XM Studios Venom 1/4 Statue

[NorthernLadMSP]

Originally Posted by Armored_Berserk

Again, agree with you.
You can't criticize XM without having the XM Defense Force coming for you, just like Sideshow in the old days.
People were right to complain about the head and it worked because XM will fix them now.

Exactly. You make any sort of comment in a non-glowing manner and the XM fan boys are ready to crucify you. It's honestly annoying as ----. Unfortunately, I suspect that will never change.

With that being said, it's great news that they listened to the complaints and are taking the steps to fix the issue. I'm excited to see everyone's pics of this piece.

[Bmutha]

Originally Posted by Cali604

I know I said Im getting off the soapbox, but I gotta say my peace cuz I think some of this is directed at me especially since the money thing got brought up. This thing was investigated and it wasnt going smoothly...Honestly when u look at the short timeline on how things unfolded...it went from 'Its one guys distorted camera pics' 'The rest of them are fine.' 'Everyone should wait to get them In Hand and then decide'

From there they visited the production facilities and stated again there is no issue. Photos were put up on the forums and XM Facebook stated it isnt an issue.

So yes customers very strongly stated what the differences and concerns were. The jaw was significantly more open, and disjointed to a degree making it much less desirable than the proto. Comparison pictures were shown. At this time XM stated they understood what the concerns are and would rectify it.

This should have been the end of it, and everyone should have been content with the results.

Now it seems like some people are lambasting the collectors for making this strong of stand as passionately as they did. I gave the examples of previous statues not being able to be fixed after the fact. People can say Wolverine having stenciled on hair didnt bother them becuz they couldnt see it from the front, but to a lot of people it was an issue. Phoenix head issue was a pretty major issue, and even though it was explained a lot of collectors were unhappy. There are other issues I can point out with certain XM statues (i.e. smaller heads, longer legs) that are now out there, that if the issues were caught beforehand...they could have been fixed before they were sent out. So it hasnt always been perfect results.

So perhaps seeing from some of these previous issues, and the initial responses about Venom even after investigating was stating there was no issue...you can perhaps see why the benefit of doubt was eroding.

This was a moment where collectors stepped up quickly and XM recognized the seriousness of the issue due to collectors being persistent. At no time did anyone disrespect the company. I can be a massive fan of a company and still be critical.

I know you may not care how much somebody spent on a Statue, but I do and so should XM. Even if I spend $500 on a statue I expect quality, and $500 is not chump change, but these could come out to double that. This is the reason many people shifted off that other company due to inconsistent quality, price increases, and an indifference to their customers(not trying to diss that company as lately they may be turning things around). If XM adopts that philosophy it would be the same result.

So I am not trying to but perhaps the collectors shouldnt be treated as whiny little -----es when they are the ones putting up their hard earned money for the best result. I think they have earned and paid for the benefit to have their voices heard, even if it sounds too critical as long as its respectful. The fact XM listens is the reason the collectors keep returning.

I didn't direct anything at you, but thanks for the essay. I bolded one of your last sentences because I think even you realize that this wasn't strictly the case. I'm all for being critical...I do it all the time (more so on FB becasue they are more active there).

I was directing my comment at the collectors here and on FB that were acting as if, since they spent well more than retail on the piece, they somehow had more right to complain. Why should XM care if someone paid substantially over retail for their piece? They didn't sell it to that person. Just because a grown adult chooses to spend more money than necessary on a statue, doesn't give them more right to be upset.

There's a big difference between making your voice heard/standing your ground and whining like your life is over (again, nowhere did I say YOU did this).

Believe me, I wanted this Venom head corrected, and I let them know it. I spent a lot of money on Venom, too, and I wouldn't have without that McFarlane head...I do not like the other two. I am one of the people getting "lambasted" because I was part of the group trying to get this changed. But, if they had chose to keep it as is, well, life goes on.

XM is a different company. They will interact with people on FB. Ben and Seng are just two regular dudes like the rest of us. They may say things at times that sound like they don't care, but people need to realize that until something is officially announced (on their FB page or here by Shorudan), then nothing is official. The Electro mask is a prime example.

[Jack's Username]

Originally Posted by Bmutha

I was directing my comment at the collectors here and on FB...

Not entirely clear as to why you'd be posting comments here for the benefit of people on FB. It's not difficult to understand why any poster here who voiced their concern in this thread might assume you're implicating them with your somewhat condescending remarks.

[candyrocket786]

Can we get a few more pages of folks quoting Cali's post? Maybe throw some high res images in there and also reinstate OC while we're at it.

[Gecktechs]

@Bmutha - Seems like some collectors feel that these companies OWE them something. They feel entitled to certain things.. The fact that some of you guys paid extra to secure a piece that can only be distributed in certain areas is a personal problem. XM has nothing to do with that. They aren't getting any of the $2-3-400 extra you paid above retail so why should they care? You guys should be thankful your even able to acquire one of their pieces. Just remember this folks. Sideshow, XM, Prime1... Those guys don't owe you SH!T.

..Outside of that, I'm glad they're gonna fix the McFarlane head. You gotta respect XM for the effort they make in trying to keep their customers happy but at the same time don't take that for granted. Like they're SUPPOSED to fix it for us. They could have very well left the head as-is and still made the same amount of money. Yes, people would have been upset, and YES people would "stop buying from them" - But @ 1000 or less ES, their pieces will sell out no matter what, regardless if they did right by the collectors or not.

[Bmutha]

Originally Posted by Gecktechs

@Bmutha - Seems like some collectors feel that these companies OWE them something. They feel entitled to certain things.. The fact that some of you guys paid extra to secure a piece that can only be distributed in certain areas is a personal problem. XM has nothing to do with that. They aren't getting any of the $2-3-400 extra you paid above retail so why should they care? You guys should be thankful your even able to acquire one of their pieces. Just remember this folks. Sideshow, XM, Prime1... Those guys don't owe you SH!T.

..Outside of that, I'm glad they're gonna fix the McFarlane head. You gotta respect XM for the effort they make in trying to keep their customers happy but at the same time don't take that for granted. Like they're SUPPOSED to fix it for us. They could have very well left the head as-is and still made the same amount of money. Yes, people would have been upset, and YES people would "stop buying from them" - But @ 1000 or less ES, their pieces will sell out no matter what.

[ChaFoShizzle]

Originally Posted by Gecktechs

@Bmutha - Seems like some collectors feel that these companies OWE them something. They feel entitled to certain things.. The fact that some of you guys paid extra to secure a piece that can only be distributed in certain areas is a personal problem. XM has nothing to do with that. They aren't getting any of the $2-3-400 extra you paid above retail so why should they care? You guys should be thankful your even able to acquire one of their pieces. Just remember this folks. Sideshow, XM, Prime1... Those guys don't owe you SH!T.

..Outside of that, I'm glad they're gonna fix the McFarlane head. You gotta respect XM for the effort they make in trying to keep their customers happy but at the same time don't take that for granted. Like they're SUPPOSED to fix it for us. They could have very well left the head as-is and still made the same amount of money. Yes, people would have been upset, and YES people would "stop buying from them" - But @ 1000 or less ES, their pieces will sell out no matter what, regardless if they did right by the collectors or not.

I understand what you're saying, but why is it wrong for the customer to ask them to fix something that they made a mistake on? It's not like we're asking for an extra head or anything. Making a mistake then passing it onto the customers and brushing it off as "normal" is not good business practice. This has nothing to do with people paying extra as that's not the point. But in saying that, I do get the situation and you can't please everyone.

[Gecktechs]

Originally Posted by ChaFoShizzle

I understand what you're saying, but why is it wrong for the customer to ask them to fix something that they made a mistake on? It's not like we're asking for an extra head or anything. Making a mistake then passing it onto the customers and brushing it off as "normal" is not good business practice. This has nothing to do with people paying extra as that's not the point. But in saying that, I do get the situation and you can't please everyone.

By no means did I say its wrong to ask for improvement. Im just sayin not to take it for granted. They arent obligated to. Like you said, you cant please everyone and there will come a time when something happens that XM can't or won't fix. Maybe not this week. Or next month. Or in 2018. But it will happen.

[Bmutha]

Originally Posted by ChaFoShizzle

I understand what you're saying, but why is it wrong for the customer to ask them to fix something that they made a mistake on? It's not like we're asking for an extra head or anything. Making a mistake then passing it onto the customers and brushing it off as "normal" is not good business practice. This has nothing to do with people paying extra as that's not the point. But in saying that, I do get the situation and you can't please everyone.

No one said it was wrong to ask, but demanding is something different. I ask them to change all kinds of stuff. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't.

No..money spent is not the point, as you say. But, many people try to make it the point, as if XM owes them more because that person spent more than retail in the aftermarket.

[Cali604]

Originally Posted by Bmutha

I didn't direct anything at you, but thanks for the essay. I bolded one of your last sentences because I think even you realize that this wasn't strictly the case. I'm all for being critical...I do it all the time (more so on FB becasue they are more active there).

I was directing my comment at the collectors here and on FB that were acting as if, since they spent well more than retail on the piece, they somehow had more right to complain. Why should XM care if someone paid substantially over retail for their piece? They didn't sell it to that person. Just because a grown adult chooses to spend more money than necessary on a statue, doesn't give them more right to be upset.

There's a big difference between making your voice heard/standing your ground and whining like your life is over (again, nowhere did I say YOU did this).

Believe me, I wanted this Venom head corrected, and I let them know it. I spent a lot of money on Venom, too, and I wouldn't have without that McFarlane head...I do not like the other two. I am one of the people getting "lambasted" because I was part of the group trying to get this changed. But, if they had chose to keep it as is, well, life goes on.

XM is a different company. They will interact with people on FB. Ben and Seng are just two regular dudes like the rest of us. They may say things at times that sound like they don't care, but people need to realize that until something is officially announced (on their FB page or here by Shorudan), then nothing is official. The Electro mask is a prime example.

This is why your posts come off as condescending...because you are legit trying to be condescending it appears from the comment I have bolded for you.

I dont care if someone spent $2000 SGD or 950 SGD or bought 10 XM statues or 1. Some of these guys are customers who have never purchased XM before. Everyone's voice should be heard. Whether others 'whined' cuz they paid aftermarket or retail this could be their one true Statue that they put up a lot of money to purchase, so yeah to them it is very important. I apologized even while complaining becuz I hated doing it.

If you would make due with no change on the head as you state. thats good for you, but to a lot of collectors it was not okay.

We have seen when SSC didnt listen and change the Supergirl head....the result is not many purchased her. It was tone deaf of them to pretend like that sculpt was fine. I understand along with other Collectors that XM is within their right just like SSC not to change the head. It will cost them money to do so, but if it wasnt done it would potentially cost more in the long run. So they always balance the right thing to do, and significant customer feedback. And yes it sometimes costs them, but if one thinks for a moment that XM doesnt need its fans, that is extremely shortsighted....btw I dont think anyone thinks that Ang and Ben didnt care, it was the initial responses even after investigating were not promising.

Originally Posted by Gecktechs

@Bmutha - Seems like some collectors feel that these companies OWE them something. They feel entitled to certain things.. The fact that some of you guys paid extra to secure a piece that can only be distributed in certain areas is a personal problem. XM has nothing to do with that. They aren't getting any of the $2-3-400 extra you paid above retail so why should they care? You guys should be thankful your even able to acquire one of their pieces. Just remember this folks. Sideshow, XM, Prime1... Those guys don't owe you SH!T.

..Outside of that, I'm glad they're gonna fix the McFarlane head. You gotta respect XM for the effort they make in trying to keep their customers happy but at the same time don't take that for granted. Like they're SUPPOSED to fix it for us. They could have very well left the head as-is and still made the same amount of money. Yes, people would have been upset, and YES people would "stop buying from them" - But @ 1000 or less ES, their pieces will sell out no matter what, regardless if they did right by the collectors or not.

Yeah the companies dont owe us SH!T...we can take them and leave them I get that. SSC still functions fine with tons of customers leaving...the holes have still been filled to some degree. IF you think the international market is not important to XM ur kidding urself. Its the market outside of the licensed area that helps XM succeed. It is not the licensed area buying up all this product they do not fill the holes...yes the top statues get snapped up, but some of those not so big hits are still waiting to be sold from retailers/resellers...so yes they should be concerned what the new customers and old think about them. If they dont care that is their right as well.