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Just got back from visiting the Tamashii Nations Popup store in NYC. There was nothing there. Almost entirely filled with stuff you could get on Amazon for the same price.

Mostly DBZ, Gundam Universe, and Marvel. The only things toku were SIC Ghost, Ultraman Animation, and SHF MMPR White Ranger. The inside scoop I heard about SIC figures is that Bandai keeps giving them to Bluefin despite very little interest from consumers. I would have loved to see SIC Faiz or Ryuki.

I took some pics but there's nothing exciting. It's a single room they plan to create a virtual tour to put online later. They did have the upcoming Pac-Man and Pacific Rim: The Black figures on display. The store exclusive was the 2019 Clear Blue Godzilla monsterart.

ooooffff, that's unfortunate. Thanks for the info ShiShi, hopefully it wasn't too much of a hassle for you

Is Bandai trying to dump all the unsold SIC onto Bluefin or something haha. Honestly though, this was pretty much on par with the Bluefin booth at C2E2 last year: Gunpla, DBZ, couple Star Wars model kits, and I think SIC Fourze & Ghost

Guess we have to settle for online retailers for Rider merch

I recall feeling that same disappointment at the Bluefin booth from C2E2 2020. If you don't want DBZ figures or Gundam kits, don't bother stopping by. The only Rider merch that Bluefin ended up bringing to Chicago for that show were three Figure-Rise kits that came out a couple years prior.

It's sad how much Tamashii Nations stuff doesn't even get a chance to sell in America. Why not at least offer the P-Bandai Rider stuff and see if you get some orders in?

Yup! I don't know why the url and name of the site are different.

They've actually started doing just that very recently -- the two recent PB SO-DO Gaim sets, as well as all the Zi-O vs. Decade stuff (including very popular things like the Neo Decadriver) are being made available on PB USA.

That's true (and I even ordered the Gaim sets! I'm helping!), but it's bonkers that they're still so reluctant to bring over the Rider Figuarts, of which a) there are so goddamn many being released by Bandai, and b) they don't seem to mind offering Figuarts for other brands.

I was ready to buy some Kamen Rider Figuarts to show some support! Had my fingers crossed for SHF Saber.

Also SO-DO figures are classified as candy toys (red Bandai logo) which has separate metrics from Bandai Hobby, though I don't know what the P-Bandai SO-DO are classified as.

There were a lot of Star Wars Meisho Movie Realization figures. I think Bandai is only really confident in selling franchises with Western presence. I don't blame them. DBZ, Gundam, and Marvel and Star Wars are super safe properties.

Yeah I'm not surprised at what as offered there. You're not gonna see much toku stuff since it's a pop-up shop in the middle of NYC where pop culture only reaches as far as the properties you'd see there.

Based on some pics I saw, I'd probably go there and see what the prices were on some aura effects, DBZ stuff and Ultraman anime stuff.

Something I'm really upset with Saber right now is just how good the suit designs are. Like, dangit Bandai I don't have that much money on me!

I guess my priorities right now are SHF Primitive Dragon and/or Elemental Primitive Dragon which I'm very sure will get releases.

I can relate, I feel that way with Zero-One. Thankfully Saber balances that out quite nicely as I have no interest in buying any of its Figuarts releases.

Buster could tempt me but at this point it seems like he isn’t even happening at all.