Robin and Joker now showing Sold Out, Product Retired on FTC & CTVT sites

[huedell]

Honestly, who cares? Why bring this up?

Because they are a good proportion of adult collectors. It may be wise for FTC to account for this and temper their plan accordingly rather than exploit it to the max and hit a wall of sorts when it sinks in what's going on. That's even IF it goes on. And even IF sales suffer as a result of this group. I dunno. Just spit balling with the statement you made. Nothing more... nothing less.

Future people will be mad, let 'em.

Amen. Let 'em.

OR if they are "mad" and they are a "significant" amount of consumers, you may actually hear them out to help the line. It's all hypothetical anyways, so who cares about asking "who cares"?.

Not that I want to get into a "whole thing" with you but you're incorrect on that point. Tooling on other action figure concepts makes a lot of variants cost prohibitive.

Maybe we're not being clear with each other here---but if I'm understanding you correctly, it wouldn't make sense to me that producing "Batman" and "Scarecrow" is cheaper than to produce "Batman" and then the same Batman with a "Neal Adams" head.

And as far as a "whole thing" with me... I won't be insulted if you don't reply to my post. I don't want to be more "the bad guy" (for obligating you to reply) than I already feel posters think I am.

Yep if the 'completists' sit on their hands and don't buy a figure for 6 months and then it sells out, I'm not sure how that's FTC's fault.

In that case, it's not FTC's fault. It's the completists fault for being completists. Why would this matter? See above^^^ ---variant milking has hurt lines before, it may do so again... just a thought---that's it.

[BATMAN89]

Entertainment Earth still has Wave 1 shipped for $99.99.

And they have Robin for sale individually too, at $24.99 plus ship.

[ThePlayerOnTheOtherSide]

And they have Robin sold individually too, at $24.99 plus ship.

I opened my set, may go back and snag another to keep sealed. They nailed Robin and Joker, especially love the Joker's costume.

[Nostalgiabuff]

I understand about all the variants out there, but it just seems to me, that these two figures, are among what would be the heavy hitters, so to speak, for the entire line. I mean look at how something like Star Wars figures are produced. you have multiples of all main characters always out there, with newer secondary figures being produced and sold, in smaller quantities.

just my two cents. I was not interested in purchasing any of wave 1 or 2 since I already have originals, except Bruce and Dick, which I already have repros of. I am only interested in the never produced before figures. bring on the Batman 66, Alfred, Gordon, Scarecrow and Ras. can't wait for Knightwing and Hawkman

[PNGwynne]

All we really know is that some figures sold out. It is likely that some Batman & Robin WGH variants are planned; it's also possible that if the line continues sufficiently, FTC would reproduce the most popular characters again, as Mego did.

I don't recall, as DCUC released wave after wave, people being concerned about previous waves being sold out--didn't we take for granted that's what might happen? Less popular characters languished on the shelves in fact.

"We" here are used to relying on the "non-success" of some reMego lines, and grabbing them later.

[PNGwynne]

...if I'm understanding you correctly, it wouldn't make sense to me that producing "Batman" and "Scarecrow" is cheaper than to produce "Batman" and then the same Batman with a "Neal Adams" head..

You're not understanding him correctly. "Tooling on other action figure concepts makes a lot of variants cost-prohibitive (emphasis mine)." Besides, you would not produce Mego Batman and Adams Batman concurrently.

That is, resources are spread between new figures (expensive new tooling & production) and variants (seemingly a rehash to you, but although cheaper, not free.) Variants may still require new tooling (say, head sculpts, which are likely the most expensive part of the figure), variant fabrics, & production resources.

It seems to me it's a balancing act: If FTC wants to do new characters--it seems they intend to--they need to balance these more expensive figures with desirable variants that cost less, but still something. Simply reissuing earlier figures to balance a wave risks not selling out of these reissues.

I keep thinking of DCUC: a huge assortment of characters, which nonetheless reused certain body molds, etc. I don't know how their assortments were packed, but I suspect that they were short-packed, just as Megos were in the '70s.


IMO Hue, you should be thrilled figures are selling out--doesn't that encourage FTC to do the new figures you want? As for it being an "adult line," you can't have it both ways. Reissuing the most popular characters, as Mego did, is marketing aimed at kids. Defined production runs, like DCUC, seems to me aimed at "adult" collectors.

[David Lee]

Congrats to Figures Toy Co.! For your rousing success and for bringing back Megos in a real way!

Dave

[Figuremod73]

Its actually pretty neat these types of figures are selling well. Rest assure, the more popular figures will continue to be available in some form or another. I need to get a '66 batman before its no where to be found. They gotta hurry up with Conan though, it seems like its been ages since he was announced.

[Ivaniski]

The Kids and i Luv you guys FTC. Just loosen the rubber bands a bit...In order to pose the arms of your DC heroes more efficiently.

[Brown Bear]

Congrats to Figures Toy Co.! For your rousing success and for bringing back Megos in a real way!

Dave

What he said. Bravo!!

[Boywonder0]

The Kids and i Luv you guys FTC. Just loosen the rubber bands a bit...In order to pose the arms of your DC heroes more efficiently.

Yup! Just like you did in KISS series 2...

[ThePlayerOnTheOtherSide]

Its actually pretty neat these types of figures are selling well. Rest assure, the more popular figures will continue to be available in some form or another. I need to get a '66 batman before its no where to be found. They gotta hurry up with Conan though, it seems like its been ages since he was announced.

FTC just mentioned on its FB page in the comments that prototype pics of Conan are coming 'very soon'.

[pmwasson]

On Facebook, in response to someone asking about Joker being unavailable, they replied:

Figures Toy Company - sorry but no, they are officially retired. you will have to buy one from a third party while they still have the supply. same with robin from the same series.

[trekman101]

FTC did not get the DC license to make figures to keep in inventory...they will make a certain number of one figure and move on...made another figure and move on....make another figure and move on.....if there is a demand for a sold out figure they will probably made a variant version for it.....they will keep making figures as long as they can but to be sold......not inventoried,which can lead to dumping.....isn't this what Biff Bang Pow does....this is the way to keep a figure at a good value in the long run .... if you see something you like,buy it.....try to get it for the best price you can.....I'm sure FTC wants it's DC line to expand,not just keep making the same re-pros over and over

[madmarva]

^I think the reason many of us are surprised is that FTC/CTVT, other than maybe some Kiss waves, hasn't had a license that sold out this quickly or without being discounted.

With the way FTC has handled other not-as-popular licenses, it was hard to discern if the business model was actually to sell out or to keep certain items in stock in perpetuity.

It's clear now if you want them, then you need to go ahead and get them like any other collectible toy. That's good for all parties, imo. Sure were not going to be able to buy the sold out figures at a discount down the line, but this will prompt the online toys stores and maybe brick and mortar comics/specialty shops to order forthcoming waves with confidence as those who have missed out from ordering directly from FTC seek the figures elsewhere. That should mean more new figures for us.

The big question, though, is will such retailers hold the line and sell at suggested retail or will they test the market, like some do with comics. Even with FTC sold out, these figures aren't truly rare and shouldn't command more than the suggested retail price. But business is business.