kubricks dead

[Crackbrick]

Exclusives had a big impact on collectors. I think they alienated collectors in the early goings with that early bird kit because they made core characters as exclusives. Not to have a Chewbacca or R2D2 in a Star Wars collection is a travesty. I'm not a completist by any means, but spending $100 on a 2" plastic figure is absolutely crazy, no amount of detail in those Kubs could ever make me spend $100 or more on one single Kubrick. I think alot of other collectors felt the same. I had a pair of my friends that were really into Star Wars Kubricks with me, but prices to complete the sets became more unreasonable as the years went by.

I realize that Medicom isn't Hasbro where they are pumping out figure after figure and this kind of line is niche. But collectors from the same niche have different buying habits. Some collectors will shell out the $100+ for the chase figure to complete the set. Then you have collectors on the other end of the spectrum, that only purchase figures that are reasonably priced and understand the niche that the line essentially carries.

Are you talking about collectors here in the US?
If so I agree, but if you mean collectors in Japan I don't.
People in Japan, love exclusives and chase figures, it does not chase them away, it does just the oppisite.
Kubricks were meant for the Japanese Market, nothing we do here in the US will affect how they make or distribute them.

CB

[DSJ™]

Medicom does not keep some of the rare & sell them on the bay. It's the thrill of of hunt that makes Kuby's great, paying more is another thing but that is part of the hunt for us in North America & that has been going on in other collectibles for many years.

The stuff the Japanese make Kuby's & so forth are sweet stuff. A person would go broke trying to collect stuff in Japan.

[Crackbrick]

Here's the funny part though - Mediacom doesn't make $100 on their varient figs.  They make fewer of them and sell them at essentially the same price as all the other figures via a case price.  Its the folks that resell the rarer piees on the secondary market that make the big bucks on variants.  So what I don't get is, why would Mediacom not just make the same number of all figures and capitalize on selling a lot more of the rarer figs?  Or do you think they keep some of the rare ones and sell them for more money on Ebay?

Again, the whole point for the chase figure is aimed at the Japanese Market, it helps draw attention to the entire line.
This is how it works for just about every toy line in Japan, not just Kubricks.
Japanese Collectors LOVE the idea of Chase figures.
And remember, these things are only sold through the Japanese market.
Other than BBTS pre selling the latest box set, SW Bricks are not sold through wholesalers or retail markets here in the US.

I doubt Medicom holds toys back to sell on ebay.

CB

[Morgbug]

It's all about generating 'buzz'.  Getting people talking about the figures, having them chase them on ebay or having htem buying more than they otherwise would in hopes of finding the figure in a blind box.  It's advertising to generate interest. 

McFarlane sportspicks don't make anything extra off chase figures, but it gets people talking about them, positively or negatively.

UGH silver figures were the same with Hasbro last year.  If we're talking about the toys, they have our attention, even if we're pissed off and mad as hell at them.  That doesn't matter, we go to stores more often trying to find them, the scalpers buy them up that otherwise wouldn't touch the product. 

Do I necessarily agree with it?  No, but it's proven it's worth as a marketing tool time and again.  I think utlimately it backfires on them as it has with TMP stuff, but that's not a consequence they seem to concerned about.  Plus I think the notion of blind packed chase figures is pretty darn common in Japan. 

[Adrian]

  its insanely sad that we are talking about the death of Kubrick's. Medicom has been pushing its RAHs and VCDs like mad, but Series 8 has in fact been confirmed? No? If you think about it Series 7 was great, the last 2 400% SW Kubs where great and this mail in set is truly sweet.... I guess its safe to say they went out with a BANG.

[bikeridetony]

The SW line is NOT dead.  It's been confirmed by Medicom.

[Morgbug]

The SW line is NOT dead.  It's been confirmed by Medicom.

Cool news Tony, thanks.  Can you point us to the confirmation.

[bikeridetony]

Somebody from here or KW talked to a Medicom employee at one of the shows and he confirmed the SW line was still going.  Am I way off?  I thought for sure I read that recently.  Let me know if I'm wrong.  Thanks!

[Jeff]

Somebody from here or KW talked to a Medicom employee at one of the shows and he confirmed the SW line was still going.  Am I way off?  I thought for sure I read that recently.  Let me know if I'm wrong.  Thanks!

I believe it was Mondo.  He heard from Medicom at WonderFest I thnk...

[Morgbug]

Maybe at KW?  I don't remember it here and if I said it, I was lying.  I know I didn't say it because I don't actually have any opportunity to talk to employees.  

My guess remains that they are slowing to one series per yer and that they delayed this announcement because they are including the snowtrooper and didn't want to impact the box set sales.

[Jeff]

Found his post in the Series 8 thread...

According to the guys at the medicom booth there will be more series.  No dates set yet, I think they must have been busy with the box set and 400% releases.

[evenflow]

Thats great and all, but it is not a confirmation. I hope that it's true, but i won't feel better until i see pics of a new wave.

[Darth Slothus]

Thats great and all, but it is not a confirmation. I hope that it's true, but i won't feel better until i see pics of a new wave.

gonna be awhile......? Have a Snickers

[Crackbrick]

There will be a Series 8.
Not sure when.
Not sure of a Series 9 though.

MD

[Matt Brand]

There will be a Series 8.
Not sure when.
Not sure of a Series 9 though.

MD

Good news. Thanks.

*prays for series 9 and on*