Merch Store Feedback: Haunted by Daylight Merch Drop
I wanted to give a moment of feedback on the Haunted by Daylight merch, and merch in general:
Ignoring the fact that the Haunted by Daylight Collection was supposed to stay up until 12pm EST today and there was a big countdown timer with time left on the clock, but the drop closed several hours earlier than it was advertised to (why post a specific time that a merch drop ends if you're just gonna end it whenever you feel like ending it? That's deceptive and lying!), here is my feedback:
I really enjoy the idea of seasonal event merch!
And honestly, I liked this jacket A LOT! I love how loud it is, I love how unique it is, I was so tempted to get it. I loved the way the splash comic art lays across the jacket like patch work, that was a really good idea.
My largest critique is that instead of adding other aspects from the splash onto the back, like the Krasue figurine or other chapter VHS tapes or Maurice head, the same Felix/Skull Merchant design was repeated on the front and the back, which made it feel a bit low-effort. There are so many other parts of the splash art not included that could have been added to the back.
Additionally, I did not understand why it was $99 USD for a 95% Polyester 5% Spandex jacket. That didn't sit right with me - I'm not inclined to pay that price point for uncomfortable materials. I couldn't order it anyway because the merch store closed earlier than it was advertised to, so I guess that decision was made for me.
The posters are neat, classic, couldn't go wrong with that.
Selling the Haunted by Daylight drop as a flag? That was kind of interesting, not something I would personally get, but the size of the flag felt…… small? IIRC, 36" across didn't feel very flag-like to me, maybe that's just me. I just don't know what I would do with a piece of cloth that small.
Merch I wanted to see: I much rather would have loved to see the poster splash art on a large fleece/sherpa blanket, something I could snuggle up in! Can you imagine this as a blanket? This would have been so cozy to wrap up in, and it would add such a fun splash of color wherever you drape it.
During the livestream a couple weeks ago, it was asked what kind of merch would we like to see. To that, I'll say, merch that's diegetic to the universe it's from is my favorite kind - things like Sable's mug, Taurie's jacket / cult robes from her release collection or her bracelet would be amazing to have.
Or more outfits in the merch store that are more genuine replicas of the outfits that the characters in-game wear!
I purchased the Frank Stone Murder Mill Crew t-shirt and it's been one of my favorite merch purchases I've made! Despite the fact that it's the wrong color from the game, the quality is really nice and I love that it's not an overt reference to Dead by Daylight unless you know the source material - the material is super soft, it's hemmed surprisingly comfortably, and the print doesn't feel like it'll peel off with a couple washes.
I love to see you guys selling more diegetic merch recently, like the Screams in the Dark or Axe Kick graphic tees, but honestly for me personally I really do hate a plain graphic tee back-and-front that looks like it had a graphic pressed onto the center of it. I'm not a huge fan of graphic tees, they can feel low-effort to me but I understand how it can be cheaper to make.
However when it comes to diegetic merch like that, I'm less inclined to get if it's low-quality materials and merchandise.
The Suzie's cat hoodies has several poor reviews for having poor-quality material, and while I think the hoodie is really cool that has me avoiding it.
This ties into the Haunted by Daylight Merch Drop, because I think a lot of people especially avoided this year's jacket due to the high price point for low quality materials.
I really hope to see more merch like this in the future - genuinely! I do! I would have ordered this jacket if you guys didn't close the merch store earlier than advertised - I physically couldn't order the jacket. But please do be mindful of the quality of materials of the products being put out there going forward.