Asmus Toys - 1/6 Arwen 2.0

[superdoug]

So my Arwen arrived yesterday. Only had a few minutes last night but I was really impressed with it. Nothing was missing. I probably would not have for the legs if it hadn’t been for the posts in this thread but everything was there. After a quick inspection I think she turned out really well. My daughter really liked her too so I might end up loosing this figure to her room. Poor girl takes after me and has figures displayed on her book shelf and desk. Only nick pick I have at the moment is the candlestick just feels cheap. The detail is good but compared to the heft of the bed/chaise it feels cheap. Might be the plastic used. I love that the book has the printed pages.

I need to take another closer look at my Arwen 1.0 but right I would have to say in my opinion she came out better than any of Asmus’ other female figures in the line. Really makes me want an Eowyn 2.0 even more. Outside of any Uruk Hai an Eowyn 2.0 is probably my most wanted figure.

 

[mitraheroe]

Dear all,

For Arwen luxury edition. Actually, our original package design has the colored box with in the carton box, just like what we did with Aragorn and Legolas. But the designed failed at the drop tests constantly , the “Chaise” was too fragile on the side, no matter how we place it (regular way, upside down, on the side…etc.) it all broke. When they first tried at factory, it broke, so we mailed the package sample back, and tried at our office, the chaise broke too, so we changed a design and had the factory made another sample, which failed again. The same process repeated 4 times and was the main reason of Arwen’s delay.

This package has the most failure attempts that we have every had on any product.

At the end we have to let go our design and allow the factory to design the package solely for the purpose of safety shipping, and by replacing the colored box for another layer of sponge (which can also holds the figure) seems to be the key.

The attached short video was one of the times the tragic happens in factory, it almost hurts to see a perfect product died in the drop test. .

I don't understand members beeing satisfied with this. This is more an excuse than an explanation: an art box has been always part of the product, and if it cannot be delivered properly they way originally intented, then they need to change that way, not the product as such. Imagine you order some good wine and they deliver it to you in a plastic bottle because otherwise it would not work for the postman....
Asmus should learn from this and focus in better quality and less quantity/rush, more 1/6 high end collectibles and less Funko stuff. I hope I can recover my NRD as this is not what I signed for, and this is definitely the last time I order directly from them. So far my support for small companies.

 

[warlock664]

Yes.
While I appreciate Asmus giving us an explanation, I don’t buy that the solution they arrived at was the only option. Are you telling me they couldn’t have produced a printed sleeve to slide over the “product box” they ended up going with?

 

[mitraheroe]

Yes.
While I appreciate Asmus giving us an explanation, I don’t buy that the solution they arrived at was the only option. Are you telling me they couldn’t have produced a printed sleeve to slide over the “product box” they ended up going with?

Too expensive for a DX 1/6 figure, it seems...

 

[RandomHero]

I’m not happy with the explanation, because my preference would have been that they explained this to us before release, delayed the figure a month and found a way to put some kind of nice art on the packaging.

But it is an explanation and I appreciate that they are being honest - even if it’s not ideal. It doesn’t reek of BS.

Asmus has shown improvement on their product over the last two years. I’m happy about that. I will continue to support them. But…between the lack of art box, the Galadriel scratches and Gandalf hat, the issues I personally have been directly unhappy with, I won’t but direct from them until they make Haldir, Eowyn or a new Boromir. The characters I really want.

At the end of the day I don’t think people should boycott them over these issues but I do think Asmus needs to take care with their next few releases - and announce some things fans have been asking for, like Uruk-Hai and Galadhrim Soldiers.

 

[superdoug]

Yes.
While I appreciate Asmus giving us an explanation, I don’t buy that the solution they arrived at was the only option. Are you telling me they couldn’t have produced a printed sleeve to slide over the “product box” they ended up going with?

In hind sight I would have thought an option might have been to make the Arwen DX box they are using (the plain brown one with the Arwen sticker) a tad bigger so it could fit Arwen in her art box and then everything else could be the same below it. That would have solved the problem, right? My guess which is just a guess is that they ran into the shipping/protection issues at the end of the process and they went with the most cost effective way to ensure everything arrived safely. If that was the case then at that point any added cost probably would just be a hit against the bottom line. For all we know increasing the box size to accommodate the art box could have bumped shipping costs up too and that might have been another hit. I know EXO took a big hit on shipping costs with Picard and just ate those costs.

Personally at the end of the day I would rather have the product arrive safely than have the art box but that is because those boxes just go and sit in my closet taking up space.

 

[batsheva]

I don't understand members beeing satisfied with this. This is more an excuse than an explanation: an art box has been always part of the product, and if it cannot be delivered properly they way originally intented, then they need to change that way, not the product as such. Imagine you order some good wine and they deliver it to you in a plastic bottle because otherwise it would not work for the postman....
Asmus should learn from this and focus in better quality and less quantity/rush, more 1/6 high end collectibles and less Funko stuff. I hope I can recover my NRD as this is not what I signed for, and this is definitely the last time I order directly from them. So far my support for small companies.

I am not satisfied with that.
But I see no point in arguing some more as obviously they will not do anything about it.
They don't even say "sorry".
That shows their true nature, just can't do things properly and shove it to the customer's mouth. "we tried and ended up this way, so shut up!".
As i said, Gollum will be my last purchase from Asmus. No more.

Yes.
While I appreciate Asmus giving us an explanation, I don’t buy that the solution they arrived at was the only option. Are you telling me they couldn’t have produced a printed sleeve to slide over the “product box” they ended up going with?

There are so many other ways to provide a better packaging, artbox etc to properly deliver your "Luxury" product.
Hot Toys even took some loss with sending a revised head to the customers, as a professional gesture.

You will not get that from Asmus, they will use many excuses, "we are small company, this is a limited run, we have tried and failed", but they cost as much as Hot Toys does.
I appreciated their explanation, however, I am far from satisfied. But there's no point to argue more.

 

[DakRen]

A question for the members who already own the figure
Is there scratches on her neck like Galadriel ?

Yes and mismatched skin tone

 

[RandomHero]

Yes and mismatched skin tone

I didn’t think to check that. I’ll look when I get home later.

 

[FlyAndFight]

Well, my Arwen was due to arrive today and in a crazy FedEx way, within a span of about 5 minutes, I received an email that said that delivery was being re-scheduled for tomorrow and then another email that it was out for delivery... Here's hoping its the later.

 

[RandomHero]

I am not satisfied with that.
But I see no point in arguing some more as obviously they will not do anything about it.
They don't even say "sorry".
That shows their true nature, just can't do things properly and shove it to the customer's mouth. "we tried and ended up this way, so shut up!".
As i said, Gollum will be my last purchase from Asmus. No more.


There are so many other ways to provide a better packaging, artbox etc to properly deliver your "Luxury" product.
Hot Toys even took some loss with sending a revised head to the customers, as a professional gesture.

You will not get that from Asmus, they will use many excuses, "we are small company, this is a limited run, we have tried and failed", but they cost as much as Hot Toys does.
I appreciated their explanation, however, I am far from satisfied. But there's no point to argue more.

Whereas I think Sassafras has gone over top the defending Asmus for their recent blunders, I think you have been wholly unfair attacking them. You keep saying they’re “showing their true nature” but what does that mean?

Asmus has always had a good product. Not great, not top tier, but good. They’ve had great tailoring and great accessories for years, with plenty of attention to detail. As good as ThreeZero has gotten lately, they still don’t have metal swords on their GoT figures. Asmus has always been one step ahead on accessories.

The sculpts greatly suffered from promo to production in the past. It’s not as bad as it used to be. Their paints apps were terrible. They’re improving. They’ve gotten really good at including some nice diorama pieces - even if they’re a work in progress overall.

They’re a smaller company than HT. They’re growing, clearly, as they’ve announced two new licenses recently. But clearly if they’re acquiring new licenses, they should be able to offer replacement hats for Gandalf, crowns for Galadriel to make up for the neck scratches, and proper box art for Galadriel.

Are they perfect? No. Are they shady? Also no. Do they need to do some community goodwill right now? Yes. There’s been too many mistakes for a company trying to be a major player.

But you’re demonizing them incredibly unfairly.

 

[batsheva]

Whereas I think Sassafras has gone over top the defending Asmus for their recent blunders, I think you have been wholly unfair attacking them. You keep saying they’re “showing their true nature” but what does that mean?

Asmus has always had a good product. Not great, not top tier, but good. They’ve had great tailoring and great accessories for years, with plenty of attention to detail. As good as ThreeZero has gotten lately, they still don’t have metal swords on their GoT figures. Asmus has always been one step ahead on accessories.

The sculpts greatly suffered from promo to production in the past. It’s not as bad as it used to be. Their paints apps were terrible. They’re improving. They’ve gotten really good at including some nice diorama pieces - even if they’re a work in progress overall.

They’re a smaller company than HT. They’re growing, clearly, as they’ve announced two new licenses recently. But clearly if they’re acquiring new licenses, they should be able to offer replacement hats for Gandalf, crowns for Galadriel to make up for the neck scratches, and proper box art for Galadriel.

Are they perfect? No. Are they shady? Also no. Do they need to do some community goodwill right now? Yes. There’s been too many mistakes for a company trying to be a major player.

But you’re demonizing them incredibly unfairly.

You can think this way, it's up to you.
Like I said, I lost any interest to argue.

I've said my points, and I'll just get my "luxury" Arwen, and Gollum,
and that's it, bye Asmus.

 

[mitraheroe]

A simple solution would be to send is DX buyers a regular Arwen 2.0 plus the extras someway or another. But no: the problem is seems to be made by those who want the proper art box... Some of us enjoy those artboxes, and unfair is to make us accept all this just because they are a small company and some few collectors are happy with that. The fact that some of those do not need a box does not make me unfair if I request mine.
I love what Asmus achieved so far, but this is an insult to those who supported them all this time, and it will probably be the end of my relation with them.
PS: And by the way: for those who said that the art box was not advertised in the DX, in the regular edition neither.

 

[Sassafras]

Dear all,

For Arwen luxury edition. Actually, our original package design has the colored box with in the carton box, just like what we did with Aragorn and Legolas. But the designed failed at the drop tests constantly , the “Chaise” was too fragile on the side, no matter how we place it (regular way, upside down, on the side…etc.) it all broke. When they first tried at factory, it broke, so we mailed the package sample back, and tried at our office, the chaise broke too, so we changed a design and had the factory made another sample, which failed again. The same process repeated 4 times and was the main reason of Arwen’s delay.

This package has the most failure attempts that we have every had on any product.

At the end we have to let go our design and allow the factory to design the package solely for the purpose of safety shipping, and by replacing the colored box for another layer of sponge (which can also holds the figure) seems to be the key.

The attached short video was one of the times the tragic happens in factory, it almost hurts to see a perfect product died in the drop test.

Wow, interesting, if frustrating for ASMUS. I hope nothing like that would hold up a Thranduil on Throne or a Bag End diorama. I think a nice included art card would suffice, speaking for myself. At least in my display I could use it as a background, which I can't do with a box.

BTW ASMUS the packing I have gotten from you with the corner protectors has been amazing, and I enjoy the stamps even tho I don't collect stamps.

Well, the bold sentences contradicts each other.
If they have attention to detail, the "Frodo eye thing" is the very important element that they should have not get it wrong.
Big or not in Asia, when they look at the source material, it is one of the most striking features from Frodo.
And not everyone in Asia is colorblind. At least I'm not.

But just like Randomhero said, you are a huge Asmus fan, so that's just the way it is.
Although I too, still support Asmus because they keep showing improvements.

Well, no, I don't think it does, in my mind, as for me there is a difference between the design and prototype phase, as well as the commitment by the company. The original Frodo had the blue eyes and all the little details. Same as one of my Thranduils has the elven archer face. That doesn't change the care with the outfits, improving sculpts, better bodies, diecast weapons.

ASMUS wouldn't be the first company to get burned in the production/shipping process; e.g. a factory promising they can deliver something and then cutting corners. HT, Iron Studios, WETA - own all of these and they've all had production issues. I'm more tolerant of ASMUS than any of these tho, as ASMUS is clearly committed and they are a young company. Am sure it's no fun for them when complaints roll in. HT and WETA I know have pretty much blown folks off for a lot of complaints. They just don't respond or it's a non-response. Then there was Iron Studios delaying the shipment of CW Falcon way back, because according to Sideshow their allotment all had broken wings, and IS had to work really hard to get past their 1/4 Spiderman debacle where the whole pricey piece just kept falling apart.

In any case, ASMUS is doing what no other company did except Sideshow way back, with Middle Earth figures, and doing it really well. When HT is on, they are unbeatable in 1/6, but they aren't always on, and you don't always get much with a fig. Some, yes. Others it's just a weapon and some hands. So yep, I remain a fan of ASMUS. It's interesting watching a young company commit and break into a tough market with figures that are a joy to work with.

Now if they can just be convinced to do another Thranduil and some more dwarves. Dwalin, Fili and Kili at least.

 

[borgified]

After reading the kerfuffle with the DLX, I'm going to make my call after getting the regular Arwen when it gets delivered.

I'm leaning to get the v.2 Ringwraith plus Steed after Rovi has announced it, however with the issues on almost each release, I going to have to wait and see if future releases improve down the road.

 

[batsheva]

Well, no, I don't think it does, in my mind, as for me there is a difference between the design and prototype phase, as well as the commitment by the company. The original Frodo had the blue eyes and all the little details. Same as one of my Thranduils has the elven archer face. That doesn't change the care with the outfits, improving sculpts, better bodies, diecast weapons.

ASMUS wouldn't be the first company to get burned in the production/shipping process; e.g. a factory promising they can deliver something and then cutting corners. HT, Iron Studios, WETA - own all of these and they've all had production issues. I'm more tolerant of ASMUS than any of these tho, as ASMUS is clearly committed and they are a young company. Am sure it's no fun for them when complaints roll in. HT and WETA I know have pretty much blown folks off for a lot of complaints. They just don't respond or it's a non-response. Then there was Iron Studios delaying the shipment of CW Falcon way back, because according to Sideshow their allotment all had broken wings, and IS had to work really hard to get past their 1/4 Spiderman debacle where the whole pricey piece just kept falling apart.

In any case, ASMUS is doing what no other company did except Sideshow way back, with Middle Earth figures, and doing it really well. When HT is on, they are unbeatable in 1/6, but they aren't always on, and you don't always get much with a fig. Some, yes. Others it's just a weapon and some hands. So yep, I remain a fan of ASMUS. It's interesting watching a young company commit and break into a tough market with figures that are a joy to work with.

Now if they can just be convinced to do another Thranduil and some more dwarves. Dwalin, Fili and Kili at least.

From my previous post, I've proven your statement is wrong. You actually paid HT $$$ money for Asmus figure that comes with lower quality than HT (no artbox, mismatched skin colors, missing parts, and additional cost for shipping, etc).
People here can see it themselves and made their own opinion. (like borgified above my post)

I can always argue your statements more, and maybe you're right, or I can prove you wrong again, but nope, I'll spend my time for something more productive.

Good for you if you're happy paying that much for what you got. Genuinely happy for you.

But there's no way Asmus is doing ANYTHING to fix this. They don't even say sorry, for sacrificing the artbox, to fix their miscalculation of packaging design. Hot Toys sent a replacement head as a "sorry" gesture. Asmus gave us an explanation on how they failed to do a proper packaging for their own product that they designed, and sacrificed the artbox, a proper treat for a luxury edition that actually came with the regular version.. and that's it.
Bottom line is, "we failed at the packaging design, and so we sent you a dull brown box for your luxurious deluxe item. Oh and also we need more money for shipping."
For me, that is very insulting.

And for me, asmus is done.

 

[Sassafras]

A simple solution would be to send is DX buyers a regular Arwen 2.0 plus the extras someway or another. But no: the problem is seems to be made by those who want the proper art box... Some of us enjoy those artboxes, and unfair is to make us accept all this just because they are a small company and some few collectors are happy with that. The fact that some of those do not need a box does not make me unfair if I request mine.
I love what Asmus achieved so far, but this is an insult to those who supported them all this time, and it will probably be the end of my relation with them.
PS: And by the way: for those who said that the art box was not advertised in the DX, in the regular edition neither.

No it doesn't, but I don't think ASMUS was insulting anyone. Not like, say, Popcultcha, who apparently have blown off collectors of Funkos who really need that pristine box for display. I've seen posts where Popcultcha just more or less tells folks the box is considered packaging, and too bad if your Funko box has a dent or is damaged.

Personally at the end of the day I would rather have the product arrive safely than have the art box but that is because those boxes just go and sit in my closet taking up space.

Well, yeah, and also for me, it's the expense added in someplace for that box, which I can't display. An 8.5 x 11" art card would be nice tho.

 

[Sassafras]

From my previous post, I've proven your statement is wrong. You actually paid HT $$$ money for Asmus figure that comes with lower quality than HT (no artbox, mismatched skin colors, missing parts, and additional cost for shipping, etc).
People here can see it themselves and made their own opinion. (like borgified above my post)

I can always argue your statements more, and maybe you're right, or I can prove you wrong again, but nope, I'll spend my time for something more productive.

Good for you if you're happy paying that much for what you got. Genuinely happy for you.

But there's no way Asmus is doing ANYTHING to fix this. They don't even say sorry, for sacrificing the artbox, to fix their miscalculation of packaging design. Hot Toys sent a replacement head as a "sorry" gesture. Asmus gave us an explanation on how they failed to do a proper packaging for their own product that they designed, and sacrificed the artbox, a proper treat for a luxury edition that actually came with the regular version.. and that's it.
Bottom line is, "we failed at the packaging design, and so we sent you a brown box for your deluxe item. Oh and also we need more money for shipping."
For me, Asmus is done.

Well, OK, again folks see things differently. There's companies like Blitzway, after Zorro, I am very unlikely to buy from again, tho I see from some posts other figures of theirs are considered outstanding (not that Zorro is TERRIBLE but wasn't worth the premium price IMO.)

Will say not impressed with HT's recent head exchange, as that was only after a huge outcry. Don't remember them doing anything else like that, like when some of the older figs started oiling or outright rotting/cracking. I've got some great HTs, for sure, but always have to check their pleather, and I will say ASMUS checks for peeling with their materials.

And I am happy with ASMUS, for the price point, looking forward to what they decide to do next. - after getting my Legolas order in.

 

[batsheva]

Good for you, man.
Just reading your post made me cancel my luxury gollum.
I just can't support this company anymore.

 

[mitraheroe]

No it doesn't, but I don't think ASMUS was insulting anyone. Not like, say, Popcultcha, who apparently have blown off collectors of Funkos who really need that pristine box for display. I've seen posts where Popcultcha just more or less tells folks the box is considered packaging, and too bad if your Funko box has a dent or is damaged.

Something worse does not justify something inherently bad.