Generation 4

[ladyofthenight]

Anyone older than the target demographic (children aged 3-10) would be considered bronies, at least IMO. Parents of children who watch the show would be the ones in control of the finances and the ones buying the toys. I can understand blind bags being popular, and things like plushies and Build a Bear will always sell, which provides a large chunk of Hasbro's income. But the brushables are garbage. I can assure you that no parent will want to buy their daughter 5 Twilights, 3 Pinkies and 8 Rainbow Dashes that are 99% the same, unless they had more money than sense and never said no to anything. Yet Hasbro continues to produce different versions of the mane 6 brushables, and the quality never improves – therefore someone has to be buying them constantly, and if it's not the parents, it comes down to collectors and bronies.

I am a G4 collector, and I don't buy every variation of the mane 6, but I know there are some who do, and I know there are bronies who buy every variation of their favourite character in every format they're released in, including the brushables. If they keep selling out on toys that are poor quality, what incentive does Hasbro have to change the designs or materials?

 

[Somepony]

Here I totally disagree, sorry.
My own daughter have oh so many brushies and I believe there are much doubles there - this is the nearest example of parants having no sense . Parents usually do not investigate into their children toys, they buy according to their own needs making child happy/education/encouraging/etc., but the toy choice is almost always for kid's. Also I disagree G4 brushies being "garbage". I personally don't buy them for myself, yes, 'cause I am seeking the best characters representation, but don't forget that child's needs and tastes differs from our. And along with each new pony generation there are a new kid's generation, who love them dearly, and some of them will preserve this love for G4 toys when they will be adults just like you loving older gens now.

therefore someone has to be buying them constantly, and if it's not the parents, it comes down to collectors and bronies.

By the word "Brony" I for myself mean the guy/girl that deeply loves MLP:FiM, and not being just a casual fan, liking today this and tomorrow that. The majority of such people can be considered much older than 10 years. These are not childs, at least not childs that counts solely on parents to buy ponies. Maybe I am using word "Brony" wrong, but there is no more accurate term right now to express what I mean. As for casual fans, they usually not caring so much for toy appearance, and in these sense not differs from the majority of toy buyers.

Also, this is the main site for collectors, right? And how many are us here? A little more than 3000 registered members. Even if count those who never registers - let say it will be 30 000? It is nothing compared to hundreds millions of kids all over the world who knew ponies and want to rescue them from stores and adopt at home

To sum up - parents are the main buyers of toys though, I am sure. And bronies cannot do much with it, and know what? Maybe it is for good. Don't forget that the main toy spirit is to bring joy and be played with, not just standing on shelves...

It will be curious though to see the real Hasbro statistics, if it exists, even only to better understand the Brony phenomenon.

P.S. I also think that much of your guys rejection of G4 toys (which I saw in this thread) comes from not acceptance of changes. It is perfectly understandable and I guess normal, but please do give credit for those who come to MLP only in G4 times.