Done with EFX/Who is Ep7 Prop Licensee?????

[joshimus]

Out of pure principal, I am contemplating pulling out of my order, taking the $300 NRD loss just so I don't have to pay them over $600 more for the Legend I have on pre-order.

I do not support the way they choose to conduct business with people at all and have been regretting this since about 4 months ago with no new communications on anything, except one really lame update that was no step forward as to answering anyone's questions about what was going on.

I'm betting the Scout Trooper stuff is ready to go, but that they are running out of money from other projects they've started investing in, and they can't afford to start fulfilling orders. I don't truly know what is going on with the inner workings of this company, but I can only speculate that they funnel these pre-order monies into other things either pending or new, toss aside the projects the preorder money was purposed for, and then having a future preorder fund the completion of the next backed up production order.

It was interesting that not too long after the Scout Trooper pre-order happened that the Captain America shields started shipping. Merely observation and might be pure coincidence.

I do think these licensors should keep tabs on the integrity/follow through of the companies they grant their properties to. I would certainly want to make sure, if it was my property, that not only was the quality of the pieces high, but that their business model was sound and turnaround within reason.

Back to losing that deposit though. I REALLY don't want to just pull out of the deal having thrown $300 into it already. What I don't like though is just the way this company keeps thinking they can get away with doing this to people. The best way I could respond to that though is to stop letting money go inbound to support this ongoing practice.

I get it. YES, the end product is awesome. I know. There are others who will produce something just as good out there who actually give a damn about getting my business, though. I do not take kindly to any company that feels this entitlement that because they have a good product that people will just take it up the kaboose and let them be treated poorly. Some are completely fine with this because that's all they care about is (at some point in their life) will finally get what they ordered. Most have an issue with it though clearly.

I'd hate to lose $300 in thin air, but I'm also not crazy about giving the other $600 to them either.

After their last email informing of delays I replied requesting a refund of my $300 deposit for the scout legend edition and I got it mate. If I got it then anyone else asking should get it as well

Hope that helps mate

 

[d_jedi1]

In regard to the Episode 7 props, speculation on the Sideshow forums is that Sideshow will be doing props.
HotToys has announced that they'll be doing 1:6th figures from TFA and Sideshow announced upcoming "products" without specification on what those are.
Hence the speculation that HotToys will do the figures and Sideshow will do props.
Keep in mind though, that it IS just speculation at this point.

 

[Tom1971]

Out of pure principal, I am contemplating pulling out of my order, taking the $300 NRD loss just so I don't have to pay them over $600 more for the Legend I have on pre-order.

I do not support the way they choose to conduct business with people at all and have been regretting this since about 4 months ago with no new communications on anything, except one really lame update that was no step forward as to answering anyone's questions about what was going on.

I'm betting the Scout Trooper stuff is ready to go, but that they are running out of money from other projects they've started investing in, and they can't afford to start fulfilling orders. I don't truly know what is going on with the inner workings of this company, but I can only speculate that they funnel these pre-order monies into other things either pending or new, toss aside the projects the preorder money was purposed for, and then having a future preorder fund the completion of the next backed up production order.

It was interesting that not too long after the Scout Trooper pre-order happened that the Captain America shields started shipping. Merely observation and might be pure coincidence.

I do think these licensors should keep tabs on the integrity/follow through of the companies they grant their properties to. I would certainly want to make sure, if it was my property, that not only was the quality of the pieces high, but that their business model was sound and turnaround within reason.

Back to losing that deposit though. I REALLY don't want to just pull out of the deal having thrown $300 into it already. What I don't like though is just the way this company keeps thinking they can get away with doing this to people. The best way I could respond to that though is to stop letting money go inbound to support this ongoing practice.

I get it. YES, the end product is awesome. I know. There are others who will produce something just as good out there who actually give a damn about getting my business, though. I do not take kindly to any company that feels this entitlement that because they have a good product that people will just take it up the kaboose and let them be treated poorly. Some are completely fine with this because that's all they care about is (at some point in their life) will finally get what they ordered. Most have an issue with it though clearly.

I'd hate to lose $300 in thin air, but I'm also not crazy about giving the other $600 to them either.

DO NOT CANCEL UNLESS YOU CAN GET A REFUND. The Biker Scout will come out eventually and you will have no problem selling it for what you have in it if not more. Don't lose $300. If you want to cancel and get a refund great but if they say no don't do it. You will get your money back or an awesome bucket..

Tom

 

[Jeyl]

Shoot. Looks like EFX caught whatever bug Studio Art & Technology had when they tried to enter the business. Darn shame. I STILL WANT THAT SHOTGUN!

 

[DBoz]

In regard to the Episode 7 props, speculation on the Sideshow forums is that Sideshow will be doing props.
HotToys has announced that they'll be doing 1:6th figures from TFA and Sideshow announced upcoming "products" without specification on what those are.
Hence the speculation that HotToys will do the figures and Sideshow will do props.
Keep in mind though, that it IS just speculation at this point.

Just my .02, but I would be surprised if Sideshow did props. They have done some in the past, but they mostly do statues and the like. I would look for maquettes, Premium Format, 1/2 scale and 1/1 scale statues from them.

 

[jkno]

In regard to the Episode 7 props, speculation on the Sideshow forums is that Sideshow will be doing props.
HotToys has announced that they'll be doing 1:6th figures from TFA and Sideshow announced upcoming "products" without specification on what those are.
Hence the speculation that HotToys will do the figures and Sideshow will do props.
Keep in mind though, that it IS just speculation at this point.

Sideshow is not known for accuracy, but for "artistic interpretations", something I do not want in a prop.

 

[Dao2]

And really bad paint jobs that look nothing like their protos I don't think they'd do well in props.

 

[d_jedi1]

I can't argue those points and, again, it's just speculation by a few board members.
For all we know they'll do a few figures, a couple of statues or art prints.

 

[Zenwalker]

You see, this is the rub- we complain about long waits for items and then items that are not well made. We can either have low quality cheap items quickly or, high quality more expensive items that take longer to get. We just can't have it both ways. As for me I would rather choose the latter method and have items that I know will stay in my collection for a long time.

I just wish the wait for the high quality items was not so long sometimes, but usually patience pays off in the long run.

 

[Mara Jade's Father]

You see, this is the rub- we complain about long waits for items and then items that are not well made. We can either have low quality cheap items quickly or, high quality more expensive items that take longer to get. We just can't have it both ways. As for me I would rather choose the latter method and have items that I know will stay in my collection for a long time.

I just wish the wait for the high quality items was not so long sometimes, but usually patience pays off in the long run.

They are only long waits because of preorders. If they waited to announce a product for preorder till it was toward the end of production or ready to ship, there would not be an issue.

Once again I refer back to Wand Company. Great items, great pricing, great quality and when they take preorders, they are very close to shipping dates.

 

[DBoz]

I think the real issue is not the long waits so much as the complete lack of communication after preorder and in some cases, complete failure to deliver. Many would not have a problem with the high cost and longer wait for quality if the company made an effort to communicate with their customers.

The other issue with preorders and log waits is what happens if/when a company that has taken money up front goes belly up? That's never happened in this hobby. [emoji12]

 

[Lichtbringer]

The only real problem is taking money way to long upfront, and even then missing the deadline and extenting it ever and ever.

Merchandise trade is - you have a product, offer it, and people pay and get it. Or you accept an order, produce it, and take their money at delivery.
Having an idea, taking peoples money and let people pray it will pay off for them is investment. Way more secure with a well known bank.

 

[MasterEdi]

From everyones comments, it sounds like EFX is a pyramid scheme! Lol... Or at least robbing from Peter to pay Paul. It obviously has too many stokes in the fire, bit off more than it can chew, or any other cliche of bad business practices. I'm pretty sure Disney/Lucasfilm is carefully watching how EFX is handling their license, just as much as they watch how all their licensed products are being taken care of. Shoot! Guaranteed they are watching what goes on in this forum as well. Eventually, after the honeymoon period with Star Wars is over, it will act. Mark my words on that. ...I believe ANOVOS is the company's hand picked choice for succession. Once they get up and running, look out. Disney/Lucasfilm knows there is a big and growing market not only in finished high quality props and costumes, but in the maker/builder market as well. It's wanting to tap into that market, and even control it if it can. .... Only time will tell what will happen, but it will not turn a blind eye on its 4 billion dollar investment forever.

 

[cboath]

LFL pulled in a billion in licensing for 1-3, before E1 released 15 years ago. Today, they'll be able to pull 2B alone from licensing for 7-9, if not more. And that's with no tickets sold, no DVD's/BR's sold, etc. AND not counting 2 other flicks before E9 is out. They'll recoup that investment with those things alone by 2019.

If they want to access other markets - that's great. But I don't think you try and control much other than by using your size to make stuff better and cheaper than the rest. Doing otherwise is risking cutting off your nose to spite your face...

I'll praise Anovos myself, but i'm starting to see where the backlash comes from on that in this thread. True, they haven't delivered much on the SW end to this point and you can point to things like the holster. They're getting a huge benefit of the doubt because they're new and most importantly, they're communicating with their customers. That communication and feeling 'in the loop' will go a LONG ways on these things. A really long way. If i pay you 1000 bucks for something and you're pushing 2 years without delivering and i've heard from you 2-3 times in that 2 year span, i'm going to be super @#$%ed at you. There's no other way around it. My fear is you're going to go under or something before i get my money back or my product and i'll just be SOL. It takes very little effort to put out a monthly email to keep people informed about what's going on.

One side puts out much more effort than that to update people, one side doesn't. Who do you think people are going to side with?

 

[MacBeath]

I've seen it with other collectables companies - they advertise, show prototypes, but never deliver. The business model seems to be don't go into production until X% of the run is pre-sold. However, that only works the first couple of times, and then fans stop pre-ordering as they want to see completed product. No orders come in, no new items get released, company goes bust.

I'm not saying that is the case with EFX, but it is true elesewhere.

 

[Inquisitor Peregrinus]

One thing I speculated on regarding ANOVOS is how far along they were with their OT stuff when they not only got the TFA license, but had to get the stuff made for the folks who were on stage at Celebration in fairly short order. That might easily have slowed their other items and they couldn't say why...

--Jonah

 

[Wes R]

Sideshow is not known for accuracy, but for "artistic interpretations", something I do not want in a prop.

Sounds like NECA and the props they put out occasionally.

 

[niennumb1]

I've seen it with other collectables companies - they advertise, show prototypes, but never deliver. The business model seems to be don't go into production until X% of the run is pre-sold. However, that only works the first couple of times, and then fans stop pre-ordering as they want to see completed product. No orders come in, no new items get released, company goes bust.

I'm not saying that is the case with EFX, but it is true elesewhere.

Yeah in this particular case they have a very high percentage and/or sell out of a preorder. That part never seems to be an issue with them. VERY attentive when taking a payment. Funny how that works....