NECA Ben Cooper Kids

[Mike Scott]

I would think that securing a set via pre-order and then just dumping what you don't want on eBay the minute they arrive would likely pay for itself and even leave you with a no-cost Creature.

That's what I thought, too, until I tried it. There's always some that nobody wants, unless they are buying the lot. Anybody want my non-Creature "Screamers" from 2021? I just paid 50 bucks for the Creature from the newest "Screamers" set. It was the chase, though.

[Mike Scott]

I'd watch EE, BBTS, and Amok Time for pre-orders, I believe BBTS in particular has offered individual characters.

I did that with the previous Creature. Didn't work out so well. After months of waiting, they returned my money. 

[Anton Phibes]

When is it due?   

September....nope
then...October....nope.
now...November.
All "due" dates according to online retailers.

[darkmonkeygod]

I did that with the previous Creature. Didn't work out so well. After months of waiting, they returned my money. 

Your order wasn't with any of the retailers I specified, was it? My memory is that it was placed with Toywiz, they of the super shady practice of "dynamic pricing" which, on its face, seemed to violate NECA's terms of service. For me, that's akin asking a random dude on the corner to hang onto your money rather than using a bank, and then pretending they're the same thing.

Speaking of ole Toywizzo, anybody who rolled their series 1 order over to series 2 actually get series 2? Just curious. It would be great if the company straightened out, not that they'll get anything from me.

I'm aware that BBTS came up short for some customers on what I *think* was their second round of s1 pre-orders (and that they were unable to fulfill pre-orders for the unrelated but also "hot" on the secondary market ToTS Creature and Frankenstein's Monster candy pails).

To my knowledge EE fulfilled all pre-orders.

Amok Time actually had a quantity available beyond their pre-order twice, once they were in-stock, and sold they them at retail rather than mark them up when eBay pries were at their height. I've shopped both in person and online with Amok Time for a couple of decades and can't say enough good things about them.

Those companies are, for a reason, the on-line retailers I exclusively recommend doing business with in terms of pre-orders, particularly for NECA product if one chooses to avoid pre-ordering direct from NECA.

Just to round it out, I've heard nothing but good things about FYE's fulfillment of their in-stock supply of these figures, though they sold through quickly and s2 was more expensive than s1.

[Mike Scott]

Your order wasn't with any of the retailers I specified, was it? My memory is that it was placed with Toywiz

They were the only ones listing it for sale, at the time.

[fearliath]

In case anyone is interested, you can get the new 5 kid bundle PLUS Creature and Frankenstein if you don't have those.
https://store.necaonline.com/collections/ben-cooper-collection/products/ben-cooper-costume-kids-collection-series-4-and-series-1-creature-and-frankenstein-bundle

[The Cantankerous Collector]

Suddenly I despise this line...lol
Those other figures they are packaging with the Creature and Frankenstein don't interest me at all. I'm going to pass again.

And Wolfman won the Fan's Choice so I assume we'll see him soon.

[MadCow]

In case anyone is interested, you can get the new 5 kid bundle PLUS Creature and Frankenstein if you don't have those.
https://store.necaonline.com/collections/ben-cooper-collection/products/ben-cooper-costume-kids-collection-series-4-and-series-1-creature-and-frankenstein-bundle

I figured they were going to re-issue Series 1 at some point, but being forced to buy the new series to get them is kinda crappy. I wonder if they'll pull this with future waves as well.

[Count Zachula]

I'm kicking myself so hard for missing out these, though at the time I was flat broke.

Also, I'm really not sold on the "What If" costumes, I know they really tried to make the design look vintage but it just misses the mark for me.

[Mike Scott]

I figured they were going to re-issue Series 1 at some point,

They will still sell for $250 ea. on eBay, so I still won't be getting a Creature. 

[horrorhunter]

They will still sell for $250 ea. on eBay, so I still won't be getting a Creature. 

The more I see of this the more I'm glad I turned away from this line. I picked up the Witch at Walmart and that's the only one I have, and probably the only one I'll ever have. If that series 1 ever becomes available for the original price of $20 each I may pick those up, but that's the most I would pay for them.

So much monster stuff constantly comes out I've quit paying over MSRP for anything new. Scalping would dry up if everyone did this.

[Mike Scott]

Scalping would dry up if everyone did this.

I'll pay double (if it ain't a $100 item), but not 10 times as much. Screw that!

[horrorhunter]

I'll pay double (if it ain't a $100 item), but not 10 times as much. Screw that!

I've gotten strict on the new stuff because I've lost interest in most of it. I'd rather use my limited extra funds on the older items since I care a lot more about them. Good deals to be had on some of the older things at auction since the economy got rough.

[Mike Scott]

Good deals to be had on some of the older things at auction since the economy got rough.

On some things, but the big-name stuff is just getting outrageous! Thousands of dollars for some stuff from the '79s and '80s.

[horrorhunter]

On some things, but the big-name stuff is just getting outrageous! Thousands of dollars for some stuff from the '79s and '80s.

I don't buy anything that's over a few hundred bucks anyway, and rarely over $100. Any collectible I own that's worth stupid money is something I bought years ago in the pre-stupid money days. If I found a so-called grail (which for me would be a MIP Haunted Hulk or MIP MPC Horror House Target Set) at full FMV I'd just have to pass. I'm not going into debt 2 or 3 grand no matter how much I want something. I might throw in some big ticket items for trade if a fair deal could be worked out, but no debt for sure.