Yesterday Breyer posted a statement on their Facebook page:
We are aware that BreyerFest 2021 model images and ticket information are being circulated on social media. The images were taken and used without permission, in violation of the breyerhorses.com Terms of Use, and should not be shared, posted, displayed or used in any manner. We will announce and reveal these models as initially planned via the BreyerFest Blog. Thank you for your cooperation!
This caused quite a stir among hobbyists about how the images got leaked and what should be done about them if they've already been posted. Some people have said Breyer will "come after you" if you don't remove the photos, but as of now, where I personally saw the photos, they're still there. I'm not a member of "the right" groups on Facebook to have seen them there and I have not seen them on Instagram to know if they're still there. I have done a search, but that didn't net much of anything. I don't know where I saw the price for the VIP All-Access ticket was going to be $230, but it wasn't in conjunction with the leaked photos. I saw that before. I won't put the photos here because I don't want to deal with the hassle of Breyer finding my blog and asking me to take the photos down. I will just reveal them as Breyer makes them officially available, but I will say I am NOT impressed with what I've seen so far. There are two molds that I conga being used...a very vividly colored Valegro (think rainbow) and a paint Marwari. The original style, not the re-done one. I won't be getting the Valegro but I will get the Marwari, I suppose. It will depend on how much the tickets are for the All-Access pass is. I'm definitely not going to spend $230 for the VIP when all it includes extra is the ability to guarantee your SR choices, the 4 Stablemates and a swag bag. I will take my chances with my choices and they said there will be the opportunity to buy the SM set like last year. IF I decide I want the whole set. I couldn't really see the models too well and it's being called "Stablemates Collection" so who knows what that means, but two of them look like ones I'd buy.
In reading some of the comments on social media, people are saying this whole thing is a marketing ploy to get people excited for the event and to sell tickets while others are doing the "I'm sorry this happened to you" thing. Those comments make me laugh. Nothing was "done" to them. I don't know if the photos got out on purpose or someone was able to figure out where the photos were stored or something...I don't know. But I highly doubt someone "hacked" Breyer just to release photos of the models. And some are making it sound like this happens all the time. As far as I know, this is the first time BF model photos were "leaked" ahead of time. I'm also seeing a lot of comments about people wanting a sort of payment plan for the SR models. Uhm...uh...they have enough problems as it is without adding keeping track of who paid what now and who still owes "when the models ship". Breyer doesn't do things that way. You buy now, you pay now. That's how it's "always" (in my knowledge) been. One person on FB kept repeating over and over the same thing about how it would be nice and good "customer relations" if they allowed a payment plan and to please consider it and people hadn't planned to pay for their models so early in the year. Yeah, I don't have to read those comments, but they're just so amusing sometimes. But it looks like I'm not alone in my thoughts that this year isn't going to be any different than last year as far as how smooth it will be run. Sure, they're doing away with the time slots, which might help some...but what about cart stealing? They're going to release all the store specials at one time rather than randomly over the weekend and I think that's going to crash the servers as everyone tries to get whatever it is they want. I guess it's wait and see. There's a lot of that in this hobby: wait and see.
I should probably try to end this blog on a positive not, huh? Yesterday I finally unboxed my new dog. He came in a set that I haven't revealed yet...
I'd wondered what the deal with the photos was about! Normally I'd find Breyer's drama-queen antics amusing, but after the past year's tragedies it makes me want to smack a sense of perspective into them instead. :-p (OTOH the "let's celebrate what brings us together during a major economic crisis with high-priced tickets to a virtual event and maybe buying high-priced SRs" actually is darkly funny.)
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about the mold/color choice for Uffington... Maybe it's just me, but I think it would've made more sense to put a chalky white paintjob on a stocky model like Wyatt. I guess I'm lucky they didn't, since then I'd wish I could get one! :D
(Just to clarify, I wasn't referring to any tragedies that happened to me personally; I've been extremely lucky in that regard.)
DeleteOoooo, that’s brilliant idea! Breyer should have put a chalky white paint job on Uffington since he is made of chalk.
DeleteDon't worry, Miaow Minx, I understood what you meant, and that was what a lot of the comments were saying, too. That with the current situation and many people having economic hardships, now is probably not a good time to drop a $230 ticket price tag on people like that.
DeleteI don’t have faith that Breyer will spend the money to hire a company that can handle virtual BF even though they’ve had longer to prepare. Longer planning time doesn’t mean the firm you hire will cut their prices/fees. They went the cheap route last year & they'll probably go the cheap route again this year. I think they’re relying on the VIP All Access tickets, increases in runs & run numbers & dropping all the Store SR’s at once to solve the issues. What they don’t consider is that, while it might solve last year’s issues, it’s going to cause new problems this year. One is already becoming evident: People can’t afford to drop $230 for one VIP ticket plus the cost of two SR models and the cost of whatever Limited Edition Store models they want. So the VIP Tickets probably won’t sell very well as people decide to get the cheaper All Access tickets, save their money for 5 extra months & shop during virtual BF.
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with you. They sometimes take the easy (cheap) way out and likely it would cost them a boatload of money to hire an outside company to handle things. And anyway, their most recent post looks like they're doing it all on their website again. I was hoping to buy a VIP Ticket, but I don't personally feel like the cost justifies ANYTHING you get with it...And if you want more than 2 SRs, you're going to have to buy more than one VIP ticket or take your chances with the regular access tickets. What were they thinking?
DeleteHey Brenda! As of the time of this comment, the place where I saw the ‘super secret’ BF models still has the images up. Uffington was spotted in a Breyer advertisement, and someone reported seeing an unknown grey-white Darwin in another Breyer advertisement. Breyer needs to quit leaking their own secret images! Lolololol!
ReplyDeleteI was shocked at the price of the VIP AA tickets-uh, whuuuuuut? Scratching my head over that one. Uffington is at the top of my list, along with the (shhhh!!! Secret!) Marwari.
A Richard Simmons doll?! I snorted water reading that. Too bad Brody was canceled-I would have probably ended up buying one. Talk to you later!
Surprisingly, I still haven't seen any super secret images other people are saying they've seen. I guess I just haven't been looking in the right places. hahaha. The (shhhh!!! Secret!) Marwari is the only thing at the top of my list at the moment. I can't wait to see a better picture of him. And I'm so glad they're using the original mold with the turned ears rather than the Khalid version.
DeleteHere's another thing to make you snort water...the Richard Simmons dolls comes with...are you ready for this...TWO HEADS! I don't know if you read my post about that one. One shows an excited face and one shows a SUPER excited face. hahaha.
Holy cannoli I don’t know how I missed Richard Simmons! I remember the cancellation of Chief Brody, and the introduction of Eccentric Uncle Bob posts. The two-face concept is hysterical! Why do I want to buy a two-headed Richard Simmons doll now? Lol!
DeleteI hope that the (shhhh!!! Secret!) Marwari is officially released tomorrow. I want to see his photos everywhere. I think I will always refer to him as the (shhhh!!! Secret!) Marwari. It’s just too funny!
Hahahaha. The more I think of it, the more I want the crazy Richard Simmons with the two heads. But we already have an Eccentric Uncle Bob, so who would Richard be? If we can come up with a good name, I might consider buying one. ;)
DeleteUnfortunately, no (shhhh!!! Secret!) Marwari today. It was a non-reveal. Maybe tomorrow.
HAHAHA! You guys are cracking me up with the (shhhh!!! Secret!) Marwari! i do want that one for sures, thoughs!
ReplyDeleteNot a fan, either, of the Akhal-Teke, but i love Uff's coloring! So i may have to cave n have a "oneoff" of the Akhal-Teke!
So Brenda, the dog you got was it the Corgi with the Classic black Shire? i do love n have that set! (shan, here)
I'm glad we gave you some amusement. I like knowing my blog provides some sort of entertainment.
DeleteNo. The dog is not from the Classic black Shire. Good guess, though. You'll see in tomorrow's blog.