Can you give me some suggestions to maintain and care for animal figure?

[Kenc]

Dear Honorable Collectors,

How do you maintain and care for your animal figurines? Recently, we've received feedback from users that due to uncontrollable factors such as temperature and transportation, our PVC material (flexible, non-toxic plastic) animals may experience some degree of deformation.

We plan to gather some suggestions and create a blog to share methods and daily care tips with our users. I believe that as a professional collector, you must have a lot of experience in this area. Could you provide me with some advice? I will mention your name and thanks for your help in the blog   

[EpicRaptorMan]

What proof do you have that there is this deformation that is occurring? And how extreme is it?

I've seen users on this form complain about a slight (hardly noticeable & still realistic) curve on an antler. Or is it much more extreme than that?

[stargatedalek]

I assume by deformation you mean the material is warping or bending? And not turning sticky or otherwise falling apart?

Bending and warping can be fixed easily by dipping the figure carefully into very hot (typically boiling) water.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

What proof do you have that there is this deformation that is occurring? And how extreme is it?

I've seen users on this form complain about a slight (hardly noticeable & still realistic) curve on an antler. Or is it much more extreme than that?

Firstly, I don't appreciate the call out on that. It wasn't the warping that ultimately bothered me in that issue (I still haven't been able to locate a figure that wasn't warped let alone fix the one I have) it was the fact of how that brand in question tried to gaslight me and tell me that was the intentional form of the product when I know very well it wasn't. And to boot, special editions are pricier than regular run items, it *should* have arrived as it was advertised and intended.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Secondly, @Kenc, I think the warping issues some of your models experience is quite reasonable given the material type, the fact that it is easily remedied as mentioned above with simple treatments, and because the style of transport your company uses (multiple figures in a box, individually wrapped).

I think a suggestion to try and reduce the issue from your company would be to include a cardboard insert in between the legs of some models with longer/thinner legs or a plastic spacer molded to the feet of the item (removable of course) to help set the legs.

I have had a number of models with this issue from Toymany, the moose calf and sika deer fawn had warped legs so they couldnt stand, my narwhal's tooth from the arctic set, the reindeer's antlers. But those are a little less easily fixable on your side of shipping. BUT they are easily addressed with treatments such as the boiling water method.

[Kenc]

What proof do you have that there is this deformation that is occurring? And how extreme is it?

I've seen users on this form complain about a slight (hardly noticeable & still realistic) curve on an antler. Or is it much more extreme than that?

Based on some customer reactions. Tiny ones like tails or other parts. Will be twisted due to transportation. We are considering new packing methods to improve this problem.

[Kenc]

Secondly, @Kenc, I think the warping issues some of your models experience is quite reasonable given the material type, the fact that it is easily remedied as mentioned above with simple treatments, and because the style of transport your company uses (multiple figures in a box, individually wrapped).

I think a suggestion to try and reduce the issue from your company would be to include a cardboard insert in between the legs of some models with longer/thinner legs or a plastic spacer molded to the feet of the item (removable of course) to help set the legs.

I have had a number of models with this issue from Toymany, the moose calf and sika deer fawn had warped legs so they couldnt stand, my narwhal's tooth from the arctic set, the reindeer's antlers. But those are a little less easily fixable on your side of shipping. BUT they are easily addressed with treatments such as the boiling water method.

Thanks paige,We are going to write a blog in the site. Let everyone know how to get him back to his original form if a deformation occurs. Of course we are looking for suitable ways to improve this.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

There are a few methods to address the issue. I will write you a PM a little later describing the issues/models I have had and some ideas for your blog. I think that'll be a great resource for your consumers to utilize.

[bmathison1972]

Kenc - most of the concerns here really are related to packaging for shipping. I have had to apply the 'hot water' treatment to a couple Toymany figures as well. It's a minor inconvenience but in the end the figures come out fine.

I appreciate you bringing this to our attention on the forums. It's another example of your excellent customer service and care for our wishes and concerns!

[EpicRaptorMan]

What proof do you have that there is this deformation that is occurring? And how extreme is it?

I've seen users on this form complain about a slight (hardly noticeable & still realistic) curve on an antler. Or is it much more extreme than that?

Firstly, I don't appreciate the call out on that. It wasn't the warping that ultimately bothered me in that issue (I still haven't been able to locate a figure that wasn't warped let alone fix the one I have) it was the fact of how that brand in question tried to gaslight me and tell me that was the intentional form of the product when I know very well it wasn't. And to boot, special editions are pricier than regular run items, it *should* have arrived as it was advertised and intended.

I'm going to be honest as I really don't care. I didn't even know it was you who had those complaints. All that I recall is that the complaints were there.

The problem toymany is having can easily be fixed with cardboard squares or cardboard cones. Or, again as others have mentioned, consumers can use the hot water trick and bend the tales and appendages back into place (although I don't recommend this for small children to attempt). These deformations are something that eBay, Amazon, HappyHenToys, MiniZoo, etc have all had to put up with. It's not like ToyMany's products are quickly decolorizing, melting, or snapping in two.