I get what you feel about the art box, I just can't share it feeling. And while HT can be great, they've cut back accessories a lot of the time, and sometimes the portrait you get is a nasty surprise in hand. They can be cheap about their costume materials. ASMUS puts their time into it, even with some bumps.
Not sure I'd engage in discussions with customers over a box; especially if at this point it's a situation they can't do anything about. I imagine developing packaging is a real headache. I guess they could have made this set so you get a regular Arwen and pack the accessories separately. Maybe they could send you a box if you contact them.
Well, there's a lot of people here that share the same feeling with me for the artbox.
And come on, comparing HT and Asmus? even in the sculpt detail level, they are not on par, IMHO. Asmus failed on likeness more often than HT does. And I disagree about the costume, I think HT is better in terms of costume, and they also puts their time into it, as we can see more costume variations from Hot Toys, from ironman armor, batman armor, symbiote skin, etc.. you just can't compare it man.
I got Asmus Galadriel, and the costume is awful, it feels cheap, especially the robe. I do love the headsculpt, but the inconsistency of the paintjob and the underscale made it painful. Gandalf was near perfect but the hat is ugly.
As for the customer service, well, they should do whatever they can to fix their mistakes. Hot Toys send a revised Tony Stark head when people protest about the headsculpt of Tony in Mark 85. Now if Asmus's customer service is better as you said, then they would do something to fix this issue instead of being quiet.
Developing packaging is a real headache, yes, but as a member here pointed out, with the deluxe packaging they are sending now, they actually have the space to put in the art box in it.. they just chose not to.
It’s pretty lame. Luxury Legolas put the troll head in another box, Helms Deep Aragorn shipped the Diorma in a separate plain box- I guess we were all assuming the deluxe release would be the regular edition Arwen and the chair packed separately which is a suitable compromise to not receiving specially made deluxe packaging.
Going the opposite route and sticking everything is a plain brown box is really a terrible decision.
The first photos shown here had me wondering if we were getting a nice interior design on the inside of the box cover- similar to those Pop Toys Last Samurai figures- which is really what you should get with a deluxe item.
As for those expecting a free art box sent out- the way things are with Asmus’ shipping right now- I really wouldn’t count on it. They’d take a big hit and loads of us would probably end up getting customs and handling fees to pay.
Exactly. And from their nature, more likely they just expect us to swallow this bitter pill and just move on.
