Shin SOC News Thread (untouched by the unwashed)

MattAlt Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> By the way, Tamashi Nations has started an
> English-language Facebook page with photo updates.
> Seems to be done in association with Bluefin,
> their American distributor.
>
> [www.facebook.com]
> l

Well, what choice do they have, since Bandai shit-canned all their U.S. web stores in the mad dash to leave America.

Of course too bad if you're not on Facebook, guess they don't want expanded business or anything.

Matt, did you get the joy of translating for them this time? Pity they never actually made a long-term commitment to the American Tamashii site.

No need to pander to American fans. They import all our merchandise already anyways.

SteveH Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> MattAlt Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > By the way, Tamashi Nations has started an
> > English-language Facebook page with photo
> updates.
> > Seems to be done in association with Bluefin,
> > their American distributor.
> >
> >
> [www.facebook.com]
>
> > l
>
> Well, what choice do they have, since Bandai
> shit-canned all their U.S. web stores in the mad
> dash to leave America.
>
> Of course too bad if you're not on Facebook, guess
> they don't want expanded business or anything.
>
> Matt, did you get the joy of translating for them
> this time? Pity they never actually made a
> long-term commitment to the American Tamashii
> site.


Do you ever not complain? Facebook and social media in general is one of the leading ways for companies to communicate with and promote themselves to consumers today. Sorry if you're 'too cool' to have one, guess you'll miss out and Bandai won't care. You bitch that you don't have access to stuff, and then bitch when they try and open new avenues of access? Give me a break.

Introducing Prometheus Rising Studio.
[prometheusrising.net]
I make 3D printed mecha action figures.

So I was just discussing this earlier. Now that bandai has a "Good" relationship with an "official" distributor what has actually changed from a buyers point of view?

Absolutely nothing.

Products are still way overpriced and have not appeared at any more stores than back in the diamond days. If you go on the Bluefin site you cant even find a list of shops that they distribute to. I would be curious to know how many US based stores are actually buying via Bluefin or other means.

Its actually interesting to see that Bluefin actually has their own web-shop which appears to have a full catalog of every Bandai product ever made. Too bad there doesn't appear to be any way to actually buy anything. Not to mention their prices being about 70% inflated from import sites like HLJ or Ami Ami.

Anavel Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So I was just discussing this earlier. Now that
> bandai has a "Good" relationship with an
> "official" distributor what has actually changed
> from a buyers point of view?
>
> Absolutely nothing.
>
> Products are still way overpriced and have not
> appeared at any more stores than back in the
> diamond days. If you go on the Bluefin site you
> cant even find a list of shops that they
> distribute to. I would be curious to know how many
> US based stores are actually buying via Bluefin or
> other means.
>
> Its actually interesting to see that Bluefin
> actually has their own web-shop which appears to
> have a full catalog of every Bandai product ever
> made. Too bad there doesn't appear to be any way
> to actually buy anything. Not to mention their
> prices being about 70% inflated from import sites
> like HLJ or Ami Ami.


I'm pretty sure BBTS goes thru Bluefin now, but I agree that the lack of actual stores or support is frustrating.

Introducing Prometheus Rising Studio.
[prometheusrising.net]
I make 3D printed mecha action figures.

A bit more to add. It appears that "Webstore is for retailers only" which is even more disappointing. I really hope that the pricing on the website is not the actual distributor pricing.

If I can get something shipped to my door from Japan cheaper than a distributor can get it why does Bluefin exist at all?

They could at least be doing something useful and be acting as a liaison for US buyers to be able to purchase Tamashii web exclusive items directly. But it would probably just end up costing more than using a Japanese proxy service anyways.

Anavel Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So I was just discussing this earlier. Now that
> bandai has a "Good" relationship with an
> "official" distributor what has actually changed
> from a buyers point of view?
>
> Absolutely nothing.
>
> Products are still way overpriced and have not
> appeared at any more stores than back in the
> diamond days. If you go on the Bluefin site you
> cant even find a list of shops that they
> distribute to. I would be curious to know how many
> US based stores are actually buying via Bluefin or
> other means.
>
> Its actually interesting to see that Bluefin
> actually has their own web-shop which appears to
> have a full catalog of every Bandai product ever
> made. Too bad there doesn't appear to be any way
> to actually buy anything. Not to mention their
> prices being about 70% inflated from import sites
> like HLJ or Ami Ami.

Well, I was doing some tracing back of Bluefin and I kept getting Hong Kong locations, including Bandai's HK shipper. Pondering this, it makes me wonder if Bluefin is just an evolved version of the company that had bought out Uchino International back around '96 or thereabouts. Uchino Intarnational was the import/export company that owned Pony Toy-Go-Round (and second tier distro in Japan) that during the boom went and started up the Yaohan chain of japanese mini-malls here in the U.S. Uchino was key to Bandai's early entry in America (gray market tho it was), Some say that stumbling across some Popinica toys at Pony Toy led to Shogun Warriors but I have zero proof of that. :)

Anyway. different day, same playbook.

Prometheum5 Wrote:
> SteveH Wrote:
> >
> > Of course too bad if you're not on Facebook, guess
> > they don't want expanded business or anything.
>
> Do you ever not complain? Facebook and social
> media in general is one of the leading ways for
> companies to communicate with and promote
> themselves to consumers today. Sorry if you're
> 'too cool' to have one, guess you'll miss out and
> Bandai won't care.

Wait, hold on, why would not having a Facebook account prevent anyone from using the Bluefin Tamashii Nations Facebook page?

-Paul Segal

"Oh, the anger is never far, never far." -SteveH

<<Facebook and social media in general is one of the leading ways for companies to communicate with and promote themselves to consumers today.>>

It's also a great tool for communities (maybe even toy communities) to utilize to , say, plan get togethers and notify all the members about the dates of said gatherings. Right, Ben?

---------------------------------
[pgaijin.blogspot.com]

asterphage Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Prometheum5 Wrote:
> > SteveH Wrote:
> > >
> > > Of course too bad if you're not on Facebook,
> guess
> > > they don't want expanded business or anything.
>
> >
> > Do you ever not complain? Facebook and social
> > media in general is one of the leading ways for
> > companies to communicate with and promote
> > themselves to consumers today. Sorry if you're
> > 'too cool' to have one, guess you'll miss out
> and
> > Bandai won't care.
>
> Wait, hold on, why would not having a Facebook
> account prevent anyone from using the Bluefin
> Tamashii Nations Facebook page?


Even though people don't seem to want to accept it, I'm well aware there's always something new to learn and I do try to constantly learn new things.

So, here's the chance to school me.

I've never, NEVER been able to just view anybody's Facebook page. I click a link, I get a generic page with some basic text. Never ever able to see any pictures.

So, does Facebook have it's own format, its own program app that is downloaded like AOL used to do? Does it have settings to block non-users from viewing it? Is is biased towards Windows users so doesn't load properly on a Mac using Firefox?

When I started my MySpace page (which has gone fallow), because everybody told me I HAD to be on MySpace because it was so useful to keep in contact and blah blah, I could always view it and others without signing on. It could be made to block non-friends, but I never bothered to do that.

So, teach me. :)

hillsy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> <>
>
> It's also a great tool for communities (maybe even
> toy communities) to utilize to , say, plan get
> togethers and notify all the members about the
> dates of said gatherings. Right, Ben?


LOL

SteveH Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> asterphage Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Prometheum5 Wrote:
> > > SteveH Wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Of course too bad if you're not on
> Facebook,
> > guess
> > > > they don't want expanded business or
> anything.
> >
> > >
> > > Do you ever not complain? Facebook and
> social
> > > media in general is one of the leading ways
> for
> > > companies to communicate with and promote
> > > themselves to consumers today. Sorry if
> you're
> > > 'too cool' to have one, guess you'll miss out
> > and
> > > Bandai won't care.
> >
> > Wait, hold on, why would not having a Facebook
> > account prevent anyone from using the Bluefin
> > Tamashii Nations Facebook page?
>
>
> Even though people don't seem to want to accept
> it, I'm well aware there's always something new to
> learn and I do try to constantly learn new
> things.
>
> So, here's the chance to school me.
>
> I've never, NEVER been able to just view anybody's
> Facebook page. I click a link, I get a generic
> page with some basic text. Never ever able to see
> any pictures.
>
> So, does Facebook have it's own format, its own
> program app that is downloaded like AOL used to
> do? Does it have settings to block non-users from
> viewing it? Is is biased towards Windows users so
> doesn't load properly on a Mac using Firefox?
>
> When I started my MySpace page (which has gone
> fallow), because everybody told me I HAD to be on
> MySpace because it was so useful to keep in
> contact and blah blah, I could always view it and
> others without signing on. It could be made to
> block non-friends, but I never bothered to do
> that.
>
> So, teach me. :)

For privacy reasons, you can't view more than a basic frontpage for people's stuff without your own account.

Introducing Prometheus Rising Studio.
[prometheusrising.net]
I make 3D printed mecha action figures.

SteveH Wrote:
>
> I've never, NEVER been able to just view anybody's
> Facebook page. I click a link, I get a generic
> page with some basic text. Never ever able to see
> any pictures.

Security settings, varies from user to user. I think I used to intentionally make my Wall posts visible to non-users, but that doesn't work anymore. (I can still link individual posts and photos to non-users, but not my whole activity feed.)

But did you even try clicking on the Tamashii Nations link?

[www.facebook.com]

I just checked, and it's visible to everyone, without logging in.

-Paul Segal

"Oh, the anger is never far, never far." -SteveH

asterphage Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SteveH Wrote:
> >
> > I've never, NEVER been able to just view
> anybody's
> > Facebook page. I click a link, I get a generic
> > page with some basic text. Never ever able to
> see
> > any pictures.
>
> Security settings, varies from user to user. I
> think I used to intentionally make my Wall posts
> visible to non-users, but that doesn't work
> anymore. (I can still link individual posts and
> photos to non-users, but not my whole activity
> feed.)
>
> But did you even try clicking on the Tamashii
> Nations link?
>
> [www.facebook.com]
> l
>
> I just checked, and it's visible to everyone,
> without logging in.



OK, I clicked the link and it was as I has described before. I then disabled ALL my security and I was able to view the page, but after a couple of clicks at pictures I was shoved to a screen that told me I wasn't logged in and I needed to do so to continue viewing.

So.

Really, you don't just see this?

When I access the page, without being logged into Facebook, from any web browser (this screenshot was taken in Chrome), I can read all of Tamashii Nations' wall posts. When I click on the Photos tab on the left side, I can view all of their photo albums and any photo therein without logging in. I have no idea what's happening on your end.

-Paul Segal

"Oh, the anger is never far, never far." -SteveH

asterphage Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Really, you don't just see this?
>
> When I access the page, without being logged into
> Facebook, from any web browser (this screenshot
> was taken in Chrome), I can read all of Tamashii
> Nations' wall posts. When I click on the Photos
> tab on the left side, I can view all of their
> photo albums and any photo therein without logging
> in. I have no idea what's happening on your end.


No way to tell. It may be that all the spooky "we don't tell you we do this" stuff you hear about Google and Facebook is in action, and your existing cookies are not triggering a "please log in" page.

All I know is, it confirms my impressions. It's OK, I'll survive. :)

YOU NEEDZ THE FACEBOOK, STEVE. BRING SANJEEV, KICKING AND SCREAMING, WITH YOU.

---------------------------------
[pgaijin.blogspot.com]

hillsy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> YOU NEEDZ THE FACEBOOK, STEVE. BRING SANJEEV,
> KICKING AND SCREAMING, WITH YOU.


NO AND I DUZ NOT WANT CHEEZBURGER!!

The ONLY thing that makes me even think of doing the Faceybooky thing is that hot chick in Germany who built her own TARDIS has a page.

I would TOTALLY write on her wall. If you get what I mean. OH GOD DID I REALLY SAY THAT org!

::bag of shame over my head::

SteveH Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> hillsy Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > YOU NEEDZ THE FACEBOOK, STEVE. BRING SANJEEV,
> > KICKING AND SCREAMING, WITH YOU.
>
>
> NO AND I DUZ NOT WANT CHEEZBURGER!!
>
> The ONLY thing that makes me even think of doing
> the Faceybooky thing is that hot chick in Germany
> who built her own TARDIS has a page.
>
> I would TOTALLY write on her wall. If you get what
> I mean. OH GOD DID I REALLY SAY THAT org!
>
> ::bag of shame over my head::


Nah, it makes sense. I can't imagine many reasons why people would want the ability to communicate with you either.

Introducing Prometheus Rising Studio.
[prometheusrising.net]
I make 3D printed mecha action figures.

I DEFY YOU ALL!! FUCK FACEBOOK!!

And yet...when I click on Tamashii's fb page, it works fine for me. And speaking of which, that Robot Spirits Wing Gundam Zero looks hawt.

I'll take that cheezburger, too...

I would be lost without the explosive diarrhea load of CDX review notifications....

---------------------------------
[pgaijin.blogspot.com]

Prometheum5 Wrote:

>
> Nah, it makes sense. I can't imagine many reasons
> why people would want the ability to communicate
> with you either.


Oh SNAP!

I am forever scarred by the biting sarcasm!

If you really want to hurt Ben, vandalize his favorite bathroom stall. Little fella gets attached....

---------------------------------
[pgaijin.blogspot.com]

Prometheum5 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
<snip>
>
>
> Do you ever not complain? Facebook and social
> media in general is one of the leading ways for
> companies to communicate with and promote
> themselves to consumers today. Sorry if you're
> 'too cool' to have one, guess you'll miss out and
> Bandai won't care. You bitch that you don't have
> access to stuff, and then bitch when they try and
> open new avenues of access? Give me a break.

It still doesn't change anything to the fact that only certain people use Facebook (and other social media) and that it is a closed commercial system. A lot of computer geeks won't have a Facebook account because of the security risks. FB is not a replacement for the internet.
Also, have much fun pandering to 75% or so of fake accounts.

(i.e. 20,000 Twitter users generate 50% of Twitters traffic

This looks legit....




[www.toysdaily.com]

I hope it is, does seem to have been a total dearth of high end news lately.

Anyone know what all the names on the first poster are? I can hazard a guess at The Big O, SRW OG and GGG Final but I'm stuck as to why the word Final is on there twice.

I see Mazinkaiser, Mightgain and UFO Grendizer (for Sanjeev).

--------------------------------------------------------------

I asked if I have "Time For L-Gaim" but I got "No Reply From The Wind".

The list says

God Gravion
Genesic Gaogaigar
Alteisen Reize (or whatever ger-man lawl)
Gurren Lagann
Grendizer
Mazinkaiser
Might Gaine
Gaofighgar
Big O

it's "Reise" but yeah

-Paul Segal

"Oh, the anger is never far, never far." -SteveH

Vincent Z. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ...and UFO Grendizer
> (for Sanjeev).


Hmm...I think I could be tempted back into the SoC fold--at least once--by a well-executed GX-04R...

But this is an SRC, not a SOC. So it's like that High Dream figure.

Oh...but then why's it in this thread and not the SRC one? Well, either way, I'd consider it like I'd consider any new Grendizer toy.

VF5SS Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The list says
>
> God Gravion
> Genesic Gaogaigar
> Alteisen Reize (or whatever ger-man lawl)
> Gurren Lagann
> Grendizer
> Mazinkaiser
> Might Gaine
> Gaofighgar
> Big O

Isn't this the same list that turned up in the corner of a hobby mag page last month or the month before?

at least they didn't put up a poster with tons of different Valkyries while promising to make them all




oh

A Gokin in the hand is worth five on a teaser poster.

The top list with what looks like a silhouette of Might Gain is for the next SRC which Bandai says it will make one from that fan wish list.

That picture of Tryder is suppose to be a hint at GX-62 but is a fake since Bandai is suppose to say what GX-62 will be at the same time. If you can read Japanese the whole thing is a mismash of gibberish.

Just got my shipping notice for Daioja from Amiami,should be here next week along with the booster set for SRC Choryujin. Ill post pics when it arrives but damn that Daioja cost a lot, EMS shipping alone was over 5000Yen.

Edit-Double post I'm on my Blackberry



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/11/2012 07:10AM by chen.

Got my Daioja yesterday, pretty nice figure.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/16/2012 08:13PM by chen.

*needneedneedneedneed*

---------------------------------
[pgaijin.blogspot.com]