Hot Toys Avatar Jake Sully?

[Dollmanron]

I'd like to ask, what is it with this figure?

Sideshow still has him in stock and are trying to sell him for over $300, but seem to have contests giving one away almost every four or five contests they have.

Sellers on EBay are selling it for around $240 to $250 (SHIPPED), did they get that big of a discount?

People that bought it are selling opened and displayed ones for $225 to $235 (Which I'm very grateful for).

But, what is it with this figure that people want to get rid of it? I think it looks pretty good, and I want one, but what about it makes people willing to sell it for so low . Sellers asking more than $260, their auctions go un-sold.

Is it that gouty, stick out of a collection to much, is it because it was the only Avatar figure made, or is there a manufacturing problem with it I don't know about? I tried searching the forums for it's original reveal thread, but it looks like it's long since gone.

I'd hate to get one and be really happy until I get it set-up and find out HT made his knees too weak and he can't stand without his base, that the base doesn't light up properly, that his joints break easy or some other problem.

Anyone know something I don't?

 

[EVILFACE]

Avatar fad is over and no one wants a tall skinny blue doll on the shelf.

 

[TheFiend]

^ Pretty much. I know lots of people that went to the movie twice for the effects and experience but thought the movie was crap.

 

[Snake Plissken]

Seeing how most retailers still have the first figure, this license is dead and rightfully so.

 

[Mqhuynh]

Get it if you could get it for $200 or less. I picked mine up locally for $180AUS. great figure too.

 

[robbiethepainter]

I have had this figure for a while now I I really like it. I really think if HT would have given it a more aggressive face it would have sold better.

 

[EVILFACE]

Would have sold better if they didn't take their time with it.

It might rebound once Cameron starts the next 4 sequels.

 

[Wulf]

The only things I don't like with my Avatar figure is the ugly knees and the lack of Neytiri displayed next to it. I paid about 250 euros for it and I wouldn't sell it, unless an improved version came along.

I wouldn't say it's not a popular figure as some here would make it seem like. I think HT produced too many of the figures to meet the "high demand" for a collectible from one of the most popular movies of our time with the highest gross so far (not taking into account inflation ofc).

 

[HeubertMichael]

I think the character, despite being from a commercially successful film, was not that (yet?) established as an icon that some collectors would rather spend their budget on more iconic/timeless characters. Other than that, the design may not be visually attractive to everybody (ironic that it's from a visually stunning film) -- not as easily loved by many like, say, the Jaegers from Pacific Rim.

Here in my country MISB Jake Sully can be purchased from local resellers and Toy Shops for as low as $120 and as high as $170.

 

[Wulf]

I think the character, despite being from a commercially successful film, was not that (yet?) established as an icon that some collectors would rather spend their budget on more iconic/timeless characters. Other than that, the design may not be visually attractive to everybody (ironic that it's from a visually stunning film) -- not as easily loved by many like, say, the Jaegers from Pacific Rim.

I think a Neytiri figure might have been more popular. And people already got those from Sideshow and Legacy Effects. Those who wanted a Jake Statue to go with their Neytiri Maquette just waited for the Jake Maquette.

Here in my country MISB Jake Sully can be purchased from local resellers and Toy Shops for as low as $120 and as high as $170.

Yes but isn't the value of the currency in the Philippines lower than say in Europe and the US?

 

[VintijDroidGutzz]

I picked mine up locally for $180AUS. great figure too.

Did you get it via Case Fresh?

I remember they practically GAVE the figure away during their last big sale.

 

[Mr. EcKo]

Avatar fad is over and no one wants a tall skinny blue doll on the shelf.

 

[Mqhuynh]

Did you get it via Case Fresh?

I remember they practically GAVE the figure away during their last big sale.

That is correct sir.
Scored two face and whiplash off them for $150 each too. The good old days

 

[Raymond F.]

My consensus was pretty much mentioned by fellow freaks like Robbie and Evilface but here are the reasons why I think this tanked (I'm still really glad I have one and like it a lot)

1. Hot toys took too damn long to make it. They snoozed on the hype of the lisence and by the time it came out no one cared anymore.
2. They should have started with Nyteri. Now this is a little bit the opposite of the problem with the Watchmen as they did start with the main character but they didn't start with the most popular and they've pulled off this moronic idiot move too many times before. Watchmen got killed by starting with Specter, first class never got off the ground because they started with Xavier and not Magneto. They are going to kill Prometheus both because its been too long and because they are doing Shaw and not the Eingineer.
3. The design of the character, jake looks pretty cool all things considered but lets face it the movies strong point was not the character design it was the effects and the experience. The characters always reminded me of poor anatomically incorrect badly proportioned cheesy fairies that a 13 year old girl would draw.

 

[HeubertMichael]

Yes but isn't the value of the currency in the Philippines lower than say in Europe and the US?

Yes, but we get the SRPs at exact equivalent of the US$ prices posted by SSC particularly during Pre-Order (which hurts so much now as our local currency's really low ATM while HT prices are going up), so I guess the currency value isn't the factor on Jake Sully's low prices here. Some figures are not as popular here as it is in the US or other countries, and they go at lower value even when converted to US$ compared to Ebay and SSC -- case in point is Jake Sully, and the DX10 (and other Terminator figures) which can be bought here MISB for an equivalent of $170, but went for the same price as SSC prices when it was still on Pre-Order status. (this is an advantage for me being a Terminator fan )

 

[Taibhse]

I'd like to ask, what is it with this figure?..
Anyone know something I don't?

No, there is nothing wrong with the figure and its BIG, plus the detail is awesome..if you want one, buy it!.. because at the low prices some retailers are currently asking, its a steal.. Great movie, great figure.. HT just took too long to ship and probably made a tad too many.. ignore the haters, the film tended to get right up the nose of anyone who dislikes environmentalism.

 

[galactiboy]

It's simple the figure is just not one a lot of people wanted to drop $300 on. I enjoyed the movie and paid retail for one... generally I'm happy to wait on a deal but I had the concern that the underwhelming response might lead to a low ES and possibly an inflated value later. On this one I was wrong and have seen a few sell for around $175 which is pretty ridiculous.

As a figure it's damn impressive... but definitely a dividing line. Some people love it, others judge me harshly for it

 

[Wulf]

Yes, but we get the SRPs at exact equivalent of the US$ prices posted by SSC particularly during Pre-Order (which hurts so much now as our local currency's really low ATM while HT prices are going up), so I guess the currency value isn't the factor on Jake Sully's low prices here. Some figures are not as popular here as it is in the US or other countries, and they go at lower value even when converted to US$ compared to Ebay and SSC -- case in point is Jake Sully, and the DX10 (and other Terminator figures) which can be bought here MISB for an equivalent of $170, but went for the same price as SSC prices when it was still on Pre-Order status. (this is an advantage for me being a Terminator fan )

Wow, really? I know this is getting off topic, but how much does the average Filipino make per month? And how much % of that will the gov. take in taxes? I read somewhere between 40000 pesos, so that's about 1000 dollars. If that's the average income, then a figure of 120$ upwards is a lot of cash.

 

[Wah]

i for one was one who got it for a ridiculous price. it's a great great figure.

 

[HeubertMichael]

Wow, really? I know this is getting off topic, but how much does the average Filipino make per month? And how much % of that will the gov. take in taxes? I read somewhere between 40000 pesos, so that's about 1000 dollars. If that's the average income, then a figure of 120$ upwards is a lot of cash.

Man, that's way above average wage. I'll say the average here would be around $350-$500, while a minimum wage earner gets between $200-$300 (not to make anyone feel bad but yes, a Hot Toy figure is someone else's full month salary here). While cost of living here is very low, expensive hobbies such as collecting high-end collectibles is indeed for the minority. However, the inversely proportional rising of HT (as well as other collectibles) prices vs. the weak Peso against US$ is really hurting both sellers and collectors alike. I guess this is also why Jake Sully didn't sell well locally, as many here would save their $300 for figures that people think would be more worth of their budget. Not saying that the figure isn't good, but majority of collectors here have very limited budget for the hobby and they'd rather spend it on more popular figures like Batman and/or Marvel line.