Tamashii Movie Realization Star Wars

[Runnen]

Yeah, that's what they usually do when a series of figures isn't being as successful as they hoped, so instead of making X number of them and maybe losing out on a bunch of unsold / discounted ones, they become exclusives so people can order and then they'll make the number required. Of course since big sellers can also order a bunch, that means they'll still be available in other places, including brick and mortar stores in some cases.

That's the kind of selling method you see for old lines (Saint Seiya Myth Cloth has been running for what, 11 years now?), or for characters that are a bit risky in popular lines (like some characters for SH Figuarts), either because the manufacturer isn't really sure how popular the character is (but there is still a vocal minority requesting it), or because it's different from other figures in the series (bigger, taller, etc..) and requires special modifications that they aren't prepared to pay unless they have a guaranteed number of copies preordered already.


I am curious as to why they felt the need to go that way for these two figures though.. The Sandtrooper can't be that expensive to make for them, it's 90% the same as the Stormtrooper they mass produced.. and the Royal Guard is hugely popular.. Without taking into account how everything Star Wars sells very well in the first place.

Sometimes I think Japanese companies don't really get that part of our culture hehe.

 

[thepepperskull]

They don't sell out too fast for the simple reason that there is NOT an specific stock. When Bandai opens the exclusives on the tamashii website, they give a window for ordering. You can expect to be able to order until that window closes and then that's it after that happens. This is because Bandai makes exclusives based on the orders they get from the Tamashii website and what overseas distributors order (like bluefin)

^ Didn't know it worked like that. Smart move on Bandai's part. Although I thought Bluefin wasn't allowed to sell Marvel or Star Wars figuarts lines in North America due to their disney contract?



I usually order from amiami or CDJapan, basically the import sites that give a discount and where I can redeem points. Do you think those sites will carry the Sandtrooper/Royal Guard, or should I find a way to order off of the Tamashii Website to avoid paying markup?

 

[thepepperskull]

EDIT: Double post. my bad.

 

[Chronos1919]

Sandtrooper up for pre-order on BBTS!

Star Wars Movie Realization - Sandtrooper 7" Figure - Star Wars Japanese Items Movie Realization

$90

 

[thepepperskull]

Sandtrooper up for pre-order on BBTS!

Star Wars Movie Realization - Sandtrooper 7" Figure - Star Wars Japanese Items Movie Realization

$90

You guys think AmiAmi will get these in?

 

[Chronos1919]

I believe they will and it will probably save you some cash over BBTS. You could always pre-order through BBTS and then cancel if you find them cheaper elsewhere. A bird in the hand, as they say. There's no penalty for cancellation.

 

[momaw]

I believe they will and it will probably save you some cash over BBTS. You could always pre-order through BBTS and then cancel if you find them cheaper elsewhere. A bird in the hand, as they say. There's no penalty for cancellation.

That's what I've done.

 

[Spark Extractor]

Also up on nippon-yasan. Probably works out about the same as BBTS, give or take.

Movie Realization Sandtrooper

 

[Tee-Kay]

You guys think AmiAmi will get these in?

If Nippon Yassan got some PO stock, I guess Ami-Ami should to even it's not up yet.

 

[Bob Morton]

Ordered on BBTS! Now I really want the new Vader since I do not have the old Vader!

 

[BOLISARIO]

Ordered on BBTS! Now I really want the new Vader since I do not have the old Vader!

If you can't wait, Barnes and Noble still has the v1 Vader in stock with free shipping too. That's where I got my trooper.

 

[Ironlegion]

I believe they will and it will probably save you some cash over BBTS. You could always pre-order through BBTS and then cancel if you find them cheaper elsewhere. A bird in the hand, as they say. There's no penalty for cancellation.

It won't. If these are exclusive to Tamashii in Japan, Amiami won't get them. Amiami and other Japanese retailers usually don't get Bandai Tamashii exclusives in stock as they weren't manufactured en masse for retail.

 

[Ironlegion]

 

[Runnen]

Just in case I threw a pre-order at BBTS, we'll see if cheaper prices show up eventually.

 

[thepepperskull]

The one thing I wish they'd fix on these Movie Realization figures is the ankle pivot joint.

I like that they have it on a ball joint so you can change the angle to have the figure stand in a lot of dynamic poses, but the fact that the peg going into the foot goes straight down makes it hard to move the joint around. I wish they'd have the peg go into the foot diagonally (pointing towards the toes basically) like the ankle pivots on Marvel Legends and Black Series figures.

A small gripe but one they could easily fix in the design/production stage.

 

[thepepperskull]

It won't. If these are exclusive to Tamashii in Japan, Amiami won't get them. Amiami and other Japanese retailers usually don't get Bandai Tamashii exclusives in stock as they weren't manufactured en masse for retail.

Good to know. Did a BBTS preorder just in case.

 

[Spark Extractor]

Up for preorder at ToyDojo

Movie Realization Sandtrooper

 

[Runnen]

Up for preorder at ToyDojo

Movie Realization Sandtrooper

Fine print at the bottom says that no orders are guaranteed for this item because it depends on the quantity allocated to that store. Buyer beware.

 

[Ironlegion]

Everyone should pre order ALWAYS with BBTS as a safe measure and then shop around.. just saying.

 

[Unclechopchop]

Aaaaaaand Amazon still hasn't shipped jack yet......