Marvel Universe Scarlet Witch Custom

It's sad that a number of collectors were fooled to believe that the recent Scarlet Witch is a rare figure, making them pay more for the item. Locally, somebody payed at around US$24 (poor guy) when internationally a lot of sellers let it go for US$14 or less. (I checked eBay selling history.) How did that happen? Simple, by controlling the distribution!

Here's how. Make the item scarce in a most areas, ideally where a lot of collectors reside (group A). Make that same item available where there are ample number of collectors who are willing to resell (group B). Create some good publicity about the item via blogs or video reviews to pique everybody's interest. Group B will hoard the items thinking that they can make a profit from group A. And the manufacturer wins because their item will sell out to group B whether or not group B will be successful in reselling them.

Magneto (center) with son Quicksilver(L) and daughter Scarlet Witch (R)

Unlike Mattel, Hasbro didn't have to resort to labeling/branding something as "collectible", "limited edition" or "for the adult collector" because branding means additional cost without adding value to the product. They are making their products sell faster (because selling slow makes the seller lose money) just by distributing cunningly. Don't you just love marketing strategies? I'm learning a lot each day.

Happy Family, a Sylvanian Clone (Review)

I have been buying a number of Sylvanian Families (by Epoch) accessories for my LPS Blythes and Marvel Universe action figures but like most popular toy brands, they are quite expensive for my taste. I'm glad that there is an alternative, the Happy Family. This is a review for the Happy Family extension house. It is similar (but not exactly the same) to the Beechwood extension house and the Summer House. The latter is priced at around US$80 while I got the Happy Family house at around US$16. Now that makes me happy!

The Package

The package was successful in attracting this buyer. The box has a clear window that displays the contents. It also shows photos having the Sylvanian Families vibe all over the box. The language used is Chinese-English (as opposed to British-English and American-English).

 

One thing peculiar is the logo on the box. The original one is covered by a sticker. I doubt it's a misprint. I bet it has a story but I'm not in the mood to speculate.

Ooops...

I thought I could be back to blogging normally today after being away for a vacation but no! The laptop gave up on me.

I'm testing this app that is supposed to allow me to blog via my phone. I hate typing on my phone so that means no blog entries until the laptop is replaced.

Hopefully next week... :)

posted from Bloggeroid

Forgotten Files: Liz

I remember hunting for a reasonably priced Elizabeth Taylor doll online for a number of months. I waited patiently for a good deal. When I finally got her, I rebodied and redressed her and that was that. She went in storage. That was in December 2010. That was almost two years of being forgotten.

I was never inspired to make a dress for her, until recently. I'm happy with what I came up with. I call this fashion "Feels Like Heaven." I observed in Liz's style is that she liked to accentuate her narrow waist and décolletage. I made sure those details are present in my simple dress.

November 1 is when our nation we commemorate the dead and now, I commemorate my Liz doll with this entry. After this, she once again will rest in peace.

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Still not online. This is another scheduled automatic post.

The Visitor

Some people celebrate the bleeding that marks two of the most significant changes in a woman's life--the transition from puberty to adulthood and the bleeding from consummating the marriage.

At sixteen, Susie haven't started having her "monthly visitor". She is both terrified and excited--terrified because something might be wrong with her and excited as this will mark a new stage of her life. She is curious as to how bleeding would feel. She wonders if it would be painful.

As she doesn't feel like a full grown woman yet, she allows herself to play with stuff toys. Before going to sleep, it is her habit to talk to her Care Bear and pray for her monthly visitor to appear while she sleeps.  She thought it would be painless that way.

Little does she know that a visitor will appear that night. Although the visitor is not want Susie prays for, her wish to bleed will be granted.

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I cannot be online until next week, or maybe much later. This is a scheduled automatic post.