Rant: Lame SS Exclusive art prints

[sigep756]

So who's being cheap, really? The company that's not springing for the extra part and giving it to the customer for free, or the customer who demands an extra part for nothing?

They know when it's worth it to them to make the effort to add value to an exclusive. When it isn't, I doubt it's laziness that determines that a print will suffice for their trouble.

OK, here's a recent example. I was able to get a Regular Black Cat PF recently for $250 shipped from a retailer. That's opposed to paying $299 + shipping for an EX from Sideshow. So, the print would have cost me more than $50.

Saying that you're getting EX pieces for free is inaccurate, to say the least. I have always agreed that prints are not worth purchasing from Sideshow, in my opinion, and if the print is the only exclusive feature, I now seek out other retailers to get a discount.

Prints would pique my interest if they were signed or numbered, however. Also, the prints are at least improving in quality. The recent prints, such as the one included with the Cyclops PF, are very good pieces of artwork and would look great in a frame. I just don't want to drop the extra cash on them.

 

[SolidLiquidFox]

I noticed a disturbing trend lately, many sideshow PF exclusive version of the statues now only comes with an additional art print while the statue remains exactly the same. That to me is a major cop out on sideshow's part and there is no excuse other than pure laziness.

I think for a $300 statue, the exclusive version must come with some unique switchouts or parts as oppose to just an extra photocopy of some picture.

It's lame.

I agree with what you said but this has been going on for a while now. I think it helps them to mass produce pieces and save on costs. May be their hand is forced by the economy. Who knows.

I think lately they have been getting the hint that more than a print is required if they want to sell 750 exclusives. We'll see how the upcoming Vampirella PF plays out. It will be good to see if both the switch out portrait and the print are exclusives like the comiquette.

 

[devilof76]

OK, here's a recent example. I was able to get a Regular Black Cat PF recently for $250 shipped from a retailer. That's opposed to paying $299 + shipping for an EX from Sideshow. So, the print would have cost me more than $50.

Saying that you're getting EX pieces for free is inaccurate, to say the least.

You can't get exclusives for less than retail?

 

[karamazov80]

You can't get exclusives for less than retail?

Not usually. Unless someone sells them second-hand for a discount, or unless you have a gift card or a free shipping offer from Sideshow. That's what I was referring to before. If you think an Ex. is lame, you can order from CSC or Alter Ego and save a good chunk of money. I did that with the Wolverine PF, and am glad to have done it since the extra head wasn't worth $50 or whatever it would have cost to get the Ex. through Sideshow.

 

[The Mike]

at all of you who want switch out parts or exclusive color variants as exclusives. I remember the cluster____ that the Hulk PF was or even the 100 ES Patient Zero PF was. Why would Sideshow want to go and openly piss off collectors by having them endure those cluster____s again?

Buying from SSC is expensive for a lot of collectors. Especially for those abroad. You can complain all you want but from my perspective if they give us all the switch out parts and interchangeable heads as standard accessories and throw in an art print for those who like them as the exclusive that seems like a perfect way to do business to me. Lines add up, prices stack up. If I can save a few bucks by being able to go to an Authorized Dealer and save on shipping but have all the display options as everyone else just without the print that sounds fantastic to me.

From a personal standpoint a $250 PF costs me almost $300 out the door from Sideshow direct and I'm in California, whereas if I buy the same PF from Alter Ego Comics for example, I can get the same PF for $245. You can say "Well if you want the EX then buy it!" or "It has to be more exclusive!" but keeping something that is not 100% needed like an art print or white stand as an Ex means that collectors can save more and then turn around and buy more because the savings add up which means more in the hands of the collectors and more units moved by Sideshow themselves. Laziness my ass, it's smart business sense in terms of overall sales as well as still offering up the customer something exclusive.


Not to mention some of those art prints have gone for almost half the piece price on eBay, if you don't like them, sell them and enjoy the profit.

 

[fuzzylojiks]

So who's being cheap, really? The company that's not springing for the extra part and giving it to the customer for free, or the customer who demands an extra part for nothing?

They know when it's worth it to them to make the effort to add value to an exclusive. When it isn't, I doubt it's laziness that determines that a print will suffice for their trouble.

Definitely not me and I never said anyone was being cheap in the first place so no idea where that came from so no idea where that attack came from, maybe you are mixing me up with another poster? I rather have exclusive switch out stuff, light up and variants (buying both versions) and pay a little extra than for something that can be gotten off a photocopy machine. Hey that's just me, you like pieces of colored paper as your exclusive that's your perogative

The Sideshow Grey Hulk PF is a great exclusive and so's the X-men vs. Sentinel #1, Doom PF Exclusive with chalice, Stealth Iron man comiquette, Captain America switch out parts. For those that prefer prints I guess you would have preferred those to have been print exclusives only. Well I wouldn't.

 

[fuzzylojiks]

OK, here's a recent example. I was able to get a Regular Black Cat PF recently for $250 shipped from a retailer. That's opposed to paying $299 + shipping for an EX from Sideshow. So, the print would have cost me more than $50.

Saying that you're getting EX pieces for free is inaccurate, to say the least. I have always agreed that prints are not worth purchasing from Sideshow, in my opinion, and if the print is the only exclusive feature, I now seek out other retailers to get a discount.

Prints would pique my interest if they were signed or numbered, however. Also, the prints are at least improving in quality. The recent prints, such as the one included with the Cyclops PF, are very good pieces of artwork and would look great in a frame. I just don't want to drop the extra cash on them.

Not usually. Unless someone sells them second-hand for a discount, or unless you have a gift card or a free shipping offer from Sideshow. That's what I was referring to before. If you think an Ex. is lame, you can order from CSC or Alter Ego and save a good chunk of money. I did that with the Wolverine PF, and am glad to have done it since the extra head wasn't worth $50 or whatever it would have cost to get the Ex. through Sideshow.

Well put.

 

[Something Sexy]

I just boils down to when people run out of new collectibles to _____ about they have to find something else to _____ about.

 

[fuzzylojiks]

I just boils down to when people run out of new collectibles to _____ about they have to find something else to _____ about.

Run out of new collectibles? With online comic-con there have been plenty of POs these few days and others are shipping now.

_____ about about others _____?

 

[SolidLiquidFox]

Definitely not me and I never said anyone was being cheap in the first place so no idea where that came from so no idea where that attack came from, maybe you are mixing me up with another poster? I rather have exclusive switch out stuff, light up and variants (buying both versions) and pay a little extra than for something that can be gotten off a photocopy machine. Hey that's just me, you like pieces of colored paper as your exclusive that's your perogative

The Sideshow Grey Hulk PF is a great exclusive and so's the X-men vs. Sentinel #1, Doom PF Exclusive with chalice, Stealth Iron man comiquette, Captain America switch out parts. For those that prefer prints I guess you would have preferred those to have been print exclusives only. Well I wouldn't.

I agree 100%

Wishing that all exclusives were prints only just minimizes the total possible effort that could be put on a given piece. Sideshow wants those direct sales by selling exclusives. That's the main reason why switch out parts were implemented to begin with. Light up features and different paints when a character called for it at least showed effort to get those direct sales and kept the hobby interesting.

The creativity that went into some of those examples above showed effort. Prints are mostly effortless and, as someone mentioned already, they are not even signed/numbered or printed in high quality stock paper. Sure, you can frame them, but let's not make them out to be more than what they are. We all have seen how Sideshow ships them with some statues so they themselves don't even think the artwork is that limited or rare.

 

[devilof76]

Why does art have to be limited to be valuable?

Definitely not me and I never said anyone was being cheap in the first place so no idea where that came from so no idea where that attack came from, maybe you are mixing me up with another poster?

Who's attacking? I was just calling it what it was. The implication that a company would be too lazy to add value to a piece translates as the company preferring lower costs to higher direct sales.

When an exclusive is as undesirable as these ones with prints, are they really still as valuable in the secondary market?

 

[The Josh]

at all of you who want switch out parts or exclusive color variants as exclusives. I remember the cluster____ that the Hulk PF was or even the 100 ES Patient Zero PF was. Why would Sideshow want to go and openly piss off collectors by having them endure those cluster____s again?

Buying from SSC is expensive for a lot of collectors. Especially for those abroad. You can complain all you want but from my perspective if they give us all the switch out parts and interchangeable heads as standard accessories and throw in an art print for those who like them as the exclusive that seems like a perfect way to do business to me. Lines add up, prices stack up. If I can save a few bucks by being able to go to an Authorized Dealer and save on shipping but have all the display options as everyone else just without the print that sounds fantastic to me.

From a personal standpoint a $250 PF costs me almost $300 out the door from Sideshow direct and I'm in California, whereas if I buy the same PF from Alter Ego Comics for example, I can get the same PF for $245. You can say "Well if you want the EX then buy it!" or "It has to be more exclusive!" but keeping something that is not 100% needed like an art print or white stand as an Ex means that collectors can save more and then turn around and buy more because the savings add up which means more in the hands of the collectors and more units moved by Sideshow themselves. Laziness my ass, it's smart business sense in terms of overall sales as well as still offering up the customer something exclusive.


Not to mention some of those art prints have gone for almost half the piece price on eBay, if you don't like them, sell them and enjoy the profit.

Prints can go for lots of money. The one I got with my Bucky Cap is really nice. I could see down the road that going for a decent price.

I just boils down to when people run out of new collectibles to _____ about they have to find something else to _____ about.

 

[fuzzylojiks]

I agree 100%

Wishing that all exclusives were prints only just minimizes the total possible effort that could be put on a given piece. Sideshow wants those direct sales by selling exclusives. That's the main reason why switch out parts were implemented to begin with. Light up features and different paints when a character called for it at least showed effort to get those direct sales and kept the hobby interesting.

The creativity that went into some of those examples above showed effort. Prints are mostly effortless and, as someone mentioned already, they are not even signed/numbered or printed in high quality stock paper. Sure, you can frame them, but let's not make them out to be more than what they are. We all have seen how Sideshow ships them with some statues so they themselves don't even think the artwork is that limited or rare.

 

[SolidLiquidFox]

Why does art have to be limited to be valuable?

Not limited per se since the prints are made depending on the amount of exclusives, but when you sell something on the item description as a "fine art print" at least treat it as such: better paper, inks, colors, etc. Something like what ACME sells or you see from the SW Celebration artwork threads.

As it is now they just seem like something put together just to have an exclusive which I think is the intention. Otherwise it would be too expensive to create.

 

[BuffyGirl]

I'm sorry but I have to agree. I'm spending $350 for my Lara Croft and all I get it is a print. So you're saying, why not get the regular. Like a lot of collectors, there's nothing like having the exclusive. Especially for resale should that ever arise.

Me=no like prints.

 

[Darth Snoopy]

I just boils down to when people run out of new collectibles to _____ about they have to find something else to _____ about.

It's just the nature of the Collector beast.

I'm not _____ing about people who _____ about things like this...I just find it all very humorous.

 

[The Mike]

So you're saying, why not get the regular. Like a lot of collectors, there's nothing like having the exclusive. Especially for resale should that ever arise

This doesn't make sense though. If you hate the exclusive then what is the point of having it? The resale argument doesn't make sense because theoretically you'd be buying with the thought of selling and I know for a fact BG that isn't how you roll. Plenty of pieces sell just fine without the exclusive.

For collectors that are addicted to those like golden stickers maybe SSC should just sell those.