Help - FansToys FT-31D Smokey
 

Hi All,

I missed the boat on Pre-order for FansToys FT-31D Smokey.

Its sold out everywhere, anyone know why and where I can find one?

Thx in advance

Re: Help - FansToys FT-31D Smokey
 

I'll hazard a guess at why....

Fan Toys does have an ever-increasing fan base. I think they simply have more demand than a couple years ago. Although I don't have access to the numbers...I hear a lot of examples of people 'getting back into collecting, discovering Fans Toys only to see back-collecting earlier releases such as the Insecticons is nearly impossible". As such, they are sure to jump on new releases, and perhaps even pre-order.

Add the pandemic to the mix, which resulted in the disruption and delay of some releases and perhaps lower number of available figures for preorder (rumors are there is/was reduced factory capacity and to be honest, I think Fan Toys was one of the least disrupted of the 3rd parties) and suddenly there's this pre-order fever...everybody is ordering them ASAP, and some fans are even buying multiples to either 100% secure the figure and/or sell later at profit, further aggravating the scarcity.

Another thing I'm seeing (though again, I don't have numbers) is that there are people with more income (oddly) due to stimulus cheques and/or less going out and spending...so although there are many people negatively affected by the pandemic (and it we need to be understanding to our fellow collectors of this) there may actually be 'more cash going into the hobby for some of the people stuck at home'

Do you typically purchase from China e-tailers, US or local? First I would contact the local guys...they are awesome. They may not be able to help, but at least get your name in.

Next I would see if your preferred e-tailer has some kind of 'notify when more stock comes in' feature. I had to do this for FT31E, who is also already sold out and I missed out on (though he only showed up on a couple e-tailers so far, so I'm pretty confident that more will show up)

Generally speaking Fans toys has done a couple runs for each of the combiner limbs, so it's likely this guy is going to show up...so network and use those automated features, hunt daily if you have to...and I'm sure one will turn up for you.

And of course if I or other board members see one on a site we will share it...(honestly even Robotoybase is sold out on this guy...they are great for later releases but not this time...shocking really)

Re: Help - FansToys FT-31D Smokey
 

You're probably out of luck at the moment. A quick Google search shows it's unavailable everywhere. You'll most likely get a chance at getting it once it releases (as Fanstoys will definitely stock more after the first preorder run).

Re: Help - FansToys FT-31D Smokey
 

Your best bet is to keep an eye for the reissue and pre-order it without hesitation. Like echo said, it’s basically demand outstripping supply. They did do a second run for Roadking so makes sense that would do the same for the limbs or else there would be a disproportionate amount of limbless Menasors.

If you aren’t adversed to being raped than you can pay the secondary market fee on ebay

Re: Help - FansToys FT-31D Smokey
 

Thanks for the feedback.

Re: Help - FansToys FT-31D Smokey
 

This may not help with Smokey but for the last Stunticon, FT31-E Bandit (DeadEnd) Bababobo has put up some pre-orders;

https://bababobo00712.com/pre-order-...toy-p0927.html

As of 11:20 there are about 70 units available.

Re: Help - FansToys FT-31D Smokey
 

I almost missed out on him. I hadn't heard anything about him for a while and decided to check out A3U (my usual go to). Saw he was sold out and started to freak out because I have all the others. I quickly came back here to check the site's sponsors and got a pre-order from Kool Toyz.
Keep looking as the last one was a limited first wave so I'm sure there will be a second wave