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Post by batsugun21 on Apr 9, 2020 17:09:09 GMT -5
Bluefin brands announced on Facebook they will offer this figure on their site. No preorder date announced. www.bluefinbrands.com/ |
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Post by bocasas on Apr 9, 2020 19:59:57 GMT -5
Bluefin brands announced on Facebook they will offer this figure on their site. No preorder date announced. www.bluefinbrands.com/_gokin And here is your answer. P bandai and TWE are the same thing. This items can only be sold at bandai site in Japan and sometimes if bandai wants in some others countries through their retailers (for example myth cloth EX are sold in Spain by their distributor, or SH monsterarts here in the US, I payed a lot in advance for kiryu at NY to learn that) I'll go off topic in this answer only: the process of every product prices has been rising for years (cellphones, videogames and almost every collectible item). There are a lot of factors that changed this for example: taxes, inflation, China not being so cheap and having better jobs condition than 10 or 20 years ago, Japanese cost of life going higher so employees are getting better salaries and more. So there are your extra bucks. |
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Post by S_Gokin on Apr 10, 2020 9:16:16 GMT -5
s _gokin And here is your answer. P bandai and TWE are the same thing. This items can only be sold at bandai site in Japan and sometimes if bandai wants in some others countries through their retailers (for example myth cloth EX are sold in Spain by their distributor, or SH monsterarts here in the US, I payed a lot in advance for kiryu at NY to learn that) I'll go off topic in this answer only: the process of every product prices has been rising for years (cellphones, videogames and almost every collectible item). There are a lot of factors that changed this for example: taxes, inflation, China not being so cheap and having better jobs condition than 10 or 20 years ago, Japanese cost of life going higher so employees are getting better salaries and more. So there are your extra bucks.
yes you are right, after some search they are the same thing but different naming, still i wonder why when its called a TWE item it become more available than when its called it P Bandai 
and yes i agree with the points you mentioned regarding the increase of the price
but even with all the factors, i dont think the extra increase should be this much, since the technology for making those figures become better therefore its easier for them to make them than 10 years ago
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Post by batsugun21 on Apr 10, 2020 10:22:01 GMT -5
s _gokin And here is your answer. P bandai and TWE are the same thing. This items can only be sold at bandai site in Japan and sometimes if bandai wants in some others countries through their retailers (for example myth cloth EX are sold in Spain by their distributor, or SH monsterarts here in the US, I payed a lot in advance for kiryu at NY to learn that) I'll go off topic in this answer only: the process of every product prices has been rising for years (cellphones, videogames and almost every collectible item). There are a lot of factors that changed this for example: taxes, inflation, China not being so cheap and having better jobs condition than 10 or 20 years ago, Japanese cost of life going higher so employees are getting better salaries and more. So there are your extra bucks.
yes you are right, after some search they are the same thing but different naming, still i wonder why when its called a TWE item it become more available than when its called it P Bandai
and yes i agree with the points you mentioned regarding the increase of the price
but even with all the factors, i dont think the extra increase should be this much, since the technology for making those figures become better therefore its easier for them to make them than 10 years ago
Bluefin was an independent company that worked with Bandai to distribute products in USA. However, distribution was poor. Collecting Monster Arts figures me and many others were frustrated with Bandai products not getting distribution in USA. I spent hundreds $ collecting monster arts figures in US then Bandai would offer web exclusives not offered in USA. Bandai wanted to open the US market to Bandai products. They started getting more American licenses. Offered Voltron and purchased Bluefin. They said this would solve the distribution problem in USA as web exclusives would be offered simultaneously on both shores (that obviously didn’t happen here as there was no info about metal build Eva 01 being released in USA before it went up for sale in Japan) this resulted in me buying from Japan at inflated price of over $100 more. This is poor business, and just makes me frustrated with Bandai. I have also recently read an interview in Forbes with a Bandai rep. The rep indicated that Bandai is not happy with US sales and was not pressuring future American licenses. Instead focusing on Gundam and Japanese anime. Specifically Pacific Rim was a huge disappointment in sales. bandai Godzilla figures sold in Walmart used to have Bluefin branding. Now it’s Playmates an American company. They also abandoned Power rangers license. so my point is it looks as though Bandai is no longer interested in US market as they once were and it will remain difficult to get certain figures in USA. |
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Post by sta on Apr 10, 2020 17:51:14 GMT -5
link to forbes intervieW, tbf I didnt exactly see anything hinting at disappointment from pacific rim sales but yeah I guess the insinuation is there since no products are being made I Wonder hoW the SOC gipsy did in sales, damn shame, really Wanted striker eureka btW your other points are just plain Wrong and false. the article says the godzilla figures Were great successes, the playmates situation is completely unrelated and hasbro oWns PR noW, that is Why bandai 'abandoned' poWer rangers and your point about bandai not being interested in US market is completely contrary to the tone of the article, read it again www.forbes.com/sites/olliebarder/2020/03/02/bluefin-on-bringing-all-the-best-gundam-model-kits-and-dragon-ball-toys-westward/#7623afa13805 |
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Post by greengetterguy on Apr 10, 2020 18:28:25 GMT -5
Im hoping Bandai still belives in USA market.
How about Chogokin Voltron sales?.
And Ironman and other Marvel license seem to do REALLY well at SHF.(come on now, the failure of Chogokin Heroes is Bandai's own damn fault)
Bandai done a LOT worse with really really odd Japanese license.
Hello Kitty SRC Mazinger anyone? SMH...
How about that "virtual dj" thingy turned to Chogokin...?
There many many mind numbingly lame license turn chogokin then our Pacific Rim...
So please go ahead, finish Chogokin Cherno!! The plastic kit did alright at the other company...
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Post by mpchi on Apr 10, 2020 20:01:19 GMT -5
Assuming the Bandai info is true, I don't think Bandai is doing it right. They don't need to design products particularly for the US market. They just need a reliable distribution network in US for the stuff they are already making. The demand has always been there, and can be scaled up or down based on real US sales numbers. Just have the factories pump out a portion for US sales, then have a good system to distribute what sells well here. That's it.
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Post by gpa on Apr 10, 2020 20:18:23 GMT -5
Assuming the Bandai info is true, I don't think Bandai is doing it right. They don't need to design products particularly for the US market. They just need a reliable distribution network in US for the stuff they are already making. The demand has always been there, and can be scaled up or down based on real US sales numbers. Just have the factories pump out a portion for US sales, then have a good system to distribute what sells well here. That's it. I agree. I believe Bandai's biggest issue is communication with their US demographic. Because we never know what will be released here vs. Japan only, I think a lot of us have product imported. If Bluefin gave regular updates on product availability it'd be a differnt story, particularly with their Gokin brands. Also, every attempt to launch P Bandai in the US has been very lukewarm and confusing. Either the product on the site is lackluster, or there was confusion about availability through Bluefin or the P Bandai website. To me its a symptom of a bi polar marketing strategy that wants to go big but with little effort or confidence. |
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Post by mpchi on Apr 10, 2020 22:56:47 GMT -5
Assuming the Bandai info is true, I don't think Bandai is doing it right. They don't need to design products particularly for the US market. They just need a reliable distribution network in US for the stuff they are already making. The demand has always been there, and can be scaled up or down based on real US sales numbers. Just have the factories pump out a portion for US sales, then have a good system to distribute what sells well here. That's it. I agree. I believe Bandai's biggest issue is communication with their US demographic. Because we never know what will be released here vs. Japan only, I think a lot of us have product imported. If Bluefin gave regular updates on product availability it'd be a differnt story, particularly with their Gokin brands. Also, every attempt to launch P Bandai in the US has been very lukewarm and confusing. Either the product on the site is lackluster, or there was confusion about availability through Bluefin or the P Bandai website. To me its a symptom of a bi polar marketing strategy that wants to go big but with little effort or confidence. Yeah. Just the P-Bandai US site being competent and up-to-date is a HUGE step. When 80% of the good stuff and info are not showing up there, while kicking all non-Japan internet users out of the Japanese site to a pretty empty and confusing international site, how do you expect people to follow and shop there often? |
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Post by KumaStyle.com (TJ) on Apr 11, 2020 3:05:29 GMT -5
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Post by S_Gokin on Apr 11, 2020 6:23:18 GMT -5
after reading all of these points
i honestly dont think Bandai lost interest in the USA market or any market in general, in these days (specially these days) they just cant ignore %10 to %20 of customers since there is another profit to be made, i mean they just recently release the GX88 Dairugger and the figure is as successful as the GX71 or ever more successful
from what i know Gipsy danger sales were good, also the MMPR Zords , the GX-72 got a reissue and a repaint version
in short lets just wait for things to get better and we well see what they will do next
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Post by gunvalion on Apr 11, 2020 7:29:00 GMT -5
after reading all of these points i honestly dont think Bandai lost interest in the USA market or any market in general, in these days (specially these days) they just cant ignore %10 to %20 of customers since there is another profit to be made, i mean they just recently release the GX88 Dairugger and the figure is as successful as the GX71 or ever more successful from what i know Gipsy danger sales were good, also the MMPR Zords , the GX-72 got a reissue and a repaint version in short lets just wait for things to get better and we well see what they will do next Especially gx 71 its hits & succsessfully in US ... Hope they heard us and will distribute better in future Btw , bluefin po price was cheaper than other online store ... |
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Post by xchr23dc on Apr 11, 2020 10:34:04 GMT -5
Does bluefin charge up front?
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Post by bleah on Apr 11, 2020 11:27:08 GMT -5
Does bluefin charge up front? Yes and it doesn't matter where you decide to order this since it's an exclusive item. Any TWE will always be upfront payment whether direct, via reseller, or via proxy. |
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Post by KumaStyle.com (TJ) on Apr 11, 2020 11:40:12 GMT -5
Does bluefin charge up front? Just throwing out there for anyone who ever wonders with this for retailers; just put the item in your cart and go as far as you can; you'll know if you have to pay up front or later at the checkout screen. |
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Post by bocasas on Apr 11, 2020 11:41:46 GMT -5
The fact that bandai decided to bought bluefin is clearly a declaration that they are really interested in the American market. I think that they are slowly adapting their strategy, don't ever forget that they are Japanese and they are not flexible about changes. I think they should mostly improve their communication, announcing things earlier allows collectors to plan ahead. Also positioning products in the physical stores is not as easy, I think that many American online retailers have clients mostly from outside US... on the other side the bros who lives in USA correct me if I'm wrong but they buy mostly to online retailers.
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Post by mpchi on Apr 11, 2020 13:09:35 GMT -5
As cheap as it comes from Bluefin, its still US$100 over what I paid for the regular release.  While slightly tempted because the color scheme does look nice and vibrant, I don't think I really need a second one with a hefty price. Nor does it really replace the original since the color difference (plainer, but more true to the anime look), even the display stand is different color from 01 & 02's, not being a match in display when all lined up. Almost the new color scheme works against it in some way as a collection, as nice as it is. But for folks that didn't care for that, and want a pretty looking 01, here is your chance. |
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Post by xchr23dc on Apr 11, 2020 13:45:45 GMT -5
Does bluefin charge up front? Just throwing out there for anyone who ever wonders with this for retailers; just put the item in your cart and go as far as you can; you'll know if you have to pay up front or later at the checkout screen. Got ya! Thanks Kuma got one from them ... appreciate the link |
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Post by Magmatron on Apr 12, 2020 3:09:19 GMT -5
I don't see anything. Does that mean they sold out? How much was it going for? |
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Post by KumaStyle.com (TJ) on Apr 12, 2020 9:03:24 GMT -5
I don't see anything. Does that mean they sold out? How much was it going for? Maybe; was 325 plus shipping and applicable taxes. |
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