Re-Releases? What's up

[shogunjlips]

maybe they'd put a '2nd Run' similar to what comic books to for re-releases

wouldn't that be win/win?

[BlueberryWaffles]

maybe they'd put a '2nd Run' similar to what comic books to for re-releases

wouldn't that be win/win?

Exactly. Rerelease figures in different boxes. People who wanted them can get them, and out of box collectors that already had them have to buy them again. lots and lots of money for Funko.

[dustman94]

I want a 69 Camaro for the price it cost back in 69. I am entitled! I collect Camaros gimme my mint on lot 69 Camaro for the price it was back in 69.

67 YARKO CAMARO AT THAT

[Blasphemic Nephilim]

But it's not a second run in their region. Surely that can't be so difficult to grasp? I'm starting to think that Funko has been hush about this solely to avoid this madness. Stamping "second run" on a box where it's being released for the first time makes zero sense to me. Seems so incredibly odd that some feel entitled or want new collector's Pops to branded as something it's simply not. The releases in Australia? Are for Australians. It's not meant for Joe Murica in the backwoods of Idaho to swoop in and scoop up the entire stock to flip on eBay. It's also not owed to mister Murica that said pieces be separated or labelled in such a way that would only cause confusion and feed elitist egos. That is not ok.

[cardgame2]

wow - so many opinions - I may be wrong, I may be right - but my own personal opinion is not to re-release unless it states it or there is some kind of difference to the piece or box. I'm not for this because I own such and such a piece and don't wish anyone to have it - but I am proud of my collection and the hunts for the pieces and the stories behind each. I collect only what I like in POPS as I did with wobblers.
Another thing I've noticed in these "opinions" is the anger against the secondary market - if its' smart business for Brian to re-release - why isn't it good business to sell a piece for more then it was purchased at? Is "good business" only for a "business" - I don't know - to me the whole point of the thread was the fact that Brian said this would NOT happen when he made his announcements and "company plan" at Fundays. I'll say it outright if the majority does not understand the point - your word is your bond and should mean something. I guarantee you that at the time his sights were already set on ASIA so he had hopes for "down the road". What that says to me, is that business is something that is very fluid, therefore you should watch what you say if you're not sure what way your going yet. Why is it such a bad thing to have expected what he said to be true? Sorry I take what a person tells me as truth, unless I f ind out different - then its' a lesson learned for the next time.
Again, I'd like to thank everyone for their opinions - its' interesting to see and read and get another person's point of view.

[homietrav]

I think that re-releases will make some collectors second guess how they collect and potential second guess collecting altogether. On the other hand, it will draw in new collectors that now have access to pieces that were hard to find or unknown before. Is this a win win? Is this better for everyone? I don't think so.

[bo150000]

I wonder if they are planning on re-releasing DC POPs. Seems like the New 52 were going to replace the originals?

[Dex1186]

I know it isn't the exact same but for me I learnt how this works when I bought the Game of thrones Amazon exclusive with Rhagel. I only purchased it for the dragon because me thinking this will be the only way to achieve him an yes there were two other if you want to call them exclusives (paper cut Drogo an sickened Danny). Well I was wrong twice over. Haha then with the whole Gemini/Hot topic comic con thing I relaized again there was no need to rush an stress for the pops I want because sooner or later they will "pop" up again somewehere down the road. Oh an the 7-11 nightmare of Greywind.Lol So now I am just getting it when I get it an if I miss out well sure someone will sell it down the road.

[mstg25]

Personally, I don't understand how anyone can be upset about it. Funko isn't an elitist group, it's a busniess. With expanding markets it makes perfect sense to offer up pieces that may be old or retired in one region to another new region. They're not reissuing exclusives, so I see nothing wrong at all with what they're doing. It's smart. Folks who paid way too much for something are understandably salty because their "precious" suddenly isn't so precious, but that's a selfish mind state. That's all that boils down to. If others now have the opportunity to own Pops that they adore, that's no reason to be upset. No one told you to pay 20x retail on the secondary market for a common. Retired or not. I applaud Funko for remembering that the first priority in this world of collecting is fun. Excluding new collectors in new regions? That's not fun.

That is all well and good, however when people are told that a piece is 'Retired' and then subsequently re-issued it does not look good on the company and it hurts the collector that may have over-paid or over-traded for that piece. Imagine if you will paying over $500 for a 1/8 or 1/12 piece and then all of a sudden Funko decided to re-release said piece as part of a regular run.

[lovetheangels]

In the collecting world retired means retired. I get not everyone thinks of pops as collectibles. If funko and their retailers think of pops as collectibles than they should be treated like collectibles. I personally think a lot of this boils down to newer collectors were not collecting when a lot of the first runs were released. Loki, Penguin, Riddler, Two Face, Green Arrow, and plenty of others. So now funko has thousands and thousands more collectors than before. Some newer collectors feel an entitlement to be able to get those first run pieces at cost. You weren't collecting when they first came out so you should have to pay the current market value for them. It sounds borderline ridiculous to me for anyone to think they can start collecting something a year or 2 later after it was released and seeing it double or triple or go 10X in value and expect to pay retail price like when it first came out. On the otherhand I can see funko now seeing this huge market that they missed in the beginning. The demand has grown for the older pieces. You have to believe funko is seeing the secondary market blow up and probably getting bombarded from fans and retailers on how they want older pieces to be available. There is probably millions of dollars left on the table right now that funko can scoop up if they re-release just 10 to 20 of these various pieces. Personally from a collectors stand point I think it sucks big time to re-release something even in another country. It make it really hard to think of something as a collectible if it was retired and is now back out. From a money standpoint I can understand it.

[glowfunkofreak]

A-MEN Brutha Ken ..

[mstg25]

In the collecting world retired means retired. I get not everyone thinks of pops as collectibles. If funko and their retailers think of pops as collectibles than they should be treated like collectibles. I personally think a lot of this boils down to newer collectors were not collecting when a lot of the first runs were released. Loki, Penguin, Riddler, Two Face, Green Arrow, and plenty of others. So now funko has thousands and thousands more collectors than before. Some newer collectors feel an entitlement to be able to get those first run pieces at cost. You weren't collecting when they first came out so you should have to pay the current market value for them. It sounds borderline ridiculous to me for anyone to think they can start collecting something a year or 2 later after it was released and seeing it double or triple or go 10X in value and expect to pay retail price like when it first came out. On the otherhand I can see funko now seeing this huge market that they missed in the beginning. The demand has grown for the older pieces. You have to believe funko is seeing the secondary market blow up and probably getting bombarded from fans and retailers on how they want older pieces to be available. There is probably millions of dollars left on the table right now that funko can scoop up if they re-release just 10 to 20 of these various pieces. Personally from a collectors stand point I think it sucks big time to re-release something even in another country. It make it really hard to think of something as a collectible if it was retired and is now back out. From a money standpoint I can understand it.

B-I-N-G-O!!!! Plus, you also hurt the people who were loyal to you in the first place; the ones who were there in the beginning that helped keep you viable from the get-go.

[allonsy_slayergirl]

If re-releasing retired Pops is solely from a monetary stand point on Funko's end, they could create new molds for old characters instead of re-releasing. That way the originals stay retired and worth something to those collectors who were there at the beginning.

[bo150000]

If re-releasing retired Pops is solely from a monetary stand point on Funko's end, they could create new molds for old characters instead of re-releasing. That way the originals stay retired and worth something to those collectors who were there at the beginning.

Bingo...

[Blasphemic Nephilim]

I dunno. The replies here only defend the upset "collector". I seem to be in the minority thinking that region specific releases are NOT rereleases. It's a new release for them. Not the retired american one coming back, but a first run Australian one. Makes me wish Funko would ask the vendors in other countries to filter their sites entirely. Out of sight, out of mind. My view on this is true collecting should be fun and gratifying to the collector alone and no one else. No bragging rights. No status. That keeps it fun and unique for each individual. If they reissued a shadow trooper sans the SDCC sticker, would I be upset or think that my shadow trooper is suddenly worthless? No. I would not. That's ridiculous. I'd be happy that more folks can collect him. That is all.

[cliffd64]

Whoever said retirement was forever anyway? I went to three different "Farewell Tour" shows in three different decades for the same band... If there is enough demand for something, retirement is a temporary condition. I can't blame any company for making more of something that there is tremendous demand for, but then again, I am in a different position because typically I never collected common edition pieces for the most part. I limited myself from the beginning to chase pieces and then exclusives... Re-releases therefore don't affect me all that much. Until the mold is broken on any of these pieces, assume they can still be produced. Right now the only way to distinguish an original release from a new release of the same figure would be the little sticker on the bottom of the box that indicated the production date...

I do feel for people that may have spent a ton for what they thought was impossible to find previously, but, no one forces you to pay 20X retail... it was your own decision. I have been fortunate to have been able to be there from day one, so I've been able to avoid having to backfill like new collectors.

In the end I don't judge my collection by how unique it is, or how valuable it is, just mainly by how much pleasure I can derive from it simply by enjoying it.

If Funko can make enough by selling 50,000 more Riddlers to a different market across the globe to enable them to obtain a license for something I am interested in down the road, then more power to them.

[Blasphemic Nephilim]

"end I don't judge my collection by how unique it is, or how valuable it is, just mainly by how much pleasure I can derive from it simply by enjoying it." This. So much this.

[glowfunkofreak]

Wow ..
I never saw a Toy Communist before ..

[dustman94]

I REALLY DON'T SEE THE MASS RELEASED POPS AS COLLECTIBLES, I SEE THE EXCLUSIVES, SDCC ETC AS THE COLLECTIBLE MARKET. SO A RE RELEASE OF COMMONS DOESN'T BOTHER ME AT ALL.
I DON'T SEE THE TITLE " FUNKO COLLECTIBLE POPS" ON THE BOX.

[lovetheangels]

I want a Michael Jordan rookie card for .35. It was pretty common in the day. They should bring them back out for .35. It shouldn't bother anyone who has one. As long as they have one why should they care if thousands more are made and they sell them for .35. Some flipper sold one ebay for 1050.00 near mint to mint. That is BS I want one for .35.

[Blasphemic Nephilim]

Well, he was only a rookie for one year, so there goes that. :p

[naisatoh]

I want a Michael Jordan rookie card for .35. It was pretty common in the day. They should bring them back out for .35. It shouldn't bother anyone who has one. As long as they have one why should they care if thousands more are made and they sell them for .35. Some flipper sold one ebay for 1050.00 near mint to mint. That is BS I want one for .35.

I agree with this ridiculous, most unhelpful, sarcastic metaphor!

[lovetheangels]

A little extreme I guess I guess it just boils down to it really doesn't matter what the collector wants anyway. It is whatever funko wants to do that matters. We are all just here for the fun and to spend our money on what we enjoy. Do away with the retired list and bring them all back. Just remember to spend wisely.

[keekster]

I completely understand the idea of re-releasing a Pop! to another region for the sake of expanding business to a new group/demographic. It makes perfect business sense. In line with what I had said in another discussion about not-so-exclusive exclusives showing up at multiple venues, I would just ask that Funko not announce a character is 'retired' and then re-release it a couple of years down the road. In other words, just let a Pop! sell out and if they want to re-release because of demand, go for it. But the word "retired" should remain sacred, just as the word "exclusive" should remain sacred.
And just to be clear, I say this as someone who has not been able to attend SDCC in years, and have therefore missed out on Fundays, and so each year I miss out on exclusives and chases that I would have liked. It is just the nature of the collecting beast and I accept that.
By the way, which Loki is supposedly being re-released? Thor Loki or Gold Loki? Because if it's Gold Loki, MAN are the flippers going to be ticked! XD
I may have to start Loki army-building!

[HappinessGuano]

In my opinion, the rereleases stem from trying to keep up with the boom in collectors. I honestly don't have a problem with this, but I think the issue is the word "retired", which many take to mean "no more will be made", which is true. Maybe instead of "retired" they should Vault them like Disney does. Vault them for a few years to give them room to make new things, then vault a few others and release the older ones for another run.

[Blasphemic Nephilim]

I think the term rerelease is the problem here. The Pops were retired in America. That hasn't changed. Did PopCultcha have these pieces when they first came out? I highly doubt it. So, for them it's simply a release. A first run. Not even a complete first run, only a few pieces. It's not a rerelease at all. I still don't see any logical reason for folks to be so salty about it. When the retired lists were put out, Pops were not quite the "in thing" they have become so I'm fairly sure Funko was going about things as usual. But with the explosion of popularity, they've since expanded internationally and like any smart business they are catering to the needs of their fans abroad. How is that bad? Nothing about that sounds bad to me. It's the term rerelease that's bad. It's this entitlement that's bad. We should as a community be better than that.

[shogunjlips]

I want a Michael Jordan rookie card for .35. It was pretty common in the day. They should bring them back out for .35. It shouldn't bother anyone who has one. As long as they have one why should they care if thousands more are made and they sell them for .35. Some flipper sold one ebay for 1050.00 near mint to mint. That is BS I want one for .35.

Card companies do reprints all the time.

You can probably find a MJ rookie reprint that will cost you, and be worth, that same $.35

[specialed]

Re-issues have classically put a huge damper on a collectible market.
It usually starts to happen when that collectible takes a downward slide.
POP!s haven't taken that downward slide by any means so I don't understand why Funko would start to re-issue any POP!s at this point.

When you buy a series one of an item or a comic issue #1, and you decided you liked it enough to jump in collecting do you really want to see it remade or reprinted ?

If Funko wants to re-issue retired POP!s with no difference to the original POP! what does that say to the collector that stood behind the concept in the first place ?

If you don't see that it de-values the original, not just financially as a newer collector would point out, but it also de-values the entire collection as to an original collectors uniqueness.

Who cares if you collected every POP! since they started ?
Now people can just get a re-issue to fill that hole in the collection.

It goes back to the same thing as exclusives that are limited to conventions or events.
Why do people feel entitled to be able to get one if the don't go to the event or convention ?

Collecting takes patience, time, and understanding the market for that item.
Or just throw your money at it.

Personally I don't like re-issues, it de-values my collection because it makes my collection less unique.

Agreed

[specialed]

I want a Michael Jordan rookie card for .35. It was pretty common in the day. They should bring them back out for .35. It shouldn't bother anyone who has one. As long as they have one why should they care if thousands more are made and they sell them for .35. Some flipper sold one ebay for 1050.00 near mint to mint. That is BS I want one for .35.

Lol

I personally don't like the re-releases. I think it devalues collecting part of it. I've missed out on a lot of General release for star wars and the new 52 batman but that doesn't mean I want them to reissue them, I like the thrill of the hunt. Besides funko had already said it was "retiring" those and they wouldn't be re-released.

[Bills83]

I remember when Jay-Z retired back in 2003.

He has since put out 5 albums ! Even Jay-Z worth $520 million dollars still needs more money.

Get it while it's hot Funko,

I don't blame them for opening up other regions for more profit (business and capitalism). At the end of the day, my "retired" pieces I collected because I genuinely like them. I love the Loki, I love the paint job on Two-Face and I could go on and on about why I collect these.

We've seen Surge Soda come back, anything is possible!

This has been a fun thread to read, thanks Funko community for the opinions. Great stuff!

[janos89]

I REALLY DON'T SEE THE MASS RELEASED POPS AS COLLECTIBLES, I SEE THE EXCLUSIVES, SDCC ETC AS THE COLLECTIBLE MARKET. SO A RE RELEASE OF COMMONS DOESN'T BOTHER ME AT ALL.
I DON'T SEE THE TITLE " FUNKO COLLECTIBLE POPS" ON THE BOX.

I agree with this, I know people pay alot for retired pops and I feel for them. But, I don't think re releasing the mass produce pops is a big deal in my opinion.

[cardgame2]

Lot's of opinions.......I hear what everyone is saying.....maybe I'm just from a different generation. To me, retired means retired. I do know that in 3 years I am retiring from work and you can rest assured I'm not coming back out for any re-releases.

[janos89]

Lot's of opinions.......I hear what everyone is saying.....maybe I'm just from a different generation. To me, retired means retired. I do know that in 3 years I am retiring from work and you can rest assured I'm not coming back out for any re-releases.

Good one . On another note I like your signature I have a pet black cat named jiji, like from kiki's delivery service.

[glowfunkofreak]

Lot's of opinions.......I hear what everyone is saying.....maybe I'm just from a different generation. To me, retired means retired. I do know that in 3 years I am retiring from work and you can rest assured I'm not coming back out for any re-releases.

[naisatoh]

My only follow-up question to all this is WHY some figures even get retired. If it's because they ran out of molds, then fine... but it sounds like figures get retired without any particular rhyme or reason

[cardgame2]

Jaanos89 I love cats - I've got 4 in my house - all different characters and personalities LOL . Also on another note - I read somewhere that Toy Tokyo will be selling the Mindstyle POPS at Comic con and the piece I saw alluded to the fact that they may be carrying Mindstyle in the very near future. I personally love those pieces. I don't know if this was mentioned anywhere else so if its' old news, sorry.

[dustman94]

Lot's of opinions.......I hear what everyone is saying.....maybe I'm just from a different generation. To me, retired means retired. I do know that in 3 years I am retiring from work and you can rest assured I'm not coming back out for any re-releases.

NEVER SAY NEVER- TWO WORDS---WALMART GREETER

[ShoMeNodder]

Oh Lord, i can just see Cathy as a WalMart greeter

[professorratigan]

Frankly, I buy these things because I like the character, or the design, not so I can feel like I got the drop on someone who didn't buy it 'when they had the chance.' Or whatever the 'collector' mentality is. Because I don't understand it. These things are toys. Toys are meant to be enjoyed. I wouldn't care if they re-released every single retired piece all over again, because, again, I'm not obligated to buy any of these if I don't WANT TO. But, I WOULD buy the pieces that I want (and missed out on originally, like Two-Face). They can put him in a different box, or put a sticker on the outside, or whatever. I don't care. I want Two-Face because I LIKE Two-Face, not because I want to have something that someone else doesn't... Or whatever.

[cardgame2]

Carol - can you just imagine.........................me - ms charm and personality LOL