We addressed this last year:
http://www.joecanuck.com/joe/board/inde ... pic=3334.0But, since I've had a total of 23 requests via email, PM's and Facebook, in the last 24 hours, I feel it needs to be addressed again... and it's pretty much, word for word.
Once again we are thrilled by the interest in this year's convention set. Unfortunately, simply being excited and "really really wanting" these exclusives, or not being able to attend due to work / money, etc will not get you them. Since the first exclusive figure in 2004, the only way to attain these figures is by arriving at the con early enough to claim them yourself.
As of this posting, nearly 25 people have emailed asking that they be the exception to this rule. Some of those people are longtime friends. Some are perfect strangers. The math shows that if we made the exception to every one of those people, over half the sets would be sold before the show. This set is not an internet exclusive. It is a convention exclusive and therefore will only be sold at the convention.
We at JoeCanuck.com do everything we can to ensure these sets end up in the hands of as many different fans as possible. That is why we have rules like one per person per address (ie if you are one person with three addresses, you can only buy one set, if you are three people with one address, you can only buy one set). People cutting in line and people holding places for friends will not be allowed or tolerated.
It has been suggested that we make more figures. We have. Originally our figures were limited to a run of roughly 30 items. Last year, we increased that to 5 items at 100 of them each. This year we have a box set of items limited to 100, a bonus item limited to 50, and a comic limited to a run of 1000. I'd say we've increased very well in the short amount of time.
Ideally some day we may be granted access to Hasbro's factories and we can make a run large enough to meet all demand both at the con and away (online) from it. However that day has not come yet and there is no guarantee it will ever come. So for the time being, we are putting our sweat into these exclusives and appreciate the attention they get and the patience our fans show us.
Once sure way to show that you would support a higher run exclusive item (200 - 500?) is to bring your friends and ensure that attendance this year is higher than ever.
Thank you for your understanding.
The Canadian Joe Con Staff.