I thought we could consolidate all of the complaints about the way toys are sold by different makers here in one thread.

I think most of the complaints will be about Anraku Ansaku, Bemon, NagNagNag, and Zollmen. Feel free to add your own.

Anraku Ansaku - Sells his toys through a closed mailing list.

Bemon - Sells directly through YJA to the highest bidder.

NagNagNag - Sells through lotteries, occasionally through collab partners.

Zollmen - Usually sells through lotteries but also has had many Japan exclusive lotteries and in-shop sales.

All of these systems have good and bad points. Debate them here.

I LOVE rare toys, but I hate it when I can't get them. I think it is nice (or would be nice) for companies with a history of very low runs to do a made for order figure every once in a while. That way I'd at least be able to own one Two Headed Bemon and such.

well said and totally agree Mark. i'd love a 2 headed one day too. i didnt know that Bemon only sells to the higest bidder on YJA. thats kinda weaksauce, but hey....a yen is a yen...

Yeah, they could do blanks such as black, and I would go for them.

But then they wouldn't be rare and no one would want them.

What is interesting is that despite these selling methods, there have been so many figures trading hands. It's not like they disappear to never be seen again...

I agree with myself once again...

I'd like to add that this exclusivity is even furthered by companies unwilling to ship internationally

It would be interesting to see how one made to order run of nags would affect the flipper market.

I have no problem with Zollmen as they make so many figures and offer them fair and square to overseas customers through Garimpo and Mandarake lotteries. Don't care about Nags or Bemons. I do like three Anraku sculpts but refuse to collect them on the grounds of the makers exclusive email list selling policy, and how the aftermarket is controlled by vastly inflated pricing and dumb buyers willing to shell it out. I don't have a problem with Anraku collectors though. Collect away- you are the lucky ones.

One more thing I'd like to add: Someone needs to step up and import quality toys in greater quantity. I'm talking stuff like Target Earth, Hukkokudo, etc. In the not too distant past we had several stores that would often get these but now not so much. Chris @ Grumble Toy seems to get what he can, and I'm happy he makes that effort, but there isn't enough to go around. Everyone is so stricken with exclusive limited releases bug, how about making some damn runs of quality stuff that are over 30 so people can actually get them? I love companies that sell direct overseas like Elegab, where everyone has a chance to get something they like. Seems Nari does stuff made to order and he is smart for doing that. Seems only options anymore are 1) Miss out because there are only like 6, 2) Pay out the ass if you are lucky enough to find one for sale on YJA 3) Sulk because the process continues over an over. Lotteries are fun but at some point these companies need to get better selling practices. Everyone use to argue with me in the past "Ohhh they are small one man operations etc..." Doesn't stop Butanohana? Doesn't stop Nari? Whatever happened to runs and having fun?

Zollmen probably has the best set up since you sometimes get the opportunity to snag the toys sold in Japan...and they also have exclusives to Japan and US (via King Bee). The lottery system works...but only if the one pulling is totally fair (and in this country, no one is really fair). It's a good mix of different ways of selling.

Sold through ebay to highest bidder and a closed email list both suck. At that point it is really just about the money and they could care less about the toy they are selling. Both are basically limiting their sales. The ebay one is the worst. It makes it so people that barely have money for toys, have no chance of snagging the toy up for auction.

lol... I can't get any of these toys listed....

I think a mix of sales styles is the best bet. Overall, I think Elegab has the best model.
I agree that auction and closed-list email are the worst. And I actually have more respect for the auction sales over the closed-list sales. At least with Bemon he's the one profiting off his toys - he's taken away the ability for flippers to line their pockets off his work. And why shouldn't the creator be the one seeing the profit? Also, it IS open to everyone.
OTOH, the one thing I do like about Anraku's method is that he's rewarding loyalty...at least in theory. If I'm a collector who is really into something from the get-go and buys everything, it's a huge bummer when you get left out in the cold due to the Johnny Come Latelys hopping on the train. However, as pointed out, it doesn't really work in practice. Essentially Anraku is offering free money to his closed list.

That line of thinking doesn't account for the maker's individual situation. Age, health, day job? It might be fine for one person but not possible for another.

Why the tight reins on the Mazas? Why deny folks who have done previous collabs in the US this sculpt?

What about all of the Zollmen and Nags that appear within days on YJA and eBay? How many pieces are won by actual fans that really want the toy and how many go to flippers?

I can see your point about auction sales but how would limiting sales help, if money is the ultimate goal?


I don't really think that's the case. There alot of people on Anraku's list. Only a few of them post here, you know who they are. The sellers I see on eBay are not usually people I know. Can't say the same for lottery winners turned flippers.


Like I said, there is no perfectly fair system IMO. I think they all have alot of room for improvement but the reality is it's up to the maker to decide what works best for him/her.

Note, Mr Bemon did sell to stores initially. There were stories of bemons being displayed for $75 or so.

Then for the spare parts runs, he sold thru agents I believe.

Something made him switch to the official YJA sales....

True, we'd all love to get our grubby paws on a "rare" toy. I still can't understand a closed list. I would love to adopt a Goga, but not sure how realistic this would be in the foreseeable future. It makes me wonder if the creator is insecure about how their toy will stand up to sales on the open market. Do you have to rely on a toy's exclusiveness to make your reputation (good or bad)? Good toys, regardless of it's rarity, will still find an abundance of buyers. The increase in sales would be incentive to manufacture more of those toys, and in the end, spread a lot more happiness to everyone.

I have to say, I was really impressed with Nari, when I purchased the early orange Shuttlegon with riders set. He took the time to answer my questions and process the order personally. He was also willing to ship to the US. These experiences leave me with a very positive feeling in buying his toys and supporting him in his art. I love the Buta figures, but I wish he'd sell directly to us here in the US .

If I can't get my paws on closed-list toys, there are even more really outstanding gems to be found in the vintage toy auctions. The way Gogas are pricing from $1800 upwards, I find that options to buy rare vintage toys are preferable (to me anyway). Oh what it is to hold a rare vintage Bullmark, and sniff the scent of time!

Over the years it's been well established that the Anraku maker went to a closed email list to prevent flipping and keep the toys in the hands of true collectors. It's even been said that list is especially small in Japan where he believed the main problem was. While this is a very noble gesture, I don't think it's really working out -if that was his true intention. From what I can see it's made a lot of people on that list pretty nice profits when they sell. It's the kaiju equivalent of a precious commodity like gold... Again not calling any one person out here, nor is this meant as a jab at Anraku collectors. Just if the original intent was to not see these toys flipped for large sums of cash: FAIL. Now having said that one could argue "Well people are dumb enough to drop NYC rent prices on a Goga!" that is not the fault of the owner. Well maybe they wouldn't have to if more people had the opportunity to get them in the first place. Was the original intent to get the toys into the hands of people who love them? Yeah I don't really see that anymore, when you see a lot of unrequited love to many many toys collectors who are left out of the process due to not being on a list. Someone has a say in who's on that list and who's not. I guess whoever controls it thinks well it will sell out to everyone on it no matter what, so why bother inviting more people? It would be nice to think he'd want more people owning his creations out there instead of the same people. But then again maybe whomever controls it is just twisted.

Because I think he caught onto the absurd prices people were bidding on them. I mean when people starting bidding 500+ and then 600+ for regular runs and not one-offs...maybe he realized that he could get in on that and make a shit ton of money. I think it's working pretty well for him money wise.

How's about them Gorilla Jus? Everytime a new one is released, they confiscate two others, so the world ends up in the negative.. or something.

Gorillas in the mist..

The Gorilla-Ju and Bemon are different makers, i think CKA was confiscating them for his shop display of torture.

I dunno, I was told they're the same by a few sources. CKA only makes Longneck stuff. It's been brought up a few times, who makes it/!??!

The only fair distro method is selling to me, and me only, because I'm all that matters. I'd start by burning the entire run except 2, then selling 1 on eBay (like I usually do, since that's how I make my millions, have you ever sat on a toilet made from $100 bills!?) then take pics to rub it in. The other I'd bootleg and sell the bootlegs as novelty items. I'd handpaint them with my poo from the $100 toilet.

I feel there's no other way, and if you disagree but I'm sorry, you just are an elitist fart and we'll have to agree to disagree.

I don't see why anyone would complain about NagNagNag's release methods. If you look at most of the releases, they're all very intricately painted. One could see why a run number of 13 per release would be reasonable. Lottery is the best way to let everyone have a "fair" advantage a toy. The only thing that's faulty about it are those assholes who ask their whole family and a couple of friends to enter for them. I commend Paul for weeding out those who can that are following those practices, because I have never heard of anyone else ever doing that. Maybe others do though.

I understand if a limited run type figure is mass produced, it won't be as desired, but that seems like collecting for all the wrong reasons.

I'm not saying all Nags or Bemons should be made to order, but just throw one out there like the Black and White Zudons were.

I would LOVE to have a mass produced Maza, Bemon, Nag, etc.....besides I don't think one made to order (insert limited figure here) would kill the desire for future limited lotteries. I think the only effect it might have would be on ebay and yja, but even then not really for the extremely limited ones.

Good points living dead. Your comments remind me of the handmade Uglydolls. They are highly coveted and sought after, and every Ugly collector's dream. Yet, there are many general-market Uglydolls too. The demand for the general releases are only climbing in popularity. Seems Sun-Min and David have managed to satisfy both the dedicated collector as well as your everyday kiddie/adult kiddie!

42 general-market Babos, running around the house says it all, I love Uglies . ...and no two are exactly the same plush either! They aren't cast like vinyl, so they each have distinct personalities, face variations, and plumpness factor!