I have been collecting protos for a few years now... though I haven't bought anything for a bit now... but I think many on eBay are not really legit...

But let me explain...

I think they are being run of the original molds though not for Hasbro's use and just run to make m o n e y.
So in essence they are legit but they aren't...
Confusing? Yes.

I have seen far too many of the same type of proto being sold by the same seller, and multiple sellers as well..
Granted please do understand Hasbro does make a little run of protos because this is a time to run things through the mold before they go full swing into production.

I think some think proto and think only one or two exist when that is a very rare case... and to be honest in the modern line I doubt there are any protos that only exist in one or two forms...

Don't get me wrong though there aren't huge runs of any proto out there. Most are (for use of a better word) more "limited" than "limited" piece out there...

There are also many steps to which protos are created from wax to hardcopy to test shot... and some in between. Test shots are the most common though.
Most test shots are those w/out copyrights but of course there are plenty out that do indeed have the copyright... and that would be the final run before full swing production is started.

What I see going is people in Asia working in factories running of excessive runs on things for the sole purpose of making money. They known better than anyone what some people will pay for certain figures and protos...
Though the test shot market as evidenced by eBay as really nose dived because of this...

In essence youa re getting a proto nonetheless... though was that just an extra run off or one made for Hasbro internal use?

I lost a lot of interest in the proto aspect at least for now... though I'd like to finish of my Hoth proto set soon while prices seem to be stagnant...

We'll see...

Since Hasbro displayed some of their coming wares last weekend at WWC... How does everyone feel about the future of the line...

I mean yes we know Hasbro has the license until 2018... but do we think they will actually pump out product til then?

I mean yes they do have some stuff left to do... but they have touched on a lot of OT stuff as is... I can see them doing more "improvements" w/ things such as the new Wampa and Luke Hoth... but will collectors keep caring about that kind of stuff or eventually will it reach burn out...

I honestly can't see the line going past 2007 at this point unless LFL has something planned... which could be possible.

Thoughts? Comments?

Cyber shot you a PM back...

That's really the gist of it all...
Hasbro is about making $ and also saving it as much as possible. They know they'll sell more units in an uber articulated, incredibly sculpted, has it all Jedi Luke... than say a Hoth Trooper...

Chances are no matter how much someone may whine that a builder lacks this and that they will still buy multiples regardless...

Hasbro knows that, and it's unfortunate for some, but that's how it is...

Also collection#1 by far sold more units through to most retailers. The retailers go w/ what they believe will be the most wanted... and fastest mover... Because like Hasbro they are out to make as much $ as they can.

I think one thing that was over sighted that I mentioned is in the long run some builders may sell more units than some main characters... though keep in mind many builders will continue to ship whereas a new main character is replaced by an even newer one.

You may have times where a certain builder will ship in an additional four (or more) cases along after it's initial release...

Since the split of collections into 1 & 2 happened more ordering of collection one by the big n' mortar retail side has gone on because again they will sell better to the casual and new collector than say a Bespin guard...

There are some spots in his movies that make me laugh... but nothing I can say that I'm totally in love w/ and a fan of...

I see relating to some of Clerks if you worked in retail (I did a nine year binge myself) but I dunno maybe it's the usual lack luster acting that just doesn't float my boat...

I think Kevin Smith has a cult following and is "cool" to like... Not sure he'd be a huge hit if those two things weren't factors... I don't mean that against anyone here I just mean in general.

I can say that I totally relate to Empire Records much more than Clerks... Working in a record store for close to three years... Empire just hit soooo many spots for me...

Name: Jimmy
Age: 30
Occupation: Stay at home daddy & also work pt. time for an online retailer
Location: Fall River, MA (just South of Beantown)
Status: Married
Children: 3- Neal, Jimmy Jr., and Jenna
Pet: bird- Sprite
Toy Lines I collect: SW isn't that enough  
Sports Teams: Sox, Pats & Vikings, Lakers (no since the ol' school Celts vs Lakers days... imagine the slack I got in high school)
Bands: Radiohead, Jack Johnson, De La Soul, Zep, Sinatra and on, and on, and on....

Fell in love in a drive-in w/ Star Wars and that was it...
Had everything you could imagine as a kid (being an only child and sick one helped the spoilage). Left the SW thing once the teens hit and started djing did that on and off for 9-10 years. Did parties, club in Boston... fun stuff.
Then met my now wife at work and stopped the club life... so I needed something to obsess over yet again... went back to the first love

I've done stints on the ol' Yakface, Jawa, and Trade Federation.



 

It's been a sad state there for a long time...
Though the best thing to do is watch it crumble... and it will. I know some may feel an attachment to the forums being old CSW members... but I think some take it too personal. It's something many were a part but over time things eiter get better or fall apart... we obviously know what happened in this case. If they do fall apart though you pick up and move on... beating a dead horse is just that.


Unless you co-owned the forums w/ Mr. Sullenger then really it was just a place (like JD is) to hang out...
I know many won't go there but I'm not known to be Mr. Quiet... Mike is a big part of "CSW and the old school days" turning into the garbage it has. Michael had big dreams that his little merge would've really been for the best... even after some of us told him otherwise at Toy Fair 2002. But hey it was his thing to do as he wanted...
It just sucks that now he's gone off to do yet another thing and had to leave back a community which is now in shambles... To take it so personally though is really not worth it...


I was always amazed by the Scum zombies when I was there... Anyone that remembers my thread w/ Curto knows what I mean. For some people Rebelscum can do no wrong whatsoever... and that just amazes me.


I was banned twice for my opinions basically... yes I had my things w/ some members and even a mod there... but in the end it was because of my opinions (trolling to them) I was banned.


I've been in this game for quite some time now.I have been a member of the Trade Fed (once SWCU) for a good 5 years. There was a time we had people on the list that would take any leads and run w/ them on their own. I remember countless times where news I reported on on the mailing list would turn up on SGG, Scum, etc sometimes just mere hours later. Stuff like this has been happening for years but most people never knew...
It seems to be more in your face now though w/ the forums, etc. Beyond the forums the whole site thing is about more politics than any average reader would think... or believe. It's a cut throat world out there...
My point of all this is that there are "far more" important things to worry about for some than "some forums"...
Working the next big scoop or stabbing the next mans back is a much more important time consuming activity.


Though on the flip side the forums run array and they lose the loyal readship base... but hey who cares right?
At least we got the newest scoop ou there...


I do remember a time when Scum was a respectable site and one held in higher regard... I think that unless you have the zombie fever that is far from the case now.
I have heard many people discredit them and this thread shows a lot of resentment itself in their letting the forums disintegrate into thin air...

Really there's not much left you can do... You voiced your opinion and still it goes on... I think moving on is just the best anyone can do.

Anyone else?

It's funny I see a forum member (or two) at RS commenting how it's tough **** for those that did'nt make out w/ one... and how there was never any mention it was to be divided blah, blah, blah...

Though one of the these same people mention how he obtained one in San Diego not wanting himself... but did so in order to help someone out. He then admits to making a profit off it... Yeah he was definitely out to help someone out... what he didn't say is that someone was himself...

Scumbag...