Stone Elephant Statue Replica Coming to eStore, April 25th

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Submitted by FIA on Wed, 04/22/2009 - 12:47am.

There have been rumors that a Stone Elephant Statue would be coming to the Ganz eStore sometime this year, and now we know those rumors are accurate. Ganz has announced that a Stone Elephant Statue Replica will be sold at the Ganz eStore (www.ganzetore.com) on Saturday, April 25th. As many of you remember, the original Stone Elephant Statue was an adoption exclusive that was retired from Webkinz World back in May 2006.

It is anticipated that the Stone Elephant Statue Replica will be similar in programming to the Skater Kat Skateboard Replica that was offered at the eStore in March. The graphic of the item will most likely be identical to the original, with the only difference between the two being that the replica has the word "replica" in the name and the replica cannot be traded or sent via KinzPost.

Two more retired exclusives are also rumored to be coming to the eStore as replicas sometime this year: the Blue Dragster and the Ice Cream Tree. Although we cannot confirm this rumor, it is worth noting that if/when these items are offered for sale at the eStore, the originals will lose some of their trade value. So, those of you in posession of, or looking to trade for, either of those items should be prepared.

Re: Stone Elephant Statue Replica Coming to eStore, April 25th

Submitted by webkinz_forever (not verified) on Wed, 04/22/2009 - 1:00am.

I'm really mad about this. Won't this put the values down for people who actually have it?
I don't think this is good, all ganz is trying to do is get more money..

First post?

Re: Stone Elephant Statue Replica Coming to eStore, April 25th

Submitted by WebkinzPie on Wed, 04/22/2009 - 1:06am.

Oh geez. GANZ is making the real exclusives less valuable. Why won't they just leave the exclusives alone!

Second post?

Re: Stone Elephant Statue Replica Coming to eStore, April 25th

Submitted by funkyc63 on Wed, 04/22/2009 - 2:02am.

I was just wondering why they would lose trade value if the replica says replica and it cannot be traded anyhow ??

Re: Stone Elephant Statue Replica Coming to eStore, April 25th

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on Wed, 04/22/2009 - 2:13am.

Wow, I came THIS close to trading something very, very big for one of these. . . thank goodness I passed it up!

I feel for all of those who have the elephant statue, or worse, those who traded big for it recently!

I too think that the replicas should not affect the value, as they can't be traded and there will still be the same very limited number of statues circulating in the club house (and GE)...but as someone was explaining earlier, more people who wanted the statue will have it and therefore won't need to look for it by trading. Personally, I think the value of these items is their trade value, and tend to find eStore items somewhat useless. But history has shown that this will affect value, and that stinks.

Not only that, but it puts the rest of us on shaky ground- how long until the red lava is at the eStore?? How far down has the skater cat gone since it's eStore debut??

Re: Stone Elephant Statue Replica Coming to eStore, April 25th

Submitted by FIA on Wed, 04/22/2009 - 2:27am.

Originally Posted by funkyc63

I was just wondering why they would lose trade value if the replica says replica and it cannot be traded anyhow ??

Many of the people out there who are trying to trade for the Original will be very happy with the Replica. As soon as they purchase the Replica, they will no longer be looking for the Original. Therefore, there is less demand for the original.

Supply and Demand.

Re: Stone Elephant Statue Replica Coming to eStore, April 25th

Submitted by angelofharlem on Wed, 04/22/2009 - 2:52am.

Thanks for posting this info FIA
hugs

Angel

Re: Stone Elephant Statue Replica Coming to eStore, April 25th

Submitted by catekinz on Wed, 04/22/2009 - 2:53am.

Ganz is doing nothing more then reminding us this is a game geared for kids, not for adults that want to hoard everything and treat is as a collectible. Remember these are virtual items! And this is just a game!

I've seen this elephant statue selling for $400 real money on unmentionable sites. Not only is this against Ganz policy but why on earth would people spend that kind of money on a virtual item. Ganz has no guarantee of service. They could shut it all down tomorrow and everyone would be out the mega bucks they spent on something they can't hold. So remember it's a game and it's virtual! I'm glad to see Ganz doing this if nothing else to remind us of just what it's all about.

Re: Stone Elephant Statue Replica Coming to eStore, April 25th

Submitted by alg1128 on Wed, 04/22/2009 - 3:00am.

is the ice cream tree tht retired ? i have like 8

Re: Stone Elephant Statue Replica Coming to eStore, April 25th

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on Wed, 04/22/2009 - 3:21am.

Originally Posted by catekinz

Well what is real? You can hold a dollar in your hand, but it can suddenly become just another piece of paper if the bottom were to drop out.

Same with these and all collectibles. I personally wouldn't shell out that kind of money. however, with serious collectors paying serious money for certain items, that gives them real value.

Scarcity gives many objects their value. These are just valuable tchotckeys, like any other. Barbie dolls were also geared towards kids, but many of the old dolls are now considered very valuable by many adults!

'Tis all one...

Re: Stone Elephant Statue Replica Coming to eStore, April 25th

Submitted by SScarb9747 on Wed, 04/22/2009 - 5:18am.

The only one I don't have is the Skater Kat Trophy. I got the Elephant Statue, and Blue Dragster from a dear friend ages ago. My last purchase from the E-Store was the Easter Egg Vehicle, and the Easter Fridge. I still need to add them to my main account. I haven't been feeling great, and busy with hubby and his treatments, test's etc... Easter was the last time I was on my accounts. I hope to get my olders son's last laptop I bought him, so that I can use it with Webkinz. He bought his own laptop, and so we will be getting it back.

Re: Stone Elephant Statue Replica Coming to eStore, April 25th

Submitted by Jarrah on Wed, 04/22/2009 - 5:21am.

My Elephants are very happy to see the statue coming to the estore - they've been hoping for one for a long time.

Now the dilemma begins though - do I buy a membership or pay $ for points....

Re: Stone Elephant Statue Replica Coming to eStore, April 25th

Submitted by Rejewal on Wed, 04/22/2009 - 5:57am.

Originally Posted by Jarrah

My Elephants are very happy to see the statue coming to the estore - they've been hoping for one for a long time.

Now the dilemma begins though - do I buy a membership or pay $ for points....

Lol Jarrah, I am with you! I have dreamed of owning one of these, not because it is rare but because I love the statue, and it has been out of my reach.

Re: Stone Elephant Statue Replica Coming to eStore, April 25th

Submitted by dragonbird on Wed, 04/22/2009 - 6:12am.

Just seems to me like Ganz is shooting themselves in the foot with this silly replica nonsense. The people that get really big into the super retired items are the ones that are the really big spenders. You make them mad enough, and they just might not be as willing to shell out more money.

On a personal level though, it doesn't affect me at all-I don't have the elephant statue, I didn't start ww until long after it was a memory, and I've already taken the "I, dragonbird, being of sound mind and body refuse to purchase a make pretend item for real money beause my DH would be pretty mad at me and I rather like remaining married."

Re: Stone Elephant Statue Replica Coming to eStore, April 25th

Submitted by Joani on Wed, 04/22/2009 - 6:23am.

OH Man can you imagine the uproar heard through WW the day they start offering the clothing like the Witch Hat or the ears.

Re: Stone Elephant Statue Replica Coming to eStore, April 25th

Submitted by Jarrah on Wed, 04/22/2009 - 6:31am.

I think Ganz is pretty clever on this - offering it only one day of the year will drive demand WAY up - and imagine how much $ they get if even 1% of WW players bought an elephant statue (approx 5 to 7 million people log in to WW daily - so 1% of that buying a $4 item (skater cat was $4 is $200,000! from a virtual item that they already had the code for!)

Re: Stone Elephant Statue Replica Coming to eStore, April 25th

Submitted by dragonbird on Wed, 04/22/2009 - 6:37am.

I'm just thinking back to the beanie baby craze-I was so sad when they said they were going to retire beanie babies, never to make any more, then they came out with (gosh I can't remember which it was-the signature or something) a bear and it started all over-I felt lied to-and I never bought another one again...Make people mad enough, and they won't spend...

Maybe they'll make money on this statue-sure they will, but when people feel cheated and lied to, they don't always come back for more...

Re: Stone Elephant Statue Replica Coming to eStore, April 25th

Submitted by Peanut958 on Wed, 04/22/2009 - 7:08am.

Originally Posted by Jarrah

My Elephants are very happy to see the statue coming to the estore - they've been hoping for one for a long time.

Now the dilemma begins though - do I buy a membership or pay $ for points....

My thoughts exactly, I was waiting for the Griffin, but this is a must have since there is no way I would ever be able to trade for it....thanks Ganz!

Re: Stone Elephant Statue Replica Coming to eStore, April 25th

Submitted by Webkinz Mania on Wed, 04/22/2009 - 7:15am.

Looks like every month there will be a replica. Thanks FIA!

Re: Stone Elephant Statue Replica Coming to eStore, April 25th

Submitted by cassielouwho on Wed, 04/22/2009 - 7:19am.

Thank you for this information. I had wondered what this was all about.:el1:

Re: Stone Elephant Statue Replica Coming to eStore, April 25th

Submitted by cassielouwho on Wed, 04/22/2009 - 7:29am.

Quote:

OH Man can you imagine the uproar heard through WW the day they start offering the clothing like the Witch Hat or the ears.

I hope that they do offer more items on the e store, that way those who did not have the chance to get them before can now buy them. It would be neat to have them for my pets.

As for values, these are virtualitems and I have a hard time treating them as a true "collectible" per se. I have a house full of Disneyana, that I can touch ( and dust lol). I will leave the importance of value to those things. I do understand that people would get upset if they traded a lot to get something only to have it released again and lose their value, BUT unless something is truly a limited edition (with a set numbered edition size), you will always run that risk. Virtual or not.