Léon: The Professional (4K+2D Blu-ray SteelBook) (Manta Lab Exclusive No. 57) [Hong Kong]

[IRON MAN]

Release date: May 3, 2023
Purchase links: Box Set - Full Slip - Lenti - Double Lenti (Pre-order on March 3 at 8 PM - Hong Kong time)
Price: $159.97 (Box Set) - $48.99 (Full Slip) - $49.99 (Lenti - Double Lenti)

Notes: WEA, Exclusive Steelcase designed by Manta Lab features "Full Glossy" Finish and "Debossed Title".
Box Set: 600 Sets, Numbered 1-600. Scratch Resistant Coating, Embossing, Foil.
Full Slip: 1000 units, Numbered 1-1000. Spot Glossy, Scratch Resistance Coating, Embossing, Foil.
Lenti: 1000 units, Numbered 1-1000. 3D Lenticular, Spot Glossy, Spot Matte, Embossing.
Double Lenti: 1000 units, Numbered 1-1000. 2 x 3D Lenticular, Spot Glossy, Spot Matte, Embossing.
Premiums: Booklet, Postcards, Character Cards, Envelope, Exclusive Numbering Sticker, Exclusive Release Front Sticker, Exclusive Release Lenticular Sticker.

 

[Lenny Nero]

*** And if you can join multiple Group Buys (from different hosts) and buy multiple editions when YOU CAN NOT DO IT when ordering DIRECT...

You can just place another order, if there's time, they don't restrict that.

 

[tha_lunatic]

different topic... it snowed today here in germany

 

[Space Cadet]

different topic... it snowed today here in germany

You from Germany. Explains a lot.

 

[Billy Talent]

different topic... it snowed today here in germany

Same here, two days in a row!

 

[Wreck]

I wasn’t going to read all this (purely because it’s so f**king long) but my eyes kept wondering

for me I’m bored today and not called aniv a parasite in a while so I fancied it. F**k it

I’m actually calling out him, HDN and manta. For all the reasons you explained.

HDN for allowing this and being a hypocrite to allow him to promote the store, him for reasons we’ve gone over for years but mainly abusing the power of his GB to obtain other copies to sell at those prices and manta for allowing this. Nothings new (except the store promotion part - and I don’t mean eBay when others here post his eBay shop).

I wasn’t going to comment on it all but the whole store thing has been on my mind since last week and I just don’t get why he’s allowed to do that but hey it is what it is. HDN must be changing it’s policies or something. Or okay with the possibility that this could easily go the wrong way for them. I’m not going to spell that out but I’m sure people are clever enough to understand what I mean.... I think

If you want to call out HDN, maybe you should tag me next time? Otherwise high chance im not reading it ... unless a member tells me about it. And thats what happened.

The truth is our hands are tied, has nothing to do with us but more the retailer and I suppose @Aniv

If people want to continually jack up prices they are just contributing to hurting the hobby.

The members of this site have proven MANY times that if HDN tries to take a stand that the members will simply go elsewhere to obtain their materialistic item then to support us in any agenda. So then HDN loses. So we then have nothing to gain and everything to lose. Advertising hasnt been great in years, and the site barely supports itself. So "sorry not sorry" if I cant hold a torch and run with it crusade style to fight back at every little thing people feel is wrong in the hobby. Its hard enough just keeping the site alive. point blank fact.

However while still in power (is it really power? lol) ... let me just say that your name calling will not be tolerated. Many people here know how to voice negative concerns and opinions with out such tactics.

If you and others feel any GB Host from any site, forum etc, is abusing their power with said retailer then perhaps the energy would be better compiled by contacting the retailer.

 

[5t33lb0y]

different topic... it snowed today here in germany

That white snow which you sniff everyday doesn't count

 

[Mokum]

The sole liability is with the Retailer.
If they allow multiple copies to be purchased then that’s their decision. Sure it can be seen as unethical for them to allow it, and seen unethical to see the third party setting the prices upto triple retailer value.

Amen to that.
Premium retailers are afraid to fail on selling all of the copies so they bulk-sell them to GB hosts.
What they do next is up to them. Once paid, they can do whatever they want with their copies.
People running a business will always sell them for more and we can only blame the retailers.
IMHO.

 

[Flloydo]

If you want to call out HDN, maybe you should tag me next time? Otherwise high chance im not reading it ... unless a member tells me about it. And thats what happened.

The truth is our hands are tied, has nothing to do with us but more the retailer and I suppose @Aniv

If people want to continually jack up prices they are just contributing to hurting the hobby.

The members of this site have proven MANY times that if HDN tries to take a stand that the members will simply go elsewhere to obtain their materialistic item then to support us in any agenda. So then HDN loses. So we then have nothing to gain and everything to lose. Advertising hasnt been great in years, and the site barely supports itself. So "sorry not sorry" if I cant hold a torch and run with it crusade style to fight back at every little thing people feel is wrong in the hobby. Its hard enough just keeping the site alive. point blank fact.

However while still in power (is it really power? lol) ... let me just say that your name calling will not be tolerated. Many people here know how to voice negative concerns and opinions with out such tactics.

If you and others feel any GB Host from any site, forum etc, is abusing their power with said retailer then perhaps the energy would be better compiled by contacting the retailer.

Tagging you or you reading it or not wasn’t my objective. I’m simply stating everyone’s at fault for allowing that shady business to take place (and I missed one off - also the buyers fault for paying those prices). It’s a conversation I didn’t feel I had to tag you on because it’s an age old argument on here, just brought back up this week because now the GB host can promote their shop. And yeah you have been very distant on the site in the past 2ish years so I guess it’s not something I’d tag you on as it seems you’ve allowed it anyway so what’s to say? Plus I assumed you’d see the comments at some point.

And yeah I agree with the “name calling” and I should know better, that’s on me. Don’t change the fact on how I feel and voicing what’s on a lot of others minds too. Also not the only one to use “name calling” but somehow the only one to be spoken to in this manor regarding it but it is what it is.

And I can guarantee you that some people will have contacted the retailers over years about the issue.

 

[baine]

I wonder why Manta, Blufans and others don't follow the model that Limited Run Games does.

They only produce the number of items requested during the pre-order phase, plus some extra for replacements of damaged items, conventions, etc.

When they open the pre-sale, people have normally a month to make their orders. That ensures people interested on their premium games are not missed out. Retailers can also order whatever number they are going to sell on their stores. They also don't make reprints. So, in the end, they have limited editions that vary on the number of copies that participants have pre-paid.

I think it's a good model because popular titles, like Christopher Nolan's movies, will have more copies, so anybody misses them out, while no that popular ones, such as Matrix Resurrections, find their public and nobody loses money.

I guess studios and distributors force or limit the number of copies editors can sell. However, I don't think it will be much difference to ask for a couple of thousand more if that means they are sure they are going to sell them.

 

[Aniv]

@Flloydo sorry if you feel like I am ignoring you.... wait I actually am since a long time hence I dont see any of your posts :\

 

[Flloydo]

View attachment 550902

@Flloydo sorry if you feel like I am ignoring you.... wait I actually am since a long time hence I dont see any of your posts :\

Never once been a thought and I don’t bat an eye lid but it’s great to know.

(Pathetic is missing from that gif, just after strange) oh and man is probably the wrong word to describe you

 

[megabee]

I wonder why Manta, Blufans and others don't follow the model that Limited Run Games does.

They only produce the number of items requested during the pre-order phase, plus some extra for replacements of damaged items, conventions, etc.

KimchiDVD did something like this with Wind River, and maybe a couple more titles. But they did not adopt this model as a long-term way of operation.

 

[Lenny Nero]

I wonder why Manta, Blufans and others don't follow the model that Limited Run Games does.

They only produce the number of items requested during the pre-order phase, plus some extra for replacements of damaged items, conventions, etc.

When they open the pre-sale, people have normally a month to make their orders. That ensures people interested on their premium games are not missed out. Retailers can also order whatever number they are going to sell on their stores. They also don't make reprints. So, in the end, they have limited editions that vary on the number of copies that participants have pre-paid.

I think it's a good model because popular titles, like Christopher Nolan's movies, will have more copies, so anybody misses them out, while no that popular ones, such as Matrix Resurrections, find their public and nobody loses money.

I guess studios and distributors force or limit the number of copies editors can sell. However, I don't think it will be much difference to ask for a couple of thousand more if that means they are sure they are going to sell them.

Exactly, that's what I always said, pre-sell and produce enough copies for every order!
And no need for any intermediaries.

 

[samdavies]

Exactly, that's what I always said, pre-sell and produce enough copies for every order!
And no need for any intermediaries.

The problems you've got with something like that though, are both the minimum order requirements from scanavo, and the units Manta are obligated to release via their WB contract.

 

[baine]

The problems you've got with something like that though, are both the minimum order requirements from scanavo, and the units Manta are obligated to release via their WB contract.

That could have been a problem when they started but now they're well known. I don't think they would have problems with those requirements.

Limited Run Games started with that model but later they changed to these new one and they realized it was better for their business because they could sell more and they could partially solve the problem with scalpers.

 

[Noodles]

I wonder why Manta, Blufans and others don't follow the model that Limited Run Games does.

They only produce the number of items requested during the pre-order phase, plus some extra for replacements of damaged items, conventions, etc.

When they open the pre-sale, people have normally a month to make their orders. That ensures people interested on their premium games are not missed out. Retailers can also order whatever number they are going to sell on their stores. They also don't make reprints. So, in the end, they have limited editions that vary on the number of copies that participants have pre-paid.

I think it's a good model because popular titles, like Christopher Nolan's movies, will have more copies, so anybody misses them out, while no that popular ones, such as Matrix Resurrections, find their public and nobody loses money.

I guess studios and distributors force or limit the number of copies editors can sell. However, I don't think it will be much difference to ask for a couple of thousand more if that means they are sure they are going to sell them.

That would solve so many issues. I remember another premium retailer (PlainArchive maybe?) did this a little while back and it worked great... not sure why they didn't continue with it tbh.

 

[Lenny Nero]

The problems you've got with something like that though, are both the minimum order requirements from scanavo, and the units Manta are obligated to release via their WB contract.

Even then, they could order a minimum required amount, plus more if more is presold. If there isn't enough demand even for a minimum print run, sell them freely, like MantaLab did with Matrix Regurgitation, eventually people grab 1 here and there with next orders of something else.
No need to rely on scalpers, everyone would get as much as they need, be it 1 copy, or 21, as I needed with Leon, without relying on scalpers to take half/most of the copies.

 

[Flloydo]

That would solve so many issues. I remember another premium retailer (PlainArchive maybe?) did this a little while back and it worked great... not sure why they didn't continue with it tbh.

Didn’t Kimchi do it too with something? Possibly Akira? I can’t remember. I’m sure PA too like you said. But as Samdavies stated they deal (mostly) with WB and they most likely have contracts on the print run numbers and everything.

 

[Noodles]

Didn’t Kimchi do it too with something? Possibly Akira? I can’t remember. I’m sure PA too like you said. But as Samdavies stated they deal (mostly) with WB and they most likely have contracts on the print run numbers and everything.

Ah, maybe it was Kimchi I was thinking of then. I didn't pick up Akira so not sure about that one, but it was definitely done with at least one other title which I did purchase. Hmm yeah, that could be a problem!

 

[samdavies]

Even then, they could order a minimum required amount, plus more if more is presold. If there isn't enough demand even for a minimum print run, sell them freely, like MantaLab did with Matrix Regurgitation, eventually people grab 1 here and there with next orders of something else.
No need to rely on scalpers, everyone would get as much as they need, be it 1 copy, or 21, as I needed with Leon, without relying on scalpers to take half/most of the copies.

I'm not talking about relying on scalpers or GBs to shift copies. I'm saying that business model just wouldn't work when applied to every release. They'll either end up with far more or less than they want/have to produce, most of the time.

Resurrections would've sold less than half it's run at preorder without GB hosts being lumbered with set allocations, and something like Inception would sell 2 or 3 times over. That's not a fluctuation a retailer can scale consistent production to, let alone any stipulations in their contractual arrangements.

Remember these are supposed to be set Limited releases. That's how the vast majority of the premium steelbook market has always operated, and there's evidently reason for it.