See subject.
From approximately 1998 to 2010, there was a large presence of 1:6 vendors within the US with a retail store front (brick & mortar and/or online).
It's now 2021 and the number of 1:6 vendors within the US is far less than in prior years. However, 1:6 collectors (within the US) now depend and rely upon a number of overseas 1:6 vendors based in Asia (primarily mainland China and Hong Kong) for a number of reasons.
US based 1:6 vendors cannot generally compete with 1:6 vendors in Asia because they receive their brand new merchandise quicker than US 1:6 vendors because virtually all 1:6 brands/manufacturers are in Asia.
In the past, there was usually a window of 30 to 45 days or a bit less before US 1:6 vendors received their orders from US 1:6 distributors. That is no longer the case because COVID caused delays to all businesses where timeframe is now roughly 60-90 days.
1:6 collectors have the "instant gratification" mindset of "I want it now." This means there are collectors who'll order from overseas vendors and get their 1:6 fix quicker.
1:6 vendors in the US suffer due to that mentality and the overall state of the 1:6 hobby business wise suffers for it.
One 1:6 vendor I chatted with recently (the vendor specializes in boxed and loose 1:6 goods) told me he sees the likelihood of remaining 1:6 vendors (and there are not that many left) shuttering. The vendor I spoke with plays the long game in terms of survival and not dependent on pre-orders. Pre-orders is the bulk of most 1:6 vendors. However, competition for pre-orders with competitive pricing and expedited shipping with the bottom line cost being a bit less or comparable from Asia based 1:6 vendors to US 1:6 vendors is real and valid factor.
So where do you fit in?
Do you pre-order/purchased primarily from Asia 1:6 vendors due to pricing and variety along with convenience?
Do you still support US 1:6 vendors even with the delayed timing, etc.?
Maybe you don't care as long as you get your 1:6 stuff as cheap as possible?
From approximately 1998 to 2010, there was a large presence of 1:6 vendors within the US with a retail store front (brick & mortar and/or online).
It's now 2021 and the number of 1:6 vendors within the US is far less than in prior years. However, 1:6 collectors (within the US) now depend and rely upon a number of overseas 1:6 vendors based in Asia (primarily mainland China and Hong Kong) for a number of reasons.
US based 1:6 vendors cannot generally compete with 1:6 vendors in Asia because they receive their brand new merchandise quicker than US 1:6 vendors because virtually all 1:6 brands/manufacturers are in Asia.
In the past, there was usually a window of 30 to 45 days or a bit less before US 1:6 vendors received their orders from US 1:6 distributors. That is no longer the case because COVID caused delays to all businesses where timeframe is now roughly 60-90 days.
1:6 collectors have the "instant gratification" mindset of "I want it now." This means there are collectors who'll order from overseas vendors and get their 1:6 fix quicker.
1:6 vendors in the US suffer due to that mentality and the overall state of the 1:6 hobby business wise suffers for it.
One 1:6 vendor I chatted with recently (the vendor specializes in boxed and loose 1:6 goods) told me he sees the likelihood of remaining 1:6 vendors (and there are not that many left) shuttering. The vendor I spoke with plays the long game in terms of survival and not dependent on pre-orders. Pre-orders is the bulk of most 1:6 vendors. However, competition for pre-orders with competitive pricing and expedited shipping with the bottom line cost being a bit less or comparable from Asia based 1:6 vendors to US 1:6 vendors is real and valid factor.
So where do you fit in?
Do you pre-order/purchased primarily from Asia 1:6 vendors due to pricing and variety along with convenience?
Do you still support US 1:6 vendors even with the delayed timing, etc.?
Maybe you don't care as long as you get your 1:6 stuff as cheap as possible?