If he didn't want the toy he could've said no and Hirota would've probably offered it to the next on the list.

This! The deal from hirota is still not finalized yet.

I wanted to take a moment and say sorry if I have pissed anyone off with my post. I didn't intend to make others mad or annoyed, I'm new and got offered to purchase something I wasn't that into. I didn't know how rare or sought after these figures were and again I'm sorry for any trouble I may have caused. I'm not into selling things and rarely trades. I'm sorry if I messed shit up for you guys.

Reading this just shows that Hirota found THE way to get his toys to collectors who really want his toys ...

Humanoid, please dont take this personal !! You are new and it has nothing to do with you !! You are just the "i.e" now.....

Maybe I'm just reading this wrong and not getting the sarcasm, but you can't be serious with saying there are no flippers in Japan, especially bad ones. How do you explain all the blatantly overpriced Hirota toys on YJA and Mandarake?

sure sarcasm..

^^^I sorta agree!

Open runs are a good way to do right collectors that cant get a chance to own figs. Rather than making us go to the aftermarket and either have to wait it out for years or spend a fortune.

I wouldnt have an Enma had it not been for that.

It would also help the market to have one edition that commands lower prices and collectors with a 'flavor of the day' mentality could get their fix and pass it along as soon as possible, instead of invariably ending up turning the pieces for a lot of profit.

I hate toy politics, flippers, and losing lotteries but toy makers don't tell me what to buy, so I won't tell them how to sell. If you want it and have patience it will come. I'm guessing it will be worth the wait if you really want it.

Oi David, what's with the 'freshly smacked ass'? has this been discussed somewhere?

The way these are produced mean an open run is pretty much a (crack) pipe dream!

I am going to keep dreaming with this crack, since at this point is all I have and it wont cost me almost a grand.

How are his toys produced any different from the other factories ?

He's got his own place, so it might be the case that he casts all of them himself.

That's definitely the case. But if he really wanted to he could. Not that he should or has to, but its no excuse. Most factories are a 2 person operation. So its possible to do a blank open run if he wanted to, all I'm saying. Nothing is impossible.

By the same token he could easily go the Bemon/NNN route . . . luckily he walks his own path and I doubt he'd be swung by (what could be construed as disrespectful) gaijin pressure!

Good point

I heard Gaijin Pressure was you porn name by the way

Classic.

He's been mixing it up and sometimes he does. At least all these selling options keep it interesting and we need to be vigilant if we really want the toys.

He pulls his own vinyl, paints them himself, and sells/ships them himself. And this is not what his vinyl shop primarily makes. The other two-man shops are full time toy producers.

if an american in america can produce made to order runs saying in any way shape or form that someone in japan WITH their own factory cannot do it is absurd(and maybe they don't WANT to do it but if that is the case you are on the wrong scene),also as other have mentioned companies can control the secondary market, anyone see any rose vamps or grody monsters flip lately? I for one am at a loss because if I had a rad toy to shill I would want one on every fuckers shelf "a chicken in every pot and a such and such on every self "

Nope...

The other shops are all not full time toy producers. Many also pull other items like fishing lures. I'm sure toys are a major part, but stil not all.

And like mentioned, besides pulling his own toys, many makers do exactly all that ( design, sculpt, paint , package etc..) And I'm sure if others makers could pull their own vinyl they would.

Also, many other makers work additional full time jobs and have families.

Okay, so yeah the "easier" open run idea would be to just have it be for blanks. Cuts out the paint labor for HS. But what if that's just something he doesn't want to offer to his customers, as in he isn't satisfied with just releasing blanks because wants the toys that go to customers to represent his work the way he wants to be represented, which might include paint. Also, given the current popularity of his toys, could you imagine the amount of orders he would get if he were to allow an open run? It would probably be a ridiculous amount. He seems to be a very busy person that works hard both in and outside of the sofubi toys industry. The only way I could see an open run being worth it for him is if everyone who ordered was patient as hell, and/or that his asking prices were higher than normal.