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

[fuzzylojiks]

Let's broaden our horizons. Can we agree that the root issue here is bloated ES and overstock in the warehouse? That this policy is extended to root out that problem?

Then, this as of now doesn't extend into the 1/6 figures. That doesn't mean that they aren't part of the problem because while they take up less space, space is space and an overabundance of 1/6 figures still creates a problem for Sideshow. This is a policy beginning with the bigger ticket items because in all honesty they lose more money there. Money though is money and once they stop the bleeding in the statues can one really think that they'll just stop and still overstock 1/6 figures out of the goodness of their hearts?

Now QC is a major issue, can we agree to that? Let's make the generalization that its more a 1/6 issue than a statue issue, even though that point is debatable, let's just go with that. So...it will still be an issue until that is directly handled right?

Eventually this policy if aimed at reducing both ES and overstock will go towards all products because that minimizes losses. They won't just stop at statues. The thing is if Sideshow handles QC now, then if/when it does go there it'll be a non-issue instead of raging its fierce head at that turning point.

Now I personally disagree with it being only a 1/6 issue I've seen multiple examples on these boards and others in all formats and scales but its still a problem that should have been dealt with in its entirety before any policys about ordering/canceling went through because as of right now anything I order from Sideshow still has that Russian Roulette factor despite scale, direct or not and that is the bigger issue here that is bleeding into this one.

I'll defer the 1/6 line statements since Chicky already stated that it won't extend to that and I feel it's premature to assume it will.

I guess I'm not agreeing with your QC issues as I don't see that as a problem. We're obviously not going to convince each other on that since we've both had different experiences, but to me the QC and CS department have been pretty good in the statue department as far as exchanges/refunds go without incurring any extra expense on my part.

Your issue is more with QC and 1/6 scale and mine isn't. Other than that, I think we've both said our piece amicably and will just have to agree to disagree, cheers.

 

[IrishJedi]

I seriously can't see how anyone can honestly claim they don't believe Sideshow has QC issues. It's affected pretty much every license, line and product type they've had at some point. And it's never really gotten better.

 

[Randy_S]

Wouldn't it just be better to get a product right from the company the first time instead of having to return it once or more to get what you wanted....you know, like the other collectible companies do? eFX made a model of the X-Wing that was far more intricate in production and paint than anything SS has ever done and it had almost no problems when received.

 

[furystorm]

Sideshow has QC issues. Fo sho!

But they have always helped me out in the past. I truly hope the change in policy does not forfeit my rights to return a truly awful piece (like the Aliens Power Loader, with wonky eyed Ripley) in the future. That would be the slight nudge I might need to stop collecting expensive items which are truly just luxury and unnecessary. I don't mind putting a deposit for exclusives, and I'm only on the LOTR maquette line currently. I'm okay with it, but still have to hope every time a piece is on the way that it will be somewhat close to what we saw in prototype. I'm mostly speaking on subpar paint apps here.

 

[thenammagazine]

WOW... gone to the dentist for a measly 3hrs and back to find 10 pages of the same repetitive bull____.

IJ and Mike, you guys keep trying to talk the QC issue into their thick skulls.

Fuzzy: Best of luck...

Enigma: Keep trollin', trollin', trollin', trollin'

 

[IrishJedi]

Theory: If you claim to have no problem with Sideshow QC and you're concerned with Edition Sizes then you are probably a speculator/flipper and/or never actually open & display these products.

 

[fuzzylojiks]

Theory: If you claim to have no problem with Sideshow QC and you're concerned with Edition Sizes then you are probably a speculator/flipper and/or never actually open & display these products.

I've never ever sold a single product and not had major problem with QC/returns. Have about 30+ on display at the moment but ES doesn't really bother me tho' and I'm none of those mentioned. Just wanted to clear that up. cheers.

 

[nash]

Reading this thread just makes you realize how many retards are on this forum.

 

[Sweet Rabbit]

Theory: If you claim to have no problem with Sideshow QC and you're concerned with Edition Sizes then you are probably a speculator/flipper and/or never actually open & display these products.

I'm seriously debating on ordering the alien warrior. God help everyone if I do & it comes jacked up

 

[Seaward]

Sideshow has no interest in creating "grails" for collectors, but they do have every interest to not create overly large production runs. Long-term, I think it will be healthy if they reduce production runs and have a more reasonable expectation of what is a saleable item, but this is a solution that penalizes the consumer, not the manufacturer.

I think that the economy has hit the collectible industry particularly hard, and I know I have way less disposable income than I used to. Sideshow seems to be in the transition of this with their customer base. I hope that the transition is smooth as possible for all involved, and they can get a better bead on production numbers. It is still a crap shoot though, and some of what is being produced is simply bad decision making on their behalf. I can't begrudge them for chasing licenses, but they make misteps too. Look at Disney PFs. They made a Prince Dastan PF but not one of the classic Disney Princesses? And why haven't they made a push to have this product sold in Disney Stores? Van Helsing as a Premium Format? Did this character really warrant a Premium Format? Some of their overstock issue comes down to strange licensing choices, bizarre character choices, odd sculpts from time to time and some big hits to QC.

I really would rather see a lean and mean Sideshow in terms of stock and sales, but this policy doesn't leave much to help a customer that is bummed when their figure ships boss-eyed or the figure didn't pull out of the mold quite right and "squished" a part of the face. I would hope that Sideshow decides to recycle that stuff at the plant moving forward, and makes a better effort at QC.

 

[IrishJedi]

I've never ever sold a single product and not had major problem with QC/returns. Have about 30+ on display at the moment but ES doesn't really bother me tho' and I'm none of those mentioned. Just wanted to clear that up. cheers.

You do realize that by Quality Control we're referring to more than just obvious manufacturing defects or broken items, right??

 

[fuzzylojiks]

You do realize that by Quality Control we're referring to more than just obvious manufacturing defects or broken items, right??

Of course.

 

[Isildur's bane]

Are you not understanding my point? Throw past exchange/return/refund experiences out the window. According to Chicky's description of this new policy Sideshow will now have the discretion to say that a sub-par painted statue in production is not technically a manufacturing defect and thus could issue "exchange options" instead of a full refund. That is horrible and flies in the face of what the company has stood for up until now. It also shows that they're more willing to tweak their Customer Service policies than they are to get off their asses and fix these production/QC issues in the first place. This is bad.

Meg Mucklebones LSB is a prime example. And not only that if you look at the product page it still has the prototype pictures up. At least they can do is take new pictures once they have a production sample, is that too much to ask.

 

[Skiman]

I seriously can't see how anyone can honestly claim they don't believe Sideshow has QC issues. It's affected pretty much every license, line and product type they've had at some point. And it's never really gotten better.

To be fair though IJ, you've been in the collecting game a lot longer than most of the guys on here, actually from all the original Marvel collectors, I really can only think of one that actually post frequently over there... The rest are newer collectors to which I don't think they have experienced the full effect of quality problems with SSC QC.

 

[Sweet Rabbit]

speaking of 2nd chance, the regular leonidas PF is still there lol

 

[IrishJedi]

Of course.

Then you must not own figures like Flint or Luke/Han Troopers or ANH Luke or ROTLA Indy, etc, etc and ad naseum.

Or PFs like Slave Leia or Indy, etc.

Sideshow has released plenty of items that show QC issues without technically being "defective".

QC also covers overall quality, consistency and attention to detail. Are you really claiming that Sideshow is excelling in these areas?

 

[Chicky]

This part of the new policy should give everyone pause in particular:



Basically, what they're saying there is that it will be their determination whether or not a final product is a "defect" or not and instead of a full refund in some cases you would get "exchange options". So if I pre-ordered something like a Rambo PF in hopes that it would turn out decent in production and then received that mongoloid statue (because I didn't want to eat the 10% NRD by cancelling) there's a real possibility that I couldn't get a complete refund but instead "exchange options"?? EFF. THAT.

Nope. Returns process covers 'mongoloid' issues.

 

[The Mike]

Your issue is more with QC and 1/6 scale and mine isn't. Other than that, I think we've both said our piece amicably and will just have to agree to disagree, cheers.

1/6 is example of my issue with QC but apparently I'm either not explaining it thoroughly enough or something is getting lost in translation, I'm arguing its a problem across the board from 1:1 to those little mini Marvel Iron Man helmets but since you said agree to disagree fine, we'll end it there.

IJ and Mike, you guys keep trying to talk the QC issue into their thick skulls.

Eh. I'm done. After this if people don't see it then they don't. Sometimes people are too focused on the tree in front of them to see the forest behind it.

To be fair though IJ, you've been in the collecting game a lot longer than most of the guys on here, actually from all the original Marvel collectors, I really can only think of one that actually post frequently over there... The rest are newer collectors to which I don't think they have experienced the fool affect of quality problems with SSC QC.

That is a good point. I've been in it since the original red/gold IM Comiquette, in fact I have 2. Each time I opened the box I was worried that it'd be scratched up beyond belief, a common QC problem from the ____ty foam used to ship. Then came the repaint into Stealth, same problem, scratched up beyond belief for some, mine was the lesser and better than the pictures I saw of the exchanges so I kept it especially since they started saying "well then we'll refund" so the person had their cash but not the piece they wanted. Then was the LSBs, again scratches and now paint issues, then came the little film helms, again painting issues with peeling now for some, then came the 1:1 with huge paint issues and scratchings. Notice a trend? Nothing done or said to handle the major issue of QC where these problems should have never happened and only the offer of replacements or refunds and that's it.

Don't get me wrong, it could be worse and Sideshow could say "screw you you're stuck with it" like some other companies. Their CS is awesome but its a band-aid over a gaping, bleeding wound that as of recent isn't even keeping the bleeding back.

and I'm out of the QC conversation, although I'm still interested and will read this thread but I'm not a preacher and not interested in making believers out of nons.

 

[Skiman]

Nope. Returns process covers 'mongoloid' issues.

 

[thenammagazine]

Nope. Returns process covers 'mongoloid' issues.