Haslab Victory Saber will Soon be Available to Back in Japan

I've heard some fans on other sites say that fans in Japan don't need a lot of time to make a decision on whether to back this or not. I'm not in total agreement. I mean sure there are cultural differences among everyone around the world, but when it comes to spending what is the equivalent of about $200 USD on a toy (and for most countries the price is higher), I'm sure it's not something everyone can just make a snap decision on. We may decide we want or don't want it relatively soon, but the reality of being able to do so may take time.

I still reference back to Legends Grand Max. That was also a short window, just 2 weeks, and ONLY through TT Mall. They got 2000+ backers (we don't know the final number), but it was less than 3000 to include the stretch goal. If the window to order it had been longer, it might have reached that amount.

I mean I'm not going to complain. 2 weeks is better than them not having an opportunity at all, and I'm sure it will fund now. As for stretch goals, I'm not fully convinced, but we shall see, I hope I am wrong.

o.supreme wrote: just 2 weeks, and ONLY through TT Mall. They got 2000+ backers (we don't know the final number), but it was less than 3000 to include the stretch goal. If the window to order it had been longer, it might have reached that amount.

Don't know, but yeah Takara does like to do short order windows. I forget what the windows for other TTMal exclusives were but I remember them being short too. I think that's what online people mean when they say Japanese people don't need long preorder windows. It's more them commenting on the norm there rather than how a Japanese fan lives their life.

william-james88 wrote:

o.supreme wrote: just 2 weeks, and ONLY through TT Mall. They got 2000+ backers (we don't know the final number), but it was less than 3000 to include the stretch goal. If the window to order it had been longer, it might have reached that amount.

Don't know, but yeah Takara does like to do short order windows. I forget what the windows for other TTMal exclusives were but I remember them being short too. I think that's what online people mean when they say Japanese people don't need long preorder windows. It's more them commenting on the norm there rather than how a Japanese fan lives their life.

In Japan payday is the 25th of every month everywhere, the majority aren't paid weekly or biweekly like we are in the west. This is why big ticket items like Masterpiece figures tend to be released towards the end of the month there. This is also when people are more likely to make impulse purchases so it makes some sense that they would give a short window to give them less time to think about it. When Unicron was up for order they didn't allow cancellations and I'm guessing the same will be true this time, too.

Emerje

Immortal Starscream wrote:huh... I had assumed that this was already up for backing in Japan. Guess that's what I get for thinking Hopefully this means that we will see a big jump in the backing numbers, and that we will get all three tiers.

I think at bare minimum this seals the deal on 11,000. Not that I had much doubt on that part, but still a good feeling!

o.supreme wrote:That is interesting. Thanks for sharing. I would have thought that in a country where there are untold numbers of private and public companies, (same as in many other places) that paydates would be all over the place, as in the west. Man, I bet shopping is a pain around those times, well it kind of is here also (1st of the month), but if you plan ahead, you can avoid the crowds. Of course we've been having our groceries delivered, or been doing pickup, but obviously not everyone can do that.

Anime would have me believe that asking for a cash advance from your employer when funds get tight isn't entirely unheard of. In fact when doublechecking my understanding of this I found that they take a month to calculate wages and wages from the 25th to the end of the month are calculated as a cash advance that gets corrected on the next payday if needed.

-Kanrabat- wrote:Takara tweet SILHOUETTES instead of the full color renders that are available on Pulse for days.

Why?

Same Takara that regularly shows gray model prototypes at live events (while Hasbro rarely shows anything that isn't at least hand painted). It's like they and Hasbro switched places for this.

Emerje

Let's not forget that after a great first week or so of sales, MP Star Saber ended up being one of the worst-selling Masterpiece figures. There might not be THAT much demand for an ultra-exclusive version of Victory Saber.

With that said I'm contemplating going in on a second one to flip, but with the issues with the Sentinel I expect aftermarket demand to drop on it which makes me concerned about Victory Saber. If that set has some flaw in the design that makes it virtually unusable, I may not be able to flip the extra one even at a loss.
It would be nice if the Razor Crest was released before the backing window on Victory Saber closes so I can see how that does on the aftermarket.

chuckdawg1999 wrote:Let's not forget that after a great first week or so of sales, MP Star Saber ended up being one of the worst-selling Masterpiece figures. There might not be THAT much demand for an ultra-exclusive version of Victory Saber.

With that said I'm contemplating going in on a second one to flip, but with the issues with the Sentinel I expect aftermarket demand to drop on it which makes me concerned about Victory Saber. If that set has some flaw in the design that makes it virtually unusable, I may not be able to flip the extra one even at a loss.
It would be nice if the Razor Crest was released before the backing window on Victory Saber closes so I can see how that does on the aftermarket.

I just did a search of *sold* listing for Haslab Sentinel (not what people are asking, but what it is actually selling for), and it is STILL a minimum of 2X the Haslab initial price, defects and all, that is crazy to think, but it's happening.

Razorcrest was initially supposed to be shipped before the end of the year, but now it's early 2022. Perhaps the online complaints are causing Hasbro to really make sure there are no issues with the next item that was already backed, and is shipping to customers who backed it.

Also, as Big and Expensive as Unicron was, when it comes to Haslab generral discussion online, he seems to be brought up the least. Correct me if I'm wrong, but while most of Haslabs get a big last minute surge, it seems to be that Unicron limped to the finish, thanks only to an extended backing time.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

o.supreme wrote:
Also, as Big and Expensive as Unicron was, when it comes to Haslab generral discussion online, he seems to be brought up the least. Correct me if I'm wrong, but while most of Haslabs get a big last minute surge, it seems to be that Unicron limped to the finish, thanks only to an extended backing time.

What worked against Unicron was it's price. Not everyone can or a willing to back a 600 mother effing YOUESSES DOLLARS toy.

That Saber at 160$? Much, MUCH more manageable.

100% why I didn’t get Unicron. My military pay barely covers my collecting as is, no way I could’ve dropped $600 on a guy almost half my size.

I’m hopeful for Victory Saber with the opening of orders in Japan, I hope it at least makes it to the first tier. Also I read on Twitter that a secret fourth tier is in the works and will include two more full-sized figures. All speculation of course, but if true and is the right characters, I’m sure that’ll make it surge up as well.

Seems like a several of us here didn't get Unicron, including myself, for similar reasons. But Galactus was what? Almost $500? Yet it blew through all 4 of its tiers towards the end, and 10K plus over that.

I mean I'm happy about VS, and I've proudly backed it. I just think some fans are overestimating how much support it will get. I don't expect all the tiers to be met, I'll be shocked even if tier 1 gets met. I hope I'm wrong, but 20K backers seems like a LOT at this point. I just think next to the juggernauts (no pun intended) of Star wars and Marvel, we as Transformers fans kind of forget how small we are in comparison.

Just as an example, there was an interesting debate on the toy industry as a whole this past Sunday between 2 very different YouTube personalities.



The first 30 minutes or so is skipable because one of the debaters had bad internet. But many of the problems of production, distribution etc. were discussed. No answers unfortunately, but it was an interesting watch nonetheless. Haslab was mentioned MANY times however, but I don't know if Transformers as a brand was ever even mentioned Compared to DC, Marvel, and Star Wars. (Also MOTU was mentioned as lot, but mostly because one of the debaters used to work for Mattel)

Maybe Marvel is just more popular than Transformers. Plus Unicron is gigantic and wide. Right now he's sitting on my floor because I have no real place to put him. Galactus is much more economical space-wise. He doesn't have wings or a ring or a huge stand.

If Saber's tiers don't get met I hope a 3rd party will produce them.