JND Direct Sales and Cancellations

[qz33]

Originally Posted by IceDog

Sure, but then the prices would be way higher

Not just higher but unsustainable. Ever seen Asians sew? Asian culture and approach to their craftsmanship is just too different from the U.S.

[Silas Loki]

Originally Posted by IceDog

Sure, but then the prices would be way higher

Originally Posted by qz33

Not just higher but unsustainable. Ever seen Asians sew? Asian culture and approach to their craftsmanship is just too different from the U.S.

Let's call it what it is - greed.

If a statue maker can produce a statue for $300 but sell it for $3000 - that's a huge profit margin. Let's imagine that bringing back production to their home country (EU or US) triples the price of production - selling for $3000 would still be an amazing margin - but not if you're greedy. If you're greedy, all you'd notice is that you're losing $600

Sure, that's a very simple example - but I have a suspicion that it's pretty much that scenario - give or take.

I also think that most EU or US companies don't want the responsibility of running a manufacturing concern - and dealing with additional employees - I imagine they don't want to build that kind of business infrastructure - so, that combined with the greed aspect, makes outsourcing very attractive - but it doesn't mean it's the only way.

I'm going to take a very quick, but similar example, with "Luxury" watches. Most of which are (at least for the most part) built in Switzerland. Those watches range in price from around $500 - $1M+ - showing that building in the EU doesn't necessarily have to mean crazy prices. These are luxury items! and I'm sorry, but knowing that your luxury collectible watch was built in a sweat shop in China, by low paid workers - doesn't exactly reek of luxury - yet in the "artistic" world of statues - it's considered the done thing.

[qz33]

The places that make these all kinds of figurines for all kinds of retail places e.g. Michael's, Kirklands, and home stores not just what we consider "higher" end statues. Making a few boutique statues would not support the infrastructure.
And the labor cost is not what you imagine. Americans average $27 for manufacturing labor while the Chinese average $5.
Also there's a bit of chicken and the egg problem with what you suppose. Regal Robot does American labor but their releases are few and far between and nothing around mainstream prices.

The Swiss have been making watches for centuries. It is baked into their economy.

[Silas Loki]

Originally Posted by qz33

The places that make these all kinds of figurines for all kinds of retail places e.g. Michael's, Kirklands, and home stores not just what we consider "higher" end statues. Making a few boutique statues would not support the infrastructure.
And the labor cost is not what you imagine. Americans average $27 for manufacturing labor while the Chinese average $5.
Also there's a bit of chicken and the egg problem with what you suppose. Regal Robot does American labor but their releases are few and far between and nothing around mainstream prices.

The Swiss have been making watches for centuries. It is baked into their economy.

It depends on what you consider your statues to be. If people see them as disposable knick knacks, akin to toys - then fair enough, make them in bulk, in cheap labour countries. However, if people want to see them as "high value" collectibles, and works of art - then where they are made, and by who, has a huge significance - just like the luxury watches.

The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. But when you consider the prices people are paying for these statues now - can we really think of them as cheap knick knaks?

If you think about Regal Robot - what's wrong with releasing a few pieces a year? I mean, do people really need to be bombarded with statue releases every week? Especially when you consider the shear lack of originality in statues - Batman, Superman, Wonderwoman, Catwoman, Harley Quinn - again, and again, and again - do people really feel that there is a need to have a release of these characters on a regular basis?

Back when I was collecting statues - I would have really wanted to support a company like JND springing up in the EU. And, I much preferred JND when they were only releasing 4 statues a year!

But anyway, it's all moot for me now - and of course, it's just my opinion. I have nothing against Chinese companies - I like Infinity Studios - they are a Chinese company, building products in China - no issue with that at all - I would have liked to see more EU companies do something similar.

[Hobbyist]

To those who are not sure, tariffs are basically import taxes. They are typically charged as a percentage of the price a buyer pays a foreign seller (In this case, companies like JND, P1, Queens Studios, Infinity, etc.)

In the US, tariffs are collected by Customs and Border Protection agents at ports of entry across the country. It is the importers - American companies and Americans - that pay tariffs, and the money goes to U.S. Treasury.

It doesn't matter whether the statues are ordered by American companies like Spec or individuals residing in the US, everyone is subject to pay the tariffs when the statues arrive at the border regardless of shipping methods.

Even domestic American company like Sideshow will pay the tariffs since their figures and statues are made in and shipped from China despite the fact that they are designed in the US and the prototypes are created in the US.

American companies manufacture their products in China will be required to pay the tariffs as they are considered foreign imports when they ship them back to and sell them in the US.

The country of origin of their products are not America but China. There is no escaping the tariffs other than illegal smuggling.

Unless you're buying custom statues produced in the US, expect to pay at least 10% more on your statues or figures from China if you reside in the US. It could go up later. Who knows. It was 60% initially.

[qz33]

$800 minimum.

[Masa_yodamorph]

Originally Posted by qz33

How? Have you never paid U.S. Customs for a statue sent from overseas?
EDIT: Most of the time it is accomplished by under-declaring below the $800 minimum value.

You are correct. Anything over $800. Just had one delivered that was $1400 from sea and nothing extra.