Things selling out slower?

[gashlycrumb]

Aside from recent exclusives, is it me or does it seem like things are selling out at a slower pace than usual? I don't mind as I certainly have to weigh in a lot of factors before I pull the trigger on anything these days.

If things are selling out slower is it due to economy woes or maybe Randy is keeping things alive for as long as possible until the contract extension business is taken care of...

I'd be curious to hear your thoughts.

[Harry Potter]

Loki and the Mod Iron man sold out pretty quick .

[Hyperion]

I would imagine the economy has a lot to do with it. People are being cautious with good reason.

Bowen products are very costly and not everyone has a 100% secure job, anything could happen at any given time.

My place of work annouced 9 layoffs this week from our head office and 25 more from our manufacturing plant. Thankfully, (if they keep cutting) I'll be one of the last to go...but I'm not safe from these cuts either.

I personally keep buying as if noything has changed (I don't want to get caught paying ebay prices), but I'll drop it all as soon as I hear some bad news.

[Northstar]

I think it's the economy.
Did you get the E-mail from Bowen asking you to check over your pre orders? It said that it is usefull for them to have an accurate record of confirmed orders. Since it is used as the basis of production operations.
This leads me to believe that maybe a lot of people are canceling orders. I'm making cuts in other areas so I can keep up with any X-Men related FS and MB I want.

[TheMadTitan]

I would imagine the economy has a lot to do with it. People are being cautious with good reason.

Bowen products are very costly and not everyone has a 100% secure job, anything could happen at any given time.

My place of work annouced 9 layoffs this week from our head office and 25 more from our manufacturing plant. Thankfully, (if they keep cutting) I'll be one of the last to go...but I'm not safe from these cuts either.

I personally keep buying as if noything has changed (I don't want to get caught paying ebay prices), but I'll drop it all as soon as I hear some bad news.

That is very cruel.. The economy is having impacts on everything now. Bowen stuff is quite expensive and its prices are catching up some of the lower Sideshow stuff. Still, I love the new Bowen statues and continue to buy as many as I Can!

[doc117]

i recieve a disabilty check from the army regardless of the economy so i may be out of the loop a little. but it seems to me that everyone blaimed the economy on first gas prices and then wall street. now that the gas pricesd are declining and the govt balied out wall street but i dont hear anyone discussing these issues. so if the economy isnt geting better with both of these issues getting better. than what are the reasons that the economy is declining.

[dEnny!]

Well, but Bowen is also currently releasing lesser known/lower tier characters so a production run of 1,500 pieces during these economic times on characters like the A.I.M. Agents (a high end item since you are buying 2 for $80), Crimson Dynamo, and Mimic...they might take longer to sell through.

But you do 1,500 pieces on high end characters they will sell out QUICKLY! I'm sure the Modern Iron Man has a higher production run than 1,500 pieces since Ultron sold out at apparently 1,500 units.

[Harry Potter]

Well, but Bowen is also currently releasing lesser known/lower tier characters so a production run of 1,500 pieces during these economic times on characters like the A.I.M. Agents (a high end item since you are buying 2 for $80), Crimson Dynamo, and Mimic...they might take longer to sell through.

But you do 1,500 pieces on high end characters they will sell out QUICKLY! I'm sure the Modern Iron Man has a higher production run than 1,500 pieces since Ultron sold out at apparently 1,500 units.

Well said.

[Gangleri]

Another reason may be the release dates. IMO sell-outs seem to occur quickly after they appear in Diamond. Pre-orders for comic related items are only @ the October (pre-order) for December delivery stage.

Right now some of the pieces have a "Early Spring" - "Spring" or "Late Spring" and even "Summer" release dates....once these dates "firm up", pieces will move.

[Quicksilver]

i've cut back big-time due to the economy. I am not getting any old pieces for the moment, and am just focusing on getting new stuff, also from local shops no longer from ebay because of the hideous exchange rate.

[spy-d]

I think its a combination of multiple points raised in this thread:

For me, lower teir characters and poor economy have affected my purchases. I have cancelled 8 preorders and my purchases are a lot less compared to previous phases.

K.

[CougarTrace]

I do think its a combination of economy and characters.

For me, I'm fortunate enough that the economic stuff is only psychological for me. I'll keep buying what I like for the time being.

[sambofred]

I do think its a combination of economy and characters.

For me, I'm fortunate enough that the economic stuff is only psychological for me. I'll keep buying what I like for the time being.

You are one of the few who feels this way. For those of us with 20 to 30 years until retirement the current economic downturn is nothing more than a small bump (just look at the historical data). However, for those who are already retired or less than 10 years away from retirement the outlook to them seems dyer.

Most people dont realize that even in retirement their investment outlook is longer than just a few years. Markets go up and down and yes, it can be very stressful and depressing.

I am still buying Bowen Designs items and still supporting my LCS the best that I can. I truly believe that the current 'market crisis' is just as much psychological as it is greed on the part of corp. America.

Many good things will come out of what is happening now. We just have to sit tight and hang on for the ride.

Don’t spend more than what you can. But don’t STOP SPENDING. And no, that wasn’t meant to be funny.

Best,
Fred

[ca35]

For me...the economy and lack of interest have caused me to slow down on purchases. I think I canceled 10 items with BD. ( Might cancel a few more ). I would support my LCS more, but they only give 20% on current comic purchases ( which is better than nothing).

[CromVABeach]

I could be wrong, but I think Bowen Designs has offered more product than they used to per month. I believe they used to offer 2 statues a month and now it isn't uncommon to see three offered.

I think they will sell out, it will just take a bit longer. As far as the argument regarding gas prices, it wasn't so much a question of people having to spend more at the pump as opposed to production costs for Bowen Designs went up, raising prices. While gas prices have dropped, it has been an extremely fast, dramatic drop. If it is sustained we might see a drop in statue prices, but it would be a while before that could have an effect.

I also think people are looking much more closely at their credit situations. The housing market problem, I believe, is systemic of a larger issue. This country, and the world, has gone credit crazy. A LOT of people are going to get hurt by their credit cards and will be forced to curb their "fun" spending.

[BUZZYBEAN]

A LOT of people are going to get hurt by their credit cards and will be forced to curb their "fun" spending.

Guilty as charged!!

BB