From the TFW topic...
(because I don't want to get involved unless directly responded to, to be required to reply... and Pete looks to be selectively answering questions now, and ignoring anything previously posted by asking people to repost their questions... specifically noting that they can't be in "novel" form - I wonder who that was aimed at.)
If this had been asked a while back when more people were following the topic because they had some confidence in there being a response or it being read, I think it would have stirred up other critics on the band-wagon. Because objectively, a business should cater to it's greater customer base... however subjectively, I hate to say it, but I'd probably do the same in that situation.I have a concern as to what I think was a pretty big misstep by the company..
I know it's on the top of your priority list, Pete, so bare with me.
Why is it that the GIJCC got the new website treatment before the TCC? I'm not trying to belittle the Joe fan club (as one day I plan on checking out JoeCon), but the TCC is obviously the largest of the two clubs, so I'm having a problem with why the "little brother" had dibs on getting the club-member portion of it's site re-upped first.
From a "business man" stand point, I would have catered to my largest customer-base first.
The owners and original operators of FunPub (those who aren't Pete) have confirmed that they are still not Transformers Fans (as of 2012 & 2013 - I was really hoping that some would have by now, which was why I asked four of the most senior FunPub people)... so their passion remains with GIJoe, and to them, it would be easier and quicker to work on that Club first, and then copy the format and concepts across to fandoms they are not familiar with.
It would be like if I set up separate toy collector websites or clubs because there is an absence of it and there was demand for it, but it wouldn't matter if one of those other toy sites or clubs became bigger than my main love of Transformers... I'd probably prioritise the Transformers site/club, because it is more familiar and interesting to me, and then use that frame-work to other sites/clubs that I was not familiar with.
Admittedly though, I'm a "toy fan" in general, so I think I'd develop an interest in other toylines that I'd take on the responsibility for... which the FunPub people haven't done at all - develop an interest, or take seriously the responsibility Hasbro have given them to promote and nurture an interest in the Brand from *their* customers. (which is one of the reasons I still bother to try to help improve BotCon and the Club, for the benefit of fans and the Brand, not the benefit of FunPub anymore)