Tamashii Soul of Chogokin C-3PO & R2-D2

[VintijDroidGutzz]

So.. I guess you don't mind the C-3PO figure then.

Btw.. that SSC Jedi Luke looks awful.

 

[r3dPyramid]

No, no. Not a completest at all. I just don't have a good representation of 3PO. And of course, I do have an attachment to the character. I grew up with him, so to speak.

 

[Mad Old Lu]

Then you will be happy. Impressed even!

Save for the oversized arm pistons (which REALLY is not much of an issue--very easily overlooked), everything else is amazingly spot on. It truly looks like the full scale person shrunken down. All the proportions are perfect.

You only have to look at Sideshow's 1/4 scale to see how easily the character can be rendered incorrectly. The PFs also gave me little faith in how Sideshow would be able to manage the 1/6 scale, IF that ever happens. Medi's scale is different than Sideshow and HT, so all signs point to this version being the best version of Threepio in 1/6 scale.

 

[Pixelpiper]

Save for the oversized arm pistons (which REALLY is not much of an issue--very easily overlooked),

Like giant man-hands on a woman. Or super-thick cankles. Jerry Seinfeld would pass on this guy for less than the size of its pistons.

I haven't looked at the 1/4 PF in very much detail, but with just a casual browse it looks very impressive in terms of character representation and detailing. And this Chogokin is Sideshow's 1/6 droid. They have too many opportunities than to bother remaking this figure again.

 

[Mad Old Lu]

Like giant man-hands on a woman. Or super-thick cankles. Jerry Seinfeld would pass on this guy for less than the size of its pistons.

MMM. Cankles.

 

[JFrisk]

Just paid for one of these figures... buyer's remorse big time. I hope it's worth FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS. The most expensive piece I have in my collection is the code 3 slave 1. This will be number two.

Why paid $400? It's $322 shipped on Amazon.

 

[VintijDroidGutzz]

I haven't looked at the 1/4 PF in very much detail, but with just a casual browse it looks very impressive in terms of character representation and detailing.

The head looks wonky, & other body details don't look accurate..

 

[r3dPyramid]

Well, I look forward to getting him. He's coming UPS and will be here on May the 1st!

 

[canadaclone]

Threepio finally moved out on his own...now the wait for R2 starts...

 

[Lejuan]

So much for going with Sideshow. After a return process that began with an initial email on the 8th of April, I have just today been advised that, "unfortunately, due to limited nature of this piece, we found we do not have any replacements for this item."

I'm not up to speed with how a store like sideshow operates, but I simply assumed that since they still have the figure in stock, that a replacement would be an easy thing to find. Evidently not.

I'm not impressed to say the least. Now the question is to go with HLJ, a company I've dealt with before and has a friendly return policy - or the slightly cheaper amiami, which shows the figure as a back-order, ie no guarantee they'll be able to source it, and has a pretty ambiguous return policy. Think I'll go with HLJ.

Oh well. Apart from having to spend money I don't really have right now to secure the piece from HLJ, I guess I've just saved $75 on this figure.

 

[VintijDroidGutzz]

Lejuan - will you get a full refund from SSC - plus the shipping costs you may've incurred?

 

[Lejuan]

Lejuan - will you get a full refund from SSC - plus the shipping costs you may've incurred?

Yeh, I'll get a full refund. I've requested a shipping note to cover the shipping so I'm not even further out of pocket.

The process could take a couple of weeks, but I want to secure a figure from someplace else in the meantime. So I'll be out of pocket for the time it takes SSC to refund me, which isn't ideal, but otherwise I'll have to wait for SSC to refund me before placing an order elsewhere. I'm sure they'll still be in stock elsewhere, but I don't want to chance it so I'm going to push the button in the next couple of days.

I've been pretty lucky with my figures up 'til now. It's just a pity that an issue had to pop up on the one figure I've really been looking forward to for quite some time now

 

[generalgrevious]

I just got mine yesterday and he is awesome I don't see any blemish`s on him at all this sucker Is heavy. what a beautiful figure I now have the medi threepo and the bandi one as well.

 

[DeadLeaves]

So much for going with Sideshow. After a return process that began with an initial email on the 8th of April, I have just today been advised that, "unfortunately, due to limited nature of this piece, we found we do not have any replacements for this item."

I'm not up to speed with how a store like sideshow operates, but I simply assumed that since they still have the figure in stock, that a replacement would be an easy thing to find. Evidently not.

I'm not impressed to say the least. Now the question is to go with HLJ, a company I've dealt with before and has a friendly return policy - or the slightly cheaper amiami, which shows the figure as a back-order, ie no guarantee they'll be able to source it, and has a pretty ambiguous return policy. Think I'll go with HLJ.

Oh well. Apart from having to spend money I don't really have right now to secure the piece from HLJ, I guess I've just saved $75 on this figure.

Well that really sucks. SideShow have dropped their level of customer service by a huge amount in the last year for international customers. I know I've personally been buying elsewhere the last few months. I've got the HT endo POed with them and that's it.

Good luck getting him from HLJ, I've bought a few things from them and they've been good. Never had a problem so i can't really comment on their CS. Hope you get a good one, seems like the defects are few and far between so the odds are in your favour.

 

[Lejuan]

Cheers. I'm looking forward to fully appreciating it as a figure on display. It's been boxed up like a gimp since I opened it.

 

[OSCORP]

Would go the hlj route as well.

 

[anwe]

So much for going with Sideshow. After a return process that began with an initial email on the 8th of April, I have just today been advised that, "unfortunately, due to limited nature of this piece, we found we do not have any replacements for this item."

I'm not up to speed with how a store like sideshow operates, but I simply assumed that since they still have the figure in stock, that a replacement would be an easy thing to find. Evidently not.

I'm not impressed to say the least. Now the question is to go with HLJ, a company I've dealt with before and has a friendly return policy - or the slightly cheaper amiami, which shows the figure as a back-order, ie no guarantee they'll be able to source it, and has a pretty ambiguous return policy. Think I'll go with HLJ.

Oh well. Apart from having to spend money I don't really have right now to secure the piece from HLJ, I guess I've just saved $75 on this figure.

I don't understand the apparent lack of quality control on these figures and the customer service from the sellers. For the prices it's pretty bad.

I have bought a Hot Toys Luke, the Bandai C-3PO and four Sideshow clones now.

One of the Lukes had a stripped belt with no magnets, hooks and the magnets that was there were loose on both belts.

The C-3PO had a broken piston but sort of a minor problem as for display I can put it in and it doesn't show.

Out of the four clones Cody, Ganch, Gree and an Airborne Trooper the only figure that can stand on his own is Ganch. The others are too loose limbed and topple over unless leaning againts something.

With the Hot Toys Luke I contacted the seller and got a very sympathetic understanding answer but was referred to Hot Toys. After the no-response response from Hot Toys I now understand that the first mail from the seller in reality probably was oozing with sarcasm.

The C-3PO was from AmiAmi and they don't replace parts and offered a 3% refund.

The drunken Sideshow figures I understand is par for the course and I knew that beforehand.

Maybe I'm too critical of the quality but still these things cost a small fortune. Shouldn't the quality control and customer service be decent? Problems with a local seller I can understand to some degree but with the distributor (Sideshow) in this case?

I've gotten disenchanted almost even before I have started in this hobby. How will I feel a few years in?

 

[Pixelpiper]

I don't understand the apparent lack of quality control on these figures and the customer service from the sellers.

None of your points are unreasonable in the least. The first points of attack to make sure the future customer is happy, is a series of production inspections, all prior to packaging. And then a final inspection at the time of packaging. There's really no excuse for a blemished or damaged figure to be packed and shipped. Damage during shipment is something else entirely, but these things are often marked so visibly that anyone picking one up should know better than to stuff it into a box.

Costs would go down dramatically if these issues were spotted and action taken at the factory level. The earlier the better, to save on additional production costs, not to mention the other costs incurred once a box actually leaves the manufacturer. It's really apparent that these companies are boxing every figure they're producing, save perhaps for the most egregious of errors, such as missing limbs, no paint, etc. Things that aren't likely to happen anyway.

At least now we know why the figure costs $400. Probably to allow replacing it up to 2 or 3 times covering shipping in the process.

 

[Invictus Sol]

So much for going with Sideshow. After a return process that began with an initial email on the 8th of April, I have just today been advised that, "unfortunately, due to limited nature of this piece, we found we do not have any replacements for this item."

I'm not up to speed with how a store like sideshow operates, but I simply assumed that since they still have the figure in stock, that a replacement would be an easy thing to find. Evidently not.

I'm not impressed to say the least. Now the question is to go with HLJ, a company I've dealt with before and has a friendly return policy - or the slightly cheaper amiami, which shows the figure as a back-order, ie no guarantee they'll be able to source it, and has a pretty ambiguous return policy. Think I'll go with HLJ.

Oh well. Apart from having to spend money I don't really have right now to secure the piece from HLJ, I guess I've just saved $75 on this figure.

That is brutal. Really makes me think that anyone that still has one yet to ship (like in my case) is probably going to get a returned item. Ugh... guess I'll find out. At least you're getting your money back, but kind of cold comfort considering the Sideshow premium.

 

[Mad Old Lu]

Sorry to hear that, Lejuan. I've been finding Sideshow has been a little hit or miss with their customer service and returns/exchanges. Sometimes they are fantastic, but sometimes they get a little persnickety. I've noticed them being worse with figures they only distribute like Hot Toys. I remember when people were trying to get exchanges for their FA Cap America and I think Supes and Spidey with crooked stars, emblems, etc., they just said "they're all like that--take it or leave it". Then other times they are like angels and ship the replacement parts or full replacement figures right away without batting an eye.

Unfortunately there's always the possibility of something coming wrong or damaged with these figures (like my Threepio from AmiAmi had the broken collar piston), and with the ridiculously high prices we're paying we really should not have to deal with any of that. I agree they should be implementing higher QC standards considering the cost, but chances are they will just end up charging even more because of it.

I think it'll work out with you, Lejuan. I'm sure you'll get a good one from HLJ. Third time's a charm!