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[SolidLiquidFox]

Exactly Khev. The feeling of getting dupped trumps the affinity for these cool items in the long run. Especially when you are running out of space and try to move some of this stuff out.

 

[Ramatuelle]

that hulk pic was way too big. it had to go

And THANK YOU, because the sizing on that pic was far beyond ridiculous; it was borking the whole page.

 

[Ramatuelle]

Solid: This hobby that seems to have exploded in popularity in the past few years came from collectible items that looked amazing AND were limited in nature. Take that away and some people may just wake up one morning and ask: Why the heck am I buying all this expensive stuff that won't even hold it's value???

Can't speak for everyone, but I buy this expensive stuff because its beautiful, or I have an emotional connection of some kind to the character portrayed. This means - at least to me - that it will ALWAYS hold its value.

 

[peedi]

Can't speak for everyone, but I buy this expensive stuff because its beautiful, or I have an emotional connection of some kind to the character portrayed. This means - at least to me - that it will ALWAYS hold its value.

I agree, I don't care to speak for everyone because everyone has their own reasons and we'll never all agree, which is fine. But after a few months of collecting SS I found it funny that many people don't really know the characters they collect. That was weird to me at first but some people just like the look of the statues and I can dig that. I collect these because I've been reading these characters constantly for the past 21 years which eventually lead me here. For people with similar reasons, we have a passion for the characters, just a different motivation for getting these than other people.

 

[JAWS]

I think that is largely his point. Open Edition Sizes of thousands upon thousands diminish the need to buy certain pieces at retail. I like looking at my collection of pieces that I never plan to sell and knowing that I wasn't duped into paying top dollar for something that plummeted in price on the aftermarket.

Yeah I know what you mean. But if it's a keeper, I don't care what the value is. In fact if it's a statue I love I hope it goes down in value. That way I never will be tempted to sell

 

[fuzzylojiks]

I think that is largely his point. Open Edition Sizes of thousands upon thousands diminish the need to buy certain pieces at retail. I like looking at my collection of pieces that I never plan to sell and knowing that I wasn't duped into paying top dollar for something that plummeted in price on the aftermarket.

Pretty much if it's open edition you can either wait to get it years down the line and often get it much cheaper than retail. It's not limited collectibles anymore but more like mass produced. Unfortunately, the price point doesn't reflect that so the value will keep going down. It's open edition with a limited edition price tag.

Because I buy what I love. Now my collection has been ever changing in the quest for the perfect set up (for me).

Now I have bought pieces and kept them for a while and something better has come along and I sold it. I have bought items that I have had for a few days and sold it because it just did not have that "it" factor when I got it in hand. Now I would not take those chances if I did not feel I could not a least get my money back so that is the one nice thing about this hobby. I have not really lost anything (must be I have great taste )

But if you are getting into this hobby for profit I would try and find something else. Not enough items go up in value.

I know a friend who hit a rough spot and sold most of his collection. That kept him afloat for a few months til he could get back on his feet and restart collecting. I've never sold a piece nor ever plan to, but that is an inspirational story in a corporate culture where so many things devalue after purchase. That was one of the rare things in this hobby which will be wiped out by open editions with soaring prices. Although it may not seem that SSC is gaining by soaring aftermarket prices, they are because everything they produce sells faster after release. Their reputation is just as important as anything. Once you start getting greedy and creating duplicates and overpricing, that's eventually going to wipe out your rep and future sales. jmo.

 

[vorpoll]

Your problem is that a given vendor can make a lot more money selling 10,000 of a given thing, rather than ten "exclusive" $1000 things. Most vendors are not really interested in enhancing the secondary market - why would they be? They don't get a piece of that.

If purchasing for investment value, really this type of collectible is a total crapshoot; 99 out of a hundred collectibles, if you try to sell them you are not even going to recoup your original price.

You are much safer purchasing items that you truly love and plan to keep forever. I can't TELL you the teeth-gnashing I have seen over "I paid $200 for this, and I can't sell it for $20 on EvilBay now, wtf!!" That's how the market rolls.

I understand what you are saying but I don't totally agree. If they make 10,000 but can't sell but half of them at full retail - then what? Why buy at full retail when you can get it on the secondary market for much less? Why spend $500 if its going to immediately go down in value. IMO they have to find a happy medium. Make an amount where the item you have iwill sell out and hold its value to make your customers happy and willing to come back for more.

Some people will buy it just because they like it but why not sell more if people think its cool and will hold or gain in value and that customer will be more willing to keep buying more.

 

[WolverineUK]

I agree, I don't care to speak for everyone because everyone has their own reasons and we'll never all agree, which is fine. But after a few months of collecting SS I found it funny that many people don't really know the characters they collect. That was weird to me at first but some people just like the look of the statues and I can dig that. I collect these because I've been reading these characters constantly for the past 21 years which eventually lead me here. For people with similar reasons, we have a passion for the characters, just a different motivation for getting these than other people.

- Me too!

 

[limitedgoodz]

will this weight 50 pounder like the last hulk PF? shipping, tax and duty is going to be a bomb to europe again

 

[King Darkness]

Will this weight 50 pounds like the last hulk PF?

Not a chance.

 

[SolidLiquidFox]

Also consider loopholes like International Editions. Gollum PF anyone?

I respect everyone's way of collecting. If we were all the same it would be a pretty boring world. All I am saying is that open editions make things less collectible and in the long run it hurts the hobby and the Sideshow brand. Once that brand is hurt those beloved expensive collectibles that seem to be recession proof may just stop coming.

All that said, I can't wait to see what the Hulk maquette looks like.

 

[VS1976]

Not a chance.

I would not be surprise if the Hulk maquette weighed only 20-25lbs.

 

[Socko]

There's 125+ pages and I'm not sure if this has been addressed, but is it 1/4 (it looks smaller than Iron Man on those pictures) and it does seem to have non-sculpted pants on.
So is this a PF or a Maquette?

 

[sarakawa]

There's 125+ pages and I'm not sure if this has been addressed, but is it 1/4 (it looks smaller than Iron Man on those pictures) and it does seem to have non-sculpted pants on.
So is this a PF or a Maquette?

The IM statue in the photo is 1:2 scale, not 1/4. Hulk Maquette is 1/4 scale and seems to be mixed media but since Legacy made it, it's being labelled a maquette, not a PF.

 

[Ramatuelle]

I understand what you are saying but I don't totally agree. If they make 10,000 but can't sell but half of them at full retail - then what? Why buy at full retail when you can get it on the secondary market for much less?

Because nothing is certain. Which figures will and wont sell out is a gamble. This is why I preorder ONLY THAT WHICH I CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT. I pick up other stuff later, when it is likely to be cheaper.

Too many times I have held off on something which became extremely rare and desirable later, and then I spend literally years kicking myself. So if I have to have it, I preorder. Does this mean I pay more immediately for something that went down in price later? It might. But that is the chance I take.

Another downside to "lets keep the edition at 25" is, even for all of you who want every last thing to be super-rare.... is that you yourselves might not get one.

I have totally seen this in action; and I know that if something is going to mean I am going to be fighting 100,000 other collectors, then what I do is simply decline to get involved in that rat-race. Over in fashion-doll land we have some lines that are so extremely rare, that you have to have a special relationship with a store carrying that line, you have to buy x amount of stuff per month in order to have a shot at the good stuff. If you do something that the vendor doesn't like, [such as post something they dont like on a msg. board, even if not aimed at them] they kick you off the notification mailing-list. Its very very cutthroat.

I don't really want this to happen in this venue.

 

[SolidLiquidFox]

Another downside to "lets keep the edition at 25" is, even for all of you who want every last thing to be super-rare.... is that you yourselves might not get one.

I have totally seen this in action; and I know that if something is going to mean I am going to be fighting 100,000 other collectors, then what I do is simply decline to get involved in that rat-race. Over in fashion-doll land we have some lines that are so extremely rare, that you have to have a special relationship with a store carrying that line, you have to buy x amount of stuff per month in order to have a shot at the good stuff. If you do something that the vendor doesn't like, [such as post something they dont like on a msg. board, even if not aimed at them] they kick you off the notification mailing-list. Its very very cutthroat.

I don't really want this to happen in this venue.

What you describe is the opposite and extreme side of what some of us suggest. Nobody is saying to make only 25 pieces of anything. Those days were here and are long gone. What we ask for is to make pieces with clear edition sizes and for exclusives to be worthwhile and with a smaller edition sizes. You know, actually "exclusive".

There is no excuse for an exclusive to be 1250 pieces (Joker PF). If the exclusive sells out in a few hours or less so be it. We all know when these things go on sale. You don't have to keep items ULTRA limited, but reward those that follow your product religiously. Make them feel like they did get something special and not just some print on a 750 exclusive edition size. An accessory to display your expensive statue differently goes a long way. Just look at this thread: page after page of people falling over themselves for a piece that probably won't be sold for weeks. I think that kind of devotion is worth rewarding.

I know Sideshow is trying to maximize their profits and sell as many statues as possible. I guess I just see the difference on how the hobby was and how it is now.

 

[Sweet Rabbit]

joker still sold out didn't it?

 

[limitedgoodz]

The IM statue in the photo is 1:2 scale, not 1/4. Hulk Maquette is 1/4 scale and seems to be mixed media but since Legacy made it, it's being labelled a maquette, not a PF.

YESSSSS i love mixed media, its way better than sculpted on, Makes it more real and classy, great for displaying in a lighted case.

Does anyone know the color of the pants? i hope they change the brown to dark purple like the hulk pf that looks greaaaaattt

 

[Collectorcol]

There's 125+ pages and I'm not sure if this has been addressed, but is it 1/4 (it looks smaller than Iron Man on those pictures) and it does seem to have non-sculpted pants on.
So is this a PF or a Maquette?

It's a Maquette. The Predator Maquette was also mixed media.

 

[Collectorcol]

YESSSSS i love mixed media, its way better than sculpted on, Makes it more real and classy, great for displaying in a lighted case.

Does anyone know the color of the pants? i hope they change the brown to dark purple like the hulk pf that looks greaaaaattt

Have you read through this thread?
No one knows the actual size, cost, release date, colour of pants or EX.
The only version with pants we have seen looked brown but who knows what is going into production? No one on here.
Sideshow really need to pull their finger out on this piece.