Emperor's New Clothes (1 Viewer)

[ChrisTay]

This hobby has actually brands like JJD and new entrants like War Park, over the past 6 years, progressed towards much higher accuracy, innovative features and more novel ways to represent products. Some of these changes took place because of their openness to new ideas and willingness to experiment and to listen to the suggestions of the collectors.


Feedback to any manufacturer is always good, as any manufacturer should always strife for continuous improvement and be receptive to the feedback of collectors, regardless whether the feedback is from his current buyers, or from his potential buyers, or from his past/lost buyers.


Perhaps, in a particular brand's forum, it seem to be not the best place to give this feedback. Some of the feedback are pretty objective but somehow they always deteriorate very fast because the usual "fanboys" like to pounce on commenters. The forum has almost bathed itself in a sort of Emperor's New Clothes story, protected and well fenced by the "fanboys" from certain hemisphere. Honestly, these "fanboys" are not doing the brand any good as the feedback to most of us on the outside seem pretty objective, and should be taken more seriously for future product improvement.


All said, I still continue to collect that brand for its toyish and colorful appeal, but am more discerning now and I try not to be too serious with their stuff. But, increasingly, I have watched the collector base, including myself, converting more and more to other brands, amidst quietly, doing so for the accuracy, for better value, for other interesting products and for realistic appeal. Perhaps, each brand has chosen its own positioning and direction and we as collectors will have to accept that.


Life's short, Covid is still around. We cannot stop aging. We cannot also choose to brands to do whatever you like. In the end, buy from those brands that you like, drop those that you do not like. Where you put your money will finally decide the positioning of the various brands. That has always been the way it is. I believe in fact this repositioning is already happening and the ball is already rolling.

 

[uksubs]

Well said Chris !hobby meant to give you pleasure but often wonder reading some of these threads

 

[Desertkiwi]

Chris,

I’m presuming your ‘fanboy’ title is directed to the likes of me and you’re post is in response to the recent series of deletions in the K&C dispatches thread?

For the record I’ve never had an issue with constructive and helpful criticism of any TS brand, in-fact I’d encourage it, however where I draw the line is when it becomes malicious & spiteful and is accompanied with rude obnoxious comments specifically designed to provoke a negative response……..its tiresome, childish and those responsible regularly hijack threads and turn members off…..me included.

There’s also those that feel the continual need to tell everyone how ‘knowledgeable’ they are and arrogant enough to tell a company owner how to run their business…….again bloody rude IMO.

Given the state of the world right now and the challenges ALL TS companies must face trying to run a successful business I take my hat off to all of them regardless of the odd imperfections or so called inaccuracies.

For me the variables in the chaos of war are endless. Life is rarely ‘black and white’ and in my experience more a murky grey.

I enjoy the hobby for what it is opposed to what its not.

Cheers Toddy

 

[King & Country]

This hobby has actually brands like JJD and new entrants like War Park, over the past 6 years, progressed towards much higher accuracy, innovative features and more novel ways to represent products. Some of these changes took place because of their openness to new ideas and willingness to experiment and to listen to the suggestions of the collectors.


Feedback to any manufacturer is always good, as any manufacturer should always strife for continuous improvement and be receptive to the feedback of collectors, regardless whether the feedback is from his current buyers, or from his potential buyers, or from his past/lost buyers.


Perhaps, in a particular brand's forum, it seem to be not the best place to give this feedback. Some of the feedback are pretty objective but somehow they always deteriorate very fast because the usual "fanboys" like to pounce on commenters. The forum has almost bathed itself in a sort of Emperor's New Clothes story, protected and well fenced by the "fanboys" from certain hemisphere. Honestly, these "fanboys" are not doing the brand any good as the feedback to most of us on the outside seem pretty objective, and should be taken more seriously for future product improvement.


All said, I still continue to collect that brand for its toyish and colorful appeal, but am more discerning now and I try not to be too serious with their stuff. But, increasingly, I have watched the collector base, including myself, converting more and more to other brands, amidst quietly, doing so for the accuracy, for better value, for other interesting products and for realistic appeal. Perhaps, each brand has chosen its own positioning and direction and we as collectors will have to accept that.


Life's short, Covid is still around. We cannot stop aging. We cannot also choose to brands to do whatever you like. In the end, buy from those brands that you like, drop those that you do not like. Where you put your money will finally decide the positioning of the various brands. That has always been the way it is. I believe in fact this repositioning is already happening and the ball is already rolling.

Hullo Chris,
Always good to hear from you and read your thoughts on the general state of the hobby in general and K&C in particular.
You won’t be surprised that I may agree with some of your points while I strongly disagree with others.

Take ‘feedback’ for instance...I have said often it’s both helpful and frequently useful, however some ‘feedback’ is neither useful or helpful but comes along with a certain ‘agenda’ attached.

Having said that I’ve also said that more than a few of K&C’s most popular and best selling items have come directly from my correspondence and personal meetings with collectors all over the world who have willingly shared their ideas and thoughts with me. Alas it’s impossible to take up every single idea or suggestion but K&C and myself do our best to ensure that everyone at least gets gets a fair hearing and, when possible the reasons why some ideas get the ‘green light’ while others are perhaps ‘not commercial enough’ or unfortunately ‘not practical’.

Another important factor in the hobby and all the companies in it, including K&C, is that some, certainly not all, collectors can be fickle with their affections and enthusiasms...K&C is as subject to this little affectation as everyone else. One minute or at any one time you might be praised to high heaven...next time you look you’re in the dumpster.
One time you will be congratulated on your ‘realism’ the next time you are told that your products are ‘toyish’ and ‘colourful’.

To be honest Chris, I’ve never thought our WW2 series were particularly ‘toyish or colourful’...Come to that I’ve never seen anyone describe our ‘Vietnam’ series or ‘Israeli Defence Forces’ in such terms but Hey, what do I know..?
Maybe you were just talking about our ‘Ceremonial’ parade range or ‘Streets of Old Hong Kong’ range or even those Sioux and Cheyenne warriors in ‘The Real West’...YES, I will admit those are certainly ‘colourful’.

Now, for my finale...You seem to enjoy the derogatory term ‘Fanboys’ to describe anyone who actually enjoys K&C and attempts to counter what they may feel to be unfair criticism of either what we produce, how we produce it and even, occasionally, why we produce some figure or other item.

Perhaps it has escaped your notice that the K&C section of this particular Forum is the most viewed and contains the most ‘threads’ of any here...Perhaps you also believe that means nothing but it does actually mean that a great many people are interested in what we make and how we promote it and the first class quality of our service and all the staff involved.

Over many years K&C has built up a substantial and growing band of loyal, dedicated collectors in virtually every corner of the globe who pick and choose what particular pieces of K&C they like and enjoy and others they may pass on...That’s their right and I am personally very grateful for every penny they spend, every opinion and idea they put forward and the genuine true bond of personal friendship I have shared with many of them.

If you choose to call some of them ‘Fanboys’...I choose to very much disagree!
Sincerely,
Andy C. Neilson
Cofounder & Creative Director
King & Country.

 

[Horus]

Look at that one Dad it's massive !



Meant in good humour ! ^&grin

Steve

 

[ChrisTay]

Look at that one Dad it's massive !

View attachment 275250

Meant in good humour ! ^&grin

Steve

Steve, I send you an upgrade



Meant also in good humour.

Chris

 

[Poppo]

Hullo Chris,
Always good to hear from you and read your thoughts on the general state of the hobby in general and K&C in particular.
You won’t be surprised that I may agree with some of your points while I strongly disagree with others.

Take ‘feedback’ for instance...I have said often it’s both helpful and frequently useful, however some ‘feedback’ is neither useful or helpful but comes along with a certain ‘agenda’ attached.

Having said that I’ve also said that more than a few of K&C’s most popular and best selling items have come directly from my correspondence and personal meetings with collectors all over the world who have willingly shared their ideas and thoughts with me. Alas it’s impossible to take up every single idea or suggestion but K&C and myself do our best to ensure that everyone at least gets gets a fair hearing and, when possible the reasons why some ideas get the ‘green light’ while others are perhaps ‘not commercial enough’ or unfortunately ‘not practical’.

Another important factor in the hobby and all the companies in it, including K&C, is that some, certainly not all, collectors can be fickle with their affections and enthusiasms...K&C is as subject to this little affectation as everyone else. One minute or at any one time you might be praised to high heaven...next time you look you’re in the dumpster.
One time you will be congratulated on your ‘realism’ the next time you are told that your products are ‘toyish’ and ‘colourful’.

To be honest Chris, I’ve never thought our WW2 series were particularly ‘toyish or colourful’...Come to that I’ve never seen anyone describe our ‘Vietnam’ series or ‘Israeli Defence Forces’ in such terms but Hey, what do I know..?
Maybe you were just talking about our ‘Ceremonial’ parade range or ‘Streets of Old Hong Kong’ range or even those Sioux and Cheyenne warriors in ‘The Real West’...YES, I will admit those are certainly ‘colourful’.

Now, for my finale...You seem to enjoy the derogatory term ‘Fanboys’ to describe anyone who actually enjoys K&C and attempts to counter what they may feel to be unfair criticism of either what we produce, how we produce it and even, occasionally, why we produce some figure or other item.

Perhaps it has escaped your notice that the K&C section of this particular Forum is the most viewed and contains the most ‘threads’ of any here...Perhaps you also believe that means nothing but it does actually mean that a great many people are interested in what we make and how we promote it and the first class quality of our service and all the staff involved.

Over many years K&C has built up a substantial and growing band of loyal, dedicated collectors in virtually every corner of the globe who pick and choose what particular pieces of K&C they like and enjoy and others they may pass on...That’s their right and I am personally very grateful for every penny they spend, every opinion and idea they put forward and the genuine true bond of personal friendship I have shared with many of them.

If you choose to call some of them ‘Fanboys’...I choose to very much disagree!
Sincerely,
Andy C. Neilson
Cofounder & Creative Director
King & Country.

You should devote yourself to politics, that's your real career ...{sm3}

 

[villagehorse]

Guess who I am???? Robin.

 

[Desertkiwi]

Guess who I am???? Robin.

I must say you’re looking very regal these days Robin.

 

[Horus]

Guess who I am???? Robin.

Nice one Robin ! :salute::

Going by the photo, I guess you're Number 1 K&C Fan Boy Robin and presumably Andy is Pharaoh ! :tongue:
Who are second and third and who's the guy with the 1.30 scale sword and where are the dancing girls !? {sm4}{sm4}

Steve