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Post by Mr. Ginrai on Sept 9, 2014 0:19:11 GMT -5
Everyone has valid points here, but I think you all are reading too much into each other's comments - you can still all voice your opinions but you've got to take everything said as personal preference, particular taste, and difference of opinion.
The only suitable time for full blown arguments and flame wars is if a toy is utter crap all around.
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Post by Gettershadow on Sept 9, 2014 10:23:45 GMT -5
what a 2-dimensioal way of thinking.. Hlpro was already paid by the dealers long by that time... its the dealers and the retailers that lowered the price bc new stuff was coming. HLpro always gets paid the same. If the retailer drops the price, HL doesn't even KNOW ABOUT IT, they got paid on that a long time ago. Its the retailer that sets the retail price.. not HLPRO. Your thinking is off. The retailers slash the price because their stock isn't moving. Yes, HLPro got paid a long time ago for Gin-Gin, but if it doesn't move for retailers and they feel forced to slash prices and reduce their profit margins significantly (often just trying to recoup their cost in these big time price reductions), then they will be less eager to order future HLPro products and/or reduce their orders. So HLPro may have made their money on Gin Gin already, but they stand to lose money on their future products if Gin Gin needed a big slash in order to sell through. True, but that rush on Gin Gin happened at the very end. Only the dregs of Gin Gin supplies were left in the shops. HLPRO basically knew what the demand was. They basically made only a little more than could be absorbed. Gattiger got shown in Japan and it showed up in some Japanese magazines and the Eastern fans sucked down the last of the Gin Gin supplies. (Demand got bigger). So, they are going to release a 2nd version of Gin Gin. I mean to say that just because it went on discount it doesn't mean that they didn't sell well. Most of them sold real quick, leaving behind only a few stragglers. |
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Post by Gettershadow on Sept 9, 2014 11:01:03 GMT -5
Again, EXACTLY!  I really like most of HLPro' Metaltech releases. Hell, I have seven or eight MT01's, for crying outloud! But I have to speak off when something is not right. People hates Fewture for giving out release dates that most of the time are nothing but fantasy. HLPro doesn't actually give actual release dates... well, they don't give out anything, to be honest. They just tease a project for fans to get a woody, and then any info about it is basically in a black hole. No MSRP info, retailers, release date, nothing. That is not cool! So no, I don't hate HLPro, but they need to make some changes on how they keep fans up to date. }D I understand what you are saying but its a two edged sword. What is happening is this. HLPRO is letting you see some things that other companies would keep you in the dark about forever. That's really the only difference. Example, Bandai is doing things right now that you will never know about.. they are probably working on 10-15 figures right now.. some of them will not see the light of day for another few years or so, some will be ready in the next few months and some will be scrapped and you will never hear about them. Bandai may give a tease about something that is coming and they know its coming because its already finished, bought and paid for. HLPRO on the other hand might tease a prototype real early, maybe to gauge reaction or generate interest from Distributors, things like that. I have noticed that HLPRO is more liberal with teases when it comes to a character that other companies will not jump on due to the "numbers game" aspect of the industry. I know this because there are characters that are being shown in public and then there is another group of characters that are being kept under wraps. Much of the "release date" issues that are being brought up have more to do with the Distributors than it does with HLPRO.. The distributors have to be "ready to buy" before the characters are built. HLPRO can approach a group a Distributors with a fantastic figure and they Distributors say "Yeah that's great, we want that but we cant order it until we sell off all these other things we bought a few months back. the girly statues didn't sell well last quarter." its just stuff like that. Now about the Duke Fleed "Hand" statue.. I thought it looked fantastic but I didn't ask much about it. From what was said, I got the impression that it was target-marketed to the Middle East. It could be that Middle Eastern Distributors weren't interested at this time. You have to start seeing HLPRO and many other companies like them as more like a "art studio" then a classical "Factory". They make a prototype and show it to distributors and they say "YES, Ill buy 5000 units" or they say "Yeah... but not right now. I got my hands full with other things right now." |
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Post by Ross McCollector on Sept 9, 2014 11:21:41 GMT -5
I really hate the sh*t the HLPRO keeps pulling with re-release, cause they are not just doing recolors but changing the head sculpt as well with perfect eyes now...they did the same thing in their initial MT01 and early adopters as myself got screwed...I'm done with HLPRO  The pic below from their FB  |
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Post by TheMazingerZ on Sept 9, 2014 11:26:53 GMT -5
Yes, I understand this. And you are 100% correct, it is a double edged sword. But that could be dulled a little by just throwing in some wording that the items being shown are just to find out what the public interest is on them, they are not a 100% sure release at this time. I would feel a little less stressed out (will I be able to get one) if I saw something like that. Bandai has displayed a ton of figures (mainly SRCs) that have never seen the light of day. Sure, we all get pissed, but since there has never been any follow up on them after the prototype pics, we really don't stress much about them. Just me... Now, what I still don't understand is why HLPro doesn't go the "Web Exclusive" pre-order route more often. The Duke Fleed Hand statue is a perfect example of what I mean. HLPro sold out of those in no time flat, and they sold it straight to the customers. What is keeping them from doing the same thing with the Metaltech figures? Licensing? Personnel shortage? I think that there are many folks here, and around the world that would much rather purchase straight from HLPro than from any distributor. I fell a lot better doing so myself. Like many other companies (Bandai), these could be pre-paid pre-orders with no refund - only replacement if item is defective or damaged. This could very well be what HLPro did with the recent Duke Fleed Hand statue for all I know. But it seems to work great for Bandai. }D |
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Post by TheMazingerZ on Sept 9, 2014 11:32:18 GMT -5
I really hate the sh*t the HLPRO keeps pulling with re-release, cause they are not just doing recolors but changing the head sculpt as well with perfect eyes now...they did the same thing in their initial MT01 and early adopters as myself got screwed...I'm done with HLPRO The pic below from their FB  Hmmm... I think in this case, I have to side with HLPro. The new Gin Gin is quite different that the first release, so it is practically a new rendition of the same character - but different. I'm getting one! }D |
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Post by Ross McCollector on Sept 9, 2014 11:53:17 GMT -5
I would have sided with HLPRO if they gave us the option initially just like they're doing with Gattiger, but it's BS when they release the better version after people already bought the initial not so accurate.
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Post by TheMazingerZ on Sept 9, 2014 12:02:37 GMT -5
I personally do not like the color scheme on the new one, or the rear facing horn on top of the head. I like the bigger eyes, but I also like the evil squinty eyes on the original one. They probably fixed the falling saw blades issue on the new one too. I think HLPro got so many complaints about the falling blades, forward pointing horn and squinty eyes on the original one, that they decided to release this version - but making it different from the original one, so the folks that have the old one don't feel too cheated. Like I said, I really don't feel bad about it. }D |
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Post by Gettershadow on Sept 9, 2014 12:18:18 GMT -5
ahh Ross beat me to it I was just posting it... don't worry about the differences. HLPRO has a plan for Gin Gin.
TMZ, remember what I said a few months back... eventually factory direct will become an option. Just not right now. The Distributors are going strong enough.
About the head on Gin Gin.. there was controversy about the original so they are offering options. I would suspect that "options" will be made available for the 1st edition also in time.
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Post by TheMazingerZ on Sept 9, 2014 12:23:40 GMT -5
ahh Ross beat me to it I was just posting it... don't worry about differences. HLPRO has a plan for Gin Gin. Are they including a new head for the original Gin Gin as a bonus on the new Gin Gin? That would be cool in all sorts of ways, plus it will make the original Gin Gin owners happy to get this new one!  }D |
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Post by Gettershadow on Sept 9, 2014 12:26:16 GMT -5
ahh Ross beat me to it I was just posting it... don't worry about differences. HLPRO has a plan for Gin Gin. Are they including a new head for the original Gin Gin as a bonus on the new Gin Gin? That would be cool in all sorts of ways, plus it will make the original Gin Gin owners happy to get this new one! }D no they are not as far as I know.. but things will pop up. That's all I can say. Also, this is not a "re release" really.. its a "2nd edition" and it is targeted at mostly the Far East who had limited access to the 1st Edition ... don't worry, we will have a shot at it too. |
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Post by Gettershadow on Sept 9, 2014 12:28:28 GMT -5
also the changes they made on the head were not "planned" it was the result of a conversation that appeared here on RJ months and months back.... he he he
"The horn is both forward and back"... ha ha ha
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Post by TheMazingerZ on Sept 9, 2014 12:33:14 GMT -5
Hmmm... I don't know. I would be upset if the Gin Gin that was available to me was not anime accurate in colors. I think on this instance, HLPro should come clean and spell out if they are going to do anything for the people that own the original version. I think that will go a long way, since there was a lot of disappointment with the original (Eyes, Horn, Blades).  }| |
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Post by Gettershadow on Sept 9, 2014 12:39:09 GMT -5
man.. I don't have permission. I would love to but its too f**king cool to give out without permission. Maybe I will get permission soon. Sit tight and one day I will be able to tell you a story. The sh*t it frustrating to me too bc I cant talk about it. I feel your pain.
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Post by TheMazingerZ on Sept 9, 2014 12:41:18 GMT -5
I hear ya'. That's why I said it should be HLPro. Maybe on their FB page, but it should be them. }D |
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Post by Gettershadow on Sept 9, 2014 12:46:27 GMT -5
I hear ya'. That's why I said it should be HLPro. Maybe on their FB page, but it should be them. }D well some things have been done already and some things are still up in the air.. just look at the photos of the new one and think about it. |
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Post by TheMazingerZ on Sept 9, 2014 13:04:19 GMT -5
You mean the new head? Yeah, but I meant for the owners of the old version. Like they did with the extra anime accurate Grendizer head included in the Spacer set. }D |
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Post by chogokinabdul on Sept 9, 2014 13:09:23 GMT -5
I hear ya'. That's why I said it should be HLPro. Maybe on their FB page, but it should be them. }D well some things have been done already and some things are still up in the air.. just look at the photos of the new one and think about it. extra sheids so you can display him in both ways robo and Ufo mode !! they changed the star mark on the sheilds ! |
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Post by Gettershadow on Sept 9, 2014 13:50:46 GMT -5
No.. just your eyes playing tricks.
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Post by surlyj on Sept 9, 2014 14:02:23 GMT -5
I actually like the forward horn more, but that new paint job is just so much better...
I will pick up a new one as I like to display the saucer on it's own too (used to have 2 Gin Gin, one was a replacement, but I sold it).
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