Why decide on a piece run until AFTER the majority of the giftsets are opened on Dec 24th?? Estimate at the end of January how big the "edition" is. This is the first misstep in a very good trilogy release schedule.

Mine didn't have the code either, so thanks for the help guys!

Mine does not have the code either...

This stinks. I didn't know the code was there until last night. I tried to order it and I get sold out...This really...really stinks.

Man, I was going to order this week. This was a huge royal screw-up by a respectable company. They NEED to make a few more of these to satiate the fans.

I hate this. I was really looking forward to this and wanted this environment. I was anticipating this since they announced it. I was about to pick it up on release day but someone had to get it for me for Christmas. That really really sucks. I thought that they would have required a special code for it and they would have had enough. I am genuinely upset. Even if those on the waiting list could get it I'm sure it won't include the helmet.

Probably taken up by a bunch of EBay bastards.

SideShow Collectables is offering the Helm's Deep and the Golden Hall collectables at a discount. But, I think most ROTK GS purchasers want the Minas Morgul collectable to match their Minas Tirith collectable. It sounds to me like a bait-and-switch con.

Just have to hope they flood ebay and can be picked up easily!

Yup... -_-

Elaborate. Elaborate. Elaborate.

Ok.

If a company is that stupid to only make 8,500 little morgul miniature mansion thingies, while there are MILLIONS of fans online, and to top it off, allegedly only had one freakin' word as the code for every damn trinket piece, then I'm sorry, I'd say go eff yourself Mr. Overpriced Collectible Company. Why? Because if they don't make good on their stupid little stunt, then they are baiting everyone to buy other crap online.

You do realize this is the same company that made two of the most valued items so far for this series of films. That whole limited number things assures them that they sell them quickly.

Is it sad? Fuck yes it's sad. They should have started out with a limited number, but should be willing to expand the number considering the amount of potential orders that would come in based on the sale number of dvds sold.

It is really more than sad, it is indefinsible. They need to open up the edition size on this item, even if those orders won't be filled for another couple of months.

Actually, 8,500 is a pretty large edition size for Sideshow. Almost everything else they put out comes in smaller editions and nobody's said word one about it before. As I've said before, I think this is a crappy situation for the folks that lost out, but at the same time, I'm practically faint from the whiff of sour grapes around here. This is not the end of the world.

Good post. Many of the complaints remind me of the character "Veruca Salt" and the other whiny brats in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. They're not trying to "trick" anyone into buying anything. If its no longer available its not available. Move on.

So this is what LOTR was about? Greedy consumerism? Go back and watch the movies again. Read the book if you haven't already. And take whatever lessons and values Tolkien was trying to impart. Bravery, loyalty, and self sacrifice.

To all of you who whined and posted profanity on this board because you can't get your "precious" Minas Morgul figurine: Somebody needs to take those toys away from you.

I find it hard to believe they won't make a second print of these things. Don't they want to make money? IMO, they should not have advertised the offer in every EE set if they could not honor it for that many people.

Could be worse. You could have missed out AND got one of the many bent gift set pieces. I coudn't believe my eyes when I saw for myself what I read aobut online. I looked at the ones in Costco and more than half of the top spires were bent, and not just a tiny bit bent either. I was shocked to see they packaged those up, it's not like you couldn't notice they were bent.

Any more info on this bent piece? Pic?

Nope, sorry, I purchased the stand alone EE set. I only checked them out at Costco because I read about the bend issue online. I was quite shocked that I found more than one bent.

Someone on a Sideshow forum was saying he successfully straightened his by heating it up with a hairdryer to make it pliable and carefully bending it into shape.

Why do I feel dirty all of a sudden?

To my knowledge, Sideshow has never brought a piece out of retirement to make more. Once they're gone, they're gone. You can get on the waiting list, as many people have had success picking up items that way, but do not expect them to make more. I'm not saying it's impossible, but it's highly unlikely.

The good news is not all of their pieces skyrocket in value. This probably will, given the apparent popularity, but I strongly suspect there will be a window when these first begin shipping in January where you'll be able to get one on eBay for a reasonable price. Chin up.

This is actually a commonly-used technique for making adjustments to polystone statues. I talk to other collectors of the Sideshow/Weta Lord of the Rings line, and a number of them have had reasonable success with it, on this piece and others.

Hope so. I got the set for my young cousin for Christmas and I already know he is going to ask for it when he sees it ...

I don't consider the ability to get it on ebay as an acceptable excuse or decent cop out for them.

the problem is they were advertising this in a package that was going to sell in the hundred million mark. Perhaps they shouldn't have put those slips in there to begin with. Taking it a step more. They shouldn't have made it that the password was a generic one so that it would sell out to those who were buying multiple versions to put up on ebay.

I've seen the ebay prices for Sold out sideshow collectable items. They are never cheap and they are typically always about double what it would have cost you from buying from sideshow themselves.

Now I can see why some would consider it a bait and switch considering the way they have it on the site offering you the other items cheaper when in reality you just wanted Minas Morgul.

How is it bait and switch? They SOLD OUT!!! No one is forcing you to buy the other environments at $50 off their retail price. I think it was a nice gesture on their part.

The Gollum as Gollum statue offer (companion statue to the Gollum as Smeagol from the Two Towers Gift Set) sold out as well but took much longer to do so at a smaller edition size (7,500).

They recently sold out (in 1 day) of their Gondorian Helm set which was limited to a 1,000 edition size. This happans all the time with collectibles.



I would hope the primary reason people picked up the gift set was for the EE, the Howard Shore DVD and the polystone Minas Tirith.

I do agree they should have used unique codes as opposed to the impossible to decipher "MORGUL" code.

1. That wasn't the main point of my post.

2. Its not a "problem" to begin with at least as far as Sideshow is concerned. This is a "limited edition" item. Its first come first serve. People who were more ravenous for this thing (as a collectable or to make money) got the jump on you all.

3. As far as people buying multiple versions or units to sell on Ebay that's beyond Sideshows control and neither should they be responsible for what other people do. Because what opportunists do and what fans do to drive up prices is part of the collectability game. The fact that its driven by money and greed has always been par for the course. Again, if this is something you really care about, learn to play the "game".

4. Try to find a solution. Write a letter or email them with a complaint (Politely. They're most likely to ignore people who are obviously "unstable") Since this item is tied in with the ROTK EE gift box I'm sure enough people can get together to pressure Sideshow. Esp. since the Minas Tirith miniature has been so popular and there's real demand for Minas Morgul.) Its a business. If it makes sense to them there's always a chance they'll do it.

5. And if that doesn't work. Save your pennies and get it on Ebay. Or don't buy it at all. And be thankful this holiday season you're one of the lucky ones that has the money to spend on a $75 (?) miniature on top of all the other stuff you bought because of LOTR. I bought the ROTK gift box this Christmas for my little cousin and he's thankful for what he has.

6. "Bait and Switch"? All of a sudden people have lost their Free Will? If the other item appeals to you and you want to buy it, how is that a bait and switch? If people don't have the fortitude for self control God help them if they ever stumble upon the Home Shopping Network.

7. And may I suggest other alternatives (if you dont' alread have them) thats better than any miniature? No better way to appreciate Tolkiens world and you'll probably treaure it more than any collectable.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/boo...4&fmt=AU&itm=3

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/boo...18517650&itm=1

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/boo...18260587&itm=3