Super Collector Newsletter Discussion Thread

[palitoy]

I'm firmly in a "no further purchases" hold until they ease up on control.

MANY things I want right now but the shipping to Canada is unreasonable and I will wait and see if I buy anything going forward. Hopefully they loosen the reins on EE.

[EMCE Hammer]

Yep. That's me exactly. These days I just order my favorites from these lots. I have a fun mixed bag of figures coming from these sets. I'm thinking about putting Lil D back in front of the camera for these. They're really fun licenses and I think he would love them. Especially Space Ghost!

My problem is that I want everything there:-( I didn't mind passing on variation this or that of the heroes or KISS, or stooges. I like just about everything shown in the newsletter this week. Ivy needs a new head, and maybe Barry Allen, but all in all I want it all. That's a big chunk of change. My Christmas list is basically done.

[rodkeith]

My problem is that I want everything there:-( I didn't mind passing on variation this or that of the heroes or KISS, or stooges. I like just about everything shown in the newsletter this week. Ivy needs a new head, and maybe Barry Allen, but all in all I want it all. That's a big chunk of change. My Christmas list is basically done.

And it's only March!

I'm with palitoy. The shipping and exchange jump the cost outrageously for Canucks. Gone are the days of buying doubles, and/or special packaging.

Going forward, variants are largely going to be off the table, and it'll also be about selectivity in a wave, picking the best, rather than "ehh, I'll just get 'em all".

Besides that-- some amazing customs this week!

[PNGwynne]

I'm firmly in a "no further purchases" hold until they ease up on control.

MANY things I want right now but the shipping to Canada is unreasonable and I will wait and see if I buy anything going forward. Hopefully they loosen the reins on EE.

Why are they abandoning other retailers anyway?

[ScottA]

I haven't bought any FTC since last Mego Meet, which is where I like to get them. Hopefully someone will have some I'm looking for there this year.

I do appreciate the Amalgams getting kudos. I've actually finished 4 more (3 shown at MM and one new one).

[TRDouble]

Why are they abandoning other retailers anyway?

Not sure who is abandoning who, because Big Bad Toy Store has these up for Pre-Order and hasn't missed a single figure yet. They just don't always sell them individually.

[MIB41]

Why are they abandoning other retailers anyway?

FTC did this because their vendors were essentially undercutting their shelf prices which meant they were creating their own competition and losing out on the chief profit that comes from that primary demographic that buys their product at release. The long term impact was devaluing their product when vendors discounted them early to push inventories. I can speak to that as a consumer because last year I bought very little brand new because I knew particular people on the web would slash prices and they did. I bought a huge portion of the Kresge carded figures for between $12 and $15.00.

But lets be honest here. This is a VERY niche market and FTC creates more volume than the demand can absorb. At least those are the appearances. That's why people like me could easily hunt down bargain basement prices three to six months after product was released, which means the vendors were bleeding on these deals too. So I guess it might be prudent to flip that perspective and ask if maybe FTC pulled back because the trend suggested vendors were not ordering their product as much anymore. When you have to withdraw from the vendors you sell to, those are some troubled waters. They're essentially rolling the dice because at least with selling to vendors they already guaranteed the wholesale purchase before it hit shelves. Now they're betting a direct sell to the consumer will make up that difference, plus some. Of course they still have certain vendors they do specialty sells for, but I think most of us regard that stuff as internal custom bashing. And maybe this is the only way they can stay afloat. I can only assume business needs dictate these actions. It's amazing we can now buy a new Batcave, Batmobile, Batcycle, and even a Batlab. I never would have dared dreamt this six or seven years ago. I hope that business model works. Nobody else would dare try this. The financial risks are too high.

[PNGwynne]

Fair enough. They're putting out some great stuff and I've said as much. But, the gaffes have been glaring and frankly continual--that may be another reason collectors tried to find them less expensively. A $15 figure with production flaws may be more appealing than one at $35. There's a certain irony in the fact that FTC is choosing to alter its marketing but not its production frequency or designs.

[EMCE Hammer]

Happy Friday http://us9.campaign-archive1.com/?u=...9&e=ce704b24aa

[Mego Milk]

Mister J!

[Brown Bear]

I hope they sell that new Joker silk screened suit. I'm sure I could find use for that. Curious why some of these new heads look shiny?? Same with the Trickster. Maybe it's just the lighting.

[rodkeith]

Thanks! That 1969 Catwoman looks phenomenal! Also, love the customs as usual, especially Black Canary.

[TRDouble]

My second favorite Catwoman costume! Right behind Batman Series 5's Catwoman costume!

The all-black Batman seems to suffer from the fate of the Series 4 Batman with those shiny, silk shorts. Bummer.

[palitoy]

I was kind of expecting a pimped out Toy Biz style Joker but this one is very cool as well.

BTW are these showing up on Ebay? I'm in Canada so this link to Excelsior is always blank.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/excelsiorauctions/m.html?item=201843093759&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562&rmvSB=true

[TRDouble]

No links for the new Excelsior stuff yet.