Forces of Valor 2009. (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter ExRanger
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binder001
Command Sergeant Major
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Ranger,
I think the current dearth of replies is an answer in itself. There have been RUMORS about the financial health of this company. They did manage to get the run of Elefant tank destroyers and GI trucks in, so maybe they aren't gone yet. They have their expensive 1:16 Sherman heavily advertised.
If there are any new items coming they should be announced about the time of the spring toy fairs. I hope for more WW2 GI items myself.
Gary
I think the current dearth of replies is an answer in itself. There have been RUMORS about the financial health of this company. They did manage to get the run of Elefant tank destroyers and GI trucks in, so maybe they aren't gone yet. They have their expensive 1:16 Sherman heavily advertised.
If there are any new items coming they should be announced about the time of the spring toy fairs. I hope for more WW2 GI items myself.
Gary
Lewey Gun Vick
Sergeant Major
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Does anyone know if you can by the elephant and duece and a half at target or superstore?
Vick
Vick
binder001
Command Sergeant Major
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Does anyone know if you can by the elephant and duece and a half at target or superstore? Vick
Last night I went to the Super Target in Lincoln, NE for some extra Christmas lights and I found three Elefants for $26 each on the shelf. No trucks yet (or else I would now have extras!).
Gary B
Wraith
Major
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Warrior
Lieutenant General
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This company has been dying a slow death for two plus years now, which is really a shame.
I remember their first release way back when, 8 or so vehicles and 3 infantry sets, they were delivered to me via 18 wheeler, three entire pallets shrink wrapped in the back of the cab, took me three days to unpack and sort out all the orders.
Fast forward to this year; they had more 1/72nd scale releases than 1/32nd scale ones, a grand total of two for the latter.
Nice to see them selling at the mass merchandisers at my wholesale cost, 26.00 is comical by the way, hey, whatever works I guess.
I sold out of both, 30 elefants and 90 deuce and a halfs, I am thrilled, have no plans on reordering..............
I remember their first release way back when, 8 or so vehicles and 3 infantry sets, they were delivered to me via 18 wheeler, three entire pallets shrink wrapped in the back of the cab, took me three days to unpack and sort out all the orders.
Fast forward to this year; they had more 1/72nd scale releases than 1/32nd scale ones, a grand total of two for the latter.
Nice to see them selling at the mass merchandisers at my wholesale cost, 26.00 is comical by the way, hey, whatever works I guess.
I sold out of both, 30 elefants and 90 deuce and a halfs, I am thrilled, have no plans on reordering..............
The Military Workshop
1st Lieutenant
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- Jul 31, 2005
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Just had a look at this thread for the first time.
I sold a bit of this at the start but have hardly got anything this year. I remember when they did the first 1/16 King Tiger in the wooden crate and doing the maths on it and wondering if they were actually making any money. I know my tooling costs on a 6' Titanic I produced in 1998 and I know what the Frankling Mint USS Missouri tooling costs were (same guys who did my Titanic). I doubt FOV made any money on the first 1/16 King Tiger. Did not bother ordering the 1/16 Sherman.
Problem in the 1/72 market is there are too many ranges and customers spoilt for choice.
Regards
Brett
I sold a bit of this at the start but have hardly got anything this year. I remember when they did the first 1/16 King Tiger in the wooden crate and doing the maths on it and wondering if they were actually making any money. I know my tooling costs on a 6' Titanic I produced in 1998 and I know what the Frankling Mint USS Missouri tooling costs were (same guys who did my Titanic). I doubt FOV made any money on the first 1/16 King Tiger. Did not bother ordering the 1/16 Sherman.
Problem in the 1/72 market is there are too many ranges and customers spoilt for choice.
Regards
Brett
Gideon
Command Sergeant Major
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I sold FoV very successfully back when I had the shop in NYC but, after that, they just started to fizzle.
It really bothered me that people would come into the shop and say how the saw the same model at Target for like half the price. When I asked about this, they said that it wasn't the enthusiast series and the models were more basic without the accessories. Ok. I bit that one.
Then, the 1/72 stuff began appearing in my shop and at Target for 30% less. Then the 1/32 figures (which were very nice) were at Target. I just didn't bother.
Then I was late on an invoice (one). Rogers wife called me and I paid right then. The next time I placed an order, they told me I had to pre-pay because she had to call me. I told them to eff off and never ordered again.
It really bothered me that people would come into the shop and say how the saw the same model at Target for like half the price. When I asked about this, they said that it wasn't the enthusiast series and the models were more basic without the accessories. Ok. I bit that one.
Then, the 1/72 stuff began appearing in my shop and at Target for 30% less. Then the 1/32 figures (which were very nice) were at Target. I just didn't bother.
Then I was late on an invoice (one). Rogers wife called me and I paid right then. The next time I placed an order, they told me I had to pre-pay because she had to call me. I told them to eff off and never ordered again.
Warrior
Lieutenant General
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"I sold FoV very successfully back when I had the shop in NYC but, after that, they just started to fizzle.
It really bothered me that people would come into the shop and say how the saw the same model at Target for like half the price. When I asked about this, they said that it wasn't the enthusiast series and the models were more basic without the accessories. Ok. I bit that one.
Then, the 1/72 stuff began appearing in my shop and at Target for 30% less. Then the 1/32 figures (which were very nice) were at Target. I just didn't bother.
Then I was late on an invoice (one). Rogers wife called me and I paid right then. The next time I placed an order, they told me I had to pre-pay because she had to call me. I told them to eff off and never ordered again."
Gideon,
Couldn't agree with you more on your thoughts on FOV. When they first got started, they really depended on guys like you with shops to get the word out for them, and guys like me and Matt from The Hobby Bunker to go to 9,000 shows a year and show off their items.
Then they seemed to shove us aside once they made a name for themselves, plus the two versions thing always was annoying too. My impression was they were selling basically the same tank as we were for half the price at Target, Walmart, etc. As a consumer, who can blame our customers for buying there instead of from us, but my sales rep actually called me and asked why my orders had dropped off and my comment was "Where do I begin regarding that" and I explained exactly what the problem was, ie, losing sales to the mass merchandisers, to which I was told that without them, they can't survive. I perfectly understand I replied, all I ask is I get the items the same time they do and I get a shot at the lower grade items, to which I was told those are for the mass merchandiser market only and round and round we went.
Long story short is they are basically dead in the water, woudln't be shocked to see them pull the plug on the military stuff in 2009, really a shame IMO..............
Bun
It really bothered me that people would come into the shop and say how the saw the same model at Target for like half the price. When I asked about this, they said that it wasn't the enthusiast series and the models were more basic without the accessories. Ok. I bit that one.
Then, the 1/72 stuff began appearing in my shop and at Target for 30% less. Then the 1/32 figures (which were very nice) were at Target. I just didn't bother.
Then I was late on an invoice (one). Rogers wife called me and I paid right then. The next time I placed an order, they told me I had to pre-pay because she had to call me. I told them to eff off and never ordered again."
Gideon,
Couldn't agree with you more on your thoughts on FOV. When they first got started, they really depended on guys like you with shops to get the word out for them, and guys like me and Matt from The Hobby Bunker to go to 9,000 shows a year and show off their items.
Then they seemed to shove us aside once they made a name for themselves, plus the two versions thing always was annoying too. My impression was they were selling basically the same tank as we were for half the price at Target, Walmart, etc. As a consumer, who can blame our customers for buying there instead of from us, but my sales rep actually called me and asked why my orders had dropped off and my comment was "Where do I begin regarding that" and I explained exactly what the problem was, ie, losing sales to the mass merchandisers, to which I was told that without them, they can't survive. I perfectly understand I replied, all I ask is I get the items the same time they do and I get a shot at the lower grade items, to which I was told those are for the mass merchandiser market only and round and round we went.
Long story short is they are basically dead in the water, woudln't be shocked to see them pull the plug on the military stuff in 2009, really a shame IMO..............
Bun
4th Hussar
Sergeant Major
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FOVs story is sad. They did produce some nice vehicles at a reasonable price
Gideon
Command Sergeant Major
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Absolutely right. Their products were excellent value and then some.
I kept a Pershing and a Mustang for my self. Beautiful models - really. Most of the line was just spectacular.
I had the same conversation about getting the basic models as well. The mass merchandicers didn't bother me as much as I had the only real shop in NYC with the absolute best selection of their stuff. People would come in just for that alone. But I felt that if I could offer the lesser models, I could service more people and get more market share against Target and Toys R Us. Not allowing us small guys to buy those less expensive models was just plain stupidty and I told thm as much.
Their way of doing business really struck me as annoying and, after firing Lisa Denmark, I found that they were really arrogant regarding the small guys like us. I think they were at the peak of mass merchandicers selling their stuff and thought they could get away with a little more than they can now.
Then the price increases.
It's a real shame but, in this economy, the validity of a business like that is questionable. Their other toy lines were of no interest and of no honest quality.
I kept a Pershing and a Mustang for my self. Beautiful models - really. Most of the line was just spectacular.
I had the same conversation about getting the basic models as well. The mass merchandicers didn't bother me as much as I had the only real shop in NYC with the absolute best selection of their stuff. People would come in just for that alone. But I felt that if I could offer the lesser models, I could service more people and get more market share against Target and Toys R Us. Not allowing us small guys to buy those less expensive models was just plain stupidty and I told thm as much.
Their way of doing business really struck me as annoying and, after firing Lisa Denmark, I found that they were really arrogant regarding the small guys like us. I think they were at the peak of mass merchandicers selling their stuff and thought they could get away with a little more than they can now.
Then the price increases.
It's a real shame but, in this economy, the validity of a business like that is questionable. Their other toy lines were of no interest and of no honest quality.
ExRanger
Staff Sergeant
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- Nov 10, 2006
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- 880
It's really too bad going down the tubes. I did find the stuff they sold to the local retailers like Target to be CRAP. I never purchased any of my FOV thru them. Only thru the dealers at the shows. You could plainly see the
difference between the two versions. I'd rather paid a few bucks more for a realistic looking piece then that stuff they peddled off on Target and the likes. I was in Target the other day and had to laugh at the figure packs that they are selling. They look so phony. They even had a Stug III. Awful.
Their figures were never their strong point. That's too bad because they did create some great vehicles for the 1/32nd scale which had been lacking for a long time. Then it seems 21st Century stepped back into the picture with some very nice vehicles. Hopefully they will continue.
difference between the two versions. I'd rather paid a few bucks more for a realistic looking piece then that stuff they peddled off on Target and the likes. I was in Target the other day and had to laugh at the figure packs that they are selling. They look so phony. They even had a Stug III. Awful.
Their figures were never their strong point. That's too bad because they did create some great vehicles for the 1/32nd scale which had been lacking for a long time. Then it seems 21st Century stepped back into the picture with some very nice vehicles. Hopefully they will continue.
Gideon
Command Sergeant Major
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I've seen quite a few companies get sucked in the "how do I get into FAO, Target", etc and once they do, regret it.
Once a sales report shows declining sales you are gone and the company has to come back to a very pissed off specialty market again who can be hostile.
So, best of luck to FoV in 2K9. I hope they can turn themselves around and start offering great selection and value again. And I hope they will offer the lower grade models to the specialty and hobby shops. It would go a long way towards helping their smaller customers.
Once a sales report shows declining sales you are gone and the company has to come back to a very pissed off specialty market again who can be hostile.
So, best of luck to FoV in 2K9. I hope they can turn themselves around and start offering great selection and value again. And I hope they will offer the lower grade models to the specialty and hobby shops. It would go a long way towards helping their smaller customers.
IXEC
Sergeant First Class
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Wouldn't you think they would do a second 1/16 Sherman, as they have done with all the 1/16 Extreme Metal Series. Could you imagine if it were a Firefly Sherman.
Would hope for a 1/16 Panther or even a Jagdtiger, they already have the King Tiger chassie, just need to lengthen it a bit.
You can pick-up the 1/16 Sherman rather cheap now with some of the sales going on.
Would hope for a 1/16 Panther or even a Jagdtiger, they already have the King Tiger chassie, just need to lengthen it a bit.
You can pick-up the 1/16 Sherman rather cheap now with some of the sales going on.
I recently heard that FOV was going to make a few repaints early next year. I am a fan of the 1:32 vehicles and have most of them. I also have all but the first 1:16 tanks. Recently on a whim I bought the Bismark at a Target (first FOV purchase there). After taking it out it looks and feels like a cheap plastic kids toy that should have cost no more than 3 bucks. Do not buy it. The rest of the 1:72 models and soldier packets also looked the same. Would not recommend buying them either. I am sorry that the dealers posted here have had problems. I also noticed that the U.S. Military Post Exchanges (PX) do not carry the line either any more. They would sell out fast when they hit the PX shelves. I think that these guy's did burn a lot of bridges, and will be sorry. I do hope they survive as they are fun to look at and display. Merry Christmas from an Airborne, Scuba, Halo, Special Forces soldier. Highest Regards, Larry.