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

[madmarva]

It will be interesting to see what figures linger and what figures sell out more quickly. Alfred may go quickly being a new figure, but then again, it's Alfred, a supporting character at best. A lot of collectors might not be interested at all.

[huedell]

I agree. When I took note of all the characters they planned to make, I immediately thought these would have to be short production runs, because once you get into the second tier characters, I'm sure sells drop off measurably. They definitely understand their market.

Wish they'd tell us about "the market"---or their view of it---or their plan, or whatever.

If those of you are correct with what you're explaining, then the only thing I'm finding interesting about this line is the figures I don't have already. I'm not going to get myself mixed up in buying up a whole line where it's likely figures will sell out that quickly with such short runs.

It's likely I won't even buy Alfred now. Not because it's a poor figure, but because a figure has to be overly desirable to me to be forced to buy it in a very small window of time. It's why I don't own even ONE of those jumbo Star Wars vintage-style figures. I see why others are playing along w/FTC though. I buy everything Masters Of The Universe Classics releases. That's a line I'll do that for.

Tough as the MOTUC line is, at least their consumer base isn't so in the dark about what the company's strategy is, that all their consumer base can do is have certain consumers speculate a strategy, and hand out compliments to a plan that may or may not be the reality.

[jayraytee]

I kind of figured that when they offered the series 1 Batman figures in different packaging (the two packs) it meant that either the stock of those figures was going down or sales on them had started to slow down or maybe both. They probably generated more sales on those figures just by changing the card they are attached to. It's quite smart. And colectors don't feel ripped off because they do end up with a very nice looking limited edition collectable.

[MIB41]

^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 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.

I agree. When I took note of all the characters they planned to make, I immediately thought these would have to be short production runs, because once you get into the second tier characters, I'm sure sells drop off measurably. They definitely understand their market.

[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.

[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

[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.

[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'.

[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...

[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!!

[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.

[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.

[David Lee]

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

Dave

[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.

[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.