Predator 2: Shadow Predator (2011 Toy Fairs Exclusive)

[a-dev]

you are aware these are high-end figures right? if you don't like the price, there's always the NECA preds.

Normally its 'high-end or nothing' toy snobs saying that - but you're a big NECA fan around here......I don't really have a point. Just an observation.

 

[prefused]

yeah i'm not saying i don't like the NECA preds, it's just a fact that they're cheaper than HT preds.

 

[ducksoda7]

Classic cost less than Shadow and has way more stuff plus lights and a base

This, combined with the fact that it's still available for pre-order, has me considering cancelling my pre-order.

Since Shadow is more expensive and doesn't have many accessories, you'd think that they'd at least give him either a Lost or Boar Brother helmet. I mean, they've already made the Lost Pred a hybrid of three Preds, so why not do it again?

 

[denger4000]

I asked a SSC rep a few weeks back to double check, besides the various cons, it's a SSC only product. Dealers won't be getting them. If it was dealer available, IMHO, a lot more folks might have bit on it ( Many dealers would have carried it for 202.49 and just about every California collector would have preferred a non CA based dealer because of tax)

My guess is the edition size is still smaller than their normal Predators run but historically fans and hobbyists, many, have been resistant to figures that break the 200 dollar barrier. Guardian was 189.99 MSRP IIRC, so 224.99 represents a whopping 35 dollar jump.

I hope it sells out quickly, as quickly as possible at this point. The last feasible Lost Predator to be made, if they make it, is Ram ( blue tint guy) And if Shadow doesn't sell well, then maybe we don't get to see Ram. IMHO, HT should have released Ram first this year then Shadow next year. This would have appealed more to "completist" type collectors, who might have bit on Shadow, if they are hesitant now, just to finish the Lost Predator line.

I think Shadow's non sold out status currently reflects many things IMHO

1) Individual scalpers didn't see what they felt was sufficient return for trying to scalp Guardian. Seems like a good number of non Predator collectors jumped into it trying to cash in. Lots of people last year were even trying to trade or sell their Guardian before the SDCC was over. ( I mean if that's not the definition of "scalping" on this board, than what is? ) I suspect many of those who weren't interested in collecting this line personally didn't want to blow 250 on a figure they didn't want and might be stuck with and would have a hard time trading or moving past their expectations ( i.e. expectations being buying something for 190 then selling it for 500-600)

2) Predators without some combination or individually of a shoulder cannon, chest armor, wrist blades, bomb gauntlets or has molded on elements making parts have fewer options for customizing, the P2 Elder being the exception, generally will sell poorly. Sometimes I don't know what HT is thinking. The price jumps up 35 dollars from last year ( yes yes, the weak US dollar, inflation, cost of production in China, license costs, rising fuel costs, etc, etc, all that, etc) and there's no mask, no chest armor, no gauntlets, no shoulder cannon. This was a situation where a dio piece in the set could have helped A LOT. Maybe King Willies severed head. Or the bathroom sink top with the plaster and some opened repair tools. Or the main part of Busey's spray cannon. Or the little spear tip thing that got found before Ruben Blades got gutted. Or giving us the much larger T Rex skull to compensate for the low parts loadout. Something. Anything.

3) The 200 dollar price barrier effect stayed constant. Also, as some international folks have mentioned, ordering from SSC directly is cost prohibitive compared to their other sources.

4) Asian buyers can't order from SSC. I feel bad for some of those dudes. Waiting in line, overnight for some, then dealing with paid thugs and line holding shills, watching a mass scalper buy out most of the stock, then being unable to buy from SSC with still plenty left able to order. How screwed is that for a guy in Asia who just wants one for his personal collection and doesn't have any American buddies to help him out?

Personally I hope leftover US stock through SSC, after some time, is redistributed back to Asia, so guys there who couldn't fight their way through the scalpers and mob to get one, can get one without getting raked through the coals to try find one from the US. Sometimes I think US guys really take this hobby for granted, we don't realize how much easier we have it sometimes compared to our international counterparts.

My concern now though is Ram. We got Shadow because Guardian sold extremely well and there was massive demand. Guardian was probably an exclusive because regular release Lost Green ( along with Machiko and Wolf and Cleaner) did not sell as well. If Shadow sells poorly at SSC, I think it will hurt Ram's chances of seeing the light of day. I hope Shadow doesn't turn into a Two Face or Silk Spectre or Barnes, an individual figure that just caps off the non DX line because it didn't sell well. Lost Green is composite of Boar, Borg and Hippie. Shadow is Snake. Guardian is Gort. P2 Elder is already made. Lost Hunter is just a P1 remod. I doubt we see Boar Brother because it can be built from composite parts of others. Only one left is Ram. Crossing fingers that we will see a Ram next year.

why wouldn't they make Hippie?

 

[ah_t00t]

When Hot Toys spoke about the new bodies, are they going to remake or revisit the older lost hunter clan preds?(Elder, pred 2, lost, guardian)

 

[prefused]

When Hot Toys spoke about the new bodies, are they going to remake or revisit the older lost hunter clan preds?(Elder, pred 2, lost, guardian)

doubt it. they have plenty of other licenses that make real money, so they don't have much incentive to go back and remake old predator figures that didn't sell so well the first time around.

 

[ah_t00t]

I was beginning to worry the inconsistencies that will endup such as size and height differences of the lost clan once assembled together won't look well as a clan group or team, hopefully it's not too much figure size differences

 

[prefused]

I was beginning to worry the inconsistencies that will endup such as size and height differences of the lost clan once assembled together won't look well as a clan group or team, hopefully it's not too much figure size differences

it's just part of the hobby. the P2 figures look better the AVP figures. the P1 is way better than the P2 figures, but too short. this one is the best so far, and it'll stick out in the collection too. that's progress. i'm cool with it.

 

[crazypredator2]

well i changed my mind and cancelled my shadow predator order, i'm just going to get the new classic predator, i like him best , if hot toys makes a new p2 city hunter with the new body latter on, i'll get him.

well i changed my mind again and re-ordered the shadow predator,
he just looks too cool, got to have him, i guess.

 

[prefused]

well i changed my mind again and re-ordered the shadow predator,
he just looks too cool, got to have him, i guess.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVp-zIONsrs"]Pokemon Theme - Gotta Catch 'Em All - Original Long Version - YouTube[/ame]

 

[iPaul]

Pokemon Theme - Gotta Catch 'Em All - Original Long Version - YouTube

lol
iPaul throws pokeball
iPaul caught a wild Shadow Predator

 

[Uncanny Web-Slinger]

this figure NEEDS to get a wider release.

Although this is best for customers worldwide, from various posts i've read it'd be ad business for SSC, people have stated thy will jump ship to AE, BBTS, OSB and other. So SSC a wider release would cost SSC.

Classic cost less than Shadow and has way more stuff plus lights and a base

True, this should'nt be the case, but i haven't got any Preds yet so all of the accessories that come with this are new to me.

Knife
Disc
Spear
Bone trophy

 

[Spanbauer]

you are aware these are high-end figures right? if you don't like the price, there's always the NECA preds.

Being "high-end" is not a free pass for Hot Toys to charge whatever they'd like. Also, your comment has little logic. You're suggesting that a person should opt for a $12 figure if they're not willing to drop $300 on some overpriced exclusive? "high-end" four years ago meant spending $130; now it's $225.

if a price hike can keep the scalpers away, i'm all for it.

There's no reason why higher retail prices would result in less scalping. There was a huge scalper's market for iPad 2's earlier this year, and those cost $499 - $799 retail. Almost Identical scenario: some Asian dudes paying total strangers to stand in line hundreds at a time to deplete the stock and resell it elsewhere for a markup.

 

[Uncanny Web-Slinger]

^^ i hate to think what HT woud cost in two years

I agree about scalpers, they'll just take HT's price and increase from there.

 

[prefused]

Being "high-end" is not a free pass for Hot Toys to charge whatever they'd like. Also, your comment has little logic. You're suggesting that a person should opt for a $12 figure if they're not willing to drop $300 on some overpriced exclusive? "high-end" four years ago meant spending $130; now it's $225.

actually, it is a free pass. they're the only company making high-end predator figures. until that changes, they can ask any price the market will bear. and if you don't like it, that's why NECA is around.

There's no reason why higher retail prices would result in less scalping. There was a huge scalper's market for iPad 2's earlier this year, and those cost $499 - $799 retail. Almost Identical scenario: some Asian dudes paying total strangers to stand in line hundreds at a time to deplete the stock and resell it elsewhere for a markup.

ipads are an entirely different market that caters to a different demographic. and jacking up the price of a lower demand figure like this will severely cut into scalper's profits. i say do it.

 

[Vaako]

Hot Toys proudly presents Scalper Predator Toy Fair Exclusive 2012

 

[ducksoda7]

Scalper Predator doesn't sound half bad. It immediately made me think of Inglourious Basterds, lol.

 

[Spanbauer]

actually, it is a free pass. they're the only company making high-end predator figures. until that changes, they can ask any price the market will bear. and if you don't like it, that's why NECA is around.

Or, how about I stick to the Hot Toys figures whose pricing and features/accessories are more balanced? There's still great figures to be had for reasonable pricing, such as their Captain America for $153 from Alter Ego or Cornerstore. Then the $600 Predators with recycled accessories who appeared on film for two seconds can be left to guys like you.

I don't mind paying $200 for a figure, so long as I feel I'm getting my money's worth.

ipads are an entirely different market that caters to a different demographic. and jacking up the price of a lower demand figure like this will severely cut into scalper's profits. i say do it.

Why do you feel increasing the price by $75 or even $200 would deter scalpers? These guys are dropping tens of thousands of dollars to secure all of the inventory. It just means they need to spend another $75-$200 up front per figure.

 

[prefused]

Or, how about I stick to the Hot Toys figures whose pricing and features/accessories are more balanced? There's still great figures to be had for reasonable pricing, such as their Captain America for $153 from Alter Ego or Cornerstore. Then the $600 Predators with recycled accessories who appeared on film for two seconds can be left to guys like you.

I don't mind paying $200 for a figure, so long as I feel I'm getting my money's worth.

works for me.

Why do you feel increasing the price by $75 or even $200 would deter scalpers? These guys are dropping tens of thousands of dollars to secure all of the inventory. It just means they need to spend another $75-$200 up front per figure.

and that means they get less return on the secondary market. which then removes the incentive to scalp the figures. keep in mind is isn't the P1, it's a predator with recycled accessories who appeared on film for two seconds. profit margins are gonna be slim as it is without the limited availability everyone thought it would have.

 

[azurepred]

i dunno, man. Lost and Elder didn't sell very well. Guardian only sold because of the scalpers jumping on an exclusive. it seems like HT is just taking a shot in the dark with these lost preds. but if nothing else, they're a great way to squeeze a few more $$ out of a mold. and jacking up the price another $40 ain't gonna stop me from buying them. hell, i'd pay $300 for this figure. maybe that would discourage more scalpers too.

that sucks about Asia though. you'd think HT would make some effort to not screw over their biggest customer base. this figure NEEDS to get a wider release.

I hope they do start costing $300, then I can just focus on 1/4 collecting from SS at the same price.