When was the last time SSC answered a post in this forum?

[Kuzeh]

Hmmm, I'm not sure where this info is coming from, other than the vocal minority on message boards We have only seen gains on our end over the past year. Fan boards make up a very very small percentage of our overall business, the entirety of which has grown and become extremely busy and much more complicated over the past couple of years. Unfortunately this affects some of the way in which we use our time, but as we outgrow the growing pains, that too will be resolved.

I guess some people don't realize that not all of SS customers post here, or are as geeky as we are. There's the casual collector that might see a piece they like and will buy it. And I'm sure Sideshow has lots of them... they might not order directly from SS, though.
Sometime when we don't see announcements for a specific line, or a specific issue isn't resolved to fanboys' standards, then some people start to think that SS is losing bussiness.
I'm bummed that some lines aren't getting releases and that some of those resources are put towards other lines, but, that doesn't mean SS is losing business at all, quite the contrary, I think.
My very first SS figures were the 8" Universal Monsters and the Bruce Lee 8" figures, and since then back in 97-98, I've seen SS grow A LOT!!
Maybe too much for us fanboys, but some of us are way too spoiled...

 

[pixletwin]

Usually if SSC VIP do comment on something its in the actual thread (ie Q answering a question about graphics in the Star Wars section). I think by and large this section gives a false impression.

 

[Dusty]

I would however like to find some way of getting answers from SSC on stuff, and that includes some of the tough questions.

As I mentioned, sometimes the 'tough questions' just CANNOT be answered, especially on a public forum, no matter how much we'd like to. It's not as if we WANT to 'keep things from you' - it's a matter of business, unfortunately. We (as a company) have gotten into trouble in the past for answering questions that we weren't supposed to (from across many spectrums, not just licensors, but also competitors, distributors, etc) and we have been called a 'loose cannon' in the past - which is not necessarily good, if we want to continue a business relationship

As we continue to pick up higher and higher profile licenses, that also means we have to play by their rules. As with any relationship, it's give and take.
For our part, we like to give as much as we can, and many of our employees bust their butts to do just that - deliver a weekly newsletter no matter what calamity may strike (you should see the panic that sets in in the office when the power goes out on a Thursday!), provide an outlet for leaving comments on our own site, delivery a podcast with inside information and interviews, post production blog entries with cool photos of work-in-progress, continue creating collectibles that are full of life, etc, etc, etc. That's just how we do it! But we do have to curb our willingness to share when the occasion calls for it, and that's the unfortunate side of a growing business

(okay, done now - carry on )

 

[Karma]

I love it when Dusty issues the verbal smackdowns



GO DUSTY GO GO DUSTY

 

[Dusty]

They've typically reminded us that they can't officially comment on the possibility/likelihood of potential future releases. Can't confirm or deny, etc. So a question like that is a good example of one that they would not be likely to answer. A better question would be, "Will there be a wire in the Hellboy PF's cape?" or something like that. A practical question or clarification about an existing announced product.

But if you want to know for sure whether or not they will or won't be selling something before we get an announcement in the newsletter, that kind of thing almost never happens.

ALso, we sometimes see questions like, "Can you combine my two orders into one shipment?" or something that needs to be directed straight to official Sideshow CS reps. This is not an official channel of communication.

There can be a huge number of questions posted that are not likely to ever get a response.

This is a PERFECT answer - thanks Tom! If we are FOR SURE going to carry it or release a new product, you'll read about it in our Newsletter first.

We cannot even count the number of times that we were SURE (in advance) that we would be carrying something from a distributor, or releasing certain new items in a license, only to have the rug pulled out from under us at the last minute. And that's just no fun - if we had told you beforehand we were doing something and then, boom, never gonna happen - you'd then wonder what happened and that would cause even more confusion and questions that we CAN'T answer, which has happened in the past - ask some of the 'oldbies' (<-- is that a word?)

So, basically we cannot answer 'will you be doing/carrying' questions before official announcement or pre-order, but feel free to speculate amongst yourselves about these types of things. Occasionally, if we know FOR SURE that we aren't carrying something ever, or making anything from that license, we will comment, like in our recent 'Ask Sideshow Q&A' on the site about Dark Knight figures, etc - https://www.sideshowtoy.com/?page_id=5386

BTW, all of our Ask Sideshow Q&A's are linked in the Newsletter when they're posted, and they are always available in our Ministry of Info. We'll try to make them even more accessible in the future!

(okay, really done now!)

 

[mrhatrulez]

Sideshow Rocks. Dusty is wicked cool.
That is all... move along!

 

[The Craw]

ask some of the 'oldbies' (<-- is that a word?)

it is now.
hey pixletwin. you're an oldbie.

thanks for the info Dusty.

 

[Wanderer]

...wow! It's like God has just come down and posted a few comments!...
In all seriousness you old school folk have valid points about some of the comments a small minority make. You are also right to question the seemingly dubious intentions some have for joining the board. However i think some of you need a reality check and step away from this 'Them and us' mentality that is developing...it is very unhealthy...

 

[creecher]

However i think some of you need a reality check and step away from this 'Them and us' mentality that is developing...it is very unhealthy...

However I think some of you newbies need a reality check. That's what us oldbies are here to give you. So step away from your 'Them and us' mentality that is developing...it is very unhealthy....

 

[pixletwin]

it is now.
hey pixletwin. you're an oldbie.

thanks for the info Dusty.

No way. The "Oldbies" all have goofy LOTR names.

 

[ProgMatinee]

Thanks for the replies Dusty. I'll cash that reality check and understand you guys have to operate from a business standpoint.

I am surprised however to hear that the company is doing so well amidst clearly decreasing production numbers in the SW lines and slow sellers like the Hobbits. Hope that optimism means a continuation of the LOTR line and more Indy product.