Free upgrade from "regular" to "exclusive"

[darren1228]

I've recently found out that a couple of collectors had their "regular" order of the Carnage comiquette and Ms. Marvel PF upgraded to an "exclusive" at no extra charge. Wondering how many collectors have had this upgrade offered? I've ordered the exclusive for both these statues and don't think it is fair at all. Sideshow has not offered to lower the price of the exclusive version so far. I wouldn't mind so much if they did this a few months down the road if the exclusive had poor sales but to do this now is just puzzling. Collectors who ordered the regular version now pay $10 less and receive the exclusive version at the same time as us. Simply a puzzling move by Sideshow
I know it may only be a $10 difference but this is a matter of principle to me.
Wondering what other collectors think.

 

[Kibishii]

I've recently found out that a couple of collectors had their "regular" order of the Carnage comiquette and Ms. Marvel PF upgraded to an "exclusive" at no extra charge. Wondering how many collectors have had this upgrade offered? I've ordered the exclusive for both these statues and don't think it is fair at all. Sideshow has not offered to lower the price of the exclusive version so far. I wouldn't mind so much if they did this a few months down the road if the exclusive had poor sales but to do this now is just puzzling. Collectors who ordered the regular version now pay $10 less and receive the exclusive version at the same time as us. Simply a puzzling move by Sideshow
I know it may only be a $10 difference but this is a matter of principle to me.
Wondering what other collectors think.

I think Sideshow is sitting on exclusives and they know they can sell the regulars to retailers/online vendors. Sideshow would rather lose $10 to convert a regular to an EX and sell direct. They keep all of the profit, don't get stuck with inventory sitting, and make a customer happy.

 

[Balsquat]

I think Sideshow is sitting on exclusives and they know they can sell the regulars to retailers/online vendors. Sideshow would rather lose $10 to convert a regular to an EX and sell direct. They keep all of the profit, don't get stuck with inventory sitting, and make a customer happy.

Never thought of that...Makes sense actually.

 

[darren1228]

I think Sideshow is sitting on exclusives and they know they can sell the regulars to retailers/online vendors. Sideshow would rather lose $10 to convert a regular to an EX and sell direct. They keep all of the profit, don't get stuck with inventory sitting, and make a customer happy.

But I'm unhappy....don't my feelings matter to Sideshow

 

[Kibishii]

Give Sideshow's CS a call on Monday and see if they can do anything for you. I have no problem with them doing this because business is obviously hurting, they are having product sitting on the shelves, and it is a win/win for Sideshow and the customer. This is good business all around and it is better than the EXs going on the gift card list.

To think that the Sabertooth EX is "In Stock" shows just how bad business is for them right now.

 

[darren1228]

Give Sideshow's CS a call on Monday and see if they can do anything for you. I have no problem with them doing this because business is obviously hurting, they are having product sitting on the shelves, and it is a win/win for Sideshow and the customer. This is good business all around and it is better than the EXs going on the gift card list.

To think that the Sabertooth EX is "In Stock" shows just how bad business is for them right now.

I understand your point of view but if business is hurting perhaps Sideshow should evaluate their prices. I don't think this practice is good business all around. Yes they are making one group of customers happy but they will certainly alienate a certain portion of other customers. Why should any customer purchase an exclusive anymore when they could buy the regular for less and have it upgraded later on?

 

[Hulksmashed]

Yeah I agree, its just kinda a crappy move on Sideshow's part. Its like rewarding those that order the regular version and laughing at those stupid enough to pay the extra money for their exclusive product.

 

[fuzzylojiks]

Maybe they keyed in a bigger number than they were supposed to when they were printing out the exclusive print.... or maybe they had some printer ink left over.

 

[risingstar]

Isn't this the same as selling concert tickets for cheaper a week before the show because it isn't sold out? This is nothing new. I've seen 2 for 1 sales for sports events quite often when there are too many unsold tickets. While I sympathize with the principle of watching others being rewarded, I can understand why SS would prefer not to be stuck (if "stuck" is the actual fear and reasoning behind the move) with a bunch of Exes.

 

[traylorc]

Isn't this the same as selling concert tickets for cheaper a week before the show because it isn't sold out? This is nothing new. I've seen 2 for 1 sales for sports events quite often when there are too many unsold tickets. While I sympathize with the principle of watching others being rewarded, I can understand why SS would prefer not to be stuck (if "stuck" is the actual fear and reasoning behind the move) with a bunch of Exes.

Exactly...

I can understand how this might not sit well with folks who purchased an EX from the beginning, but this is not an uncommon business strategy.

From a business perspective, the financial consequences of sitting on unsold inventory outweigh the potential ire a few customers may have at reg orders being converted to Ex.

 

[King Darkness]

Its shady to offer up the exclusives at regulars prices. Offer to convert the regular order to an exclusive order at the exclusive price, period. As customer friendly as Sideshow likes to present itself this is a nice fat F U to a portion of its customers.

As time goes by Sideshow is doing more and more to alienate customers. Sure there will be others to replace those who leave, but it is no less disappointing to see Sideshow move into more shady business practices.

 

[Shai]

Its shady to offer up the exclusives at regulars prices. Offer to convert the regular order to an exclusive order at the exclusive price, period. As customer friendly as Sideshow likes to present itself this is a nice fat F U to a portion of its customers.

As time goes by Sideshow is doing more and more to alienate customers. Sure there will be others to replace those who leave, but it is no less disappointing to see Sideshow move into more shady business practices.

 

[INFECDEAD]

Darth Talon edition size increase from a type-o.
Increased edition size on Optimus Prime.
Now Upgrading for free REG order customers to EX for free while existing EX orders pay $10 more - so $$ can make extra money from not selling to retailers and profit from a 50c print.
Sideshow isn't human and makes mistakes
They're EVIL.

 

[Shadow King]

I am still wondering about the merits of exclusives for everything as they are competing with themselves as much as anyone.

Using the Turtles as an example why not scratch the ex idea and instead of having 600 ex and 1000 reg (total 1600 run), just make 1400 total with both heads and do away with the ex idea on these pieces. That way everybody can choose between both heads and there is no must have ex, just a must have piece in general. Sure people would go with a retailer to save money, but not everyone and there would be a limit on how many they would get so people would have to go to SS either way.

Point is scratch the ex on most pieces and just lower the total edition size.

 

[risingstar]

Point is scratch the ex on most pieces and just lower the total edition size.

I'm not sure you fully appeciate the objective of Sideshow's business model.
Have you ever owned a business before?

 

[INFECDEAD]

I am still wondering about the merits of exclusives for everything as they are competing with themselves as much as anyone.

Using the Turtles as an example why not scratch the ex idea and instead of having 600 ex and 1000 reg (total 1600 run), just make 1400 total with both heads and do away with the ex idea on these pieces. That way everybody can choose between both heads and there is no must have ex, just a must have piece in general. Sure people would go with a retailer to save money, but not everyone and there would be a limit on how many they would get so people would have to go to SS either way.

Point is scratch the ex on most pieces and just lower the total edition size.

The one thing letting this idea down is as you stated the retail savings factor. Not every statue is a grail, and retailers at the initial release do not get overly inflated prices or inflation due to popularity unless they initially price them that way. The the EX is essential to $ideshow. It is their bacon on profit margin, it must be - given 40% of their usual sales are EX and they are already profiting on wholesale. Sometimes I think that they are heading in the direction that because some of the EX versions are worth so much more on the secondary market that they can rip collectors off, increase the edition sizes drastically and make a cut of what these statues are worth later on.
Problem is for every grail there are multiple turds.
A lot of Ex statues are still around retail.
Word of mouth, scarcity, and sculpt quality usually make for a grail piece. How many $$ pieces fulfill all of this criteria?
Just the grails and probably ManThing!

 

[risingstar]

I may be wrong but I think retailers get a crack at the Exes (get a discount of some kind) if they aren't sold out... Can someone confirm?

 

[INFECDEAD]

I am still wondering about the merits of exclusives for everything as they are competing with themselves as much as anyone.

Using the Turtles as an example why not scratch the ex idea and instead of having 600 ex and 1000 reg (total 1600 run), just make 1400 total with both heads and do away with the ex idea on these pieces. That way everybody can choose between both heads and there is no must have ex, just a must have piece in general. Sure people would go with a retailer to save money, but not everyone and there would be a limit on how many they would get so people would have to go to SS either way.

Point is scratch the ex on most pieces and just lower the total edition size.

The one thing letting this idea down is as you stated the retail savings factor. Not every statue is a grail, and retailers at the initial release do not get overly inflated prices or inflation due to popularity unless they initially price them that way. The the EX is essential to $ideshow. It is their bacon on profit margin, it must be - given 40% of their usual sales are EX and they are already profiting on wholesale. Sometimes I think that they are heading in the direction that because some of the EX versions are worth so much more on the secondary market that they can rip collectors off, increase the edition sizes drastically and make a cut of what these statues are worth later on.
Problem is for every grail there are multiple turds.
A lot of Ex statues are still around retail.
Word of mouth, scarcity, and sculpt quality usually make for a grail piece. How many $$ pieces fulfill all of this criteria?
Just the grails and probably ManThing!

 

[Randy_S]

I may be wrong but I think retailers get a crack at the Exes (get a discount of some kind) if they aren't sold out... Can someone confirm?

Retailers do not get a discount on exes. My AD friend buys all SW, Joe, and Indy exclusives for his personal collection and complains about paying full price.

 

[Shadow King]

I'm not sure you fully appeciate the objective of Sideshow's business model.
Have you ever owned a business before?

I really cannot tell if you are kidding or not. I don't think many of you really know who I am or what I did.