Deposits on Exclusive Pre-Orders: Sideshow's New Policy?

[quadcent]

Unless there's breakage, "valid" is entirely subjective. I personally think ____ty paint apps are a valid reason. Any changes made from prototype to production are also valid reasons (equates basically to false advertising). I'm betting they don't see it that way though.

i agree with this, but with ssc prototype pics how can anyone really tell if there's a problem with the paint apps. i know with some of the past product like lines on the spidey lsb and the christmas orc etc. that some changes have been noticable, but the IM Maq i doubt would of been caught before the customer received them.
so yeah i think ssc does have to make an extra effort to improve they're QC or else they're still going to have storage issues.

 

[TOE]

Most of the exclusives are gimmicky anyways. Unless it's absolutely essential for the character I don't need it. I have been buying less directly from Sideshow and more from vendors like AE because it saves 10%-15% and Reward Points be damned. I can never use them on what I really want to use them on anyways.

me too, Dave.

may I suggest AFX They do price matching and fast shipping.

 

[TOE]

for all those that think ssc is doing this to screw the flippers, do you really think ssc is gunning for them, NOT. i believe flippers are actually a very small percentage of the people that cancel.

I actually think that Sideshow is partly doing this because there are too many Sideshow Exclusive products that are not selling out and just stacking collecting dust on their warehouse.

 

[woozie0]

Why all the hate on flipping? Moreover, why are people who sell collectibles at a profit viewed differently than anyone else selling things at a profit? It's lunacy.

I am remarkably thankful a market exists for flipping. I sold at least 85 Bowen statues and busts over the last two years. On the most part, I made some decent money. Much of that money went on to pay for other collectibles I wanted even more. I, for one, am thrilled there's a market to move this stuff.

Whether I choose to move stuff the day something comes out or two years down the line shouldn't make a difference. I must say, busy-bodies are a major pet peeve of mine. Some people would actually have us submit 1000 word essays on how we believe we deserve the right to by a $50 bust. Jeez. This astounding sense of entitlement is such a total turn off.

I dunno why but a lot of people view "flippers" as money hungry vermin that threaten the moral fabric of society.

Buying something with the intent of selling it for profit - gee that's a novel concept! We might as well give all forms of business the "flipper" label and chastise them! "Gap wants to charge me $10 for a t-shirt that they picked up for $1??? F*#& them and their families!!!!"

 

[The Mike]

Wow, we're only 3-8% of their customer base?!? I thought it would be a lot higher...no wonder they don't listen to us!!

But now I'm wondering why companies like Bowen and Koto go to great lengths to establish relationships through forums like Statue Marvels and Statue Forums? Is their customer base that much different from Sideshow's?

Simple it is an outlet to get feedback on products or even ideas for things to do but it has its time. Sideshow used to be more active and actually get into threads way back when, Bespin Han's eyebrows were one example where comments made on the thread were used in showing off the new sculpt, whether or not it had any bearing on the changing of the sculpt or not it at least showed they were listening and aware. Things have gotten so out of hand its not worth it, not to mention if you don't have someone dedicated to doing it, its a hassle in itself to wade through

 

[woozie0]

I am remarkably thankful a market exists for flipping. I sold at least 85 Bowen statues and busts over the last two years. On the most part, I made some decent money. Much of that money went on to pay for other collectibles I wanted even more. I, for one, am thrilled there's a market to move this stuff.

Wow I didn't know you sold so much Bowen stuff! Do you get them at retailer's discount?

 

[The Mike]

I actually think that Sideshow is partly doing this because there are too many Sideshow Exclusive products that are not selling out and just stacking collecting dust on their warehouse.

Fire sale them out. Lower the price to its lowest possible while still turning a profit and learn from the mistake. Some of the retailers can lower over 50%, you know they aren't eating a loss, so Sideshow could do the same. If they clear out their warehouses and use this as a lesson in ES then the customers don't brunt the lesson.

 

[kl241]

I believe there's a caveat which states some changes made me made during the production phase. I think all compnaies use that disclaimer of sorts. No real false advertizing to be found there.

They should change their disclaimer to read: "Final product differs significantly from prototype shown."

 

[thenammagazine]

I believe there's a caveat which states some changes made me made during the production phase. I think all compnaies use that disclaimer of sorts. No real false advertizing to be found there.

Yes, but there have been many cases where the end product is far removed from the prototype. And frankly, in many cases, the product shipped looks of considerably less quality than the one used to sell it. Regardless of what the pics say, this is false advertising. I'm not going to even touch on the underhanded BS they sometimes use like forced perspective and lighting in production shots, among other tricks.

 

[quadcent]

Fire sale them out. Lower the price to its lowest possible while still turning a profit and learn from the mistake. Some of the retailers can lower over 50%, you know they aren't eating a loss, so Sideshow could do the same. If they clear out their warehouses and use this as a lesson in ES then the customers don't brunt the lesson.

and if ssc marked they product down by 50% i'm sure they'd still be making a profit. the only problem with doing that though is that you stand to upset a large percentage of your customers or retail dealers.

 

[woozie0]

Simple it is an outlet to get feedback on products or even ideas for things to do but it has its time. Sideshow used to be more active and actually get into threads way back when, Bespin Han's eyebrows were one example where comments made on the thread were used in showing off the new sculpt, whether or not it had any bearing on the changing of the sculpt or not it at least showed they were listening and aware. Things have gotten so out of hand its not worth it, not to mention if you don't have someone dedicated to doing it, its a hassle in itself to wade through

I haven't been collecting Sideshow stuff for very long so I'm not sure, but was customer interaction (the whole experience - ideas, feedback, etc.) a big part of their success?

 

[TOE]

Fire sale them out. Lower the price to its lowest possible while still turning a profit and learn from the mistake. Some of the retailers can lower over 50%, you know they aren't eating a loss, so Sideshow could do the same. If they clear out their warehouses and use this as a lesson in ES then the customers don't brunt the lesson.

i agree. Their $10 off is not gonna attract anyone. That's like:

 

[risingstar]

i agree. Their $10 off is not gonna attract anyone. That's like:

Okay, that's hilarious... lol

 

[risingstar]

Wow I didn't know you sold so much Bowen stuff! Do you get them at retailer's discount?

All of my Bowen stuff was preordered through an online retailer or LCS.
This goes back to 1993, at least, when I first started to buy statues.
I always got a deal on preorders. Thankfully, some of those pieces have risen in value.

 

[Something Sexy]

and if ssc marked they product down by 50% i'm sure they'd still be making a profit. the only problem with doing that though is that you stand to upset a large percentage of your customers or retail dealers.

Eh I would hope most people would be grown ups about it. You pay a higher price to get it right away but if you want to wait you can pay a cheaper price. Just with anything else, electronics, cars etc etc. No reason this can't be the same.

 

[The Mike]

If its something that just shipped I could see people getting upset, but if its something that has shipped a couple of years ago that is rotting, honestly I'm sure people wouldn't care.

 

[thenammagazine]

If its something that just shipped I could see people getting upset, but if its something that has shipped a couple of years ago that is rotting, honestly I'm sure people wouldn't care.

There's a good reason stuff on the GC list is there. I have a $50 GC and haven't found anything to pull the trigger on yet. Let a $25 expire for the same reason.

 

[Seaward]

Regardless of the scalper/flipper/resaler issue, I really hope that Sideshow is more aware of the quality control issues if this is the trade off. I am surprised that they haven't moved in this direction sooner, given how awful things are in the economy, and collectibles are certainly not a neccessity. I've been ordering through third party retailers for a while (Alter Ego kicks butt!) and avoiding the exclusives to save myself money, but I've recently restarted with the LOTR maquette line. If this policy comes into play for all lines, I may drop my two exclusive pre-orders and put in an order with Alter Ego and just not worry about ordering through Sideshow anyway. If we have to lay money down to pre-order, I would think that it would be fair to see an increase in communication about product status/quality moving forward.

 

[IrishJedi]

Yes, but there have been many cases where the end product is far removed from the prototype. And frankly, in many cases, the product shipped looks of considerably less quality than the one used to sell it. Regardless of what the pics say, this is false advertising. I'm not going to even touch on the underhanded BS they sometimes use like forced perspective and lighting in production shots, among other tricks.

For example, the Luke & Han Stormtrooper figures. That thing was a disgrace from start to finish. It began with clearly deceptive photographs and imagery... and ended with production figures that were 80% turds.

Just one example. There are plenty.

 

[Skiman]

There's a good reason stuff on the GC list is there. I have a $50 GC and haven't found anything to pull the trigger on yet. Let a $25 expire for the same reason.

I let one of my $50 expire