What does "Retired" mean (1 Viewer)

[Currahee Chris]

Ok- I will happily advance to the head of the class for being the kid who asks the dumb question here

But seriously- I have always just assumed I knew what it meant. I am guessing retirement goes on a company by company basis. I have seen KC's website mention that "this piece is being retired but we still have inventory"- like the SF series figures- the Iraqi's in particular- they are "Retired" but can still be purchased, by dealers, through KC.

Do the companies destroy the molds so that the figures are unique in a sense in that say, a few years later, we don't get "Repaints" or "reworks" of previous figures?

Also, what about variants?? Do these exist in the TS world?? I know some guys who collect things talk about "variants" this figure or such and such vehicle was painted in a slightly different scheme- usually has more to do with machine processed pieces instead of hand painted like our figures. I would think variants here for us would be tanks missing bumper numbers on some of them but then others having bumper numbers, etc.

 

[eborris]

I think they are good questions, I just never cared enough to ask. I just thought retired meant they didn't make anymore and didn't plan on making anymore, don't know what they did with the mold though.

 

[Wraith]

I'm not sure how good the molds are after a few thousand castings. If memory serves me right, I think Andy mentioned in one of the K&CUK TV interviews with Bob, that they'd never produced a piece with a run of more than a couple of thousand, and I thought (although I could be wrong) someone said a while back, that the molds might be good for only 2,000 - 2,500, before they started to deteriorate, which would put a natural finate run number on a piece.
Dunno if anyone can confirm or deny...

 

[Leadmen]

I would say when the mold ran it's limit. No more will be produced. Leadmen

 

[Currahee Chris]

......that the molds might be good for only 2,000 - 2,500, before they started to deteriorate, which would put a natural finate run number on a piece.
Dunno if anyone can confirm or deny...

So, I guess we are saying then that molds are truly unique to the toy soldier craftwork and that it would be impossible to say, have 2 molds exactly the same (or virtually identical) so that, given a useful life (Geeez- accounting lingo!! ), of 2,000 molds we could theoretically produce 4,000 units if the demand were there (2 molds x useful life of 2,000 units)??

 

[jazzeum]

From a K & C standpoint, I don't think it's just when a mold has run its course. For instance, take the two Chars from FoB; the first one was retired but the second one had to be from the same mold. Sometimes, it's when they order a certain amount, not intending to use it again or Andy decides he wants to use valuable inventory space for another model.

 

[Njja]

How about.......can't sell anymore?

Down to my last 395 pieces.............don't think another run of 2000

will sell out until 2025?

New Jersey explination

 

[redhugh]

I'm not sure how good the molds are after a few thousand castings. If memory serves me right, I think Andy mentioned in one of the K&CUK TV interviews with Bob, that they'd never produced a piece with a run of more than a couple of thousand, and I thought (although I could be wrong) someone said a while back, that the molds might be good for only 2,000 - 2,500, before they started to deteriorate, which would put a natural finate run number on a piece.
Dunno if anyone can confirm or deny...

I'd say the moulds can do more than that, cos they do zillions of Delprado pieces, unless of course they use multiple moulds

From what I understand retired dosen't mean sold out, just that K&C aren't making anymore, I think
Depending on the piece and the market retired can result in prices going horribly up or some go down very nicely indeed.

 

[aujj65]

A mould for figures can vary in size and therefore could have anywhere between 1 and 12 seperate items, so a mould life of say 1000 casting operations can produce quite a few figures etc. I don't know anything about the moulds used for the polystone vehicles but I would imagine its a lot less. The other factor is if a set of figures are good sellers and the mould wears out, another can be made from the master figures.

Imo, retired means that the manufacturer has ceased, for what ever reason, production on that particular item.

Jeff

 

[sceic2]

"What does "Retired" mean?" To me it means waiting for the 30th or 31st of each month and looking on line at my bank account to see the automatic deposit from our uncle. I've been doing that for the past 19 years and I am only 56.

 

[plasmapulse]

A mould for figures can vary in size and therefore could have anywhere between 1 and 12 seperate items, so a mould life of say 1000 casting operations can produce quite a few figures etc. I don't know anything about the moulds used for the polystone vehicles but I would imagine its a lot less. The other factor is if a set of figures are good sellers and the mould wears out, another can be made from the master figures.

Imo, retired means that the manufacturer has ceased, for what ever reason, production on that particular item.

Jeff

Exactly. Nothing to do with the molds in particular. The rubber discs are more easily replaced by new ones and don't require overly expensive tooling like the metal molds for plastic soldiers or model kits. Hence some limited editions of just 250 pieces (i.e. WB zulu war Xmas set) in the world of metal.

Lack of sales or increasing collectability could be good reasons as well.

 

[thebritfarmer]

Retired to me means they are removing that particular product from their line.

I'm not sure that they destroy their moulds, but that would depend on the company I guess. I know Britains have used their old moulds from the "lead" days and created new figures, sometimes just a repaint or some have had arms and heads changed.

 

[Shannon Reuss]

Treefrog lists an item as retired:
1) when the manufacturer labels it as retired which they do when supply gets low and they know they will not be doing another production run.
2) for any limited edition sold out to dealers that we can't order more of.
That is why occasionally you will see something on our website move right from "upcoming release" to "retired" if preorders take all the product.

So to answer the question, the item is retired when the manufacturer labels it so and no longer intends to produce more or when all of a limited edition is sold or is spoken for.

Molds are not really the issue in most cases because they can be replaced.

Retired, discontinued or permanently sold out all mean pretty much the same thing. We have found that indicating on our website that pieces have been retired is helpful to collectors. They appreciate being told which pieces are in limited supply so they can plan their purchasing schedule accordingly.
Don't know if this tells you anything you didn't already know but thought you might like a dealer's perspective.
Regards,

 

[kilted vampire]

I'm not sure how good the molds are after a few thousand castings. If memory serves me right, I think Andy mentioned in one of the K&CUK TV interviews with Bob, that they'd never produced a piece with a run of more than a couple of thousand, and I thought (although I could be wrong) someone said a while back, that the molds might be good for only 2,000 - 2,500, before they started to deteriorate, which would put a natural finate run number on a piece.
Dunno if anyone can confirm or deny...

Simon you are very right. That is about the deterioration aspect of molds. Lionel ran some of their old molds right into the proverbial ground. They would try to rebuild them as they were expensive to machine. The repairs were easily detected raising a hue and cry in the toy train world.