Check Out The New Universal Lifesize Frankenstein Bust for $450&500

[Factory]

Price is the main reason I'm not interested (that and that awful base and light up eyes). Yes, your product is much more detailed than the DST $20 bank, but not $480 worth. People appreciate a break from over-the-top, "high end" items. Have you noticed the economy lately? I don't see why a low budget plastic or vinyl version can't be made for under $100 with no frills (light up eyes, base). I personally appreciate you guys taking the time and effort to make Universal Monster products, but you will have more success using Rubie's as a role model than current Sideshow or Hot Toys. You want an example of a good deal that everyone on this site loves? Try the Creature gravewalker ....$80 from Rubies. Near life-size quarter body piece. We can forgive them the eyes at that price. Please keep trying, we'll be watching.

This is very interesting thank you.

We are typically used to a much more demanding customer base who insists on a very high end execution, with our prop replicas for example. If I am understanding the feedback here correctly, price is the main concern. People are willing to forgive quality if the price is right? We are used to making a product for example that weighs 2lbs and getting 200 emails from people complaining that it should have been 2.3lbs or 2.4lbs, that's the level of specific requirement we are used to.

We are familiar with the Rubies item and the Spirit Halloween Store pieces. The Rubies piece is only made out of dense foam, its a Halloween yard decoration that will only be good for limited use. The foam will break down over time and is inherently fairly fragile. Its basically a latex mask filled with foam. But it looks good, no in fact it looks great. Is the general consensus of people here that this type of product execution is good.? Weaker less durable materials in exchange for a cheaper price.

The Spirit piece though looks terrible, its very thin vacu-formed plastic and looks nothing like any screen seen Universal Frankenstein I have ever seen, there is zero accuracy, (Its closer to Young Frankenstein, and that's an insult to Peter Boyle). It is a cheap Halloween decoration and was designed as such. What is the general consensus on screen accuracy over price?

How do people feel about limited editions and numbered plaques etc? These also add  to the cost and in the end increase the price. Our Frank VFX bust for example is limited to only 400, that's all we will ever make, period. So all the tooling and development costs for it have to be recouped in that 400 piece batch as we will never get another chance as we will never produce any more. However if we made it open ended and kept making a few couple of hundred a year for years on end the price could come down significantly. Is the rarity and the limited chance to obtain one more appealing than a lower price?

Sorry to ask so many questions, its all very helpful/useful feedback....

[Dr. Blasko]

This is very interesting thank you.

We are typically used to a much more demanding customer base who insists on a very high end execution, with our prop replicas for example. If I am understanding the feedback here correctly, price is the main concern. People are willing to forgive quality if the price is right? We are used to making a product for example that weighs 2lbs and getting 200 emails from people complaining that it should have been 2.3lbs or 2.4lbs, that's the level of specific requirement we are used to.

We are familiar with the Rubies item and the Spirit Halloween Store pieces. The Rubies piece is only made out of dense foam, its a Halloween yard decoration that will only be good for limited use. The foam will break down over time and is inherently fairly fragile. Its basically a latex mask filled with foam. But it looks good, no in fact it looks great. Is the general consensus of people here that this type of product execution is good.? Weaker less durable materials in exchange for a cheaper price.

The Spirit piece though looks terrible, its very thin vacu-formed plastic and looks nothing like any screen seen Universal Frankenstein I have ever seen, there is zero accuracy, (Its closer to Young Frankenstein, and that's an insult to Peter Boyle). It is a cheap Halloween decoration and was designed as such. What is the general consensus on screen accuracy over price?

How do people feel about limited editions and numbered plaques etc? These also add  to the cost and in the end increase the price. Our Frank VFX bust for example is limited to only 400, that's all we will ever make, period. So all the tooling and development costs for it have to be recouped in that 400 piece batch as we will never get another chance as we will never produce any more. However if we made it open ended and kept making a few couple of hundred a year for years on end the price could come down significantly. Is the rarity and the limited chance to obtain one more appealing than a lower price?

Sorry to ask so many questions, its all very helpful/useful feedback....

I don't think you really understand it. The issue isn't price vs. screen accuracy or even quality. If its low quality with a low price tag, that's fine. If its high quality with a high price tag, that's fine. But when its low quality as we're seeing here with a price that belongs on a MUCH higher quality piece, there is an obvious disconnect.

[Universal_Adam]

Call me crazy, but I like it.  I think it's cool.  I'd love to see a Bride of Frankenstein companion piece.  IMO (please don't hurt me for it)  I think it looks like you'd get what you pay for.  I'd love to have it. 
Having said all that, I won't be buying it because I'm Po'.

[Dr. Blasko]

Call me crazy, but I like it.  I think it's cool.  I'd love to see a Bride of Frankenstein companion piece.  IMO (please don't hurt me for it)  I think it looks like you'd get what you pay for.  I'd love to have it. 
Having said all that, I won't be buying it because I'm Po'.

Its fair. Like I said before, I don't think its bad really, but to me, it doesn't seem to be worth $500 when there are other more affordable pieces available. Now, if it were $500 for the monster AND the Bride, I would be more than willing to admit it was a fair price.

[Count_Zirock]

Wow, I'm pretty amazed at some of the back-and-forth going on here. It's an interesting situation, for sure.

Regarding this particular piece, I'll just say it's not something I'd be interested in. I don't have the space to display it, it's too expensive for what I can afford right now, and the design just doesn't appeal to me. I'm not saying that I think it won't appeal to OTHER collectors, though. Especially if Factory is getting a positive response at shows and from emails.

That it doesn't appeal to a lot of collectors on the UMA seems obvious. Going back to when the piece was first announced, there was a lot of criticism of it. Some was constructive, some just seemed to be bashing for the sake of bashing.

I know that not every Universal Monsters piece Factory makes will be something I want to buy. They're allowed to make stuff I don't want or like. I didn't like or buy everything that Sideshow put out, either.

I don't believe Factory put out a piece they didn't think would appeal to anyone. But, not every piece is going to be a homerun. If they get stuck with unsold VFX Frankensteins, then they'll know it was a misfire. Honestly, I could see a similar bust of Karloff as Ardeth Bey in "The Mummy"-- complete with glowing eyes, as they did in the film-- doing quite well. So, we'll just have to see. Meanwhile, they have other pieces in the works that, I think, a lot of us will be more receptive to.

[Dr. Blasko]

Wow, I'm pretty amazed at some of the back-and-forth going on here. It's an interesting situation, for sure.

Regarding this particular piece, I'll just say it's not something I'd be interested in. I don't have the space to display it, it's too expensive for what I can afford right now, and the design just doesn't appeal to me. I'm not saying that I think it won't appeal to OTHER collectors, though. Especially if Factory is getting a positive response at shows and from emails.

That it doesn't appeal to a lot of collectors on the UMA seems obvious. Going back to when the piece was first announced, there was a lot of criticism of it. Some was constructive, some just seemed to be bashing for the sake of bashing.

I know that not every Universal Monsters piece Factory makes will be something I want to buy. They're allowed to make stuff I don't want or like. I didn't like or buy everything that Sideshow put out, either.

I don't believe Factory put out a piece they didn't think would appeal to anyone. But, not every piece is going to be a homerun. If they get stuck with unsold VFX Frankensteins, then they'll know it was a misfire. Honestly, I could see a similar bust of Karloff as Ardeth Bey in "The Mummy"-- complete with glowing eyes, as they did in the film-- doing quite well. So, we'll just have to see. Meanwhile, they have other pieces in the works that, I think, a lot of us will be more receptive to.

Ooh, now THAT would be cool, as long as the price is right.

[creaturerevenge]

The Creature piece from Rubies is actually considerably better then you are giving it credit for. None of it is latex and is a VERY durable piece. I own one and there is no doubt this thing will last for a LONG while. As I said, the Spirit Frankenstein is no winner either, but none the less, I just can't see the $500 in this piece. It has nothing to do with weight, or production material. I don't really care WHAT it's made of as long as it looks good. To me, this just doesn't look that good. It has a pretty basic paint job with a nice sculpt (no argument with the likeness, you got Karloff spot on sculpting wise!) but things like the stitches on the scar are kinda odd. I'm not saying that you have a terrible product, like was stated earlier, it's just hard to see $500 in it.

As far as sculpting on the diorama figures goes, have you ever considered going the 3D printing route? I have done projects with 3D models and 3D printing and for smaller scale items the level of detail and the cost effectiveness is MUCH better! Your ring replicas are beautiful and priced well. If you don't mind my asking, what is this Frankenstein bust made out of? Is it hand painted? Limited edition pieces never really do much for me, I don't really care how many there are, and if it makes it easier and more affordable, I would much rather it NOT be limited. Vintage collectibles weren't limited editions and they can be WORLDS more valuable than a lot of modern things that are limited editions. You can't force something to become valuable just by making fewer of them, there has to be a high demand for it first. If no one really wants it, you could make anywhere from 400 to 4,000 of them and the value won't change.

[Universal_Adam]

Its fair. Like I said before, I don't think its bad really, but to me, it doesn't seem to be worth $500 when there are other more affordable pieces available. Now, if it were $500 for the monster AND the Bride, I would be more than willing to admit it was a fair price.

In my opinion, I think the rep from Factory has a point.  It's hard to "Get it" without seein it, live, in person..touching it.. etc.  I could see how it could be worth that much.  It's probably a fair price, but It's way out of my league.  Especially since I'm about to be a poor college student. LOL

[aura of foreboding]

I think the Spirit Frankenstein is getting a bad rap.   It's far from perfect, but it was the first time anyone had ever done anything like it.   And a little bit of paint goes a long way...

[Dr.Terror]

This why folks are having a problem.  On just about any given day they can pick up this piece for 1/5th the price, and without the frills.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cineart-Frankenstein-Bust-1-1-/271019667660?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f1a07f0cc

[Universal_Adam]

Hey I just sold one of those a few weeks ago for like 50.00 

[Monsters For Sale]

Hey I just sold one of those a few weeks ago for like 50.00 

It was a little longer than a few weeks ago, but I bought one for $60.00, delivered.

I was also tempted to buy a Frank & Phantom for $110.00 BIN - but I passed and let someone else get them.

I know some people list these Spencers Gifts 90% busts for much more, $500 - $600.  I think they are confusing them with the original 900 pieces limited edition 1:1 unpainted model.

Shop around, they DO show up, and at bargain prices.

[Universal_Adam]

Yeah I had to research mine.  The one I sold was the one from Spencers.  It was really cool, and I liked it, but I don't plan on collecting busts, so I sold it and used the money to buy some figures.

[Count_Zirock]

For some people, I don't think the price is as much of an issue as the VFX features. Sure, they might be cool to watch and listen to the first dozen times or so, but after that? You've got a very expensive "novelty item" that, after all your friends and relatives have played with it a few times, the novelty has warn off. Also, as has been pointed out (repeatedly, ad nauseum), it's so very similar to the CineArts bust, which are still available on the aftermarket with some frequency. Perhaps if Factory had chosen the Monster's look from "Bride of Frankenstein"? Then, it would look different enough, and could have featured the Monster's actual spoken dialog as part of the VFX features.

[Monster Bob]

This why folks are having a problem.  On just about any given day they can pick up this piece for 1/5th the price, and without the frills.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cineart-Frankenstein-Bust-1-1-/271019667660?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f1a07f0cc

Bingo. This piece is the litmus test of similar Frankenstein busts. Keeping that in consideration, $500 is five times to much for a VERY-similar-but-inferior-looking Frankenstein head. Even then, I have never bought one of these.