PF Maul Sales Method Poll

[RoboDad]

I for one don't like it!!! Some have stated this is to reward loyal customers, but if you buy every non-exclusive Sideshow product put out, from a retailer, are you not a loyal Sideshow customer?

Sorry, Lonnie, but the answer to your question is "no". Someone who makes the choice to buy their Sideshow collectibles from a dealer other that Sideshow itself is not a "loyal Sideshow customer". They may be a consumer of Sideshow's products, just as someone who buys them from eBay, but they aren't a customer at all. Whatever purchases they have made haven't contributed anything toward Sideshow's bottom line.

If you buy used Ford cars from classified ads, and that's the only type of car you ever buy, does that make you a loyal Ford customer? Nope. Ford doesn't know you, and shouldn't feel obligated to offer you a perk toward the purchase of a new car. You haven't demonstrated in the past any desire or commitment to purchasing new Ford products.

The same goes for Sideshow. People who haven't purchased Star Wars PFs directly from them have never demonstrated the desire to do so, so why should they be rewarded the same as someone who has?

 

[TheObsoleteMan]

Sorry, Lonnie, but the answer to your question is "no". Someone who makes the choice to buy their Sideshow collectibles from a dealer other that Sideshow itself is not a "loyal Sideshow customer". They may be a consumer of Sideshow's products, just as someone who buys them from eBay, but they aren't a customer at all. Whatever purchases they have made haven't contributed anything toward Sideshow's bottom line.

Really? So those other online retailers don't pay Sideshow anything for their product. That's very generous of Sideshow to just give their stuff away like that.

 

[DarkArtist81]

But it's leaving people in the dark who may have not have had a job that paid enough to even AFFORD the PF's.... but now do....

What about those people? Does making the decision to not own Leia, Luke, Han, Vader or Grievous make one less deserving of owning Maul? Vader I would have bought had I been around. Greivous, as cool as he was... wasn't my cup of tea as far as collectibles of him go. So where does that leave me?

Out in the cold. And that blows.

I purchase what I like, when I can afford it. That's all. And always from SSC, not from other places. Because I like to support the "Home Team" so to speak. It just makes me feel a little left out when all of a sudden I can't order an item I've been waiting for since the beginning. I don't collect the heroes in PF form... only the villains... just my way of doing things. So this sucks for me....

This should be available to anyone.... period. Whoever comes and wants to put in his bid during the PPO process. Not segmented into those who are "old hands" at the PF game.... New hands need a start too, and when you seperate things it starts getting unfair...

And that is what this is... Unfair.

 

[FlyAndFight]

Previously, the only reason for purchasing an item directly from Sideshow were:

1. Customer Service (in case of a damaged piece.)
2. Exclusive item(s) included, not available elsewhere.

Sideshow decided that they wanted a bigger piece of the action so they:

1. Charged more for exclusive pieces.
2. Initiated the Rewards program.
3. Cut back on dealer allocations.
4. Now offering incentives for inhouse purchases.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, I've looked into Galadriel's mirror and have seen what the future may bring:

Sideshow will eventually take ALL sales in-house and eliminate the dealers from the equation. Nothing technically wrong with that (dealers may not agree...) and a savvy business move. Just be prepared for the possibility.

 

[pixletwin]

Meh. The whole thing is just a marketing gimmick. I wouldn't be surprised if after the PPO for previous PF buyers is over that there will be plenty left over for everyone else who wants one bad enough.

 

[DarkArtist81]

Meh. The whole thing is just a marketing gimmick. I wouldn't be surprised if after the PPO for previous PF buyers is over that there will be plenty left over for everyone else who wants one bad enough.

That's what I am thinking....and hoping...

 

[hairlesswookiee]

But it's leaving people in the dark who may have not have had a job that paid enough to even AFFORD the PF's.... but now do....

What about those people? Does making the decision to not own Leia, Luke, Han, Vader or Grievous make one less deserving of owning Maul? Vader I would have bought had I been around. Greivous, as cool as he was... wasn't my cup of tea as far as collectibles of him go. So where does that leave me?

Out in the cold. And that blows.

I purchase what I like, when I can afford it. That's all. And always from SSC, not from other places. Because I like to support the "Home Team" so to speak. It just makes me feel a little left out when all of a sudden I can't order an item I've been waiting for since the beginning. I don't collect the heroes in PF form... only the villains... just my way of doing things. So this sucks for me....

This should be available to anyone.... period. Whoever comes and wants to put in his bid during the PPO process. Not segmented into those who are "old hands" at the PF game.... New hands need a start too, and when you seperate things it starts getting unfair...

And that is what this is... Unfair.

I'm with DA on this one. i can only buy the ones that i can afford. last summer i had extra spending money so i got crazy and bought just about every SW PF out except the grievous because he was way too much money. no offense to anyone that has it, but the recently released Luke and Yoda just doesn't do it for me. and Boba isn't on my favorites list so i don't need to get him. if they pull this crap when they release a Dooku or Palpatine PF i swear on all the Kurgans dirty underwear that i will sell all Sideshow items that i own, cancel all my preorders and go elsewhere with my collection and MONEY.

 

[TheObsoleteMan]

Sideshow will eventually take ALL sales in-house and eliminate the dealers from the equation. Nothing technically wrong with that (dealers may not agree...) and a savvy business move. Just be prepared for the possibility.

If they're going to start penalizing customers who buy from other retailers then that's what they should do.

 

[RoboDad]

Really? So those other online retailers don't pay Sideshow anything for their product. That's very generous of Sideshow to just give their stuff away like that.

Sure, those dealers paid Sideshow for the items they bought. But did they pay as much as Sideshow's retail customers? Nope. And using my Ford analogy, if you buy a used Ford, didn't someone, somewhere have to have paid Ford for that car when it was new? Of course, but that doesn't mean you did. And sorry, but it still doesn't make you a customer, just a consumer (and there's a big difference).

 

[anakin1138]

It's a fair method as I don't think people who have bought no pfs until now has the past exclusives so It's fair for those who have the whole exclusives to complete the collection.

 

[lcummins]

Sorry, Lonnie, but the answer to your question is "no". Someone who makes the choice to buy their Sideshow collectibles from a dealer other that Sideshow itself is not a "loyal Sideshow customer". They may be a consumer of Sideshow's products, just as someone who buys them from eBay, but they aren't a customer at all. Whatever purchases they have made haven't contributed anything toward Sideshow's bottom line.

If you buy used Ford cars from classified ads, and that's the only type of car you ever buy, does that make you a loyal Ford customer? Nope. Ford doesn't know you, and shouldn't feel obligated to offer you a perk toward the purchase of a new car. You haven't demonstrated in the past any desire or commitment to purchasing new Ford products.

The same goes for Sideshow. People who haven't purchased Star Wars PFs directly from them have never demonstrated the desire to do so, so why should they be rewarded the same as someone who has?

Sure, those dealers paid Sideshow for the items they bought. But did they pay as much as Sideshow's retail customers? Nope. And using my Ford analogy, if you buy a used Ford, didn't someone, somewhere have to have paid Ford for that car when it was new? Of course, but that doesn't mean you did. And sorry, but it still doesn't make you a customer, just a consumer (and there's a big difference).

RoboDad, I usually agree with you on issues, but not this time! Using your own arguments, you've proved yourself wrong! When you buy from a retailer, it is just like buying from a car dealership; you are a Sideshow customer, plain and simple!!! When you buy that used Ford, you are not a Ford customer, the original buyer was, but that is not the case when buying Sideshow from a retailer; that is the same as buying from that dealership! Sideshow has "official" retailers and they have to meet certain requirements to become one. If I buy from one of them, it is just like buying from Sideshow, except I pay less! Sideshow is already rewarding people who pay more by buying from them, with the Rewards Program. In this case, it's not the same! You can only buy Maul if you've purchased a previous SW PF, but not from one of their "official" retailers! Nope, doesn't work for me!!!

 

[hairlesswookiee]

It's a fair method as I don't think people who have bought no pfs until now has the past exclusives so It's fair for those who have the whole exclusives to complete the collection.

i do... i didn't have any until i started buying them, now i have 3 exclusives and two more on the way. because i bought them from someone else later i should be excluded from having a chance??

~~to be honest i'm not interested in the Darth Maul exclusive, but the thought that this might continue for the rest of their releases frightens me and is making me considering my future purchases from them.

 

[user 1190]

Heres my 2 cents on this. If you have only bought retailers you have decided agianst the exclusive on all of those purchases. Either you didn't like exclusive or you wanted to save money. Yes SS makes money on those too but as much, you have to remeber retailers are getting these at a discounted price I would guess at least 25% since they seem to be giving at least 10% off retail. So you have decided in the past to buy these elsewhere but those of us who buy direct to get the exclusives should have first crack the new exclusives every once in a while. If this is the first exclusive you wanted that sucks, but lay off the whole I got to the game late and couldn't get them from SS so I bought them elsewhere. I have been collecting since the last SDCC and have bought 5 SW PFs direct from sideshow all but one was the exclusive.

 

[user 1190]

You can only buy Maul if you've purchased a previous SW PF, but not from one of their "official" retailers! Nope, doesn't work for me!!!

You can buy Maul just not the exclusive. You be able to purchase the same thing you have in the past the PF just not the exclusive PF.

 

[The Josh]

You can still purchase the exclusive as well. It just has to be after the two hours is up.

 

[user 1190]

You can still purchase the exclusive as well. It just has to be after the two hours is up.

Exactly but even if the exclusives are gone they are not being completely shutout.

 

[Polystoner]

...or should I get some

Man, I've been eating these for years without realizing what they were.

 

[El Roranous]

 

[El Roranous]

All you people that want this exclusive will get it if you order it that day or get on the wait list soon after.

 

[DarkArtist81]

I still think it's messed up.... I just don't think it's right to exclude anyone from purchasing an item for sale. That would be like me refusing repaints on a certain figure unless you were a repeat customer of a certain line of figure repaints....

I understand the principle, but still am not happy about it. I still would very much like to have this PF and the Exclusive at that. Or at least a better chance. I know everything will probably still be ok... but doesn't really change anything.