It's not a stale argument at all. We have to pay in full and Paypal only covers us for 45 days. You have every right to be concerned. Since their goal is to grow to be a larger company and they want to have many projects in the pipeline at once like a bigger outfit, maybe Iminime can get to the point soon where they start to do NRD or flex pays. But see where that solves one problem it creates another because of the very limited ES. When a DX like Blondie or Bateman blows off of the shelves in a heartbeat would it be fair to offer an NRD or flex pay on an item like this and then there are cancellations along the way, worst of all at the end of the stretch? Maybe work that system for the regular run and not for the DX's
Like most systems it's an imperfect one but it seems that it's the way small operation customizers need to work. We see it always happen with Rainman all the time. Just the most recent example being Vince. We paid for him more than 45 days ago, right? And just one of many recent examples is Betojuice. I that interest list started a year ago and I paid 6 months ago; I just received him 2 weeks ago. Again your point is very valid; Iminime (and this applies even more so to other artists here) can get knocked on their *** with one catastrophe. I just don't know what the solution is.
You're right, it does seem like a lot but I think this is a model that Iminime needs to follow to be the company that they want to be. I don't think that 4-5 months for a figure to be completed from when they first start working on it to the day it's shipped is unreasonable (PayPal protection issue aside). These things aren't created overnight. Look at Hot Toys; they are tremendous in comparison and they experience delays all the time. They always take at least 6 months from PO to shipping for a figure. I ordered my DX11 last June and just got it last week!
Also of the 13 projects that you mentioned, keep in mind a few things. McClane and Lenny haven't even been started. Trev is sculpting Blondie and Lenny and Rovo is doing McClane so they have some outside helping hands there. Oliver and SMcG are helping with boots and accessories and Denny is adding a 3D modeler to the team.
Also all of these projects are in various stages of production which is a very healthy way to keep the gears turning. Some are almost ready to ship, some are half way thru the production cycle and some are just getting started. Again going back to Hot Toys; between in stock and PO stuff they currently have 37 items on SS, each of which they produce in the low to high 1000's. Considering Iminime is a team of several painters, several sculptors and a tailor and not a smaller op like RM or Beto, I think what they're doing is reasonable.
