HEY INART, WE NEED TO TALK!

Well, I didn't expect that! Hot Toys has shown that you CAN get a Joaquin Phoenix Joker figure for under $1000! So, why did InART say you couldn't? Did we get played? We need to talk, because I have some questions...

If you haven't already, check me out with these these figures and more on ALL my socials:

[WillFoxification]

As Keco's self proclaimed best friend (one of), I need to step in here (as he said in that Tobey interview 😂).

Firstly, let me say, Keco's videos are unique in this community because they are honest, direct, and influential in terms of creating larger, more productive conversations. I also greatly admire his willingness to stand up for what he believes to be in the best interest of the larger collecting community. That said, let me explain why I think he's off-base here.

For those who have not already discounted my opinion due to some sort of perceived InArt allegiance ("shilling"), please allow me to explain the logical fallacy at play here. Let me be clear, I am fan of InArt's, and I do work with them, but I am always as objective as I can be.

InArt is not responsible for what other businesses do, and they're extremely unlikely to be privy to their negotiations with licensors. Could they be lying about the $1000 Warner Bros. imposed limit on a Joaquin Joker figure? Of course they COULD be, but it doesn't make any sense for them to do so. If they were in fact lying about this $1000 imposed minimum, why wouldn't they just sell ONE Murray Franklin Joker for $1000 to maximize their profits? Instead, they provided you with 2 figures for $1100-$1200 shipped through Kit, and $1700 for 4 figures. They packed a ton of value into their offerings to give you just that, value. Why would they add this extra cost if they were nefariously trying to screw collectors over to maximize profits?

No one knows the truth except InArt, but the idea that InArt somehow strong-armed collectors into doing something they didn't want to do is silly. These are luxury items, and by their nature, are completely non-essential purchases. You don't NEED to buy a 1:6 scale Joaquin Joker figure. It's not essential to your well-being and thus InArt, nor any other collectible company can coerce you to spend money you don't want to. If collectors felt the price was too steep and they just wanted the Murray Franklin Joker, they can either pass, buy a loose copy off another collector, or some other alternative. The blame deflecting for a collector now regretting their purchase because Hot Toys announced a cheaper alternative is unfair, to any company in InArt's position.

It's also entirely possible that the licensing restrictions changed, or Hot Toys simply negotiated more favorable terms. I don't think people realize how influential Sideshow Collectibles is as a collectible company. They are probably the biggest collectible distributor on the planet and they are extremely well connected. They probably are the ones who negotiated with Warner Bros for the license and simply extended it to Hot Toys, as has been reported with the 1:6 Marvel and Star Wars licenses. A new film is coming out, and Warner Bros. probably negotiated different terms with Hot Toys. This is a far more likely scenario than InArt lying.

Let me leave you with an analogy: Keco comes to me and asks me should he buy the Beast Kingdom Iron Throne. I say yes because it's the cheapest I've ever seen it at $180 and Amazon told me they won't lower the price further. I tell him to use my affiliate link to help the channel and he obliges. Keco buys the throne, and 2 weeks later Beast Kingdom announces a diecast throne it's being sold for $140. Keco subsequently is mad at me because he says I lied to him. Is this fair logic? I couldn't project Beast Kingdom would make another one...why would InArt worry about what other companies MIGHT do after they already announced their version?

EDIT: Wanted to contribute one additional thought. The statement that "InArt owes us answers" is silly. InArt doesn't owe any collector who pre-ordered their products an explanation of their business negotiations with licensors. This entitled mindset villainizes InArt based on the premise that they communicated with us in the first place. Maybe this is why Hot Toys doesn't talk to anyone, because this is how people act (entitled). Collectors pre-ordered a product because they felt it was a good quality product and it offered good value. Now a perceivably better value comes along and collectors are entitled to InArt explaining their private business negotiations and pricing models...? No.

[jamesc]

As someone who has more or less stepped away from the collecting community but has the InArt Joker on PO, I just find it a joke how the community is complaining. These companies don’t owe us any explanation. If you don’t like it, don’t buy. It’s all part of the game. Do you see luxury fashion labels putting out reasoning/explanation for why their products are thousands of dollars? No you don’t. This community likes to bitch and moan. The InArt figure will likely be the superior one in quality. If you don’t like InArt’s offering and the fact that you needed to get 2 or 4 figures, simply don’t buy it. KeCo Collects, this isn’t necessarily an attack on you, it’s just my thoughts generally to the collecting community. Hot Toys, InArt, JND … etc … none of them owe us ANY explanation in my opinion.

[shaybrey]

Hot Toys: “It’s not about money. It’s about sending a message.”

They really fired shots with this Joker announcement! I’m not a huge fan of this version either way, but I can certainly understand and empathize with what’s going on here and why so many are upset with Inart right now. Legit my first thought when I saw this was, “wait, didn’t they say they couldn’t do a single release cause of licensor restrictions?? BS.”

I hope we get those answers as I have four preorders with them.

Anyways, great video as always Keco!! Keep it up

[agentsilverfox]

100% agree on this. I cancelled my order with Kit and took the hit. I just don’t like this InART process anymore

[AJDorseyfilms]

I agree that this release calls into question Inart’s claims about that price point. It’s really weird and now I think a lot of people are stuck with 3-4 figures from those sets they probably don’t really want. That said, just comparing the quality, I do think the Inart red suit Joker looks significantly better than what Hot Toys just showed so I don’t think those who ordered it lost the battle except when it comes to how badly their wallets were hit.

[nonametofame]

I think today just showcases how powerful and influential Hot Toys is as a company. It just flexed all over its competitors (clearly in its contract negotiations for Phoenix Joker), and just rendered a new release still coming to hands of collectors practically obsolete overnight (BD Vader). Hot Toys doesn't just break the rules, it sets its own rules for the game.

[finalcrash]

I have a feeling you aren't going to let Will forget that he called the Kenobi version the definitive Darth Vader lol. This new one looks really damn amazing

[closviz]

So, it's clear it's one of two scenarios.

1) WB lowered the threshold, allowing HTs to come in at a lower price due to their volume, or just lowered it to give out the license since WB loves to do that. This also means JND is around the corner.

2) In business, there's the LTV:CAC ratio (lifetime value to customer acquisition cost), which basically means how much money I can make if I spend $1. So, if their LTV:CAC is a 1:20 for example, then they can be aggressive and have Joker be a loss leader to 1) Compete with InArt and cause negative PR, 2) Bring new collectors into the market, 3) Provide collectors with more value, or 4) all the reasons listed.

PS It's silly to think that InArt would really create a $1, 000 paywall knowing they didn't sign an exclusivity agreement, which means anyone can come and get the license as well.

[Omnomax]

I didnt order the inart one, price point was just too much...but i will go for the hot toys one!

[shogunofnaperville]

Keep bringing the fire and passion Keco! Not even on the topic of the Joker but in any other industry a company like Inart would not exist with their supply chain issues or shipping delays. Its like in sports, an athlete's best ability is availability. They don't have availability.

[dangiambrone]

Someone needs to superimpose Keco's videos over the hackers messages - on the tv screens - that feature in the John Carpenter classic, They Live.

Stellar work Keco, you're fast becoming the Morpheus of the figure collecting community.

[katlinfergusson]

Great video as always Keco! Just wanted to let you know your Suicide Squad Harley fell backwards against the Jokers jail cell. Wouldn't want paint rub.

[CLC]

Great video as always! Glad to have you on the silence/average collector side! Not trying to knock those "First Batch reviewer/influence" channel, but its really pointless for them to get it first because their batch always get the top quality, and after reviewing it, half of years later people starting to get their figure and end up having QC issues and missing stuff. its felt like a bait and switch.

[DarthTamarus]

InArt really pooped the bed in this one.

[Xman_supreme]

I saw Will's video and had some other discussion about it with some folks and I've heard possible explanations but at the end of the day, nobody really knows why this is set up how it is. I agree they definitely should say something. I do think, like Will was saying, that they weren't trying to take everyone for a ride...simply because of everything that they offered for the price point of that 4 pack. Of course, to your point, how many people would buy just straight up Arthur Fleck by himself? Probably not a whole lot. So I guess value can be argued, but they did still have to make 4 different figures...well, 3 and maybe a quarter...since the bathroom scene and the hospital scene were really just the difference of a head sculpt, shoes, and lab coat.

[alanshin]

If u pay attention on the headsculpt
The inart one is far more better and accurate
To be honest i have 0 hype with the hot toys one
Even my custom the joker look far better that hot toys one (headsculpt made by creg)

[ShadyDBZ]

It’s no longer that lame line “wait for inart” anymore. It’s wait for HOT TOYS 🔥 And boy am I glad I did with Phoenix’s Joker. You know, the one we all wanted without a 15 joker paywall of figures we don’t want in order to get this one. 🥴🤣

[AustinCollects]

I want to believe that something involving licensing has changed, or HT was able to negotiate. I dont regret getting the 4 pack from Inart, as i see the value of both sets. But if they lied then thats not a good business move. Happy to see you calling out anything thats sus. I know you'd call out anything HT does too.

[lewis]

Do you think there WAS a $1000 threshold, and then WB changed their mind?? It is a possibility 🤣 I’d take a stab at the dark and say that’s what Hot Toys were waiting on, it’d be more sensible to say WB had this threshold and HT had been in talks to void it - Possibly because WB seen how much collectors want a 1/6 official Joker through Inart pre-order sales! They thought ‘Damn, they’ll spend $1000+ for this thing?’ And then ‘Sales numbers are small though, let’s give the go ahead for Hot Toys to sell theirs at a lower price, selling more units and thus make us more money!’ - Good theory or nah? 🎉😂

[NinjaKnight]

Another good straight talking video.

I didn't pre-order the Phoenix Joker purely because I didn't want to spend that money on multiple Jokers, I love the movie but I only really like the red suit look so I passed. I think the Inart is much better and if it was a movie I adored I wouldn't be too upset because as it stands I would feel I've gotten the best product.

However, what's to stop Hot Toys from getting The Lord Of The Rings license and doing those figures as it's a beloved trilogy and I think competition is needed there.