So, these Disney-Marvel figures...

[greenlanternmego89]

I’m so annoyed.

I contacted the online Disney store via chat. I conversed with someone called “Darling.” Lord spare me…

Anyway, my order, which was confirmed, and scheduled to arrive yesterday/this past Sunday, July 13th, is on back order. “Darling” kept insisting it was a preorder item, with no expected arrival date. I explained, carefully, that the item is physically in stores right now, and I explained how I was in a queue, and made the purchase well within the allotted time I was given to shop.

After far, far too long in that chat, I’m stuck waiting.

So, so annoying.

After I was wished a “magical day,” I told “Darling” that my frustration wasn’t directed toward them, but rather to whomever is in charge of this awful system, and that as far as any magic was concerned, their magic wands were in need of some major recharge.

I’m in clobbering time mode big time.

When MEGO came back I loved how I was able to get these figures easily, either online or in local shops that carried them. It wasn't stressful like it was hunting down Marvel and DC 6 inch figures.

It was my relaxing collection.

But recently the excitement for stuff has died down. And I can't say "Oh I'll just buy the DC releases" because the DC waves been pushed back until God knows when. So I'm in a limbo while Disney fast tracks these limited Marvel exclusives. That I was originally so excited for.

Just kind of upsetting personally, especially since I live so far from California and Florida and can't just pop in to see if they're in stock, haha. And paying eBay prices kills me due to the price hike.

[Dan2Dan]

When MEGO came back I loved how I was able to get these figures easily, either online or in local shops that carried them. It wasn't stressful like it was hunting down Marvel and DC 6 inch figures.

I have a similar feeling/experience.

Over the last year or two, I've come to believe that we're all living through the 'dying days' of a long-time market segment (action figures) that is now a very 'sick' business. By all accounts, all major manufacturers have been more conservative in their order quantities for each new figure than they had been during the brief 'boom' of the COVID lockdowns. And now there are so many store exclusives. And prices have risen significantly because of inflation and tariffs and smaller production runs, etc....

And, also by all accounts, kids today don't want action figures. So the market for them is now skewing older and older in a way that's not long-term sustainable for publicly traded toy companies or mass-market retailers. We've all seen the unfortunate news, I'm sure, about the various rounds of layoffs at multiple toy companies recently.

Several times recently, I have received an email from McFarlane Toys notifying me of a new release that interests me, but when I click through to buy, it's already sold out. (In minutes, or maybe an hour!) I've given up pre-ordering anything from Walmart because they have later canceled my pre-orders literally 100% of the time.

I really wanted a McFarlane Silver Age Superman (the one that resembles the 1980s style guide art by Garcia-Lopez) to go on a shelf with the McFarlane Fleischer Superman and the McFarlane Christopher Reeve Superman. But I couldn't find one anywhere, even immediately after its release. So in desperation, I ordered one from GameStop. But given its premium price there, and significant shipping costs, and CA sales tax, the total cost was about $40. But I got one. Now, when I see all three on a shelf, I really enjoy it and think they look great together and almost can't believe these 'niche' figures were made in 2024-25. But my second thought is always, "I can't believe that one cost me $40!"

[Stormbreaker]

When MEGO came back I loved how I was able to get these figures easily, either online or in local shops that carried them. It wasn't stressful like it was hunting down Marvel and DC 6 inch figures.

It was my relaxing collection.

But recently the excitement for stuff has died down. And I can't say "Oh I'll just buy the DC releases" because the DC waves been pushed back until God knows when. So I'm in a limbo while Disney fast tracks these limited Marvel exclusives. That I was originally so excited for.

Just kind of upsetting personally, especially since I live so far from California and Florida and can't just pop in to see if they're in stock, haha. And paying eBay prices kills me due to the price hike.

I have a similar feeling/experience.

Over the last year or two, I've come to believe that we're all living through the 'dying days' of a long-time market segment (action figures) that is now a very 'sick' business. By all accounts, all major manufacturers have been more conservative in their order quantities for each new figure than they had been during the brief 'boom' of the COVID lockdowns. And now there are so many store exclusives. And prices have risen significantly because of inflation and tariffs and smaller production runs, etc....

And, also by all accounts, kids today don't want action figures. So the market for them is now skewing older and older in a way that's not long-term sustainable for publicly traded toy companies or mass-market retailers. We've all seen the unfortunate news, I'm sure, about the various rounds of layoffs at multiple toy companies recently.

Several times recently, I have received an email from McFarlane Toys notifying me of a new release that interests me, but when I click through to buy, it's already sold out. (In minutes, or maybe an hour!) I've given up pre-ordering anything from Walmart because they have later canceled my pre-orders literally 100% of the time.

I really wanted a McFarlane Silver Age Superman (the one that resembles the 1980s style guide art by Garcia-Lopez) to go on a shelf with the McFarlane Fleischer Superman and the McFarlane Christopher Reeve Superman. But I couldn't find one anywhere, even immediately after its release. So in desperation, I ordered one from GameStop. But given its premium price there, and significant shipping costs, and CA sales tax, the total cost was about $40. But I got one. Now, when I see all three on a shelf, I really enjoy it and think they look great together and almost can't believe these 'niche' figures were made in 2024-25. But my second thought is always, "I can't believe that one cost me $40!"

These posts sum up what I would bet a lot of fans/collectors feel right now.

As I said earlier in this thread, it’s such a shame that something that is supposed to be fun is tainted by difficult, and sometimes nigh-impossible, means to purchase an item.

[JamesB.]

I know that there are far more important things going on in the world today than trying to get ahold of a set of figures, so I'm trying to put things into perspective. But this has been an incredibly frustrating experience for me. I want to be courteous and professional here and not express my disappointment too badly over the situation, but this has made me seriously reconsider whether to continue trying to collect the line.

[PNGwynne]

Exclusivity is killing a lot of collector interest. I see it with MOTU Origins, too.

With FTC, slipshod as they were, Mego fans were catered to. That's not going to happen again in this economy, and as we age out.

That's why businesses like Cotswold and Hobbycrash, who still champion classic playscale figures, are so precious.

[Makernaut]

I know that there are far more important things going on in the world today than trying to get ahold of a set of figures, so I'm trying to put things into perspective. But this has been an incredibly frustrating experience for me. I want to be courteous and professional here and not express my disappointment too badly over the situation, but this has made me seriously reconsider whether to continue trying to collect the line.

Oh...I wouldn't feel too bad about piping up about it. If it weren't for RIP threads and commiserating about Disney, there would be no community here. I don't know what's happened in the world, but what once was a community has passed into shouting into the abyss and that's absolutely no fault of anyone here or in charge of here. It's transformed into something else, somewhere else. Just the way she goes, eh?

[KingKickass1983]

Exclusivity is killing a lot of collector interest. I see it with MOTU Origins, too.

With FTC, slipshod as they were, Mego fans were catered to. That's not going to happen again in this economy, and as we age out.

That's why businesses like Cotswold and Hobbycrash, who still champion classic playscale figures, are so precious.

Funny you mentioned MOTU origins...that was the EXACT reason I sold off the majority of my Origins figures and abandoned the line. I kept a select few that I REALLY liked and sold off the rest.

Mego is different for me though...my first was Fonzie when he was released to Target...and I hated it...wasn't til I started customizing that my love for the line/scale grew.
They display so WELL!!

[dpep]

Look what UPS dropped off!

[dpep]

Look what UPS dropped off!

[Krypt0nite]

Congratulations, they look great!

[TrekStar]

Congrats on obtaining a set, and I love how the coin looks too.

[Stormbreaker]

Look what UPS dropped off!

Looks fantastic! No pun intended!

[PNGwynne]

Glad to see them arriving, congratulations.

[powersthatbe]

My set arrived today too.) I also received over the weekend the FF movie legends figures from BBTS.

[TrekStar]

Look what UPS dropped off!

I meant to ask, how are all the joints? Arms-legs-waist?