Quote:
Originally Posted by Spect3r
LOL
So the others can make way cheaper but they cant?
Please!!!
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What others? Are you referring to companies sitting elsewhere in the world? Because that would make 0 sense, since shipping costs are not just a matter of distance, size and weight, but also about the individual countries and their trade agreements and of course the delivery services themselves.
CoolProps would be another japanese manufacturer that is similar to Prime 1.
They don't ship oversees at all. You have to go through another distributer to get their stuff. They don't even have an english translation for their website.
Prime 1, like any other business, makes the most money through their own website. So promoting it, like they do with some store exclusives, makes pretty much sense. What doesn't make sense is, to accuse them of charging ridiculous amounts of money (at least for some statues, especially heavy and multi-boxed ones) from oversees customers on purpose.
That would be totally counter productive for them.
If they would do that on purpose, why the hell should they even bother with economy shipping for the US and setting up various warehouses then?
Besides that, they also sell their stuff via HEO to EU retailers where you get all P1 pieces quiet a bit cheaper compared to a direct order through them, while they suffer a profit cut with two different companies.
Example: I would pay 1350€ + around 40-50€ shipping if I order the XE Suit Batman within the EU. Ordering from P1 would costs me 1700€.
Or take another example: XM from Singapur.
They charge 1095SGD (which is like 700€ or 800$) for their 1:4 Shogun Batman. Half of that even in Asia!
Their newest Deathstroke is far smaller compared to the Shogun Batman, but still costs like 300€ / 350$ shipping.
Luckily, we have an official distributor of their stuff here in Germany, so can get their stuff for reasonable prices. Much like using a distributor for P1.
Prime 1 isn't the only one that is struggling with this issue. Keep in mind: They are not as big as Sideshow. Hell, they started out in 2012, with their first statue being released in 2014. They can't snap a finger and get things done like they want to.
Still:
People wanted to place oversee orders directly through them - they made it happen
People wanted cheaper shipping prices - Prime 1 is working on it, with US eco being the first step
People wanted US/EU warehouses - Prime 1 is working on it. (But I have my doubts about an EU one being profitable for them, unless they partner up with someone)
I know I sound like a hardcore fanboy at this point. But that company has done a lot for collectors and the industry in general. So seeing "unfair" arguments made against them makes me a bit pissed.
If there is proof they are doing something wrong, I have no problem with criticising them. As I did with their variant policy.
But until then, they have made extremely good business decisions so far, as one can see with their stellar success, that I give them the benefit of the doubt right now.