Have the guts...to show your love for... SUNGUTS!

Discussion in 'Show Your Collection' started by JAY, Jul 19, 2010.

  1. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

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    Have the guts...to show your love for... SUNGUTS!
    Yep, a lot of the Sunguts output seems to be major flipper fuel . . . Atom A Amaresura has the same thing happen to his releases.
    All the new stuff turns up very quickly on the secondary market, two or three times the retail price just days after . . . especially
    if they are special festival releases.

    Surely Sunguts is exaggerating, though? He seems to be a very prolific toy-maker for one who supposedly makes no money!
     
  2. kappa

    kappa Toy Prince

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    I think a lot of his other toys don't sell too well, and the Mizuki ones the profit is probably minimal after paying the license. His prolificness is maybe in fact the problem - he has a huge amount of different sculpts.

    He makes a big deal of the fact he's broke (rent late, threatening to cut off electricity, etc) He seems to be like a real life character from a Mizuki short story, perhaps possessed by some sort of toy-making demon. He posted that his yearly income was 410,000 yen, up from 330,000 the year before, and 150,000 the year before that. I think that's from toys and (presumably pretty sparse) freelance work.

    And yeah, I'm sure a lot of the indie toys get flipped. The festivals I can understand a little more (although personally I don't think I could look a guy in the eye and buy his toy with the intention of selling it on) but Sunguts' regular releases don't even seem to sell out that quickly, and then suddenly they're 4x the price.
     
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2016
  3. Amphetamine

    Amphetamine Fresh Meat

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    That is a shame to hear. One of my favorite lines for sure, wish he was making more off of it.
     
  4. wretchrd cp

    wretchrd cp Addicted

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  5. dannyvslc

    dannyvslc Addicted

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    Well if he sold to the international market, he wouldn't have to worry about flippers as much. I refuse to pay flipper prices, but I would love to add his Nekomata figures to my collection. Just my two cents.
     
  6. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

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    Indeed, thats always the question. If Yamomark does it, and UAMOU does it . . . . why not Sunguts?

    There are plenty of sofubi makers who have a lot of their stuff available online internationally. I always wonder why some seem very resistant to it . . . . if you are doing fine without it that is one thing, but if your business is hurting and you ignore the opportunity . . .

    I'm not wrong in saying there are plenty of non-Japanese who would throw lots of money at Mr Sunguts directly, if they had the chance.

    Thinking about it though, do you think the Shigeru Mizuki licences would allow overseas sales? Maybe sunguts can sell the Kitaro and Akuma-kun figures to Japanese only?
     
    Last edited: Jul 9, 2016
  7. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

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    This is pretty rough to hear actually. Not that I am expecting him - or any maker really - to be making quite a bit of money off of their toy creations, I would really hope that anyone can be rewards for their efforts with enough to at least make an okay amount to be comfortable. And it is sort of worrying too, as for nearly all of them I would say this is a passion which they really love and embrace doing, to have it be on a virtual knife edge of affordability to keep it going. I have been there, waiting a the supermarket for them to mark down the meals, so I know just what this is like. And I would love to give every amount of support to the craftsman of this hobby as I can. I wish there were some more easier ways we could give them direct support, e.g. through pre-orders, special releases to support the artists, general fundraising for the company/production, etc. Not that I am saying everyone needs to feel sorry for starving artists, but my general point is, we really love this stuff, and they love making it, so in an ideal world I would love it if they could know our appreciation, and wouldn't have to struggle to do what they like as well as giving delightful joy to the public and fans through their toys.
     
  8. dannyvslc

    dannyvslc Addicted

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    Completely agree. There are artist like Mori that do so well he doesn't have to mess with the "hassle" of shipping internationally. But if you're struggling, why not work with a shop like Lulubell if you can?

    As for the licensed stuff, that's easy. If you go through a shop in the states, don't send any. If you do it yourself, have an international section of the site and a non-international section.
     
  9. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

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    I see a lot of feedback on this already came in as I was writing the above. Yeah, I think opening up the sales to the international market would do a lot to (1) raise more money/increase sales, as well as (2) curbing flipping and preventing needless money and pain going to middleman and buying services. For licensing issues, I will grant that this might be a hindrance, but otherwise, I am confused why more makers are reluctant to do so. Is it because they underestimate the international market? don't want the extra hassle/worry about the shipping? want to keep it in Japan? I am not sure.

    The hobby is really growing now and at a pretty rapid pace especially the last few years. Especially with social media, awareness of sofubi is exploding, and I am sure that it won't be long - if not already - that they see there is an incredible demand for their output [whether that is for better or worse]. I like supporting the independent artists, and generally think they also make superb toys, but as has been stated I can't, and usually wouldn't anyways, pay the flipping prices for these items. And by not opening it up more, it seems a hindrance to everyone. I don't know, I know it is just more toy whining, but it can get a bit discouraging to work so hard to chase toys which you end up never getting a handle on anyways, and just have to sit back and watch 'the game,' meanwhile you learn that the artists themselves aren't getting much money for all this. :(
     
  10. dannyvslc

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    ^^ maybe someone should him the thread so they can see how many people actually want their pieces at reasonable prices!! I still think the idea of partnering with a small retailer, e.g. Lulubell, would really make life easier for them and us as fans. And it's not toy whining, it's wishful thinking ;)
     
  11. kappa

    kappa Toy Prince

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    He sells most of his figures, including the Mizuki ones, through one-up (http://one-up.shop-pro.jp/), who ship internationally, so I don't think there's a problem. He sells exclusives through a fewer smaller shops that also ship internationally. I don't know why he doesn't ship internationally through his own site, but he only ships out domestic orders once a month, so that might have something to do with it (or it could just be the same fear of overseas shipping that a lot of Japanese people have.)

    I don't know if he's really worried about flippers... Weren't the Nekomata figures only sold at events? If so domestic/international doesn't have much to do with it. I don't really see how selling internationally would reduce flipping, anyway. The quantities are limited.

    Edit: Just to add, rather than poor sales, I think the problem is that his business model is simply not profitable.
     
    Last edited: Jul 9, 2016
  12. The Moog

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    Oh yeah. That's true.

    Although, I've tried one-up many times and I either get a 'its already sold' email or several times they never replied at all. Perhaps I'm just unlucky.

    Anyway, I hope Mr. Sunguts figures out a way to make it worth carrying on . . . . it would be a serious downer if he had to quit making toys.
     
  13. kappa

    kappa Toy Prince

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    Ah that's a drag, I sort of presumed that was where a lot of people were ordering from, actually.

    I don't think we have to worry about him quitting. Seems his love for toys is so great he's happy to live in poverty to make them...
     
  14. Amphetamine

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    I've had stuff sell out while I was ordering it. His (?) stuff at One Up goes insanely fast. I would be happier if he did the sales and ran a lottery perhaps, it might curb some of the scalping.
     
  15. leadster

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    I've yet to score any Sunguts via One Up for that very reason (quickly sold out). I've had a bit of better luck on YJA, and for a little bit was able to acquire some from FOE gallery. But no more FOE sadly.
     
  16. chimply.kaiju

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    I like this sculpt better than the second version.[​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  17. kappa

    kappa Toy Prince

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    Yeah, I definitely like these better than the 2nd version, too. More gormless looking.
    I think I like the one on the far right the best, haha.
     
  18. Odibex

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    Oh my gosh, those ghosts are exquisite. Right up my alley. And I already know I'll probably never own a set :|
     
  19. The Moog

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    Love the clear versions . . . one of my best scores. Ever.

    [​IMG]
     
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  20. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

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    Those are indeed incredible. I am thrilled to see that both of you guys have complete sets. I don't know which one I would choose if ever I were faced with that horrible - but welcome - conundrum. Normally I would probably say GID, as it does go very well with the ghostly sculpts, but I really like the milky translucence of the clear versions (as opposed to straight clear vinyl, I mean). Anyways, wonderful toys, I can completely see why you two are so stoked to have found them.
     
  21. Fedhai

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  22. kappa

    kappa Toy Prince

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    Nice! Meant to pick up one or two of these but I was too slow. Why am I not surprised you got all[?] the colours!? :razz:
     
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  23. Fedhai

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    In fact I missed one, it was pink and riding a tank (a collaboration with another maker, can't remember who) but too expensive.
     
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  24. chimmychazz

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  25. foto junkaay

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    He is such a classy gator!
     
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