Update: 12/29/11 Patrick got a positive response from the Disney Store soon after we posted this article: Just to give you an update, DS.com has giving me the option of returning for credit, full refund or keep it and get 15% off. I chose for the refund naturally.
We just posted an article pointing out the difference in how certain NOAH Vinylmation are advertised. Along those lines, we received an email from a listener Patrick who purchased the $650 NOAH Vault 28 Online exclusive 9″ Hand Painted Limited Release Maleficent Vinylmation. Here is what he wrote:
I recently just received my Custom Noah Maleficent from DS.com. I was very excited and looking forward to this piece ever since I saw preview photographs of it from the Villains Event back in November at Disneyland.
After opening and looking at my NEW Noah. I noticed something didn’t look right. The colors for the flames and Dragon weren’t as vibrant as what Noah showed off at the event and what was advertised on DS.com. I really felt mislead by Disney and Noah.
Notice how vibrant the yellow flames and dragon are. The colors pop out to you. The flames are even bigger and filled. Now if you look at the piece I have received, the piece is very dark and monochromatic. I need to shine a very bright light close up to see the piece or take it outside in the bright sun. The flames and dragon head yellows are very flat.
Also if you look back at the Villains Rotten Apple Piece, the “V” on the face is totally different from what he previewed. You can even see the Preview “V” on his website. It looks totally different from what he sold. At least that piece, I saw what I was buying so I accepted the difference. With Maleficent I had no choice.
As you know, DS.com accepts no refunds, exchanges or returns. If you read the reviews on the product page, I’m not the only one not satisfied about this piece. Spending money on these customs are not cheap. I think I should get for what I was showed and paid for.
That was the email we received from Patrick. We would like to note, that the Disney Store does state that no two of these NOAH Vinylmation will be exactly the same. However, based on the pictures he gave us, the product Patrick received seems to have a significantly different final look than the advertised product.
Did anyone else get the NOAH Maleficent Vinyl Online?
(Below is a screen capture of the three reviews posted on the Disney Store as of 12/28/11. Click to enlarge.)
That’s really dissapointing. The pictures don’t look at all like the ones they mailed out. Just look at the colors of the mouths!
Wow that’s a bummer. I would be livid if I spent $650 on that’s what I got.
I also think that part of why it seems so dark is the glossy finish they added, which reflects most of the light instead of absorb it or dispersing it evenly across the surface. The one in the photo online looks like it has a matte finish. But the green color is definitely a much darker tint than the original, and is the only color, whereas the original had yellow and green.
I would be upset too! This vinyl does not match one pictured — DS.com should give everyone that ordered this vinyl a refund if requested.
I’m so sorry, what a disappointment :( But I can’t say I’m surprised at this. I have seen some of his vinyl works (Disneyland’s 55th 9″, D23 Expo, Muppets) and I don’t really see what the big deal is with his stuff. The Muppets-Kermit & Animal, 3″ and 9″ at D Street-are ridiculous! $150 for a 3″ vinyl that was simply painted green (unless they started out green, then that’s even more ridiculous!) and then accented with what looks like a paint pen for Kermit’s collar and a kiss on his forehead (Piggy’s?-still, weird choice) You must be joking! Really, couldn’t use felt for his collar like the 9″ at least?!
Anyone could replicate that Kermit with a DIY vinyl (and probably do a better job IMO). The 55th ones are still kicking around because there was hardly any “artistry” involved on his part, just a black vinyl with a 55 on it ::sigh::. Considering this Vinyl is all airbrushed, you would think it wouldn’t be so hard for him to incorporate the brighter yellows and greens of the “original” vinyl, she doesn’t breathe blue flames….it’s a disservice to Maleficent fans as well as Vinylmation fans for him to totally misrepresent this character and the design.
Good for you for taking the refund, just think of all the blind boxes you could get for that dough! ;-D
okay, did they not say that the colors would end up being different on each of these?
No where on the page does it say that it will look different than the one pictured http://www.disneystore.com/vinylmation-online-exclusive-vault-28-villains-maleficent-9-vinylmation-figure-by-noah/mp/1299372/1000828/
They even say that the flames will be “vivid lime green”, which the actually flames are more of a pale turquoise.