BBI - Blue Box Toys Information Q&A (Mike)

DocTodd · Post by **DocTodd** » Sun Aug 28, 2005 7:45 pm

Does Bbi make the lower end stuff at TRU?
Todd

Post by **aferguson** » Mon Aug 29, 2005 7:04 pm

Mike wrote:

"For Doc Todd

The low end product at TRU is not from us...it is the TRU house brand and comes from several sources. "

SGT. Saunders · Post by **SGT. Saunders** » Fri Sep 02, 2005 9:14 pm

Hi Mike

I guess we would see WWII D-Day beach landing 1/18 U.S. Rangers before the Brittish. WWII Rangers would be nice

.
OK Im going to try to do some fishing is there a good pos that we will see some ground ready 1/18 WWII U.S. Paratroopers to go along with the 1st set of Paras? Will we get to see new figures before X-Mas?
Im just so impressed with the Paras that I need MORE!!

Thank you.
SGT. Saunders

sluff · Post by **sluff** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 12:31 pm

Hey Mike,

this is probably a long shot but due to recent events how about a retooled blackhawk into a Navy Seahawk or even a Coast Guard Blackhawk repaint special editions to raise money for victims of Katrina?

USCGSARdog · Post by **USCGSARdog** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 7:00 pm

Right on sluff, I like your line of thought.

How 'bout it Mike?

-Rob

75th Ranger · Post by **75th Ranger** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 7:56 pm

i really like that idea!!!!

the don · Post by **the don** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 7:17 am

hi, all! new to these boards. was drawn in by the thread on bbi. i've always been a big fan of bbi. with gi joe not being sold in the philippines for quite some time, bbi has filled the gaps in my little collection quite impressively.

first off, i absolutely love the elite force line. the realism of scale, accessories, detail, paint jobs. just... wow. bbi totally rocks.

got a few questions for mr mike (all relating to the modern line):

1. the only "swivel-arm battle grip" type of articulation i've seen is on the super humvee driver. will this kind of elbow articulation be done on future figures? i'm not happy with the first few swivel-the-diagonal-elbows.

1a. why were the earlier elbows designed that way? was it because of copyright issues with hasbro or something? i can't pose my bbis as much because it looks like the arm will come off if i continue.

2. will bbi be using tougher plastic on the guns? two of my m4s got their stocks almost-broken when i forced them a little bit.

3. will bbi be coming out with additional weapons packs? what about accessory packs, like spare nvgs, backpacks, boonie hats, berets, scuba gear, etc.

4. will the navy seal rubber raiding craft ever be re-released?

5. will bbi be coming out with winter ops guys? you've got desert, urban, naval, and jungle already anyhow.

thanks and keep them coming!

HardenSteel · Post by **HardenSteel** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 2:07 pm

Sorry,

I'd have to disagree on the rangers - no disrespect - I like the rangers alot.
Had a few friends in there... However, US figures predominate.

British figures especially -WWII - means a whole realm of possibilites. That uniform was used by many nations around the world. It could have been used more that the US uniform of the same era. I'm not sure. There are XD fans around the world and fans in the US that would love to see it, as well .

I know that shortly after WWII, the US style fatigues tended to dominate -
when in Rome ......

I, of course, want to see the British armour, armoured cars and trucks and even a univeral carrier.

Anyway, thats my point of view.

Cheers.

HD

75th Ranger · Post by **75th Ranger** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 8:07 am

I still vote for the Rangers!!

plus all the other allied countries figures too!

digger · Post by **digger** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 3:51 pm

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ultimate-Soldier-BB ... dZViewItem

CW4USARMY · Post by **CW4USARMY** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 4:05 pm

YIKES!!! You've got to be kidding me! Someone is in for a big let down

Post by **aferguson** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 4:41 pm

oh my, that's terrible. I'm usually pretty tolerant of ebay auctions but this just isn't right. That is being represented as something it just is not.

I just sent a message to the seller telling him that it's not even close to 1/18 scale and asking him to cancel the listing. It will probably end up selling for over $200 because people believe it's a big gorgeous 1/18 A-10.

The seller has excellent feedback and seems like a good guy. The picture is certainly a bit misleading though. It will be interesting to see if he takes my advice and cancels his listing or tells me to FO and mind my own business.

If he does i will report the listing to Ebay Safeharbor. This kind of thing is fraudulant, pure and simple...

Tinman · Post by **Tinman** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 4:48 pm

Total rip-off! That's just not right!

Post by **aferguson** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 5:41 pm

I got a reply from the seller. This is what he had to say:

" I have not misrepresented anything. The box says it is made by BBI in their Elite Force series. The pilot is the same size pilot I have in my F-18s & F-16s. The box doesn't say what scale it is but judgeing from the pilot, its 1:18 scale. The pilots from my P-47 & F4U-1D are the same size. I'd say the scale is 1:18. I have nothing to say any different."

I sent him another email, asking again that he cancel his listing. I think he knows what he's doing and is being greedy, trying to pull a fast one.

Some poor sap is going to pay a fortune for that.....thing.

Post by **aferguson** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 5:50 pm

anyone know how i report a fraudulant listing to Ebay?

Birddog · Post by **Birddog** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 6:27 pm

I've contacted the high bidder at the moment and informed them of the problem. I also asked them to visit our website. Maybe that will give us another member and more support for the A-10. What is interesting is that there are a number of people out there that are willing to pay a high amount for a 1/18 scale A-10.....

USCGSARdog · Post by **USCGSARdog** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 7:34 pm

Good point Birddog. Judging by that auction there seems to be plenty of people that think the $80 to $100 range is acceptable for an A-10.

Geez...... $131 for a $20 plane you can pick up at Target?????

-Rob

bluesparrow · Post by **bluesparrow** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 8:28 pm

I sent a message to the high bidder, that price is outrageous... he could probably get anybody here to buy one and send it to him for $40, and let them pocket the change, and still get a far far better deal.

Website · Post by **Teamski** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 11:36 pm

Boy, we just keep hearing the same old story every year about un-informed bidders on E-bay. Barnum Baily strikes again!!

-Ski

WGP Klaus · Post by **WGP Klaus** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 4:51 am

First off, the high bidder (with zero feedback) is more than likely also the seller, pumping up his own auction, secondly, it's not really a fraudulant ad perse, so Ebay more than likely won't do anything about it. Best course is to ask a question in the ad (where other prospective buyers can read) and pose it as such:
Question - Is that really 1:18 because it sure doesn't look like it? and did you buy that at Target?

That may make him rethink, although not likely, but worth a try none the less?

Post by **aferguson** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 5:01 am

it is up to the seller whether he posts questions in his auction and he would never post the question you proposed, Klaus.

And i do think it's fraud....the seller is claiming the piece is 1/18 scale....which would make it about 3 feet by 3 feet when assembled and as we all know it is nowhere near that size. Quality, detail concerns aside that fact alone makes it a misrepresentation (a deliberate one) and thus fraudulant.

Since the seller is a collector of 1/18 aircraft he knows very well that this item is a kid's toy and not to scale but is using the fact that it is new and not well known to his advantage to make a big chunk of money off the unsuspecting.

Post by **aferguson** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 5:02 am

Mike wrote:

"for the don

Thanks for your compliments on our line, I will make sure that our development team gets the praise.
On the matter of articulation on our figure line, we are constantly reviewing this as well as all other details and we have an on-going improvement process.
We did this in our 1/6 line and continued to add extra movement and features. The 1:18 is no different, and over time you will see continuous improvement.
As for all your new requests my stock reply is "wait and see"..we have new items coming out all the time.

to all
I note with much regret the action of the individual advertising the Target A-10 on the Ebay site.
I applaud the actions of those on the board that have been pro-active in trying to correct the situation. No doubt as long as the world turns there will be those that try to take advantage of the un-suspecting.

There is an _expression that goes something like "bad things happen when good men do nothing"...so my congratulations to those that have done something....your board handles have been well noted by me. "

Post by **aferguson** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 5:11 am

Of course another option is to win the auction. Bid $10,000 or something that no one else will match. Then refuse to pay and leave negative feedback to the seller......it would warn everyone if he tries it again.

It would mean a retaliatory negative and probably a non-paying bidder strike from the seller. But you can get three strikes before Ebay suspends your profile, so getting one is really no big deal....and i've found that getting negs are generally not very harmful.

Sort of like falling on the handgrenade for your buddies...

Anyone have an old Ebay account that they never use?

Quixote511 · Post by **Quixote511** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 5:39 am

Good to hear from you Mike, thought the sea monsters got you.
Aaron

Birddog · Post by **Birddog** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 5:39 am

I got a response back from one of the buyers I contacted last night. Here it is:

Al Fenrich" <frozenkitty@imailbox.com> Add to Address Book
Subject: Thanks for the tip
Date: Fri, 9 Sep 2005 19:11:01 -0800
To: axem25@yahoo.com

OMG!! I thought it was some euro release

Glad they got the message. Now maybe a stop can be put to this sellers wrong doing.

Small Scale Military Headquarters

BBI - Blue Box Toys Information Q&A (Mike)

WOW - a bunch of bidders are up pretty high.....