What is your definition of a toy and of merchandise?

Some people keep track of their collections, on listings or databases, or to quote an approximate number to others... not to compete or gloat against others. (it also helps with official records like insurance or promotional material)
So what would your definition of the following be?

Toy -

Merchandise -

Or more to the point, what would be included and excluded from those definitions?
How playable must an item be to be classified as something intended to be a toy?
And does anything that is officially licensed, count as merchandise, no matter how unusual or disliked it is?
And yes, toys could be considered merchandise, even if it is a Toyline first that generates its own merchandise (like Transformers).

(some of you may know why I'm asking about a definition for merchandise, because if I am to submit a total count of all Transformers merchandise that I own, do I count everything with an official Transformers label on it... because previously, I've only ever counted "toys" which I had originally deemed as being items intended to be played with, but is that definition accurate as well?)

I personally only see toys as something that can be played with and/or is designed and intended for play. How can a toy be a toy if I can't toy around with it?

e.g. I cannot toy around with a bust or a statue; the most I can do is stare at them, thus I don't consider them toys. And if they do count as toys, then about other statues? Do statues in parks, outside museums etc. count as toys? Do the creepy statues of Ronald McDonald sitting on benches at Maccas count as toys? Is the statue of the Aussie soldier standing vigilant on Anzac Bridge count as a toy? For me they don't.

But then again, what about other toys that aren't Transformers toys but bear the Transformers logo (and are licensed)? Transformers frisbees, kites, bicycles, skateboards, board games, yo-yos etc. These are all things that can be toyed with; they can be played with. Do they count as Transformers toys or are they toys that simply bear the Transformers brand?

I guess for me it needs to be:
a/ Something that can be played/toyed with; i.e. what would be commonly deemed as an action figure
b/ Something that represents a Transformer character
c/ Something that is marketed or branded as part of the mainstream Transformers action figure line

Anything else counts as merchandise at best to me. To be honest, any method of classification and counting will always be subjective.

Just my thoughts, but..

I would be thinking that merchandise would be objects that can perform their own function, independent of the brand (am/fm radio, toothbrush, shampoo, watch, zipper clip etc.), but have been marketed using a brand name.

In my mind, a transformers toy would be a transforming robot which depends on the character and storyline to exist.

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Originally Posted by Ultra Mackness

In my mind, a transformers toy would be a transforming robot which depends on the character and storyline to exist.

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By my understanding of this definition...

* Action Masters don't count since they don't transform
* G1 Rescue Force doesn't count since they have no character or storyline, and arguably the late G1 Constructicons
* Likewise the Real Gear Robots
* Kabaya model kits sold with confectionery do count as they are characters that exist within storylines and do transform
* the transforming Optimus Prime 07 movie DVD case counts since it transforms and is a character tied to a storyline
* Transformable Happy Meal exclusive characters like Under-3 counts since it can transform and has made canonical appearances
* The Motorvators' Energon figures don't count as they've never appeared canonically, but the Brainmasters' individual Brain figures do count because they have appeared in canon (even if it's only during transformation sequences) - even though the Energon figures are repaints of the same mould. Similarly Giga and Mega count separately but Hasbro Overlord's Energon figures do not.
* Then there's the question of how to count other figures individually or separately; does G1 Fortress Maximus count as:
1 toy?
2 toys (Fort Max + Cerebros)?
3 toys (Fort Max + Cerebros + Spike Witwicky)?
4 toys (Fort Max + Cerebros + Spike Witwicky + Cog)?
5 toys (Fort Max + Cerebros + Spike Witwicky + Gasket + Grommet)?

I'd personally rather leave canon out of counting toys as it can get really messy.

Some good points Gok.

Perhaps it's easier to differentiate merchandise as as objects performing their function independent of the storyline/mythology/canon.

As I see it - if it's an action figure that is meant to be part of the mainstream action figure line then it's a "toy." Anything else is "merchandise." Basically if I can see the toy in a Transformers catalogue then it's a toy and if not then it's merch. I know that they don't print catalogues anymore, but we can also look at what tfwiki defines as toys and merchandise and use that as a standard.

e.g. Optimus Primal/toys
In Section 1 of this page we can see a long list of Optimus Primal toys, then in Section 2 we can see a list of merchandise. And some of that merch fits the definition of "transformable characters with a storyline" such as Happy Meal and confectionery toys, but they are listed as merchandise. This is the standard that I go with.

https://i.ibb.co/SmVxJDS/temp.jpg

Oh good, here comes Pandora and her now-open box....

I'll keep it simple.

For me, it either transforms or it's an Action Master. Otherwise it doesn't count. How others choose to classify... is their business :)

Umm.. if its sold in the toy section its a toy. Otherwise its a merchandise item.

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Originally Posted by GoktimusPrime

...but we can also look at what tfwiki defines as toys and merchandise and use that as a standard.

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I just use the TFwiki classification, but I was looking at the site, and unable to find the criteria they use for said classification.

Hmm, I am in two minds about BotBots. I'd go with 'toy' rather than 'merchandise'. TFwiki does the same, and lists the merchandising for that line separately from the transformable action figures of that line.

It's all subjective and TFwiki's criteria isn't better or worse than anyone else's, but being more publicly visible I guess it can represent what might be a general consensus.

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Originally Posted by Autocon

Umm.. if its sold in the toy section its a toy. Otherwise its a merchandise item.

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By this criterion Transformers skateboards, balls, frisbees etc all count as a Transformers toys. :) Btw I'm not saying that you're right or wrong, just pointing out that your criterion is a very broad one.

I was asking about the definition of a "toy" in general, not a "Transformers action figure Toy" (which is the tangent most of the posts here have gone off to already)... so why can't a licensed Transformers ball or skateboard could be considered toys, since all toys are essentially "merchandise" for a Brand.
Back to the original question in the first post... how would you define a "toy", and how would you define "merchandise" (understanding that they aren't mutually exclusive - one could include the other).

Think it all comes down to original intent. What was the original purpose? In tf case a toy that is a plastic figure Everything else is merchandise. If its a toy using tf branding eg hot wheel cars for star wars then its a merchandising toy.

A skateboard is a sporting good but a tshirt with the skateboarding brand would be merchandise. Original context of the item.

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Originally Posted by Ultra Mackness

Perhaps it's easier to differentiate merchandise as as objects performing their function independent of the storyline/mythology/canon.

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I'd go with this for Merchandise... It's similar to what I would have said.

Glassware, lunchboxes, clothing, cutlery, ice creams etc.

I'm far more lenient on toys. In that just about everything else is a toy.

I consider statues toys. Expensive toys, that don't "do" much but toys none the less. Puzzles, card/board/computer games, yo-yo's, happy meals, models all toys.

In defining a toy, I would say it's something that entertains you.

Oxford Dictionary states:
"An object for a child to play with, typically a model or miniature replica of something."

The whole concept of action figures blurs this line, but I think that toys that are the representation of a character (regardless of whether that character exists in show/comic/back of the card) are toys, whereas merchandise are items (typically licensed) that is reflective of the brand in general.

This helps split the line between "toys" and "other playthings" - balls, boardgames, videogames, etc.

Speaking specifically to transformers, this means that any character released by Hasbro is a toy, while any other TF related item (the MiltonBradley puzzles, walkey-talkeys, visors, licensed backpacks, etc) are merchandise.

There is no reason why a skateboard or a yo-yo cannot be classified as Transformers toys. Semantically speaking if you can play with it then it's a toy. The word "toy" is of Germanic origin and just means "plaything." Heck, Toy Story Four seems to be exploring what one considers a 'toy' with the character of Forky. According to what's been shown in the trailer, Forky is literally a plastic spork that the kid has made into a toy, and thus it has come to life through the power of the child's imagination and love for the toy that she's made. But Forky rebels as he clearly does not view himself as a toy but rather as a disposable utensil.

But I digress... :p In answering the question posed by the thread topic: "What is your definition of a toy and of merchandise?", I'd say that the general consensus is that action figures count as Transformers toys while other stuff counts as merchandise. As with all systems of classification this was always going to be highly subjective. Even scientific classification systems can be subjective... like remember when we were kids and Pluto was a planet? ;)

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Originally Posted by GoktimusPrime

There is no reason why a skateboard or a yo-yo cannot be classified as Transformers toys. Semantically speaking if you can play with it then it's a toy. The word "toy" is of Germanic origin and just means "plaything." Heck, Toy Story Four seems to be exploring what one considers a 'toy' with the character of Forky. According to what's been shown in the trailer, Forky is literally a plastic spork that the kid has made into a toy, and thus it has come to life through the power of the child's imagination and love for the toy that she's made. But Forky rebels as he clearly does not view himself as a toy but rather as a disposable utensil.

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Spoilers!! :p

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Originally Posted by GoktimusPrime

But I digress... :p In answering the question posed by the thread topic: "What is your definition of a toy and of merchandise?", I'd say that the general consensus is that action figures count as Transformers toys while other stuff counts as merchandise. As with all systems of classification this was always going to be highly subjective. Even scientific classification systems can be subjective... like remember when we were kids and Pluto was a planet? ;)

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Not my consensus. Action Figures are a subset of toy, however plenty of other stuff based on transformers are also subsets of toys, ergo, Transformer toys.

But then, I'm not going to go around and count my collection or classify what is what, so maybe my opinion doesn't matter. :)

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Originally Posted by KELPIE

Not my consensus.

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Obviously. An individual consensus is a contradiction in terms. Kinda like Starscream solely electing himself as leader. :p

The debate seems to be coming down to where do you place the non-action figure Transformers toys.

It's like there's three tiers of collection, rather than two
1 - Transformers (the toys representing individual characters)
2 - Transformers-themed toys (skateboards, puzzles, Rubik's cubes, etc)
3 - Transformers-themed merchandise (backpacks, books, clothes, etc)

Therefore it becomes a question of where do you place Category 2.
I personally consider it part of Category 3, as they are more merchandise around the concept rather than the toyline that was about heroic Autobots battling evil Decepticons.

but some things can be kinda grey... like Transformers Juniors - are they merch or action figures? As a kid I considered them merch. I had TF Jr. Ultra Magnus and Galvatron which I found in an Asian grocery store, but I thought that they were merch so I never took care of them like I did with my other TF toys so they ended up being lost. Later in the 90s I found TF Jr Convoy/Chromedome/Fort Max at a collectible store and bought that set, but by that time I considered them toys so I've taken care of those toys and I still have them in my collection. The only thing that changed between the 80s and 90s is my opinion of TF Jrs shifting from viewing them as merch to viewing them as action figures. In the 80s I thought that they weren't much better than Happy Meal toys. I never saw them in toy stores or department stores but only at an Asian grocery store one time when my mum was shopping at Cabramatta.

Then there's the burning question... is Time Warrior an action figure or merchandise? ;)

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Originally Posted by GoktimusPrime

Then there's the burning question... is Time Warrior an action figure or merchandise? ;)

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He is in a toy catalogue, so...

I would consider the non-transforming mail order STARS Command Centre as a toy and part of a Transformers collection (despite TF Wiki regarding it as merchandise). :)

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Originally Posted by Dan

I would consider the non-transforming mail order STARS Command Centre as a toy and part of a Transformers collection (despite TF Wiki regarding it as merchandise). :)

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;)
https://i.ibb.co/crBsRhG/photoskit-m...tstarsbase.jpg

Merchandise and Toys can be Interchangeable with one another depending on the brand/item
In the case of transformers franchise.

I define the toy
As a the main item being focused on which is ethier the playable representation of a character or/and alternate mode that may transform or not transform made by Takara-Tomy and Hasbro.

I define merchandise
as sometime not considered as the main item not being focused on in this case the toy and licenced by Hasbro and Takara=Tomy

With this being said my personal preference is i do not get any toy that dose not transform which is the point of the theme of Transformers but, i might buy merchandise like a mug with an autobot logo

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Originally Posted by GoktimusPrime

;)
https://i.ibb.co/crBsRhG/photoskit-m...tstarsbase.jpg

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What a great use of cardboard.