Forum - View topicAstro Toy - Riobot Gurren Lagann
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EnigmaticSky
 Posts: 750 |
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The quality of this figure pierces the heavens!
...Sorry, that joke had to be made at some point. ._. |
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Mesonoxian Eve
Posts: 1858 |
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I sure would like to know what's going on with the figure industry to push figures in boxes which are far larger than they need to be. I can't disagree shipping charges are getting higher because of it.
I wonder how local retailers are taking to these boxes, given many shops in Japan are small. I've seen many pictures of "mom and pop" stores lining Akihabara and they sure don't look big enough to accommodate all these huge boxes. I've not seen Gurren Lagann yet (hush you), but I do like the design of this figure. The price-per-size ratio isn't that bad, when you consider the cheaply made figmas go for half the cost for the same height (and those stands are [bleeping] horrible). As I've said before: quality and price go hand-in-hand, so it's not surprising to see such a good appreciation for this figure. Sentinel has been doing some good things of late, and I've been keeping my eye on them. Looks to me they want to give Alter a run for its money. Excellent, because we need more quality to offset the crap that's out there. Another good review. |
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Aynslesa
Posts: 199 |
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Beautiful, just *beautiful*. I haven't branched out into mecha figures yet (the Gundam Wing model kits of 10+ years ago don't count, they don't even sit in my shelves anymore due to them not being able enough to handle the apparent earthquake that is me walking past them), but if I do this one is definitely on my list. Of course, by the time I do it'll probably be gone, or I'll have to pay three times as much for it on Ebay... Maybe I should just get one for a friend. >.> Then *they* can display it, and I can look at it with a silly grin on my face.
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PlatinumHawke
Posts: 204 |
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For one it's for advertisement. Much like how some TVs have demo picture settings quite a few figure boxes have been getting more elaborate to pop out at people. Kinda sucks for us non-Japanese fans who get stuck with EMS because the thing can't fit into a SAL box, but thems the breaks in this hobby. Also some collectors view the box the figure came in just as important as the figure itself. Even minor dings or scratches to a box warrant not inconsequential deductions to the price tag on the 2nd hand market. Maybe not as much as the figure itself, but just the same. People can attest to getting something from Mandarake and wondering where the damage on their "damaged" box is. Getting back to the figure itself, easily the best looking Gurren-Lagann action figure in terms of sculpt, paint and just about everything else. Along with the biggest price tag. But that's Sentinel's game. I think the price tag is justifiable in that you're only really getting one of each big giant robot -- barring any massive alterations -- so you may as well go for broke. I can't wait to get my hands on their Zone of the Enders toys. |
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Mesonoxian Eve
Posts: 1858 |
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Interesting, because I've noticed how the box art is more prominent than the figure, which is hard to see because it's behind plastic that distorts a clear view, usually. "INTEREST: Anime Figure Industry Boxes 1/8 Scale Figures In Life Size Boxes" is an article I don't want to see.
I don't use SAL (Slow As 'L). With the industry constantly pushing back release dates, shipping costs are going up. I try to combine orders into one shipment, but now it's getting irritating. Combined, the shipping cost could have been reasonable, but these oversized boxes now command higher prices because EMS is based on size and weight. I think I'll ask Hobby Search to start shipping my stuff without the box. They can keep it and sell it to make up for the loss on the damaged boxes. 
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davecabrera
ANN Columnist
 Posts: 132 |
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From a domestic sales POV I understand the big boxes. The one for GL is really gorgeous and would absolutely look attractive in a store display. Could you pack it tighter? Sure. But a lot of these companies, especially the small ones like Sentinel, probably aren't thinking much about international sales. I mean, the weak dollar is the whole reason the price is so tough to begin with.
Bandai on the other hand, all their boxes have been super-small for the last couple years. Even that extravagant Saint Seiya box from a month back was extremely efficiently packed together. |
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