Anyone have good / bad experiences with manufacturing?

[tylerh]

Hi All -

I really want to try a stab at having my own toy line! I have been looking at manufacturers to do runs of 100-500 figures at a time - But I dont know the "good" ones from the "bad."

I know that even good ones have issues at times, so any help or leads would be awesome! Thank you so much!

Tyler

You can always email me too - tyler (at) tylerham (dot) com

[megocrazy]

I doubt your going to find any overseas companies that will do 100-500 figures. You'll need to look at someone, most likely they're on this site, that already has a majority of the molds done and then build and package them in the US. Several have listings in the Re-Mego section.

[jimsmegos]

Shoot a PM to Dr. Mego. He's a wonderful and open resource for info if he's not too terribly busy. The same of course can be said for ZICA (Craig Owens) and David Lee or gag4toys (Castaway).

[drmego]

If you want to make 100-500 figures of a character, you will have to
do it yourself. China factories don't want to make 1,000 of anything
because it takes longer to explain the job than it takes to do it.

Most factories want minimums of 3,000 unless it's resin casts.

[PoorMansJB]

I doubt your going to find any overseas companies that will do 100-500 figures. You'll need to look at someone, most likely they're on this site, that already has a majority of the molds done and then build and package them in the US. Several have listings in the Re-Mego section.

Actually, there seem to be quite a number of products out there in that range. I just bought a Lost In Space piece made overseas and limited to 200. Now, I grant you the price tag on this kind of stuff is pretty high -- in some cases, downright exorbitant -- but the point, there are companies willing to take on such projects.

I'm not necessarily recommending this company -- in fact, beyond having seen some of their product around, I know nothing about them -- but Day 2 Day (Toy Manufacturer|Wholesale Toys|Toy Distributors|Baby toy|Game Toy|Box Toy|Plush toy|Children Toy) make a number of high-end, limited edition figures. Might try contacting them to get a sense of cost, etc.; they specifically solicit outside commissions.

P.S. No idea why the URL imported like that.

[drmego]

Thanks for the information, but I will be avoiding Day 2 Day Trading.

[MIB41]

So Day 2 Day made the Flash Gordon figure for Castaway? They have it on their website for sale along with a legal letter aimed at Go-Hero. This is bizarre.

[samurainoir]

Day2Day trading is a middleman, who is a UK expat based out of Singapore that Cast-a-Way, Go Hero, Zica, and others have had bad experiences with. I think folks had best avoid them at all costs.

[MIB41]

AH! So these are the culprits! What dogs! Forget them! Castaway has my support all the way.

[David Lee]

AH! So these are the culprits! What dogs!

That be they, indeed.... (oh Pirate talk was yesterday)

-Dave