Gandalf 12" up for order!

[superdoug]

well as far as the pridce point. Part of it may be due to the fact that the edition size of Indy is probably a lot larger than that of Gandalf. The price for making the extra stuff for Indy gets spread a lot while Gandalf probably has the same edition size as Frodo which is much smaller so the development costs can't be spread as much.

 

[pixletwin]

When peopole start posting in Chickenese I get bored.

Oh my God the LOTR line is coming to an ENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ProgMatinee]

The figure looks really nice and I'm not necessarily convinced its easier or harder than Faramir and Boromir.

The head is a big intricate piece with that beard. There are a lot of layers of clothing and the cap is big too. Plus many accessories.

I think SSC isn't necessarily ripping us off, but they aren't being overly generous either.

I think it would have been a great PR move if they maybe cut their profit margin a tad on this one and did it with the new body.

 

[carbo-fation]

We still talking about this?:emperor

 

[ProgMatinee]

We still talking about this?:emperor

You don't have to if you don't want to.

 

[carbo-fation]

You don't have to if you don't want to.

Don't worry, I won't. I am quite tired of this actually. Unless sideshow chimes in and says anything, this discussion is going nowhere.

 

[superdoug]

we could talk about the exclusive book. Can it be opened and closed or is it just sculpted as one solid piece?

 

[Sachiel]

Stuff from chat.

Question from Lonnie:

Scott, has China's growing prosperity and competition caused an increase in production costs? I heard a report on NPR that China factories across the board were raising prices because they could...

Answer from Scott Klauder:

of course the growing economy overseas is a big part of rising prices... but there's also the raising price of oil... the materials needed to create the products, plus the running of the factories, plus the shipping ALL rely on oil.

plus, the overseas manufacturing policies are all changing now... including environmental laws, so factories are having to move, as these laws force them to move to a different area... they are becoming much more stringent.
which is not a bad thing, but the downside is that it DOES increase cost


the interesting thing for me as an individual is to see the growth in the middle class in China... there was never a middle class until now. It's been very interesting and intriguing to see a country grow like that, just over the course of my tenure as production manager.

 

[ProgMatinee]

Don't worry, I won't. I am quite tired of this actually. Unless sideshow chimes in and says anything, this discussion is going nowhere.

See ya then.

 

[MaulFan]

Answer from Scott Klauder:

Quote:
of course the growing economy overseas is a big part of rising prices... but there's also the raising price of oil... the materials needed to create the products, plus the running of the factories, plus the shipping ALL rely on oil.

plus, the overseas manufacturing policies are all changing now... including environmental laws, so factories are having to move, as these laws force them to move to a different area... they are becoming much more stringent.
which is not a bad thing, but the downside is that it DOES increase cost


the interesting thing for me as an individual is to see the growth in the middle class in China... there was never a middle class until now. It's been very interesting and intriguing to see a country grow like that, just over the course of my tenure as production manager.

Thanks for sharing this.

I think for the most part, people understand if costs go up on products, especially in the world economy of today.

I think the issue with Gandalf is an expected correlation of prices within a single manufacturer's production of an item.

Given his quality and the economy, people find $90 for Indiana Jones to be fair and understandable. Comparing Gandalf to Indy, a number of factors don't add up as to why Gandalf costs the same. With the economy, it'd make perfect sense for Gandalf to cost more than LOTR figures from a year ago, but there are questions as to why he's the same as some figures for sale now.

I agree with people in the sense that it is curious what makes Ganalf balance out to the same price as Indy. However, as a collector, my personal view of the Gandalf figure's quality and it's personal value to me is that he is worth $90. A bit of contradiction between the rational and irrational side of me.

 

[galactiboy]

I think the difference in price will also come into play when the edition size is released. My guess (and I may be wrong) is that there will be a significant amount more Indy figures out there than Gandalf... which would mean a higher price.

If these sold like SW figures I think a lower price would have happened, but they don't... just not the same market for them. My guess would be that (for whatever reason) LOTR fans just aren't as into action figures.

 

[icruise]

we could talk about the exclusive book. Can it be opened and closed or is it just sculpted as one solid piece?

My guess is that it doesn't close, but I can't say for sure.

 

[MaulFan]

Definitely ES will play a part, and that could end up the big factor.

 

[pixletwin]

My guess is that it doesn't close, but I can't say for sure.

Looks one sculpted piece to me.

 

[ProgMatinee]

The book is a great exclusive and one of the better ones in a while. Crap load better than lembas bread I tell you.

I like the BIG exclusives that you know cost SSC more than 2 cents to make.

 

[Darklord Dave]

Economic boom in China and rising price of oil as some of the reason for increased pricing from Sideshow. Hmm, where have we heard that before? Might I have mentioned it in the Luke discussion? I think I did.

And just to quash something before it becomes an issue. The "embroidery" on Gandalf is actually printed on the material, not embroidered. But the fact that they go to that extra expense on a piece that wasn't even seen on screen is impressive.

 

[icruise]

The book is a great exclusive and one of the better ones in a while. Crap load better than lembas bread I tell you.

I like the BIG exclusives that you know cost SSC more than 2 cents to make.

I agree, but you can't very well have Sam and Frodo go hungry, can you?

As for the rising costs in China, yes I accept that as a reason to raise prices somewhat. But again, it's not just the rise in prices -- it's the amount of the increase. I find it incredibly hard to believe that the manufacturing costs have increased by 38% in the year or so since Aragorn was released.

 

[The Josh]

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

I'd like to believe the changes signify a shift toward producing better and more complex LOTR figures than what have been offered so far, which will be of the highest quality and which will therefore end up costing more from now on. I don't know if this will prove to be true with Gandalf, but I can't help feeling that some reasonable and convincing justification for the price increase will present itself before long. In the meantime, I will not regret paying a little more for a Gandalf of this quality, which I expect to enjoy for many years to come.

I hope so too but as you can see there are so many that just seem to be against the cost. For their own legitmate reasons I have a bad feeling and I'm ususally quite positive in how I look at things. I hope LOTR goes on for a ery long time this is MY one line I want to make sure to get every figure of.

 

[pixletwin]

Awesome pic Josh. I never noticed that they have Gandalf's pipe stuffed into the top of his staff like in the movies. Thats just awesome.

 

[Wor-Gar]

And just to quash something before it becomes an issue. The "embroidery" on Gandalf is actually printed on the material, not embroidered. But the fact that they go to that extra expense on a piece that wasn't even seen on screen is impressive.

Where on Gandalf's outfit is this "embroidery" pattern anyway?