Support us on PATREON: / retroblasting RetroBlasting digs into NECA and the legacy of a toy company that "breaks" with tradition. #RetroBlasting #NECA #fanboys #toys
I'm pretty sure every company has to block a few people, the usual mental ones who send death threats and the like. But standard " my figure broke" in the past I never had problems. They replaced my superman figure just fine.
Makes sense though as it's like any of us that would block trolls, mentally unstable individuals, etc. Not everything is scheme getting over on people. Show me a company that offers great sculpts of these horror icons and other movie characters with really cool packaging, artwork, and accessories that come with the character. "My figure broke!" Well things brake sometimes and that's just the nature of things. Then there's what were you doing with them that caused them to brake? I mean they're $20 - $30 display collectibles not G.I. Joes, Transformers, or those kinds of toy action figures that a kid could play around with. 🤷♂️ And they are also obviously not hundreds of dollars Hot Toy figures in which I'm sure would brake too if they are used for anything other than display pieces. It feels to me that the individual that made this video doesn't seem to know that along with some here. Now most of their prop replicas are crap. But again they mass produced products. I guess you'd have to be a collector to know and understand that you're not going to get a high quality or accurate prop replica for $50 - $80 LOL. It's like the difference between the quality of a NECA figure and a Hot Toy figure. If you want high-end quality you're going to pay a high-end price. So knowing that I honestly don't get the point of this video aside from just wanting to add content to create a discussion because this is pretty common sense stuff here.
It's kind of a shame in a way. I get that adding a high degree of articulation is going to be more of a challenge but many companies have proved it's possible so having a figure with crappy articulation by today's standards just so it endures for years is ridiculous.
@@joeydahl9594 IDK If I would fully agree with that. While there certainly are companies who do way better than Neca, Michael's made a pretty solid argument in his past videos (IMHO) that even fairly robust modern articulated figures tend not to be as durable (or even functionally posable), as many older figures.
I currently own 40 NECA figures. I learned the whole dip them in hot water before moving a joint trick works. The reason why they break so easy, is because they paint the joints. That paint dries up and acts like super glue. I wish other companies made the same product as NECA. I'm a big 80s movie fan. I hate the company but no else gives me what i want for a reasonable price. Hot Toys are too expensive.
I think NECA is a combination of the highest highs and the lowest lows. Their sculpts and paintwork are phenomenal, and they’ve made some of the only accurate collector merchandise for a lot of brands. In the other hand, the fact that their figures can break while opening them, and the fact that NECA has done nothing (to the point that they refer to themselves as a manufacturer of non-durable goods) is not good at all.
Neca know that their figures are collectibles and often kept in boxes or on display. . They don’t need to be as robust as kids toys. These are not aimed at kids. They are aimed at the parents. 👍
@@dazdaz105But its scary when they label their own products being unsuitable for 0-3 with all the small parts...I wouldn't even trust my own mother with them. 😄
The sad part is: if they just sold tiny plastic statues for a few bucks less, I might even buy them. But knowing they might break isn't worth the price they pitch.
This is why they're still a small toy company after 20 years. Mcfarlane toys had the same problem before with breakages but they listened and started using better plastics. Their fan base also didn't operate like defensive little minions either. Great video! 😁👍
@@ponpocholsclaw8932 It really depends what line of figures. I own plenty of bootleg Black Series figures and they're holding up great. Hell, I'm pretty sure people would prefer the knockoff Clone Trooper than the official product. I do agree that these are just $20-30 figures, but that's not an incentive to make excuses. Clearly NECA has stated that their product is premium collectibles. Sure, the sculpt and likeness is amazing. But if that's the case then make statues, NOT figures. You do realize that we have photographers in the community, right? So naturally, they're going to make poses and take pics. If you're a collector that just makes one pose and displays it like that forever then hey, all the power to you! But don't speak for everybody.
I had no idea of this fact either and I applaud Michael for exposing that. I wouldn't be surprised if we find out that the plastic being used on those figures is, not only cheap, but supremely toxic as well just so they can skim a few more pennies per figure. I've never bought anything from NECA and won't be starting anytime soon.
@@jthom0027 Yes!!!! I'll say it again: Michael is so BRILLIANT with his exposure of these corporations, and their shamelessly shady practices, that he should have been an attorney!
@@donmiles4581 - It's not really brilliant at all. Companies do legal maneuvers like this all the time. People always look for loop holes to try and sue corporations so they have lawyers who try to protect them. If neca produces crappy products then they're only really hurting themselves. Obviously many people are happy with necas products or they'd be out of business like many toy companies before them. They have a price point to keep to and choices have to be made. Do we spend more money on the sculpt or license and less on the plastic quality. He's just giving an angry one sided biased version of the truth. I wouldn't hire him as my lawyer, he'd never get passed discovery. Neca isn't doing anything technically illegal or hiding anything from the consumer. What did he really uncover here? How about a video of him opening 10-15 different neca figures live and seeing what happens? That would've been truly eye opening if they started breaking out of the package. Sorry pounding on the table like a little child is not going to prove anything. I'm a neutral observer, yes I have a few neca figures but I could count them on one hand.
My issue isn't the QC or fragility - I can actually work around that most of the time - its artificial scarcity and absolutely terrible distribution when it comes to their brick-and-mortar-retail exclusive items, like the TMNT Cartoon line.
Yes!! Exactly. I have around 40 neca figures . About half I have had a breaking issue in one way or another. But as you said ,its a nightmare finding most at retail.
Trying to collect neca in europe is a nightmare. Very hard to find. I collect predator and alien figures and I had to start to buy bootlegs cause couldnt find most of them. The originals that I have are mostly from private collectors.
Maybe not traditional snap kit model kits, (with the exception of Bandai Gundam kits,) but custom resin kits can sell for high prices, due to them usually being made in small batches at a time.
Even with the Gundam example, the "action figures sell better than model kits" argument is still valid. Model builders are a very niche market when compared to the market for action figures. However, Gundam is doing extremely well in that niche market. It's not doing well in the action figure market is because, a) majority of the Gundam action figures are uber expensive. Robot Damashii is like $50+ at least, and those that are absolutely superior to model kits, such as Metal Robot Damashii and Metal Build, cost a small fortune, especially in the secondary market. b) the only mass market action figure we have right now, Gundam Universe, is underwhelming. It's a hit-or-miss but mostly misses. I mostly dabble in RGs, while complementing them with a few HGs, and I can definitively say that model biilding is not for everybody. Heck, I skipped the RG Strike Freedom and Destiny Gundams in favor of the MRD versions as they're so superior that the price difference is completely justifiable.
Most Gundam models are pretty much toys you build. Model kit builders I know scoff at me when I assemble a Gundam in a few hours. Whereas they spend weeks on theirs. To be fare though, I don't paint my Gundam kits.
It's like the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Little Green Men" (disclaimer: NO disrespect to anyone who smokes.), when Quark basically said "I could make a KILLING here! If the HEW-mons (humans) will buy their own poison (cigars), then they will buy ANYTHING!" Neca would be like "Hold my beer, while we show you how it's done!"
See the same with video games, too many are being released with problems and glitches on day one. For that it's best to wait until the first two patches and updates.
I believe this is one of the most well thought out and factual reviews of a product (and a company) that I have ever seen. It’s hard to use the old,”Well, there’s always haters on the internet.” argument here. This is the voice of the collector who would love to love NECA’s products, but can’t due to acknowledged and seemingly ignored quality issues. Thank you so much for this video. 👍
Is this why Neca is so difficult to find in Australian? We are entitled to a full refund, by law, if the product is not fit for the purpose it was bought.
They are import only here. Hobby/ comic shops import stock. They have no brick and mortar chain store representation in Australia. Its like that most countries, the usa target thing is a unique deal with specific limitations.
@The Goo Fighters I'm no expert, but I would assume if anything, listing their goods like that would shield them to some extent from liability they might otherwise have. I mean, if they're admitting what they sell isn't intended to last, can people really sue when it doesn't?
You do realize neca sells more than just action figures right!? This “non-durable” goods stuff is a bit misleading. Neca produces plush toys, small vinyl figs and a TON of other “non-durable” goods. Don’t believe me? Look it up.
@@FoolOnDread and neither is this post. I mean we're talking mass produced products? If these figures cost $100 and more I can see a complaint. But weren't talking about well sculpted figures with fantastic artwork and accessories for $20 - $30. 🤷♂️ The only way these things would break if they were used something than other than what they are designed for. And it's obvious people agreeing with these comments are not collectors or at least ones that don't seem to get that these figures are made as display pieces for collectors not G.I. Joe type of action figures/toys to play and throw around. The creator of this video has a point but it's aimed at the wrong target. Also sometimes things just break regardless of the quality. That's just the nature of the beast. But I can tell you asa collector of these NECA figures for many years I can tell you they are not that delicate.
I like NECA, I support NECA, I get free shit from NECA, and I still spend my own money on NECA too . . . this video was brilliant!! Great video! All points well laid out, and I hope they make some changes, but I also understand there's no such thing as a free lunch. The paint and sculpt quality is up there with high end import figures, however they're priced at a fraction of import figures. Makes sense to have a caveat like easy breaks. Wish they were more straight forward and kept a cooler head w customer complaints. But yes, I’m a sucker for their art.
My David 8's arm broke off but I know a man who repaired it for me (thanks Dad) lol my Xeno's have weird legs (bowed) but all my Nostromo space suit characters are fine and most of my prometheus figures are fine. But most of them are still in boxes. And as I say whilst they in boxes they not broken or faulty lol
I mean they're a $20 - $30 figure. Pretty much like you said a high-end product at a fraction of the price. You use them as the display piece they are meant to be used for then you won't have an issue. Besides braking easy is an exaggeration they really don't quite break that easily. If you drop on the ground yes they may possibly brake but that's no different than any number of things that could brake if they were to fall on the hard surface beneath them.
@@B1Kobe0824 They are not a high end product...they are cheap AF and made with even cheaper plastic. Just because they can paint it up doesn't mean they're high end. They're dressed up to look the part, but fail immediately. These are ACTION figures, not static figures. They look the part of statues, but that's really it.
@The Goo Fighters i have yet to have their figures break on me. There is a huge issue with reusing the same body and lack of paint aps but i cant say any have broke in me ever. Knock on wood
@The Goo Fighters i stopped collecting them tbh, as i unpacked my Royal guard and the Feet where so loose he could not even stand i had enough because it was not the first time the limbs of 6inch Black series figures where so loose that they could not even stand or hold a arm up or so
@The Goo Fighters Pretty sure Marvel Legends are some of the most sturdy figures on the market right now, I haven’t been collecting them for a while now but I’ve never had one break on me
Holy shit they have the balls to actually say their toys aren't to be played with. I haven't bought any Neca figure yet and probably won't. Your buying a figure at a premium and sometimes eye watering price and can't even expect to pose it. It's inexcusable.
Yeah, I was collecting TMNT from Target this year and after seeing a bunch of broken toy posts, I decided to return them. When I was on a FB collector's page and said that collectors shouldn't have to boil and heat up figures to pose them or be McGuyver and repair them when they break out of the box. Fan boys jumped all over me so I left the page. It really is stupid.
Its standard practice on social media. You are not communicating with any company, just a hire social media page manager who is usually instructed to ignore or block anything negative, and is paid to basically promote the brand, usually from home in their spare time while probably working another job. Its really shitty of companies to hire people who cop a lot of abuse and usually dont even truly work for the companies, its usually outsourced work. Its another wall to hide behind.
Lol. my head went straight to old McFarlene. I have so many Spawn and Predator figs from them that are all busted because of weak joints trying just to pose them.
I remember McFarlane toys would break alot. The plastic they used was so rigid it'd just snap if any force was applied to it. I bought that new shark Fren-Z from McFarlane's Raw-10 line and let me tell you that thing is amazing. Only $19.99 and it's solid, painted awesomely and is perfectly articulated for a shark. The line is ages 5 or 6+ and my 5 and a half year old plays with it (and drops it) all the time and it's still in one piece.
Yep. McFarlane toys have really improved a lot over the years, and at the same time they maintain reasonable prices. Their original stuff was def slip shod as hell though, and half the stuff wasn't very posable, like the Escape from LA Snake figures, or Hicks from Aliens. Their T-800 endoskeleton looked bad ass but was way way too fragile (still have mine, had to do multiple repairs to it). McFarlanes Robocop was built like a tank though and was amazing for its time. It still holds up well and fits in with anything released the past few years. Their Solid Snake figure was also pretty solid. Sniper Wolf not so much, since she wasn't very posable.
100% I just got the Christmas Misfits figure with CHANGEABLE HEADS and the ball joint in mine broke just trying to get a head off because I like the alternate better, all within 5 minutes of opening the figure. Got a Triceraton recently that the arm wasn't even attached in the box, just packed in a way that held it. Thankfully I was able to return that one.
If the toys are shit, YOU NEED TO STOP BUYING THEM. Otherwise, the toys will continue to b shit, because people seem to be happy enough with them to keep buying them. Like you do.
The only neca product I ever bought was a Christopher Reverse Superman and guess what? It broke inside the box without touching it. I have never bought anything neca since.
@@etb3rd not true at all ask any neca collector 9 times out of 10 they'll tell you maybe 2 out of 10 break and also all toy companies have this problem not just neca even way more expensive figures that cost 10 times as much have more problems then neca
@@jellyelly8970 you are exactly the type of person the OP is talking about, making up bullshit lies about other companies and “all toys break” which they don’t, just to justify your own stupidity for supporting a company that puts out garbage. You’re making life worse for yourself, but you don’t care.
Yeah you can ignore the "fanboys" which is a silly term that someone came up with because everyone is a fan of something right? 🤔🤷♂️ And you can ignore the companies but he seems to ignore the common sense factors that these are $20 - $30 display collectibles. I've owned many for years and they don't just fall apart in your hands like some are trying to make it seem. Would they brake if you drop them? Yes it's possible but they are display figures lol. A glass cup will break if you drop it that doesn't make them cheap. That makes them not being made to be dropped to the ground same as these collectibles. I know we think action figure we think G.I. Joe that we can play with tossing them around and crashing together. These aren't those kinds of action figures but even those I mentioned can break from misuse. So understanding and knowing that you can see that this video making this complaint was rather pointless.
@WILLIAM WEST 🤣 I guess lol. Don't you think that term fanboy is rather silly? I mean aren't we all fans of something? And aren't the people here fans that purchased the products who've come to complain about being displeased with the quality they received? Ah ha! Ah ha! LOL!
@WILLIAM WEST right! My thing it's is if you like the products and have an issue with them you simply contact the company and try to do what you can in hopes of getting a better product. That or it doesn't matter to a person either way just don't buy them anymore. Griping and complaining has never solved anything but get annoying to others if they do it too much.
What doesn’t make any sense, if NECA put the same effort into their manufacturing and material quality as they did the paint and sculpt they would legitimately deserve to be up on that pedestal that so many fan boys put them on. For clarity, I own most of the 1990 movie TMNT figures, and funnily enough it’s not the build quality that it turning me off them, it’s the absolute nightmare it is to even get them - but that’s a whole other story.
I own a terminator endoskeleton, a 40th ripley and big chap. I had to glue the t-800's rifle tip back on the same day I purchased it.....so far the other two are fine only because I afraid to touch them. Way to go neca, a toy usually has to be sun damaged /discolored to be that brittle. I have no future plans on either the rest of the line for alien nor anything they make. Oh I just remembered, Jones the 🐈...his tail broke..looked articulated to me oh no it must be my fault. Great video guys. 😉
Yeah, I get they want to keep their stuff "collectible" but Randy has openly admitted they don't care about how hard it is to find as long as their products aren't "peg warmers". He's honestly one of the biggest reasons I stopped buying neca, he's really shitty to their consumers.
@@ricosalvaje5802 100% agree. If they really want to keep it exclusive but also collector friendly they should do pre-orders of some sort on their webpage. I don't collect Super 7, but the way they do their toys makes me wish I did lol
They don't want you to take them out of the package because they don't want you to realize 1) how brittle they are, and 2) half of them come already broken from the factory. They just glue it back together and call it a day. One has to wonder what their production line looks. And there's no excuse for it either, there's plenty of durable plastics and rubbers that could be used, and it can't cost more than a dollar for the raw materials themselves. Make a $50 figure $51 instead and 10x as durable, and it's a no brainer.
I'm one of the lucky ones, none of my NECA has ever broken. But seriously, this company needs to get their QC to a higher standard, this level of commonality is unacceptable.
Yeah, I have purchased MANY Neca figures in the past, and i had MAYBE 2 break on me. 98% of my purchases were perfectly fine, but damnit seeing this video frustrates me so much knowing they are selling such fragile products DESIGNED to be manipulated by their customers for posing and collecting.
@Nuke Dukem its mostly reviews on major retailers, twitter, neca threads galore, this company at least WERE having a TON of QC issues, joints snapping, limbs falling off, blah blah. Not hear say my friend. Its happening. Now, with any product, there are defects. Thats just facts. I spend a LOT of money on Neca figures. And Ive been lucky, like I said, but there is a large number of folks that havent been that lucky.
The QC won't be changing anytime soon if its been this way for years. Seems like its simply part of the grift. If they are knowingly selling their items as non-durable, they know what they are doing.
I'm thankful to have had no issues with any of my NECA figures, I got the TMNT movie line and they have handled plenty of frequent and heavy manipulation for my photography. I had no idea NECA had such a historic issue with QC, thanks for the heads up.
Same here. One thing I didn’t like was that several of the photos on the packaging are for the larger sized figures which look very similar but have better bandanas and a lot more articulation. I actually thought I could get a better range of motion than was possible because of that
@@calumryan6328 The predator figures are good they don’t break the horror figures a girl they don’t break in my experience and the turtle figures I have all different lines movie video game and cartoon they don’t break the playset is good and durable it doesn’t break terminator Dutch kick ass they definitely break
It seems to be dependent on the "franchise". The Terminator and T2 figures are very solid. Some of the joints on my Sarah Connor figure are spindly, but don't feel like they will snap. I've had a McFarlane T2 figures arms fall off.
For that reason I stop buying NECA TOYS . My last horror experience with NECA was Gizmo head broke! Only thing I do was putting the Christmas hat just that and the head detach.!
You'll never find a video of a "NECA factory" or a NECA being produced. That's because it is sweatshops. I bet even some of the weathering on items isn't even from painting, but rather just from the dirty conditions they produce and store them in. A lot of the edge wear just comes from them putting all of these parts in giant bins where they grind against each other. If you open a Jason figure's jacket, the buttons themselves are held on by a single thread, and the whole inner stitching is just loose threads all over. They're cobbled together.
Michael, I got back into figure collecting once my son was old enough to be interested in it as well. I was out of the game for over a decade, even selling my own collection. When I started discovering RU-vidrs like you and Dan Larson I loved it, but over time I had mistaken your consumer advocacy as "being negative". Boy was I wrong. You are probably the most important voice in the community and I apologize. The garbage tactics being used by companies like Hasbro and NECA (who was garbage even say back when I was still collecting) wouldn't be tolerated in any other industry. Thank you for being our advocate and I'm sorry for misjudging you.
I review real and clone Neca figures and so far its only the real ( and more expensive in the uk ) that have broke . The Predator that you broke is in a shop here for £50 which works out around $60. So many action figure reviewers on RU-vid won't be as honest as you an me an say that stuff is bad because they want to be sent free figures to review.
I used to collect NECA figures when I first started collecting but soon stopped in favor of life-size busts from independent artists. Giving my money to those people is much more satisfying.
I disagree. I only purchased 9 Neca figures. One for each main villain in the horror movies I like. I never opened them because they look sooo good displayed from the neat box they come in. And my room looks like a toy store. Love it.
@@011mrq7 What are you disagreeing with, exactly? I was stating what I used to do versus what I do now. There’s nothing to disagree with. That’s great that your room looks like a toy store if that’s what you’re into. I prefer the “less is more” approach with higher quality handmade pieces.
I didn't know about the NECA/Graceland connection. As a Memphis resident I can assure you that Elvis Presley Enterprises (not based in Memphis) does everything they can to siphon as much money out of this city as possible...up to and including extortion. So to find out that one of their bigwigs also runs a shitty toy company is no surprise.
Left the toy collecting scene years ago when i got more into scale modelling. Back then i was very critical of NECA and its bullshit and got blocked by them on social media. It's a shame to see nothing has changed in this regard but it makes me quite happy to see this video and know there are other people sick of this bullshit.
majortiy of vintage toys break too dont act as if they dont the only thing that relates is how easy it is to go back and fix an old gi joe or what have you compared to now days where most of them are glued head to toe or have super tiny parts i have a box of about 40-50 ninja turles i got for literal pennies each from yard sales because they had broken hands or heads and real ghost busters toy line was similiar that the guns/"moveable" parts would break pretty easy the real argument is the price factor i could go out and get 2-3 of the old school ninja turtles carded for the price of a single neca figure
@@nwodmf I have toys that are over 40 years old, not one has broken. I've had newer toys break, but not one toy I grew up with? Explain that one sherlock.
If Neca fixed their QC issues they would possibly be the best out there, the paint and sculpts are excellent and the price point isn’t too bad. Neca are perfect for inbox collecting, the figure looks great and the packaging is usually nice too, I have a lot still in packing, and have opened about 15, of those 15, 4 of them have broken accessories, 4 of them won’t stand straight, 1 of them has an arm frozen solid and I’m scared to move it in case it snaps, and lastly another 1 had the head peg snap during a head swap making the figure useless, so 5 out of 15 have been ok
You can pose NECA figures. There's stands for them and everything. I'm mean it's a given with mass produced products a few here and there are going to be defective. But that doesn't mean they're crap. They aren't and I haven't had an issue with them. I set them up and leave them displayed as they are intended.
And the way he made the connection? BRILLIANT enough. But THEN the way he leaned back like BOSS with a mouthful of food, 😄😄😄and then just casually called them @$$holes! I was done!!!!! 🙌🙌🙌 I INSTANTLY hit the "like" button before even watching the rest of the video!
@@donmiles4581 Michael owes me a new keyboard. How about a disclaimer next time @retroblasting; WARNING THE FOLLOWING CONTENT IS GOING TO CRACK YOU UP WITH LAUGHTER. You should stop drinking and eating now. Failure to do so may result in food covered computer peripherals and/or phone and tablet devices. You have been warned!
I bought a few toys from NECA up to 2017 and only had a few issues with those I owned - either having missing parts/weak to almost crumbling joints but that doesn't absolve NECA of their issues such as their toys easily breaking, let alone looking at them the wrong way. You have a toy company for more than 10 years and you still can't address the QC breakage issues of your toys? That's just unacceptable. The "you're not supposed to play them" BS statement from NECA and their sycophants is just their way of saying that "we know our toys break easily because we're too lazy to fix this issue so please don't handle them for too long." They're TOYS, they are meant to be fiddled and played with. If NECA just want statues then they should go back to just producing static "Reel Toys" instead. It's a damn shame since NECA has all these licences that are hampered by their horrible QC.
The one and only NECA figure I ever bought was a Marcus Fenix from Gears of War back in about 2008. When I got it home after buying it I was trying to set it up to hold his lancer gun and the hands of the figure broke off.
I've been looking at NECA stuff for a while, and always thought they looked off. A seasoned toy vet can see the warning signs through the display box. I almost bit on their new Defenders of the Earth Flash Gordon, but something stopped me. The price for one, but also, they looked like they'd fall apart. And here I am, seeing this warning. Glad I saved $30.
Wow! I’ve come out on the wrong side of the dice roll with the few Neca products that I have bought and we all know it’s a crappy feeling to open up a figure and have it broken on arrival. There was passion put into this video, thank you!
As someone who’s been casually collecting figures from Neca for like 7 years, I agree with a lot of your points. I guess I’ve just been really lucky. Lol
I keep all my toys on my walls with thumb tacks. They make great decorations for nerds who don't like post modern decorations. No signs that say "live,laugh,love" for my room, but wall to wall toys. My room looks like a fucking toy store and I love it.
I just wish Neca didn’t have such a strangle hold on 80’s licenses like Friday the 13th, Terminator, and Rambo because I love neca’s horror figures but they just break its so soul crushing
Seriously, all my neca figures are pretty solid, the only problem I’ve had out of the 7 figures were Marty’s sunglasses snapping off, that was fixed but it wasn’t easy
I have like 12 Predators and only have problems out of one. My Concrete Jungle Predator left foot popped off and I cant get it back on. Also his plasma cannon doesn't want to stay on. Other than him the rest are solid and are good. This video is the first time I've seen people talking bad about NECA. My friends have some to and they don't have any problems either.
As cool as NECA toys look, I really miss the days when figures only cost 5 dollars and your own imagination can fill in the blanks when it comes to "detail."
I recently discovered Hiya toys. I've got four predators with aliens on the way. They look great for a 3.75in scale and when the arm pops off you just pop it back on.
Neca dont pop at the ball joint, they SNAP at various points as the plastic is brittle. They snap like concrete or a brick in comparison to say rubber or soft plastic that bends.
I was browsing NECA's _Breaking_ _Bad_ line, and really liked their new Gus Fring figure (in the _Bakersfield,_ _P._ _D._ police uniform). But when I stretched out my hand out to take it from the shelf, two of my lumbar vertebrae exploded into splinters of bone. As I collapsed to the floor, I thought, "Drat! If only someone had warned me!" As the EMTs strapped me to the spinal board, the store owner was real nice, and he even gave me a remaindered Rose Tico figure from NECO's discontinued "Rancor Chow" line. "This one is _designed_ to come apart," he explained.
Usually I disagree with most complaints that Retroblasting post but this is spot on. I bought a seven inch Adam West Batman, just out the box the leg broke I was so pissed off. I never bought a NECA toy again.
You keep referring to NECA apologists... I actually think they're one of the most universally disliked toy companies making popular figures. Collectors (myself included) begrudgingly buy their products because they're kind of the only kid on the block for most of their lines but we all expect them to be shoddy action figures. I've read tons of hate for the company but very little praise since I started collecting their TMNT figures a few years ago. Maybe I'm in an anti-NECA bubble.
Neca’s paint apps on human figures is hit to many misses! The back to the future line looks like hell. Marty just got done powdering his face. Biff not much better!
@OvercookedSoul thanks for the tip but it wasn’t common knowledge for me when I got it. Also not sure why I have to heat up joints for a figure when I never had to do that for any other figure I ever got in my life. It’s bad quality.
GREAT VIDEO! I myself don’t buy NECA products anymore and I haven’t for a long time. I’m a BTTF fan, but when I saw the NECA “toys” at Target recently, I laughed at how awful they looked. I placed the “action figures” back on the shelf and kept my money in my wallet.
I stopped buying NECA with my Predators a few years ago... hands kept falling off, couldn't hold their weapons... I still window shop cuz they LOOK GREAT, but I'd rather spend my $$$ on other stuff. If you don't want us to pose them, then make statues... damn, retroblasting said the same thing as I was typing lol
Comparing the catastrophic failure, resulting in death, of a Pinto to joints on a toy or collectible being broken is probably the most ludicrous thing I’ve heard in a little while.
You are probably blacklisted now from every junket and press release, but I applaud the COJONES for telling what most mainstream reviewers won't dare to say for fear of losing access and free toys. Subbed and liked!
I distinctly remember the Christopher Reeves Superman was notorious at having the arms break if you moved them at all. After hearing that and seeing how much they cost, I never picked any up.
I bought the Back to The Future animated figures and just wanted to get them onto display and Marty and Biff broke within 10 minutes. All I tried to do was pose them. Swore of NECA forever. Absolutely devestated because I waited 30 years to have BTTF toys. So thanks NECA.
I've been fairly lucky with NECA so far, apparently. But if and when a limb breaks off of one of these figures out of the package, I'm going to be livid, especially at the prices we Canadians pay for these things...
I don't know if I've just been lucky, but in all the NECA figures I've gotten I can only recall... maybe three? that broke out of the package and each time they sent me a replacement right away. I hear about and see various examples of figures breaking or being fragile, but for me, their quality has only improved over time. I'm sorry you didn't have the same experience, but I'd definitely contact their customer service if you haven't already.
Very well-articulated argument! May I ask the name of the black and white movie you showed clips from? That dude was not about that shoddy table and I'm down to see more.
I’m glad I watched this! I’m a 15 (almost 16) year-old collector who’s only collected CHUG Transformers and SW black series figures I was in the market for NECA’s ghost-face, now I’m not so sure. “What’s your favorite horror movie?” “NECA’s QC” I’m disappointed too cuz my local Walmart and Target only have Landos and TF figure I already have! Anyway thanks man, You’ve saved me a lot of grief. Alright time to go and buy one of the 10 Landos off my Walmart’s shelf!
