Fansproject Boycott

[Lysist]

Hello,

As many of you are aware, Fansproject has decided to mass release this years TFCon exclusive to mass retail. They have made some subtle changes (chrome and no Energon Case) in order to justify this. Well, I feel that there is no Justification for this and I am looking for people that feel the same way.
I am planing to Boycott any retailer/online or otherwise that offers pre-orders or carries the Henkei Powered Commander. I know that this could make getting our beloved Plastic Crack a little harder but I feel that this is nessisary to prove that TFCon and canadian fans will not be taken advantage of.
I will be sending out an e-mail with links to this post every week to all companies that plan on offering HPC untill they decide to stop carrying it or sell out of them. I hope that this will keep unreputable companies like fansproject from doing this in the future.
I understand if you see this as a chance to get one for yourself. I appeal to your sence of right and wrong. If you worked extreammly hard or attended a convention to get an exclusive only to have it released to mass retail weeks after I beleave that you would be angry too.

Please PM me if you have any questions or just post them.

Thanks to all of you.:p

[y2jversion1]

I understand how you feel - but the cold hard fact is that CASH is everyone's number 1 fan. It's very naive to think that retailers will stop carrying something because of some fans getting burnt by an exclusive that was later available to everyone. They're not in the business for fans, they're in it for the money.

If a handful of cybertron.ca guys don't buy it, folks from tfw2005, seibertron and other fans will buy it. Where there is demand, there is supply because in the retail world, cash is king - not the morals & ethics of fandoms.

If BBTS will make solid commision on it and has a high demand, do you really think they'd stop selling it? Likewise for other retailers?

If FansProject didn't re-release it, another bootlegger company would (like the cliffjumper upgrade kit).

You also have to realize that the subtle differences in paint apps as well as the box still make the TFCon one an exclusive. It's a variant exclusive that only 500 of exist. And to add, the preadmission prices for TFCon exclusive included the admission to TFCon, making the toy around 110 only - which is 20 over what the Henkai version is being sold for...

Trying to be realistic here ;)

[Crobot91]

Wow,... we are talking about toys, aren't we? Relax and enjoy your toy like I did when I purchased one for $150 cdn.

[Quicky]

Fansproject should have let Powered Commander remain an exclusive, it makes no sense to re-release it. So far they haven't re-released City Commander and there still seems to be a demand for him.

Shadow Commander being also a limited run hasn't sold out yet. I don't know how much of a demand there is for Powered Commander but this could hurt them financially if they oversaturate the market with this version.

Well, they have already hurt themselves with some of the fandom, with this PC fiasco.

[venksta]

If anyone is going to boycott FansProject for this stunt, lets also add Takara to the list for releasing Henkei Thundercracker, Dirge, and Thrust as well. I paid good money to get my BotCon exclusive Classics Thundercracker, Thrust, and Dirge, only to see Takara release a cheaper version. We can also add Hasbro to the list for releasing the SDCC Alternator Nemesis Prime to other countries at retail, which was suppose to be an exclusive too. Its only fair if we put everyone up to the standard, than just single out one group. :)

[Quicky]

If anyone is going to boycott FansProject for this stunt, lets also add Takara to the list for releasing Henkei Thundercracker, Dirge, and Thrust as well. I paid good money to get my BotCon exclusive Classics Thundercracker, Thrust, and Dirge, only to see Takara release a cheaper version. We can also add Hasbro to the list for releasing the SDCC Alternator Nemesis Prime to other countries at retail, which was suppose to be an exclusive too. Its only fair if we put everyone up to the standard, than just single out one group. :)

You make a good point. I don't know if I'll ever be able to boycott them though...:D

I'm doing my part by bolstering the economy with all my transformer purchases.:p

[Robimus]

I've never bought anything from them......I don't know if that counts as a boycott.:p

But I will definitly remember this instance when future promises are made by this fansprojects company. Being up front and transparent should be something they aspire towards.

[Quicky]

I've never bought anything from them......I don't know if that counts as a boycott.:p

But I will definitly remember this instance when future promises are made by this fansprojects company. Being up front and transparent should be something they aspire towards.

I'm a fan of their work on the commander upgrades, beautiful piece of work and highly expected more of their future releases. Now, they have tarnished their reputation a bit by making this bad business decision and possibly lying to TFCon and alienating some fans who, make no mistake, are their customers.

Now, I just don't see them in that light anymore. I will be following very carefully in what they promise next. Perhaps, they can redeem themselves.

[jourdo]

I've never bought anything from them......I don't know if that counts as a boycott.:p

Lead the charge Robimus!! :p

I honestly cannot see a boycott working here as there will always be demand for their products. They make great add-ons to existing toys... this event does not change that.

My only wish is that FP would have been upfront when they were asked about mass release of this product. The way they handled the whole thing is what everyone seems to be upset about. If they had been honest in the first place, no one would be this upset.

[chans formers]

Wow,... we are talking about toys, aren't we? Relax and enjoy your toy like I did when I purchased one for $150 cdn.

If anyone is going to boycott FansProject for this stunt, lets also add Takara to the list for releasing Henkei Thundercracker, Dirge, and Thrust as well. I paid good money to get my BotCon exclusive Classics Thundercracker, Thrust, and Dirge, only to see Takara release a cheaper version. We can also add Hasbro to the list for releasing the SDCC Alternator Nemesis Prime to other countries at retail, which was suppose to be an exclusive too. Its only fair if we put everyone up to the standard, than just single out one group. :)both venksta and crobot91 make really good points.in the end,these "are" just toys.and if we're gonna boycott f/p,why not all?if it wasnt for fansproject,we wouldnt have any armors at all(magnus would look pretty naked:D)i mean,sure they're releasing the pc armor in the japanese market,the color schemes may be similar,but there's no extra "tfcon" goodies being included with them,thus making the 500 authentic "tfcon exclusives" still "500" in the world.now if people are mad because they went and bought 10,20 or even 30 pc sets hoping to gain a giant profit,nobody put a gun to their heads and said"buy this now and resell for a astronomical price".it was their own choice.i do feel for them but alot of times i dont cause some of these guys are probably the same guys who snagged every last one of the movie concept bb on sale,then went and "flipped" them on ebay for 40 to 60 a piece.i do agree that it was kinda shady for f/p to do this release just a few weeks after tfcon,but in the end,no matter how much they themselves may love the aspect of creating works of art for the fans,it'll eventually all boil down to numbers.they have to pay bills too.but to boycott any retailers that pick these up just doesnt really make sense to me(imho)the retailers are just trying to survive and pay their bills too.if everyone wants a blue shirt,guess what,retailers will start carrying them.just remember though,no matter what happens in the next little bit,if f/p floods the asian market with these pc sets,THERE'S STILL ONLY 500 TFCON PC EXCLUSIVES IN THE WORLD.(it kinda makes sense to me that they would eventually release this in the japanese market,being as the original powered convoy was created in japan,while most collectors here in north america didnt even know what powered convoy was until tfcon09(except diehard fans.....proto:D)

[venksta]

Lead the charge Robimus!! :p

I honestly cannot see a boycott working here as there will always be demand for their products. They make great add-ons to existing toys... this event does not change that.

My only wish is that FP would have been upfront when they were asked about mass release of this product. The way they handled the whole thing is what everyone seems to be upset about. If they had been honest in the first place, no one would be this upset.

I'm trying to stay neutral on this whole issue. But I think FP didn't even plan to make this second run of Powered Commanders until after TFCon. Two weeks before TFCon, I went and saw my contact, and asked if there was any way to get the Powered Commander from them. They told me TFCon bought the whole run, so they couldn't help me out. If they did already plan to make this new version, they would of told me to wait until after TFCon or something. They also told me about some of the items announced which I didn't know about, so I'm sure they didn't hold back the info from me on this second PC. This must of all been planned recently.

[Lysist]

The point of this is not that we will hurt retailers but to let Fansproject know that this kind of thing will get a response. I understand that it is just a Toy. kind of like TFCon is just a convention, you are just a consumer. We seem to forget in this age of apathy that we have a voice. It might not change anything, but doing nothing only encourages this kind of thing in other companies.

To all of the people who are comparing this to the Botcon/Henkei seekers, it is not the same.

seekers = years apart, different lines, different molding, also exclusive

PC=same toy, weeks after release as an exclusive, mass retail

What I want to do is send a loud and clear message to Fansproject that this will not be ignored. That it is unfair and that we are not going to just sit on our hands. I am not asking people to stop buying Transformers. I am asking people realize that they do have a voice (other than just whining on forms). As we are in a world wide recession, and money is tight for retailers this kind of thing has more effect. I would rather have the retailers tell FP that because of the static they are getting they are not happy. FP does not care about us, but they will care if a store is complaining about this.

If people just want to let this go then that is cool, I am not going too. I hope I can find some support but I will manage on my own if needed. They are a small business and should not think that they can alienate fans and get away with it. To all of the people who are planning to buy the new one, I am glad you are getting it. It still does not make it right

[tusko]

The way this was marketed as an exclusive, its price and rapid release of the upgraded (chrome is an upgrade) mass release is distasteful.

I don't think the boycott will be effective, the Canadian market is too small and I don't wish to punish importers like Kool Toyz and others who were also undoubtedly dooped by this tactic. They have always offered me exceptional service and quality.

I will however never buy from Fansproject again. Period. The specialty stores should take note to order one less of these if they were expecting me to buy one.

[hugh_da_man]

I will still buy all the FP stuff I want from any of the stores that'll carry it.

I look at it this way. People are saying that FP is stabbing their fans in the back but what they're really doing is providing their fans who couldn't get the TFCon exclusive with a similar but different deco of their main product. No one complained when they redeco'd CC to be SC or PC so why would you care if they make another deco that matches the henkei one? You still have your exclusive and it's still worth at least the $160 you paid for it, it just won't fetch $500 on ebay now.

I understand feeling a little duped due to them saying that they were breaking the molds and such but I still don't think the response this is getting is justified. These guys are building products that collectors and fans want and I believe that they aren't making a ton of money on each individual release. They make high quality add-ons at a reasonable price so I can't fault them for wanting to stretch out their best mold a little further.

[teruo313]

If anyone is going to boycott FansProject for this stunt, lets also add Takara to the list for releasing Henkei Thundercracker, Dirge, and Thrust as well. I paid good money to get my BotCon exclusive Classics Thundercracker, Thrust, and Dirge, only to see Takara release a cheaper version. We can also add Hasbro to the list for releasing the SDCC Alternator Nemesis Prime to other countries at retail, which was suppose to be an exclusive too. Its only fair if we put everyone up to the standard, than just single out one group. :)

To be fair with the seekers issue as that one comes up alot. Takara had no obligation and made no promises to not release their version of the seekers, aside from not being able to use the Thrust wing molds. So really that doesn't apply here. Hasbro and the SDCC Nemesis Prime though is along the same lines as the PC issue.

Given some time, despite what people may say or feel right now, I'm willing to bet that a good number will change their minds when that Rodimus kit comes out. Don't get me wrong, I'm upset about the whole situation as well, but I can't say that I would pass on getting that kit when it comes out.

[Lysist]

Well, I asked for support. I got flack. Cool that. This is a democracy after all.
I will never buy a Fansproject item again, and I get the feeling that I am not alone in this. I will also be e-mailing retailers to tell them that I will not buy from them if they do carry this. It is my right to do it. As much as I hate to say it, I will be taking TFcon "exclusives" with a very large grain of salt in future. Well, until they make sure a competent lawyer can go over the contracts for it and make sure that it will actually be an exclusive. I hope that the TFCon organizers will not be inviting Fansproject back next year

To a MOD: Please close this thread. Thanks:)

[venksta]

Well, I asked for support. I got flack. Cool that. This is a democracy after all.
I will never buy a Fansproject item again, and I get the feeling that I am not alone in this. I will also be e-mailing retailers to tell them that I will not buy from them if they do carry this. It is my right to do it. As much as I hate to say it, I will be taking TFcon "exclusives" with a very large grain of salt in future. Well, until they make sure a competent lawyer can go over the contracts for it and make sure that it will actually be an exclusive. I hope that the TFCon organizers will not be inviting Fansproject back next year

To a MOD: Please close this thread. Thanks:)


I need to add this in. I understand what your trying to do. And I honestly believe the huge thread at TFW has FP shaking. They do read the boards and like to see feedback from fans. The thread at TFW has probably done a number on them. So going by your first post, what you wanted to do with having retailers to stop carrying their products, would basically mean the end of the company at this point. What the TFW thread has done alone, is more damage to them then anyone thinks. I wouldn't be surprised if FP decided to focus on fans in Asia only now, since the fans that are vocal about this situation are mostly from North America.

[hugh_da_man]

I need to add this in. I understand what your trying to do. And I honestly believe the huge thread at TFW has FP shaking. They do read the boards and like to see feedback from fans. The thread at TFW has probably done a number on them. So going by your first post, what you wanted to do with having retailers to stop carrying their products, would basically mean the end of the company at this point. What the TFW thread has done alone, is more damage to them then anyone thinks. I wouldn't be surprised if FP decided to focus on fans in Asia only now, since the fans that are vocal about this situation are mostly from North America.

That would suck but would be totally understandable due to the threats of legal action and such being thrown around over at tfw.

[Lysist]

I need to add this in. I understand what your trying to do. And I honestly believe the huge thread at TFW has FP shaking. They do read the boards and like to see feedback from fans. The thread at TFW has probably done a number on them. So going by your first post, what you wanted to do with having retailers to stop carrying their products, would basically mean the end of the company at this point. What the TFW thread has done alone, is more damage to them then anyone thinks. I wouldn't be surprised if FP decided to focus on fans in Asia only now, since the fans that are vocal about this situation are mostly from North America.

I never wanted stores to stop selling all Fansproject toys. I just wanted them to stop carrying the Henkei Powered Commander. I know that it would not stop them but it might get a wary store to send them an e-mail about it or issue some kind of warning.
If the Transformers Collectors Club said that they where releassing the Club Combiner, that it has taken 5 years for some fans to get, as a mass retail item. They would be angry. If they did it 3 weeks after the members recived the last part. There would be hell to pay and they would sure feel it when renewal time came around. I hope that FP feels this mistake. Do I want them to stop selling product, no. Do I want them to say that they have decided not to release HPC, yes. I would be happy if it was some kind of exclusive version of it in Japan or elseware. It is the Mass retail aspect that angers me.

I think I need to be done with this, it is just so disapointing.

[crimbot]

We, as a fandome, are some pretty funny characters;)

I'm boycotting pants. Whos with me?

[hugh_da_man]

I never wanted stores to stop selling all Fansproject toys. I just wanted them to stop carrying the Henkei Powered Commander. I know that it would not stop them but it might get a wary store to send them an e-mail about it or issue some kind of warning.
If the Transformers Collectors Club said that they where releassing the Club Combiner, that it has taken 5 years for some fans to get, as a mass retail item. They would be angry. If they did it 3 weeks after the members recived the last part. There would be hell to pay and they would sure feel it when renewal time came around. I hope that FP feels this mistake. Do I want them to stop selling product, no. Do I want them to say that they have decided not to release HPC, yes. I would be happy if it was some kind of exclusive version of it in Japan or elseware. It is the Mass retail aspect that angers me.

I think I need to be done with this, it is just so disapointing.

I still don't understand the hurt. You are not a member of some official exclusive FansProject club because you bought a PC. They are a company in the market of making toys, not a fan club! You got your exclusive for going to TFCon and it'll remain an exclusive regardless of this henkei repaint coming out. The deco you got is the only one that will ever match classics prime. The new armor on classics prime will probably look like garbage if it's made for henkei prime. So the one and only armor for classics prime was a TFCon exclusive still...it just won't hit $500 on ebay now...big deal.

[jjwankenobi]

What the TFW thread has done alone, is more damage to them then anyone thinks. I wouldn't be surprised if FP decided to focus on fans in Asia only now, since the fans that are vocal about this situation are mostly from North America.

Oh no!!! "Protector" slips from my grasp even before he's released!!!

All of this is a SNAFU thanks to FansProject, and I'm one of the unfortunate many who paid an aftermarket price for my Powered Commander (albeit a somewhat reasonable markup...thanks "C.O.O"! :)). However I do not feel jipped or duped in any way.

Technically the TFCON-PC is still an exclusive, of which a limited amount were made with colouring and styling that match a toy that many people own but don't have this add-on version. So in my mind FP delivered what they promised to the organizers of TFCON.

I look at it this way. Why is gas so expensive even though the value oil in barrels is low? Because someone stands to make a profit.

Why were Americans with terrible credit rating allowed to buy homes with 0% down, then forced to foreclose on mortgages they couldn't sustain? Because someone stood to make a profit.

Why is FansProject re-releasing PC on a wider scale? Take a wild guess...

That's business folks. People take our money because we're foolish enough to give it to them.
I spent stupid cash on a hunk of plastic that hooks onto another hunk of plastic. Why? Because I like Transformers. Was it a "smart" investment? No. Should I feel angry at FP? No...I can only blame myself. Do I regret my purchase? Not at the least.

[Darth Wave]

Sorry Lysist... you my boy and all but I have to disagree with you on this. Only because what venksta, crobot91 and Chan said is true. In a nut shell boycott one boycott all...money is the root of all problems!

Dude its a sad part of life... I think ALLEN IVERSON said it best:

"I’m hurt. I mean, simple as that... It ain’t about that. I mean it’s, it’s not about that at all, you know what I’m sayin’? I mean, but it’s, it’s, it’s easy to, to talk about, it’s easy to sum it up when you just talk about toys. We sittin’ here, I supposed to be a Transformers fan, and we in here talkin’ about boycott. I mean, listen, we talkin’ about boycott. Not a toy, not a toy, not a toy…we talkin’ about boycott. Not a toy. Not a, not a, not the toy that I go out there and, and die for and buy every toy like it’s my last. Not the toy. We talkin’ about boycott, man. I mean how silly is that? Man, we talkin’ about boycott. I know that. And I’m not, I’m not shoving it aside, you know, like it don’t mean anything. I know it’s important. I do. I honestly do. But we talkin’ about boycott man. What are we talkin’ about? boycott? We talkin’ about boycott man. We tal…we talkin’ about boycott. We talkin’ about boycott. We ain’t talkin’ about the toy. We talkin’ about boycott man."

[Lysist]

(still totally done with this, MODS!!! PLEASE CLOSE THIS THREAD, the last thing I want is arguments with freinds)

I get it. topic dropped. I will do my own thing and continue to respect others choices when it comes to this matter. Lets hope that something really cool gets announced soon so we can all get back to the positive aspect of our hobby. Peace out yo, have fun.

[crimbot]

(still totally done with this, MODS!!! PLEASE CLOSE THIS THREAD, the last thing I want is arguments with freinds)

I get it. topic dropped. I will do my own thing and continue to respect others choices when it comes to this matter. Lets hope that something really cool gets announced soon so we can all get back to the positive aspect of our hobby. Peace out yo, have fun.

Chill out, its a discussion. That's why people start threads in the first place. If we didn't want to hear each others opinions, noone would take part in the boards.

I think everyone understands your stance. I do, as one of the botcon seekers aftermarket buyers. But I don't feel that jaded about that either. meh. If someone wants to pay enough, they can have anything they want.

[Super_Megatron]

Cybertron.ca does not support the boycott of any company or product. Thanks.