followed (of course), people can think Safari ltd. will give them their desired animal in the future.
When Kaprosuchus was discovered a lot of fans posted in Safari ltd. FB page, writing it would be great to have it released in the next years. Maybe it would have been released anyway, but releasing it Safari made us think they cared about our opinion.

On the other hand, you have companies like Schleich and even PAPO, that are and seem very very far from their fan base...

CollectA is quite in the middle.

[postsaurischian]

The answer is pretty simple: They do as long as we buy!
Just our thinking won't feed their children.

I guess there had to be at least a few hundred serious inquiries before they consider doing a certain species.
I for one do not care too much about the subject because all these companies have been doing lots of stuff that I love anyway throughout the years. I can't even afford everything I'd love to .

[Mauro "Raptor86"]

A competitive company has to do its marketing research...

And I'll bet they sometimes have a look to forums and blogs.

[SBell]

"Companies exist to make money."

Yes, but to make money they have to give people what they want.

Anyway, even if Safari ltd. does not listen directly to our suggestions, it makes us believe they did it! Because they give us what we want. And this is very important for a company, IMO. Moreover, Safari ltd. is very active in the social media field and sometimes they have really asked the fan base for suggestions (in their facebook page, for instance), even if they were not followed (of course), people can think Safari ltd. will give them their desired animal in the future.
When Kaprosuchus was discovered a lot of fans posted in Safari ltd. FB page, writing it would be great to have it released in the next years. Maybe it would have been released anyway, but releasing it Safari made us think they cared about our opinion.

On the other hand, you have companies like Schleich and even PAPO, that are and seem very very far from their fan base...

CollectA is quite in the middle.

Maybe that is a strong point about Safari--they make people think their opinions mattered, when they are likely going to do whatever they are anyway.

Unless you are in conversation with the president of the company and she immediately responds "Done" to a suggestion. Perhaps then it's easy to know when it was decided

There's really no way to resolve any of this--people will assume that their influence is higher than it is, and nothing will change that opinion (considering the dissonant alternative, that an opinion or suggestion might not have had influence, which is tough on the ego).

[Spinosaurus Aegyptiacus]

"Companies exist to make money."

Yes, but to make money they have to give people what they want.

Anyway, even if Safari ltd. does not listen directly to our suggestions, it makes us believe they did it! Because they give us what we want. And this is very important for a company, IMO. Moreover, Safari ltd. is very active in the social media field and sometimes they have really asked the fan base for suggestions (in their facebook page, for instance), even if they were not followed (of course), people can think Safari ltd. will give them their desired animal in the future.
When Kaprosuchus was discovered a lot of fans posted in Safari ltd. FB page, writing it would be great to have it released in the next years. Maybe it would have been released anyway, but releasing it Safari made us think they cared about our opinion.

On the other hand, you have companies like Schleich and even PAPO, that are and seem very very far from their fan base...

CollectA is quite in the middle.

Maybe that is a strong point about Safari--they make people think their opinions mattered, when they are likely going to do whatever they are anyway.

Unless you are in conversation with the president of the company and she immediately responds "Done" to a suggestion. Perhaps then it's easy to know when it was decided

There's really no way to resolve any of this--people will assume that their influence is higher than it is, and nothing will change that opinion (considering the dissonant alternative, that an opinion or suggestion might not have had influence, which is tough on the ego).

Yet another extremely logical post from SBell. I couldn't agree more.

[DC]

And I'll bet they sometimes have a look to forums and blogs.

Look at it more than one-way. When an individual makes or sends in a suggestion to Safari Ltd or CollectA, they note it.  When enough people make the same suggestion, it causes them to look into it.  Both companies are aware of their customer base, which extends past DTF.  The value of your suggestion is you bring an animal or plant to their attention and they might look further into it.  Both companies weigh the Collector community as important.  Note Community rather than individuals.  Viral advertising keeps tabs on opinion from authority sites like DTF that influence opinion on the web.  There is technique call Big Data that allows them to input web posts to track trends.  NSA uses it to track terrorists.
Modern companies have staff who manages their internet image and message.  You can bet people at Schliech and Papo monitor opinion on the web, not just DTF, and that is part of the input into the process.  Advertising companies have specialists in Viral advertising who tell their customers about the web perception of their product and help them manage the message.  My opinion is that for, Schliech and Papo collectors like DTF weigh less in the decision process.  There are the independent Retailers, big box stores, preschool market etc.  All are important and they are weighed based on the how each company defines it market.  Next keep in mind that the to market process can take about 2 years or more so take a long view.
Yes, there is value in putting forward opinions and they can at least incrementally influence future figure choices.  When you make a suggestion about a figure they may be considering you could be confirming the choice.  So post, your ideas on DTF but reason them out and communicate clearly and politely.  You could be making a difference and shifting opinion no matter your age.  I hope it is not too much in the weeds but am an IT guy.

[tyrantqueen]

I look at it from a cynical point of view. Maybe that is depressing for some people, but at least I don't end up disappointed because I think that a company is going to make a toy of my favourite dinosaur just because I said so, when in actual reality that is never going to happen.

In other words, feel free to make suggestions. But don't expect them to happen.