Small Scale Military Headquarters

Memaddog posted this on the 1/18 forum, but I think it is important for the small scale guys too:

WOW!!!
Got an e-mail this morning from smalljoes, I'm pasting it here for everyone to see. I'm not sure if anyone else got this or not, but here it is:
BAD NEWS FOR 21ST CENTURY TOYS?
===============================

It came to our attention this week that 21st Century Toys appears to have
liquidated their remaining Arizona warehouse inventory. Although no official
announcement has been made by them, we feel that this represents bad news and
do not expect to see any new product from them forthcoming in the near future.

In response and to take advantage of the situation, some retailers have
dramatically increased their prices on their remaining 21st Century inventory,
but we have held prices at current levels. We do encourage you to look
through our remaining 21st Century inventory and consider purchasing any
pieces that you are missing in your collection. None of this product will be
restocked once it is sold out, and we expect the 21st Century sections of our
site will probably not exist beyond 2009.

So what do you guys think or plan on doing????
memaddog

"Well ,.. it figures". ... Unless 21st. is clearing out their existing inventory to fund the new KT or other projects , I'd say the end is near.



* My 2 ¢ents !




Mitch v MG

MG-42 wrote:"Well ,.. it figures". ... Unless 21st. is clearing out their existing inventory to fund the new KT or other projects , I'd say the end is near.



* My 2 ¢ents !




Mitch v MG

That would almost make sense, but 21st shouldn't be clearing out brand new items like the 88! I love 21st, but even I can see the writing on the wall.

"I think I'm gonna' be sick".


* * * Like I said in Pickelhaub's thread ,.. FoV might just be our only HOPE ! ! !



Mitch v MG

I have a big supply of unbuilt 1/32 and 1/35 military models so I will just fall back on that. I certainly get more satisfaction out of one of them once I finish it. I worry about what this will do to the price of new FOV 1/32 releases price wise. I fear their prices will jump even more knowing how the marketing idiots at these companys work. Being the only game in town, they should drop prices some and take over the void left by the passing of 21st (if they have actually passed).

NOOOOOOOO

hotrodrock wrote:I have a big supply of unbuilt 1/32 and 1/35 military models so I will just fall back on that. I certainly get more satisfaction out of one of them once I finish it. I worry about what this will do to the price of new FOV 1/32 releases price wise. I fear their prices will jump even more knowing how the marketing idiots at these companys work. Being the only game in town, they should drop prices some and take over the void left by the passing of 21st (if they have actually passed).

Yeah, We've always got 1:32-35 models.

Talk about an opportunity to sweep the 1:32 market.
FOV has somewhat of a good strategy in risky times. The more detailed and weathered ones are relatively expensive, more of an online thing now but they are keeping their 1:32 line alive with the same vehicles, less paint detailing at Target with the Bravo Team line.

I was kinda hoping the Unimax Action Series would have gotten a little more traction though. A good line at reasonable price.

send an email to WM vice president of marketing its in my thread in teh 1/18th topic

<a href="http://s418.photobucket.com/albums/pp26 ... dhorse.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp26 ... dhorse.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

vmf214 wrote:<a href="http://s418.photobucket.com/albums/pp26 ... dhorse.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp26 ... dhorse.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

What makes this suck even more is the fact that their last models, the PZ-38T, Marders and Hetzer and of course the awesome new-tool P-51's and Spitfire were their best work yet and raised the bar for 1:32 vehicles and aircraft. Well, we all saw this coming so it's not as much a shock as it is a let down.

I think paulpratt said it best on the 1/18 board. I think we can expect more "toyish" releases from FOV/BT as was seen with the P-51, Blackhawk, etc. The Mustang would be an excellent choice for a child, take a sledge to break a prop blade on that dude. No one is gonna cease production to see what will happen with 21st, that's just silly. Each company knows what works for them and they'll keep right on along doing it. I know the doomngloomers have other theories but proofs' in tha puddin'. It looked to me there for awhile that 21st was gonna go strictly 1/32, and they may still... Point is there has been not one shred of proof from 21st that they're done. Only speculation, downright over reaction, and dooomnglooooom. WM quit carrying model kits coz they were "poor sellers".....didn't hurt the market one single bit. 21st formed without the help of WM, survived first 3-4 years without WM, they get into bed with WM and you know the rest. 2+2=4 regardless of where you're from.

I'm a diehard 21st fan from the gitgo, to the point of ridicule right here on this forum over the years. But, if ya can't supply what your "#1" retail outlet wants to carry, then don't be surprised if they drop you. 2 wm toy mgrs I talked to said 21st was frustrating to deal with coz the availability on things was so spotty. Each dist. center got what they could which totally explains why say the Avenger was in one part of the country and not the other. Makes perfect sense. If you're gonna deal with wm you better be prepared to stand before the man, to err is fatal for a small company.

ROWSDOWER:

I don't have any 21st 1/32 models, but I have the BBI 1/32 Phantom, Dauntless and Wildcat. I think they set the standard for 1/32 airplanes. Unfortunately, BBI's 1/32 operations seem to be in the Twilight Zone.

The Small Joes' post is bologne. If by "Liquidating their Arizona Warehouse," they mean Monkey Depot (Which is in Arizona), is liquidating their warehouse so they don't have to pay the rent on it anymore (See my post in the here: viewtopic.php?t=15449), then they are sadly mistaken.


Monkey Depot is in no way affiliated with 21st's logistics and supply system. MD just needs to cut their budget a little so they can stay around. When I spoke with the owner of Monkey Depot on the topic of their continued business with 21st, he said that this sale had nothing to do with them no longer carrying 21st because 21st was going out of business, or anything along those lines. He said they wil continue to sell 21st, and had heard nothing about 21st going under. They sold the stuff at the prices we saw to clear out of an extra building they don't wish to occupy anymore.

I wouldn't put any weight behind anything small joes is saying on the matter.



-Kevin

PanzerArm wrote:The Small Joes' post is bologne. If by "Liquidating their Arizona Warehouse," they mean Monkey Depot (Which is in Arizona), is liquidating their warehouse so they don't have to pay the rent on it anymore (See my post in the here: viewtopic.php?t=15449), then they are sadly mistaken.


Monkey Depot is in no way affiliated with 21st's logistics and supply system. MD just needs to cut their budget a little so they can stay around. When I spoke with the owner of Monkey Depot on the topic of their continued business with 21st, he said that this sale had nothing to do with them no longer carrying 21st because 21st was going out of business, or anything along those lines. He said they wil continue to sell 21st, and had heard nothing about 21st going under. They sold the stuff at the prices we saw to clear out of an extra building they don't wish to occupy anymore.

I wouldn't put any weight behind anything small joes is saying on the matter.



-Kevin

Interesting..

Rowsdower wrote: What makes this suck even more is the fact that their last models, the PZ-38T, Marders and Hetzer and of course the awesome new-tool P-51's and Spitfire were their best work yet and raised the bar for 1:32 vehicles and aircraft. Well, we all saw this coming so it's not as much a shock as it is a let down.

Think your spot & the Fw 190 was not bad to

uksubs wrote:Think your spot & the Fw 190 was not bad to

Ah yes, how could I possibly forget the 190 when it's hanging right above my desk getting chased by my Spitfire.

dragon53 wrote:ROWSDOWER:

I don't have any 21st 1/32 models, but I have the BBI 1/32 Phantom, Dauntless and Wildcat. I think they set the standard for 1/32 airplanes. Unfortunately, BBI's 1/32 operations seem to be in the Twilight Zone.

I totally agree that BBI took the lead with their wonderful Dauntless and Wildcat, both of which I own. I also agree about their operations.

WRONG! I sell 21C and have thier last stock list> its funny that every single thing they have at MD site is the only things 21C has left in stock. there is no doubt 21C is using MD to help liquidate inventory. MD's prices are below wholesale price. even at the largest discount 21C has ever offered. they are still below that. its one thing to move inventory but 50 to 70 % below wholesale pricing NO WAY! THey would be stupid! I talked to one of my distributors and there is no doubt 21C is the one getting rid of thier wharehouse in AZ.

PanzerArm wrote:The Small Joes' post is bologne. If by "Liquidating their Arizona Warehouse," they mean Monkey Depot (Which is in Arizona), is liquidating their warehouse so they don't have to pay the rent on it anymore (See my post in the here: viewtopic.php?t=15449), then they are sadly mistaken.


Monkey Depot is in no way affiliated with 21st's logistics and supply system. MD just needs to cut their budget a little so they can stay around. When I spoke with the owner of Monkey Depot on the topic of their continued business with 21st, he said that this sale had nothing to do with them no longer carrying 21st because 21st was going out of business, or anything along those lines. He said they wil continue to sell 21st, and had heard nothing about 21st going under. They sold the stuff at the prices we saw to clear out of an extra building they don't wish to occupy anymore.

I wouldn't put any weight behind anything small joes is saying on the matter.



-Kevin

Well, agree to disagree. unlike most things said here, I am speaking from experience. I am physically here, in Arizona, and was at the MD store, watched as the owner of MD left the store to go to the warehouse, which was in the same building complex, to get some of the items I wanted that happened to be in the warehouse. In the warehouse, as he made it clear, were not only 21st items, but other items that just wouldn't fit in their store, like some concord books I wanted. It seems, that unlike most of the other stuff they carry, which is small (and also much more expensive) and will easily fit into their store space, the 21st items are not small enough to be relocated into the store and therefore need to go. It makes sense to me that, in order to be out of an extra building that MD no longer wishes to occupy, they are trying to sell the stuff in it, especially the large stuff, at amazing prices, just to expedite the process and be out asap, and avoid paying another month's rent.

And on a side note, unless you have received shipments from 21st from a warehouse in AZ, it is to my knowledge that they are based out of CA, I believe that 21st has never had a warehouse here. Distribution has always been poor in AZ, which kind of argues against the fact that there is a huge warehouse full of stuff right here in the state.

I also find it very convenient that smalljoes.com posted that statement the day after I posted in this forum the fact that MD was liquidating their warehouse. It sounds to me that someone who frequents this forum mis-read my statement, and started this whole crazy mess about 21st going under.



-Kevin

That's proof enough for me.

I'd love to be able to go into that warehouse and find an overlooked rare P-38 or two, or a Bunker Hill Avenger.

thats ok!
but i am speaking from experience aswell. 21C is a very closed lipped company. they never want anyone to know whats going on. so im sure Md was asked not to say. i have received word from the warehouse in arizona that 21C is to be all out by the end of the month. 21C doesnt own the warehouse they lease it and have that manager do the shipping for them. the reason they have a warehouse there is its much more affordable than cali. all thier stock lists show Arizona or cali stock 60% of thier stock was in AZ. if you like for the sake of this disagreement i would be happy to email you a order form. less prices ofcourse
one more note i certainly hope 21C isnt going out of business and never expressed that they were. I know the operations manager fairly well and have spent time with him over the years at different expo's. we ussually have dinner and talk about the hobby. i had such a meeting just 4 months ago. all was well then. but even if it wasnt he would have never said a word! I dont believe things are the greatest and like many companies the are making cutbacks and changes. lets hope it works

A point there too.

Guess they could be leasing the warehouse from MD, or just bringing them in through the back door loading ramp in a MD-21st "plausible deniabilty" deal.

I'm a sucker for conspiracy theories.

Dauntless wrote:A point there too.

Guess they could be leasing the warehouse from MD, or just bringing them in through the back door loading ramp in a MD-21st "plausible deniabilty" deal.

I'm a sucker for conspiracy theories.

LOL!!

Yeah, that's what I was thinking was starting to spring up there too, a Mel Brooks style conspiracy theory, where we were playing Mel, 21st is Patrick Stewart, and MD is Julia Roberts


I guess an MD-21st collaboration is not completely out of the question, maybe 21st has a warehouse here and they are emptying their warehouse into MD's warehouse, and then MD is emptying their warehouse on us. It just seemed like a little bit of a stretch. I think all the answers will eventually be revealed to us, and that we shouldn't be too hasty in thinking 21st has thrown in the towel.



-Kevin