Figarti hompepage down (1 Viewer)

[jazzeum]

I believe this has been said before but the present owners purchased Figarti from Rick Wang and need to pay off that debt. They need a cash infusion and are selling off old inventory to cover day to day expenses. The source of this information is Matt Murphy of Hobby Bunker.

 

[katana]

I only have your unsupported statement for that and that is no better than an opinion. Can you provide photos and dimensions to support your statement?

Since when do legal rules of evidence apply in casual conversation!

Again, your guess is not a fact. I was there, handled them in the flesh, they were fully scaled 1/30 model prototypes. Not to beat a dead horse, stop guessing at already well established facts.

Back to topic, IN MY OPINION and based on the facts posted elsewhere and my own personal experience - PUT A FORK IN THIS ONE. IT IS DONE, DONE AND MORE DONE.

AND if by some miracle, money grows on a tree in China next to their soon to be new home (they are without one as of right now), then they actually produce a product on their own dime, THEN we can say they are a going concern. BUT as of now , as a CPA, and if they were under an annual audit I was conducting, there would be a serious disclosure of Going Concern and that is a FACT.

TD

 

[sammy719]

Well call me the eternal optimist I'm pulling for a Figarti comeback, maybe while Trump is at the G-20 summit he can put some pressure on the Chinese President to help things along

 

[Warrior]

When did Figarti claim they were doing one, ie, show me pictures of the prototype.

Figarti rep told me in person at the Westcoaster 2016 that their KT would be out by the end of the year if not sooner.

Joe

What year? 2016? 2017? 2020? 2030? The 100th anniversary of the Battle of Bulge?

 

[Warrior]

I believe this has been said before but the present owners purchased Figarti from Rick Wang and need to pay off that debt. They need a cash infusion and are selling off old inventory to cover day to day expenses. The source of this information is Matt Murphy of Hobby Bunker.

I'm trying to wrap my head around this. So they bought Rick out and have a debt to now pay; bought him out of what exactly?

There is no inventory to speak of, correct? Can someone verify that; my understanding was they produced 100 of each model, 5 stayed in China, 30 went to Clive, an undisclosed number went to a distributor in Australia and Matt from HB bought the rest.

Someone mentioned up thread they have no current home?

I thought Rick owned his own factory and produced the items in house?

So what exactly did the new owners buy, the Figarti name?

If you have no inventory, no factory, no home, then why not just go and start your own company then?

This whole thing is as clear as a mud puddle, a riddle wrapped in fail surrounded by ***.

Imagine at this point walking into a bank and asking to speak to the manager because you are looking for financing to buy/start a toy soldier company; they'd politely escort you to the door............................:rolleyes2:

 

[desk11desk12]

Figarti Home page is back online.

http://www.figarti.com/

Carlos

 

[MichaelRutherford]

Toy soldiers became too expensive too fast. I used to think I was crazy for spending $21 us dollars on a soldier . Now those are considered the good old days. It has nothing to do with any company's quality or anything else, this hobby is becoming extinct because of the prices.

 

[jazzeum]

My understanding is that they purchased the name and the inventory. Rick sold the factory a while ago. I believe that they have items made like other toy soldier companies, i.e., contracting with factories to make their requirements.

As far as the name goes, it's probably trademarked and a trademark is a valuable asset, with substantial good will (good will in the legal sense). As an aside good will can also be an asset. I've done transactions where we only sold a trademark and also done deals where we split the trademarks; sold the trademark for one class of goods to a buyer and another class of goods to another buyer.

It's quite common to sell trademarks and inventory.

 

[nysoldiers]

Toy soldiers became too expensive too fast. I used to think I was crazy for spending $21 us dollars on a soldier . Now those are considered the good old days. It has nothing to do with any company's quality or anything else, this hobby is becoming extinct because of the prices.

I tend to agree and would add the evolution of technology.....video games, social media and the internet addicting our youth......"SCREENAGERS"!!!!

 

[Terp152]

Toy soldiers became too expensive too fast. I used to think I was crazy for spending $21 us dollars on a soldier . Now those are considered the good old days. It has nothing to do with any company's quality or anything else, this hobby is becoming extinct because of the prices.

Well, no arguing the expense/price. But if the hobby is becoming extinct, why are the limited editions sold out? Why are TGM warbirds sold out before shown on this site? Why are multiple TO companies competing with similar lines such as the Romans? We have seen a failure of a few, but most appear to be thriving to my casual observation, IMAO. But others, such as George, are more qualified to speak on the matter. Chris

 

[katana]

As prices increase the market shrinks; as the market shrinks prices go up again in a cycle forcing out collectors of modest means. The major problem is long term IMO. Young collectors cannot afford to get into the hobby and eventually the hobby shrinks from attrition of older collectors and the lack of resources of aspiring collectors. A point is reached where the hobby is no longer supported by viable customer base. Painted Pewter figures are very nice; but the fallback position is Painted Plastic i.e. Papo, Schleich, et. al.

Well, no arguing the expense/price. But if the hobby is becoming extinct, why are the limited editions sold out? Why are TGM warbirds sold out before shown on this site? Why are multiple TO companies competing with similar lines such as the Romans? We have seen a failure of a few, but most appear to be thriving to my casual observation, IMAO. But others, such as George, are more qualified to speak on the matter. Chris

 

[MichaelRutherford]

Well, no arguing the expense/price. But if the hobby is becoming extinct, why are the limited editions sold out? Why are TGM warbirds sold out before shown on this site? Why are multiple TO companies competing with similar lines such as the Romans? We have seen a failure of a few, but most appear to be thriving to my casual observation, IMAO. But others, such as George, are more qualified to speak on the matter. Chris

My opinion is that when any company in any business markets an item at "strictly limited" or "limited edition" the consumer panic kicks in and they sell. We still have a few really dedicated buying collectors out there, but they are becoming fewer by the year. And I cannot see the next generation picking up the torches for this hobby,the world has changed too much. Toy soldiers are my main hobby,and I want to see more companies out there making everything we collectors ask for. But let's face it,what companies we have now are it,and once they stop,that's it.

 

[Terp152]

My opinion is that when any company in any business markets an item at "strictly limited" or "limited edition" the consumer panic kicks in and they sell. We still have a few really dedicated buying collectors out there, but they are becoming fewer by the year. And I cannot see the next generation picking up the torches for this hobby,the world has changed too much. Toy soldiers are my main hobby,and I want to see more companies out there making everything we collectors ask for. But let's face it,what companies we have now are it,and once they stop,that's it.

Good points regarding the affordability to the younger generation. My main hobby also, though not exclusively. Chris

 

[Warrior]

Not to take this thread down a rabbit hole and hijack it in the process, but the issue as I see it is there is no entry point for younger collectors anymore, specifically the death of plastics/items being available in mass merchandisers.

Typical path; in the 1950's/1960's, toy soldiers were everywhere, Anytown USA had store after store that sold them, hobby shops were booming, toy soldier stores were popping up left, right and center. A child gets hooked on toy soldiers back in the stone age prior to the internet, video games, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, then goes into high school, toy soldiers aren't cool anymore, the boy becomes a man.

At some point in his 20's or 30's, something happens that takes him back to his youth; a store window display, a commercial, an ad in a magazine, whatever, the match is lit, the man becomes a boy again and begins to collect toy soldier again. He graduates to matte finished metal and off he goes.

TODAY, kids are not playing with toy soldiers, kids for the most part don't play with toys period; not only that, stores no longer carry plastics, there is no Airfix/Marx/Britains/MPC/Timpo out there today, thus no entry point. As the kids of today age, there will be no match being lit, no spark to cause them to revisit their childhood and start collecting toy soldiers again.

The collector base is slowly shrinking as collectors age, run out of room, run out of disposable income, run out of time and pass away; no one is behind them to take their place.

Will the hobby be gone tomorrow? Next year? Two years? Five years? No, no ,no and no, but it is contracting, shrinking, circling the drain, whatever you want to call it.

It's a sad reality, something I never thought would happen, but when dinosaurs roamed the earth, they never thought they'd die off and be extinct either...................

 

[PanzerAce1944]

Not to take this thread down a rabbit hole and hijack it in the process, but the issue as I see it is there is no entry point for younger collectors anymore, specifically the death of plastics/items being available in mass merchandisers.

Typical path; in the 1950's/1960's, toy soldiers were everywhere, Anytown USA had store after store that sold them, hobby shops were booming, toy soldier stores were popping up left, right and center. A child gets hooked on toy soldiers back in the stone age prior to the internet, video games, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, then goes into high school, toy soldiers aren't cool anymore, the boy becomes a man.

At some point in his 20's or 30's, something happens that takes him back to his youth; a store window display, a commercial, an ad in a magazine, whatever, the match is lit, the man becomes a boy again and begins to collect toy soldier again. He graduates to matte finished metal and off he goes.

TODAY, kids are not playing with toy soldiers, kids for the most part don't play with toys period; not only that, stores no longer carry plastics, there is no Airfix/Marx/Britains/MPC/Timpo out there today, thus no entry point. As the kids of today age, there will be no match being lit, no spark to cause them to revisit their childhood and start collecting toy soldiers again.

The collector base is slowly shrinking as collectors age, run out of room, run out of disposable income, run out of time and pass away; no one is behind them to take their place.

Will the hobby be gone tomorrow? Next year? Two years? Five years? No, no ,no and no, but it is contracting, shrinking, circling the drain, whatever you want to call it.

It's a sad reality, something I never thought would happen, but when dinosaurs roamed the earth, they never thought they'd die off and be extinct either...................

George, As they say across the pond..........You are spot on ! :salute::

Wayne

 

[Warrior]

George, As they say across the pond..........You are spot on ! :salute::

Wayne

I really wish I was wrong and I truly hope to be proven wrong, been at this for about 20 years, there is no plan B for me......................:wink2:

 

[katana]

The new generation of plastic toy soldiers are the articulated 1/18 scale figures. The figures and armor by 21st Century Toys were exceptional in detail and quality for plastic. Papo, BBI and Schleich 1/18 figures are the equal of many Pewter figures in quality IMO. The BBI Romans, originally designed by Schleich for Revell are excellent highly detailed historically accurate figures. The BBI Romans show what plastic figures can achieve at a reasonable price. Plastic figures and armor are probably the future of toy soldiers as Pewter and polystone price themselves out of the market.

Another example of excellent highly detailed armor and artillery at reasonable prices is Merit products. Pre-painted and built 1/16 scale Trumpeter models i.e. Tiger I, T34-85,
88 Flak, and 15cm Howitzer. The large scale reduces the part fragility associated with polystyrene models. The 1/16 Tamiya WWII figures go very well with the Merit Panzers.

 

[tdubel]

I only have your unsupported statement for that and that is no better than an opinion. Can you provide photos and dimensions to support your statement?

Since when do legal rules of evidence apply in casual conversation!

This is a dead conversation just like figarti. That page can come up and down as the cows come home, but you are free to contact the only 2 authorized distributors of figarti and they will tell you the same thing. They are broke , have no capital to produce,currently no office as they just lost that and no one willing to finance their venture.

So why don't you run back to your anatomically correct elephants that exist in your own dreamland and let the facts from the last 2 years speak for themselves. This company has not done much of anything and that is a fact. Oh and by the way, have you ever produced the source from the companies themselves indicating what their figures are made of?

Irritating to say the least.

 

[katana]

Toy Soldier figures are made of Pewter, I thought you knew that. Just because you pronounce a conversation dead does not make it dead. You are confusing my comments with someone else; I have contended that Figarti is deceased and has joined Honor Bound in Toy Soldier history for over a year.

This is a dead conversation just like figarti. That page can come up and down as the cows come home, but you are free to contact the only 2 authorized distributors of figarti and they will tell you the same thing. They are broke , have no capital to produce,currently no office as they just lost that and no one willing to finance their venture.

So why don't you run back to your anatomically correct elephants that exist in your own dreamland and let the facts from the last 2 years speak for themselves. This company has not done much of anything and that is a fact. Oh and by the way, have you ever produced the source from the companies themselves indicating what their figures are made of?

Irritating to say the least.

 

[tdubel]

Toy Soldier figures are made of Pewter, I thought you knew that. Just because you pronounce a conversation dead does not make it dead. You are confusing my comments with someone else; I have contended that Figarti is deceased and has joined Honor Bound in Toy Soldier history for over a year.

No they are not, nowhere does figarti, kc, beau geste, Thomas gunn indicate they are pewter, where are you getting this?