gokou105 wrote:brooklyn_geek wrote:mariog1497 wrote:
Honestly this is probably the only way they could've released these in the most fair way. If they put these online, people would immediately cry that the bots ate them all up. If a lottery was done, people would complain about how the lottery was done or the odds being not in their favor. If they released them at only conventions to purchase on its own, people would complain that they can't get to these conventions and exhibitors and other people were lined up already. Doing this as a mystery box makes sure that everyone has an equal opportunity to purchase it and has an equal shot to receive it in the box.
It feels insidery and shady because it kinda is... forget the Bots...and I will point this out forever till the end of time...Fugitive routinely hoards their own exclusives, marks them up and sells them slowly over time. It is theirs to do as such with but whenever I hear people talking about how great and fair they are I have to point out how anyone else would be universally shunned for marking up their own pieces 100% plus beyond the original retail as they do year after year. They still "restock" exclusives from 4 years ago...and people here are happy to pay the $100+ for flocked wicket etc. In and of itself that's fine just don't praise them for it when everyone else is called out for it. And mystery boxes are a gimmick that I hate. I will never support em...we have no idea what the odds are or how many were sold but the best move is to sell 4 times as many boxes as you had LE pieces...they are going to make a killing because people want a chance and I am willing to bet money some of these LE pieces pop up in a "restock" at some point in the future. I give it to em, they're smart on making it look like they're doing what's best for the fans but this isn't what it's all about. Great job Fugitive...
But what other companies are trying to combat the bots and being successful. Whatever you look at it, the bots are going to be an issue. With the mystery box, bots aren't able to see what they are buying. I'm not a fan of mystery boxes but it's probably the best way to distribute them than sell them on its own. If its listed online on its own, I bet you the bots would eat it up.
Fugitive did sell their exclusives at retail when they first came out. But as time went on, the value went up. I can't blame them for charging market rate.
Also, fugitive does throw some awesome parties for funatics and set up events for us to mingle.
So why make this piece, for a line, and especially a character, that was so popular, so rare in the first place? If, for some insane reason, Funko was really only able to make the limited amount claimed, I would have preferred to have seen them given away as prizes rather than sold in any manner. I would be very interested in the process used to decide who got these Pops to sell (did Fugitive win a bidding war?) and how many there would be.
Also, if Fugitive is a business, they should sell their entire stock at retail. If they are something else, like a collector selling on eBay who gets to demand market price, then they should not be getting rewarded by Funko in this manner. I find it especially disturbing that they are allowed to take advantage of the best aspects of both possibilities, such that they can artificially create a market value they then take advantage of.
China/Vietnam/etc, if you are listening, I hope you are able to find the molds/extras/rejects. I, for one, can't wait to give an enterprising factory manager/worker or dumpster diver a reasonable amount of money for a figure rather than pay anyone else a ridiculous amount for a box or a sticker.