kanik89
Jobber
Joined on: Oct 9, 2023 17:34:31 GMT -5
Posts: 30
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Post by kanik89 on Feb 25, 2024 13:38:49 GMT -5
Not to be flip, but why would you want to buy one to "help it sell out"? The attitude surrounding these upstart Retro toy companies is that they're all small businesses and if we don't support them then they won't be able to continue growing. Some of the stuff put out by Hassteltoy and Epic and FC Toys is incredible. I love how there are all these new avenues to get guys that Mattel wouldn't bother with. However with stuff like this Bob Cardona (and the Big Rubber Guys) I'm starting to feel like i'm being taken advantage of. I'm buying some of this stuff in part to support these companies, but then and they turn around and go "WOW LOOK AT HOW HIGH THE PRICES ON EBAY ARE FOR THESE, BETTER BUY A BUNCH OF OUR NEXT BATCH". You know people are stockpiling this latest set anticipating that'll be able to capitalize on how hot they'll be on the secondary market. I feel the same way with this Bob Cardona. I see it touted as being limited to 500 worldwide, but I would like to know if Mitch is selling all 500 or if the Cardonas bought a large share of them wholesale. (If they purchased them at the same price as any other customer fair enough). I don't love buying a figure I'm lukewarm about if I'm contributing to the perception that it's more sought after than it actually is. I'm just looking for some transparency. As the owner of Major Bendies/Big Rubber Guys, I both agree and disagree with your viewpoint. I strongly believe that collectors should only purchase what they truly desire. As an owner, it is critical for me to understand the market's needs and preferences. If people choose not to buy a certain product, it signals to me that I need to make changes and prioritize meeting the demands of the consumers. In terms of the pricing of Big Rubber Guys on eBay, I have recently shifted our business model to include a pre-order window method, similar to Super7. During this specific window, customers can place their orders, and once it closes, we produce exactly the quantity that was ordered, with a slight extra for any potential issues. After our retail partners sell out, the figures will no longer be available for purchase directly from us, leading to the higher prices on eBay. When I mention "look at the eBay prices. Don't miss out," it's to suggest that if someone is unsure and just considering buying the item, they should consider it as an opportunity to potentially sell it later and even make some additional money if they decide they don't like the figure later. However, I would only advise this if they can afford it, as collectibles should be a fun hobby without any financial strain. Regarding the question of why I don't produce more of the figures when I know there is demand, there are a few reasons for this. Firstly, these figures are meant to be collectibles, and I want to give everyone a fair chance to order them during the pre-order window. I have no plans to reissue the same figure at a later time. Secondly, keeping inventory and managing overhead costs can be quite challenging, expensive, and time-consuming. It also occupies significant storage space. Therefore, it is not in our best interest to maintain a large inventory. As for the Bob Cardona figure, I cannot provide any information since it is unrelated to Major Bendies/Big Rubber Guys.
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Post by newgenandy on Feb 25, 2024 14:47:49 GMT -5
The attitude surrounding these upstart Retro toy companies is that they're all small businesses and if we don't support them then they won't be able to continue growing. Some of the stuff put out by Hassteltoy and Epic and FC Toys is incredible. I love how there are all these new avenues to get guys that Mattel wouldn't bother with. However with stuff like this Bob Cardona (and the Big Rubber Guys) I'm starting to feel like i'm being taken advantage of. I'm buying some of this stuff in part to support these companies, but then and they turn around and go "WOW LOOK AT HOW HIGH THE PRICES ON EBAY ARE FOR THESE, BETTER BUY A BUNCH OF OUR NEXT BATCH". You know people are stockpiling this latest set anticipating that'll be able to capitalize on how hot they'll be on the secondary market. I feel the same way with this Bob Cardona. I see it touted as being limited to 500 worldwide, but I would like to know if Mitch is selling all 500 or if the Cardonas bought a large share of them wholesale. (If they purchased them at the same price as any other customer fair enough). I don't love buying a figure I'm lukewarm about if I'm contributing to the perception that it's more sought after than it actually is. I'm just looking for some transparency. As the owner of Major Bendies/Big Rubber Guys, I both agree and disagree with your viewpoint. I strongly believe that collectors should only purchase what they truly desire. As an owner, it is critical for me to understand the market's needs and preferences. If people choose not to buy a certain product, it signals to me that I need to make changes and prioritize meeting the demands of the consumers. In terms of the pricing of Big Rubber Guys on eBay, I have recently shifted our business model to include a pre-order window method, similar to Super7. During this specific window, customers can place their orders, and once it closes, we produce exactly the quantity that was ordered, with a slight extra for any potential issues. After our retail partners sell out, the figures will no longer be available for purchase directly from us, leading to the higher prices on eBay. When I mention "look at the eBay prices. Don't miss out," it's to suggest that if someone is unsure and just considering buying the item, they should consider it as an opportunity to potentially sell it later and even make some additional money if they decide they don't like the figure later. However, I would only advise this if they can afford it, as collectibles should be a fun hobby without any financial strain. Regarding the question of why I don't produce more of the figures when I know there is demand, there are a few reasons for this. Firstly, these figures are meant to be collectibles, and I want to give everyone a fair chance to order them during the pre-order window. I have no plans to reissue the same figure at a later time. Secondly, keeping inventory and managing overhead costs can be quite challenging, expensive, and time-consuming. It also occupies significant storage space. Therefore, it is not in our best interest to maintain a large inventory. As for the Bob Cardona figure, I cannot provide any information since it is unrelated to Major Bendies/Big Rubber Guys. the way major bendies have been handled has been professional and very well done. Re. The inventory / storage believe that was a major factor in funko destroying $30 mil because it wasn’t moving in stores and was costing too much to store. If arguably one of the biggest companies on the world struggle to manage storage you can see why smaller companies do the pre order. But importantly major bendies have smaller pre order to hand timescales
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Post by kirk815 on Feb 25, 2024 18:49:36 GMT -5
As the owner of Major Bendies/Big Rubber Guys, I both agree and disagree with your viewpoint. I strongly believe that collectors should only purchase what they truly desire. As an owner, it is critical for me to understand the market's needs and preferences. If people choose not to buy a certain product, it signals to me that I need to make changes and prioritize meeting the demands of the consumers. In terms of the pricing of Big Rubber Guys on eBay, I have recently shifted our business model to include a pre-order window method, similar to Super7. During this specific window, customers can place their orders, and once it closes, we produce exactly the quantity that was ordered, with a slight extra for any potential issues. After our retail partners sell out, the figures will no longer be available for purchase directly from us, leading to the higher prices on eBay. When I mention "look at the eBay prices. Don't miss out," it's to suggest that if someone is unsure and just considering buying the item, they should consider it as an opportunity to potentially sell it later and even make some additional money if they decide they don't like the figure later. However, I would only advise this if they can afford it, as collectibles should be a fun hobby without any financial strain. Regarding the question of why I don't produce more of the figures when I know there is demand, there are a few reasons for this. Firstly, these figures are meant to be collectibles, and I want to give everyone a fair chance to order them during the pre-order window. I have no plans to reissue the same figure at a later time. Secondly, keeping inventory and managing overhead costs can be quite challenging, expensive, and time-consuming. It also occupies significant storage space. Therefore, it is not in our best interest to maintain a large inventory. As for the Bob Cardona figure, I cannot provide any information since it is unrelated to Major Bendies/Big Rubber Guys. the way major bendies have been handled has been professional and very well done. Re. The inventory / storage believe that was a major factor in funko destroying $30 mil because it wasn’t moving in stores and was costing too much to store. If arguably one of the biggest companies on the world struggle to manage storage you can see why smaller companies do the pre order. But importantly major bendies have smaller pre order to hand timescales I think there is some middle ground between having some extra inventory for additional sales vs. inventory on the scale of a Mattel/Funko. There are so many lines just for Mattel let alone all of these new smaller companies. Personally, I have to be picky funding/loaning money to these companies, especially when there have been well documented issues with multiple companies (long wait times, owners going MIA, faulty product, etc.). It's one thing to maybe do it in the beginning to help things get going and so the company can get a idea of the demand. To do it indefinitely under a made to order process? I'm not interested in that - I prefer to buy in-stock items. People that want to avoid the preorder method and have missed the initial series are less likely to jump into the line in the future. A lot of people stress out about the Coliseum Collection sets still being available, but one positive is that people who just found out about it now can still buy all three of the sets. If these companies still need preorders to help fund, there are other incentives (charge the same price, but then bump it $5-$10 when they are in-stock). Or release variants or order another run (which I think some are doing since stock keeps coming back for "sold out" product). There is a reason why the RSC stock sold out so fast - there are a lot of people that are interested, but don't like the made to order/preorder months in advance method. Just seems like they are missing out on additional sales in favor of "collectors" selling them for crazy prices on eBay. On the flip side, wrestlers are also missing out on additional sales if it is a royalty deal for each unit sold.
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kanik89
Jobber
Joined on: Oct 9, 2023 17:34:31 GMT -5
Posts: 30
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Post by kanik89 on Feb 25, 2024 19:42:49 GMT -5
the way major bendies have been handled has been professional and very well done. Re. The inventory / storage believe that was a major factor in funko destroying $30 mil because it wasn’t moving in stores and was costing too much to store. If arguably one of the biggest companies on the world struggle to manage storage you can see why smaller companies do the pre order. But importantly major bendies have smaller pre order to hand timescales I think there is some middle ground between having some extra inventory for additional sales vs. inventory on the scale of a Mattel/Funko. There are so many lines just for Mattel let alone all of these new smaller companies. Personally, I have to be picky funding/loaning money to these companies, especially when there have been well documented issues with multiple companies (long wait times, owners going MIA, faulty product, etc.). It's one thing to maybe do it in the beginning to help things get going and so the company can get a idea of the demand. To do it indefinitely under a made to order process? I'm not interested in that - I prefer to buy in-stock items. People that want to avoid the preorder method and have missed the initial series are less likely to jump into the line in the future. A lot of people stress out about the Coliseum Collection sets still being available, but one positive is that people who just found out about it now can still buy all three of the sets. If these companies still need preorders to help fund, there are other incentives (charge the same price, but then bump it $5-$10 when they are in-stock). Or release variants or order another run (which I think some are doing since stock keeps coming back for "sold out" product). There is a reason why the RSC stock sold out so fast - there are a lot of people that are interested, but don't like the made to order/preorder months in advance method. Just seems like they are missing out on additional sales in favor of "collectors" selling them for crazy prices on eBay. On the flip side, wrestlers are also missing out on additional sales if it is a royalty deal for each unit sold. I understand your perspective, and I want to address your concerns. I am aware that this hobby can be expensive, and I assure you that I make every effort to offer our figures at an affordable price. Selling an 8-inch, almost 2-pound figure for $50 with free shipping is, in my opinion, quite a reasonable deal. It's also important to consider the limited production runs of our figures. For instance, we only made 600 units of the Matt and Brian Big Rubber Guys, and less than 1,000 of each figure for Series 3. The low quantity we produce significantly affects our costs. In the nearly two years we have been in business, we have strived to earn the trust of collectors by consistently delivering in a timely fashion. Whenever an issue arises, we make announcements through our podcast or social media platforms. Additionally, we have created a webpage on our website where we provide estimated delivery dates and try our best to update the production status of each figure. Transparency is of utmost importance to us, and we aim to be as open as possible with our customers. Regarding the decision not to release additional figures later, it is primarily because it would contradict our pre-order model, similar to Super7's approach. We have established partnerships with retailers who purchase inventory and stock them for sale after the pre-order window closes. Any leftover figures that we may have are usually brought to conventions and sold at retail prices (with a possible $5 or $10 markup). While we acknowledge that we are missing out on potential sales, it's essential to consider the risks involved. While we could have sold 3,000 units of Ric Flair, there is also the possibility that we wouldn't. That being said, we have extended our pre-order window to provide collectors with more time to arrange their finances if necessary.
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sbayunco
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Jul 18, 2020 9:48:00 GMT -5
Posts: 320
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Post by sbayunco on Feb 25, 2024 21:42:53 GMT -5
Got an email about special prices for "imperfect figures". They're all imperfect.lol. what a 🤡 move.
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CMW Toys
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Apr 25, 2020 2:03:16 GMT -5
Posts: 407
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Post by CMW Toys on Feb 26, 2024 8:46:06 GMT -5
Got an email about special prices for "imperfect figures". They're all imperfect.lol. what a 🤡 move. This is actually hilarious Buy my faulty products... by a fan for the fans... hilarious!!!!
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walter7paisley
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jan 9, 2022 17:57:13 GMT -5
Posts: 1,431
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Post by walter7paisley on Feb 26, 2024 10:05:40 GMT -5
Powertown are doing this as well. I guess if you're a MoC collector and the prices are low enough then it's not a bad idea.
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sbayunco
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Jul 18, 2020 9:48:00 GMT -5
Posts: 320
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Post by sbayunco on Feb 26, 2024 14:22:26 GMT -5
Powertown are doing this as well. I guess if you're a MoC collector and the prices are low enough then it's not a bad idea. Difference is Powertown released the fixed product first. The Garbage and Gimmicks are the same product he's delivering to those that paid full price.
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TheWholeFnShow
Main Eventer
Go Eagles!
Joined on: Jul 23, 2002 15:56:01 GMT -5
Posts: 1,452
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Post by TheWholeFnShow on Feb 26, 2024 18:02:06 GMT -5
Just got an email about the figure sale. I was close to getting the King Mabel, but it still costs too much. I think I'll wait & hopefully they do a Viscera sometime down the line.
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kojikanemoto
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Sept 18, 2023 17:45:08 GMT -5
Posts: 86
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Post by kojikanemoto on Feb 26, 2024 18:50:14 GMT -5
Why all the hate? These figures are literally a dream come true for me. He’s addressed concerns and improved the product. You aren’t buying from Hasbro or Mattel here.
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sbayunco
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Jul 18, 2020 9:48:00 GMT -5
Posts: 320
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Post by sbayunco on Feb 26, 2024 22:27:27 GMT -5
Why all the hate? These figures are literally a dream come true for me. He’s addressed concerns and improved the product. You aren’t buying from Hasbro or Mattel here. To charge premium prices for sub-par products is gross IMO. If he was about the fans then he'd improve on the quality.
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aaron34
Superstar
Joined on: Sept 30, 2013 21:53:02 GMT -5
Posts: 674
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Post by aaron34 on Feb 27, 2024 3:51:23 GMT -5
I got my purple and gold M.o.M tag team set today and a loose Oscar. Very happy with them, they fit in great with my hasbro/retro collection!
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Post by Ruby Fusion on Feb 27, 2024 4:32:36 GMT -5
Why all the hate? These figures are literally a dream come true for me. He’s addressed concerns and improved the product. You aren’t buying from Hasbro or Mattel here. To charge premium prices for sub-par products is gross IMO. If he was about the fans then he'd improve on the quality. This is not a mega corporation like Mattel or Hasbro (well, even Hasbro has started it's downfall and is about to be taken over...), who can send representatives permanently to China to watch over QC and demand improvement if the quality is insufficient. You can look at it anyway you want, but fact is: wrestling figures ARE a niche product. Heck, even Mattel sells Retros in 4-packs because they're a niche product. If Mattel only produced WWE figures they'd have premium prices as well; however Mattel has Hot Wheels, Barbie, MOTU, Matchbox, Monster High, ... Mattel can spread and even lower production costs and shipping costs, yet produce in much higher volumes. Hasttel Toy and Collectibles is just a U.S. based TOYSTORE with a passion for Hasbro-style wrestling figures so they decided to develop and sell some themselves. Producing in and shipping from China is still the cheapest way. However if you expect these to sell at say $15 - $20 then Hasttel Toy is going bankrupt within the year.
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walter7paisley
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jan 9, 2022 17:57:13 GMT -5
Posts: 1,431
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Post by walter7paisley on Feb 27, 2024 5:27:10 GMT -5
Powertown are doing this as well. I guess if you're a MoC collector and the prices are low enough then it's not a bad idea. Difference is Powertown released the fixed product first. The Garbage and Gimmicks are the same product he's delivering to those that paid full price. Maybe, but it's still a smart move on his part, plus if you're a MoC collector it won't hurt to save a little money, provided the cards themselves are in shape.
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drnickriviera995
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jul 25, 2010 23:58:50 GMT -5
Posts: 2,039
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Post by drnickriviera995 on Mar 17, 2024 17:55:23 GMT -5
This is the #1 version of Bulldog I've been wanting! Will go nice with USA Lex.
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@Chair.Shot
Main Eventer
WF 10+ Year Member
Joined on: Jan 31, 2012 4:38:24 GMT -5
Posts: 3,890
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Post by @Chair.Shot on Mar 22, 2024 11:28:45 GMT -5
This is the look he went with (for reference): http://instagram.com/p/C40n24yOl7j So much later this year? My wallet thanks you.My hope is that he will do the RR95 outfit at some point:
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@Chair.Shot
Main Eventer
WF 10+ Year Member
Joined on: Jan 31, 2012 4:38:24 GMT -5
Posts: 3,890
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Post by @Chair.Shot on Mar 22, 2024 13:14:52 GMT -5
lol poor Mitch: Not identical but a bit close. At least the hair length is different.
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kiphouse
Main Eventer
Joined on: Mar 9, 2012 14:53:20 GMT -5
Posts: 2,614
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Post by kiphouse on Mar 22, 2024 13:56:05 GMT -5
Mitchs will look better than that happy meal toy mattels making. We're getting daveyd to death tho
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britishbrickfan
Superstar
Joined on: Aug 19, 2019 7:02:28 GMT -5
Posts: 774
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Post by britishbrickfan on Mar 22, 2024 14:27:22 GMT -5
Mitchs will look better than that happy meal toy mattels making. We're getting daveyd to death tho I dunno, I'd rather pay $40 and get 4 figures with an action, than pay more than half of that for a single figure with no action from a company that has yet to produce consistent results
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@Chair.Shot
Main Eventer
WF 10+ Year Member
Joined on: Jan 31, 2012 4:38:24 GMT -5
Posts: 3,890
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Post by @Chair.Shot on Mar 22, 2024 14:48:39 GMT -5
Mitchs will look better than that happy meal toy mattels making. We're getting daveyd to death tho I dunno, I'd rather pay $40 and get 4 figures with an action, than pay more than half of that for a single figure with no action from a company that has yet to produce consistent results Not even Mattel is consistent so maybe take that hate elsewhere.
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