A keen post suggested by scumonkey:
"What about a thread dissing all those crappy online toy stores out there?
Let's start sum cyber-shitte with: WHICH ONLINE TOYSTORE WOULD YOU NEVER BUY FROM AGAIN? AND WHY?
To be frank, I've not made a purchase online for any tangible / tactile products for the past 5 to 6 years (personal finance thy bane) so I can't really contribute much here. But from numerous complaints I've read via online forums - tis either one of two things:
(1) I don't/didn't get what I ordered delivered to me immediately.
(2) The shop never replies my calls or emails (after the first one).
(3) Where's my product?
Is ever getting your product that you paid for an "eventuality" anymore? At the very least?
So what's happening here? A failure to communicate? Unreasonable requests and expectations? Or just shoddy business dealings? Comments with facts please, not your personal vendetta becoz the email you received from the store didn't address you as "Sir" or "Madam".
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
WORSTEST TOYS OF 2008
Before I start any new shitte (or deep-six this blog totally altogether pending the absolute non-participation it has garnered) - let's perhaps look back at the shitte that has passed our delicate eyes (and maybe even grubby hands) in the entire year of 2008. C'mon, you know the ones that makes you cringe and spasm? The ones whose visage makes you piss and spit a cocktail of bile, venom and vinegar? That you've puked and swallowed back into your sensitive throats? The ones that claw at your delicate senses and impregnates you with a vivid sense of betrayal and mindrape? The ones who'd made you feel like you should've chopped off your own hands and sliced down your own credit card for purchasing? Yes, you know, those ones? ... now tell us WHO they are!
Either list down or go on and let loose about who YOU think/feel is/are the WORST(est) TOYS to be released in the year 2008:
(1) WORSTEST (Single) TOY Of 2008
(could be designer vinyl, plush, mass market toy etc)
(2) WORSTEST (Series of) TOYS Of 2008
(could be designer vinyl, plush, mass market toy etc)
(3) WORSTEST TOY PRODUCERS / MAKERS Of 2008
(From a toy company that has made "nothing" to "more than a single toy" for 2008 - boutique or mass producers)
(4) WORSTEST TOY DESIGNER / CREATOR For Production Toys Released in 2008
(From a toy that has been produced and made available in year ending 2008)
- Do feel free to share with everyone WHY they are listed - but please try to be constructive (and not just a "becoz they suckz!" - becoz then YOU will suck LOL)
(FYI: I will have another list on my main TRE-blog - but that's about the BEST TOYS of 2008 - THIS one breeds negativity, while the other is all sunshine and roses. heh)
Either list down or go on and let loose about who YOU think/feel is/are the WORST(est) TOYS to be released in the year 2008:
(1) WORSTEST (Single) TOY Of 2008
(could be designer vinyl, plush, mass market toy etc)
(2) WORSTEST (Series of) TOYS Of 2008
(could be designer vinyl, plush, mass market toy etc)
(3) WORSTEST TOY PRODUCERS / MAKERS Of 2008
(From a toy company that has made "nothing" to "more than a single toy" for 2008 - boutique or mass producers)
(4) WORSTEST TOY DESIGNER / CREATOR For Production Toys Released in 2008
(From a toy that has been produced and made available in year ending 2008)
- Do feel free to share with everyone WHY they are listed - but please try to be constructive (and not just a "becoz they suckz!" - becoz then YOU will suck LOL)
(FYI: I will have another list on my main TRE-blog - but that's about the BEST TOYS of 2008 - THIS one breeds negativity, while the other is all sunshine and roses. heh)
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
WHY HATE ON DESIGNER ART TOYS?
POSSIBLE DEVIL's ADVOCATE / DEFINITE RAMBLING:
I've heard (and read) my fair share of disgruntled naysayers and even outright rejection to the Designer / Art Toy subculture. Most times the primary contention is COST of what many would deem "too expensive for a piece of plastic", and even "lack of REALISM" in the DESIGN - as compared to mass-market articulated 6-inch "action figures" and it's ilk - where humanoid-forms are par for course, as opposed to the stylized (some say too severely) urban streets / graffiti-themed characters and products, which flooded the market (as it were) a few years ago. And in many ways, the flood had never subsided. Paddle much lately?
The amount of Michael Lau-bootlegs during the era of LazyMuthaFuckers was astounding, as were the slew of like-designed figures that were dropped-bombed out of Hong Kong in the mid to end-90s. Hell, I was one of the mindless hungry-drones that latched unto some (many of which were POS), while giving "others" a miss (KAWS' Companions came to mind ~ which I missed and fucking regret til this day). "Limited Editions" versus "Short-Packed Variants", both misnomers to the collecting community, at large. For those who "collect toys" (a very loose blanket term used here), there are those who are TOY SNOBS, and decide that the genre that they collect, are beyond everything else, much less DATs. To each his/her own, of coz. Please do share if you must.
[DATs = "Designer Art Toys"]
And as different genres are the above mentioned toys are, the general public couldn't give a decaying rat's fetid ass about the distinction, and put "cost" above anything else - which frankly, in this particular day and age of a looming recession would become even moreso an issue. Fuck, i've been in deep recession for the past 2+3 years of my life, and have not bought anything online for the past 5-6 years, so don't come hawking your recession-prophecies to me, yeh? LOL
Altho seriously, the numbers of existing collectors may dwindle, the toy-tourists weeded out, while very little few fresh-collectors and vinyl-converts enter the fray. Some peeps hate on DATs becoz they can't afford it. Is that justifiable?
And on the same parallel, while the community trumpets the "ART" aspect of DATs, one may question the validity of the "Art" angle of the product/s, which directly leads (or "adds") to it's hype and eventual cost (or the "justification" of the high cost per inch of plastic) - both at retail and the dreaded secondary market aka flippers paradise. Over-hyped and under-delivered? Or plastic-philistines cry foul when the the demand outstrips the supply, and they miss a score becoz they were out fuckingabout when a toy was released online? LOL
"ART". Do YOU know what is "Art"?
Fucked if I do! I'd work on a weekly arts-based television magazine show years ago (4 seasons' worth) and even after that, I cannot define what is "Art", much less sell it beyond "individual expression of the artist" (actually I've more, but this ain't the post to do it at). In the end-game, I like what I see, I like it. I don't? Peddle the "art"-card and it means nothing to me. An ugly piece of plastic, is still an ugly piece of plastic, no matter how you cut it - but that's just me.
For others, perhaps the label "Art" helps make the money-spending a little bit more "palatable", an excuse for the economics versus the aesthetic. "Value" in what? In the way the product / design "speaks" and/or appeals to you? Or of the market value, and the opportunity to have bragging rights? Who decides? Everyone judges.
Here is a (vague) parallel to the celluloid world of feature films.
One can label this flick an "action film", or that a "comedy", or horror", or whatever genres the film best typifies, and can be marketed as. And when films do not fall under the "regular" pigeonhole-categories, and does not employ "traditional" narratives structures or format or spirit (yaddayadda) of a regular film? It is labeled an "ART Film". Becoz it is "Special"? "Becoz it is "Different"? Becoz it is better than the rest? Or does "Art Film" mean nobody understood what the fuck it was going-on about, but there were purdy visuals? Or that it is simply "commercially-unviable"? A critically acclaimed box-office bomb? A vacuous beauty that nobody understands, and when you don't understand, the mystery is the allure. To sate your curiosity is to track down the product and buy it lickety-split.
What does Designer Art Toy really mean to you? Is it worth all the hype? And money?
I've heard (and read) my fair share of disgruntled naysayers and even outright rejection to the Designer / Art Toy subculture. Most times the primary contention is COST of what many would deem "too expensive for a piece of plastic", and even "lack of REALISM" in the DESIGN - as compared to mass-market articulated 6-inch "action figures" and it's ilk - where humanoid-forms are par for course, as opposed to the stylized (some say too severely) urban streets / graffiti-themed characters and products, which flooded the market (as it were) a few years ago. And in many ways, the flood had never subsided. Paddle much lately?
The amount of Michael Lau-bootlegs during the era of LazyMuthaFuckers was astounding, as were the slew of like-designed figures that were dropped-bombed out of Hong Kong in the mid to end-90s. Hell, I was one of the mindless hungry-drones that latched unto some (many of which were POS), while giving "others" a miss (KAWS' Companions came to mind ~ which I missed and fucking regret til this day). "Limited Editions" versus "Short-Packed Variants", both misnomers to the collecting community, at large. For those who "collect toys" (a very loose blanket term used here), there are those who are TOY SNOBS, and decide that the genre that they collect, are beyond everything else, much less DATs. To each his/her own, of coz. Please do share if you must.
[DATs = "Designer Art Toys"]
And as different genres are the above mentioned toys are, the general public couldn't give a decaying rat's fetid ass about the distinction, and put "cost" above anything else - which frankly, in this particular day and age of a looming recession would become even moreso an issue. Fuck, i've been in deep recession for the past 2+3 years of my life, and have not bought anything online for the past 5-6 years, so don't come hawking your recession-prophecies to me, yeh? LOL
Altho seriously, the numbers of existing collectors may dwindle, the toy-tourists weeded out, while very little few fresh-collectors and vinyl-converts enter the fray. Some peeps hate on DATs becoz they can't afford it. Is that justifiable?
And on the same parallel, while the community trumpets the "ART" aspect of DATs, one may question the validity of the "Art" angle of the product/s, which directly leads (or "adds") to it's hype and eventual cost (or the "justification" of the high cost per inch of plastic) - both at retail and the dreaded secondary market aka flippers paradise. Over-hyped and under-delivered? Or plastic-philistines cry foul when the the demand outstrips the supply, and they miss a score becoz they were out fuckingabout when a toy was released online? LOL
"ART". Do YOU know what is "Art"?
Fucked if I do! I'd work on a weekly arts-based television magazine show years ago (4 seasons' worth) and even after that, I cannot define what is "Art", much less sell it beyond "individual expression of the artist" (actually I've more, but this ain't the post to do it at). In the end-game, I like what I see, I like it. I don't? Peddle the "art"-card and it means nothing to me. An ugly piece of plastic, is still an ugly piece of plastic, no matter how you cut it - but that's just me.
For others, perhaps the label "Art" helps make the money-spending a little bit more "palatable", an excuse for the economics versus the aesthetic. "Value" in what? In the way the product / design "speaks" and/or appeals to you? Or of the market value, and the opportunity to have bragging rights? Who decides? Everyone judges.
Here is a (vague) parallel to the celluloid world of feature films.
One can label this flick an "action film", or that a "comedy", or horror", or whatever genres the film best typifies, and can be marketed as. And when films do not fall under the "regular" pigeonhole-categories, and does not employ "traditional" narratives structures or format or spirit (yaddayadda) of a regular film? It is labeled an "ART Film". Becoz it is "Special"? "Becoz it is "Different"? Becoz it is better than the rest? Or does "Art Film" mean nobody understood what the fuck it was going-on about, but there were purdy visuals? Or that it is simply "commercially-unviable"? A critically acclaimed box-office bomb? A vacuous beauty that nobody understands, and when you don't understand, the mystery is the allure. To sate your curiosity is to track down the product and buy it lickety-split.
What does Designer Art Toy really mean to you? Is it worth all the hype? And money?
GENERAL I HATE TOYS!-BLOG COMMENTING RULES, TERMS & CONDITIONS
*KNOW that if and when YOU decide to leave/post a comment on this blog - you have agreed to the following:
- State your reason/s and not random crap and dumps that leads nowhere but self-gratifying cyber-masturbation. (And NO, we do NOT wanna see pics of that).
- No direct flaming. (if ever possible).
- No calling out anyone. (this is "I Hate Toys" not "Fight Club" or "I Hate YOU").
- No family members get mentioned (unless it is hilarious in context of rant).
- No politics nor religion slagging in any way, shape, form or format. This is about TOYS and ONLY TOYS. (and "toy-makers / creators" :p)
- Get your facts right before you attempt to flame. Leave a remark if you are uncertain of the facts leading to your accusations.
- No URL-links to any lewd or inappropriate pictures.
- NO PORNOGRAPHY in any form or format is allowed.
- NO URL-links to any sales nor commercial sites, legit or otherwise. DO NOT peddle your or others' products, websites and blogs here. ALL will be deleted. (Email me separately you want to advertise on I HATE TOYS!)
- "Anonymity" is allowed and accepted (altho "discouraged").
- If you want or expect folks to reply to you (the "anonymous you") in the comments-section - do create a nick for yourself.
- No stealing identities or nicks.
- There is NO OTHER "Toysrevil" or "TRE" but the blog-owner (me lah!). Any who attempt to be, regardless of how awesome their comment is, WILL BE DELETED.
Comments and Posts can and will be deleted at my leisure - if they do not fulfill the conditions set forth, or if I find them offensive. No reasons will be given nor correspondence to that matter will be entertained. Other than that?
Play nice, if you can.
Be nasty, only if you are, or can be.
Don't take it too seriously folks! This is just a little corner (cyber) space to vent about TOYS and ONLY Toys.
But if you are being serious, expect no answers from anyone, becoz that is not part of the program.
Do Not MAKE it personal. Do Not TAKE it personally.
Stick to the topic and have "fun".
[*Note: Rules can be changed at any time without prior warning or given reason*]
- State your reason/s and not random crap and dumps that leads nowhere but self-gratifying cyber-masturbation. (And NO, we do NOT wanna see pics of that).
- No direct flaming. (if ever possible).
- No calling out anyone. (this is "I Hate Toys" not "Fight Club" or "I Hate YOU").
- No family members get mentioned (unless it is hilarious in context of rant).
- No politics nor religion slagging in any way, shape, form or format. This is about TOYS and ONLY TOYS. (and "toy-makers / creators" :p)
- Get your facts right before you attempt to flame. Leave a remark if you are uncertain of the facts leading to your accusations.
- No URL-links to any lewd or inappropriate pictures.
- NO PORNOGRAPHY in any form or format is allowed.
- NO URL-links to any sales nor commercial sites, legit or otherwise. DO NOT peddle your or others' products, websites and blogs here. ALL will be deleted. (Email me separately you want to advertise on I HATE TOYS!)
- "Anonymity" is allowed and accepted (altho "discouraged").
- If you want or expect folks to reply to you (the "anonymous you") in the comments-section - do create a nick for yourself.
- No stealing identities or nicks.
- There is NO OTHER "Toysrevil" or "TRE" but the blog-owner (me lah!). Any who attempt to be, regardless of how awesome their comment is, WILL BE DELETED.
Comments and Posts can and will be deleted at my leisure - if they do not fulfill the conditions set forth, or if I find them offensive. No reasons will be given nor correspondence to that matter will be entertained. Other than that?
Play nice, if you can.
Be nasty, only if you are, or can be.
Don't take it too seriously folks! This is just a little corner (cyber) space to vent about TOYS and ONLY Toys.
But if you are being serious, expect no answers from anyone, becoz that is not part of the program.
Do Not MAKE it personal. Do Not TAKE it personally.
Stick to the topic and have "fun".
[*Note: Rules can be changed at any time without prior warning or given reason*]
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