A Florida mom was successful boycotting a major retailer because she believed that they should not be selling a line of toys because it was morally wrong and inappropriate to be sold along with other kids toys.
Susan Schrivjer, of Fort Myers, recently started a petition for change, on what else but Change.org. She got enough followers and publicity from doing so, that the major toy retailer, Toys R Us, announced that they would be pulling the questionable product from their shelves and website. The retailer also stated that the toys future sales would be taking an indefinite sabbatical.
The targeted toys of Susan's petition were some action figures...not just any action figures, but action figures based on a show intended for adults and mature teenagers (rated TV-14 for violent sequences of action, disturbing images, language, strong drug content, and sexual themes). The Heisenberg (Bryan Cranston) figure, includes a duffle bag to stash the "toy" gun, cash and bag of crystal meth accessories that come with the toy. Jessie Pinkman's (Idaho's own Aaron Paul) figure, includes a gas mask for protecting himself from meth fumes while making the same....these are clearly toys meant for adult collectors and fans of the show...
The Breaking Bad show obviously enjoyed a highly successful run on tv...but now the figures of the shows' stars were being sold in the same store that Mom's and Dad's go to purchase their first Christmas gifts for their little ones... so this Florida Mom said "enough!". She could not fathom seeing these products, that glamorized drugs and immoral behavior, being within hands reach of impressionable young kids that were perusing the aisles looking for their next "got to have" toy.
Mezco Toyzs appears to be the manufacturer of these 6" action figures...and their own website currently shows the Heisenberg and Pinkman figures to currently be "out of stock"...the abrupt pulling of the product has already spurned collectors snapping up available product to resell on e-bay and Amazon for meth type prices...
This is a case of a corporation acquiescing quickly to a smaller number of consumer concerns in order to avert the situation turning into a larger public relations disaster. All it took was one lone Mom who questioned, then rejected, the sales practices behind Geoffry's marketing machine! Great job Susan!
