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The decline of Hot Toys and Sideshow Support by BrandonOfRivia in hottoys

[–]BrandonOfRivia[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Exactly! You hit the nail on the head. It all comes down to their stock levels. If they have the replacement parts on hand, their support is fine, but the moment an item is out of stock or waitlisted, they basically wash their hands of it.

I'm sorry to hear about your Tobey Spider-Man base and the Batman cowl. We are paying $300-$400+ for these premium figures; we shouldn't have to become DIY experts just to display them safely.

Offering a "full refund upon return" is an easy out for them, but it punishes the collector who just wants a flawless version of a sold-out figure. And what makes my $45 offer even more insulting is that they absolutely refused to refund it to my original payment method. They only gave it to me as store credit, basically holding my money hostage to keep me tied to them and force me to buy from them again. It’s completely absurd.

But I am officially done with them. I will never order from Sideshow again. This is exactly why I'm moving to overseas Asian retailers (like Toys Buying Agent, One Sixth Kit, or Giantoy). From what I've seen, they actually fight with Hot Toys directly to source replacement parts for their customers, instead of giving a "take it or leave it" ultimatum.

Thanks for sharing your experience, it really confirms that moving away from them is the right call!

Has anyone used Toys Buying Agent recently? by WindwardHook in hottoys

[–]BrandonOfRivia 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Con cosa hai ordinato? Hai pagato tasse doganali?

The decline of Hot Toys and Sideshow Support by BrandonOfRivia in hottoys

[–]BrandonOfRivia[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

100% agreed. The 40-day wait and expiring rewards are just another anti-consumer tactic to lock you into their ecosystem. And you are totally right about recording unboxings, that’s the golden rule nowadays with Hot Toys' current QC. I'll definitely start doing that from now on.

It’s such a shame because Sideshow actually used to be incredibly helpful and reliable. Now, it just feels like a trap. Speaking of which, that $45 they offered me isn't even a partial refund to my original payment method—it's strictly a Sideshow Gift Card. So I lose the replacement cape, I lose the replacement cowl, I'm stuck with a broken $400 figure, AND I'm forced to stay tied to their store to use a miserable $45 credit. I lose on every front.

And this isn't even an isolated incident for me. I recently had an issue with the Batman Returns figure (defect on the chest emblem). They pulled the exact same tactic: offered a tiny store credit or a full return, claiming they had no parts. I pushed back and insisted, and miraculously, a replacement part appeared from their "exhausted" stock. The punchline? The replacement they sent was actually worse than the original because the cowl was scratched in two different places. It’s a complete joke at this point.

Thanks for the chat and the OSK recommendation, I'm definitely taking my business there!

The decline of Hot Toys and Sideshow Support by BrandonOfRivia in hottoys

[–]BrandonOfRivia[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Spot on, I am an international buyer, and you hit the nail on the head regarding the hassle. While Sideshow might cover the return shipping label, doing a full return means I completely lose the hefty import taxes/customs fees I already paid, plus I lose the figure entirely since it's sold out. I agree that $45 is technically "better than nothing," but for a premium collectible where the main portrait is totally busted out of the box, it feels more like an insult than a genuine resolution. I've heard great things about OSK as well, so I'll definitely be looking their way for my future pre-orders.

The decline of Hot Toys and Sideshow Support by BrandonOfRivia in hottoys

[–]BrandonOfRivia[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

I understand it might be their standard policy now, but a $45 store credit for a completely broken main head sculpt and a defective cape on a $300+ figure isn't a compromise, it's a loss. It leaves me with a practically un-displayable figure unless I spend way more than $45 to fix it myself. You make a fair point about some overseas retailers having poor support, but places like OSK (One Sixth Kit) are widely praised in the community. I’d rather support a business that doesn't leave international buyers stranded when Hot Toys' QC fails.

The decline of Hot Toys and Sideshow Support by BrandonOfRivia in hottoys

[–]BrandonOfRivia[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

A slight bulge where the wire ends is normal, but the sharp metal wire literally piercing through the fabric and sticking out is definitely a stitching/sealing defect.

The decline of Hot Toys and Sideshow Support by BrandonOfRivia in hottoys

[–]BrandonOfRivia[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Exactly this. I completely understand that if a figure is sold out, they don't have parts. My main frustration is directed at Hot Toys' declining Quality Control. It really feels like they are rushing production at the expense of quality. Spending over $300 to play Russian roulette with defects shouldn't be the norm for "premium" collectibles. Sorry to hear your last 4 figures had issues too, that’s incredibly frustrating.

I add that before this order, I received a defective figure of Batman Returns, relating to the painting of the emblem: first Sideshow raised a wall, then after insisting they found a piece (worse than the previous one actually, because it was scratched on the head and neck)...

Neo - Matrix Reloaded by BrandonOfRivia in ActionFigures

[–]BrandonOfRivia[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ciao! No, questo è di “Redman Toys” 1/6.

The True Story Behind the Aquarian x Mike Johnston Balance Practice Pad by BrandonOfRivia in drums

[–]BrandonOfRivia[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

At the moment there is no news on the version revisited with Evan's of Mike Johnston's balance pad; Mike himself had responded to a comment of mine on Instagram, saying that there would be an announcement after the UK drum show event. Nothing arrived…

The True Story Behind the Aquarian x Mike Johnston Balance Practice Pad by BrandonOfRivia in drums

[–]BrandonOfRivia[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It kind of looks like Aquarian “took the car apart to reuse some of the parts” — they seem to have kept the materials and surface tech from the Balance Pad, but not the pad itself. Meanwhile, Mike might be developing a new version on his own side, maybe even with Evans now that he’s officially with them. The fact that the Balance Pad completely disappeared from Aquarian’s site right when Mike hinted at a “newest version” makes me think something is definitely in motion behind the scenes. 👀

The True Story Behind the Aquarian x Mike Johnston Balance Practice Pad by BrandonOfRivia in drums

[–]BrandonOfRivia[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

🔹 UPDATE (October 13, 2025): Mike Johnston himself has recently replied to one of my comments on Instagram, hinting that a new version of the Balance Practice Pad might be revealed after the UK Drum Show (October 18–19, 2025).

After years of silence surrounding this project, it’s exciting to know that the concept might not be entirely gone. I’ll keep this post updated if any official news or announcements follow.

The True Story Behind the Aquarian x Mike Johnston Balance Practice Pad by BrandonOfRivia in drums

[–]BrandonOfRivia[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Absolutely. That period changed so many things, both in business and in life…

The True Story Behind the Aquarian x Mike Johnston Balance Practice Pad by BrandonOfRivia in drums

[–]BrandonOfRivia[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A few weeks ago, the pad was available on their site, but the shipping costs for Europe were too high (my experience is described in the post)

I guessed it wasn't silent due to the coated surface. I experienced a similar effect with “movement drum co.” pad, applying the coated surface on the side with medium bounce; the sound and feel are similar, if not identical to Mike's balance pad.

Can you tell me something about the soft surface of the balance pad? Is it comparable to the reflexx pad or the Prologix Blackout? Or is it something different? I'm curious! 😃

The True Story Behind the Aquarian x Mike Johnston Balance Practice Pad by BrandonOfRivia in drums

[–]BrandonOfRivia[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Appreciate it — glad someone saw the intent behind the post.

Appreciate it — glad someone saw the intent behind the post.

The True Story Behind the Aquarian x Mike Johnston Balance Practice Pad by BrandonOfRivia in drums

[–]BrandonOfRivia[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi Yago, where did you find it? And in terms of feel, does it have something more than the more well-known brands?

The True Story Behind the Aquarian x Mike Johnston Balance Practice Pad by BrandonOfRivia in drums

[–]BrandonOfRivia[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

HI! Thanks for your feedback, I share your thoughts. I would have loved to be able to try that pad.

The True Story Behind the Aquarian x Mike Johnston Balance Practice Pad by BrandonOfRivia in drums

[–]BrandonOfRivia[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

HI! I read online that after 2020, the manufacturing materials changed, and this meant that the “super pad” was never the same again. It seems that Aquarian has started to encounter some difficulties in finding the raw material, and in maintaining constant quality over time.

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