ZipZap sales vs Microsizers.
 

In the Detroit, MI. area Radio Shacks, you can't find a ZZ. They are selling full lots the day the cars ship at most locations. I've checked six or seven stores in the past few weeks looking for them without any luck. In contrast, I can get Microsizers anywhere and some hobby stores are complaining about weak sales. Add the grotesque amount of knock offs and I think the ZZ may end up the overall winner this X-Mas season.

The name is catchy with kids and the Dads like to see the 'Classic American' body styles. The first thing out of my mouth when looking at the Microsizers was, 'Judas, no Vette, Viper or even a Ferrari body? What the heck is with all these foreign rides?' ( Keep in mind I'm from the Detroit area, we tend to think American Models. I quickly settled for the Honda S2000. )

The ZZ's lack in detail and performance in many cases, but the name recognition and body styles may give them an edge.

Anyone want to comment further?

-AceQ-

ps. ( I like the Microsizer better than the ZZ but want the elongated body for experimentation. )

Honestly I think the one thing that turns some people off to Microsizers and Bits from hobby shops is the price.
I know that's what happened to me.

The ZZs were $20 a pop. I was looking at my options when I first started a few weeks back and the local hobby shops wanted $30-$45 a pop for Microsizers and Bits.

That was just way too much for me to just start out and try these things out. I just orderd 2 ZZs with the rationalization that I was getting 2 for the price of one from a hobby shop.

I really enjoyed my ZZs and I liked them enough to research more and find out reasons to buy a couple of Bits. These I paid about $30 a piece for after shipping but that was after I made the initial jump into the hobby so it was easier to justify to myself. I already knew I was gonna like them.

If they could offer the Microsizers at closer to $20 I think they'd do better (not that I think they can sell them for that cheap). That's a smaller chunk of change for someone walking in off the street and just looking to try it.

Also ZZs had the advantage of lots of advertisement and press. Hell we had an article in the local Sunday newspaper around here and the town sold out the next day. I had to order online to get mine.

Perhaps if they advertised in the newspaper while the ZZs are so hot they could better take advantage of the Hype and sell more Microsizers.

IMO

I have to agree, its the price. Most individual hobby stores like to increase the price on import items as well as the new stuff.

But I'm going to invest into a microsizer because I want to have a 49mhz frequency. So far I have the microsizer body set, and I have just ordered their gear set and stabilizer kit; 5.99, better than seeking out the Bit-Char ones which most online stores sell them at the ten dollar mark each.

Well oddly i've found these prices.

ZZ - $20
Knock off Jp brands - $14-$18
Knock off USA brands - $18-$22
Microsizers - $25 ( lots of them around here for $25 ) - $40
Imported Tomy Bit - $35 after shipping.

I'll pay $5 more for the Microsizer but understand most people can't get them for less than $30. When dealing with supply and demand though. The ZZ is sold out for most while the Microsizers just rot on the shelves. I think the ZZ has the word of mouth needed to continue strong sales and the hobby shops are going to have to lower prices quite a bit to compete.

-AceQ-

And they have Shaq selling them too! They have a cool full-size cut-out of him holding 3 or 4 ZZ's in one hand at the store!

Here in pontiac I got a MicroSizer from Meijers for $24.99 and at walmart I got a hold of a cheap copy bit that is faster than the MS but has only one steering coil and no front suspension and a seperate charging base $13.88.
I have checked around at several of the Radio Shack stores for ZZ's and got lucky and found some at the store in keego harbor and actually the salespeople at that store are very helpful.

The ZipZaps are by far the hottest selling micro's around here right now while at Meijers 8-to-12 MicroSizers sit on the shelf.

I hate Radio Shack and Shaq.

Just call me disgruntled. LOL :p

Hobbico needs to do more advertising to push there product so it sells.

Yeah I wonder how many people would just buy Microsizers rather than deal with product shortages from Radio Shack right now. If they only know that they existed and where to buy them from. I can think of 3 hobby shops with them in stock right now in my area.
(But the prices are still so high around here. $40 for a microsizer is just too much...)

But I don't think the average person puts much research into buying things like this.
Probably just "Oh well RS it out of stock. Maybe I'll try later."

My first purchase was a zz. Then I found the Microsizers. I did notice, and let me know if anyone else found this to be true, the ZZ is louder AND slower than the microsizer out of the box. My hobby shop was selling the microsizers for $40.....$30 on sale.

This whold new level has some intersting aspects.

The first is where is Hasbro but mostly where is Mattel? This would fit greate with their Hotwheels-Tyco RC lines. With their acces to a huge lot of body styles I wonder when this 800 ton gorilla will hit or like Microsizer lost the window due to thinking they had time and room.

Microsizer had their window and lost it by there own poor timing and wating for Xmas. From when slashdot { destroyer of sites } had the first blurb about hyper tiny RC car, through Aug they HAD a window. But no marketing, no product, no effory, prices around an inport or even more. To Tomy it proably does not matter if you buy one of their or a repackage Microsizer. They will get payed. I still have not seen any Microsizers except of a Hobby Town near me. And 8 dollars for a 2.2 is a bit much! For their price I can order an import and get 2nd-3rd generation designed. They are basically selling first gen and no dual speed units. Also even the guys and gals in Austrila got basically the same Tomy packaging slighter alter and in english but a braned Tomy RC. Microsizers should have keep the intersting name instead of Microsizes. Name means everting. As some character said in a move "It sings". Which is more intersting and tells a bit about the product? Microsizers, Bit chr-G or ZipZap?

The price of 19.95 to around 24.95 or even 27.95 is not bad and worth it. I am use to import prices, shipping etc so 35 for a Japanes bit is not that much of a shock.

I think RS got it right down the line.

1) Its at a magic price point of 19.95. I have done price point calc and 19.95 is magic since it still feels like it around 10 dollars.
2) Detuned enough to have a good margin on componets life.
3) Package to sell. By peg rack or by hook.
4) Avaiable { if in stock ;) } in over 5000+ stores. Back in the early to mid 80's I did some custom products and conversion for Tandy and understand even one copy to a store means good sales! They knew this before Walmart!
5) They hit hard and very strong compared to Microsizer being slow out of the gate and weak.
6) US car bodies both real and unreal.
7) Both word of mouth and a base of people preset for them before they evern were released! Tv ad, print ads are very expensive. Word of mouth is the best ad you can possibly have.
8) Basically cheep addons. That add up to proffit for them as you start to have fun with it.

A ZZ is not the best or worst and not the first or the last but its there and does do what its need to do.

There a lot of reasons but I think the winner are as follows.

1) Tomy. On 2nd and 3rd generation.
2) Radio Shack. Marketing clout. Decent product. Distrbution up the wazu!
3) Clones. Because of price.
4) Microsizers { if they survive } Bad price point and no marketing.

I agree with that. I only wish the Microsizer market was bigger. If it was, I wouldn't have to be concerned with importing products and purchasing everything online. As it is now, I'm hesitating on the purchase of products assuming they will be 1/2 off after x-mas and I can just reap the benefits of a failed marketing blunder.

Being forced to purchase motors / chasis and other things through online import or ... ebay at a worste case doesn't sound like fun. I've told everyone I know that Meijers has them for $25 and they need to purchase them quick because who knows how long they will last. I imported the Gen #1 special edition cars without the booster to stay compatible with the cars my friends can get locally...

The first thing out of my mouth everytime is this:
If you can find a ZZ get one. They have cheaper mods and they run pretty quick. If you can't, go to Meijers and pick up the Microsizer. The mods from the ZZ's will be compatible to a point and they are 100% compatible with the real jp imports...

-AceQ-

i hate ZZ i hate domestic cars except for a couple and **** whos gonna race with a PT cruiser

I guess Microsizers thought they had a window with the spike bing this xmas. With delay after delay then RS with their cars I bet they are burning the midnight oil trying to figure a way out.

I agree with the 1/2 off at year end.

no more ms????????
 

awwwww
i think they will all go onsale after xmas
dang rs is sold out
after xmas, theyll have too many
getting mine then