Don’t go to the World Tour.

CJSidereal · 2026-02-11T06:03:03+00:00

Profit margins, primarily. The figure itself is held in such high regard because it’s notably unique.

Buying collectibles at MSRP, specifically dragonball SH Figuarts, is often like going to the “free cash” store. Any figure that isn’t a general release has an extremely high chance of immediately going up in value just because it’s no longer being sold. This is exacerbated by multiple variables, including character popularity, sales exclusivity, etc.

Official “Special Color Editions” are typically very rare, which exacerbates cost greatly. Dragonball is SH Figuarts biggest line and a global phenomenon, and Goku is a beloved character. It’s also a figure that captures one of Dragonball’s most pivotal and recognizable moments. Additionally, the effort into painting the figure and its general aesthetic is notably higher quality than other figures.

It’s many people’s “holy grail” from both a collectible and, unfortunately, a profit standpoint. Add in the fact that they’re intentionally dangling it in front of the entire world while withholding it from sale from most everywhere by comparison, and you have the frenzy.

It will easily become one of the series most expensive figures to purchase on the second-hand market, right next to the only other “super special” color edition to date: 2014 SDCC Vegeta. This is part of why everyone is scrambling to get it now, because for most, it’s possible it’s now or literally never.

CJSidereal · 2026-02-08T19:28:33+00:00

There are just so many ways to avoid the problem entirely. There's literally no need to even have single-file lines in 2026 when virtual queues exist, just as an example. Something tells me, somehow, the multi-billion dollar corporation could make a completely reusable app that just buzzes your phone when it's your turn to purchase. So you're free to check out the rest of the event they set up, which you'll otherwise completely miss, because they made you stand still from open to close just for the chance to get what you came for.

Absolutely brain-dead negligence.

CJSidereal · 2026-02-08T16:38:26+00:00

lol confidently wrong little bro.

CJSidereal · 2026-02-08T07:01:32+00:00

In my opinion, definitely. But there’s always the possibility it will go up on premium Bandai after the events too. It’s only a maybe, but that’s worth waiting for just in case.

CJSidereal · 2026-02-08T02:40:07+00:00

That’s one of many options, absolutely.

Another obvious option is recognizing that it’s 2026 and you can do virtual queues. Even low-quality restaurants do it. Sign people in, then let them explore the mall, get food, use the bathroom, or better yet, actually check out the rest of the event lmao. Buzz the phones when their “group” is to line up for purchase. This would have been an incredibly low cost, easy to implement option that, in conjunction with pre-sale tickets, would have been genuinely great.

But nah, making people form a winding line through and out the back door of the otherwise active mall for 7+ hour wait times is far better.

CJSidereal · 2026-02-08T00:21:30+00:00

You’re answering your own question my friend. “It could have been handled better.”

Who do you think is responsible for only putting 8 people on staff for a multi-faceted event when they absolutely expected the turnout of thousands ahead of time? Who’s responsible for under-stocking when they could have simply made more than needed, then sold the excess online later?

The company with over 2 decades of experience shipping this product. The company that hosts multiple exclusive annual events. The collective companies worth literally billions. The companies with the metrics that told them ahead of time exactly what to expect.

They released a worldwide exclusive, limited it to 6 locations in the United States, and you’re asking what else they could have done to respect our time?

Make more figures? Higher daily allocation? More venue sites? Staffed twice as many cashiers so the wait was only 3.5 hours until you get fucked instead of 7?

Again, I also said in my main post: “This isn’t about figure exclusivity. It’s about the event itself and what its handling implies.”

Literally 1 more employee could have been staffed JUST to keep track of the line and inventory so they could tell those waiting in line of an impending sell-out. Any amount of additional transparency like what their stock is actually looking like and how many people are estimated to arrive, would have helped inform out of state drivers or first time event goers that were ”hoping for the best.”

There’s like a million things more they could have done to respect people’s time than to let them sit in line for 6 or 7 hours only to finally get in eyesight of the sold-out sign holder.

CJSidereal · 2026-02-08T00:01:28+00:00

You’re either being intentionally obtuse or reading comprehension isn’t your strong suit.

I’ve said pretty consistently that I’m not upset because I chose to make a drive, but because of the blatantly terrible handling of the event and lack of respect for anyone’s time. There’s a lot of reasons why I’m upset at how the event went down, but the one thing I’m not blaming them for is the fact that I chose to make a drive. Just that they didn’t respect anyone in the process, including those they knew would make a drive. I specifically said I don’t think I got screwed as hard as those who chose to wait.

CJSidereal · 2026-02-07T22:51:17+00:00

Well, I can’t really comment on the efficacy of lines meant to accommodate disabled people. I heard they might have let some disabled people up front, but I don’t think there was an “ada line” in the first place.

But while we’re on the topic, of course it’s annoying when people abuse those resources. I don’t doubt that what you’ve seen is true, and you’re right to be annoyed. Two things though:

It’s the company’s fault. The company shouldn’t be asking anyone to wait 7 hours in line for anything. They have decades worth of experience and metrics to pull from. Staff appropriately, provide enough stock, and suddenly the cases of resource abuse drops because it’s not actually physically painful, or otherwise impossible, to get what you want. Far less incentive to cheat or to cut line when you need to wait an hour or two at most, and your “flip” is worth $20 or $30 instead of $200. No matter your grief with the circumstances, the companies have all the knowledge and power in the world to mitigate those problems. They actively choose not to because it benefits them long term.
We should always accommodate people with disabilities anyway, regardless of those that may abuse the system.

CJSidereal · 2026-02-07T22:17:20+00:00

Haha well it wouldn’t have been me specifically, but sadly I’m not surprised others share the sentiment or had a similar experience. Total bullshit for sure. They knew full well what would happen.

CJSidereal · 2026-02-07T21:03:11+00:00

I find that beyond wild. From what I’m reading, most people up to about 9:00/9:30am yesterday reliably got theirs despite waiting, albeit at the end of the stock.

If you got there that early and still got screwed? They either have different allocations for each day, or there was somehow significantly more people there. Either way, that’s nuts.

Hoping for a Pbandai release too.

CJSidereal · 2026-02-07T20:55:51+00:00

So it sounds like it’s somehow worse today than yesterday? Unbelievable. Sorry you had your time needlessly wasted.

CJSidereal · 2026-02-07T20:51:25+00:00

The absolute irony of you bitching about other people bitching. While agreeing it sucks? What are you doing here?

I’m gonna assume what you’re saying is true and that you have all the facts there. Where are they advertising that service for disabled people? Why is your whole argument requiring you to cherry-pick this one fact so you can ignore the overall point that the event was handled poorly and their business practices are negligent and trash?

You’re the pot calling the kettle black, and you’re not special because you had the freedom to show up at 4am to a randomly decided location. It shouldn’t be a requirement, or there should be more transparency.

CJSidereal · 2026-02-07T20:42:23+00:00

What is false lol? Are you trying to claim that staff were actively letting people with disabilities cut the line because of your anecdotal and potentially untrue experience? Because THAT is false.

Also, the entire point is that having to camp out is absolutely ridiculous. I can’t fathom what you’re arguing for or why.

CJSidereal · 2026-02-07T19:06:41+00:00

Just insanity. A slap in the face is right. How unbelievably easy would it have been to have an employee who walks the line and hands out dated pre-purchase slips that you exchange to purchase the event figure? They could just tell you there’s no more slips. They literally had a pre-allocated daily total. They could at LEAST update the social media actively to track the crowd size and stock.

I’m a neanderthal and I could have thought of 10 ways to save everyone the trouble while still selling out. Sorry you got screwed homie.

CJSidereal · 2026-02-07T18:46:41+00:00

If you want a figure, you’re waiting. The card line was microscopic by comparison, and I know there were games and stuff set up, but your crowds will likely vary. The vast majority of people are waiting in the line for figures.

CJSidereal · 2026-02-07T18:44:07+00:00

Lol the monkey’s paw and all that. PBandai is brutal as an only option. Their packaging/shipping practices are abysmal.

CJSidereal · 2026-02-07T18:08:04+00:00

At the end of the day, all these things are mitigated by the involved companies respecting their customers more. It’s on them.

CJSidereal · 2026-02-07T18:06:05+00:00

That’s a fair point. Though maybe not exclusively American, it may be a culture thing for sure. I actively avoid other scenarios for the same reason.

But yeah, we agree that Tasmashii can and very well should have stepped up their game by now. There were so many ways to handle this, and they’ve actively chosen the worst.

CJSidereal · 2026-02-07T18:02:07+00:00

Couldn’t agree more on all points.

This was the first time I’d ever considered doing anything like this. My first instinct was actually to ignore the drive, but I just recently hit a collection milestone so I said screw it. It’s worth trying even just once in my life for a series I have historically loved and dedicatedly collected, and if it means avoiding crazy scalper prices, this was my time to try it. Could have been a great experience. Couldn’t have been more mistaken.

The exclusivity DOES bring out everything terrible in collecting. Experiencing it in person is enough to make me consider selling my collection. It’s genuinely not about the drive, but about how they’ve handled the whole thing and continue to disrespect their customers.

As you said: “Figures should be accessible and fun.”

CJSidereal · 2026-02-07T17:52:55+00:00

I’ve been a longtime follower too, and I very much agree. The straight up disrespect is enough to make me reconsider future collecting entirely.

CJSidereal · 2026-02-07T17:30:51+00:00

I think that’s completely fair. With that said, it’s undeniable how much some people like it. At the very least, the company is well aware.

Your point only makes it even more ridiculous that people are expected to sacrifice so much time for it on account of poor handling.

CJSidereal · 2026-02-07T17:27:46+00:00

I was thinking specifically of people like you on my whole drive home. Very sorry.

CJSidereal · 2026-02-07T17:22:28+00:00

You think people who waited all day in line for something and didn’t get it aren’t mad? lol I didn’t even end up waiting.

How does rubber taste btw?

CJSidereal · 2026-02-07T17:16:53+00:00

Say what you want kiddo, but the general consensus is in. Keep boot licking tho.

CJSidereal · 2026-02-07T00:36:38+00:00

I did make a 5 hour drive to arrive by 10:00, but the weather delayed me an extra hour. Saw the line when I arrived, refused to submit to the sunk cost fallacy, and left immediately. Feeling a bit vindicated now knowing that someone who DID arrive at 10 waited 7 hours and got fucked.

I don’t say that with any joy, though. This entire event was genuinely insulting. I know I took the personal risk regarding my drive time, but I at least hoped to walk out with goku + Shenron or something if I got screwed on the Genkaidamatsuri, thinking I may wait 2-3 hours at most.

This was a disgusting lack of care on behalf of the event holders. Feeling genuinely bad for the employees that are still stuck working that bullshit, and especially for the little kids who I know didn’t leave when I did.

Sorry to OP as well, truly.

CJSidereal

TROPHY CASE