Gandalf 12" up for order!

[Cocoboloboy]

Capn' did say it's a difficult outfit to tailor. Maybe we'll see the intricacies when it's in hand but for now it's a mystery.

 

[tomandshell]

Dave's post is correct--the image shows things that should rightfully be in the Gandalf image. I think that the Strider figure had more "bang for the buck" in terms of the exclusive items included.

 

[TheObsoleteMan]

We can debate the intricacy of the outfit or number of accessories all day long, but it's pretty clear that Sideshow just has a new pricing model now. That's the long and short of it.

 

[The Josh]

HR image hopefully allows you to see some of whats in the outfit a bit.

 

[tomandshell]

We can debate the intricacy of the outfit or number of accessories all day long, but it's pretty clear that Sideshow just has a new pricing model now. That's the long and short of it.

I think this is the bottom line. Their figures are just going to be costing more than they used to, and we can live with it or not collect them. I am not giving up on the hobby because of the gradual price increase.

 

[The Josh]

I think this is the bottom line. Their figures are just going to be costing more than they used to, and we can live with it or not collect them. I am not giving up on the hobby because of the gradual price increase.

Yup, that's where I'm at. I'll get what I want/afford. Some people just really are making more out of this than needs to be made.

 

[carbo-fation]

I think the price increase is everything but gradual!

But, as Tom and ObsoleteMan have said, the price is staying and I am keeping my order just because it's a figure I've wanted for a very long time.

 

[tomandshell]

I would actually like to have a Gandalf displayed alongside Tim the Enchanter. I think you could come up with some amusing poses.

 

[TheObsoleteMan]

I think this is the bottom line. Their figures are just going to be costing more than they used to, and we can live with it or not collect them. I am not giving up on the hobby because of the gradual price increase.

I'm not either... yet, bit it is getting to the point where it feels like more of chore trying to keep up than just a few short years ago when I started collecting 1/6 and was picking up figures for $20-$40. I'm still into 1/6 so I'm tolerating the prices for now, but it really is feeling less and less like a hobby and more like just another big bill I have to pay each month.

 

[Cocoboloboy]

Oh definitely. This is SS's new figure pricing and that's that but as far as there being any justification for Gandalf due to the outfit, accessories or new body(lack of) there isn't. It's just a price hike plain and simple to me.
I have no problem with any company like SS wanting to make more money. It's why they're in business, right?
This is a great looking $70 figure. The headsculpt is fantastic!

 

[Anzik]

I'm having a single malt scotch and find that the price increase doesn't bother me.

 

[Randy_S]

I think the price increase is everything but gradual!

$25 more than the last comparable figure is definitely not gradual. I'm passing on Gandalf since he's afflicted with a buck and, in my eyes, an unreasonable price. My other LOTR figures are now being sold to make more room for SW.
I also could see this line ending on Gandalf.

 

[creecher]

I would actually like to have a Gandalf displayed alongside Tim the Enchanter. I think you could come up with some amusing poses.

I think you may have stumbled across something there Tom. It could explain the price rise. I bet it was pretty hard sewing the ol keepers clothes back together to make Gandalfs garb.

 

[tomandshell]

I think the price increase is everything but gradual!

I started buying Sideshow figures when they were $40, like the Monty Python and X-Files figures. I was willing to start paying more for the Star Wars figures, and while figures like Jedi Luke, Mace Windu and Obi-Wan got things off to a nice start at $50 each, it made sense that Anakin's robotic arm would cause the price to jump up to $55. After paying it once, it didn't hurt as much when I needed to pay that for Kit Fisto, and it wasn't that much of a jump to a $60 Plo Koon. Leia as Boushh seemed like quite a bargain in comparison at the same price, and even though Bib Fortuna and Darth Maul provided a welcome return to the $55 price point, the previous $60 figures paved the way for a relatively comfortable $60 Asajj and Old Ben. From there, it was just a little more of a reach for the $65 ANH Han Solo, and that was not far from the $70 ANH Luke. ANH Leia was nicely priced at $55, and the $60 Praji also showed that there was still some wiggle room. General Kenobi will deservedly provide us with the biggest jump in pricing yet, but if you haven't seen it coming then I am shocked.

So in general, the Star Wars line has had a gradual price increase throughout the course of its life span. They did not give us $50 figures for two years and then jump up to $70. There has been some give and take in five dollar increments over time, and that is why I referred to a gradual price increase. I admit that Gandalf's twenty dollar jump to $90 feels somewhat less incremental to the typical LOTR collector who has been paying between $55 and $70 per figure, but collectors who have interests across licenses have seen prices steadily increasing over time.

I agree that Frodo and Sam, with plenty of accessories and a brand new short body, seems like a better deal than Gandalf on the Buck body for $90, but I think he turned out very well and for those wanting a complete Fellowship, this line is the way to go.

 

[hairlesswookiee]

Yeah, I think they will need to explain this price hike during a chat or Ask Sideshow or somewhere! That is a big jump all at once!

exactly...i havent been checking the forums much lately, so i figured i missed an announcement of a new body or something. $80 for a 12" figure is getting pretty pushy. i wonder how much the armored obi wan is gonna cost.

 

[RoboDad]

OK, after looking at Josh's high res pic, I'm a bit confused about something. Several posts have mentioned some embroidery on the costume. I sure don't see any in that pic. Surely people aren't referring to the simple zig-zag stitch as "embroidery"? Because that is neither embroidery nor complicated at all.

 

[RoboDad]

I started buying Sideshow figures when they were $40, like the Monty Python and X-Files figures. I was willing to start paying more for the Star Wars figures, and while figures like Jedi Luke, Mace Windu and Obi-Wan got things off to a nice start at $50 each, it made sense that Anakin's robotic arm would cause the price to jump up to $55. After paying it once, it didn't hurt as much when I needed to pay that for Kit Fisto, and it wasn't that much of a jump to a $60 Plo Koon. Leia as Boushh seemed like quite a bargain in comparison at the same price, and even though Bib Fortuna and Darth Maul provided a welcome return to the $55 price point, the previous $60 figures paved the way for a relatively comfortable $60 Asajj and Old Ben. From there, it was just a little more of a reach for the $65 ANH Han Solo, and that was not far from the $70 ANH Luke. ANH Leia was nicely priced at $55, and the $60 Praji also showed that there was still some wiggle room. General Kenobi will deservedly provide us with the biggest jump in pricing yet, but if you haven't seen it coming then I am shocked.

So in general, the Star Wars line has had a gradual price increase throughout the course of its life span. They did not give us $50 figures for two years and then jump up to $70. There has been some give and take in five dollar increments over time, and that is why I referred to a gradual price increase. I admit that Gandalf's twenty dollar jump to $90 feels somewhat less incremental to the typical LOTR collector who has been paying between $55 and $70 per figure, but collectors who have interests across licenses have seen prices steadily increasing over time.

I agree that Frodo and Sam, with plenty of accessories and a brand new short body, seems like a better deal than Gandalf on the Buck body for $90, but I think he turned out very well and for those wanting a complete Fellowship, this line is the way to go.

Tom, I think you are mixing up "gradual" with "continuous".

 

[Entropy]

Is there a hi-res version of this picture available?

The complex hem decoration embroidery pattern is apparently both beneath the outer cloak and the inner robes on his baggy trousers or 'culottes', the tiny bit of fabric sticking out from under the robes in that picture I guess.

It's under 2 layers of clothes and this site, which has tons of detail pictures, doesn't even have one of it and this pattern was never even visible in the movies:
https://www.alleycatscratch.com/lotr/Wizard/Gandalf/Grey.htm

 

[Mudshark]

The whole "pending approval" thing has nothing to do with the price or the body. I'm 99% sure they're just referring to license holder approval, which I think is mostly about ensuring that the products maintain a certain level of quality, and that they represent the characters in a way that the license holders approve of. It's not like New Line (or whoever is in charge of this kind of thing) is going to say, "nice figure, but you should charge less for him."

Yes, I realize that term refers to the license holder's approval, I simply meant it is possible that using the new body as opposed to the old one might be part of the equation with regard to Sideshow's final decision about how they want the final product to look (and cost). New Line's approval probably has little or nothing to do directly with how much Sideshow decides to charge for it.

It might, however, have some influence on the final product Sideshow will eventually release, which might involve using the new body as opposed to the Buck. I know I'm probably just grasping at straws here, but I'm trying to think of (positive) reasons for the price increase, and besides that, I really want Gandalf to come with that new body. I think he deserves it just as much as Indy does!

 

[Alice Adrenochrome]

People can feel however they like about the fact that the price tag is $90, but looking at Sideshow as a producer of 1/6 figures and current prices of their products, even on the Buck, Gandalf's price is fitting with where they're presently at. ANH Luke is $70, with basic costume and accessories, where Gandalf has more intricate costuming and accessories. Compared to Luke, Gandalf costing more is balanced. Again, people can feel however they like about the matter, but within Sideshow's offering of 1/6 figures in the last few months, he seems easily more involving than one of their $70 figures.

See, but that is part of the problem: the continuous price hike across the 12" lines over the last couple of months. No wonder this $90 Gandalf kind of blends in! As far as I'm concerned, figures like Praji, Smuggler Han, ANH Luke, ... were already overpriced: if the price increase on those figures is justified, I certainly don't see why.

The price debate didn't start with Gandalf, he's just the sad climax. For now.