What if - Funko offered a restoration/repaint service for pops?

[Flyers179]

Title says it all - if Funko offered some sort of service where customers could ship in their pops and have them officially repainted by hand (box repair is too much of an ask) would you use it on any of your beloved items. Obviously it would be expensive and cost a minimum of $20 not including shipping, but it would be great to have some way to fix up vaulted items that have factory defects or has paint issues from any other issues (little tumbles off the shelf!).

I know it's not super practical but I feel like I have a couple pops I would send in if they offered this to be touched up in a certified environment w/ the correct paint and a delicate touch.

[monktoast]

Sounds like a great idea. The only thing would be shipping damages etc..such a risk

[Kaljor]

Title says it all - if Funko offered some sort of service where customers could ship in their pops and have them officially repainted by hand (box repair is too much of an ask) would you use it on any of your beloved items. Obviously it would be expensive and cost a minimum of $20 not including shipping, but it would be great to have some way to fix up vaulted items that have factory defects or has paint issues from any other issues (little tumbles off the shelf!).

I know it's not super practical but I feel like I have a couple pops I would send in if they offered this to be touched up in a certified environment w/ the correct paint and a delicate touch.

This would be a logistics nightmare.

[Kwik_One]

Not feeling this personally but if it works for others then I say go for it.

[BerserkerBlack]

Seeing as pops are produced in another country, I don't see Funko investing in fixing "minor" issues. Even with vaulted figures. Personally, I'm ok wtih the lack of quality control in the earlier ones because that's how they use to be when they started it out. Just don't see the pay out to be worth the trouble. IMO

[zwahelian]

Yeah doesn’t seem like a cost effective or lucrative business venture for Funko. I would leave this service on the secondary market. It’s more worth Funko’s time to focus on new products than spend any time supporting older vaulted figures.

[Geescube]

This would be a logistics nightmare.

Lately, I am digging your posts.

[Classier]

Good idea, but I think it would be way too costly for it to even feasibly work out.

[akagalar]

This is what I thought of when I read this post...

[Dumplingbox]

Unfortunately the value of the average pop would not justify the repair costs that would be charged for such a service. The time and labor will be massively expensive relative to the purchase price of the pop. If you're willing to pay a high price to fix a pop you highly value, I'm sure there are local hobby stores that will be willing to fix whatever issue a person might have.

[racheva]

Seeing as pops are produced in another country, I don't see Funko investing in fixing "minor" issues. Even with vaulted figures. Personally, I'm ok wtih the lack of quality control in the earlier ones because that's how they use to be when they started it out. Just don't see the pay out to be worth the trouble. IMO

I have to agree. The older ones have their charm. And honestly, considering they’re basically $10-15 items, perfection is hard to ask for. Yeah, it bothers me when I pay more for a hard to find item and it has imperfections, but it’s not like the item originally cost all that much. Its worth is artificial.

[MyLittleFunkos]

I rarely spot major flaws on any of the Funko items I’ve purchased. Then again, I’m rarely looking for flaws to begin with. Sometimes you just gotta appreciate a piece for the mold or for the cool factor.

[Karubin]

It is a cool idea, but like what other people said, it is not feasible for Funko considering the people they will need to hire and how many of the collectors will actually use the services.

[Cccustomspop]

I mean hypothetically in an ideal world this would be awesome! But realistically? Never going to happen. Being someone who paints pops daily I can tell you that it is near impossible to just fix a small paint defect. It is necessary to repaint the entire area, if not the entire pop in order for the repair to blend in seamlessly. A $20 price point would be no where near enough to warrant the man hours needed to do a repair job worth doing at all.

[Brutesquad]

I don’t know about the Pops themselves but I’d be cool with a box replacement option, being an “in-boxer” this would come in handy...

[CaseyJones14]

I rarely spot major flaws on any of the Funko items I’ve purchased. Then again, I’m rarely looking for flaws to begin with. Sometimes you just gotta appreciate a piece for the mold or for the cool factor.

The flaws are actually battle wounds and birth marks

[Lexi]

I rarely spot major flaws on any of the Funko items I’ve purchased. Then again, I’m rarely looking for flaws to begin with. Sometimes you just gotta appreciate a piece for the mold or for the cool factor.

The flaws are actually battle wounds and birth marks

I like the way your mind works.

[Cccustomspop]

I don’t know about the Pops themselves but I’d be cool with a box replacement option, being an “in-boxer” this would come in handy...

I actually think this option is waaaay more realistic if Funko wanted to offer such a thing. But I’m sure they won’t because there is always someone who would use a service like this to sell replica or boot leg pops as real.

[Sdivirgilio7]

I think it would make the non restored ones worth more. Just imagine the descriptions on eBay or sell groups as original and never restored.

[Krazydave2000]

Funko will never do it. It would not be worth all the complaining.

[badger]

As others said, it’s doubtful that this will happen because of how niche and specific it is, but it would be cool I guess

[socaliwong]

[Sarcasticguy]

People only care about the boxes and stickers anyway

[BerserkerBlack]

I don’t know about the Pops themselves but I’d be cool with a box replacement option, being an “in-boxer” this would come in handy...

I actually think this option is waaaay more realistic if Funko wanted to offer such a thing. But I’m sure they won’t because there is always someone who would use a service like this to sell replica or boot leg pops as real.

I remember when Gemini use to sell replacement boxes...Ah, simpler times

[zwahelian]

People only care about the boxes and stickers anyway

#truth

[Vader27]

I don’t know about the Pops themselves but I’d be cool with a box replacement option, being an “in-boxer” this would come in handy...

I actually think this option is waaaay more realistic if Funko wanted to offer such a thing. But I’m sure they won’t because there is always someone who would use a service like this to sell replica or boot leg pops as real.

Agreed.

[Lonikins]

I'd rather have them fix broken Pops instead of paint.

[Kwik_One]

I don’t know about the Pops themselves but I’d be cool with a box replacement option, being an “in-boxer” this would come in handy...

I actually think this option is waaaay more realistic if Funko wanted to offer such a thing. But I’m sure they won’t because there is always someone who would use a service like this to sell replica or boot leg pops as real.

This is already happening unfortunately, just check eBay.

[MadLove]

The only company I’m aware that does/did that is American Girl Dolls. Don’t even know if they still offer it. Granted those dolls cost a little more than $10-15 It would cost Funko way more than it does to initially produce and ship the items since they’d have to pay someone to do it, probably within the US (no cheaper labor like they can get by manufacturing overseas) Plus since secondary market prices don’t affect Funko directly, it’d be so much extra work for something they earn a few dollars on that backstock available, would be easier for them to just exchange.
I like the idea of box replacements but considering they can’t get it together to send replacement boxes for retailers who receive damaged merchandise directly from Funko, I doubt they’ll be offering it to the general public any time soon.
If you have a pop you’re displeased with the paint job, try contacting someone who does customs. They may be able to fix it for you for the right price. I’ve done touch ups on my own before-it’s not as daunting as it seems at first. Or start practicing and you could learn a new skill and never have to worry about it in the future.

[The Head]

This would be a logistics nightmare.

I don't think the logistics would be as bad as you think. There is a whole business model that is pretty similar logistically - comic/card grading. I'm not saying it would be easy, but it's most definitely doable and there are models they could leverage from.

With that said, Funko doing it will never happen. More likely that someone offers the service on the secondary market. Granted, it wouldn't be "certified", but if they could establish a reputation for quality, they could carve out a nice niche for themselves.

[FunkoLoco]

This is a much needed service. Box replacements too?

[Fnkyeahryry]

This is what I thought of when I read this post...

I feel like this is me every time I’m fixing my pops. I get so picky on paint jobs so I’ll clean them up. Magic eraser is a miracle worker for those smudges and plops of paint that wasn’t supposed to be there.

[brooklyn_geek]

It would foster an already insane culture of people nit picking over the condition of boxes and toys, paint jobs etc...they are cheaply made toys from China why are we trying to fix em?

[KMFH11]

I rarely spot major flaws on any of the Funko items I’ve purchased. Then again, I’m rarely looking for flaws to begin with. Sometimes you just gotta appreciate a piece for the mold or for the cool factor.

The flaws are actually battle wounds and birth marks

love it!

[Cccustomspop]

I don’t know about the Pops themselves but I’d be cool with a box replacement option, being an “in-boxer” this would come in handy...

I actually think this option is waaaay more realistic if Funko wanted to offer such a thing. But I’m sure they won’t because there is always someone who would use a service like this to sell replica or boot leg pops as real.

This is already happening unfortunately, just check eBay.

Very true. But it would be a lot harder to weed out the fakes if legit replacement boxes for vaulted or rare pops become readily available.

[Kwik_One]

I actually think this option is waaaay more realistic if Funko wanted to offer such a thing. But I’m sure they won’t because there is always someone who would use a service like this to sell replica or boot leg pops as real.

This is already happening unfortunately, just check eBay.

Very true. But it would be a lot harder to weed out the fakes if legit replacement boxes for vaulted or rare pops become readily available.

I agree with your point. As it is, it’s tough to spot the fakes and legit boxes would make it even worse. We just have to use common sense - if it seems too good to be true then it’s probably not true.

[cptuff1969]

Not feeling this personally but if it works for others then I say go for it.

Agreed

[meangene]

This would be a logistics nightmare.

I don't think the logistics would be as bad as you think. There is a whole business model that is pretty similar logistically - comic/card grading. I'm not saying it would be easy, but it's most definitely doable and there are models they could leverage from.

With that said, Funko doing it will never happen. More likely that someone offers the service on the secondary market. Granted, it wouldn't be "certified", but if they could establish a reputation for quality, they could carve out a nice niche for themselves.

Agreed. It's a cool thought, but I don't think it would make sense for them to do it.

[tugzy23]

Would be interesting indeed!!

[Cinesister]

I tend to touch up my own pops. What would be super useful is a paint code so we can mix our own paints and match the colours for touch ups.