View Full Version : invisible beaker with flaw
WOMAN! WOMAN!
08-02-2002, 01:05 PM
Hi, everyone. I have an Invisible Beaker that appears to have a flaw in it: a little piece of dirt or something (looks like a tiny torn piece of brown paper bag) is floating inside Beaker's stomach (apparently Beaker eats paper).
I don't want to keep it. I like VC Beaker better. (Insert a *gasp* and a few "Is she nuts?" here.) Planning to put it on eBay. I'm not a collector, so I'm not sure if this factory flaw is desirable and should be advertised, or if that makes an Invisible Beaker less valuable. Of course, I will tell the buyer the truth about it, but I was wondering if it should emphasized as a plus for collectibles reasons.
Opinions welcome. :)
kane31666
08-02-2002, 01:15 PM
Knowing some of the people on e-bay if you say that there is a piece of paper in the stomach, they might consider it a rare variant, when it was just an accident. Therefore you might get some to bid on it for more than it's really worth.
Aerosmith
08-02-2002, 01:42 PM
Got a pic? Cause I would really like to see it. :)
kansasteen14
08-02-2002, 01:59 PM
It would probably get more on ebay because of that,but I also wouldnt want to keep it,so sell it on ebay.
You oughta mention this to Ken when he looks in - i think he has a list of flawed figures and things that he is going to use to kick butt in China - if it's paper then its probably the 'Go' order for the San Diego Animal exclusive that was messed up ! LOL !
beaker
08-02-2002, 04:06 PM
>>> i think he has a list of flawed figures and things that he is going to use to kick butt in China<<<
Yeah, because those super poor factory workers dont have enough problems in life, let alone slaving away all day for pennies.
Ok I had to say it...people complaining about little missing accessories and stuff is so trivial.
Well Cory that might be right, but still, if they are being paid to do a job, then it's their reponsibility to do it. If Ken didn't correct them when there are flaws in the figures then the next thing we could be seeing a little kid choking on a broken arm, or getting cut on a sharp edge. D'ya really think the Muppets need that right now ? Nope !
towels
08-02-2002, 05:28 PM
Originally posted by beaker
>>> i think he has a list of flawed figures and things that he is going to use to kick butt in China<<<
Yeah, because those super poor factory workers dont have enough problems in life, let alone slaving away all day for pennies.
Ok I had to say it...people complaining about little missing accessories and stuff is so trivial.
How horrible! Those people are getting paid in a foreign currency? Truly barbaric.
Actually most factory workers in Asia are paid pretty well compared to the national average (their nation, not ours). Some factories even offer educational opportunities for their workers. If it wasn't for factory work most of them would be having to try to scrape together a living off of farming.
That being said, Ken has a right to expect certain production quality standards. Given that we are the minority of purchasers of this line, our "trivial" complaints likely represent many more unseen errors. If the factory can't perform up to standard then Palisades, and us as consumers, are benefited by Ken making them fix the problems, or moving to a more reliable factory.
beaker
08-02-2002, 05:29 PM
>>>Well Cory that might be right, but still, if they are being paid to do a job, then it's their reponsibility to do it. If Ken didn't correct them when there are flaws in the figures then the next thing we could be seeing a little kid choking on a broken arm, or getting cut on a sharp edge. D'ya really think the Muppets need that right now ? Nope <<<
true, very good point. but thats why I am so adament about slightly bigger minis...
as its hard to fathom any little kid's parents are even buying the 6" line for them. I believe a huge gap is not being met with the advent of the 6" and mega line.
beaker
08-02-2002, 05:33 PM
>>>
Actually most factory workers in Asia are paid pretty well compared to the national average (their nation, not ours). Some factories even offer educational opportunities for their workers. If it wasn't for factory work most of them would be having to try to scrape together a living off of farming. <<<
hey, just trying to liven things up in happy happy joy joy land here. yeah, I guess coniditons there are better. still...man i think we are all grateful to live in more developed countries. i mean spending 16 hours a day spraying a dot on a miss piggy tea pot playset must be quite tedious.
That being said, Ken has a right to expect certain production quality standards. Given that we are the minority of purchasers of this line, our "trivial" complaints likely represent many more unseen errors. If the factory can't perform up to standard then Palisades, and us as consumers, are benefited by Ken making them fix the problems, or moving to a more reliable factory.<<<
hey, thats why ken moved to palisades from the sinking ship of resauraus toys.
Originally posted by towels
Given that we are the minority of purchasers of this line, our "trivial" complaints likely represent many more unseen errors.
Y'know thats how i see it - but apparently others don't and i think Ken mentioned that the reports of these kind of things were low elsewhere. Personally, by the laws of averages, i can't see that as ringing true once all the facts and figures are in but heh ho !
beaker
08-02-2002, 05:54 PM
Ok, because were vocal we might bring up factory errors that others might not care about. But really, the downfall of a line isnt because Annikin Skywalker has c-3po's head and a missing light sabre...its because of poor sales via lack of interest.
Well a lot of the factory errors people brought up were things that an ordinary person would care about. Something being stuck in your invisible Beaker, Arms and Legs breaking, Blood on the packaging, glasses breaking off - all things that i don't think we are being overly picky about. I'm not complaining but i'm just saying that by the laws of average, if in a small community of 600 people you get 15 faulty figures, then in a production run of a few thousand there are likely quite a few more.
Now if i had a kid i WOULD be complaining. There is absolutely no way i would trust a young child with these figures from all the reports i've heard about them - it baffles me how something this articulate and detailed is apparently suitable for children a few years old. I would have considered them more adult/collector pieces. All you'd need is one serious accident and Palisades and Henson's repuation will be dirt - thats why i hope they really get a grip on this factory problem for Wave 2 production.
beaker
08-02-2002, 06:31 PM
>>>thats why i hope they really get a grip on this factory problem for Wave 2 production<<<
from the sounds of it, it sounds like Ken and the company are closely trying to monitor the factory and production. These figures however, are intended for the mature collector, as ironic as I know that sounds. That's why a Muppet line for the wee folks might be cool, as you just know the more older collector would want that too. Look at that toddler Star Wars figure line, huge amongst even older collectors and completists.
Originally posted by beaker
[BThese figures however, are intended for the mature collector, as ironic as I know that sounds.[/B]
Yup, i understood that - but these figures are still marked up 4 years old or something, and have to go through the same safety checks (that they've luckily passed) otherwise they wouldn't have any chance of making it into TRU. I guess it's the fact that only a very small percentage of kids will ever play with these would decrease the chances of any accidents hopefully. Still, getting a stronger grip on the problem in Wave 2 is much needed and i'm sure everything has its teething problems.
WOMAN! WOMAN!
08-02-2002, 06:54 PM
Originally posted by Aerosmith
Got a pic? Cause I would really like to see it. :)
Not pic at the moment -- have to borrow a digicam first. But because of the plastic wrapper and the smallness of the paper piece (if that's what it is), I don't know if you'll be able to see much. I'll post to this forum when it gets on eBay, if that's allowed.
Thanks for your opinions. It's started more of a discussion than I anticipated. Now I feel so special. :D
Louis Kazagger
08-03-2002, 01:42 AM
That's still better than the sealed 1980 Empire Strikes Back Hoth Han Solo figure I have with bugs stuck to the tape holding Han's blaster to the inside of the bubble. Bleah!
Satcapricorn
08-03-2002, 07:31 AM
ewwwww
Zack the Dog
08-03-2002, 10:43 PM
That's still better than the sealed 1980 Empire Strikes Back Hoth Han Solo figure I have with bugs stuck to the tape holding Han's blaster to the inside of the bubble. Bleah!
That's discusting,...what kindof bugs?;-)
Zack)Rowlf the, just let jabba eat them;-)Dog.
Louis Kazagger
08-04-2002, 03:11 PM
They look like really tiny tiny worms, or caterpillars.
Here's a funny. I got my Muppet Labs playset, and opened it up so that my son and I could play with it. My wife noticed a very small beetle crawling on some of the discarded packaging. I wondered if it was a Hong Kong beetle that had been trapped inside the box, and with everything going on with the Chinese predatory snakehead fish, I promptly did my civic duty to help protect my ecology by squashing it. Yay for me, I'm a hero! ;) Not like the yutz that decided it was a good idea to take his two snakehead fish out of his fishtank two years ago and drop them into a local pond. :rolleyes:
Originally posted by Louis Kazagger
My wife noticed a very small beetle crawling on some of the discarded packaging. I wondered if it was a Hong Kong beetle that had been trapped inside the box, and with everything going on with the Chinese predatory snakehead fish, I promptly did my civic duty to help protect my ecology by squashing it.
Hey Man, that was some poor innocent factory workers lunch ya squashed ! :rolleyes:
Louis Kazagger
08-04-2002, 03:27 PM
Originally posted by Luke
Hey Man, that was some poor innocent factory workers lunch ya squashed ! :rolleyes:
I know those Hong Kong painting factory kids are small, but this beetle wouldn't have made a meal. It was black and round about as small as a footpeg hole. Hey, maybe it was a specially trained "footpeg hole boring beetle" used at the factory in Hong Kong?!?!
Zack the Dog
08-04-2002, 08:15 PM
hey i had an issue with a unwanted critter in my muppet labs set last night,
i saw a huge moth flying around my room and it landed on the lab set and cralled in the hole where beaker can be placed upside down. then the moth got traped! it kept fulting around untill i shook it out a few seconds later i heard a crunch under my bed and found out my cat just had a moth snack.
Zack)Rowlf the, i think i need a moth detector rather the gorilla one...oh wait i do! my cat!Dog.
Originally posted by Louis Kazagger
Hey, maybe it was a specially trained "footpeg hole boring beetle" used at the factory in Hong Kong?!?!
You gotta hand it to those kids at Palisades, they are on FIRE when it comes to R&D'ing the latest technology !!
Luke
(I can see it now - Kenneth Lilly :- Beetle Breeder !)
Jackie
08-05-2002, 07:49 AM
This is why I haven't opened any of my Muppet figures.....LOL! Just kidding :)
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