New Sideshow Policy - non-refundable deposit figures over $224

[Pixelpiper]

You must live in the same neighborhood as Sideshow's accountant, or play on the same bowling team.

IMO, there's no way for you to know definitively, and in my estimation, the biggest shelf-warmers over at Sideshow are Hot Toys products - but they're obviously made in larger quantities than some of Sideshow's limited statue releases.

WRT to losing licenses, Hot Toys would probably love to do the kinds of volumes Sideshow does in Star Wars, so let's not get ahead of ourselves here.

 

[TurdFurgusonsHat]

Sideshow can do whatever they want with their business model and I can do what I want with my money. Personally I find NRD to be a bit dirty. I also despise how they are always testing the ceiling, see XWing Luke. Its true that collectors can be a fickle bunch but at this point SS has enough data to generally know how many figures to produce. The NRD is just a gravy revenue stream that they will be making off indecisive collectors. What it means for me is no more "placeholder till coupon" orders and probably less purchases in general. I realize that this has been a negative post but I do view Sideshow as a solid retailer, they are safe to buy from and generally stand behind the quality of the stuff they sell. But for the prices they are asking now, its dog eat dog.

 

[TaliBane]

SSC Luke Jedi shipped four months after PO. Most SSC releases now run over a year between PO and release - some far longer.

Why do most people cancel PO's? Because it is OVER A YEAR between ordering and delivery. Jobs can be lost. New, more interesting figs can be surprisingly announced. A LOT can happen in 12-15 months.

If there was still 4 months between PO and delivery, the number of PO cancellations would drop by a lot.

And... so... why can't there be four months between PO and delivery? Or less?

 

[Bardoon]

You must live in the same neighborhood as Sideshow's accountant, or play on the same bowling team.

IMO, there's no way for you to know definitively, and in my estimation, the biggest shelf-warmers over at Sideshow are Hot Toys products - but they're obviously made in larger quantities than some of Sideshow's limited statue releases.

WRT to losing licenses, Hot Toys would probably love to do the kinds of volumes Sideshow does in Star Wars, so let's not get ahead of ourselves here.

We're on the same bar trivia team, "These Aren't the Hemorrhoids you're Looking for"

Howard Chan has said that Star Wars is his absolute favorite franchise.

This is him right now.... just waiting...

 

[Wor-Gar]

And... so... why can't there be four months between PO and delivery? Or less?

I agree.

Actually, I don't think they should even preview a figure. Just throw it up when you're ready to sell it.


No previews would go along way to help sales. Think about -- no more months and months of thinking and analyzing and photoshop fixes of the sculpt over and over until every wrinkle has been scrutinized and we all get used to the proto.... and then, 9 months later, the production one comes. If they just put a figure up for sale, no one would have time to analyze the hell out of it.

 

[TonTon]

At least customers would get to see the finished product too. Make a small batch -- 1,000 or 2,000 or whatever is conservative for the character. If it sells like hot cakes, do another run.

 

[Pixelpiper]

Howard Chan has said that Star Wars is his absolute favorite franchise.
This is him right now.... just waiting...

Waiting for what? They already have a license for Star Wars. And so does Sideshow. And they each distribute and sell each other's products as well. Though without Sideshow, Hot Toys would have a really difficult time moving product around the world, at least for a while.

 

[chewblacca]

So does this mean that every figure just jumped in price to cover the NRD?

 

[Sweet Rabbit]

So does this mean that every figure just jumped in price to cover the NRD?

The NRDs come out of the total price, they aren't added on

 

[kl241]

The NRDs come out of the total price, they aren't added on

And yet they keep raising their prices.

 

[teemu]

And yet they keep raising their prices.

and as they raise their prices,those rewards points you earn also lose some value...

 

[Darthrazz]

I agree.

Actually, I don't think they should even preview a figure. Just throw it up when you're ready to sell it.


No previews would go along way to help sales. Think about -- no more months and months of thinking and analyzing and photoshop fixes of the sculpt over and over until every wrinkle has been scrutinized and we all get used to the proto.... and then, 9 months later, the production one comes. If they just put a figure up for sale, no one would have time to analyze the hell out of it.

Exactly! Well said. Look at the Jango figure announced May 2014, expected to ship Sept 2015. Has that figure been criticized enough? Also I was all gung-ho when General Grievous was announced, by the time it was released, I no longer was interested and passed on it.

Then again what the hell is Sideshow supposed to do? I've been posting on here since 2006 and I recall the whole "why is everything a surprise" era and now that we know years in advance we're not happy.

 

[TonTon]

I think the threshold is $200+, however there are a lot of figures priced at $199.99 and nothing under $219.99 lol.

They are taking their sweet time updating which figures get the NRD. HT Han doesn't have it at $229 and neither does SS Jango Fett at $219. Unless there's more criteria that none of us are picking up on.

 

[chewblacca]

Does anyone here think that instead of pushing a NRD to keep preorders Sideshow should do the opposite? How about offering a $10 dollar discount or free shipping to those that preorder within the first 10 hours a figure goes up. If you cancel then you lose the discount.

 

[ebor]

Does anyone here think that instead of pushing a NRD to keep preorders Sideshow should do the opposite? How about offering a $10 dollar discount or free shipping to those that preorder within the first 10 hours a figure goes up. If you cancel then you lose the discount.

They give RP for ordering figures sure they don't come into effect until 45 days after the funds are processed, but it's something. The NRD is to protect themselves, I can't fault them for that. The Reward Points system is GIVEN by SS to maintain a level of loyalty from the consumer--they could offer nothing.

 

[BatBrain]

This just helps me completely end my PO habit. I had already scaled back with too many NRD's. But with little selling out these days, no need to pay a deposit on anything I may change my mind on or not be interested in if something better comes along. Most recent releases are easy enough to get at or slightly below retail. I have a kid now so I'm already extra picky with what I can buy these days.

 

[davejames]

The only PO's I'll be avoiding in the future are for Sideshow-produced figures. I'm still a big fan of theirs generally... but the simple fact is their final production figures are always a big step down from the proto versions (at least more than any other 1/6 company out there), and it's just not worth the gamble.

 

[Sweet Rabbit]

They give RP for ordering figures sure they don't come into effect until 45 days after the funds are processed, but it's something. The NRD is to protect themselves, I can't fault them for that. The Reward Points system is GIVEN by SS to maintain a level of loyalty from the consumer--they could offer nothing.

Gentle Giant is the only other company that offers RP

 

[VASith]

SSC Luke Jedi shipped four months after PO. Most SSC releases now run over a year between PO and release - some far longer.

Why do most people cancel PO's? Because it is OVER A YEAR between ordering and delivery. Jobs can be lost. New, more interesting figs can be surprisingly announced. A LOT can happen in 12-15 months.

If there was still 4 months between PO and delivery, the number of PO cancellations would drop by a lot.

And... so... why can't there be four months between PO and delivery? Or less?

What's the average Hot Toys turn around?

 

[VASith]

We're on the same bar trivia team, "These Aren't the Hemorrhoids you're Looking for"

Howard Chan has said that Star Wars is his absolute favorite franchise.

This is him right now.... just waiting...

If it's his favorite he might want to fix Vader, obi wan, Han and Chewie. Not a good batting average.