Bypass Hong Kong Sellers and Buy Local

[ReplicantSavior]

I'd like to say a massive thank you to all the guys who have given there opinion on this subject but i'd also like to ask who is the first people to look to buy from , as in which seller you check first and also which reviewer do you search for first on youtube when lookin to buy . any input will be welcome

As I've only purchased the one Batman figure. I went with the lowest priced seller that had good feedback.

On youtube, I would just search for Hot Toys reviews. I don't have a google/youtube account. Now I go to your youtube site. There is a guy in Europe that I thought was a movie star at first. I check his site. There are a few others that I can't remember. But since it's been slow with figures there haven't been many updates it seems. One guy always shows the bags that the Hong Kong sellers send with the figures. Most of the early reviewers seem to be in Europe.

 

[DiFabio]

Just watched it, clipper king.


So, am I getting this straight. You basically collect for youtube views? I was originally going to tell you to simply wait for prices to drop, but you seem like you want them almost immediately, as fast as you can. I assume so you can put up a review or something and get a lot of hits, not because you actually can't wait to dive into the figure and own it. Just to get those reviews and a little attention.


You questioned it yourself, what's your end game? To become some sort of famous 1/6 youtube commentator? With respect to you, that seems sort of, I don't know, shallow. Why care about that? You're only going to get so far reviewing toys. Don't take it so seriously and just have fun. Look at the guys that you think are supposedly "better and bigger than you". What are they doing right now? Not much. How far have they gotten? Not far.


You have a nice little thing going on. I enjoy hearing your thoughts and watching the reviews, especially about the Batman figures, specifically the '89 ones. I loved that DX 08 Jack Joker one you did, there was a line or something in there when you got to the headsculpt, something along the lines of, "one of the really nice things I like about this headsculpt is making him look like a f'king menace, like a pig in ****", "f'king, right, horrible, little ****", "looks like he wants to carve somebody up". That got a great little lol out of me, because when I'd pose mine I was thinking along the same lines. It really is a menacing, cool looking figure. You got that honest style and that attitude and accent about you. Like I said, you got a nice little hobby going on and you clearly enjoy it. You're entertained by action figures (like we all are) and you entertain people with your nice videos.


But who cares if you're not getting X amount of views? Searching for yourself by plugging your name into search engines? That's stupid. Do it for yourself, do it because you want to have fun and share how you feel about the figures with everyone. This is a hobby, it's supposed to be a way of escaping our boring or crappy lives. Why bring drama into it? Why get all political, neurotic and paranoid about it. Just have fun.

 

[TheClipperKing]

Thanks for your honest opinion DiFabio , i like your overall view of things , but to answer your query no i dont collect just to get youtube views , i collect firstly because i love the figures and the artwork that goes into making them , but i also found that the filming , editing , the viewing figures and the very tiny amount of fame that reviewing brings like a little added extra , or ego boost if you will . i never wanted being a reviewer to lead to anything else other than for one person to say to another have you seen clippers new video and the other person to know instantly who clipper is , and just then when you quoted one of my lines back to me i found that nearly as satisfying as looking at the figure in the flesh . as for checking my name in search engines that is more a case of gaging what other think about me and what they like and dislike about my reviewing style , and to do it on here makes more sense because if i just do it by reading my youtube comments that would give a biase view because my viewers are really loyal so there not going to be as negative as others might be on this forum because no one is on sideshow freaks to see my youtube videos if you get me ....but anyway thanks for your awesome post and i fully respect it bruva

 

[DiFabio]

No problem man. Just keep collecting and making vids and having fun.


As for the problem with the Asian sellers, they've always gouged the crap out of the prices. Now, it's just getting worse and worse. It's not just them though, the prices for everything are on the rise.


I think for most of us, we could all blow our load and get them early. If I wanted the Joker right now, or last month when it first hit Asia, I could have pulled the trigger for $400-$500, but I know I wouldn't feel good about it based on principle alone. You're better off not giving in and waiting. I think you'll be happier (and a little richer) because of it. It's a better piece of mind, especially now a days where figures become "old news" or obsolete in less than a year of it's arrival.



Take care man.

 

[Dollmanron]

Hot Toys is already gauging the prices of their figure already, Hong Kong sellers are just trying to just dig into the pockets of those that want the figures earlier for their plastic fix even more. I personally can’t afford their over inflated prices for full figures (but I buy a lot of loose parts) so I have to wait. Your advanced reviews were great to watch, but I can’t fault anyone for deciding that enough is enough with paying more for what a figure is worth just to get it a month or two early. I still watch your reviews to see what I need to know about what I’m getting ready to get or what I already have.

I wish there was a shop I could just walk in and look at what I wanted and make an instant purchase, but the economy here in the States is in the tank, and a specialty store like that couldn’t stay in business.

 

[ReplicantSavior]

I wish there was a shop I could just walk in and look at what I wanted and make an instant purchase, but the economy here in the States is in the tank, and a specialty store like that couldn’t stay in business.

It's funny you say that. I was thinking last night after watching a toy review that there aren't anymore toy stores like KayBee. Toys R Us locations closed near me. And they were always messy when I went anyway and never had what I was looking for. These places couldn't sell $200+ figures anyway. Target has a small toy section that's not really notable. I did find the Star Wars figures I wanted there once. Toys R Us never got them for some reason. Comic Shops are messy too when it comes to toys.

I mentioned in the other forum, how I think someone could make a high end comic shop. Maybe someone could do the same for toys or figures/statues. I think there are places in Hong Kong where eBay sellers pick up Hot Toys figures. They are sold with bags for the figures. Batman and I think Superman had custom bags. The project would be tricky but I think it can be done.

 

[Dollmanron]

It's funny you say that. I was thinking last night after watching a toy review that there aren't anymore toy stores like KayBee. Toys R Us locations closed near me. And they were always messy when I went anyway and never had what I was looking for. These places couldn't sell $200+ figures anyway. Target has a small toy section that's not really notable. I did find the Star Wars figures I wanted there once. Toys R Us never got them for some reason. Comic Shops are messy too when it comes to toys.

I mentioned in the other forum, how I think someone could make a high end comic shop. Maybe someone could do the same for toys or figures/statues. I think there are places in Hong Kong where eBay sellers pick up Hot Toys figures. They are sold with bags for the figures. Batman and I think Superman had custom bags. The project would be tricky but I think it can be done.

There were a few of them decades ago in a couple of bigger cities, but finally closed. One opened up in another city, but only made it a year. As for department stores, Target is a hit and miss, along with ToysRUs for anything, and Wal-Mart close to me doesn't even carry what I'm after (Marvel Universe figure). The Wal-Mart in the next town still does but between the hoarders and the flippers/scalpers I rarely ever find anything. They didn't even get the Dazzler wave; if they did I must have missed it every time they got it. I did find Hercules and Knight Hawk finally, and while I was in SC. for a family thing I found a Punk, but no Blastarr, Angel, or Nova. I can't understand why so many Wal-Mart’s aren't carrying MU anymore unless it's because of all the Avengers, Spider-Man and IM3 they're loading themselves down with; K-Mart stopped carrying them over a year ago.

I’ve even been to stores and there MU are three, even four times retail. And, as for Hot Toys; Good Luck. I might see two out of all the tables and either I’ve got it or they’re asking way too much. Online is my only option anymore.

 

[Crimsonbob]

I gave up buying from Hong kong a long time ago not only because of the ridiculous creeping high prices because of customs etc.

I buy figs from Lee at The Good The Bad And The Robots as he comes round my house for a cuppa and is a m8 and great guy.

I also buy from Onesixthbruce as Waiman does a top job and i will always want him to stay in business.

Darren at Collectablekitbash is also a great seller. I buy Sideshow and the occasional Hot toys fig off him as well as ton's of loose bits for custom figs.

 

[Stealth V3teran]

I've ditched HK sellers for a while now. I mainly use Lee over at Collectibles direct UK sound guy so would rather give him my business than some random HK guy. I have also used OSB and lee at Good bad and robots.

I mean Just look at Loki just released. He is going for £100+ more on ebay, than if you was to buy him from a UK seller. longer wait but its money saved at the end of the day.

 

[Crimsonbob]

Yeah i know it makes me laugh looking at ebay now it's just ridiculous, and you'd think the amount of flippers doing it now they would be doing lower prices not seriously higher.

I know the month early Hot toys shop que flippers have always sold em a bit more expensive but £100+ more **** off.

 

[RaZaTrOn]

I tend to buy direct from two sellers in HK and they always do me a good price. They tend to be about £20 cheaper than most local retailers (sometimes more) and that's without shipping. So usually I'm always making a saving of around £40.

Obviously as time progresses and stock or pre-orders get smaller the price will increase but that's just the nature of the beast. This has caused me to recently come to local sellers who have offered a better price. To be honest I'm not bothered where or when I get the figure from, as long as it's for the best price. I'm a student and Hot Toys is my one guilty pleasure (along with comics but they don't shoot up in price like these bad boys!) so any saving I can make is a good one.

 

[Ultron-7]

my views on this are simple - HK release prices are dictated by the people who've been paying extra to get them early for ages, they were the ones who showed the sellers people what people were willing to pay and now if it's finally gotten out of hand in some peoples views then it's their own faults, there's still plenty more people who will pay the higher prices to get them early so nothings gonna change.

I've always pre-ordered early and with UK sellers, i pay what i feel is fair to me and my budget. I don't care what others pay to get their figures, and from what i'm aware of it's mainly youtube reviewers buying from HK early so they could be the first to review a figure that drove the prices up anyway. The only i get irritated by price increases is when they come from Hot Toys, and atm with Hot Toys prices are going up but detail and what you get is staying the same or going down which may eventually make me give up buying from them unless it changes, hoping this die cast phase stops soon, brings nothing worthwhile to the figures imo.

 

[Rorywan]

I watched the entirety of your videos mate. A little too long, but I was quite taken aback and impressed by your rawness and honesty. I found myself in a similar situation a few times, where I questioned just why I was getting stuff early. Is it an addiction of sorts? probably, I guess I've been collecting **** my whole life though. You should only buy stuff for yourself mate, the rest of it, Youtube, these sites, it's all fake, fluff to entertain you when your bored, if you try and make it anything else, it will just implode around you at some point, I've seen several cool collectors on here, just freak out and not be able to deal with it. I've had times myself where i just had to leave for a few months.

I always thought your reviews were fun, if a little brash (don't mean that as an insult) and you are good at futzing and setting up stuff, so I found it very cool to see you being a cool normal human being opening up about ****. very impressed mate, and I agree wholeheartedly.

 

[hunterelf]

not sure if anyone has posted this before or anyone is aware of the issue but it all leads back to the Hong Kong local merchants.
This occurred ever since Iron Man MK2 in around 07, 08 when the price got up to 750USD and people still bought it. That really started the price soaring for all figures.

I remember lining up for a DX joker, and in front of me were loads of people who is obviously not a collector lining up with their friends and who also just wanted to cash in on the figure.

See if you can spot me with the afro haircut.

Those price soarer's even hire people just to line up for them which is ridiculous and cheap, We locals are aware of this problem but the sad part is they get their sales even if we don't buy from them, they get sales by selling them overseas or taking it apart and selling the HS or accessories... and people are still willing to buy from them...

the only solution to right this trend is to order or buy from a trusted source like sideshow or toys hunter or anyother bigger retailers/

 

[Dollmanron]

not sure if anyone has posted this before or anyone is aware of the issue but it all leads back to the Hong Kong local merchants.
This occurred ever since Iron Man MK2 in around 07, 08 when the price got up to 750USD and people still bought it. That really started the price soaring for all figures.

I remember lining up for a DX joker, and in front of me were loads of people who is obviously not a collector lining up with their friends and who also just wanted to cash in on the figure.

See if you can spot me with the afro haircut.

Those price soarer's even hire people just to line up for them which is ridiculous and cheap, We locals are aware of this problem but the sad part is they get their sales even if we don't buy from them, they get sales by selling them overseas or taking it apart and selling the HS or accessories... and people are still willing to buy from them...

the only solution to right this trend is to order or buy from a trusted source like sideshow or toys hunter or anyother bigger retailers/

I don't see any people wearing masks to keep from getting Bird Flu, like I see on TV all the time.

 

[Hydeous]

Its mongkok. The beancurd smell is so strong that it kills all the airbourne viruses.

 

[Dollmanron]

Too bad it didn't drive off some of the scalphers.

 

[hunterelf]

nah that was a while ago lining up for joker 2.0

 

[a-dev]

Well, I discovered recently that, assuming no customs charges, its still cheaper for me to buy a 1:4 scale Hot Toys Endoskeleton from TIMCENT in Hong Kong than it is to go with Forbidden Planet in the UK. Exchange rate with the GBP working against me there.

 

[Rorywan]

Well, I discovered recently that, assuming no customs charges, its still cheaper for me to buy a 1:4 scale Hot Toys Endoskeleton from TIMCENT in Hong Kong than it is to go with Forbidden Planet in the UK. Exchange rate with the GBP working against me there.

Yes, i discovered the same. It's not necessarily an across the board problem. I found that it is cheaper than ordering from sideshow in many cases. And you get the figure really early so it's win-win. I guess you could wait ages and order from OSB or somewhere local, but generally there doesn't tend to be a lot of difference in the prices at times.

It's sets like the Joker DX11 release, that really got out of hand with the HK dealers I think. And Loki seems the same.