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Gauntlet101010 wrote:Mekatron wrote:I wonder what copyrights (if any) 3rd Party companies like Maketoys and Fansproject actually have to their products.
I wonder about that too. I think the transformation and those mechanics are copywritten. Although actually finding and suing the guys responsible is a whole other matter.
DevastaTTor wrote:Gauntlet101010 wrote:Mekatron wrote:I wonder what copyrights (if any) 3rd Party companies like Maketoys and Fansproject actually have to their products.
I wonder about that too. I think the transformation and those mechanics are copywritten. Although actually finding and suing the guys responsible is a whole other matter.
A small 3P company suing a Chinese factory; that'll be the day!
Gauntlet101010 wrote:DevastaTTor wrote:Gauntlet101010 wrote:Mekatron wrote:I wonder what copyrights (if any) 3rd Party companies like Maketoys and Fansproject actually have to their products.
I wonder about that too. I think the transformation and those mechanics are copywritten. Although actually finding and suing the guys responsible is a whole other matter.
A small 3P company suing a Chinese factory; that'll be the day!
Well, they wouldn't really sue the factory, they'd sue the company responsible for producing the KO.
But I agree on the point, it's pretty damn unlikely. We'll see Hasbro do that before some small 3rd party company.
DevastaTTor wrote:Gauntlet101010 wrote:DevastaTTor wrote:Gauntlet101010 wrote:Mekatron wrote:I wonder what copyrights (if any) 3rd Party companies like Maketoys and Fansproject actually have to their products.
I wonder about that too. I think the transformation and those mechanics are copywritten. Although actually finding and suing the guys responsible is a whole other matter.
A small 3P company suing a Chinese factory; that'll be the day!
Well, they wouldn't really sue the factory, they'd sue the company responsible for producing the KO.
But I agree on the point, it's pretty damn unlikely. We'll see Hasbro do that before some small 3rd party company.
The manager of the factory is probably the guy knocking these off. Factories there do that kind of stuff all the time; produce the authentic version by day, run the knock off at night.
Gauntlet101010 wrote:DevastaTTor wrote:Gauntlet101010 wrote:DevastaTTor wrote:Gauntlet101010 wrote:Mekatron wrote:I wonder what copyrights (if any) 3rd Party companies like Maketoys and Fansproject actually have to their products.
I wonder about that too. I think the transformation and those mechanics are copywritten. Although actually finding and suing the guys responsible is a whole other matter.
A small 3P company suing a Chinese factory; that'll be the day!
Well, they wouldn't really sue the factory, they'd sue the company responsible for producing the KO.
But I agree on the point, it's pretty damn unlikely. We'll see Hasbro do that before some small 3rd party company.
The manager of the factory is probably the guy knocking these off. Factories there do that kind of stuff all the time; produce the authentic version by day, run the knock off at night.
Well, the quality of the trailer was decent, so this may be the case. But there was some mold issues too (mostly the head). If the factory manager was behind it, wouldn't it be a perfect copy?
Gauntlet101010 wrote:Well, the quality of the trailer was decent, so this may be the case. But there was some mold issues too (mostly the head). If the factory manager was behind it, wouldn't it be a perfect copy?
Kibble wrote:Gauntlet101010 wrote:Well, the quality of the trailer was decent, so this may be the case. But there was some mold issues too (mostly the head). If the factory manager was behind it, wouldn't it be a perfect copy?
Hopefully there's mold "issues" when they cast the derp head and it comes out NOT looking like ****!
I had already decided to pass on Giant. If the KO sees the light of day, is good quality, and is really only $160 or so, I may reconsider. I suppose I kinda feel bad for MT, but I'm not very impressed by their product and wouldn't be too upset if they were to fall off the map.
It's a win win for everyone.
Autobot032 wrote:Get your hands on a legit Giant and you'll change your tune. He's a well made piece. The construction quality is amazing. The design for each robot is, too. The articulation, all around, is amazing. I mean, he can do solid poses as a combiner.
Gauntlet101010 wrote:It's a win win for everyone.
Except Maketoy and anyone who wants to see them release future products. They lose out. Don't pretend this is "good for everyone." This is only good for people who wanted Giant, but couldn't afford it. And only in the short run because it hampers MT's efforts to make toys LIKE Giant.
As for CHMS, those guys can keep prices at a "low" $40 for a KO because they don't have to actually design any of their the things they make. Talk to me about CHMS when they make something 100% their own.
Mekatron wrote:Is CHMS excellent quality though? Not sure I own any of their products...
Rated X wrote:Gauntlet101010 wrote:It's a win win for everyone.
Except Maketoy and anyone who wants to see them release future products. They lose out. Don't pretend this is "good for everyone." This is only good for people who wanted Giant, but couldn't afford it. And only in the short run because it hampers MT's efforts to make toys LIKE Giant.
As for CHMS, those guys can keep prices at a "low" $40 for a KO because they don't have to actually design any of their the things they make. Talk to me about CHMS when they make something 100% their own.
What I meant is the 3rd partys should do the designing and pay CHMS to mold the parts and assemble them properly from the original molds. Everybody gets a cut. CHMS has the resources and workers to run those molds day and night. If TFC and CHMS teams up, you got both brains and brawn. Thats a win win.
Gauntlet101010 wrote:Rated X wrote:Gauntlet101010 wrote:It's a win win for everyone.
Except Maketoy and anyone who wants to see them release future products. They lose out. Don't pretend this is "good for everyone." This is only good for people who wanted Giant, but couldn't afford it. And only in the short run because it hampers MT's efforts to make toys LIKE Giant.
As for CHMS, those guys can keep prices at a "low" $40 for a KO because they don't have to actually design any of their the things they make. Talk to me about CHMS when they make something 100% their own.
What I meant is the 3rd partys should do the designing and pay CHMS to mold the parts and assemble them properly from the original molds. Everybody gets a cut. CHMS has the resources and workers to run those molds day and night. If TFC and CHMS teams up, you got both brains and brawn. Thats a win win.
You assume a lot about CHMS here. What makes you think they are any cheaper or better than the factory MT already uses? I mean, you realize that it's much cheaper to copy an existing mold than to produce an original one yourself, right? So far that's all CHMS has done. And done with a spotty record at that. Maybe I'll change my mind if their Ironhide gets glowing reviews. Let's see how their first fully original figure goes before commenting about how cheaply they can make their "high quality" product.
On CHMS' quality - they do decent work. Most KOs are crap, but CHMS does decent work. They aren't what I'd expect from an expencive 3rd party company, but they did a good enough job with the Seekers to get me to buy several. But I hear their CrazyDevy copies are total crap. Can't recall how their Powerglide was. Jury's out on any original molds ... guess we'll finally see with ironhide.
Rated X wrote:Gauntlet101010 wrote:Rated X wrote:Gauntlet101010 wrote:It's a win win for everyone.
Except Maketoy and anyone who wants to see them release future products. They lose out. Don't pretend this is "good for everyone." This is only good for people who wanted Giant, but couldn't afford it. And only in the short run because it hampers MT's efforts to make toys LIKE Giant.
As for CHMS, those guys can keep prices at a "low" $40 for a KO because they don't have to actually design any of their the things they make. Talk to me about CHMS when they make something 100% their own.
What I meant is the 3rd partys should do the designing and pay CHMS to mold the parts and assemble them properly from the original molds. Everybody gets a cut. CHMS has the resources and workers to run those molds day and night. If TFC and CHMS teams up, you got both brains and brawn. Thats a win win.
You assume a lot about CHMS here. What makes you think they are any cheaper or better than the factory MT already uses? I mean, you realize that it's much cheaper to copy an existing mold than to produce an original one yourself, right? So far that's all CHMS has done. And done with a spotty record at that. Maybe I'll change my mind if their Ironhide gets glowing reviews. Let's see how their first fully original figure goes before commenting about how cheaply they can make their "high quality" product.
On CHMS' quality - they do decent work. Most KOs are crap, but CHMS does decent work. They aren't what I'd expect from an expencive 3rd party company, but they did a good enough job with the Seekers to get me to buy several. But I hear their CrazyDevy copies are total crap. Can't recall how their Powerglide was. Jury's out on any original molds ... guess we'll finally see with ironhide.
As far as I know all original molds are hand carved. Or maybe even done by computer like shapeways in this day and age. (Hasbro, Maketoys,etc) You cant really put a price on designing. They do it out of love with hopes of making a great seller. It’s whatever factory uses the original mold and how much resources they have that will determine the price. Workers can be trained for better QC. Maybe better plastic mixes can be bought. But it seems pretty apparent by now that CHMS can push out more figures cheaper and quicker. Call it “outsourcing” if you like, it works. That is unless the 3rd party companies are just plain overpricing because we keep buying their stuff.
Im not sold on Ironhide because he seems to big and the head sucks.
Gauntlet101010 wrote:Rated X wrote:Gauntlet101010 wrote:Rated X wrote:Gauntlet101010 wrote:It's a win win for everyone.
Except Maketoy and anyone who wants to see them release future products. They lose out. Don't pretend this is "good for everyone." This is only good for people who wanted Giant, but couldn't afford it. And only in the short run because it hampers MT's efforts to make toys LIKE Giant.
As for CHMS, those guys can keep prices at a "low" $40 for a KO because they don't have to actually design any of their the things they make. Talk to me about CHMS when they make something 100% their own.
What I meant is the 3rd partys should do the designing and pay CHMS to mold the parts and assemble them properly from the original molds. Everybody gets a cut. CHMS has the resources and workers to run those molds day and night. If TFC and CHMS teams up, you got both brains and brawn. Thats a win win.
You assume a lot about CHMS here. What makes you think they are any cheaper or better than the factory MT already uses? I mean, you realize that it's much cheaper to copy an existing mold than to produce an original one yourself, right? So far that's all CHMS has done. And done with a spotty record at that. Maybe I'll change my mind if their Ironhide gets glowing reviews. Let's see how their first fully original figure goes before commenting about how cheaply they can make their "high quality" product.
On CHMS' quality - they do decent work. Most KOs are crap, but CHMS does decent work. They aren't what I'd expect from an expencive 3rd party company, but they did a good enough job with the Seekers to get me to buy several. But I hear their CrazyDevy copies are total crap. Can't recall how their Powerglide was. Jury's out on any original molds ... guess we'll finally see with ironhide.
As far as I know all original molds are hand carved. Or maybe even done by computer like shapeways in this day and age. (Hasbro, Maketoys,etc) You cant really put a price on designing. They do it out of love with hopes of making a great seller. It’s whatever factory uses the original mold and how much resources they have that will determine the price. Workers can be trained for better QC. Maybe better plastic mixes can be bought. But it seems pretty apparent by now that CHMS can push out more figures cheaper and quicker. Call it “outsourcing” if you like, it works. That is unless the 3rd party companies are just plain overpricing because we keep buying their stuff.
Im not sold on Ironhide because he seems to big and the head sucks.
Well, you'll have to some price on it. Even for fans, time is money. As much as this is a work of passion for 3rd party guys, you can't expect them to work for nothing. And you CAN put a price on the materials used in the process of designing figures, and those materials are probably not cheap.
I don't know why you're so sold on CHMS or think they're any better at production than the guys MT already uses. Battle Tanker is made excellently. My CHMS Seekers, meanwhile, are made only decently. I suppose CHMS could do a better job if they're given the real molds, but could they do a CHEAPER job? Their stuff isn't any less expensive than imported figured already, so I don't see where the logic is coming from. You;'re assuming a lot about CHMS's business model and MT's business model and think that production is where the lion's share of money goes. Moreover, you're assuming that MT can even work with CHMS without factoring in where either is located.
Plus, you gotta wonder about the logic in turning to a company known for stealing other people's designs to make your own. I might be out of line here, but maybe ... just maybe ... they aren't all that trustworthy.
BulletSponge wrote:I'm 100% with Gauntlet on this one.
Irregardless of the quality issues of most KOs, Maketoys is literally being robbed. Why do you think perscription drugs cost so much? The cost to manufacture them? NO! It's the YEARS of R&D involved to develop them. Even with commercial goods (like toys), you can't assume the bulk of the cost is the manufacturing. Buying a Knock-Off when the original is still available is simply buying from a thief.
As far as the fast turnaround for the MakeToys knockoffs, China has never been an honest partner in manufacturing. I'd assume that Maketoys used the same factory to manufacture Giant as they did with the Battle Tanker. I wouldn't be suprised at all if the molds were copied and sold.
And I have both Herc and Yellow Giant and personally, I like Giant better. I had two of my herc units come already defective (thank you BBTS customer support for fixing that) and after combining the sets, Giant is sturdier and an all around better piece.
Rated X wrote:Once upon a time somebody created this wonderful drink called orange juice. Maybe only Tropicana should make it and all other companies that duplicate the recipe should be indicted. If you buy Minute Maid you are buying from a thief, right ?
As far as CHMS being dishonest, money talks. Why screw over a business partner for a FEW GRAND when they can make you a FEW HUNDRED GRAND over the period of a few years ? Gotta look at the big picture my friend…
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