Universal's Epic Universe General News & Discussion

[Disneyhead]

This is a great comparison because Disney also sells a QUARTER MILLION DOLLAR castle made of crystals. But they sell the plastic one too.

I wonder what Universal would charge for a 3 foot tall hand painted resin Hogwart's Castle? $2,500?

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I wonder what Universal would charge for a 3 foot tall hand painted resin Hogwart's Castle? $2,500?

I'll go check when I ride FJ.

 

[Alicia]

The store next to Burger Digs used to sell fossil replicas for hundreds of dollars, but then they switched to Jurassic Park collectible figures, which also cost hundreds of dollars.

Things like this have always been a thing.

The difference with the Chronos tower is we all saw media get ones sent to them and wished we could get our own. Now we can. Buttttttt

I ended up buying a Dark Universe coin through the website. That’s good enough. And affordable.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

The difference with the Chronos tower is we all saw media get ones sent to them and wished we could get our own. Now we can. Buttttttt

Yeah, how much are we angry that folks got them for free?

 

[Mike S]

Yeah, how much are we angry that folks got them for free?

 

[Alicia]

Yeah, how much are we angry that folks got them for free?

Envy not angry

 

[maxairmike]

Yeah, how much are we angry that folks got them for free?

Not at all, just incredulous about the apparent lack of detail/finish I would expect on a $600 model/sculpture, given what I see in the display cases around IOA/USF in that ballpark. I’m betting a fair amount of the potential “market” for this item (myself included) is going to see it in a picture first, not in person, and I would be shocked if I’m the only one who had the first impression of seeing the price and pictures and thinking “this looks like cheap plastic toy level.”

The kind of detail/finish I would expect at this price is equivalent to this JP piece (or this Star Wars piece). That’s the entirety of my issue with it at the price; how basic and relatively lacking in finer details it seems leaving it looking a lot cheaper than any equivalently priced new collectible I typically see.

 

[Brian G.]

Not at all, just incredulous about the apparent lack of detail/finish I would expect on a $600 model/sculpture, given what I see in the display cases around IOA/USF in that ballpark. I’m betting a fair amount of the potential “market” for this item (myself included) is going to see it in a picture first, not in person, and I would be shocked if I’m the only one who had the first impression of seeing the price and pictures and thinking “this looks like cheap plastic toy level.”

The kind of detail/finish I would expect at this price is equivalent to this JP piece (or this Star Wars piece). That’s the entirety of my issue with it at the price; how basic and relatively lacking in finer details it seems leaving it looking a lot cheaper than any equivalently priced new collectible I typically see.

Collectible value has never been determined only by detail. Otherwise, things like trading cards, posters, or even literal pieces of paper wouldn’t sell for thousands.

And yes, I do think there’s a good chunk of pushback tied to this originally being a media gift, and then seeing some people immediately flip and resell what was supposed to be a really special item.

This whole situation has been kinda weird. Last year, Universal absolutely mishandled the Opening Day coin situation, but some of the loudest complaints were from people who weren’t even there to begin with. (which, they ended up making right at the end). At a certain point, it starts feeling less about the item itself and more about fandom validation or straight-up FOMO.

Not every limited item is meant to be instantly and endlessly available to everyone at all times. Part of the appeal of in-park releases and exclusives is their exclusivity.

At the end of the day, nobody has to think it’s worth $600, but obviously Universal does.

 

[maxairmike]

Collectible value has never been determined only by detail. Otherwise, things like trading cards, posters, or even literal pieces of paper wouldn’t sell for thousands.

There’s the traditional, resale/nostalgia based collectibles, and the commercial, non-toy display collectibles sold new. This is entirely about the second type as a new product offered to guests, and level of detail is absolutely a thing for those kinds of items. My examples wouldn’t be anywhere near those listed prices with a few flat colors and no texture, missing details, etc.

And yes, I do think there’s a good chunk of pushback tied to this originally being a media gift, and then seeing some people immediately flip and resell what was supposed to be a really special item.

I could see that being the case, but I think I’ve been pretty clear my objection has nothing to do with that, and some others I’ve personally seen that didn’t seem to factor in.

Not every limited item is meant to be instantly and endlessly available to everyone at all times. Part of the appeal of in-park releases and exclusives is their exclusivity.

At the end of the day, nobody has to think it’s worth $600, but obviously Universal does.

I’m not asking for open edition items that will be endlessly produced (and my examples definitely aren’t unlimited given how many others are sold out, but also similarly to the Chronos from any picture I’ve seen not explicitly labeled as limited edition, either), and park exclusives are fine. I made the original post because I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing and was surprised it hadn’t been mentioned, but it seems most aren’t as bothered by the lack of detail at that price. Part of it is probably that I was hopeful we would get a good Chronos model with a high level of detail, and instead we got this. Lord knows I’m fine paying a lot for plastic if it is done well (hello LEGO).