Funko Pop! in Trouble

[TiQuinn]

Our landfills will breathe a sigh of relief.

 

[Reynard]

It feels weird that people seem happy about this. I have a couple, mostly gifts from people who know I am a nerd but don't really get what kind of nerd, but they seem harmless enough.

 

[Parmandur]

People are tightening their belts, and they are probably pretty exposed to tariffs in their logistics.

 

[MGibster]

I've worked retail selling Funkos and I do not understand the appeal

I think most people who own Funkos are like me in that they have one or a handful from an IP they're fans of. There are probably a few whales who have dozens or even hundreds because they love collecting them for some reason. The funny thing is there are always people who want to collect something. It occurs to me that Funko figures are kind of like collectible plates we used to see advertised in magazines and on television in the 1980s and early 1990s. You could get collectible plates of Gone with the Wind, Star Trek, John Wayne, Norman Rockwell, sports teams and players, other Hollywood actors, etc., etc. Like many collectibles, the majority of of existing plates are worth a fraction of what they retailed for 30-40+ years ago.

 

[TiQuinn]

It feels weird that people seem happy about this. I have a couple, mostly gifts from people who know I am a nerd but don't really get what kind of nerd, but they seem harmless enough.

See, this is the thing. I get these things as gifts all the time. They’re an easy button for folks who think that’s what I’m into. I’d rather they just asked me what stuff I did like.

 

[trappedslider]

It feels weird that people seem happy about this. I have a couple, mostly gifts from people who know I am a nerd but don't really get what kind of nerd, but they seem harmless enough.

I think part of it is "good, then people can get me what i really like" as @TiQuinn said and then there's the people who cry out about the environment, while ignoring their own contribution.

I have a few but mainly of characters I like or an IP I like, such as Hamilton.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

It feels weird that people seem happy about this.

I'm not any happier about this than I was TSR going out of business. But at a certain point, if a company is determined to drown, there's not much to do but step back and watch it sink to the bottom.

 

[Vael]

I think most people who own Funkos are like me in that they have one or a handful from an IP they're fans of. There are probably a few whales who have dozens or even hundreds because they love collecting them for some reason. The funny thing is there are always people who want to collect something. It occurs to me that Funko figures are kind of like collectible plates we used to see advertised in magazines and on television in the 1980s and early 1990s. You could get collectible plates of Gone with the Wind, Star Trek, John Wayne, Norman Rockwell, sports teams and players, other Hollywood actors, etc., etc. Like many collectibles, the majority of of existing plates are worth a fraction of what they retailed for 30-40+ years ago.

That's fair. And it's not like I didn't think of buying one as a gift, gag or otherwise.

It's just I find them so generic. The "funko-ization" of a person or character to that oval head and blank stare, reliant on the fashion to sell the character ... if they weren't in a box with their name, most of them I couldn't identify or differentiate.

 

[dragoner]

I have seen them at stores, never had an urge to buy them. It is too bad they are going under for those that like them.

 

[aco175]

Wonder when MagicTG will reach the oversaturation limit. The new releases and pace of release seems a far cry from where they started. I guess there are the collectors and players. Since it is still a game to play with might be a longer lasting thing than just something like the Pops that sits on a shelf. Although I have a large dragon mini that was only used once.