Tom,
Thank you for your pictures, they are worth a thousand words. As you can see it is not an isolated incident and at the cost of these precious figures it is inexcusable to have these problems. Obvious lack of QC by manufacturers (China/Hong Kong). It would be nice if companies would own it and replace problem figures with brand new corrected figures. That is how I feel when I find them in my collection.
Howard[/QUOTE
Actually Howard, I beg to differ, these are ‘isolated incidents’.
Consider this simple fact...Over the years K&C alone has produced literally hundreds of thousands of figures, probably millions. The number of ‘paint-flaking’ incidents is, I believe, relatively rare considering the huge numbers involved, thank goodness.
Annoying most certainly... but rare never the less.
Many other collectors, right here on this thread, have provided ample evidence of other factors, such as ‘environmental’ which can also have an adverse effect on figures. Many of the examples I have seen personally have been the result of some kind of ‘chemical reaction’ caused by the conditions figures in which figures have been stored in...or even displayed in...or have been handled.
Of course, human error and/or carelessness either at the factory...or at any other single point all the way down the supply and collector chain can also cause problems and that is deeply regrettable.
When, and if, I believe K&C is responsible, then we do our best to help or replace such damages.
However to state that ‘obvious lack of QC by manufacturers in China/Hong Kong’ is both wrong and ignores the evidence of actual numbers and the evidence and experience of other collectors.
Best wishes,
Andy.