Asmus Toys Lord of the Ring Gandalf Gray

Bucky Underbelly said:

I fully appreciate what Asmus is trying to do here and will not criticize them for it. They don't have to do it at all, so I count this as a win that they're willing to address the hat/eyes issue. Few other companies would. So I'm choosing to be thankful and patient. I also recognize that I don't know how their logistics operation works behind the scenes, so I believe them when they tell us this is the best solution they've got from a staffing/shipping standpoint.

(...)

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I agree. Regardless of my feelings with how it's being handled (still feel it something that should be orderable on the site at minimal cost+shipping), they definitely DON'T have to do this at all. HT doesn't do this no matter how many ppl complain. They do it once in a blue moon like for the Tony Stark head for the MK85 BUT, you had to return the head to them (or Sideshow) at your own cost. You didn't get to keep the head it came with AND the new head. However, a lot of times when there has been some collector complaints with an Asmus product, they try to correct the problem with minimal to no cost to the collector and don't require you to return the part in question. At least from what I've seen. So, I definitely give them credit for that.

Like I said earlier, it sorta feels like a lose lose for Asmus as they can't make everyone happy.

Then don't buy it.

I have been saying it from the start, this is only the first wave of our give away.
There will be more and more to come,
we are ready to make so many hats, that no one in the corner of this world who owns a GtG will miss out a wizard hat.

Asmus said:

We don't want to sell the hat as an individual piece, because there will be more unhappy customers if we try to sell this for money.

Gift with a purchase is only a quick way we can give to you for free, not forcing you to buy more things.

Please everyone, be understanding, there is no profit in this, we are not doing this to promote anything, only intention is to improve the Gandalf in your hand.

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Really and how do you know there will be more unhappy customers if you sell it as individual piece one per customer?
You are not "forcing" - come again? People literally need to order the old Bilbo or something else and checking your site, there are several figures in the 150+ range that a customer needs to order to get the hat for "free".
Then you claim there will be no profit in this?... Yeah, I believe you believe in it.

Asmus said:

Then don't buy it.

I have been saying it from the start, this is only the first wave of our give away.
There will be more and more to come,
we are ready to make so many hats, that no one in the corner of this world who owns a GtG will miss out a wizard hat.

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If every free hat is tied to a multi-hundred dollar purchase, then I (and likely many others) may never be able to buy it. Make it for sale individually. From the start - not as a third or fourth level distribution plan somewhere down the line. It's the only reasonable solution.

I think lots of ppl are NOT READING/LISTENING to what Asmus is saying at all.

The hat coming with Bilbo is the FIRST PHASE of getting the new hat NOT the only way to get the new hat.

So yes, we may not like this being how ppl are getting the hat first (totally understandable-I've mentioned it myself) BUT let's at least see what the next phase is before jumping the gun?

These reactions are just going to make Asmus less and less inclined to share info with us and then you guys are going to be mad that we don't get the inside scoop anymore

satanatos said:

Really and how do you know there will be more unhappy customers if you sell it as individual piece one per customer?
You are not "forcing" - come again? People literally need to order the old Bilbo or something else and checking your site, there are several figures in the 150+ range that a customer needs to order to get the hat for "free".
Then you claim there will be no profit in this?... Yeah, I believe you believe in it.

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The Bilbo pre-order was closed for month, and we are not taking any more pre-orders.
And I agree with you, I doubt anyone will buy a 150+ figure for a hat.

Gipetto0812 said:

I think lots of ppl are NOT READING/LISTENING to what Asmus is saying at all.

The hat coming with Bilbo is the FIRST PHASE of getting the new hat NOT the only way to get the new hat.

So yes, we may not like this being how ppl are getting the hat first (totally understandable) BUT let's at least see what the next phase is before jumping the gun maybe?

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I'm both reading and listening. They stated pretty clearly that shipping the hat in any manner not connected to the sale of a toy was a non-starter. They won't offer it up for sale individually and they won't ship it via distributor. This isn't a case of jumping the gun. They may not have outlined what their other distribution efforts will be, but they blatantly indicated what they WON'T be - an option to acquire the hat without making a secondary purchase. And that's not okay.

Landry said:

I'm both reading and listening. They stated pretty clearly that they shipping the hat in any manner not connected to the sale of a toy was a non-starter. They won't offer it up for sale individually and they won't ship it via distributor. This isn't a case of jumping the gun. They may not have outlined what their other distribution efforts will be, but they blatantly indicated what they WON'T be - an option to acquire the hat without making a secondary purchase. And that's not okay.

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They literally said the Bilbo purchase is the first wave and haven't said what the next ways to get the hat will be yet. Yes they mentioned that you can't just flat out order it like many of us would like to which sucks. But they haven't said that you will have to buy another product yet (after Bilbo that is) either. Patience is all I'm saying.

Ppl are getting up in arms b/c Asmus isn't giving them the item they want in the way they want it to be given just like the Anduril giveaway. Again, Asmus does NOT have to be doing this in the first place. You won't see any other 1/6 company doing this type of thing. You think Star Ace is going to go back and give ppl brand new proper Homelander headsculpts that actually resemble the prototype b/c what they produced looks like absolute garbage?

Gipetto0812 said:

They literally said the Bilbo purchase is the first wave and haven't said what the next ways to get the hat will be yet. Yes they mentioned that you can't just flat out order it like many of us would like to. But they haven't said that you will have to buy another product yet (after Bilbo that is) either. Patience is all I'm saying. Ppl are getting up in arms b/c Asmus isn't giving them the item they want in the way they want it to be given just like the Anduril giveaway. Again Asmus does NOT have to be doing this in the first place. You won't see any other 1/6 company doing this type of thing. Not Sideshow, Hot Toys, 3Z, Star Ace etc.

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What option does their explanation give? They said that it was not an option to sell and ship directly. You're suggesting that will change somehow?

I already spent hundreds of dollars on an item that does not resemble the advertised toy. I have a limited return window. You say I should be patient. Should I expect that same patience from the company I bought the figure from about their limited return window? I'm ready to support Asmus and this product (and did so by ordering this), but I don't have the luxury of time to wait and see if they make this right in a manner that allows me to participate.

Please do not tell me to be patient. That is neither helpful nor realistic. I appreciate that Asmus is ready to make this right, but during the time they crafted the hat they could have also crafted a solid distribution plan - rather than asking us to "wait and see".

Asmus said:

There is no perfect plan to do this.

If we sell the hate, people will be angry.

If we give it away and ask for shipping. People will be angry.

The only way to make people not angry, is to deliver to their door without any charges.

And this is what we do, but along with your other purchases.

And guess what, people are still angry.

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I disagree. Again, if you offer the hat via multiple methods then people can choose. In that way you minimize people's displeasure. Only offering the hat tied with other purchases is MUCH more limiting than selling the hat directly. But again - offer BOTH.

Landry said:

What option does their explanation give? They said that it was not an option to sell and ship directly. You're suggesting that will change somehow?

I already spent hundreds of dollars on an item that does not resemble the advertised toy. I have a limited return window. You say I should be patient. Should I expect that same patience from the company I bought the figure from about their limited return window? I'm ready to support Asmus and this product (and did so by ordering this), but I don't have the luxury of time to wait and see if they make this right in a manner that allows me to participate.

Please do not tell me to be patient. That is neither helpful nor realistic. I appreciate that Asmus is ready to make this right, but during the time they crafted the hat they could have also crafted a solid distribution plan - rather than asking us to "wait and see".

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We will eventually give to all LOTR pre-orders,
Gollum, Ringwraith, and XXX.

But it will see if the production plan can match the release date of above items, which are all at the end of the production line.

We have around 1600 sets of hat ready in time for Bilbo,
and if we will have another 1600 sets in time ready for Gollum,
we will give it away with Gollum too

Let's try to take the temperature down a little. They're going to be pumping thousands of these things into the market. That means there will be other places you'll be able to obtain them - and probably for much cheaper than you would from Asmus directly. Once they start showing up with Bilbo orders and maybe Gollum and Ringwraith orders, people will be selling them on eBay and other places. And because there will be so many, they won't be expensive. They're not out to hurt anybody here. They're trying to do the right thing. Even if they're not doing it exactly the way every person wants. Let them try.

Like I've already said, I've got Bilbo, the Ringwraith and Gollum/Smeagol pre-ordered, and I will also be picking up an extra Gandalf head. So I might end up with three or four hats. And I will 100% be offering my extras to other collectors here for just the cost of shipping. (Provided you're not a dick about it.) So why don't we try to help each other out here instead of getting mad. Let's try to bring a little community spirit, okay?

Asmus said:

We will eventually give to all LOTR pre-orders,
Gollum, Ringwraith, and XXX.

But it will see if the production plan can match the release date of above items, which are all at the end of the production line.

We have around 1600 sets of hat ready in time for Bilbo,
and if we will have another 1600 sets in time ready for Gollum,
we will give it away with Gollum too

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Can you at least confirm that you will offer the better hats to those who ordered Gandalf but not any other future LOTR figures?

I have Crown Gandalf from you guys that I ordered directly but don't really have plans at the moment to buy any other LOTR figures.

Is the better hat something we will still be able to acquire even if we're not getting more figures? Like I previously said, I'm perfectly okay with paying for shipping if it means I can get a better hat directly without having to buy another figure completely.

Asmus said:

We don't want to sell the hat as an individual piece, because there will be more unhappy customers if we try to sell this for money.

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I’m pretty sure selling the hat at a very small fee would be much cheaper than making people pay $200 for it to be “free” as an addition to another figure. That makes no sense.
As I mentioned, there is a way for you guys to track orders via proof of purchase barcodes, but it does require time and effort from Asmus’s end…….which the company clearly has zero interest in doing.

Asmus said:

Gift with a purchase is only a quick way we can give to you for free, not forcing you to buy more things.

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You are forcing people to buy another figure at full price to recieve the hat. That is forcing people to buy more things.



Anyway, whatever, i don’t even know why I’m bothering.

Enjoy your $200 hats folks.

whinge whinge whinge whinge whinge

Asmus said:

We will eventually give to all LOTR pre-orders,
Gollum, Ringwraith, and XXX.

But it will see if the production plan can match the release date of above items, which are all at the end of the production line.

We have around 1600 sets of hat ready in time for Bilbo,
and if we will have another 1600 sets in time ready for Gollum,
we will give it away with Gollum too

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But will you make the hat available to people who are not making additional costly purchases?

Asmus said:

We are giving out with Bilbo because it is the nearest LOTR release.

We make no promise to others like Ringhwraith or Gollum because there will be an additional thousands of hats to make, we cannot be sure if there is enough time.

We don't want to sell the hat as an individual piece, because there will be more unhappy customers if we try to sell this for money.

Gift with a purchase is only a quick way we can give to you for free, not forcing you to buy more things.

Please everyone, be understanding, there is no profit in this, we are not doing this to promote anything, only intention is to improve the Gandalf in your hand.

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Then there shouldn't be any issue with including the hats with Gollum as well if it's not to promote or profit. You say it's not but the choices you guys are making are saying the complete opposite.

Bucky Underbelly said:

Let's try to take the temperature down a little. They're going to be pumping thousands of these things into the market. That means there will be other places you'll be able to obtain them - and probably for much cheaper than you would from Asmus directly. Once they start showing up with Bilbo orders and maybe Gollum and Ringwraith orders, people will be selling them on eBay and other places. And because there will be so many, they won't be expensive. They're not out to hurt anybody here. They're trying to do the right thing. Even if they're not doing it exactly the way every person wants. Let them try.

Like I've already said, I've got Bilbo, the Ringwraith and Gollum/Smeagol pre-ordered, and I will also be picking up an extra Gandalf head. So I might end up with three or four hats. And I will 100% be offering my extras to other collectors here for the cost of shipping. (Provided you're not a dick about it.) So why don't we try to help each other out here instead of getting mad. Let's try to bring a little community spirit, okay?

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Exactly this temperatures are way too high in here right with what sounds like entitlement/“me first” attitudes b/c again, Asmus didn’t have to make this new hat available at all. Asmus has no obligation to make a new hat for Crown Gandalf. And quite honestly, they might’ve been better off if they hadn’t given how this place (and I’m sure social media) is responding. Now they are unfortunately trading comments of “crown gandalf is incredible except for the hat” to whining how to go about getting the new hat.

To again use the MK85 analogy- if you didn’t buy direct from HT or Sideshow, you were SOL on getting the replacement head and HAD to buy it from eBay or somewhere similar. Simple as that. There was no chance to get it for free with another purchase. Aside from whatever other options Asmus decides to do later for the hat, ppl will be selling the initial hats on eBay, etc and probably less than the cost of a $200 figure.

Do I think it could’ve been handled differently? Of course and I stated that. But a lot of these comments sound almost like Asmus is malicious in their intent and somehow attacking some sort of freedom or right to be owed the new hat

I can understand why Asmus is doing what it's doing here. I doubt it will engender good will within the majority of customer base. But I do acknowledge it from a business perspective. Okay.

After reading Asmus' response thus far I'm more than ever settled to go hatless (hey, it'll show off the hair, so not a terrible thing all in all). Although eventually a molded hat will surely show up on eBay. I'll consider it then depending on how much it goes for.

I was initially going to find a professional painter for the eye problem. But actually, come to think of it, I've got nothing to lose by attempting to paint the whites of the eyes myself. I'll get some advice on FB 1/6 customization groups about what shade to use in order to get a natural color, what medium of paint, etc. I have a vice with a magnifying glass to hold the eyeball. And I do have a pretty steady hand. If I mess it up I'll send it out to a professional painter.

For Crown Gandalf the White, as long as the eye problem is fixed and the figure is still priced the same as GtG I may well go with Asmus. However if QS comes up with a clearly superior version of GtW I might pop for that presumably more expensive one. Just have to wait to see what they look like.

Bucky Underbelly said:

Let's try to take the temperature down a little. They're going to be pumping thousands of these things into the market. That means there will be other places you'll be able to obtain them - and probably for much cheaper than you would from Asmus directly. Once they start showing up with Bilbo orders and maybe Gollum and Ringwraith orders, people will be selling them on eBay and other places. And because there will be so many, they won't be expensive. They're not out to hurt anybody here. They're trying to do the right thing. Even if they're not doing it exactly the way every person wants. Let them try.

Like I've already said, I've got Bilbo, the Ringwraith and Gollum/Smeagol pre-ordered, and I will also be picking up an extra Gandalf head. So I might end up with three or four hats. And I will 100% be offering my extras to other collectors here for the cost of shipping. (Provided you're not a dick about it.) So why don't we try to help each other out here instead of getting mad. Let's try to bring a little community spirit, okay?

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Yep, I think a measured approach to their offer is advisable. I've pre-ordered Gollum and will be getting Bilbo and the Nazgul too, so there's 2 spare hats for someone else. I'm not planning on being a ruthless reseller/flipper/scalper/scumbag. I'd be happy to help out a fellow collector too. Let's just be chill little Hobbits about it.