EMCE Trek Cases are numbered...

[Meule]

Just read my post:

"I'm stunned that the trekies out there aren't going crazy for Case number 1701"

Just realised that if they only numbered 1430 cases...there can't be a 1701 set. DUH!!!

My only excuse for being that dumb is the fact that it's been about 100 degrees here (W/the Humidity indx) for the past week. Pardon my idiocy

I am not going to say much about this - except to say that the 1430
on the cases is not an accurate number. I know it's tempting to
"do the math" but I have to tell you that only Diamond, Marty
Abrams, and I know the real production number - to date - on
these figures.

Looks like Berto might get his wish after all

[knightone]

Production numbers aren't something that is usually revealed. One of the reasons being so they can always go back into production on another run without being previously locked into a set number of produced pieces. There are a number of different numbering systems for the cases, so it is near impossible to track down an exact number.

DST doesn't even always reveal production numbers on figures and toys that are deemed as limited in production.

I can't see the numbers on these being less than 10,000 of each figure, probably more around 12,000 of each as I was saying above if I had to speculate. That is, of course, just being with this run of figures. If there is enough demand, they can and will go back and make more. That's not something DST does a lot, but they have done it before, like on their TOS Enterprise starship.

That being said, DST's main customer base is the specialty market. So the numbers on these, no matter what, is still going to be relatively limited. We probably won't have 50,000 or 100,000 of these produced by them. It's not going to be like a mainstream toy line like Star Wars or Marvel Legends where they make tons of them for the retail market.

[drmego]

A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma

I am not going to say much about this - except to say that the 1430
on the cases is not an accurate number. I know it's tempting to
"do the math" but I have to tell you that only Diamond, Marty
Abrams, and I know the real production number - to date - on
these figures.

[Meule]

Actually Diamond does use several different sets of case numbers for the same product. At least they are that way with their regular Star Trek line. Cases going to large retail orders have one set of numbers and cases going to comic shops via orders from Diamond Comics Previews get another. I think international shipments may also get yet a third set of case numbers. So 1430 is only part of the whole number of cases produced. Probably around half of that or so. If I had to venture a guess, it's probably more around 3000 cases.

Doc would know for sure, let's see what he says

[knightone]

Diamond is the only distributor I know of, since they own the license and they are produced under the Diamond Select Toys name. I presume this was the entire production run, at least from the initial Purchase Order.

Actually Diamond does use several different sets of case numbers for the same product. At least they are that way with their regular Star Trek line. Cases going to large retail orders have one set of numbers and cases going to comic shops via orders from Diamond Comics Previews get another. I think international shipments may also get yet a third set of case numbers. So 1430 is only part of the whole number of cases produced. Probably around half of that or so. If I had to venture a guess, it's probably more around 3000 cases.

[Meule]

Wouldn't it be cool if they were holding out for exclusive variations of the characters with that final 70 cases (280 of each figure) or just about enough for us. Can you say Belly or Pilot Kirk and show accurate Klingon outfit? One can only hope!

Oooh, now you got me dreaming

[Hulk]

Diamond is the only distributor I know of, since they own the license and they are produced under the Diamond Select Toys name. I presume this was the entire production run, at least from the initial Purchase Order. Of course I would imagine they have the ability to make more, but it would likely require another large order of similar magnitude. If they could find a major retailer to guarantee a minimum order though, then that could push them back into production, but unless these sell out completely soon, then I think they'd rather take their risks on future releases.

1430 is an odd number though. You'd think that 1500 (6000 of each figure) would make more sense. Wouldn't it be cool if they were holding out for exclusive variations of the characters with that final 70 cases (280 of each figure) or just about enough for us. Can you say Belly or Pilot Kirk and show accurate Klingon outfit? One can only hope!

[Sideshow Spock]

But isn't Diamond the sole distributor of these?

[AcroRay]

I learned that the numbering on cases can be somewhat misleading. As I understand it (from my work on Micronauts) - sometimes cases for a particular vendor are numbered differently than for the overall production run - occasionally indicating the number of cases for a specific vendor or distributor. For example, Diamond's cases might indicate a certain quantity, while a shipment of cases to another vendor or distributor (or a general release of cases), might be numbered with a different overall quantity.

EMCE would have the final say - but it may *not* mean that only 1430 cases were made, just that Diamond had 1430 cases as a particular distributor.

[Hulk]

Just read my post:

"I'm stunned that the trekies out there aren't going crazy for Case number 1701"

Just realised that if they only numbered 1430 cases...there can't be a 1701 set. DUH!!!

My only excuse for being that dumb is the fact that it's been about 100 degrees here (W/the Humidity indx) for the past week. Pardon my idiocy

You get no sympathy from me in Arizona.

Tell us what other information you can gleen from the case Berto. I'm interested in what you can interpret from it beyond case counts.

[Blue Meanie]

I'm an IDIOT...or The Heat has gotten to my brain.

Just read my post:

"I'm stunned that the trekies out there aren't going crazy for Case number 1701"

Just realised that if they only numbered 1430 cases...there can't be a 1701 set. DUH!!!

My only excuse for being that dumb is the fact that it's been about 100 degrees here (W/the Humidity indx) for the past week. Pardon my idiocy

[Hulk]

At least two more series (another 23,000 figures) and a possible extention of the line might have helped convince India in excepting a lower minimum order

These are China made. I meant that with India lowering the industry minimums for CTVT, that gives leverage to negotiate lower production runs. As you mention though, future orders and a long history with Doc certainly couldn't have hurt, and the Chinese certainly understand the potential of a popular license. Just look where all the knockoff come from.

[Meule]

I've been wondering when someone would notice and mention that. Its one of the first things I noticed. There are some other revealing tidbits if you look. The order is less than China used to consider a minimum (10,000 of any one item), but I am guessing that India and other competition has lowered that, and the combined order still is over 11,000.

At least two more series (another 23,000 figures) and a possible extention of the line might have helped convince India in excepting a lower minimum order

[Hulk]

I've been wondering when someone would notice and mention that. Its one of the first things I noticed. There are some other revealing tidbits if you look. The order is less than China used to consider a minimum (10,000 of any one item), but I am guessing that India and other competition has lowered that, and the combined order still is over 11,000.

[Sideshow Spock]

I think that's a very reasonable amount given today's Trek market. All the Trek toys made by Art Asylum the last few years (after the wider market Enterprise and Nemesis toys tanked) have largely been specialty releases, becuz that's the only market that can support them. And so they're made in much more limited quantity. Many have been even less than 5000 I think.