Bad News from SmallJoes

memaddog · Post by **memaddog** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 7:27 am

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

MG-42 · Post by **MG-42** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 7:31 am

* This is one sad day in hell indeed. ... I'm going to continue to buy what I want.

........... Better get what you can now , Boys !

Mitch v MG

Tinman · Post by **Tinman** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 7:39 am

I'm keeping an eye on Monkey Depot until their Blammo Sale is done. I say get it cheap while you can!

MG-42 · Post by **MG-42** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 7:42 am

* I say ,.. that's a no brainer !

v MG

MG-42 · Post by **MG-42** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 7:59 am

"Hey Corey" ,.. whadd'ya say ? ... any follow up to this ?

Mitch v MG

mikeg · Post by **mikeg** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 8:24 am

yep, I got that too.

mikeg · Post by **mikeg** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 8:27 am

Here's one for ya- Does 21st have any other warehouses in the country?
of course, if they do then we'd be too lucky to have another blowout sale probably- gotta-go-sale- 250.00 each for each piece while it lasts!!!!!!!!!!!

kimtheredxd · Post by **kimtheredxd** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 9:10 am

Wonder who to believe small-joes or monkey depot? Does seem weird that only 21st stuff is dirt cheap and not anything else they carry.Plus the stock levels are very high for a retailer to have. At least to me it does.

hworth18 · Post by **hworth18** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 9:27 am

kimtheredxd wrote:Wonder who to believe small-joes or monkey depot? Does seem weird that only 21st stuff is dirt cheap and not anything else they carry.Plus the stock levels are very high for a retailer to have. At least to me it does.

I think the email and the MD clearance goes hand in hand. If you notice, go to Monkey Depot's 21st section and there is nothing there but what is on clearance, Nothing returned to regular price and no more stock that is not on sale. Small Joe's email is a confirmation that 21st may not be down the toilet, but it is definitely swirling around the drain. It is a great loss for the hobby and hopefully, it will open the door for BBI/Admiral to step in, but the days of cheap 1/18-1/32 collectibles are nearing an end.

MG-42 · Post by **MG-42** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 9:45 am

* Don't forget about FoV playing an important role here too.

........... I still think I'm gonna' be sick ,.. this , and too much coffee.

Mitch v MG

GooglyDoogly · Post by **GooglyDoogly** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:08 am

MG-42 wrote: ........... I still think I'm gonna' be sick ,.. this , and too much coffee.

Mitch v MG

Have you been reloading MD's website all night???

C130IM · Post by **C130IM** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:21 am

This is really sad for 1/18 hobbyist. All of my first 1/18 vehicles came from them when sold at Toys R Us. My opinion, they were the first on the stage to offer true 1/18 military replicas before anyone else. If there was anyone else, I never saw it at the time when their product first hit the shelves. It would be a sad loss.

With FOV, BBI, Admiral and others still around hopefully the 1/18 hobby will continue. With these troubled economic times. I think many of these companies are finding it hard to stay afloat. I've heard some runblings that BBI is having problems; don't know how true that is though.

21st deserves a lot -if not all- of the credit for being the first to offer and bring attention to the 1/18 scale market almost a decade ago.

Chad

Post by **aferguson** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:26 am

all that email represents is smalljoes take on things...plus he is creating an opportunity to sell off some of his 21c stock.

It really doesnt' tell us anything we don't already know. Maybe 21c has more than one warehouse and they are just clearing one particular one out to reduce rental costs and get some short term cash to make interest payments, pay wages etc. Assuming they have more than one warehouse why don't we see other etailers that are close to them doing what MD is doing?....cause maybe 21c isn't liquidating everything, just this one warehouse.

Admitidly it don't look good but it ain't over til it's over.

ostketten · Post by **ostketten** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:52 am

This is one sad day in hell indeed. ...

I don't neccessarily think this means the end... as in goodbye forever, for 21st... on the contrary, I think they will just go more or less "dormant" for a time until the economic climate improves. That's my take on the situation.

FieroDude · Post by **FieroDude** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 11:03 am

As long as they own the brand and identity, there is a good chance they can make a comeback in a couple years. Hopefully with a little better business strategy. Why they never considered advertising in a suitable outlet (like TLC or the History Channel during a show like "Dogfights") is beyond me - like many have commented, most didn't know they existed except a random discovery at TRU or WM, both of which are very much the WRONG outlet for their products and the following they really wanted to attract. Even my finding this forum and learning about other manufacturers and other products was sheer luck.

MG-42 · Post by **MG-42** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 11:18 am

GooglyDoogly wrote:
MG-42 wrote: ........... I still think I'm gonna' be sick ,.. this , and too much coffee.

Mitch v MG
Have you been reloading MD's website all night???

>>> No ,.. just a little bit , after I woke up this morning , enjoying my favorite cup of brew.

v MG

vmf214 · Post by **vmf214** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 11:27 am

21st for most is a love/hate relationship obviously. I don't want to see them go, they did get 1/18 off the ground and no one can dispute that although few will try. If they do in fact owe the chinese alot of money as so many have "stated" then I'd say they jumped through some major hoops just to get the 88 out which apparantly didn't get the desired impact overall. I seriously doubt the KT is forthcoming all though that would be a nice way to go out in a blaze of glory if it they did spit it out in their last breath. It's really impossible to say if they are done really, it's all speculation. It don't look good but only 21st knows for sure and they ain't talkin'. Tells me they're doing what they can to beat the reaper. It's interesting to read all the threads dedicated to this situation. So many concerned about them while in the short past claiming they'd never buy from them again just based on the B-25 situation, the Phantom catastrophe, and so one. Now that they may in fact be done, several have changed their tune... If they go out of business, then they go out of business. I absolutely don't believe for one minute that 1/18 will die on the vine because of it, I personally just don't believe it. Rather than see them go away forever I'd just as soon see someone like Bbi or maybe a new kid on the block buy them out lock stock and barrel, the name, the molds, everything. Then and maybe only then we'd see the B-25 for instance but again who knows. But with the economy the way it is, worldwide not just here, that'd be a pretty tall order. Just my take.

ostketten · Post by **ostketten** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 11:33 am

Why they never considered advertising in a suitable outlet (like TLC or the History Channel during a show like "Dogfights") is beyond me -

You know.... I never thought of that... but perhaps you are right Earl, that kind of exposure could bring in some significant sales... who wouldn't want a beautifully made and painted, and reasonably priced P-47 Thunderbolt or Focke Wulf fighter model after watching one one of those fascinating and informative documentaries..?? On the other hand, maybe the cost of advertising on a nationwide venue like the History Channel etc. is simply prohibitive for a small company like 21st...??

vmf214 · Post by **vmf214** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 11:42 am

Well when they did the Corsair (checkerboard I think?) and the Louise P-38 on QVC back in Dec. of 2003 they did pretty well. I remember setting there watching the numbers and they sold quite a few. Everyone scoffed the Lightning coz of it's "plainness" but now along with Haleakala II it's the most sought after.

FieroDude · Post by **FieroDude** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 11:55 am

It's not that expensive, especially compared to advertising costs on a national network like NBC or Fox. And I actually researched the cost of putting an ad in the History Channel magazine, and it was reasonable enough (I think about $3500 for a half page full color ad, if I recall correctly), and I believe the exposure would have made it a good investment--both the direct related sales, and the additional sales of related items. There are also a ton of other publications that would be good places for advertising this type of product, both in the toy field and also for military fans/veterans/collectors. I used to get Military Vehicle magazine, and there were ZERO ads from either retailers or manufacturers, even though there were often feature articles on vehicles that exist in 1/18. Can't make room for a 1/1 scale version? How about 1/18th!

I am working with a group of Veterans, trying to develop a plan for their Lest We Forget initiative, and when they walked into my office at work, their jaws hit the floor. They never knew this stuff existed and have already asked me for a list of retailers to buy from. They have also asked me and a coworker if we could display our stuff at this summer's event. And these are guys that are History Channel fanatics.

vmf214 · Post by **vmf214** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 11:59 am

You mean they didn't see the stuff at WM?

Just kidding.

That's pretty neat.

VMF115 · Post by **VMF115** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 12:14 pm

e mail WM do something......

immeww2 · Post by **immeww2** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 12:24 pm

I wonder what Bad Cat's view is regarding 21st since they seem to be selling alot of 21st inventory at their usual prices in addition to their private reserve.

vmf214 · Post by **vmf214** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 12:43 pm

VMF115 wrote:e mail WM do something......

Geez get off that, there is already plenty of threads dedicated to single handedly saving the day with 21st and wm. You don't know what I've "done"...write the freakin' letters, send the emails, and get over it.

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

vmf214 · Post by **vmf214** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 12:55 pm

immeww2 wrote:I wonder what Bad Cat's view is regarding 21st since they seem to be selling alot of 21st inventory at their usual prices in addition to their private reserve.

I figure all they can do is speculate like anyone else. I think the info from MD concerning the storage situation makes perfect sense to me. 21st has an obvious long haul in front of them, but honestly, I'm not counting them out quite yet. Yeah they've made bad decisions, but who hasn't...uhum...ebay.

Small Scale Military Headquarters

Bad News from SmallJoes

Bad News from SmallJoes

* This is the End !

* This is the End !

* This is the End !

* Is this really the END ?

Re: * Is this really the END ?

Re: * Is this really the END ?