Is Gentle Giant Dead?

[wookielovin]

There not going to die last time i herd there looking at mass market like talking to major distrubtors like walmart and target.. Once they lock in one of the big guys watch them pump out statues like mad, its going to be quantity not qual.

sad really, but its a tuff market out there i can see why there looking into. even sideshow is kinda moving into this direction look at the busts they produced for the DVD packages. DK/IM... each company is trying to make a quick buck.

The problem with gentle giant is there going to be mass producing there bread and butter.

 

[Nocturne]

Fingers crossed they can at least stay afloat until they get their statue of The Faun from Pan's Labyrinth out, have wanted one of those ever since I saw the film

 

[Shai]

hope they are.

 

[tomandshell]

I don't see them operating in their current mode by this time next year. Say hello to infrequent direct exclusives and mass produced plastic items in chain stores. I sure will miss all of those unanswered customer service e-mails!

 

[Batty]

GG was dead to me a long time ago. I've collected a lot of their products over the years, but they ran their business into the ground themselves.

 

[LOTRFan]

The Potter line is by far their best and most consistent. It's up to 20+ busts and we've gotten most of the main characters but there are a few left that I'd love to get if GG are gonna go under.

The Potter "PFs" look amazing, as did their Angel of Death and Wizard of Oz lines; I never cared for their busts though, they look awful being cut off at the waist.

 

[Jen]

I pre-ordered their Prince Nuada bust.....was supposed to come out in Oct....then Dec....now they are saying March 2009. Wonder if I will get it at all.......

 

[choopie]

I pre-ordered their Prince Nuada bust.....was supposed to come out in Oct....then Dec....now they are saying March 2009. Wonder if I will get it at all.......

Yeah, and we think delays from Sideshow are bad.

The only thing I keep up with from GG now is the SW OT maquettes. I think they are fun. But once the curio is full, my days with GG will come to an end. I hate to play favorites, but for as much as I've dabbled with products from other companies, I keep coming back to Sideshow. And I'm not saying that just because this is the Freaks board. I just feel that for my interests, their quality is consistently top notch for the price. I really have no need to deviate from them and buy from somebody else.

 

[galactiboy]

Glad I got the Pans Labyrinth bust... probably won't see any stuff from that either.

 

[tomandshell]

Missed out on that one. Waited in line but with no success. On top of that, they wouldn't give me the items that I had preordered for pickup and made me come back later in the day. After leaving their booth empty handed that morning, I actually felt OK turning my back on them and walking away, and I've held on to that feeling since then.

If they make any more Potter busts, I'll probably pick them up for twenty bucks on eBay--but that's about it.

 

[Nocturne]

Now that's just really crappy customer service on their part.

Sucked they made those Faun busts an exclusive seeing as it's the only Pan's Labyrinth merch official available. There's next to no chance of them leaving the states unless they were scalped by dealers.

 

[Darklord Dave]

I like their Potter stuff a lot, but the PFs have been pushed back a lot and they haven't solicited the Snape and Dumbledore PFs that were shown in SDCC.

But they have done recent customer surveys about what we want to see - so I'm hoping they aren't going under. Remember collectibles are just a side business for them - they are more focused on movie work.

 

[Ktjn]

Sad thing, only license keeping GG afloat is SW. Just like with MR, but look what happaned to them. I am not even sure if SS would still be around if they didn't acquire the Marvel and SW line.

 

[Spartan Rex]

They could help themselves out if they brought out that 1/6th Master Chief at a decent price.

 

[tomandshell]

GG doesn't have any higher end stuff, and that's another problem when it comes to their health and longevity. They haven't expanded their customer base beyond those who will spend $50 or less on a collectible--and the customer base they did have has been shrinking because of crappy customer service and oversized edition sizes leading to horribly devalued prices on the secondary market. (I wouldn't be able to sell my unopened Elrond bust for ten bucks on eBay if I tried.)

 

[wookielovin]

All SW stuff going downs the toilet in value no matter what company.. If Your collecting SW for value. GOOD LUCK!.. there is too much stuff. You should be collecting SW for fun and memories. even the old vintage toy line of kenner is going down hill because there is no demand.

What i could see happening is SW collectors weaken... Gentle giant has some awesome licenses but if SW is there bread and butter they maybe screwed. Unless they do another successful line, or sell there souls to walmart.

OR
Lucas releases a successful SW franchise, such as the TV show. Or another movie that is Good.

I think SS has the right strategy in diversifying themselves the problem i foresee is spreading itself too thin.

 

[SolidLiquidFox]

I sure will miss all of those unanswered customer service e-mails!

I think Jewell is THE customer service department for GG. Sending an email to the generic customer service email was a waste of time. You had to have her direct email and phone to have a shot at any kind of help.

 

[IrishJedi]

I certainly hope they are.

 

[Darth Loki]

If they make any more Potter busts, I'll probably pick them up for twenty bucks on eBay--but that's about it.

Same thing I'm doing. I need to pick up the last 2 but will wait to score a great price on them.

 

[galactiboy]

Missed out on that one. Waited in line but with no success. On top of that, they wouldn't give me the items that I had preordered for pickup and made me come back later in the day. After leaving their booth empty handed that morning, I actually felt OK turning my back on them and walking away, and I've held on to that feeling since then.

If they make any more Potter busts, I'll probably pick them up for twenty bucks on eBay--but that's about it.

I paid for it on the secondary market... but I really love the movie so it was worth the premium to me.