How do you feel about Hot Toys doing second runs of Vader, Chewie, Han and Obi-Wan?

[user 1190]

Remember when everyone attacked SS for re-releasing figures?

 

[Zildjian]

Yeah I think this is strange that noting has been mentioned in the US yet......

 

[King Darkness]

Remember when everyone attacked SS for re-releasing figures?

Apples and oranges.

HT is increasing the runs on figures very recently sold out, or still available, like Kylo.

SS re-released old figures with some improvements, fewer accessories at an increased price.

Not really the same.

And when HT did re-release older figures with improvements at higher prices, plenty of people "attacked" HT and said they were ruining the hobby, destroying their credibility with collectors and would ultimately drive off loyal customers and go out of business.

 

[Aliaz]

I'd say the attack will come if they improve the figures.

 

[TurdFurgusonsHat]

If they have it for pre-order they must be getting several. Wonder if we'll see the e-web over here, for $199 it looks like. Wouldn't that mean a snowtrooper re-release or new commander is coming? Or maybe a HT snowtrooper is on the horizon.

Bizarre to say the least about the e web. Hopefully that means ht snowies but it could mean more ss versions? I wonder what they would strip away?

 

[anwe]

Remember when everyone attacked SS for re-releasing figures?

Apples and oranges.

HT is increasing the runs on figures very recently sold out, or still available, like Kylo.

SS re-released old figures with some improvements, fewer accessories at an increased price.

Not really the same.

And when HT did re-release older figures with improvements at higher prices, plenty of people "attacked" HT and said they were ruining the hobby, destroying their credibility with collectors and would ultimately drive off loyal customers and go out of business.

I'd say the attack will come if they improve the figures.

But realistically how likely is it that there will be any changes? They already have the tools and everything ready to go, just order more material, schedule more factory time and do another run. The only adjective that comes to mind is smart. There is clearly more demand and HT have the ability to just turn a switch to make more money. The hype is going to rise again now in April when TFA is released for the home. More people will be nostalgic, there might just be an opportunity for a few more Star Wars OT products to sell.

Bizarre to say the least about the e web. Hopefully that means ht snowies but it could mean more ss versions? I wonder what they would strip away?

I would take a commander regardless of who makes it. I'm sure the SSC Snowtrooper can be vastly improved as well, but another unimproved run of that will have me buying at least one, so bring them on.

 

[markecho]

I don't mind and actually hope the do second runs of a few of their figures...especially Chewie. I passed on him because of the final production piece. Now they have a chance to improve. In most cases the next release is an improvement and that is what I am hoping for.

For Vader hopefully a lightsaber that can light on its own and not via that hand.

 

[SithThundercracker]

Interestingly I see PO for the singles figs but no 2Pack. I see no improvement on the horizon, though.

 

[nash]

i need obiwan. anyone got a link

 

[Sardo Numspa]

I hate scalpers in any industry. But that said...
I can be honest enough to say that I'm not happy about this. I'm not upset about the re-release either, but like any collector of any type of collection, it's nice to know that you have some things that not everyone has. I've never sold a figure, and as long as my income remains stable, I never will. I only buy what I want to keep. And even though I'd never sell, it's nice to see the value going up year over year.
Sure, collectors now have a chance to get some of these awesome figures at retail, but in my opinion, they all had the chance to get them at retail (assuming they were aware of the existence of the HT Star Wars line).
I pre-order most of my figures like others on the forum, and pre-ordering is a risk in itself. Sometimes the finished product has a lot of problems, and in some cases, they turn out amazing. This is going to sound horrible (again, I'm just being honest), but take Chewbacca as an example. I pre-ordered it, the promo pics and pics from convention looked horrible, people were bashing the figure like crazy, I held on, the finished product came out, and he's amazing. There is some sadistic pleasure when people (who were bashing the figure, and collectors for buying it) are now scrambling to get one. I've been on both the winning and losing sides of it, and I've had to pay extra for figures that I hesitated on, or got into the hobby too late for, but that's just the nature of the hobby.

Sure, in a way it's great that all collectors can get the figures they want, but at the same time, if all of these figures were available at ToysRUs they would lose some appeal for me I think.

 

[a-dev]

I can certainly understand why people who bought the first run would be a bit miffed if the second run had improvements. Those guys just want the single best representation of the character, they aren't in the multiples game. An improved release so soon after the one they bought would sting - they'd be lucky to get all their money back if they sold the first-run figure OR they just have to accept that they own the inferior version. This would be me if I were buying Star Wars figures.

I can also understand why some people wouldn't mind at all because they're fans to such a degree that they will happily buy the character again, especially if they intend to set up multiple scenes requiring the same character in that same outfit. This would be me with Terminator.

I don't think either person is wrong but I'd say the closest Hot Toys can get to pleasing everyone is if it's just straight re-releases. If there's improvements to be made then let it be in a 2.0 a few years down the line.

 

[FLOSI]

I'd say the attack will come if they improve the figures.

No doubt! If they improve the hair color or mouth on Chewie people are going to poop their pants.... Me included. If they produce the same figure I think it's a good thing. Why should scalpers be raking in money on figures that were just released within the last few months???

I do think there's a grey area with Stormy Luke, Spacetrooper and Black Stomy though. Those are con or vendor exclusives. Hell, any exclusive should remain retired, so to speak.

 

[SilverStar17]

If they make improvements, wouldn't that be more along the lines of coming out with a separate 2.0 version per se, as opposed to simply doing a second wave of the same figure due to high demand/wanting to make more money for it/off of it?

 

[TonTon]

How do you feel about Hot Toys doing second runs of Vader, Chewie, Han and Ob...

I would guess that Chewie might be a bit lighter in the face or at least toward the lighter shade of what we saw already, as there was already some degree of variation there.

It's still not clear whether these will hit the US but it seems to be showing up at places that I think SS distributes to so you would think so. I remember when SS did another small batch of Boba's in Xmas 2014 they fulfilled some waitlisted reservations in the states with that run, but it never showed up as in stock.

 

[Chubs&Doggers]

Who's relisting these figures?? Links please.

 

[Bjjer]

Who's relisting these figures?? Links please.

Popcultha in australia and a few Euro sites. popcultha is reliable, I've ordered from them a couple of times and they ship fast(Im in the states). I might preorder another Chewy just in case this manufacturing batch is different and has lighter hair.

 

[Sithblade]

This is on Collectable Kitbash Facebook page.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

 

[Khev]

If it's a straight re-issue I have no problem at all, particularly for figures that just came out within the last year. I don't have Old Ben so I'm glad I'll have another shot at picking him up for retail. I do have Han and Chewie and am totally fine with more people being able to get them (I think the heavy hitters should be open ES anyway) but if they do have improvements over those I just bought a few months ago that will suck.

 

[TurdFurgusonsHat]

No way there will be any improvements, maybe just variation. Hell look at the quality of the ANH Luke figure components compared to the bespin. Look at the belt, boots, outfit etc. Several years between releases and we have gone backwards in some ways. Hot toys has altogether abandoned the more robust/generally higher quality/lower runs of the DX line in favor of what we get now(which sometimes is still pretty great). It's the Walmart-ization of the growing popularity of higher end sixth scale collectibles and it was bound to happen because there is money on the table.

 

[FLOSI]

If they make improvements, wouldn't that be more along the lines of coming out with a separate 2.0 version per se, as opposed to simply doing a second wave of the same figure due to high demand/wanting to make more money for it/off of it?

Totally. So "reissue" should be considered just that, of course. Same exact figure.