Sorry, but i guess in this case "all" is 3.
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Dark Shadows Wave 2 - CANCELED
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Another thing that gets me is...if the line was in such danger of being cancelled, why not reach out to your fan base?
A simple update saying "Hey guys, if you want series two to happen, we need some more orders." would be enough to spur potential buyers, procrastinators and maybe those on the fence.Comment
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I was going to spring for a Barnabas, too.
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https://www.facebook.com/monsterpetsbooks?ref=hlComment
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I know collectors have had some real disappointing news in recent weeks, but you have to realize that there really isn't a lot of purchasing going on with retro lines. Action figures in general aren't exactly flying off the shelves. If preorders aren't there manufacturers aren't going to produce lines. The layout to tool and produce three 8 inch figures is extremely expensive. Just because production in China is less expensive doesn't mean its free. There are minimum amounts that need to be made and producing 5000 figures to sell 1200 is not even gonna recoup the money spent in prototyping, production, and sculpting, etc.
It's tough to even understand why some things fail. Zica did about as good a job as they could have with the Buck Rogers line. Possibly 2 of the nicest 1:9 scale figures ever done. The license seemed to be fairly popular. When I saw Gil Gerard at the RI Comicon last year he had a constant stream of fans wanting autographs and pictures. There's evidently a following, but they didn't sell enough to make it profitable. Even when Diamond got them they weren't willing to pull the trigger on producing another wave or even a re-release of what they had already seen.
With the recent talk about CTVT and Batman, which seems to be coming from solid, multiple sources, it's a major gamble. When spending that kind of money on a license you need to produce a whopping amount of figures. To move that kind of volume you need major retail support ie: Target, Walmart etc. If Mattel couldn't get them to bite on Retro Action figures, mind you those two stores sell a ton of Barbie and Hot Wheels, which is owned by Mattel. You would think Mattel had enough clout to get them to take a couple of cases per store, which would have been at least 10 times the amount that was actually produced. What would the cost have been for 24 figures $200 per store. That's a nickel for them in comparison to a comic book store having to shell out for a case at $100-$120 a pop. Walmart has 8500 stores. If each store had taken one case of first wave retro figures 25000 Batman figures would have been produced alone. Unfortunately there isn't enough interest right now in the 8 inch format to support the amount of product that's being prototyped. Slow pre-orders from retailers will kill a line well before it goes to actual production. Toys aren't always fun and games.It's not a doll it's an action figure.Comment
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I believe many of us here understand the importance of pre-orders as it applies to determining demand. What seems to be missing in this assessment is communication. Take the Dark Shadows license. I pre-ordered the Barnabus figure last summer when the second wave was announced. Now I understand the Depp movie was a big disappointment for alot of fans. And I respect that. But the movie did get people like me interested in the original series even though I only gave it a passing glance in my childhood. So I ordered this figure to see how it was made and to decide if I wanted more. As time went by, I literally forgot about it. Out of sight, out of mind. Spectre Toys was not so much as a blip on the radar of marketing. Never heard anything. Never read much of anything. Now if the pre-orders were kept alive for this long why didn't they get out there on forums and talk to the people? I just ordered a Werewolf two days ago to go with my Barnabus. Had I known the Barnabus figure was in danger of cancellation, I could have inflated my pre-order instead. And maybe others would have followed and we wouldn't be having this conversation today.
I see it happening with the BBP Six Mill line now. How many times has Oscar and the Fembot been bumped? I've asked repeatedly for BBP to let us know if there is a pre-order problem or if it's just a factory issue. Nothing. It p*sses me off because I'm a guy sitting here with cash in my hand supporting the line and their asleep at the wheel. These lines have support! If they need more pre-orders , people like me can step up and do more. And I guarantee you I'm not alone. But the companies are not TALKING to anyone so no one knows until we get these announcements. If pre-orders are down SPEAK UP! Silence does not generate interest. We can't read minds. And comic-cons are not the be-all-to-end-all places to advertise the retro lines. The customers are HERE. Talk to us. Let us know. Maybe we can rally our resources and save a line. Then again maybe we can't. But I would sure have no problem putting money behind a company that is really trying. Ask Castaway. They'll tell you. I bought everything they had. But when a company like Spectre won't even fight for their product, why am I bothering then? And should I invest in future product if this is their attitude towards it? Just talk to the people. That's all we ask. And that is likely why so many of us are disappointed by this news. We weren't given the chance to fight for it.Comment
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Oh, man! I wanted, no, I deserve a Quentin Collins.
For the record, I actually don't deserve a Quentin Collins. THANK YOU for the Barney, Chris and Angie figures you did make. I luv 'em.If a Mego figure of God did not exist, it would be necessary for EMCE to invent him.Comment
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Stinkeroo--w/ Treks cancelled and TZ truncated, I'm sad.WANTED: Dick Grayson SI trousers; gray AJ Mustang horse; vintage RC Batman (Bruce Wayne) head; minty Wolfman tights; mint Black Knight sword; minty Launcelot boots; Lion Rock (pale) Dracula & Mummy heads; Lion Rock Franky squared boots; Wayne Foundation blue furniture; Flash Gordon/Ming (10") unbroken holsters; CHiPs gloved arms; POTA T2 tan body; CTVT/vintage Friar Tuck robes, BBP TZ Burgess Meredith glasses.Comment
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Rats! I have the first figures and was eagerly looking forward to Wave 2."It's sad that governments are chiefed by the double tongues. There is iron in your words of death for all Comanche to see, and so there is iron in your words of life. No signed paper can hold the iron. It must come from men. The words of Ten Bears carries the same iron of life and death. It is good that warriors such as we meet in the struggle of life... or death. It shall be life."Comment
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Let me just address the BBP comments. We have never cancelled any 8-inch figure that we have announced due to lack of pre-sales. Delays are possible, and licensors can cancel products (ie some Twilight Zone characters). So we sincerely appreciate all of the support and pre-orders. That is indeed how we can continue doing what we are doing.
Also, I come on these forums often and am an active participant here. I apologize, but I've never seen anyone ask me a question and me not answer! Oscar and Fembot were delayed by the factory - that's it. They are on the water and are arriving soon. We are easy to contact and are happy to participate in discussions and answer questions - just ask!
I believe many of us here understand the importance of pre-orders as it applies to determining demand. What seems to be missing in this assessment is communication. Take the Dark Shadows license. I pre-ordered the Barnabus figure last summer when the second wave was announced. Now I understand the Depp movie was a big disappointment for alot of fans. And I respect that. But the movie did get people like me interested in the original series even though I only gave it a passing glance in my childhood. So I ordered this figure to see how it was made and to decide if I wanted more. As time went by, I literally forgot about it. Out of sight, out of mind. Spectre Toys was not so much as a blip on the radar of marketing. Never heard anything. Never read much of anything. Now if the pre-orders were kept alive for this long why didn't they get out there on forums and talk to the people? I just ordered a Werewolf two days ago to go with my Barnabus. Had I known the Barnabus figure was in danger of cancellation, I could have inflated my pre-order instead. And maybe others would have followed and we wouldn't be having this conversation today.
I see it happening with the BBP Six Mill line now. How many times has Oscar and the Fembot been bumped? I've asked repeatedly for BBP to let us know if there is a pre-order problem or if it's just a factory issue. Nothing. It p*sses me off because I'm a guy sitting here with cash in my hand supporting the line and their asleep at the wheel. These lines have support! If they need more pre-orders , people like me can step up and do more. And I guarantee you I'm not alone. But the companies are not TALKING to anyone so no one knows until we get these announcements. If pre-orders are down SPEAK UP! Silence does not generate interest. We can't read minds. And comic-cons are not the be-all-to-end-all places to advertise the retro lines. The customers are HERE. Talk to us. Let us know. Maybe we can rally our resources and save a line. Then again maybe we can't. But I would sure have no problem putting money behind a company that is really trying. Ask Castaway. They'll tell you. I bought everything they had. But when a company like Spectre won't even fight for their product, why am I bothering then? And should I invest in future product if this is their attitude towards it? Just talk to the people. That's all we ask. And that is likely why so many of us are disappointed by this news. We weren't given the chance to fight for it.Co-founder, BifBangPow!
bifbangpow.com
twitter.com/bifbangpowComment
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I've never understood why companies do this. Just release the damn figures. You've already paid for the license, the sculpts, and this close to an actual release date, the tooling most likely already exists. Even if sales aren't stellar, isn't SOME money back on your investment better than none? And don't you owe it to those collectors who invested THEIR hard earned money in the line with the promise of being able to "collect them all"?Co-founder, BifBangPow!
bifbangpow.com
twitter.com/bifbangpowComment
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