Asmus Toys Lord of the Ring Gandalf Gray

[Landry]

So it’s free with upcoming figures and available to purchase… The logical solution.

Looks like all the time people spent ‘wah wah’ing over the last several pages was a complete waste of their lives and unnecessarily raised their blood pressure- but I sure enjoyed reading it- so who am I to criticise what passes for entertainment?

Considering Asmus clearly said they would not ship hats directly, and then changed their mind after complaints were lodged, it should be pretty obvious that you are deeply mistaken.

A certain subsection of you need to hear this - and I’m sorry if this is hard for you - but… Asmus is never going to date you. It’s not going to happen. No matter how high a pedestal you shove them onto…

…they’re just not that into you. So show some self-respect already.

 

[GhostBeard]

And @Asmus is getting replacement eyes out as well? This thread has been oddly compelling.

 

[GhostBeard]

I’m sorry if this is hard for you - but… Asmus is never going to date you.

Well, I didn’t see that coming.

 

[Rusty Innards]

Considering Asmus clearly said they would not ship hats directly, and then changed their mind after complaints were lodged, it should be pretty obvious that you are deeply mistaken.

A certain subsection of you need to hear this - and I’m sorry if this is hard for you - but… Asmus is never going to date you. It’s not going to happen. No matter how high a pedestal you shove them onto…

…they’re just not that into you. So show some self-respect already.

lmao.. pat your back a little harder, some of us can't hear it from here. Maybe show some humility and awareness..

Asmus stated their first priority was to get the hats into Bilbo orders and new orders, & said it wouldn't be possible to mail them to Gandalf owners for FREE. Not once did they say they wouldn't ship hats/eyes to customers willing to pay shipping. Their general intention was to try to initially get these out without ANY cost to customers.

I don't see Asmus through rose colored glasses. They're subject to mistakes and poor judgement as is any company, but the enraged emotional reactions this community has towards a company that didn't meet THEIR expectations is laughable. Get over yourself. You're buying a mass produced product, not a 1-off custom build. You sound like you are massively lacking in real world experience, and it makes all of us look like whiny little arseholes. I'm amazed Asmus is still engaging with us in this format at all.

 

[Landry]

lmao.. pat your back a little harder, some of us can't hear it from here. Maybe show some humility and awareness..

Asmus stated their first priority was to get the hats into Bilbo orders and new orders, & said it wouldn't be possible to mail them to Gandalf owners for FREE. Not once did they say they wouldn't ship hats/eyes to customers willing to pay shipping. Their general intention was to try to initially get these out without ANY cost to customers.

I don't see Asmus through rose colored glasses. They're subject to mistakes and poor judgement as is any company, but the enraged emotional reactions this community has towards a company that didn't meet THEIR expectations is laughable. Get over yourself. You're buying a mass produced product, not a 1-off custom build. You sound like you are massively lacking in real world experience, and it makes all of us look like whiny little arseholes. I'm amazed Asmus is still engaging with us in this format at all.

They "never" said they wouldn't ship to customers willing to pay shipping? Well that's either a lie or you simply can't read.

Here's what Asmus actually said to this issue.

"We don't want to sell the hat as an individual piece, because there will be more unhappy customers if we try to sell this for money.

And:

"If we sell the hate, people will be angry.

If we give it away and ask for shipping. People will be angry.

The only way to make people not angry, is to deliver to their door without any charges.

And this is what we do, but along with your other purchases."

Again, they said that the hat will only be available with other purchases. That they would NOT ship as an individual item - either for profit, shipping alone, or for free. It's not like they weren't super clear on this. It's not not like it was hard to look this up. They said all this in this very thread. Please check next time before stating incorrect and misleading information.

And if people continue to call me "whiny" for expecting to get what I paid for - even when I am willing to pay extra to receive it, then I will continue to point out the weird sycophantic behavior that so many here have engaged in. It's frankly very creepy.

I keep having to go around and around on these very simple and easy to understand statements that Asmus made. But there's always another person that failed to actually follow the conversation yet thinks they know enough to weigh in. It's like playing whack-a-mole at this point.

 

[satanatos]

lmao.. pat your back a little harder, some of us can't hear it from here. Maybe show some humility and awareness..

Asmus stated their first priority was to get the hats into Bilbo orders and new orders, & said it wouldn't be possible to mail them to Gandalf owners for FREE. Not once did they say they wouldn't ship hats/eyes to customers willing to pay shipping. Their general intention was to try to initially get these out without ANY cost to customers.

I don't see Asmus through rose colored glasses. They're subject to mistakes and poor judgement as is any company, but the enraged emotional reactions this community has towards a company that didn't meet THEIR expectations is laughable. Get over yourself. You're buying a mass produced product, not a 1-off custom build. You sound like you are massively lacking in real world experience, and it makes all of us look like whiny little arseholes. I'm amazed Asmus is still engaging with us in this format at all.

How massively mistaken you are. And it was not that long someone else made those of us who were willing to pay for the hat and the shipping look like whiny little arseholes. POV

 

[WolfBoy]

So it’s free with upcoming figures and available to purchase… The logical solution.

Fantastic. As it should be.

Imagine if they simply said that from the get go? Rather than some vague run around.
Wouldn’t that have been something!

 

[GhostBeard]

All the fashionable wizards hold their hats anyway.

 

[Rusty Innards]

They "never" said they wouldn't ship to customers willing to pay shipping? Well that's either a lie or you simply can't read.

Here's what Asmus actually said to this issue.

"We don't want to sell the hat as an individual piece, because there will be more unhappy customers if we try to sell this for money.

And:

"If we sell the hate, people will be angry.

If we give it away and ask for shipping. People will be angry.

The only way to make people not angry, is to deliver to their door without any charges.

And this is what we do, but along with your other purchases."

Again, they said that the hat will only be available with other purchases. That they would NOT ship as an individual item - either for profit, shipping alone, or for free. It's not like they weren't super clear on this. It's not not like it was hard to look this up. They said all this in this very thread. Please check next time before stating incorrect and misleading information.

And if people continue to call me "whiny" for expecting to get what I paid for - even when I am willing to pay extra to receive it, then I will continue to point out the weird sycophantic behavior that so many here have engaged in. It's frankly very creepy.

I keep having to go around and around on these very simple and easy to understand statements that Asmus made. But there's always another person that failed to actually follow the conversation yet thinks they know enough to weigh in. It's like playing whack-a-mole at this point.

I've actually been keeping up on this thread as often as I can. How about we get both sides of this argument, as your pessimistic view is getting rather old..

Asmus said (one of their first posts after announcing the hat):

"Our ultimate goal is to give ALL our Gandalf buyers a free hat, but it is not we cannot give it away, it is about shipping and spread it to all the corners.

We cannot mail to all the buyers, because shipping has been a problem to us since the pandemic, it will cost more than 20 dollars to just ship one hat to USA. We cant really afford the man power and extra spending this may cost.

So what our first plan for the hat is :

ALL the copies of old Bilbo Baggins will include a Gandalf hat for free,

Since Bilbo is a minor character compare to Gandalf, it is safe to say whoever has bought a Bilbo, has a pretty high chance owning a GtG. So, if we can cover the buyers of Bilbo, we can cover a good portion of the buyers of Gandalf.

There will be more plan to give away the hat, and we will see how it goes as we are."

This was one of their earliest posts about the release. They've been stating since day 1 that they want to get these to all Gandalf owners, and it's pretty clear to me they we're assuming nobody would want to pay for shipping/packaging ie:

"The only way to make people not angry, is to deliver to their door without any charges."

So their focus was to find a way to get their initial batches out with 0 added cost, then find ways to get the hats to the remaining owners that missed out. They leave the door open to options every time they mention it, and clearly state this is only stage 1 of the release. They said they'll be making 10,000 copies. You really think they won't be willing to ship you one for the cost of shipping/packaging?

I have yet to see a post where they said they will never ship to customers willing to pay. You literally had a direct conversation with them in this thread where they say they've already been shipping hats to customers that paid shipping, and that you should email them a request. I'll quote it if you need me to. It's no wonder you go round and round with everyone...

Please enlighten this blind mole on what I'm missing here.. or lighten up on the resentful whiny rhetoric. You got what you paid for. You got exactly what Asmus was selling, and it didn't meet YOUR expectations. Welcome to the real world.

 

[Landry]

I've actually been keeping up on this thread as often as I can. How about we get both sides of this argument, as your pessimistic view is getting rather old..

Asmus said (one of their first posts after announcing the hat):

"Our ultimate goal is to give ALL our Gandalf buyers a free hat, but it is not we cannot give it away, it is about shipping and spread it to all the corners.

We cannot mail to all the buyers, because shipping has been a problem to us since the pandemic, it will cost more than 20 dollars to just ship one hat to USA. We cant really afford the man power and extra spending this may cost.

So what our first plan for the hat is :

ALL the copies of old Bilbo Baggins will include a Gandalf hat for free,

Since Bilbo is a minor character compare to Gandalf, it is safe to say whoever has bought a Bilbo, has a pretty high chance owning a GtG. So, if we can cover the buyers of Bilbo, we can cover a good portion of the buyers of Gandalf.

There will be more plan to give away the hat, and we will see how it goes as we are."

This was one of their earliest posts about the release. They've been stating since day 1 that they want to get these to all Gandalf owners, and it's pretty clear to me they we're assuming nobody would want to pay for shipping/packaging ie:

"The only way to make people not angry, is to deliver to their door without any charges."

So their focus was to find a way to get their initial batches out with 0 added cost, then find ways to get the hats to the remaining owners that missed out. They leave the door open to options every time they mention it, and clearly state this is only stage 1 of the release. They said they'll be making 10,000 copies. You really think they won't be willing to ship you one for the cost of shipping/packaging?

I have yet to see a post where they said they will never ship to customers willing to pay. You literally had a direct conversation with them in this thread where they say they've already been shipping hats to customers that paid shipping, and that you should email them a request. I'll quote it if you need me to. It's no wonder you go round and round with everyone...

Please enlighten this blind mole on what I'm missing here.. or lighten up on the resentful whiny rhetoric. You got what you paid for. You got exactly what Asmus was selling, and it didn't meet YOUR expectations. Welcome to the real world.

JFC… seriously?

Everything you just posted supports what I have been saying. They literally said they cannot send out the hats with a shipping charge, and that the “only” way to send out the hats would be to tie the delivery with another purchase. This isn’t rocket science here. Try again.

Oh, and as for getting “exactly” what I ordered - that is obvious apologist ********. As already stated - Asmus isn’t going to **** you. Stop fawning over them.

 

[Landry]

I have yet to see a post where they said they will never ship to customers willing to pay.

I quoted them saying as such in my first response to you.

“If we give it away and ask for shipping. People will be angry.”

 

[batsheva]

JFC… seriously?

Everything you just posted supports what I have been saying. They literally said they cannot send out the hats with a shipping charge, and that the “only” way to send out the hats would be to tie the delivery with another purchase. This isn’t rocket science here. Try again.

Oh, and as for getting “exactly” what I ordered - that is obvious apologist ********. As already stated - Asmus isn’t going to **** you. Stop fawning over them.

Have to agree.. I owned the crown Gandalf.. and the hat is not exactly as seen as in the promo pics.. asmus messed up there and there are many complaints, resulting this new hat fiasco.

 

[Venzhe]

Landry,

Let me be the first on the other side of the argument to eat some Stormcrow and congratulate you. You really stuck to your argument that they owed it to you for purchasing Gandalf.

You had Asmus on the ropes. They had to have been saying “The American consumer is full of pride and strength. They show us no weakness. Better give them what they want.”

Congrats on the free hat + $30 shipping. What a spirited show of principles and negotiation acumen. It is a well-deserved outcome. My hat is off to you.

 

[Someperson]

Fantastic. As it should be.

Imagine if they simply said that from the get go? Rather than some vague run around.
Wouldn’t that have been something!

Yes, it would have made the whole situation much simpler and without assumptions.

Seeing that Asmus has decided to provide multiple avenues for everyone to acquire the hat, they deserve a lot of credit. They’ve gone above and beyond in listening to their customers wishes. Thank you @Asmus

 

[Landry]

The alternative was a free hat with a 200$ Bilbo. I’ll take the situation as it has unfolded versus what it was going to be and keep the money I saved, regardless of the sarcasm.

 

[Sassafras]

Yes, it would have made the whole situation much simpler and without assumptions.

Seeing that Asmus has decided to provide multiple avenues for everyone to acquire the hat, they deserve a lot of credit. They’ve gone above and beyond in listening to their customers wishes. Thank you @Asmus

Indeed. Tho personally less concerned about hats - I like the cloth hats anyway, nice material - than I am about hearing the happy news of available Gandalf head sculpts.

Which ASMUS doesn't have to do either, but I will happily throw money at them to upgrade my Gandalf V1. I hope they will release this "headpack" with a hat, would be a nice set. For the Hobbit fans, I should source up a tiny goblet of fruity wine for him.

 

[Someperson]

Indeed. Tho personally less concerned about hats - I like the cloth hats anyway, nice material - than I am about hearing the happy news of available Gandalf head sculpts.

Which ASMUS doesn't have to do either, but I will happily throw money at them to upgrade my Gandalf V1. I hope they will release this "headpack" with a hat, would be a nice set. For the Hobbit fans, I should source up a tiny goblet of fruity wine for him.

I am still thinking of selling V1 just because I have crown GTG and am waiting for asmus’ crown GTW (display space) … but I don’t want to give up that hobbit staff extra !

 

[DioramaMaker]

Has anyone gotten a shipping quote? And will that also include the eyes?

 

[Someperson]

Has anyone gotten a shipping quote? And will that also include the eyes?

They said around $30 to ship it to me (still waiting for everything to be finalized)

 

[Mike86]

I guess to me it’s kind of funny how many people were complaining about buying another figure to get an upgrade. Unless you only bought Gandalf I suppose.

It seems like Asmus in particular has a pretty dedicated following so it was kind of just a nice gesture that they were offering to include the hat in a release a lot of people were probably getting anyways.

Also it’s not like Asmus even had to offer it at all. Hot Toys would probably do a straight up re-release with upgrades or a new figure touting upgrades instead of allowing you a chance to get new pieces for your existing figure.