Dark Shadows Wave 2 - CANCELED

[jonwes]

I must admit, the only figure I was looking forward to was Barnabas. I had planned to snatch him up. But I'm sad for everyone really looking forward to these.

[Mego-Amigo]

I feel your disappointment. I am a big DS fan as well and like you had a feeling series 2 would never see the light of day. After all the lame cancellations of a lot of great Mego style figures over the last couple of years ( Retro Action, ST Vina and Chapel, EMCE POTA, some TZ characters and now DS ) I was beginning to get real discouraged and lose hope. The anouncement of all the great stuff from Figures has given me new hope but I have learned not to get too excited until I actually see a genuine release from a company these days. I have seen too many awesome prototypes over the last couple of years only to hear later..." Sorry... they are cancelled. " or " Sorry... but we won't be producing these after all. " or " Sorry... but there is just not enough support to continue this line. "

[Dark Shadow]

Not the least bit surprised, but definitely disappointed.

Had a gut feeling (when I found out the guy behind Spectre is the same guy behind Majestic) that Wave 1 would be the only wave to see the light of day...err...shadows of night. Silly me stayed optimistic though...what is it with me & misplaced optimism when it comes to DS?? I guess I'll never learn .

With all the disappointments, it's not easy being a DS fan. From the cancellation of the original series way back in '71, Night of Dark Shadows, the numerous false starts in syndication, the short-lived revival series, the just out of reach expense of the VHS release in the 90's, the WB resurrection series that never took flight, the years of movie rumours (not to mention the actual movie itself) all the way up through the cancelled products...it's a coaster ride that seems to descend more frequently than it soars.

The bright side is that the entire original series, save one episode, is mine for keeps ...and that is what makes it all worth while!

(Not sure if it's been talked about here but the wood/metal cane prop replica has also been cancelled)

[Chris]

Yes!!!! LABZ wrote "more Dexter".

[enyawd72]

I would like to comment - not directly about this situation, but about how our company sees this. Prototypes are often free or cost very little. The tooling had not been created yet on these, to my knowledge. The license might also cost very little. So the only factors are the minimum orders imposed by the factories and the pre-order levels. If pre-orders don't meet or come anywhere near minimums, it's just impossible to invest to go to production. So the math is that it would cost tens of thousands of dollars to actually go to production, where the return on that money might only be a few thousand dollars. I don't see how a business can justify this.

I understand where you're coming from...I guess I incorrectly assumed this late in the game the DS series two figures were pretty much tooled and ready to go. That's why communication is key. If Spectre Toys needed more preorders to go into production, they should have gotten the word out early on. Maybe nothing would have changed, but maybe it would have. People didn't know what was going on with the constant delays, which made many reluctant to preorder, thus ensuring the line WOULDN'T continue.

[Mego-Amigo]

I love your TZ, Doctor Who, SMDM and Galactica figures Jason. I will buy them all. Keep them coming.

[MIB41]

Thanks Jason. Sorry for the barking. I'm sure it doesn't help with the frustration you have waiting on it yourself. The unknown makes us all a little cranky. The Dark Shadows cancellation notice today broke the camels back for me. If it helps, just know I will buying plenty of BBP product when it hits the deck...AND promoting it's goodness right here and on Facebook. I'm in your corner. I just punch hard on your shoulder when I get irked.

[BifBangPow! JLabs]

Excellent. Thank you for your business and for your questions (for the record).

Our goal is to ramp up production to release multiple waves per year, but often these aggressive plans are slowed by talent approval, studio approval, sculpting and factory delays. Our plans continue to be optimistic with our current lines all continuing. There will be more Venture Bros, Six Million Dollar Man, Battlestar Galactica, Twilight Zone, Doctor Who, along with Dexter and The BIg Bang Theory. We've got a lot of product coming! So again, thanks for your business.

Just for the record... See my question here...

http://megomuseum.com/community/showthread.php?85002-Six-Million-Dollar-Man-Oscar-Goldman-amp-Fembot-Action-Figures

Page four here...

http://megomuseum.com/community/showthread.php?83718-Where-to-get-Oscar

I'm a big supporter to this line and buy multiples of every figure. I also donated one to someone on this board as well. When these figures go well past their street date, I typically say nothing. That's the business. But these have been following a similar pattern to Dark Shadows. So with no response, and the constant changes reflecting a similar pattern to this line which just got cancelled, I'm sure you can appreciate the frustration some of us are expressing. You want me to ask? I have been. I'm a consumer that wants to buy your product. If it's factory that's fine. Life goes on. Just periodic updates helps. We're not going anywhere. I love this line and want you to benefit from that love.

[PNGwynne]

My comics shop repeatedly tried to order wave 1 without success.

[MIB41]

Also, I come on these forums often and am an active participant here. I apologize, but I've never seen anyone ask me a question and me not answer! Oscar and Fembot were delayed by the factory - that's it. They are on the water and are arriving soon. We are easy to contact and are happy to participate in discussions and answer questions - just ask!

Just for the record... See my question here...

http://megomuseum.com/community/showthread.php?85002-Six-Million-Dollar-Man-Oscar-Goldman-amp-Fembot-Action-Figures

Page four here...

http://megomuseum.com/community/showthread.php?83718-Where-to-get-Oscar

I'm a big supporter to this line and buy multiples of every figure. I also donated one to someone on this board as well. When these figures go well past their street date, I typically say nothing. That's the business. But these have been following a similar pattern to Dark Shadows. So with no response, and the constant changes reflecting a similar pattern to this line which just got cancelled, I'm sure you can appreciate the frustration some of us are expressing. You want me to ask? I have been. I'm a consumer that wants to buy your product. If it's factory that's fine. Life goes on. Just periodic updates helps. We're not going anywhere. I love this line and want you to benefit from that love.

[BifBangPow! JLabs]

I've never understood why companies do this. Just release the damn figures. You've already paid for the license, the sculpts, and this close to an actual release date, the tooling most likely already exists. Even if sales aren't stellar, isn't SOME money back on your investment better than none? And don't you owe it to those collectors who invested THEIR hard earned money in the line with the promise of being able to "collect them all"?

I would like to comment - not directly about this situation, but about how our company sees this. Prototypes are often free or cost very little. The tooling had not been created yet on these, to my knowledge. The license might also cost very little. So the only factors are the minimum orders imposed by the factories and the pre-order levels. If pre-orders don't meet or come anywhere near minimums, it's just impossible to invest to go to production. So the math is that it would cost tens of thousands of dollars to actually go to production, where the return on that money might only be a few thousand dollars. I don't see how a business can justify this.

[BifBangPow! JLabs]

Let me just address the BBP comments. We have never cancelled any 8-inch figure that we have announced due to lack of pre-sales. Delays are possible, and licensors can cancel products (ie some Twilight Zone characters). So we sincerely appreciate all of the support and pre-orders. That is indeed how we can continue doing what we are doing.

Also, I come on these forums often and am an active participant here. I apologize, but I've never seen anyone ask me a question and me not answer! Oscar and Fembot were delayed by the factory - that's it. They are on the water and are arriving soon. We are easy to contact and are happy to participate in discussions and answer questions - just ask!

I believe many of us here understand the importance of pre-orders as it applies to determining demand. What seems to be missing in this assessment is communication. Take the Dark Shadows license. I pre-ordered the Barnabus figure last summer when the second wave was announced. Now I understand the Depp movie was a big disappointment for alot of fans. And I respect that. But the movie did get people like me interested in the original series even though I only gave it a passing glance in my childhood. So I ordered this figure to see how it was made and to decide if I wanted more. As time went by, I literally forgot about it. Out of sight, out of mind. Spectre Toys was not so much as a blip on the radar of marketing. Never heard anything. Never read much of anything. Now if the pre-orders were kept alive for this long why didn't they get out there on forums and talk to the people? I just ordered a Werewolf two days ago to go with my Barnabus. Had I known the Barnabus figure was in danger of cancellation, I could have inflated my pre-order instead. And maybe others would have followed and we wouldn't be having this conversation today.

I see it happening with the BBP Six Mill line now. How many times has Oscar and the Fembot been bumped? I've asked repeatedly for BBP to let us know if there is a pre-order problem or if it's just a factory issue. Nothing. It p*sses me off because I'm a guy sitting here with cash in my hand supporting the line and their asleep at the wheel. These lines have support! If they need more pre-orders , people like me can step up and do more. And I guarantee you I'm not alone. But the companies are not TALKING to anyone so no one knows until we get these announcements. If pre-orders are down SPEAK UP! Silence does not generate interest. We can't read minds. And comic-cons are not the be-all-to-end-all places to advertise the retro lines. The customers are HERE. Talk to us. Let us know. Maybe we can rally our resources and save a line. Then again maybe we can't. But I would sure have no problem putting money behind a company that is really trying. Ask Castaway. They'll tell you. I bought everything they had. But when a company like Spectre won't even fight for their product, why am I bothering then? And should I invest in future product if this is their attitude towards it? Just talk to the people. That's all we ask. And that is likely why so many of us are disappointed by this news. We weren't given the chance to fight for it.

[Timothy2251]

Rats! I have the first figures and was eagerly looking forward to Wave 2.

[PNGwynne]

Stinkeroo--w/ Treks cancelled and TZ truncated, I'm sad.

[dee T.]

So wanted a Barnabus to go along with my new werewolf figure too ... so disappointed