'International Edition' Patiet Zero PF?

[EVILFACE]

They can sugar coat it all they want, in the end it was still about money. Yes they wanted to please there customers but trust me, they were still thinking about the money they were going to make doing it.

They wouldn't be in business if it wasn't.

 

[Something Sexy]

The other thing is that the reg edition sat around available for preorder on the site for quite a while. Does anyone remember how long it was before that one went to sold out? They announced the ES before it did.

Because it was up for so long--and maybe just as long as many other reg editions of figures--I'm not buying the story that international dealers couldn't get in their orders. International dealers don't have to send a carrier pigeon with parchment containing their order counts in this day and age. I could see if they all went that night, but that wasn't the case at all.

Yea it was definitely a good week or two it was still up...I think? I might be confusing it with a different one though.

 

[Mesa]

They can sugar coat it all they want, in the end it was still about money. Yes they wanted to please there customers but trust me, they were still thinking about the money they were going to make doing it.

Of course they were thinking about money, that's why they're in business. We shouldn't kid ourselves and think that Sideshow is some sort of business that's puts it's customers over the profit margin. They are very good at delivering products we usually like, and they try very hard At keeping their customer service tip notch, but of course they Are still in this to make lots if money, which is completely within their rights.

Edit: hopefully they are aware of what eventually happens to companies that eventually forget about their customer base (ie gentle giant). I think they are

 

[Something Sexy]

Of course they were thinking about money, that's why they're in business. We shouldn't kid ourselves and think that Sideshow is some sort of business that's puts it's customers over the profit margin. They are very good at delivering products we usually like, and they try very hard At keeping their customer service tip notch, but of course they Are still in this to make lots if money, which is completely within their rights.

Most definitely I am all about them making money, capitalism rules!

 

[Kibishii]

Yes they wanted to please there customers but trust me, they were still thinking about the money they were going to make doing it.

And there is absolutely nothing wrong with them wanting to make money and wanting to put more product into customers hands. The problem is that they announced a regular edition size and decided after the fact to bump that number by just adding "international edition" to the base; when talking about $300 statues, adding words to the bottom of a base isn't really a 'variant.'

It was very nice that Sideshow actually addressed the issue, but what they should have done is made some quick tweak like a different colored shirt.

 

[Mesa]

I'm sure that the dissatisfaction that was expressed here, and probably other forums, made it back to sideshow and hopefully it will weigh heavily on future decisions to do a money grab. I do hold sideshow above other companies in the same business but I also realize that they goal is to turn a profit. If they make more decisions to increase the ES without saying anything, or start increasing the ES to where the items are no longer "collectible," I'll find something else to spend my money on.

 

[Bullseye]

I see no problem with Sideshow doing these international editions. Fair play to them I say.

 

[ozzfan84]

I see no problem with Sideshow doing these international editions. Fair play to them I say.

I take it you didn't buy one thinking there would be 300 of them?

They often use language in the newsletters such as the following (I took this right from the Indiana Jones PF announcement on 4/16):

"We are very happy to let collectors know that Sideshow Collectibles' ______ will have an Edition Size of just ___ pieces worldwide!"

How is saying something is limited to a certain number worldwide and then letting customers find out otherwise after they've been charged for the item "fair play" in your book?

 

[Something Sexy]

I take it you didn't buy one thinking there would be 300 of them?

They often use language in the newsletters such as the following (I took this right from the Indiana Jones PF announcement on 4/16):

"We are very happy to let collectors know that Sideshow Collectibles' ______ will have an Edition Size of just ___ pieces worldwide!"

How is saying something is limited to a certain number worldwide and then letting customers find out otherwise after they've been charged for the item "fair play" in your book?

Because some of us care more about the statue then the edition size. I have said it before I don't care if they made 2000 of these or a million I still want one and still love mine. Thing is so badass.

 

[ozzfan84]

Because some of us care more about the statue then the edition size. I have said it before I don't care if they made 2000 of these or a million I still want one and still love mine. Thing is so badass.

That's fine, I would have still gotten one if the ES were higher as well. But this issue isn't about how many they made as much as it is about how they decided to make more. Even if you don't care about the edition sizes, it is a fact that they sell these things by hyping low edition sizes and that it means something to some collectors.

From 5/7:

We are very excited to announce that Sideshow Collectibles' Alien Warrior Faux-Bronze Concept Comiquette will have an incredibly low Edition Size of just 500 pieces worldwide!

Sideshow Collectibles would like to let G.I. Joe fans know that our Recon at Waypoint 12 with Timber 12-inch Figure Environment has had its Edition Size set at a low 750 pieces worldwide and is now Sold Out!

5/21:

Sideshow Collectibles is very excited to let collectors know that the edition size for our Predator Dagger Prop Replica will be set at just 500 pieces worldwide!

There's a difference between you personally caring about edition size or not, and you believing it is A-OK for them to market these products by hyping edition size and then "stealth-manufacturing" more without telling the customers about it until they are already in the hands of the customers.

 

[Something Sexy]

There's a difference between you personally caring about edition size or not, and you believing it is A-OK for them to market these products by hyping edition size and then "stealth-manufacturing" more without telling the customers about it until they are already in the hands of the customers.

You know what dude, to me it is fine. To ME it is all about the quality of the piece and if I like it or something I am interested in. If they want to do whatever tactics they need to do to sell it, that is there issue and also the issue of people who buy because it is limited. I really don't concern myself with that, my concern is more so quality control then limited.

 

[Amanaman]

I'll wait for the intergalactic Ex. PZ PF.

 

[Bullseye]

Isn't the international version different. Consider the fact that we international collectors pay on average 25% more due to shipping, import duties so throwing us the odd bone with these international additions is welcome.

I do agree that the versions should be sufficently different to distinguish them.

 

[JosephCPR]

Isn't the international version different. Consider the fact that we international collectors pay on average 25% more due to shipping, import duties so throwing us the odd bone with these international additions is welcome.

I do agree that the versions should be sufficently different to distinguish them.

I think the only difference will be the base, where you will read "International Edition", that's all

 

[Jeff A Simon]

I see no problem with Sideshow doing these international editions. Fair play to them I say.

Says the guy from Ireland. I think I'll consider your opinion totally unbiased and then go smoke some more crack.

J.

 

[Bullseye]

Says the guy from Ireland. I think I'll consider your opinion totally unbiased and then go smoke some more crack.

J.

Nice. It's always great to read this stuff posted by someone hiding from behind a keyboard.

Again I have no problem with these international editions AS LONG as they are sufficently different. If the only difference is the text at the base of the statue then that is totally unacceptable.

Sideshows previous International Exclusives have been sufficently different.

How is that for you?

 

[Darth Snoopy]

Says the guy from Ireland. I think I'll consider your opinion totally unbiased and then go smoke some more crack.

Hmmmm...that explains the anger issues.

 

[Jeff A Simon]

That's fine, I would have still gotten one if the ES were higher as well. But this issue isn't about how many they made as much as it is about how they decided to make more. Even if you don't care about the edition sizes, it is a fact that they sell these things by hyping low edition sizes and that it means something to some collectors.
There's a difference between you personally caring about edition size or not, and you believing it is A-OK for them to market these products by hyping edition size and then "stealth-manufacturing" more without telling the customers about it until they are already in the hands of the customers.

That is it exactly. EXACTLY. I've been collecting stuff for about 15 years, but some of the collectors on this board don't understand that Sideshow just arbitrarily devalued their "collectible" for no other reason than SIDESHOW COULD.

Some of the collectors do understand but they just don't care. They may not have a Patient Zero, so they figure they are not personally affect edited ome of them are too dense to understand that if S.S. is willing to undermine Edition sizes once, they can do it again. Some of them figure that they aren't planning to sell this cool new figure, so what does it matter?

Well lemme tell you something, kiddo: One day you're going to outgrow this stuff, or just grow tired of this "flavor of the month" and want to move onto something else. Another hobby, or life in general... and it will require money. And you're going to get less of it than you should because S.S. saw an opportunity to wring another few K out of their property under the guise of playing benefactor to the international customer. They lined their pockets while cutting the stitches out of yours.

Some of you twerps need to look up the definition of sycophant. YOU DON'T GET WHAT YOU DESERVE OUT OF LIFE, YOU GET WHAT YOU ACCEPT.


I'm all for capitalism. I'm also all in favor of transparency. Sideshow is a business and they made a business decision. They weighed the benefits of squeezing another 10-15K out of their property versus the very slim odds that some geeks cranking out ten thousand posts a year might actually protest.

It is what it is, S.S. Ju


J.

P.S. Here's the necessary emoticons for all you kewl children:

 

[Jeff A Simon]

Nice. It's always great to read this stuff posted by someone hiding from behind a keyboard.

How is that for you?

I never hide behind a keyboard. That might be why I post under my real name, not some kewl codename like "Bullseye".

Moron.

J.

 

[Something Sexy]

That is it exactly. EXACTLY. I've been collecting stuff for about 15 years, but some of the collectors on this board don't understand that Sideshow just arbitrarily devalued their "collectible" for no other reason than SIDESHOW COULD.

Some of the collectors do understand but they just don't care. They may not have a Patient Zero, so they figure they are not personally affected, so "#uCk it!" Some of them are too dense to understand that if S.S. is willing to undermine Edition sizes once, they can do it again. Some of them figure that they aren't planning to sell this cool new figure, so what does it matter?

Well lemme tell you something, kiddo: One day you're going to outgrow this stuff, or just grow tired of this "flavor of the month" and want to move onto something else. Another hobby, or life in general... and it will require money. And you're going to get less of it than you should because S.S. saw an opportunity to wring another few K out of their property under the guise of playing benefactor to the international customer. They lined their pockets while cutting the stitches out of yours.

nghead

You are pretty dumb if you get into this hobby because you want a return somewhere down the line. Nothing in this hobby is guaranteed even if it is super limited now and selling for a lot, 10 years from now maybe no one cares anymore and you can get it for less than what it cost originally.

Immediate flipping or even waiting and flipping in a year or so probably works great but anything beyond that, you should invest your money in something else.