Indy 12'' line on ''pause.'' OR The Future of the Sideshow 12" INDY Line

[Star Puffs]

Re: Indy 12'' line on ''pause.''

In Sideshow's defence, they really need to overcome the exposed joints issues to do Marion or TOD Indy. That is 1:6 figures' last major hurdle in general.

Marion could be pulled off in her bar oufit, since the Cordellia figure from Buffy looks OK (not great, but acceptable with sleeves rolled up, but her popularity would be maximised by including two, even three outfits (bar, Cario, white dress), and the later two need minmal joints showing.

I think the line in probably dead though. Sideshow wants to make polystone stuff above all else these days. The production is much simpler I'm guessing, meaning much higher profit margins.

More importantly Sideshow appears to have lost its passion for 1:6 figures, probably due in part to poor decision making and being outclassed by HT and Enterbay in terms of quality. Sideshow's limited mindset is exemplified by the fact that they have six Stormtrooper variants in the last year (and another likely) and three Cobra Soldier variants.

 

[superdoug]

Re: Indy 12'' line on ''pause.''

SW and Joe aren't in any danger - both are doing extremely well. It might actually be a curse for any other 1/6. Indy can't come close to being as successful, so it doesn't get the same focus that those 2 lines get.

I think that pretty much sums it up. We have to remember Sideshow is a bussiness. They do lots of stuff geared towards us fans like Spooktacular, Christmas giveaways and many more throughout the year but in the end it is about being profitable and Dave has hit the nail on the head. Why spend lots of money making an Indy figure with an edition size of about 1,000 (with unquie outfits and gear) and risk not selling out when you can make 3 or 4 versions of a cobra trooper using pretty much the same gear and outfits with edtion sizes of 1,000 to 2,000 each.

I'd love to see the Indy line keep going and I'm hoping they come in with more figures down the line (and lotr ending with allways hurt) but I do understand that they are a company and even if indiviuals that work there love the line if it doesn't make as much money as the others I can be upset about them ending it but I can't hold it against them (unless they were to promise us a certain figure or number of figures and then go back on it).

 

[thenammagazine]

Re: Indy 12'' line on ''pause.''

It always gets on my nerves when, rather than realize all the mistakes made in production which resulted in the poor sales, they blame us for not buying as a result of those poor choices.

 

[superdoug]

Re: Indy 12'' line on ''pause.''

It always gets on my nerves when, rather than realize all the mistakes made in production which resulted in the poor sales, they blame us for not buying as a result of those poor choices.

True. Farimir for one would not have been labled the line killer if his paint apps had been good.

They need to take into account that when you are dealing with smaller collectible fan bases you don't have the shear number of buyers to over come short falls in product or even product selection. That said I'd still buy Toht if I had the money to throw down for the ark even though there are some short falls in it.

 

[Mad Old Lu]

Re: Indy 12'' line on ''pause.''

It always gets on my nerves when, rather than realize all the mistakes made in production which resulted in the poor sales, they blame us for not buying as a result of those poor choices.

Too right. It's not like these are $20-$40 Hasbro figures. We all have to really justify spending $100+ for each piece and if it's not perfect, then many are going to understandably pass.

I do think they realize that the only surefire hits will be ToD Indy and Mola, and since they know the bare joints thing is an issue, they're going to hold on that til the problem is solved. I'm confident they will go all out for those two since they know the future of the line depends on it. I'm willing to wait patiently if they could assure us that the ToD figures WILL be made because they are committed to solving the issue with Hot Toys. My fear is that they are only making half-hearted attempts at figuring out the muscle bodies and have no real drive to keep the line going.

 

[Darklord Dave]

Re: Indy 12'' line on ''pause.''

It always gets on my nerves when, rather than realize all the mistakes made in production which resulted in the poor sales, they blame us for not buying as a result of those poor choices.

Toht's nearly perfect - yet people still didn't buy (and I'm talking the regular version, so you can't blame the ark). If only his glasses would have had smaller frames he'd sell 3000 units?

Henry is perfect and doesn't have an unusually large exclusive - but he could only sell 1000. Probably the 2nd most requested character after Indy.

 

[Something Sexy]

Re: Indy 12'' line on ''pause.''

Toht's nearly perfect - yet people still didn't buy (and I'm talking the regular version, so you can't blame the ark). If only his glasses would have had smaller frames he'd sell 3000 units?

Henry is perfect and doesn't have an unusually large exclusive - but he could only sell 1000. Probably the 2nd most requested character after Indy.

I think it is pretty ridiculous the edition size they set on Toht.

 

[Darklord Dave]

Re: Indy 12'' line on ''pause.''

I think it is pretty ridiculous the edition size they set on Toht.

But that's about how many they need to break even on a figure. And he was planned back when there was Indy fever 1000 for Henry isn't profitable at all.

 

[Something Sexy]

Re: Indy 12'' line on ''pause.''

But that's about how many they need to break even on a figure. And he was planned back when there was Indy fever 1000 for Henry isn't profitable at all.

Unfortunately that is SSC problem then because I mean yea there was Indy fever...for an Indy 12". I bet about half the people interested in the Indy 12" were interested in the rest of the line. If they couldn't make money on it, they shouldn't have done more than Indy in my opinion. To honestly think that 3000 Tohts would sell seems ridiculous to me.

 

[ProgMatinee]

Re: Indy 12'' line on ''pause.''

its all about price. proof is in the pudding that $90 action figures don't sell in quantity. Not sure what was wrong with the SSC business model they had in 2007 and prior making items at $60 each and selling 5000-8000 of each unit..

 

[Something Sexy]

Re: Indy 12'' line on ''pause.''

its all about price. proof is in the pudding that $90 action figures don't sell in quantity. Not sure what was wrong with the SSC business model they had in 2007 and prior making items at $60 each and selling 5000-8000 of each unit..

Yep and it is driving me out of the 12" market but maybe that was their plan from all along.

 

[ProgMatinee]

Re: Indy 12'' line on ''pause.''

people always bring up Hot Toys as an indicator of $100+ items selling.

SSC trying to adopt HT business model will get you higher quality, sure, but historically most HT lines don't last much past 4 or 5 characters so guess what, now SSC's lines won't either.

SW will be the only line that can survive the price increases medium term and I don't really think it can last long term that way.

 

[ProgMatinee]

Re: Indy 12'' line on ''pause.''

in the SW forum someone brought up breaking the forum into subsections.

what I am starting to realize is maybe SSC as a company should be broken up, because 1/6th items need a new business strategy different from "limited edition collectibles" such as statues and such. They need to be treated with an eye at being mass produced and thus "value priced" to make them viable as large collections. What made 1/6th great is they were affordable enough to buy like 20 a year. Now its a stretch to buy 10 of them in a year. I may as well go to PFs and buy 4 or 5 a year instead.

Also, a question, I remember people claiming that with the edition sizes going down that secondary prices will go up on the new figures. I don't really track ebay, but has this proven to be true?

 

[Entropy]

Re: Indy 12'' line on ''pause.''

Toht's nearly perfect - yet people still didn't buy (and I'm talking the regular version, so you can't blame the ark). If only his glasses would have had smaller frames he'd sell 3000 units?

Henry is perfect and doesn't have an unusually large exclusive - but he could only sell 1000. Probably the 2nd most requested character after Indy.

But regular Toht is one of the few Indy figures that did sell out.

 

[ProgMatinee]

Re: Indy 12'' line on ''pause.''

regular toht is still available at gohastings for a 30% off retail for what its worth.

 

[Cocoboloboy]

Re: Indy 12'' line on ''pause.''

regular toht is still available at gohastings for a 30% off retail for what its worth.

I'm looking at it but I don't see any 30% discount.

 

[Darklord Dave]

Re: Indy 12'' line on ''pause.''

Exclusive Toht is still available too. And he's only 2500 total between both releases.

I'd hate to see the 1/6th regulated to "value" versions. I'd probably stop buying SSC 1/6th at that point. And HT is releasing more and more stuff - granted, it's not all from the same license, but they've shown with Predator that the market will bear as many high priced releases as you want to put out there if there is demand for the character.

 

[ProgMatinee]

Re: Indy 12'' line on ''pause.''

I'm looking at it but I don't see any 30% discount.

use 302010.

As for HT. Like I said, they can hit a shallow license (in terms of number of characters) like Predator or Aliens or Batman where you basically make the same 2 or 3 characters over and over again. Will HT be making a Lex Luthor or Commissioner Gordon or Carl Weathers or Jesse Ventura from Predator. How about a Pachino or Deniro from GFII? Or a James Caan? How about more POTC? How about more Planet of the Apes? How about more Hellboy?

Really, HT is a joke when it comes to "lines" and SSC would do well to avoid their business model because we know they can't compete as far as high quality. So SSC needs the value model because thats what they used to be great at.

Value doesn't mean a reduction in quality if its tied into making more units, thus lowering unit cost. And I've yet to see collectors benefit from decreased unit production on 1/6th product. Retailers are discounting many of their products and still can't sell out, so I can't imagine what a used Toht goes for if hastings can't sell out at $60.

Compared to HT, all SSC had is value and licenses. If SSC gives up on their value minded collectors AND gives up on their licenses What do they have on HT? Nothing.

 

[thenammagazine]

Re: Indy 12'' line on ''pause.''

Toht's nearly perfect - yet people still didn't buy (and I'm talking the regular version, so you can't blame the ark). If only his glasses would have had smaller frames he'd sell 3000 units?

Henry is perfect and doesn't have an unusually large exclusive - but he could only sell 1000. Probably the 2nd most requested character after Indy.

The regular version sold out (Wait Listed) on Sideshow's site and has been sold out since before the Exclusive was shipped. I had to order the regular through VP after canceling my Ex. The Ex didn't sell out and is still available on the site whereas the regular version of Toht isn't, so I can, and do blame the Ark.

 

[DinoLast]

Re: Indy 12'' line on ''pause.''

I'm just glad they made some Indy figures.
If KOTCS Indy is the last in the line, c'est la vie.

I know hardcore fans would love a Sallah, but come on now, your average collector is not going to give up shelf space for that character in a million years.

It's a shame there might be no TOD Indy and Mola, but on the Pro they would look like ????