ANOVOS issues (ANOVOS ONLY discussion)
- Thread starter Art Andrews
- Start date
FYI - anyone looking for a Anovos Mandalorian helmet without going through Anovos directly; BBTS has them in stock.
www.bigbadtoystore.com
The Mandalorian Helmet 1:1 Scale Wearable Replica By Anovos
Recreated from original screen-used production assets, the 1:1 scale Mandalorian helmet wearable replica is a highly detailed accessory. Order yours at BBTS.
Honestly I'm starting to think the best way to send Anovos a message that their business practices are unacceptable and that their products are hit or miss in quality, is to not buy any of their products period. That means not purchasing them second hand from other vendors too. It just seems to embolden them to keep ripping people off. For a long time I felt that as long as you didn't give them your money directly then at the least you could get the items but the more I think about it the more I'm leaning towards not supporting them in any capacity. If people stop pre ordering products they will never deliver on and dont buy their stuff, even from reliable vendors, seeing their stuff not selling might help them rethink what they've done to thousands. Let the resale value of their work drop to affordable prices on ebay and the like too and then when they feel the heat from losing lots of money they might actually shape up.
As it stands if they get your money it will just be business as usual. Vote with your wallet and support fan work instead. I think the same could be said for other lisence holders under the Star Wars banner. The only thing they will respond to is a drop in sales. If you're unhappy with them, stop supporting them with your cash. Even buying their stuff from other vendors supports them, so keep that in mind.
I'm starting to feel like this is the only option to get them to change their business model. And if they happen to lose the lisence in the process then so be it. They made their choices so they have no one to blame but themselves. I just don't understand how they've gotten a pass for this long within this community. Just my thoughts
As it stands if they get your money it will just be business as usual. Vote with your wallet and support fan work instead. I think the same could be said for other lisence holders under the Star Wars banner. The only thing they will respond to is a drop in sales. If you're unhappy with them, stop supporting them with your cash. Even buying their stuff from other vendors supports them, so keep that in mind.
I'm starting to feel like this is the only option to get them to change their business model. And if they happen to lose the lisence in the process then so be it. They made their choices so they have no one to blame but themselves. I just don't understand how they've gotten a pass for this long within this community. Just my thoughts
ggriffaw
Sr Member
Anovos has changed their business model for Star Wars items. They stopped taking preorders for Star Wars items mid 2019. They used to have most items available to order. Now it is just the in stock or in production items. They send the invoice for in production items when your spot comes up, not years before. Some products have been moved to US production. This is very different than how the Star Wars items were handled prior to mid 2019.
What other changes would you like to see?
Obviously they still have a huge backlog to catch up on. More of the fiberglass helmets could be moved to US production after the Royal Guard run is finished.
Not only do they have a lot of orders that remain to be delivered upon, but from what I've been reading on this thread alone it seems to suggest that there are quality control issues with many of the items they are in fact delivering. Paint chipping, gouges in the molds, all of which are not part of the aesthetic of those particular helmets so they can't be chalked up to intentional weathering. Not to mention I've also read that some of their items they claim to have in stock are not in fact, in stock at all but either still being manufactured or held up in customs. I'm just going on what I read here on the forums so I can't personally attest to it, but it just seems like a total gamble to support them in any capacity. If after 5 years they still don't have their act together, then what's the point of relying on them at all?
I just don't see the difference between them and any individual maker here who has a bad reputation. Except a member here who has a that kind of reputation eventually shapes up or gets banned. It just feels like they get a pass no matter how spectactularly they mess up and that's not right to me.
I just don't see the difference between them and any individual maker here who has a bad reputation. Except a member here who has a that kind of reputation eventually shapes up or gets banned. It just feels like they get a pass no matter how spectactularly they mess up and that's not right to me.
Respectfully, I don't completely agree but I completely understand. And I was fully aware that by sending that BBTS link I was indirectly supporting Anovos, and that made me a tiny bit uncomfortable.
However I do (selfishly) want Anovos to get out of this mess because, like many, I have significant outstanding orders, all fully paid for years ago before the chaos. And to some, it does seem like they are trying to steer the ship back on course.
I might be wrong, but right now, anything that can contribute to legitimately getting back on track without any of us risking a dime is at least worth considering.
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patrickivan
Sr Member
People aware of Anovos need to stop supporting them. Simple. They're like a bad relationship that people keep going back to.
ggriffaw
Sr Member
A few photos of the edge. There is a little glue visible.
The helmet is well constructed and finished. It may be necessary to clean some areas. Since it is a solid, glossy finish, marks show up from handling. I thought some were flaws, but they cleaned up. There is a little glue around the bottom where the liner attaches.
Obviously the helmet is taller than most. About 19 inches on a stand.
The helmet is pretty tight. The front presses on my cheeks. It feels claustrophobic.
This is an excellent helmet. This type of finish is what Anovos has done well in the past. I would say this is of the same quality as the FO TIE Pilot helmets.
ggriffaw
Sr Member
Some have reported issues with delays on in stock items. I have ordered several in stock items with no issues at all. They arrived within days.
Companies with licenses are in a different situation than unlicensed makers. Unlicensed makers largely rely on forums to get the word out about their products. There wouldn't be much point in banning a company that has a license. Typically the companies do not actively promote their products on forums. The posts about the licensed companies and their products are from customers. Customers should be able to comment on the quality and performance of any vendor.
What do you suggest the people who have thousands tied up in back orders do? I can understand not ordering new products, but I'm sure most of us with back orders hope to eventually get the products we ordered. Other than the Mando helmet, Anovos hasn't had any new Star Wars items to order for about a year.
I hope they can get things back on track. Mostly because I want the back orders fulfilled that many people including myself have open. I'm frustrated with the delays too. There were several products that I was interested in but did not preorder because of the long delays in other products I already had on order.
Switching to the interest list model and sending an invoice shortly before they will start work on your specific item is an improvement over the multi-year preorder approach they used to use.
patrickivan
Sr Member
There is nothing they can do.
They're running an unsustainable business model and some will lose their money unfortunately, when ANOVOS inevitably, and deservedly, goes bankrupt.
Kal Argos
Sr Member
The helmet looks great. Congrats!
The only thing that i find disappointing (but not new) is how it packed... in plastic bag in peanuts. That seems the standard shipping now.
Seems like its working to deliver it safely tho.
Again looks great... enjoy it!!
Yeah... "In Production" for Anovos means nothing. All of their Pre-orders were "In Production" for years after the initial orders were taken. Still doesn't guarantee a timely delivery. Of course there's been reports of "In Stock" items taking weeks to ship so even that's not a guarantee.
As far as the "you pay the invoice only when your spot comes up..." - This I wasn't aware of. Is it on their site somewhere?
Here's what I could find...
EDIT - I see from previous posts the "Interest List" is the new pre-order They contact you if/when becomes available. However, that is still no guarantee you will receive anything in a timely manner. My guess, based on past experience is the Interest List is closed and everyone is invoiced when they plan to go into production on a piece. Based on their track record of production, that period can last years. And they still get your money. Same fox, different costume.
Cheers
Steven
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russellsch
Master Member
I never suggested that customers shouldn't be able to comment on or discuss their products. That's not the issue I'm talking about so I'm not sure why you thought I was suggesting locking this thread.
I'm glad your helmet arrived and it does look to be a nice piece. Though you have to consider that just because you were fortunate enough to get what you paid for in a timely manner doesn't mean that your experience is the most common one. There are still tons of people who are still waiting on product after a number of years. You were very lucky, but that doesn't mean everyone else who got screwed over by them will have the same experience. Far from it. Those people are still waiting for either refunds or their product and have no recourse at this point.
As far as banning is concerned it would have been a nice gesture of support to the members here who lost their money if the people who work for Anovos were banned from the forum here just like any member who has done the same and not made good on it. Besides, to my knowledge the members on here who work for Anovos haven't commented in a long time as far as I'm aware. Then again I could be wrong about that but it just seems like a double standard.
It wouldn't solve the problem but I'm sure for a vast number of members here the gesture would have gone a long way.
ggriffaw
Sr Member
There is also a piece of soft foam on the top and bottom of the box. The box was slightly crushed on one edge. It's a larger box than most of their helmets. The packing seemed to do it's job.
ggriffaw
Sr Member
The Mando helmet was done with the Interest List approach. It was never available as a preorder. They did not invoice everyone at the same time. When your spot in the list came up, they sent you an email with the invoice. You had a certain period of time (I think a day or two) to pay. If you didn't pay in time, the invoice would be sent to whoever was next in line. You would be placed at the back of the list.
I did the preorder for the Royal Guard helmet in 2019, so mine was already paid for. I assume they are doing a similar approach for anyone that is signing up on the Royal Guard Interest List.
The older products made over seas have taken years. The newer products made at the US facility have been much quicker.
There have been some reports of quality control issues with the Mando helmet, but for the most part I think the US production has gone pretty well. Both of my products have been very good and received in a reasonable timeframe.
Up until very recently, the owner of this board worked for Anovos. While I personally don't believe banning Anovos employees from the RPF would really solve anything or do much to help people who are out money and product, it is highly doubtful it was ever going to happen
Yeah I suppose he couldn't ban himself. lol.
It's just a shame all around though. I hope it all gets resolved one way or another.
ggriffaw
Sr Member
I am one of the people who has been waiting on products ordered years ago. I have been ordering products from them since 2015. They were pretty good at delivering on orders in 2017. Deliveries went way down in 2018 and 2019.
I have first hand experience with the new approach used for the Mando helmet being a major improvement over the previous preorder products from 2018 and 2019. If the Royal Guard helmet production wasn't moved to the US, I would think we would still be waiting. I don't know why there have been so many issues with the overseas production. They have been able to get restock of some older products, but not very many new products from overseas.
I'm not sure how we would know if people from Anovos have been banned from posting or not. They haven't posted for a long time. They used to, but haven't for years. Banning representatives for a licensed company from posting has very little impact if they don't make use of the forum to generate sales.
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