To satisfy my own concerns I've gone through my inventory of BRAND NEW still unopened merchandise and discovered that: Yes. There is an issue.
It would seem that overall, and I've heard this complaint posted elsewhere, Hasbro did not put their best efforts into the quality control on their Blind Bag Ponies. Perhaps they figured that because they were so small no one would notice, perhaps they figured since they sold for so little, that they needed to be cheapened.
In any event there are frequent and obvious problems with this line. Every Unicorn Pony in the Rarity pose has planing* on the edge of her front ear. Some have less, some have more, but if you LOOK for it, it's there. On every. single. one.
The Twilight Sparkle pose Unicorns fared slightly better most only having slight burring** to their outer ear, facing away from their front.
Unfortunately, the list goes on. Their are paint misses on several of the light colored ponies leaving them marked. The Pegasus Ponies are prone to having bent wings (which can be fixed if you're gentle) or planing on their left (back side) ears. The Pinkie Pie Pose ponies often have un-level feet, making them topple easily, or burrs on their hair. While the Applejack ponies are the best made, they still have frequent rough spots at their seams and tail tip.
I love these ponies. They're my bread and butter. I love selling these to kids and enthusiasts and I want to keep most of them to myself!
So why am I making a point of highlighting all their defects? Simply because quality is important to me. As is honesty in sales. I do my utmost to photograph EACH pony carefully, and I go out of my way to make large photos available so that if there are any flaws in the pony I'm selling it can be made visible to the buyer prior to a sale.
I still love the Blind Bag Ponies. But they are NOT the best product Hasbro has made. Hasbro clearly chose quantity over quality in this case, and for me personally, as a collector, those defects are not enough to prevent me from buying. Do I wish every pony was better made? Yes. Will I buy these little darlings even if they're defected? Yes.
But I know about the defects when making my purchase. I know what I'm getting into, and I can decide from there if I still think it's worth the price. It's the same with every used Pony I sell, and every used Pony I buy. Buyers deserve to know if there is anything WRONG with a product prior to buying.
So, where do we go from here? I will still be selling the Blind Bags! I love them! I think they're adorable. They're so tiny that you really do have to LOOK for the problems.
But knowing what I do now I plan to note any issues in the description, so that my buyers can know what they're looking at. The ponies ARE new. They will be listed as new. I can't fix or change manufacture defects, all I can do is educate buyers to the truth of what is out there.
I do this because I want to be honest with my buyers. It's important to know that no matter where you buy the Blind Bag Ponies, they WILL most likely, have the same defects. Chances are though, no one else will tell you about it first.
I don't believe in Buyer Beware. I believe in Buyer Be Aware. Do your research, buy from someone you can trust, and try to work out any problems with sales people personally. My goal is to be a seller you trust.
*A flat or jagged spot that should be round or finished. Usually the result in manufacture of the item being separated from the mold. It also occurs in used ponies after being dragged across a surface.
**Usually a bit of plastic that sticks out with a rough edge, or in a place that shouldn't be. Also the result of rushed plastic mold manufacture.