The chase figure died in the early 2000's and that is where McFarlane should have left it. While some of the chase figures look cool, I still never found a lot of the chase figures I was looking for back then let alone now... Case in point, the Knightfall Batman we are getting as a regular release is the "red" version instead of the blue one that EVERYONE WANTS... the feedback I get from my customers is that they get discouraged when they cant find that chase version and then they resort to buying on the secondary market at an inflated price because the scalpers are out grabbing and putting it to the collectors by charging double or more... =(
The concept of chase figures isn't inherently bad. It's when Two-Faced Todd decides to make main versions of characters or the most desired versions the chase figure that's the problem.
Sounds like the chase figure just doesn't have a place in today's market. I really really hate the idea of randomly shipping out a chase, especially with some of the crappy ones that McFarlane has. I once got one of their Artist Proof variants in place of what I ordered and I was pissed. I mean it's great if you're a customizer and that's what you got it for, but I don't want it for my shelf. Without good distribution and a lot of retail demand, I've felt it just doesn't work. If they're great, they just get snapped up by the scalpers as you say, and if they suck, they'll just peg warm. Leaves me hating the toy makers who chose that route. Say what you want about repaints/reissues, but I much prefer manufacturers just re-releasing things in different colors than trying to pack in a chase per box. Like Hasbro's practice of re-releasing BAF figures in 2-packs or in a deluxe box. Or Four Horsemen's practice of re-releasing regular versions of their convention exclusives minus an accessory or two.
I don't mind chases if its a figure that has a different paint job. But when its the main costume or look for that character that's the chase it makes me bonkers.
But the"repaint" chase of Azrael is the one everyone wants. They should have made blue the standard. McFarlane said he like to make a fan by getting someone who normally wouldn't be interested a profit
Chases aren't bad as they could or couldn't be something we want, but for the love of god, stop making exclusives we can't find or sell out faster than Benedict Arnold.
I genuinely like your Mystery Box idea. You get several figures. You might want one and don't get it, but why not flip one to get the one you want? They put out so many, so I feel like the Mystery Box is a good deal. Like, I'd love to chase down the figures, but I'm too spoiled by instant gratification. Then, why spend my own gas money when I could have someone send it to me at like less than a gallon? It's honestly a part of life. There are shiny Pokemon. There are metallic Power Rangers. There are costume variant superheroes. Life goes on.
I don’t inherently dislike chases and have personally felt that rush that Big Nerdy described when finding a chase in nature at retail. However, I feel like McFarlane and other companies are playing chicken with consumers when leveraging artificial scarcity. It’s true, if every product is overproduced and peg warms that is bad for the line and the company overall which could lead to a line ending. But the other side of it is if collectors just can’t get certain key toys, then they could quit the line or collecting in general. It is one thing for a company to underestimate demand, which is what I think happened with the recent McF Wonder Woman (although they should have known). But the distribution of the recent Cathaway figures and the blue Azrael Platinum, which is the color everyone wants, feels like in some ways McF is both leaving money on the table and daring collectors to quit certain collections. Hasbro and Mattel have/are also playing with artificial scarcity, but they go the exclusive route. I see the pros and cons of chases (and exclusives), but companies (manufacture and retailers) should not be too surprised if collectors pull back in a big way if pushed too far, especially if the economy suffers (continues to suffer) and discretionary budgets tank even more
It's true. As someone else mentioned I either have 0 interest in a chase or it's an absolute must have that I'll never find. And hasbro has done it for me. I stopped star wars and GI Joe. The distribution is all over the place. Joes go from being scarce to going on clearance with no way to predict what to pounce on or what to hold off of. Then pulse exclusive shit that is often more expensive and now forces me into an additional shipping fee! All said in done you wind up paying damn near 40 bucks for a figure that should have been 19.99 on the peg.
Here in the UK, we're struggling to get the normal figs, let alone the chases!! McF's B&Rs Poison Ivy is impossible to get!! Plus stuff like the Jurassic Hammond Collection is shocking over here, whereas in the US they are shelf warmers!! So annoying!! 😡😡😡
The B&R wave was extremely popular, much more than McF stuff usually is, so sold out pretty much everywhere on pre-order and even bonus restocks sold out instantly. One retailer explained that McF stuff needs be ordered far in advanced before pre-orders go live, so they have to guess how popular a figure/wave will be, for B&R they based on typical McF wave sales, but as said it turned out to be much more popular than anyone expected.
Option 2: Sell the chases at a markup. Everyone wins (as much as possible) that way. The mystery box idea only works for those with [even more] disposable income cuz most collectors will only shell out money on items they know they want/need.
I wasn’t able to acquire either the McFarlane regular edition Wonder Woman or the Chase. Feels as if the most popular female characters become scarce almost immediately. Knightfall Catwoman both editions, Superwoman, Supergirl, Wonder Woman, and the Anne Hathaway Catwoman. It almost feels like McFarlane produces fewer of these for whatever reason.
Chase figures should cost 25% more, have better paint and more accessories, and should be clearly and persistently available for order during the lead up to the production run. If McFarlane is going to keep doing all this "Gold Label" and "Platinum Label" crap, he needs to work with Target and Walmart on their distribution. Like for example making them available to order on the website.
I hate chase figures just because stores in my area never get them. like recently I've been looking for the mcfarlane platinum dark knight catwoman, but no store in my city got either that figure or the dark knight batman with the wired cape. I also hate markup cause that ends up looking super greedy, like fye has regular figures that are retailed between $20 and $35 and selling them for $40 to $60 claiming it's "mall tax", like most of their black series figures are being sold at around $50.
Another option for the chase figures, I’ve seen some stores do here (UK) is they put them up for auction on places like eBay. Also, thank you for sending out my order so quickly. 🙂
The problem for me is when there are toys exclusive to stores that simply don't exist in my country. I have to rely on price gouging from the secondary market in that case and I'd really rather not.
I did that Target to Target chase for the Platinum Sky Dive Dark Knight, and just the other day I found it and yeah what a feeling. Definitely more difficult now, but the hunt is so fun
When it comes to Warhammer, you couldn't be more wrong about the Artist Proof figures. Many of us wish this was the standard figure. Hell we wouldn't mind if they threw it in a box disassembled.. As far as the one "Gold Label" figure in the line?.. I am sure there's a meme somewhere.
Without real toy stores and most people buying online, the chase figure is now a relic of times gone by. You can't recreate the feeling of "the chase" by looking at a screen and clicking a button, especially for variants that for the most part I'm not sure are going to hold any long term value. I mean, I really think you'll be seeing a lot of Platinum figures collecting dust on a peg at some small toy stores right next to those yellow Daredevils in a few years. And I don't really think they're doing McFarlane any favors other than to create problems like the ones you mention with returns and dead stock, which turns off big dogs like Amazon which in turn turns them off of ordering more McFarlane. Sure, McFarlane can just go straight to the comic stores and small retailers, but we've seen DC lines do that before and it never ends well. So, I think those figures should just be released as a limited run, premium figure available at a higher price and be done with it. It's annoying to pay more for basically nothing but a label and different paint, but it's just stores going the reseller route by cutting out the middle man and is the only thing that makes sense.
I'm pretty good with finding chases... started about a year and half ago. My first figure was the platinum Freeze via EQL. Ever since then I have been addicted to finding chases... don't really collect every figure, but I will go after most chases. I only skipped 3 plats in the Collectors series ( Batman GL, Superman/ Krpyto kyrptonite poisoning, and Firestorm) mostly b/c I didn't like those figures and Deathstorm was a better variant than the plat Firestorm. Also you shouldn't feel bad selling it 10 bucks above retail. Most people are tired of the chase, spending money on gas and I think anywhere from 39.99 - 49.99 is a fair price for a plat.
as a collector, i love chases. the hunt is fun. and since it's limited, it's nice having it in my collection. and with mcfarlane, not all SKUs has a chase figure. so i get to relax and not spend too much collecting everything. which is the opposite with funko especially with popular IPs. as a small retailer, i sell it srp randomly, as we cant sell it above srp where im from.
Chases make no sense to me from a business standpoint. At first it wasn't a problem because the variants were just simple recoloring like bronze and gold. A cool addition to the collection if you get one but not really something missing if you don't. But with Hawkman and Azrael, putting the more desired version as the chase seems dumb. Wouldn't you sell more to collectors by making both widely available? All chases do is help the secondary market scalpers. If anything it turns more collectors away knowing it's going to be harder to get the figures they want in the future. Also stores need to figure out if they want people coming into the stores or not because Walmart and Targets have been making changes that are driving people to not shop in store, so having a store exclusive not easily purchasable online defeats the purpose of the exclusive in the first place.
Chase figures remind me of variant covers back when I collected comics. If I liked it I bought it, but never went on the hunt for it. Here you can't even go on the hunt. Target and Walmart pretty much only carry pops and wrestling here. I personally like how Valaverse handles it where it is sold in a blind box where even they don't know what is being sent out. Of course that doesn't help the retailer. Mystery boxes aren't a bad idea, but I only consider them if everything in the mix is something I would want.
One problem with sending them out randomly is when you have someone like me that doesn't care if it's a Chase or not. I just want the one that looks better to me. I've traded chases for regulars. I never bought the chase Wonder Woman or Hawkman because I preferred the normal versions
Mystery box is a good way to approach the chase figure. Pricing it at a place that wouldn't be worth it for scalpers to grab up right away, i.e. $37 50 Nerdzoic price against the $50 secondary market price, would also be a way to do it even though that pricing method would be more involved.
If there’s too many chase variants I want and can’t get for a decent price in a line, I’m out of the line and may end up selling off that part of my collection altogether. I’ve already narrowed down to primarily TMNT and G.I. Joe anyway, so McFarlane variants don’t phase me personally, but I think it’s a balancing act for toy companies. Don’t frustrate your fanbase!
As a reseller myself i often get questions from regular customers to sell them a chase figure if i happen to get one. As much as i would like to do that, there are just oo many regular customers who would want it. Would have to disappoint a lot of them. So i choose to just put them online at a slightly higher price (10%) so it helps me balance the rest of the case which is sold at a lower margin.
I love the mystery box idea for chase figures. It's what Ringside Collectables does with the AEW ones and it sort of puts that thrill back into it because you know you ARE getting a chase, you just don't know which one. But seeing as how this is specifically about DC figures, I'd love to know where Big Nerdy stands on the concept of doing what Jazwares does with AEW figures where the only release of a much wanted character is exclusively a chase, limited to about 5000 pieces that you can only buy at brick and mortar or go on a specialty store, buy a mystery box, and hope for the best. Note: I never had any problem with chase figures before in my life with any company ever before this. Thrill of the hunt, and if you wanted the chase, you put your work in to get it either in store or on secondary (if you didn't want to hunt). But honestly, making entire characters chase figures only... that feels WAY different to me and, while it sort of feels like the wrong term to use, it kind of feels like Jazwares has put the Bunny and Alex Reynolds figures, both figures that are required to complete a set of NORMAL release figures, behind a secondary market paywall. Just my thoughts and curious as to what Big Nerdy would think about that practice as a retailer and collector.
I've been in the game for a long time and there is a level of "fun" a la dopamine/adrenaline rushes when finding a chase figure (or a grail figure) out in the wild. That said, I have less time to go on the hunt though I have more disposable income to throw at a chase figure if I am really really excited for it. The bane of my collecting is when army builders, classic costumes/looks or just fan favourite figures are artificially scarce or there is an onslaught of scalpers that chew them all up. This hurts a whole lot more not living in the US, Japan or Hong Kong. I have no time to sit by a computer waiting for a pre-order or exclusive sale to open up and then button mash hoping I get into the queue before items sell out. Mezco and Hasbro Pulse are the two most hostile systems to interact with and it happens A LOT. As a "collector" I am a completist for some lines, often I pick and choose and finally there are some favourite characters I try to buy to "collect" all the variants. I'm not a reseller/flipper/scalper. I open my toys. I display my toys. I photograph my toys. I play with my toys. YMMV, and those that want MIB collections, hey, who am I to argue? The scalpers though? There is a special place in hell reserved for these bottom feeders. Hasbro GI JOE Classified almost had me drop the entire line during the worst of the releases where super cool army builders or even just fan favourites such as the initial Fire Fly release were only available at Target and there is no international shipping. Eventually they were carried by Gamestop in Canada but the volume was low, the preorders went about the same as a Mezco/Pulse/Target pre-sale and it soured my joy and enthusiasm for the franchise and line. I would like to see a line drawn in the sand between "collectors collecting" and "speculators speculating." Variant paint apps, super deep cut releases, mega expensive releases (that don't fall under Haslab like releases), I am fine with those being exclusives or limited to ultra limited. In Hasbro's defence, they have come a long way with the Classified and 6" Retro releases in terms of availability and volume. Mezco and others still have a long long long way to go.
I don't mind the general idea of chase figures, but I think they need to be color schemes that aren't like a super wanted version of the character. The Plat for the First Appearance Batman is a good version of a Chase paint job. Its a niche odd recolor referencing a specific comic panel or cover. Others like the Classic Hawkman, or the Blue Armored Az-Bats, are super sought after versions and to some people the definitive version of the character. But making the one people actually want a chase variant is super annoying, because some people want that version over the other and hoping for a random chance of finding or getting it, or paying an insane markup for it sucks.
The first option, it’s value is $12.99 you sell it for that same price, if someone else wants to buy it and then resell it and someone wants to pay $49.99 the other person’s issue why should a retailer make more money on an item because is “more rare“
I personally have a rule with collecting. If its not widely available to the public, I don't consider it part of the set. For instance Gi Joe classified have a ton of figures that are convention exclusives or limited editions. I don't think its fair or reasonable to try and search them out just to say you have a complete set when they either are just unavailable or stupidly over priced.
Ann Hathaway's Catwoman: the one that came with the Bat bike was sold only on McFarlane's store. He did have that version in his store, but it was only for a hot minute before selling out. The regular, non-riding version with the non-blown hair, is a freaking Platinum in stores. How about just freaking releasing the non-riding version as a regular release instead of a freaking chase? A lot of people want that freaking figure and McFarlane makes it a one per case??? 🖕McFarlane.
I don’t mind chase/platinum figures, I may be speaking because I lucked out and got The Dark Knight Rises platinum Catwoman, but I think it is fun trying to get them. However, also as a Black Series collector…Walmart exclusives are absolutely terrible
You could sell a chase with a fair markup but limit one or 2 per account. Or to your top account who purchase that line. Then opening it to others a month later or so. Now you are rewarding your best customers but still giving others a chance a bit later.
I think that Wonder Woman was much more sought after and higher prices on ebay than the Hawkman. That's neither here nor there. IMO I have been able to come by McFarlane Platinum figures much easier than other brand's chase figures. For example the Wonder Woman Platinum Edition, I ordered the regular version from Best Buy and got the Platinum, which was the one I really wanted.
Normally I don't care one bit for the chase figures, but my wife really enjoyed Dune 2, so I was super happy to find that one in store! (Paul Atreides figgy)
I can understand a variant being a chase but now a days I feel like they stamp a platinum sticker on almost every figure just to try and get people to buy them
I know scalpers, army builders, and people who buy up all the clearance and sell it at toy shows can make it hard to find what you want at a good price but with patience you almost always chase down that hard to find figure. Keep the joy in collecting!
Great take on this matter. Is a chase so they have to live to the name somehow. I love the hunt but sometimes I'm not the mood for that. But you are 100% right. Seeing one in the wild does change how you feel about your hole entire day.
Here's my 1 problem with McFarlane's current Chase situation: I don't mind chases that are just repaints, different looks that can serve as a standard version. The Wonder Woman, Hawkman, First Appearance Batman, and Captain Carrot Chases? I love the paint schemes, but if i got the standard version, its no big deal. With the two Dark Knight figures McFarlane has put out this year, the Chase figures are just different figures. The standard Batman is unmasked with the skydiving gear, while the chase is a masked figure with a wired soft-goods cape. To me, those are two different releases and one being limited to a random chance sucks, because i know none will ever show up at retail for me so im stuck with aftermarket prices or random chance from an etailer to get the better figure. Tl;dr: Paint decos as chase figures? Good. Different, better figures as chase figures? Annoying.
If you collected Gashapon / Gacha figures you'd understand how evil chase figures are. Some of them are as rare as 1/144 chance. Or they have 5-6 chase figures and only put ONE in a box of 24. So you have to buy at MINIMUM 6 boxes of figures to get the full set.
IMO companies like McFarland are just encouraging scalping by doing this. I seriously doubt that companies like McFarland hate scalpers. A customer is a customer to them. Nowadays they need every customer that they can find.
I second that motion to keep it as a mystery box item. IMHO with the absence of a viable alternative, using a Chase figure as a mystery box item is neither a tip to the buyer or seller. Rather, it’s intended use (random and rare) is pushed down directly to the buyer thereby achieving its initial goal. ❤ Big Nerdy!
How about this if you got certain chase figures im looking for classic wonder woman,red and white Superman plastic man wave and azbat Batman and I believe you opened him on your channel I'll buy from you and you can bump the price up Lil higher then retail I'll buy plus the Superman red and white version he can be loose with no box and without baf piece I'm tired of going back and forth too Target I'm no scalper just a collectors tired of looking Here in Illinois we don't be getting nothen only the bigger cities like Chicago and Springfield
I would say limit 1 per account and disclose that you may cancel orders at your discretion for accounts with little or no purchase history. Also it's sad that the hunt isn't what is use to be and I don't "chase" anything anymore. But if I do happen to be at a store I do always check. Once I a blue moon I get lucky. But I try to pretend like they don't exist, that way I'm never disappointed when I don't find them.
I have found four AEW Unrivaled chase figures my most recent one was the CM Punk 1 of 5000 chase likely his last AEW figure. As for the Mcfarlane platinum figures I've seen a lot of them recently I've found Steel Catwoman and Batman. I only picked up Batman out of those and I opened it its next to my Batmobile with the Keaton Batman. I don't collect for money the figures just add to the collection.
I was very lucky on the Toybiz run of Marvel Legends. I found Goliath, Red Skull, variant Cyclops(X-Factor outfit), Angel(blue costume variant), Wolverine AOA( burnt head), Wolverine leather costume(unmasked), Bishop(bald), Cable(brown costume) and I think that was it, but I found them all in the "wild" and they were $8.99 a piece. So you could purchase a whole run and not have to take out a second mortgage. I just hunt and peck now. I did buy the entire Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse line for the Hand ninjas and Stilt-man BAF.
Chases don't bother me because I don't believe in FOMO! Everything I collect is almost guaranteed to get a nicer sculpt every few years, so I'd rather just deal with what I can find. The higher aftermarket price for chases can be fun to swing around years later sometimes too.
When the Platinum/Chase figure is the most desirable version of the character, it’s a bad thing. (classic color Wonder Woman/Hawkman/Superman/Blue Azrael) When it’s a variant that has a few extra accessories, colors, maskless, etc. then fine. Just don’t make the figure everyone wants the hardest to find. I disagree with the markup option because why should we pay more for a figure we want just because McFarlane can charge more for it. Would I rather pay more just to get it, yeah, sure. But I disagree with that idea as a matter of principle. Up to this point we’ve been able to find the figures we want. Now, not so much. Why pull this on collectors after all we’ve done to support the line. It feels greedy and a move that doesn’t have the loyal collectors in mind, just the company and the scalpers who capitalize. I strongly disagree with the chase/Platinum figure releases.
I usually don’t mind chases, it’s fun to have variants. But I hate when the chase figure has better things (Bane’s coat) than the regular release. Btw, I actually liked the Warhammer Greyscale figures. That game/hobby is built upon people painting the figures/miniatures
Hold an auction for chases. Let people bid and pay what they deem is a fair value. Another idea is don't allow returns on case orders for certain chase runs and make sure the buyer is aware of this policy. Or set aside a certain number of chases and sell them at live events. That way you see who is coming to buy and limit 1 per person. Just some ideas
Not a fan of Chase figures. I got the hawkman Chase figure and don’t plan to open it. I got the Chase and regular versions of the newish Andre the Giant figures. I don’t think I’ve seen other Chase figures in person. I’m not a fan of them but understand the reasons to make them. To be able to use the mold of figures more than once to get the money invested in them to be able to make new molds and sell new figures.
Joking as sad, I don’t really have much of an opinion on chases. But when recent releases like the upcoming Knightfall, Azrael has what should be the standard color as the chase, it becomes a bit annoying.
I am fine with Chase figures, as long as the Alt is the Chase. The Blue and Gold Azrael Batman being a chase figure while a red and grey on is the standard? Terrible. Darkseid without chest armor is standard and the one with Armor was a chase? Terrible.
I have almost spent a $1,000 at your store. I don't like a mystery box because I am going to get stuff don't want. I don't want to buy a case for a chase. If the item is exclusive, then sell it for 3/4 of what a chase box would cost. I actually want you to be successful. I want you to make money. I like buying from you.
Sell the chase at a nominal premium. BBTS and Ringside do it so, no harm no foul. Consider that johnny dooshbagthe scalper will SLAM the buyer, you’re much more fair A chase has to be different enough to make it desirable. When Kevin Nash and Diesel were the respective chase that was awesome but. then you have the Alister Black which was literally a different not coloured deco hit on the knee pad.
Todd just recently said on an interview with three dc multiverse youtube influencers that he was all for scalpers flipping his chase figures because of, well, capitalism. His thoughts were, that makes the scalper/flipper a big fan of his. So, it aint changing anytime soon.
The fact that Todd needs to resort to this to sell his crappy toys should tell you a lot. Jada Street Fighter stuff flies off the shelves and they don't make chase figures... they just make amazing products everybody wants. Todd has never done that in 30 years and he never will.
McFarland sells in a differentvgeneral market while Jada is more "fan" centered. His pricepoints lower because of this not in spite of it. Just saying.
Chase figures are an absolute scourge. I realize that they drive sales, but it makes collecting vert frustrating. McFarlane is the worst as they make "mainline" characters chase. Blue Azrael? Probably Superman Red? This reminds me collecting in the 2001 -12 era (typing that makes me feel old).
McFarlane is pretty much the only toy manufacturer still doing chase figures, unless you count Funko Pops. Todd is still in 1994 between the ears. Anyways I don't collect McFarlane anymore so don't really care about this topic anymore.
It's how Mcfarlane is doing it that I just despise. Store exclusives not Walmart I'm flexible. That makes sense. But that's gold label. Platinum is an absolute mess though. If you order online, there is a chance you don't actually get the figure you ordered. If that item is sold out, you can't exchange for the figure the retailer advertised. That this is a known risk comes off as fraud. This is what really made the artist proof terrible. You paid full price for that figure and it wasn't the one advertised. That's fraud. Some of the designs they choose are the standard designs which feels wrong. Hawkman stands out. Then TDKR Catwoman and the platinum golds...it's a mess. Now I don't mind the more creative stuff. Green Lantern Batman Platinum is unique looking but it's not some standard design. It's there is someone wants it. Platinum Wonder Woman, I know has fans but I do also feel that's FOMO for FOMO. A design that most buyers have likely never read one comic with that look. So I don't mind it existing as a chase but I hate how it's mixed in with online orders. I think it's obsolete and better character selections/quantities make more sense. Then retailers may also want to stifle excessive returns.
I've never liked "chase" figures. Or blind boxes. Or incentive covers or any of those kinds of marketing tactics. And it is marketing. I want to buy what I want not waste time "hunting". But I'm an older collector and don't have tolerance for gimmicks like the kids these days.
Mystery boxes are just hidden mark ups. At that point just mark them up and get it iver with. This chase nonsense is a spit in the face to fans regardless.
Chase? I haven't even found normal wonder women and flash, and the new figures, gone everywhere my dumb ass canceled my orders thinking ima find em in stores.
I don't care about chase figures, here in the EU most of the figure are released month later and I only collect normal versions, the closest for me to a chase figure was Patina edition Batman the Merciless.......overpriced but for me worth it to finally get this charactere
The chase figure makes me quit dc mcfarlane figures. I focus now more on batman statue. I’d rather buy a detailed statue rather than buying a platinum batman same body buck mcfarlane with the price of premium statue.
I strongly dislike McFarlane DC Figures anyway! I Hate McFarlane Scale, Sculpts, and Selection. A few Sculpts have very recently gotten a little better. In a week I celebrate 30 years as a Collector, I have built 6 different DC Earth's, I have only bought 5 McFarlane DC Figures; Devastator, Gorilla Grodd, Lex Luthor in Green Battlesuit, Atom Smasher, and Swamp Thing. All Figures that are supposed to be bigger!
Where do you stand on chase figures?
The chase figure died in the early 2000's and that is where McFarlane should have left it. While some of the chase figures look cool, I still never found a lot of the chase figures I was looking for back then let alone now... Case in point, the Knightfall Batman we are getting as a regular release is the "red" version instead of the blue one that EVERYONE WANTS... the feedback I get from my customers is that they get discouraged when they cant find that chase version and then they resort to buying on the secondary market at an inflated price because the scalpers are out grabbing and putting it to the collectors by charging double or more... =(
That Azrael makes ZERO sense...makes me think that someone made a mistake and revised the chase vs non-chase
The concept of chase figures isn't inherently bad. It's when Two-Faced Todd decides to make main versions of characters or the most desired versions the chase figure that's the problem.
Sounds like the chase figure just doesn't have a place in today's market. I really really hate the idea of randomly shipping out a chase, especially with some of the crappy ones that McFarlane has. I once got one of their Artist Proof variants in place of what I ordered and I was pissed. I mean it's great if you're a customizer and that's what you got it for, but I don't want it for my shelf.
Without good distribution and a lot of retail demand, I've felt it just doesn't work. If they're great, they just get snapped up by the scalpers as you say, and if they suck, they'll just peg warm. Leaves me hating the toy makers who chose that route. Say what you want about repaints/reissues, but I much prefer manufacturers just re-releasing things in different colors than trying to pack in a chase per box. Like Hasbro's practice of re-releasing BAF figures in 2-packs or in a deluxe box. Or Four Horsemen's practice of re-releasing regular versions of their convention exclusives minus an accessory or two.
Ex: Ambush Bug, Captain Carrot (Platinum) should have been chases.
Mcfarlane is picking the wrong characters as a Chase.
I'm not a huge fan of chases. I rarely feel there is a chase that I want. However when I do, I feel like it's one that I can never find.
I don't mind chases if its a figure that has a different paint job. But when its the main costume or look for that character that's the chase it makes me bonkers.
Good old Hong Kong skydive Batman
But the"repaint" chase of Azrael is the one everyone wants. They should have made blue the standard. McFarlane said he like to make a fan by getting someone who normally wouldn't be interested a profit
Chases aren't bad as they could or couldn't be something we want, but for the love of god, stop making exclusives we can't find or sell out faster than Benedict Arnold.
Yep so true, this is why I shop Amazon despite how people feel about it
I genuinely like your Mystery Box idea. You get several figures. You might want one and don't get it, but why not flip one to get the one you want? They put out so many, so I feel like the Mystery Box is a good deal. Like, I'd love to chase down the figures, but I'm too spoiled by instant gratification. Then, why spend my own gas money when I could have someone send it to me at like less than a gallon? It's honestly a part of life. There are shiny Pokemon. There are metallic Power Rangers. There are costume variant superheroes. Life goes on.
I don’t inherently dislike chases and have personally felt that rush that Big Nerdy described when finding a chase in nature at retail. However, I feel like McFarlane and other companies are playing chicken with consumers when leveraging artificial scarcity. It’s true, if every product is overproduced and peg warms that is bad for the line and the company overall which could lead to a line ending. But the other side of it is if collectors just can’t get certain key toys, then they could quit the line or collecting in general.
It is one thing for a company to underestimate demand, which is what I think happened with the recent McF Wonder Woman (although they should have known). But the distribution of the recent Cathaway figures and the blue Azrael Platinum, which is the color everyone wants, feels like in some ways McF is both leaving money on the table and daring collectors to quit certain collections.
Hasbro and Mattel have/are also playing with artificial scarcity, but they go the exclusive route. I see the pros and cons of chases (and exclusives), but companies (manufacture and retailers) should not be too surprised if collectors pull back in a big way if pushed too far, especially if the economy suffers (continues to suffer) and discretionary budgets tank even more
It's true. As someone else mentioned I either have 0 interest in a chase or it's an absolute must have that I'll never find. And hasbro has done it for me. I stopped star wars and GI Joe. The distribution is all over the place. Joes go from being scarce to going on clearance with no way to predict what to pounce on or what to hold off of. Then pulse exclusive shit that is often more expensive and now forces me into an additional shipping fee! All said in done you wind up paying damn near 40 bucks for a figure that should have been 19.99 on the peg.
Here in the UK, we're struggling to get the normal figs, let alone the chases!! McF's B&Rs Poison Ivy is impossible to get!! Plus stuff like the Jurassic Hammond Collection is shocking over here, whereas in the US they are shelf warmers!! So annoying!! 😡😡😡
The B&R wave was extremely popular, much more than McF stuff usually is, so sold out pretty much everywhere on pre-order and even bonus restocks sold out instantly. One retailer explained that McF stuff needs be ordered far in advanced before pre-orders go live, so they have to guess how popular a figure/wave will be, for B&R they based on typical McF wave sales, but as said it turned out to be much more popular than anyone expected.
Exclusives are the bane of collectors... Most likely the reason I stop a line lol.
THIS
As someone who bought the Pandora gear pack 3 times, and got the bloody variant 3 times, I hate blind boxes. I just want to buy the thing I want.
Option 2: Sell the chases at a markup. Everyone wins (as much as possible) that way.
The mystery box idea only works for those with [even more] disposable income cuz most collectors will only shell out money on items they know they want/need.
I wasn’t able to acquire either the McFarlane regular edition Wonder Woman or the Chase.
Feels as if the most popular female characters become scarce almost immediately. Knightfall Catwoman both editions, Superwoman, Supergirl, Wonder Woman, and the Anne Hathaway Catwoman.
It almost feels like McFarlane produces fewer of these for whatever reason.
Chase figures should cost 25% more, have better paint and more accessories, and should be clearly and persistently available for order during the lead up to the production run.
If McFarlane is going to keep doing all this "Gold Label" and "Platinum Label" crap, he needs to work with Target and Walmart on their distribution. Like for example making them available to order on the website.
I hate chase figures just because stores in my area never get them. like recently I've been looking for the mcfarlane platinum dark knight catwoman, but no store in my city got either that figure or the dark knight batman with the wired cape.
I also hate markup cause that ends up looking super greedy, like fye has regular figures that are retailed between $20 and $35 and selling them for $40 to $60 claiming it's "mall tax", like most of their black series figures are being sold at around $50.
Another option for the chase figures, I’ve seen some stores do here (UK) is they put them up for auction on places like eBay. Also, thank you for sending out my order so quickly. 🙂
I think the best option is selling them at a mark up. Not as high as resales, but where the margins for a resale is not worth the effort
The problem for me is when there are toys exclusive to stores that simply don't exist in my country. I have to rely on price gouging from the secondary market in that case and I'd really rather not.
I did that Target to Target chase for the Platinum Sky Dive Dark Knight, and just the other day I found it and yeah what a feeling. Definitely more difficult now, but the hunt is so fun
When it comes to Warhammer, you couldn't be more wrong about the Artist Proof figures. Many of us wish this was the standard figure. Hell we wouldn't mind if they threw it in a box disassembled.. As far as the one "Gold Label" figure in the line?.. I am sure there's a meme somewhere.
Without real toy stores and most people buying online, the chase figure is now a relic of times gone by. You can't recreate the feeling of "the chase" by looking at a screen and clicking a button, especially for variants that for the most part I'm not sure are going to hold any long term value. I mean, I really think you'll be seeing a lot of Platinum figures collecting dust on a peg at some small toy stores right next to those yellow Daredevils in a few years. And I don't really think they're doing McFarlane any favors other than to create problems like the ones you mention with returns and dead stock, which turns off big dogs like Amazon which in turn turns them off of ordering more McFarlane. Sure, McFarlane can just go straight to the comic stores and small retailers, but we've seen DC lines do that before and it never ends well.
So, I think those figures should just be released as a limited run, premium figure available at a higher price and be done with it. It's annoying to pay more for basically nothing but a label and different paint, but it's just stores going the reseller route by cutting out the middle man and is the only thing that makes sense.
I'm pretty good with finding chases... started about a year and half ago. My first figure was the platinum Freeze via EQL. Ever since then I have been addicted to finding chases... don't really collect every figure, but I will go after most chases. I only skipped 3 plats in the Collectors series ( Batman GL, Superman/ Krpyto kyrptonite poisoning, and Firestorm) mostly b/c I didn't like those figures and Deathstorm was a better variant than the plat Firestorm. Also you shouldn't feel bad selling it 10 bucks above retail. Most people are tired of the chase, spending money on gas and I think anywhere from 39.99 - 49.99 is a fair price for a plat.
as a collector, i love chases. the hunt is fun. and since it's limited, it's nice having it in my collection. and with mcfarlane, not all SKUs has a chase figure. so i get to relax and not spend too much collecting everything. which is the opposite with funko especially with popular IPs.
as a small retailer, i sell it srp randomly, as we cant sell it above srp where im from.
Chases make no sense to me from a business standpoint. At first it wasn't a problem because the variants were just simple recoloring like bronze and gold. A cool addition to the collection if you get one but not really something missing if you don't. But with Hawkman and Azrael, putting the more desired version as the chase seems dumb. Wouldn't you sell more to collectors by making both widely available? All chases do is help the secondary market scalpers. If anything it turns more collectors away knowing it's going to be harder to get the figures they want in the future. Also stores need to figure out if they want people coming into the stores or not because Walmart and Targets have been making changes that are driving people to not shop in store, so having a store exclusive not easily purchasable online defeats the purpose of the exclusive in the first place.
Chase figures remind me of variant covers back when I collected comics. If I liked it I bought it, but never went on the hunt for it. Here you can't even go on the hunt. Target and Walmart pretty much only carry pops and wrestling here. I personally like how Valaverse handles it where it is sold in a blind box where even they don't know what is being sent out. Of course that doesn't help the retailer.
Mystery boxes aren't a bad idea, but I only consider them if everything in the mix is something I would want.
One problem with sending them out randomly is when you have someone like me that doesn't care if it's a Chase or not. I just want the one that looks better to me. I've traded chases for regulars. I never bought the chase Wonder Woman or Hawkman because I preferred the normal versions
Mystery box is a good way to approach the chase figure. Pricing it at a place that wouldn't be worth it for scalpers to grab up right away, i.e. $37 50 Nerdzoic price against the $50 secondary market price, would also be a way to do it even though that pricing method would be more involved.
This is the reason why I walked away from McFarlane and sold my DC multiverse collection
If there’s too many chase variants I want and can’t get for a decent price in a line, I’m out of the line and may end up selling off that part of my collection altogether. I’ve already narrowed down to primarily TMNT and G.I. Joe anyway, so McFarlane variants don’t phase me personally, but I think it’s a balancing act for toy companies. Don’t frustrate your fanbase!
As a reseller myself i often get questions from regular customers to sell them a chase figure if i happen to get one. As much as i would like to do that, there are just oo many regular customers who would want it. Would have to disappoint a lot of them. So i choose to just put them online at a slightly higher price (10%) so it helps me balance the rest of the case which is sold at a lower margin.
The only Platinum Edition I've gotten was a Mr. Freeze where I pre-ordered the normal version and Game Stop sent me the Platinum.
I love the mystery box idea for chase figures. It's what Ringside Collectables does with the AEW ones and it sort of puts that thrill back into it because you know you ARE getting a chase, you just don't know which one.
But seeing as how this is specifically about DC figures, I'd love to know where Big Nerdy stands on the concept of doing what Jazwares does with AEW figures where the only release of a much wanted character is exclusively a chase, limited to about 5000 pieces that you can only buy at brick and mortar or go on a specialty store, buy a mystery box, and hope for the best.
Note: I never had any problem with chase figures before in my life with any company ever before this. Thrill of the hunt, and if you wanted the chase, you put your work in to get it either in store or on secondary (if you didn't want to hunt). But honestly, making entire characters chase figures only... that feels WAY different to me and, while it sort of feels like the wrong term to use, it kind of feels like Jazwares has put the Bunny and Alex Reynolds figures, both figures that are required to complete a set of NORMAL release figures, behind a secondary market paywall.
Just my thoughts and curious as to what Big Nerdy would think about that practice as a retailer and collector.
I've been in the game for a long time and there is a level of "fun" a la dopamine/adrenaline rushes when finding a chase figure (or a grail figure) out in the wild. That said, I have less time to go on the hunt though I have more disposable income to throw at a chase figure if I am really really excited for it. The bane of my collecting is when army builders, classic costumes/looks or just fan favourite figures are artificially scarce or there is an onslaught of scalpers that chew them all up. This hurts a whole lot more not living in the US, Japan or Hong Kong. I have no time to sit by a computer waiting for a pre-order or exclusive sale to open up and then button mash hoping I get into the queue before items sell out. Mezco and Hasbro Pulse are the two most hostile systems to interact with and it happens A LOT. As a "collector" I am a completist for some lines, often I pick and choose and finally there are some favourite characters I try to buy to "collect" all the variants. I'm not a reseller/flipper/scalper. I open my toys. I display my toys. I photograph my toys. I play with my toys. YMMV, and those that want MIB collections, hey, who am I to argue? The scalpers though? There is a special place in hell reserved for these bottom feeders. Hasbro GI JOE Classified almost had me drop the entire line during the worst of the releases where super cool army builders or even just fan favourites such as the initial Fire Fly release were only available at Target and there is no international shipping. Eventually they were carried by Gamestop in Canada but the volume was low, the preorders went about the same as a Mezco/Pulse/Target pre-sale and it soured my joy and enthusiasm for the franchise and line.
I would like to see a line drawn in the sand between "collectors collecting" and "speculators speculating." Variant paint apps, super deep cut releases, mega expensive releases (that don't fall under Haslab like releases), I am fine with those being exclusives or limited to ultra limited. In Hasbro's defence, they have come a long way with the Classified and 6" Retro releases in terms of availability and volume. Mezco and others still have a long long long way to go.
I don't mind the general idea of chase figures, but I think they need to be color schemes that aren't like a super wanted version of the character. The Plat for the First Appearance Batman is a good version of a Chase paint job. Its a niche odd recolor referencing a specific comic panel or cover. Others like the Classic Hawkman, or the Blue Armored Az-Bats, are super sought after versions and to some people the definitive version of the character. But making the one people actually want a chase variant is super annoying, because some people want that version over the other and hoping for a random chance of finding or getting it, or paying an insane markup for it sucks.
I found the yellow chase figure at Kmart years ago when it came out
The first option, it’s value is $12.99 you sell it for that same price, if someone else wants to buy it and then resell it and someone wants to pay $49.99 the other person’s issue why should a retailer make more money on an item because is “more rare“
I personally have a rule with collecting. If its not widely available to the public, I don't consider it part of the set. For instance Gi Joe classified have a ton of figures that are convention exclusives or limited editions. I don't think its fair or reasonable to try and search them out just to say you have a complete set when they either are just unavailable or stupidly over priced.
Ann Hathaway's Catwoman: the one that came with the Bat bike was sold only on McFarlane's store. He did have that version in his store, but it was only for a hot minute before selling out. The regular, non-riding version with the non-blown hair, is a freaking Platinum in stores. How about just freaking releasing the non-riding version as a regular release instead of a freaking chase? A lot of people want that freaking figure and McFarlane makes it a one per case??? 🖕McFarlane.
I like buying them at a markup. At least I know I'm getting the figure for sure. Takes all the anxiety out of it.
I don’t mind chase/platinum figures, I may be speaking because I lucked out and got The Dark Knight Rises platinum Catwoman, but I think it is fun trying to get them. However, also as a Black Series collector…Walmart exclusives are absolutely terrible
You could sell a chase with a fair markup but limit one or 2 per account. Or to your top account who purchase that line. Then opening it to others a month later or so. Now you are rewarding your best customers but still giving others a chance a bit later.
I think that Wonder Woman was much more sought after and higher prices on ebay than the Hawkman. That's neither here nor there.
IMO I have been able to come by McFarlane Platinum figures much easier than other brand's chase figures. For example the Wonder Woman Platinum Edition, I ordered the regular version from Best Buy and got the Platinum, which was the one I really wanted.
Normally I don't care one bit for the chase figures, but my wife really enjoyed Dune 2, so I was super happy to find that one in store! (Paul Atreides figgy)
I can understand a variant being a chase but now a days I feel like they stamp a platinum sticker on almost every figure just to try and get people to buy them
I know scalpers, army builders, and people who buy up all the clearance and sell it at toy shows can make it hard to find what you want at a good price but with patience you almost always chase down that hard to find figure. Keep the joy in collecting!
Great take on this matter. Is a chase so they have to live to the name somehow. I love the hunt but sometimes I'm not the mood for that. But you are 100% right. Seeing one in the wild does change how you feel about your hole entire day.
I ordered the Knightsend Batman from you, but got the Platinum version, so I assumed you were putting them out at random.
Here's my 1 problem with McFarlane's current Chase situation:
I don't mind chases that are just repaints, different looks that can serve as a standard version. The Wonder Woman, Hawkman, First Appearance Batman, and Captain Carrot Chases? I love the paint schemes, but if i got the standard version, its no big deal. With the two Dark Knight figures McFarlane has put out this year, the Chase figures are just different figures. The standard Batman is unmasked with the skydiving gear, while the chase is a masked figure with a wired soft-goods cape. To me, those are two different releases and one being limited to a random chance sucks, because i know none will ever show up at retail for me so im stuck with aftermarket prices or random chance from an etailer to get the better figure.
Tl;dr: Paint decos as chase figures? Good. Different, better figures as chase figures? Annoying.
If you collected Gashapon / Gacha figures you'd understand how evil chase figures are. Some of them are as rare as 1/144 chance. Or they have 5-6 chase figures and only put ONE in a box of 24. So you have to buy at MINIMUM 6 boxes of figures to get the full set.
IMO companies like McFarland are just encouraging scalping by doing this. I seriously doubt that companies like McFarland hate scalpers. A customer is a customer to them. Nowadays they need every customer that they can find.
I second that motion to keep it as a mystery box item. IMHO with the absence of a viable alternative, using a Chase figure as a mystery box item is neither a tip to the buyer or seller. Rather, it’s intended use (random and rare) is pushed down directly to the buyer thereby achieving its initial goal. ❤ Big Nerdy!
How about this if you got certain chase figures im looking for classic wonder woman,red and white Superman plastic man wave and azbat Batman and I believe you opened him on your channel I'll buy from you and you can bump the price up Lil higher then retail I'll buy plus the Superman red and white version he can be loose with no box and without baf piece I'm tired of going back and forth too Target I'm no scalper just a collectors tired of looking Here in Illinois we don't be getting nothen only the bigger cities like Chicago and Springfield
I would say limit 1 per account and disclose that you may cancel orders at your discretion for accounts with little or no purchase history. Also it's sad that the hunt isn't what is use to be and I don't "chase" anything anymore. But if I do happen to be at a store I do always check. Once I a blue moon I get lucky. But I try to pretend like they don't exist, that way I'm never disappointed when I don't find them.
I have found four AEW Unrivaled chase figures my most recent one was the CM Punk 1 of 5000 chase likely his last AEW figure. As for the Mcfarlane platinum figures I've seen a lot of them recently I've found Steel Catwoman and Batman. I only picked up Batman out of those and I opened it its next to my Batmobile with the Keaton Batman. I don't collect for money the figures just add to the collection.
I was very lucky on the Toybiz run of Marvel Legends. I found Goliath, Red Skull, variant Cyclops(X-Factor outfit), Angel(blue costume variant), Wolverine AOA( burnt head), Wolverine leather costume(unmasked), Bishop(bald), Cable(brown costume) and I think that was it, but I found them all in the "wild" and they were $8.99 a piece. So you could purchase a whole run and not have to take out a second mortgage. I just hunt and peck now. I did buy the entire Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse line for the Hand ninjas and Stilt-man BAF.
The part I don't see is the chase figure are sell in third party with highest price like the chase Catwoman Knightfall $150 and up. Man is ridiculous
is the audio off on this video?
Chases don't bother me because I don't believe in FOMO! Everything I collect is almost guaranteed to get a nicer sculpt every few years, so I'd rather just deal with what I can find. The higher aftermarket price for chases can be fun to swing around years later sometimes too.
How about an option for loyal customers to have first dibs on chase figures so you know you are selling to a collector?
When the Platinum/Chase figure is the most desirable version of the character, it’s a bad thing. (classic color Wonder Woman/Hawkman/Superman/Blue Azrael) When it’s a variant that has a few extra accessories, colors, maskless, etc. then fine. Just don’t make the figure everyone wants the hardest to find.
I disagree with the markup option because why should we pay more for a figure we want just because McFarlane can charge more for it. Would I rather pay more just to get it, yeah, sure. But I disagree with that idea as a matter of principle.
Up to this point we’ve been able to find the figures we want. Now, not so much. Why pull this on collectors after all we’ve done to support the line. It feels greedy and a move that doesn’t have the loyal collectors in mind, just the company and the scalpers who capitalize.
I strongly disagree with the chase/Platinum figure releases.
I only collect Spawn and so far I’ve not had a problem getting a chase but they don’t do very many. I don’t mind chase figures.
Im a simpleton. I just love cool looking toys, so I’m a fan of mystery boxes regardless of what’s inside.
This breakdown was incredibly helpful! Thank you so much for this educational video. Keep up the fantastic work, man!
I usually don’t mind chases, it’s fun to have variants. But I hate when the chase figure has better things (Bane’s coat) than the regular release. Btw, I actually liked the Warhammer Greyscale figures. That game/hobby is built upon people painting the figures/miniatures
I like chases and feel like the premium for the store is a fine idea. That or a loyality exclusive for customers.
Hold an auction for chases. Let people bid and pay what they deem is a fair value. Another idea is don't allow returns on case orders for certain chase runs and make sure the buyer is aware of this policy. Or set aside a certain number of chases and sell them at live events. That way you see who is coming to buy and limit 1 per person. Just some ideas
Not a fan of Chase figures. I got the hawkman Chase figure and don’t plan to open it. I got the Chase and regular versions of the newish Andre the Giant figures. I don’t think I’ve seen other Chase figures in person. I’m not a fan of them but understand the reasons to make them. To be able to use the mold of figures more than once to get the money invested in them to be able to make new molds and sell new figures.
Will you do mystery boxes again soon?
Chase figures are like variant covers, retailers dont sell them at cover price, they put their own price and just wait and see if it sells.
Joking as sad, I don’t really have much of an opinion on chases. But when recent releases like the upcoming Knightfall, Azrael has what should be the standard color as the chase, it becomes a bit annoying.
I am fine with Chase figures, as long as the Alt is the Chase. The Blue and Gold Azrael Batman being a chase figure while a red and grey on is the standard? Terrible.
Darkseid without chest armor is standard and the one with Armor was a chase? Terrible.
I like chases. I see a lot of the same people that hate on chases get happy when they find them and they don’t sell them for retail so…🤷♂️
I have almost spent a $1,000 at your store. I don't like a mystery box because I am going to get stuff don't want. I don't want to buy a case for a chase. If the item is exclusive, then sell it for 3/4 of what a chase box would cost. I actually want you to be successful. I want you to make money. I like buying from you.
When the knightfall catwoman came out I ordered 30 on Amazon and just kept the platinums. Am I part of the “problem”? 😂
McFarlane has been ripping fans for years, I just can bring myself to buy any of them, it seems like every second release is another Batman
The idea that Todd McFarlane plans his business around helping scalpers is absurd and hilarious 😂
That's a great model you have about chase figures. I applaud you, Matt! Thanks for the video! 👍
I miss toy hunting
Sell the chase at a nominal premium. BBTS and Ringside do it so, no harm no foul. Consider that johnny dooshbagthe scalper will SLAM the buyer, you’re much more fair
A chase has to be different enough to make it desirable. When Kevin Nash and Diesel
were the respective chase that was awesome but. then you have the Alister Black which was literally a different not coloured deco hit on the knee pad.
Todd just recently said on an interview with three dc multiverse youtube influencers that he was all for scalpers flipping his chase figures because of, well, capitalism. His thoughts were, that makes the scalper/flipper a big fan of his. So, it aint changing anytime soon.
Chases and exclusives were pretty cool back.. Now it's business more so.
Big Nerdy when are we getting your 2024 wishlist? X-men, Spider-man, Avengers?
The fact that Todd needs to resort to this to sell his crappy toys should tell you a lot. Jada Street Fighter stuff flies off the shelves and they don't make chase figures... they just make amazing products everybody wants. Todd has never done that in 30 years and he never will.
Exactly right and people think his figures sell well because he's barely putting out any quantity anymore
McFarland sells in a differentvgeneral market while Jada is more "fan" centered. His pricepoints lower because of this not in spite of it. Just saying.
@@dwingsworld2581 you're delusional
@@sirmustardofhousemayonnais9907😂😂😂😂 troll somewhere else 😂😂😂😂😂
@@dwingsworld2581 what are you going to do about it little one?
I personally don't care about chase figures. If I need or want some crazy paint job its easy enough to just make my own.
Chase figures are an absolute scourge. I realize that they drive sales, but it makes collecting vert frustrating. McFarlane is the worst as they make "mainline" characters chase. Blue Azrael? Probably Superman Red? This reminds me collecting in the 2001 -12 era (typing that makes me feel old).
My main issue with chases is when it is by far cooler then the regular release.
McFarlane is pretty much the only toy manufacturer still doing chase figures, unless you count Funko Pops. Todd is still in 1994 between the ears. Anyways I don't collect McFarlane anymore so don't really care about this topic anymore.
It's how Mcfarlane is doing it that I just despise.
Store exclusives not Walmart I'm flexible. That makes sense. But that's gold label.
Platinum is an absolute mess though.
If you order online, there is a chance you don't actually get the figure you ordered. If that item is sold out, you can't exchange for the figure the retailer advertised. That this is a known risk comes off as fraud. This is what really made the artist proof terrible. You paid full price for that figure and it wasn't the one advertised. That's fraud.
Some of the designs they choose are the standard designs which feels wrong. Hawkman stands out. Then TDKR Catwoman and the platinum golds...it's a mess.
Now I don't mind the more creative stuff. Green Lantern Batman Platinum is unique looking but it's not some standard design. It's there is someone wants it.
Platinum Wonder Woman, I know has fans but I do also feel that's FOMO for FOMO. A design that most buyers have likely never read one comic with that look. So I don't mind it existing as a chase but I hate how it's mixed in with online orders.
I think it's obsolete and better character selections/quantities make more sense. Then retailers may also want to stifle excessive returns.
I've never liked "chase" figures. Or blind boxes. Or incentive covers or any of those kinds of marketing tactics. And it is marketing. I want to buy what I want not waste time "hunting". But I'm an older collector and don't have tolerance for gimmicks like the kids these days.
Mystery boxes seem to be the coolest option. :-)
Thanks Matt for all the info, you are very informative and entertaining my friend!!! =)
They are annoying. I collect the motu turtles and snakes. Sometimes i dont even know what exists, completely confusing
Mystery boxes are just hidden mark ups. At that point just mark them up and get it iver with. This chase nonsense is a spit in the face to fans regardless.
Chase figures are one of the reasons I don’t collect McFarland toys.
Chase? I haven't even found normal wonder women and flash, and the new figures, gone everywhere my dumb ass canceled my orders thinking ima find em in stores.
I don't care about chase figures, here in the EU most of the figure are released month later and I only collect normal versions, the closest for me to a chase figure was Patina edition Batman the Merciless.......overpriced but for me worth it to finally get this charactere
I love a good chase!
I only have gotten one the artist proof of mcfarlane swampthing i didnt want and they sent me another one that was the same one .
Todd putting disrespect on my name
The chase figure makes me quit dc mcfarlane figures. I focus now more on batman statue. I’d rather buy a detailed statue rather than buying a platinum batman same body buck mcfarlane with the price of premium statue.
The Batman was a good movie
I strongly dislike McFarlane DC Figures anyway! I Hate McFarlane Scale, Sculpts, and Selection. A few Sculpts have very recently gotten a little better. In a week I celebrate 30 years as a Collector, I have built 6 different DC Earth's, I have only bought 5 McFarlane DC Figures; Devastator, Gorilla Grodd, Lex Luthor in Green Battlesuit, Atom Smasher, and Swamp Thing. All Figures that are supposed to be bigger!
Gotta pay if you want to play.