30 September 2012

Limited Edition, this and that

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These days, you see an announcement of a new toy, a new figure, or a new model kit which tickles your interest, only to find out it's going to be (yet) another limited edition item.

Amd it appears that it is become more and more of a norm than before.

Looking back, I do have quite a few toys that are of "limited edition". Here are the ones that I have blogged about:

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Nendoroid Shana Dengeki Daioh version

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1/100 Gundam Exia Roll Out Colour

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Nendoroid Snow Miku

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figma WRS (don't get me started on this -_-;)

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figma Racing Miku 2011 version

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Nendoroid Snow Miku: Snow Playtime Edition (aka 2011 version)

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Oh yes, more Balls. The Shark Mouth and the Type C version (along with GM Kai normal colour version). I still need to get around to build them once renovation is over @_@;

Limited editions toys... They often are harder to acquire as they are only available for purchase via restricted premises, and those who want them in overseas will often have to resort to proxy services and such. Those who seek them tend to value them more, be it for the character involved, the colours / designs, the quality, or the money value in it.

I am actually becoming more and more hesitant on these limited toys recently. Not only do they become more and more expensive to acquire, but also becoming more apparent and in different forms, be they come as event exclusives, bundled with games or DVDs/BDs. Heck, even gashapons have premiere editions too. At least the ones that I may my eyes on tend to end up that way...

Though at the same time they are also becoming a bit more viable to overseas collectors by offering their own overseas online shop, such as Goodsmile Online Shop, or the Hong Kong branch of Premium Bandai. Nevertheless, they are still more expensive than what local shops may offer, which are usually sold at a small discount of the suggested retail price (though there are always exceptions).

I am not exactly sure the reasons as for why this is becoming more apparent, but the belief that recent struggling Japanese economy is a big factor, and that anything produced in a surplus with relatively few people buying will hurt the companies, so the "made-to-order" basis is becoming more favourable instead, which skips the retail stores in many cases (unless the stores order the items for the customers at a higher cost). There could be other factors as well, but you have any ideas please do feel free to share out or discuss.

My expenditure on toys are becoming greater and greater, and much of these are due to limited stuff... Maybe it's just me, but seeing all sorts of things are ended up like that, rather than encouraging, the "limited" label is starting to discourage me from getting them instead. The high prices and the recent flop in qualities for some of the toys can be quite an impact.

Is it really just me, or others are feeling this (perhaps long ago) already?

7 comments:

  1. It is getting a bit over the top, but they are just adding fuel to the collection market. Most 'serious' collectors want all the versions and will pay the price no matter what.

    This does suck however as most are ending up with dealers who add even more $$ to the price for those that can't get it normally.

    I just got Gundam Wing Armor Girl Project for $60.00 USD and now just found out there is a Limited Ed on her for the winter. That one is going for $130 USD. I like the version, but can't see paying twice the price for her.

    This is sucky and wish they stop. I have to triple check myself before buying now to see if the cost of getting the figure is worth the price now X(

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    1. Thanks for your comment. I do have my eyes on quite a number of limited item stuff before, and a lot of them are from Bandai, but the frequency of such items popping up, and the price that one has to pay for eventually start to make me feel more and more hesitant about them.

      On the positive side, holding back on spending means more money saved for future purchases... I suppose.

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  2. very nice bandai have premium bandai branch over there,always wish they offering international order like GSC,or volks did for exclsuive items

    for model kit I don't believe those limited edition tag(clear,metalic, ??? color,etc) on them,they kinda flooding the retails

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    1. It's a good thing that Premium Bandai does have a branch in Hong Kong, so that we locals we order limited items at a less expensive price.

      The clear / metallic coating versions are often event exclusives, and sometimes they do get imported directly from events to retail stores. They are still considered as limited items as they are not "supposed" to be sold in retail shops, but they are not always confine to just one event, meaning they can always be re-released in future events.

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  3. Another thoughts: somebody tell me that.... sometimes they really prefer sth to be released by P-Bandai instead of standard retail. e.g. Macross YF-29 30th Anniversary addition. Worldwide pre-order sold out in seconds. It might be easier to purchase if it is a P-Bandai item...

    Well. Limited edition is not always bad. Some niche product can't even achieve its production volume for retail if it is not released in this way. But I really enough for location limited and event limited items...

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    1. That's an interesting input of thoughts there Yui. Perhaps by having something sold on Premium Bandai may filter out some of the demands? That's just a random thought though.

      I do agree with you that niche items cannot expect to sell as well as the popular ones, so having them available only as web exclusive is becoming more of an attractive route to go. Having such items on a make-to-order basis will help the supplier know how much demand is really out there.

      Though I don't like how more and more items are ending up so, with a bigger price tags placed on them than the ones we expect on retail on many occasions.

      Location and event based limited items are pretty troublesome too, as you have gone through some of the woes by them recently. Not only does it make the availability very low for people who want them, but also drives the aftermarket insane. I also have a woe towards bundled limited items, as when most of the other stuff are what I do not desire or want in the first place, but having to pay extra money to get what I want because of them. This can be annoying sometimes as if one is forcefully trying to draw a demand from collectors.

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  4. Nendoroid snow miku looks beautiful and interesting !!

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