So the "Magnificient Seven" SDCC Exclusives are????

[gdb]

What it comes down to is simple supply and demand. These figures are limited so those not bought buy collectors end up on ebay at higher prices more often than not. This in no way is SS fault. If there was no demand for these figures the people trying to scalp on ebay wouldnt have a wooden leg to stand on. I don't think SS should stop making limited figures just so everyone can get one at retail. If you want one at retail your just gonna have to work for it by being at the right place at the right time or knowing someone who can help ya out.

To be clear, it's not true supply and demand. Sideshow is manipulating supply in order to generate demand. And it works. And I don't blame Sideshow as it helps them greatly. And in this industry in this economy, they need the help. To repeat: I don't blame Sideshow.

Being able to say a figure sold out in 28 minutes, going on TV and saying one of our pieces sells for X percentage markup on eBay, etc. is great for Sideshow, it's advertising that no money can buy. And creating a sclaper or flipping economy, creating a product that increases in "value" or has the "added value" of being exclusive, etc. generates interest and a repeat customer base. Generating the kind of frenzy where the fans are scared to death of missing out so that they clog the servers the morning a product is released is completely healthy for the company. So more power to Sideshow. In this industry, they're not being greedy, they're being responsible.

Without SSC manipulating the market, I'm afraid there isn't enough demand for the sort of supply that would be honest to it. And I'd rather miss out on a few pieces and jump through rediculous hoops if it means a healthy Sideshow that keeps the Star Wars line out front and of high quality instead of letting it languish like the Buffy line or POTA. I've gone through Art Asylum's rise and fall. They had the best product at reasonable prices and at all the outlets but they weren't responsible to their business and now there's practiclly no product, no one wants to sell it and I've had to sit through cancelled item after cancelled item.

So more power to Sideshow.

 

[Protozaius]

Oh no not this conversation again this year.

Jlcmsu, please choose your words carefully. I'm not sure that it is your intention to sound glib about your ability to go to San Diego again this year. Your enthusiasm about your ability to go is understandable. Just try and not let that enthusiasm be at the expense of others.

I, too will be going again this year to the Con my third in a row. I've been lucky to have certain advantages that has made it possible for these last few years. I live on the West Coast for one (saves on plane fare). I have family and freinds that live within driving distance who are going as well (saves on travel and hotel expenses).

I just hope you can at least understand the frustration that is felt by those who can not attend. I'm glad to hear that you helped out others last year that couldn't go. Exclusives are a fact of the collecting life. Sometimes its a fact that is easy to take... when the items offered as exclusives are of little or no interest. Other times it downright stings... when it invovles an item from a collection where there is a desire for it to be complete.

Let's all try to be compassionate... not glib.

 

[The Josh]

To be clear, it's not true supply and demand. Sideshow is manipulating supply in order to generate demand. And it works. And I don't blame Sideshow as it helps them greatly. And in this industry in this economy, they need the help. To repeat: I don't blame Sideshow.

It's not true supply and demand but "we" the buyers are creating the prices these go for on ebay was more my point than anything. Is it bad for SS to go around saying this figure sold out in X mins or our stuff sells out with a X percent markup. No, but the are smart to do so but again it falls on us to not cause these pieces to go crazy on ebay.

So more power to Sideshow.

I agree

Oh no not this conversation again this year.

LOL this conversation is gonna happen every year.

Jlcmsu, please choose your words carefully. I'm not sure that it is your intention to sound glib about your ability to go to San Diego again this year. Your enthusiasm about your ability to go is understandable. Just try and not let that enthusiasm be at the expense of others.

I'm not. I'm not sure what your reading into my posts but it's not there at all. My opinion on the SDCC exclusives is the same as with any exclusive SS, GG, MR, etc sell. They are called exclusives for a reason. That isn't meant to be rude or anything but that's just how it is.

I, too will be going again this year to the Con my third in a row. I've been lucky to have certain advantages that has made it possible for these last few years. I live on the West Coast for one (saves on plane fare). I have family and freinds that live within driving distance who are going as well (saves on travel and hotel expenses).

Well, I wish I was that lucky but I'll settle for having to pay all that cost to go. I admit I'm very lucky in being able to go and I enjoy my luck in this nature.

I just hope you can at least understand the frustration that is felt by those who can not attend. I'm glad to hear that you helped out others last year that couldn't go. Exclusives are a fact of the collecting life. Sometimes its a fact that is easy to take... when the items offered as exclusives are of little or no interest. Other times it downright stings... when it invovles an item from a collection where there is a desire for it to be complete.

I TOTALLY understand the frustration of those that can't go. I would hate to see a never done before character done for SDCC and those that really follow the line be left out. Which is why I think variants like Sith Eyes Anakin and Lothlorien Cloaked Strider are good choices. I'm again helping out some folks that can't go. Why? Because it's the right thing to do since not everyone can go.

Let's all try to be compassionate... not glib.

Again, I was in no way trying to be glib. If that is how I was taken that wasnt my intent.

 

[DarkArtist81]

Agreed... Variants are wonderful ways to have an exclusive item that doesn't burn your fanbase. I would love a Sith eyes Anakin or a Lothorien Aragorn just as much as the next geeky fanboy would, but since I cannot attend... I'll be happy with trying to scrounge for leftovers.

Whether it's Ebay or SSC selling directly to non-attendees... I will do my best to have a Dead and Anakin.. If not.. no big deal. I'll just keep my eyes open.

That's the point though... collecting is a hunt. We look everywhere for the item we want the most and when we get it, the satisfaction at finding said collectible fills you with pride. Everytime you look at it on the shelf, you smile and remember the years it took for you to track it down. To me, it's fun.

So, for you lucky West Coasters and people with enough money to fly out to San Diego... Good luck in your hunt, and enjoy the convention. As for me... I'll be waiting for the leftovers...

 

[The Josh]

Agreed... Variants are wonderful ways to have an exclusive item that doesn't burn your fanbase. I would love a Sith eyes Anakin or a Lothorien Aragorn just as much as the next geeky fanboy would, but since I cannot attend... I'll be happy with trying to scrounge for leftovers.

Whether it's Ebay or SSC selling directly to non-attendees... I will do my best to have a Dead and Anakin.. If not.. no big deal. I'll just keep my eyes open.

That's the point though... collecting is a hunt. We look everywhere for the item we want the most and when we get it, the satisfaction at finding said collectible fills you with pride. Everytime you look at it on the shelf, you smile and remember the years it took for you to track it down. To me, it's fun.

So, for you lucky West Coasters and people with enough money to fly out to San Diego... Good luck in your hunt, and enjoy the convention. As for me... I'll be waiting for the leftovers...

That's why as I said and I agree with you Variants are the way to go. It really shouldn't bother too many with the exception of those that just have to have them all.

I agree collecting is hunting or at least my version of it. That's one of the things that makes owning the Orignal Rog so special for me the hunt it took to finally land one.

 

[DarkArtist81]

That's why as I said and I agree with you Variants are the way to go. It really shouldn't bother too many with the exception of those that just have to have them all.

I agree collecting is hunting or at least my version of it. That's one of the things that makes owning the Orignal Rog so special for me the hunt it took to finally land one.

You said it man!

 

[pjam]

Agreed... Variants are wonderful ways to have an exclusive item that doesn't burn your fanbase. I would love a Sith eyes Anakin or a Lothorien Aragorn just as much as the next geeky fanboy would, but since I cannot attend... I'll be happy with trying to scrounge for leftovers.

If they do a "Sithy" Anakin Variant Exclusive, and I also believe they will, they will probably try that X-Files Excl Krycheck Oily eyes technique (what better application or time to do it) with eyes that change to blood red when his head moves. But I think the Edition size will be fairly large, say 1000, which means if our fingers are on the non-attendee trigger, we just might get a shot in hell of scoring one. But then again, I tried that with the SDCC PF Luke last year and the page was so jammed with traffic the pre-order page took 9 minutes to come up and when it did Luke was already on his way to Dagobah! Streamline pre-ordering might help out this year though. We'll see...

 

[Buttmunch]

The SDCC SW edition would have to be at least 2000. Last years Hellboy figure was limited to 2000. A much more popular line like Star Wars will have as big if not a bigger edition size. I say no higher than 5,000 though, which is maybe 2,000 too high.

 

[tomandshell]

But then again, I tried that with the SDCC PF Luke last year and the page was so jammed with traffic the pre-order page took 9 minutes to come up and when it did Luke was already on his way to Dagobah!

Same thing happened to me! By the time I got the page to load he was all gone... I only live a few hours away, so I just ordered one for attendees and decided to drive down and pick him up. Then I got the e-mail saying that they would be shipping him for free, but I decided to make the trip anyway to see everything--and I'm sure glad I did! This year will be even better, as I'll be there for three days. It will be worth it for many reasons--not the least of which is the fact that I will be free of the insanity and stress of non-attendee preordering day!

 

[DarkArtist81]

I was all set to go this year, but my return was not as good as expected. It was going to cost me about $700-800 to just be able to "be" there, so I optioned out. Too bad too, because I really wanted to go.

I'll still have those days off, so I'm gonna be on here stewing... and trying my damnest to enjoy myself even without going.

 

[creecher]

I dont have to suffer the stress of having to make those expensive choices. I will try my best to aquire the figs I am interested in, and as in previous years, will enjoy myself immensely, joining in the chat and checking the CC cam. I expect alot of high emotion, low emotion, and com motion.

 

[The Josh]

Yeah, out of the last three years I had a ton of fun in the year I didn't go. I had so much fun chatting with members and talking with the SS folks on the chats. Last year was a blast getting to do all that in person plus my Dad actually got involved in the chat online which was cool since I was at the show. Now, he gets to go with me and experience it in person this year.

 

[pjam]

Same thing happened to me! By the time I got the page to load he was all gone... I only live a few hours away, so I just ordered one for attendees and decided to drive down and pick him up. Then I got the e-mail saying that they would be shipping him for free, but I decided to make the trip anyway to see everything--and I'm sure glad I did! This year will be even better, as I'll be there for three days. It will be worth it for many reasons--not the least of which is the fact that I will be free of the insanity and stress of non-attendee preordering day!

Three days of SDCC! I am so jealous. I wonder if you ran into Johnny Drama w/ the gang from HBO's "Entourage" at the "Viking Quest" booth!

Best way to roll, really.

 

[MiskatonicNick]

That's the point though... collecting is a hunt. We look everywhere for the item we want the most and when we get it, the satisfaction at finding said collectible fills you with pride. Everytime you look at it on the shelf, you smile and remember the years it took for you to track it down. To me, it's fun.

That's why I feel so out of touch with the SSC scene these days - I'm from a toy, rather than collectibles, background. To me the hunting is a hugely annoying frustration as my joy in collecting comes from the deboxing, the playing, customising etc. Exclusives are very much the bane of my life.

But as long as they're kept to moderately pointless variants, and are made available to overseas customers (I still see the occasional SDCC Hellboy around my local Forbidden Planets here in the UK) I tend not to foam at the mouth too much and accept that it's just the way things are nowadays.

Nick

 

[BDboystoys]

I'll pray for a PF Firefly/Serenity line. Or a PF Angel.

 

[screamingmetal]

The worst thing about SDCC exclusives is that they hit your wallet without as much warning as usual Sideshow releases (I think they gave us about a month and a half before we pay last year), factor in other figures that you have on preorder that might hit at the same time and you don't have much time to scrounge up the cash. With seven heading our way I hope I'm only interested in a couple and have the cash to cover them and other things I have on preorder for July.

 

[Minimodel]

I m kinda hoping that they ll announce a "Thunderball" James Bond in grey suit with the rocketbelt from the opening scene of the film.I m perverse like that

 

[pjam]

I m kinda hoping that they ll announce a "Thunderball" James Bond in grey suit with the rocketbelt from the opening scene of the film.I m perverse like that

Yes! I left this same comment on the SS site, a Connery with gray suit is absolutely essential, of course he MUST have the rocket jet pack with a removeable helmet.

We also NEED a Gert Frobe Auric Goldfinger to complete the line,

Why they haven't done the most notorious villain from the Greatest Bond film ever escapes me...

 

[Josette]

I'm well aware of how fortunate I was to get helped out last year. But what a pain in the ass for evry year. And I'm more worried that they'll do something stupid like release Giles there than most anything else.

That's the only thing with me, too - something like Giles. I'm not too much of a variant fan, so missing out on them doesn't bother me. Even if I were still going to collect the Star Wars line I wouldn't have had to have a Sith eyes Anakin, for example.

I doubt there will be any exclusives I'll be interested in, since I'm currently only collecting the Buffy line - unless, like you mentioned, one of the exclusives is Giles.

 

[Wor-Gar]

We also NEED a Gert Frobe Auric Goldfinger to complete the line,

Why they haven't done the most notorious villain from the Greatest Bond film ever escapes me...

YES!!! Total agreement. I've been waiting for 4 years for this figure -- ever since they first announced the BOND line in 2002.

GOLDFINGER is a must! Oddjob needs his employer.