ANOVOS issues (ANOVOS ONLY discussion)

[Kal Argos]

Anovos definitely has its own issues that it has to resolve ASAP in order to survive 2019. I don't think that there is a LFL or Disney cabal that seeks to sabotage it licensees. If Anovos' "shipping delay" doesn't correct real soon collectors will start (if not already started) to believe stock is being held for liquidation/asset accounting for ... um .... lets just say "financial restructuring"

I am curious if Disney or LFL has a say in merchandise options as part of the license ... like if Disney/LFL said in order to promote R1, TLJ or Solo you need to have x% of related product, forcing Anovos to spend capital on R&D and so forth... R1 did well, but TLJ did not and reaction to TLJ hit Solo hard ... I don't recall any Solo offerings from Anovos which I find rather odd. Of course this is highly speculative on my part, but if true that may have exacerbated the existing issues at Anovos... again this is completely conjecture on my part.

Anyways... I hope things turn around for Anovos, success for them would be good for licensed star wars props and would in some way be a success for this community...

 

[Psab keel]

My comments are merely speculation on the situation. Anovos simply just doesn't know how to run their business. My guess is that they took on more than they could deliver and now the truth is coming out.

 

[oblagon]

I am curious if Disney or LFL has a say in merchandise options as part of the license ... like if Disney/LFL said in order to promote R1, TLJ or Solo you need to have x% of related product, forcing Anovos to spend capital on R&D and so forth....

When I did work for Revell, McDonalds and Gum it was a single license for anything SW and Disney/LFL didn't care at all what was produced (ie if OT, PT, etc). That's just my experience; Anovos could certainly have a different agreement.

The fact that they haven't offered anything from Solo, Last Jedi, Episode 9 and are making a point to say their will be no more future production speaks volumes about their future as a company.

 

[Pepperbone]

When I did work for Revell, McDonalds and Gum it was a single license for anything SW and Disney/LFL didn't care at all what was produced (ie if OT, PT, etc). That's just my experience; Anovos could certainly have a different agreement.

The fact that they haven't offered anything from Solo, Last Jedi, Episode 9 and are making a point to say their will be no more future production speaks volumes about their future as a company.

To me it's clear that their relationship with the SW brand is over.
They're likely obligated to fulfill all outstanding orders, then whatever happens; it's not Disney/LFL's problem.

 

[Kal Argos]

The fact that they haven't offered anything from Solo, Last Jedi, Episode 9 and are making a point to say their will be no more future production speaks volumes about their future as a company.

To clarify they did offer stuff for R1 and TLJ, but not Solo.

I don't know how well the TLJ stuff sold, but based on social media comments I guess not well. The TLJ FO trooper bucket was well liked but not much else.

If they have stuff for Ep IX, we won't see stuff til after the trailer i would suspect. R1 and TLJ stuff was announced only a few months before the movies were released... so personally I dont think lack of Ep IX stuff at this point means anything... but I do see your point. The xwing vest sold out super fast and when asked about more they had no plans... that I thought was very odd... such a good piece... glad i got one.

In my opinion, the bulk of the sales comes from OT based stuff. R1 (heavily based on OT) which had new stormy buckets and more classic style xwing helmets were ordered fast... delivered.... well... ??

But the Ep VII and VIII didnt seem to hit that same cord, whether it was nostalgia or aesthetic I dont know... but Anovos is back to a focus of OT stuff.

 

[oblagon]

Kal Argos Forgot about the TLJ TK helmet, it was offered so long ago and for R1 I know they put up the Blue Squad helmet and Jyn Erso costume but I think that was it?
I would have thought Anovos would have followed the toy companies tactic of getting stuff into production and hyped for the new SW movie, but again they could have a different agreement.

I'm going to be an old man shaking his fist at a cloud here; but I miss MR. Good product at good prices and they released a ton of stuff in their time. At least we have RS props.

 

[AJK001]

Kal Argos
I'm going to be an old man shaking his fist at a cloud here; but I miss MR. Good product at good prices and they released a ton of stuff in their time. At least we have RS props.

I liked the way MR did business in that you didn't pay a penny until it was ready to ship. None of this crap of giving a company an interest free loan for a couple of years and then hoping you get your product. They may have had problems towards the end but I believe that had more to do with Corgi not knowing how to run a prop replica company.

 

[Darth Fetty]

Kal Argos Forgot about the TLJ TK helmet, it was offered so long ago and for R1 I know they put up the Blue Squad helmet and Jyn Erso costume but I think that was it?

There were also Director Krennic outfit pieces. I ordered them all almost two years ago and have received nothing despite some of the pieces listed on the website as "in stock".

Back in October I received an email from them asking me to double check my shipping address because the pants would be shipping soon. They never did, and I never received any followup email from them. It wasn't until I was scanning through the website that I saw a note that they decided all Krennic pieces would be shipping together. Would have been nice to have actually been told that instead of waiting for nothing. I'm expecting the inevitable that IF they arrive, they would likely all be mismatched sizes.

Also, the excuses about working on packaging are BS. I got a full snowtrooper ensemble from them, and while I was completely happy with the product, all the pieces were thrown together in a plain, unmarked cardboard box that was roughly hand cut to size. There was no labeling or customization of the box in any way. I don't care at all about packaging since it came to me safe enough, but the excuse about them working on packaging has no ground when the packaging might as well have been done by some guy on eBay.

 

[karmajay]

Yikes I'm over Anovos also but let's stick to facts. Disney hands out licenses that cover particular avenues. The history has been pretty apparent on how the licenses are split between companies like Anoves, eFx, Hasbro, Bandai etc. Conflating these things does not really help the situation.

 

[oblagon]

I don't care at all about packaging since it came to me safe enough, but the excuse about them working on packaging has no ground when the packaging might as well have been done by some guy on eBay.

Earlier I posted a quote from one of the vendors Anovos hired; they have a habit of not paying their vendors until way past the deadline they needed it by. So all the excuses from them are just BS. The box sounds like them just cutting corners, my guess is they spent the money on something else so they just threw something together.

 

[Sano]

STAR WARS™ Clone Trooper Phase II Helmet Accessory (Pre-Order) | ANOVOS Productions LLC

Anovos at SDCC in 2018: Clone Trooper helmet etc will be sold as in stock in 2019.

Well ..

 

[Fett_Ish]

Just to kick the wasps nest, I just got an email about pre ordering a clone trooper phase 2 helmet, so apparently they're doing something. Full disclosure I do still have and have no intention of canceling my 2 preorders. I'll deal with what comes. Or not.

 

[oblagon]

Delivery Estimate Winter 2020 is insane.

This line made me laugh:
"When we approached this legendary helmet three years ago, we were faced with the most unique challenge to our replicative capabilities: There was no real helmet ever made to cast, 3D scan, or base our engineering from."
They must not be aware of the 3D files used for the CGI in the actual movie or that MR made this helmet years ago from those 3D files.

 

[Pepperbone]

Delivery Estimate Winter 2020 is insane.

This line made me laugh:
"When we approached this legendary helmet three years ago, we were faced with the most unique challenge to our replicative capabilities: There was no real helmet ever made to cast, 3D scan, or base our engineering from."
They must not be aware of the 3D files used for the CGI in the actual movie or that MR made this helmet years ago from those 3D files.

 

[Mara Jade's Father]

Poor Entertainment Earth. I'm guessing they have no idea when they are getting their items either. I think they just change ETAs to the current month. Every product they are waiting on has an ETA of February 2019. Anovos - Entertainment Earth

 

[cboath]

To me it's clear that their relationship with the SW brand is over.
They're likely obligated to fulfill all outstanding orders, then whatever happens; it's not Disney/LFL's problem.

Seriously doubt it. In no way would they pull the plug on Anovos before Efx.

 

[cboath]

Delivery Estimate Winter 2020 is insane.

This line made me laugh:
"When we approached this legendary helmet three years ago, we were faced with the most unique challenge to our replicative capabilities: There was no real helmet ever made to cast, 3D scan, or base our engineering from."
They must not be aware of the 3D files used for the CGI in the actual movie or that MR made this helmet years ago from those 3D files.

I read that and was stunned. Hope incredibly stupid. Challenge?? In large part they originated here and we take a few photos and turn out top notch stuff. They have access to the actual studio 3D models and 'it's a challenge'??

 

[Mara Jade's Father]

If they are not in breech of contract, then I don't see how they could pull a license. Never personally dealt with an issue but I do know that usually the agreement is made to protect both parties. I don't think complaints are going to get their license pulled as long as the terms of the agreement are met.

When it comes to renewing the license, customer satisfaction might be a factor but only if a competing company can convince Disney/LFL that they can do better. The question would be, what other company could do better or would even want it take it on? It's not like there have been others to jump at it. The only other Hi-end Star Wars costuming was Museum Replicas and they only had a few offerings.

 

[oblagon]

If they are not in breech of contract, then I don't see how they could pull a license. Never personally dealt with an issue but I do know that usually the agreement is made to protect both parties. I don't think complaints are going to get their license pulled as long as the terms of the agreement are met.

When it comes to renewing the license, customer satisfaction might be a factor but only if a competing company can convince Disney/LFL that they can do better. The question would be, what other company could do better or would even want it take it on? It's not like there have been others to jump at it. The only other Hi-end Star Wars costuming was Museum Replicas and they only had a few offerings.

Exactly. If we want a new company, stop spending money at Anovos. Either that or hope a new company steps forward to bid for the license. Complaining to Disney will do nothing to remove EFX/Anovos.

 

[Whiskey]

I thought Anovos said they were going to stop with the preorders and sell only in stock items?