There is a ruckus going on over a sudden new “ban” on selling Bandai Star Wars kits outside of Japan (well, outside of Asian markets.) Japanese distibutors selling to the international market have been advised to discountinue selling Bandai SW kits. Apparently, this is due to pressure from Disney Corp. Since the license is with Bandai and not directly with the distributors, doesn’t this seem like unfair market influence?
Regards, Robert
This was mentioned in the Star Wars GB yesterday. It does not make any sense, why would Disney block access to the largest market, unless they have something up there sleeve.
Interesting. This is news to me. I just got the Bandai Y-wing off of eBay from Tokyo Hobby. Liked it so much I ordered the Snowspeeder from them too. I didn’t encounter any issues. I wonder if using eBay might be your best way.
It is quite likely a lot simpler than you are making out. The license given by Disney to Bandai was similar to the one Fine Molds held just prior - it was to make Star Wars kits for sale in the Asian market. Only. The kits are not intended to be exported/sold outside that market. If they are, Bandai could be in violation of the terms granting the license, if it is found they are aiding the behavior of the resellers.
Sound unfair? Well, it is well within Disney’s rights to decide to do their business this way, licensing multiple partners to exclusivity in different parts of the world. And companies are free not to agree to those terms. Usually, this works the other way - you hear people in other parts of the world complaining about items that are North America exclusive that they cannot get. This is a time where the opposite may be happening.
And it is not all that rare. Just a few years ago, Revell Germany had an exclusive European license for Star Trek, and produced quite a few original series and new movie kits. That never made their way outside of Europe, but for some bootlegging. This is the way Paramount decided to handle its Trek license, and apparently how Disney wants to hand out the Star Wars licenses.
Sometimes the license holder looks the other way; other time they rigidly enforce the terms of the grant. Star Wars may just be too lucrative for Disney to look the other way, and Bandai went into it knowing and agreeing to it, so they have to live by it if Disney makes a stink.
Looks like Hobbylink Japan will have their Bandai kits available up until Sept 20.
James, I understand all that, and I can only assume that Lucas film looked the other way in regards of FM. But how can limiting your market be more lucrative for you. Surely the more kits Bandai sell, the more money Disney make. I just don’t understand why they would block access to their largest market.
The US is, by far, not Bandai’s largest market. Their sales in Japan alone vastly overshadow what they do in the US and most likely Europe combined.
But would this be the same for there Star wars kits.
Maybe a trip to Japan is in order…
Not sure about that. Disney probably has people at passport control.
That’s life. People can be unhappy, but I am sure Disney already factored that into their decision, which is hardly unique, even in the hobby industry. Did Bandai want, or would be able to afford worldwide rights to StarWars model kits? Even if they did have the money, would they have the resources to do it?
If this is such a hot item (Star Wars plastic model kits), why is no one else falling over themselves to grab these licenses? Two reasons, likely related closely - the license probably costs a lot, and the return from plastic models is likely insignificant to make it worthwhile in parts of the world. Bandai probably has far more assets than Revell or Round 2. I can see the North American model companies deciding that expensive licensed properties are not worth it. Remember Monogram getting burned by Star Trek:Voyager?
Be angry at Disney. I bet they have a lot of well paid people in suits that said regional licensing is the way to make money. Compared to a small number of disgruntled modelers. Be angry at the companies that haven’t gone after a deal in other regions.
It’s not ideal for every possible consumer, but remember, it is about making money. If the deal makes Disney lots of money, and upsets a few people, they will be fine with that. And Bandai probably is too, as they don’t have to produce more and have a bigger distribution network. Making it available to everyone everywhere does not automatically mean sales will increase to the point it is worthwhile.
It would be a magical happy place if everyone could sell everything everywhere and make a profit. But it doesn’t work that way. And before anyone accuses me of being a Disney/big business shill, I have been hurt by these things, too. Maybe the #2 animated franchise after Gundam is Macross. Because of Harmony Gold and their involvement with Robotech, none of the successor to the original Macross series have been available legally in North America. HG says they have the rights here; the Japanese companies say they don’t, and won’t release the material here because of that. It sucks, but it’s the way it is.
99.999% of Star Wars fans will be satisfied by the entire aisle of pre made plastic junk that will be in your Walmart soon, if not already. That tiny fraction looking for a multi part, unassembled, unpainted model kit will not even be noticed by Disney. It’s tough to hear your favorite hobby is insignificant, but it is reality.
So let me get this straight… Japan security will ban me from taking the kit out of the country even if I’ve already paid money for them? What about mailing it out to the US to my home? I can’t see Disney stopping me from taking it out of Japan to the mainland via UPS or Fed Ex.
What is worse BlackSheep, is the guy that stops you with the model will sound just like Donald Duck… [:D]
Just wait a little while till enough third parties come into owning them in Japan and turn around and sell them on the open market. You might end up paying a little more but that’s better than nothing. Disney might be able to control Bandai sell only to Japan, but once those kits are sold there owners can openly resell them and Disney cannot do anything about it.