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

[furystorm]

I don't need prints as exclusives, but I like that Beast. Going to try to stick to only LOTR maquettes for the foreseeable future (with the exception of an Alien maquette (please, please, please Sideshow), or maybe a Revenant) and will be in line with my deposit ready for each and every exclusive in the line.

 

[risingstar]

I think there should be a bit more leeway with QC issues so that consumers feel a bit more secure with their orders. Also, whenever possible, be more open with reported QC issues. For example, when we hear about, say, 20 people calling in about the Iron Man legacy paint flaws, PLEASE don't tell everyone who called that this is the first they hear about paint issues with the legacy piece. This is a small community. Collectors talk to one another all the time. Most customer reps are known by name by now too.

Lastly, the lazy eye issues........ It's not in our imagination. PLEASE don't tell us it's supposed to be that way, i.e., the Vader 1:1 bust. How does QC miss so many lazy eye pieces? I have also yet to see one Aurra Sing piece without the lazy eye. Eye contact with a piece is right up there with the overall appeal of the piece. A lazy eye can kill it.

 

[thenammagazine]

I think there should be a bit more leeway with QC issues so that consumers feel a bit more secure with their orders. Also, whenever possible, be more open with reported QC issues. For example, when we hear about, say, 20 people calling in about the Iron Man legacy paint flaws, PLEASE don't tell everyone who called that this is the first they hear about paint issues with the legacy piece. This is a small community. Collectors talk to one another all the time. Most customer reps are known by name by now.

Lastly, the lazy eye issues........ It's not in our imagination.
PLEASE don't tell us it's supposed to be that way.

I dunno, I have to agree partially with Sideshow here. For all the _____ing people do about their collectibles here, the majority really don't call Sideshow to report it. Instead, like say a paint apps issue, they post 200 pics whining about the issue, then they either tolerate it, or send it off to an artist to repaint, or just attempt to repaint it themselves. So when you consider maybe 5 actually do out of a run of 1000, that's not that much.

 

[risingstar]

I dunno, I have to agree partially with Sideshow here. For all the _____ing people do about their collectibles here, the majority really don't call Sideshow to report it. Instead, like say a paint apps issue, they post 200 pics whining about the issue, then they either tolerate it, or send it off to an artist to repaint, or just attempt to repaint it themselves. So when you consider maybe 5 actually do out of a run of 1000, that's not that much.

I don't consider myself one of these perfectionist fans who take out the magnifying glass and chirp continuity until the cows come home. However, I can tell the difference between a statue that was painted better than another.

Thing is, I don't really want to have to "tolerate" it. Nor do I want to send it off to another artist to paint it, repair, or repaint it myself (am I on the payroll suddenly?). The Iron Man piece cost $500. Fans are entitled to feel like they should be getting something (extra?) more for their money, or at the very least something as striking as things released for less money.

 

[thenammagazine]

I don't consider myself one of these perfectionist fans. Thing is, I don't really want to have to "tolerate" it. Nor do I want to send it off to another artist to paint it, repair, or repaint it myself (am I on the payroll suddenly?). The Iron Man piece cost $500. Fans are entitled to feel like they should be getting something extra more for their money.

WTF does that have to do with what I posted?! My point is, for all the _____ing and whining you see, less than 1% actually call Sideshow for a replacement. And yes, this is a small community, but we only represent the tiniest fraction of that. Based on that, I can understand why you'd get comments like, "This is the first I've heard of it."

 

[fuzzylojiks]

Well, I think what risingstar was referring to for instance, was there was a member who talked to the same CS person who dealt with the exact issue (Ironman chin issue) for another forum member earlier, and said it was the first she heard of to the new caller.

 

[thenammagazine]

Well, I think what risingstar was referring to for instance, was there was a member who talked to the same CS person who dealt with the exact issue (Ironman chin issue) for another forum member earlier, and said it was the first she heard of to the new caller.

And my point is, how do you know the other person actually called? Again, for all the _____ing I've seen, people seldom do anything about it. They may talk a big storm, like a category 5 hurricane but peter out like a deflating balloon.

 

[fuzzylojiks]

And my point is, how do you know the other person actually called? Again, for all the _____ing I've seen, people seldom do anything about it.

Yep, you gotta take his word for it like everything else. But that forum member is a standup guy and why would he have an incentive to fib. And then you have multiple instances of differerent people reporting the same thing.

 

[thenammagazine]

Yep, you gotta take his word for it like everything else. But that forum member is a standup guy and why would he have an incentive to fib. And then you have multiple instances of differerent people reporting the same thing.

If Chicky pokes back in, you'll see what I'm talking about. Usually if someone starts a rant thread about a defective item and is in the process of getting it replaced, you'll have 15 other people who'll claim the same thing and not a one really did anything about it, if they even had the same problem to begin with. Most just jump right on the Sideshow hating bandwagon.

 

[risingstar]

And my point is, how do you know the other person actually called? Again, for all the _____ing I've seen, people seldom do anything about it.

When some fans started to zero in on Bowen regarding some paint app QC issues a couple of years ago (perhaps with a little too much gung ho), numbers did appear to decline after that. At the time, a third tier character like Medusa had an edition run of 1500. Less than a year and a half later, higher tier and often campaigned characters like Doc Ock had an edition run of 600 and Modern Nova had an edition run of 800. There are probably a number of equally good reasons to explain that decline. All this to say that it can be argued that some people do "do" something about it, even if quietly. Some stop buying.

Speaking for myself, those QC issues encouraged me to wait for more in-hand pics before buying another Bowen piece. At the same time, it also encouraged me to pay more attention to what other companies like Sideshow was doing. At the time, I only dabbled in SS products as I wasn't sure how I felt about PFs. I've since purchased 15 Sideshow pieces with even more preordered. I've generally been very pleased with what I've received. SS does great work and customer service has been fabulous. However, I'd be a liar if I didn't say I was concerned by how the Iron Man legacy piece and the 1:1 Vader bust (the head) and other lazy eye issues turned out.

 

[The Mike]

Beast would've moved to sold out in seconds without this policy. It's interesting to be able to see true demand now that there is a NRD.

That actually proves nothing. People order stuff on websites with deposits all the time already. What Sideshow is trying to do is limit cancelations. This NRD is an attempt to circumvent that but if Beast's ship time comes and there are a bunch sitting on 2nd Chance, then it shows that even the 10% NRD isn't really a useful tactic in handling that and that Sideshow's efforts were in vain since while they have the deposits they also would have the overstock sitting there which they are trying to stop. One or two pieces isn't much but if hypothetically half are canceled for whatever reason, that doesn't bode well for pieces with larger ES. We'll see its effectiveness in about five to six months, this thread will probably still be going on by then.

If Chicky pokes back in, you'll see what I'm talking about. Usually if someone starts a rant thread about a defective item and is in the process of getting it replaced, you'll have 15 other people who'll claim the same thing and not a one really did anything about it, if they even had the same problem to begin with. Most just jump right on the Sideshow hating bandwagon.

This is true. There are ton of members of these boards or others who complain about the product, show off how flawed it is but instead of contacting Sideshow or even returning it, they fix it themselves or send it off to a customizer while still _____ing about it. On these boards for a while people would send off pieces to Les and Josh before ever picking up the phone to complain. I wouldn't be surprised if the actual QC complaints per piece were under 20, while the online complaining on the boards numbered in the hundreds. A lot of people like to _____ but action is meh. Even my Stealth Iron Man which was scratched up more than I'd actually like, I _____ed here but kept it especially when I saw the replacements were worse. I never actually called Sideshow despite the defect just voiced my opinion here and moved on. In reality I helped contribute back then to a problem that is rampant now.

 

[Enigma]

I am trying to get to everyone's relevant concerns in the thread! Our production guys are constantly working on quality issues, sourcing new artists and manufacturing procedures. Have we hit everything 100%? Nope. Do we try like hell? Yes. To assume QC is being put aside until other procedures are put in place, is wildly inaccurate. To assume QC issues are the number one reason for cancellations? Also inaccurate.


Can you return your item if it is majorly different from the prototype and get a full refund? Yes. Can you return your item if you decide you don't like it, ie the pose of Skywalker or the face sculpt of Rambo even though they haven't change from the prototypes? Yes, but in that case you pay return shipping.
Can you return your item for a refund if it didn't have the right amount of dirt deco in the same spots as the prototype? Yes, but this would be considered an aspect of the hand detailing and you would need to pay for return shipping. You can see this list could get pretty long which is why we cant detail it out in our Return Policy, however the majority of collectors who have taken advantage of the policy have been pleased with it.

thank you Chicky.

will be good to see this NRD on other more popular statues in future.

 

[Kabukiman]

If Chicky pokes back in, you'll see what I'm talking about. Usually if someone starts a rant thread about a defective item and is in the process of getting it replaced, you'll have 15 other people who'll claim the same thing and not a one really did anything about it, if they even had the same problem to begin with. Most just jump right on the Sideshow hating bandwagon.

Not to mention all the gawkers who didn't even buy the piece in question but still have to get their 2 cents in.

I'm not saying there are no QC issues, but I get Nam's point about how things can look worse than they really are through the "eyes" of a message board.

 

[SimFeliz]

Why is there a NRD on Flex orders? You already get slugged a fee for canceling. Say if you cancel after your second payment you could potentially be looking at $100 in fees.

 

[Bodie The Cursed]

so much for customer friendly sideshow.. cutting back on quality and sucking in the $. Theyre starting to suck balls

 

[Enigma]

Sideshow has always been friendly to customers this is great for customers and bad for speculators, eatforfree flippers and cancellers.

 

[SimFeliz]

Sideshow has always been friendly to customers this is great for customers and bad for speculators, eatforfree flippers and cancellers.

Seriously, DIAF. You sir are nothing but a troll.

 

[Enigma]

Chicky is nice to drop by and give info. only bad for cancellers.

Real collectors win.

 

[nash]

Chicky is nice to drop by and give info. only bad for cancellers.

Real collectors win.

I guess you don't win then.

 

[Enigma]

I guess you don't win then.

yes i do.

do not cancel or flip.

not like you.

From hot toys guardian predator thread:

https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190456161779&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

2 days left