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NabsS New user Geneva (Switzerland) 97 Posts |
Strangely, in what concerns puppets, I've found that there is a big price gap between low-end puppets ($50 or less, mainly stuffed, with a low quality) and higher end puppets (such as Axtell puppets, high quality, which sell $300 in average). How come people are not interested in helping amateur but ambitious ventriloquists (or puppeteers in general) buy "prosumer"-quality puppets for around $100-$150?
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axtell V.I.P. Steve Axtell 2126 Posts |
NabsS - Very good question. We actually have done a lot of that and will continue.
Over the last 10 years we have experimented with our vinyl Amazing Apes from $29.95 to 99.95 and we even got these into FAO Schwartz and other main line toy stores. Our BURDS puppets at $29.95 also sold in Toys R US world wide. These mass produced puppets were made in China, Indonesia and Mexico. The factories could not keep the quality at the level we insisted on, so we ended up shutting down our operations with them. Most recently I had thousands of the Chimps coming in but they couldn't meet quality standards. It is a huge expensive venture and this is why it is difficult to find quality puppets like Axtell in a low cost. In fact, now that these vinyl puppets are "retired" / Discontinued, they are selling on eBay for $200- $400 each. That's crazy when they used to sell for $29-99. I am currently working on locating new factories that has lower cost labor that we can work with to again mass produce many Axtell puppets. With our craftspeople in house there is no way we can make inexpensive puppet and have the quality we are known for. It's costs me good money to keep producing the kind of characters we craft. However in these difficult economic times we have also worked hard at lowering the prices on our new releases. You will see some there for $199 etc. I'll keep working on it NabsS... one of my passions is helping young people with entertaining. That's why we host our Axtell Puppet Video Contest http://www.axtell.com/puppetvid.html Take a look at these young kids and youth categories!
Axtell Expressions, Inc.
Pro Puppets, Magic & Animatronics |
ColinDymond Special user Gloucestershire, England 675 Posts |
You can buy an Axtell bird for $129. That's where I started. I now have more puppets than I can count on my fingers but I still use my parot in nearly every show. He's a great character and a worthwhile investment!
Colin Dymond
www.aceofdiamonds.co.uk |
axtell V.I.P. Steve Axtell 2126 Posts |
We can make you some more latex fingers so you can keep counting puppets. Nice avatar Colin.
Axtell Expressions, Inc.
Pro Puppets, Magic & Animatronics |
ColinDymond Special user Gloucestershire, England 675 Posts |
Hmm,more fingers, then I'd look like the people who live in the forest!
A gloucestershire in joke!
Colin Dymond
www.aceofdiamonds.co.uk |
TomFoolery New user Gloucester 83 Posts |
Hey Colin my wife is from the Forest and she only has eight finger and two thumbs I counted them before I married her.
My first Axtell was the Vinyl Vern Bird puppet which I still use today my customers like him my daughters have a crying fit when I take him to work. |
axtell V.I.P. Steve Axtell 2126 Posts |
We actually did make a latex prosthetic finger for a news man who had lost the end of an index finger. Plus we have made realistic latex hands for the Bird Arm Illusion.
Ax
Axtell Expressions, Inc.
Pro Puppets, Magic & Animatronics |
TomFoolery New user Gloucester 83 Posts |
I don't know why but I always go back to the Vinly Vern I have others Axtell puppets I love but there is something about the toy vesion I can't put my finger on. Would love to see them in production again.
My Vinly Vern I have had for I think now for seven maybe eight years so the paint is worn and the vinly a little dirty. The latex cleaner does not seem to work on the vinly any recomendations on how to clean the plastic. I would really love my Vern puppet who I call Fluffy to have a new lease of life I don't see the point in sending a 30 dollar puppet back to the States for a repant, my latex ones would be worth it they are worth more and need the care and attention of the experts at Axtell. Do you have any recomendation for paint to use on vinly. Thank you for bring so much fun to my shows through your beutifull puppets. Colin if you are free do you want to pop over for mince pies |
axtell V.I.P. Steve Axtell 2126 Posts |
We have a few rejects remaining of the vinyl Vern for a good price. You could ask Robin order@axtell.com They're clean but the painting was a little off by the China factory. Vinyl is painted with Acrylic Lacquer paints. Nasty stuff which is why we don't use it in our own workshop.
We'll make more vinyl puppets in the future. Ax
Axtell Expressions, Inc.
Pro Puppets, Magic & Animatronics |
TomFoolery New user Gloucester 83 Posts |
Many thanks that is good o know.
Getting a new Vern Vinyl my daughter could have the old one no more tears when I go do a show. Tom |
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