Does anyone have this (or can answer my questions ^_^)?

[PitterPatter]

So I found this book thing in TK Maxx today, and I thought it was pretty cute so I bought it .
It's a G3 book with  some mini figures of the core 7 and a playmat.

I thought it was strange they were selling such old stock, given that they had some G4 stuff in, but then I saw the copyright on it. It's 2012. It seems officially licensed as it has the Hasbro logo, and a little disclaimer on the back that all the art work etc is intellectual property of Hasbro.

What I can't understand it why they have either re-printed this when G3 isn't current, or why Hasbro would allow license of non-current pony types.

Has anyone else got this? Or bought it years ago, or even recently? Does anyone else think it's weird?

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[Tulips]

Those are in for sale here in Australia too (I think maybe at Myer?), I thought they were just old stock but wow copyright 2012? That's funny

[scarletjul]

I think the book got reprinted/re-released as I remember it going on clearance at Borders at the end of the g3 line.

[partypony566]

Hmm I think I know what that is, but I'm sure it was out years ago, not just last year. Huh 

Must be a re print or something....tk maxx do stock some random stuff sometimes!

[TrixieStix]

My boyfriend got this book for his niece on Xmas. It's adorable, all the figures look pretty neat and she had a blast making them travel the road across the map. She also invited her La Dee Da doll to the party.

I believe he got it on Amazon.com. I'd never seen it before then, but have started to see more G3 merch hiding behind the G4 coloring books/stickers.

Looks like they are manufacturing a little of the G3 still in books/kid activities.

[sparkleset80]

I think the book got reprinted/re-released as I remember it going on clearance at Borders at the end of the g3 line.

Same here!

[majikarte]

I think I've seen this at Winners here? That's strange about the date though. That looks like it's by the same company as the Stuck On Stories book?

[PitterPatter]

Hmm I think I know what that is, but I'm sure it was out years ago, not just last year. Huh 

Must be a re print or something....tk maxx do stock some random stuff sometimes!

TK Maxx are indeed random.
But I do think so is Hasbro to allow these sorts of re-prints. I mean, what if all the kids go crazy (perhaps unlikely but stick with me) for these versions of the ponies but can't get the toys. Especially as we don't really have the cartoons, so it's not like they can be sucked in by FIM.

I can well imagine she had a great time TrixieStix! The little figures are so cute. It's a great thing to get a book/pictures and then stuff to use your imagination with ^_^

[Chi]

I saw it at TJ Maxx/Marshalls. It's pretty cute but I wonder why it would've been reprinted. Maybe it was doing well in sales...? o3o

[TrixieStix]

I mean, what if all the kids go crazy (perhaps unlikely but stick with me) for these versions of the ponies but can't get the toys. Especially as we don't really have the cartoons, so it's not like they can be sucked in by FIM.

I can well imagine she had a great time TrixieStix! The little figures are so cute. It's a great thing to get a book/pictures and then stuff to use your imagination with ^_^

True true, if they were to read all the stories about I dunno Star Catcher, Starsong etc., it would be neat to be able and find them in the store to compliment the book.

Maybe since the G3 gen is sticking around in the second hand market? A kid has the books and then they find the toys at a sale, awesome! Or a child has been given the G3s from another sibling/garage sales and finds the stories/stickers to go with them.

The book/map/toy combination is the best!

[lovesbabysquirmy]

Hasbro could care less if stores are selling their old stock.  After all, it was ordered, shipped, and stocked in a warehouse over 4 years ago, and they were already paid for it 4 years ago. 

Plus you were shopping in TJ Maxx - they specialize in discontinued merchandise that didn't sell at regular stores, so the warehouse sells it to TJ Maxx at a discount.  If it wasn't for the fact that all the warehouses are cleared out of it, you could potentially find G3, G2 or G1.  :-p

[nativecentaur]

If its the book with the figures that I think it is, Barnes and Noble is still getting fresh stock of those all the time. They were on a front-of-store display for at least six months last year. If not more, it's hard to remember exactly. They're bargain-priced items.

But B&N is always getting G3 stuff in stock for the kids department. My best friend is the kid's lead and she'd always run over to the cafe to tell me about new stuff we got in. It was always G3, which was slightly disappointing.

[RAMChYLD]

I just bought a copy a few days ago, at Borders. And yeah, I thought it was old stock too. I suspect it's a reprint. Still, nice to see some G3 instead of G4.

[Diamond]

Not so strange, it depends on what is cheaper for a company to use, an out of production license or a current one. 

At Micheals the other day we saw a G3 Coloring Book (bore 7 clone pose era), a G3.5 one and a G4 Puzzle book, all on the same self.

[hathorcat]

Yup - what Diamond says

Hasbro are a toy company after all but they also make a lot of money from licensing current and past lines/generations - just because G4 is current doesnt mean Hasbro loose the rights or stop issuing licensing for earlier generations. They put a lot of time and effort and money into G3 - the characters and the stock art and the concept are still strong and still work for a certain target market, why should they not sell a license if someone wants to purchase it?

Yes in the toys they have moved on and will not re make G3 items but they will still sell product licenses for the characters for 3rd parties to use as they please. After all look at all the G1 merchandise - t-shirts and accessories - which are showing up. Thats an even older license they are selling!

You will often find companies which produce perhaps not the highest end products, purchase licenses for older generations in order to ensure they still have a product for that line but it means they do not have to bid and buy more expensive licenses for current products.

Also this licencee will have invested in the book and the concept, why should they go to the effort and cost to recreate it if they still have retailers willing to take the product?