|
Post by SteveHulk on Apr 11, 2023 20:46:07 GMT -5
What could they include in his ultimate to make it worth the price? - cloth shirt - waistcoat - rib wrap (like E38 Macho Man) - 2 or 3 extra heads - extra hands
|
|
|
Post by SteveHulk on Apr 11, 2023 20:19:00 GMT -5
Ultimate... no question.
|
|
|
Post by SteveHulk on Apr 11, 2023 20:15:33 GMT -5
Yeah, that would be great. The stage, Steiner, DDP, and Rey would definitely be worth $450. Though, for me, if we can move the tiers around, I would love to add Steiner to the 5k tier, then trade Rey for Warrior. Leave DDP at the 7k tier, Hogan takes Steiner's place at the 9k tier, and Rey becomes the 11k tier. Whatever gets me the stage. I abhor Warrior but I’ll gladly support it if it moves the needle on this and I think he does. It feels dirty but ok I don't know - Warrior's not getting much love in the poll...
|
|
|
Post by SteveHulk on Apr 11, 2023 19:43:52 GMT -5
No, just like the guy said in his original comment, they are subject to massive markups by 3rd party sellers over here because they have to be ordered through US 2ndary suppliers and then shipped over here to the UK. So they're not offered up directly by Mattel. forum.wrestlingfigs.com/thread/361113/steve-aka-official-thread-discussion?q=international+retailersSteve has said a number of times in the Q&A thread that US exclusives can be ordered by international retailers directly from Mattel. If they dont carry them, that just means they passed on it and didnt want to order them. At the end of the day though, the stores here don't order/have them, so we still have to pay secondary or speciality prices. It's still limiting your audience.
|
|
|
Post by SteveHulk on Apr 11, 2023 18:40:25 GMT -5
...you watch - it'll be Hogan!! 🤣
|
|
|
Post by SteveHulk on Apr 11, 2023 0:49:17 GMT -5
Including Rey as the only guaranteed figure was a baffling choice... a lot of people - particularly hardcore collectors this set is aimed at - are burned-out on Rey figures... there's just been SO many of them recently. And he has 2 other UEs coming out soon too (if you just wanted an UE version). Aside from Steiner (who will no doubt be getting lots of figures anyway), none of the figures had that "Doink appeal" either... a mid-card/gimmick type figure you knew would never get released without the set. Not sure who WCW's version of Doink would be though(?) I know about the Walmart one, but what is the other? It's the Amazon Fan Takeover one: WWE Debut Smackdown '02 SummerSlam '22 20th Anniversary '22
|
|
|
Post by SteveHulk on Apr 10, 2023 23:01:18 GMT -5
One thing we've learned from this debacle is that...... Hulkamania isn't gonna move merchandise in 2023 or beyond Bullcrap. I'm tired of everybody putting all the blame on Hulk Hogan for this. Why not blame Rey?? Every Hulk Hogan figure has been a top seller regardless if you want to believe it or not. The fact of the matter is everybody wants something for nothing and Mattel did a damn good job to get the price point where it is. For all the talk about how "bad" the economy is I sure do see quite a few hiring signs. If you don't want it or can't afford it, fine but gloating over this thing not being backed makes you a stupid jackass. We are damn lucky to have Steve and Bill, they are ACTUALLY wrestling fans trying their best to give us what we want. I may not agree with all their attire choices, ( we really need 1991 Pyhton Power Hulk Hogan with the red bandana, no tear Hulk Rules Shirt and the Winged Eagle Championship around his waist) but I sure do appreciate everything they do for us. Including Rey as the only guaranteed figure was a baffling choice... a lot of people - particularly hardcore collectors this set is aimed at - are burned-out on Rey figures... there's just been SO many of them recently. And he has 2 other UEs coming out soon too (if you just wanted an UE version). Aside from Steiner (who will no doubt be getting lots of figures anyway), none of the figures had that "Doink appeal" either... a mid-card/gimmick type figure you knew would never get released without the set. Not sure who WCW's version of Doink would be though(?)
|
|
|
Post by SteveHulk on Apr 10, 2023 21:01:22 GMT -5
It is an issue when compared to say spamS, RSC sometimes the shipping is less, but as someone who is also in the shipping industry I can guarantee the carriers offer RSC better rates for bulk shipping. Weather you work in the industry or not unless you are overseas (or have bought internationally) you really cannot have a say. They are probably charging us for filling out the declaration form or something petty, RSC team has been rude to me in the past when enquiring, one time I had pre-ordered a fig and asked if I could piggy back (one more figure) to it and they said NO MORE CHANGES ALLOWED - in other words I couldn't bulk buy that time - then they send you botched true FX head scans or damaged goods (which Mattel will not resolve here let alone RSC). It is hard to get PJ to give his honest opinion, PJ you are a legend here mate and been doing this for a long time, you are really cool and polite but your opinion is always biased. Just like the other day we were talking about the fact that UE's are out of scale and you started with the Basics talk (comparing apples to bananas). As a mod I understand (maybe you are an influencer as well so have to watch out - that is fair enough) but thank you for your input always. The international collectors always suffer and it is showing with the WCW Nitro stage crowd fund. We live a lot closer to CHINA and have to pay a lot more, how come they can't bypass USA? Is it because they are boxed there? idk...All we are asking for is for a solution so we can spend more on toys and less on fees since the international distribution is bad now. I actually thought that the other day... especially for something the size of the Nitro stage, surely there must be a way of having them sent directly to the UK/Mattel UK?
|
|
|
Post by SteveHulk on Apr 10, 2023 18:42:59 GMT -5
Are the PPV/BAF series much more in the US/Canada - or is it (as usual) just in the UK?
|
|
|
Post by SteveHulk on Apr 10, 2023 17:07:45 GMT -5
Canadian TRU's sometimes carry Legends figures, not always full sets and skip over series often. Only USA exclusives we normally get in store. Sometimes random BAF sets show up but also not full sets. The UK stores carry Legends figures, correct? Getting tons of shipments of Royal Rumble Vader, Priest and Rey but no Brie was a mad tick off as there was no way to complete Hendrix without the secondary market. I know, it's ridiculous... they did the same thing with the Wrestlemania/Mean Gene BAF too (no Dusty) 🤷♂️ And why are these PPV figures so expensive!? (£26.99, compared to normal Elites at £19.99). It really does suck being an international collector most of the time...
|
|
|
Post by SteveHulk on Apr 10, 2023 16:58:31 GMT -5
It does seem funny when your buying a huge lump of plastic yet they’re worried about a tiny little thin plastic film Because you're not polluting the world with your figure, the packages is the one doing the damage because most people throw it out and it stays in landfills for 100s of years. So they say.But honestly a small window to see if the figure is inside should suffice. Yeah, it's all you selfish loose collectors... MOC, baby - we're saving the planet!! 🤭
|
|
|
Post by SteveHulk on Apr 10, 2023 16:56:16 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by SteveHulk on Apr 10, 2023 16:43:11 GMT -5
One thing we've learned from this debacle is that...... Hulkamania isn't gonna move merchandise in 2023 or beyond I just think it was the wrong Hogan for an early-bird figure... Hollywood probably would have been better. I'm not sure a Macho or Warrior early-bird figure would have done much better though... people might just be a bit tired of Hogans, Warriors and Machos as they have already had quite a few UE figures.
|
|
|
Post by SteveHulk on Apr 10, 2023 5:28:03 GMT -5
...why? Most people want the stage to be a success and are just coming up with ideas to try and make it work. Some of these suggestions are preposterous. It’s not going to be cheaper. It’s not going to have different figures. People are either holding out, hoping that something else is going to be added or hoping it fails to “stick it to the man”. It is an amazing piece. It looks so good and I honestly hope it succeeds on its own merits. Oh yeah, it definitely won't be cheaper. But moving the figures around a bit might be possible - maybe even including a new early-bird figure (if it can be done cheaply/with mainly existing parts)? I guess we'll just have to wait and see...
|
|
|
Post by SteveHulk on Apr 10, 2023 4:11:40 GMT -5
People need to stop taking this so personally and learn to say “thanks, but no thanks.” Alternatively, if you do want to back this, the desperation needs to stop too. I don’t agree with the figure choices or the overall cost / international shipping, however begging for lower tiers or different figures at this point is just going to annoy Steve and the guys at Mattel. It is what it is at this point. If the demand isn’t there, you can’t force it. Exactly. At the end of the day, it could just be that not enough people want - or want to spend $400 on - a "toy" Nitro stage. Sure, the poor figure choices don't really help - but the main thing you're backing is the stage itself. And if they can't sort things out for international customers, especially places like Canada and the UK (their main fanbase outside the US), then things like this are always going to struggle.
|
|
|
Post by SteveHulk on Apr 10, 2023 1:21:47 GMT -5
I think I might actually be dumber after reading the last few pages of this thread. I actually feel kind of embarrassed, for the posters, for Steve, for Mattel. ...why? Most people want the stage to be a success and are just coming up with ideas to try and make it work.
|
|
|
Post by SteveHulk on Apr 9, 2023 23:28:16 GMT -5
Personally, I'd much rather the shirt have the red trim... it's far more iconic - and the only reason the LJN figure didn't have it is probably down to budget/costs. The CC card picture even has the red trim, so to then NOT include it, seems a bit of a let-down... (these figures are just a representation of the LJN look/era - not a 100% copy). I don't disagree with you, but that's gonna be the reason for the shirt not having the trim Yeah, it just seems rather silly if they're doing it for "accuracy" when a. the card picture - and original LJN poster - both had the shirt with red trim, and b. the figure has blue trunks anyway (not red), so it's not as though they're doing an exact copy in the first place... 🤷♂️
|
|
|
Post by SteveHulk on Apr 9, 2023 23:13:27 GMT -5
If tiers are meant to stay and the international shipping cost won’t change, what could realistically push this to 5,000? Fixed 😉
|
|
|
Post by SteveHulk on Apr 9, 2023 22:58:55 GMT -5
Wish the shirt had the red trim around the end of the sleeves and collar like Elite 16 CM Punk did with the black, but other than that it looks fantastic. The LJN Figure it's based off of didn't have red trim...so that's gonna be the motivation for leaving the trim out Personally, I'd much rather the shirt have the red trim... it's far more iconic - and the only reason the LJN figure didn't have it is probably down to budget/costs. The CC card picture even has the red trim, so to then NOT include it, seems a bit of a let-down... (these figures are just a representation of the LJN look/era - not a 100% copy).
|
|
|
Post by SteveHulk on Apr 9, 2023 22:15:18 GMT -5
I actually would have done something like the Nitro debut/denim Scott Hall... but they've already announced that's coming out now.
Maybe a new Hollywood Hogan (with new tights design/shirt/head)? It would have the tan too, which would make it more unique.
|
|