|
Post by roboto on Aug 21, 2005 5:23:40 GMT -5
The GX-04S Grendizer reissue is being sold all over town (that is, here in Taipei, Taiwan). Right now prices are hovering around 150 USD for a distributor version (direct from Hong Kong without Dynamic sticker). The Japan direct air version will arrive some time soon.
Anyway, I've bought SOCs with or without the Dynamic sticker and found no difference in quality. Sometimes, I get the Japan direct air version with Dynamic stickers and find some quality problems. The only complaint I have about the two versions is the price. The one without the official stickers sells for less, and you usually don't get much resale value.
Just wondering what people have to say about this. Are you willing to pay more just for a small sticker?
|
|
|
Post by REX-203 on Aug 21, 2005 5:25:33 GMT -5
I've never really paid attention to it, so I don't even know which SOCs I own have the sticker or not. Should I?
|
|
|
Post by changetter123 on Aug 21, 2005 5:38:22 GMT -5
I know that most extreme collectors out there are willing to pay more just for that sticker. Yes, with the sticker the re-sale value will be better than the one without it. Most of my collector friends will ask if there's a bear/dynamic sticker first before they made the purchase especially on the SOC products.
Well, don't think there's much different in quality wise, even with the sticker on it, sometimes you can get a defected one but that is just your luck, it doesn't mean that the one without the sticker will be less defected.
|
|
|
Post by Elgladiador on Aug 21, 2005 7:51:16 GMT -5
ok. im going right now to end this loooooooooonnnnnng discution here. heres the catch:
all the SOC are manufactured in china,included the japanese ones, the sticker in the box for jp comes when the products arrive to japan the company that hold the rights for the series puts the sticker in the only to say "its a official products from the series" so the stupid sticker at last means nothing really. only a people out of his mind will pay a lot more for a simple sticker.. the others donts have the sticker, obiusly coz they dont go to japan , so bandai hk export them to the rest of asia and the world.and if you have a QC problems , thats means they donts checks that product well in the factory so ,dont blame if have sticker or not.
anyway hope this help.
|
|
|
Post by roboto on Aug 21, 2005 8:40:00 GMT -5
Okay, I've just changed my mind - it is worth it to purchase SOCs with the official Dynamic sticker (or direct air from Japan).
According to a reliable source, vivi1561, he has seen street-side sellers in Guangzhou, China selling SOCs at dirt cheap prices. These SOCs are mostly factory rejects.
Basically, if Bandai asks a Chinese factory to produce, let's say 15,000 sets, out of this product order a few thousand will be rejected by quality control. Only the sets that are up to standard will be shipped to Japan while those that are less up to standard are sold to the Hong Kong market.
Okay, here's the scary part...
There are SOC rejects that are supposed to be destroyed, but are often seen floating locally in China, as witnessed by vivi1561. He has seen Daigokin Mazinger Zs (complete set or parts) sold by street-side sellers.
This situation is similar to brand-name clothing sold by street-side sellers. You've probably seen Tommy Hilfiger clothing sold at some discount clothing stores, but notice the tags have been intentionally cut off from the clothing. You buy the clothing thinking you've gotten a good bargain. After a few washings, you think otherwise because you discover that the dye runs fast.
Well, this situation is probably similar to buying SOCs without the Dynamic stickers. You've probably gotten a bargain, but there might be a problem with your purchase, such as the paint or other parts. Moreover, if you buy a Japan direct SOC with the official sticker, you can call Bandai's customer service hotline and exchange the product.
The only thing I'm curious about is the Bandai factory rejects. I'd like to get a few in my hands to use as spare parts.
|
|
|
Post by zetaking on Aug 21, 2005 13:07:50 GMT -5
Roboto, I go to guangzhou alot and I have not seen these rejects. Do you know where he saw them? I would like to go and get some spare parts or these rejects so I can have additional pieces that I can play with. If vivi1561 is watching, let me know where exactly. Which street is it on? I can get some as I am going in again around Sept. BTW, Roboto, I frequently go back to taiwan...like almost every month after my trip in guangzhou. So, if you want some parts, I can get it for you..
|
|
|
Post by 00silvergt on Aug 23, 2005 15:18:05 GMT -5
The other thing that has not discussed yet is how much are you actually saving if you do not buy the direct market stuff? If the difference is only >$10 US then go ahead and buy the direct stuff. 1/3 of my collection is from a buddy from HK. I haven't notice a difference in quality in the doubles I've gotten from KMH vs the ones from HK. KMH gets his directly from Japan so I assume these are the prized "sticker" ones. To be quite honest, I have not noticed or paid any attention to it. I don't really intend to sell my collection so value to me is second to the enjoyment.
In any case, I thought and verified it with a source on the Net, which escapes me at this moment, that the "sticker" was what the Japanese port Authority folks look for in order to assure that the tax was paid on the items coming in on the boat. Much like the stamps that they place in cigarettes here in the US to make sure that the tax was paid on the cigarettes. Maybe, I wrong. But I remember when I was much younger people from other countries will actually look for those stamps (blue seal, I think they used to refer to them as) to find cigarettes that they believe is in good quality. All the while, it is the same crap that came from the same plantation in Virginia, lol!
Someone also pointed out that you can get a replacement by calling Bandai, that may be well and good for you folks living in Asia, but us poor blokes who consumes more than our share of the oil resources of the world, that may be quite difficult, especially since we are not really the target market for these things. Otherwise...There would be a Bandai sponsored "www.Soulofchogokin.com" ;D To me, this sticker doesn't mean anything especially since I do not plan to resell. I treat it like the old "direct market vs UPC" thing in comics back in the 80's. Which by the way proved to be nothing at all. As long as the toy inside, which really matters, is in excellent quality that is all that matters. Now those of you who brought up seconds, irregulars, etc. As long as it is selling for an awesome deal, that's fine with me, however I would by a "good" quality one with or without a sticker, that I will keep in the box as I do with most of my stuff. The biggest retailers in the US especially in suburban and rural areas are the Walmarts, TJ Maxx, Kohl's, 99 cent Stores, Target, Big Lots! and other discount stores who takes irregulars, rebrands, surplus, closeouts, etc.
|
|
|
Post by xiombarg on Aug 23, 2005 16:18:18 GMT -5
I have a friend in Michigan who works as a flight attendant and imports clothing from Hong Kong and Shanghai. When he got me a North Face coat here's what he told me. When these factories are set up to make a product, it's according to a contract to produce a specific number of items, but the materials that are supplied to make the run is enough to produce that amount, and allows for a number of rejects, and is rounded up to the nearest quantity that the fabric is ordered in (rolls for example). All of this is paid for by the company who supplied the contract to the factory. Ok, so what happens is, once they hit their contract number, they don't just close up shop until everything is ready for the next contract. They just keep making the same article of clothing until the materials are gone, because everyone gets paid no matter what they are making. These extras are then sold by the factory to workers and local vendors. If this was happening in the same country it would be illegal to do this, but it's not in China, and the company's that supply the contracts don't really care because the labor is too cheap to pass up. It is illegal, however, to sell these extras outside of China, but there's almost no way of tracking it. Assuming that SOCs work under the scenario I just described, I would suspect this is where the sticker comes in. Personally I don't think the sticker means anything concerning the product at all.
|
|
|
Post by Elgladiador on Aug 23, 2005 17:44:02 GMT -5
by the way ,the rejects products dont come with box,manual and styrofoam, i think..
|
|
|
Post by Kidchuckle on Aug 24, 2005 5:30:50 GMT -5
The other thing that has not discussed yet is how much are you actually saving if you do not buy the direct market stuff? If the difference is only >$10 US then go ahead and buy the direct stuff. 1/3 of my collection is from a buddy from HK. I haven't notice a difference in quality in the doubles I've gotten from KMH vs the ones from HK. KMH gets his directly from Japan so I assume these are the prized "sticker" ones. To be quite honest, I have not noticed or paid any attention to it. I don't really intend to sell my collection so value to me is second to the enjoyment. In any case, I thought and verified it with a source on the Net, which escapes me at this moment, that the "sticker" was what the Japanese port Authority folks look for in order to assure that the tax was paid on the items coming in on the boat. Much like the stamps that they place in cigarettes here in the US to make sure that the tax was paid on the cigarettes. Maybe, I wrong. But I remember when I was much younger people from other countries will actually look for those stamps (blue seal, I think they used to refer to them as) to find cigarettes that they believe is in good quality. All the while, it is the same crap that came from the same plantation in Virginia, lol! Someone also pointed out that you can get a replacement by calling Bandai, that may be well and good for you folks living in Asia, but us poor blokes who consumes more than our share of the oil resources of the world, that may be quite difficult, especially since we are not really the target market for these things. Otherwise...There would be a Bandai sponsored " ;D To me, this sticker doesn't mean anything especially since I do not plan to resell. I treat it like the old "direct market vs UPC" thing in comics back in the 80's. Which by the way proved to be nothing at all. As long as the toy inside, which really matters, is in excellent quality that is all that matters. Now those of you who brought up seconds, irregulars, etc. As long as it is selling for an awesome deal, that's fine with me, however I would by a "good" quality one with or without a sticker, that I will keep in the box as I do with most of my stuff. The biggest retailers in the US especially in suburban and rural areas are the Walmarts, TJ Maxx, Kohl's, 99 cent Stores, Target, Big Lots! and other discount stores who takes irregulars, rebrands, surplus, closeouts, etc. sigh... I wish you could order replacement parts.. My daikumaru has has a big scar on the front near the openeing where Gaiking would fly out of.... I want to buy another one sigh (If I get a second one.. I may paint that scar so it looks battle damaged.. its some weird bulbus metal... ) But I was always curious about it... I'm curious to see the % on which people endorse withor with out. Buying mine through Diamond from now on (wait longer.. but at least I can complain to somebody)
|
|
|
Post by 00silvergt on Aug 24, 2005 12:24:41 GMT -5
Just made a poll for you and maybe we can get an idea...
|
|
|
Post by roboto on Aug 27, 2005 10:23:57 GMT -5
zetaking:
vivi1561 is in Shanghai right now. I'm supposed to meet up with him sometime next week when he comes back to Taipei.
Anyway, vivi1561 has given up collecting SOCs and just concentrates on vintage Chogokin and other Japanese toy manufactures, such as Bullmark. He says that Bandai releases too many SOCs in a year and it's difficult to keep up. He already has his hands full with vintage Chogokin (Man, you gotta believe me because he has probably the biggest collection of vintage Japanese Super Robots in the world. Check out the pics of his collection that he has posted on RJF.)
I'd like to get a few vintage Chogokin, especially the Popy DX Voltes V. However, unlike vivi1561, I can only afford SOCs. I agree it's difficult to keep up with the number of new releases every month. There's also the issue of quality and those loose SOCs floating in Mainland China that vivi1561 brought up in our last conversation. According to him, he saw street hawkers selling SOCs and Daigokins. He said that he saw those limited Mazinger Z Daigokins selling in Guangzhou. I'd ask him for more info next time I meet or chat with him.
BTW, what do you do in Taipei? Just wondering.
|
|
|
Post by Kuro Kishi on Aug 27, 2005 12:45:10 GMT -5
I bought a Souchaku Henshin KR Ryuki with JP packaging yesterday at Elizabeth Center Mall(in Manhattan's Chinatown),but when I opened it,I found that the instructions were of the HK version(with English writing,too!).Anyway,is there an easy way to tell the difference between the HK version and the JP version in the Souchaku Henshins(Ryuki) series,or is it supposed to be like this in both versions?
|
|