lollllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll!!!
Was literally just about to mention this!
Most blanks go for over $200 alone! You’re getting a cast of the movie mold mask for $60, and if you don’t like it just have it rehauled.
With all due respect, I think you’re blowing it way out of proportion. It’s a $60 mask so you’re not going to have a movie quality replica although I do understand about the head size issue. The quality, however, is great. I did an entire video with costume shots and the mask looks fantastic, especially at night. TOTS is not perfect but, as I said in a previous thread, be happy that the mask market is no longer dominated by the late Don Post or Rubie’s. Then I could see you having some legitimate gripes but bashing TOTS is really just uncalled for given the quality they give for that kind of price.
Seems that a lot of folks who don’t have the head size issue are quick to dismiss that criticism because it doesn’t apply to them. I also see that criticism dismissed because of the quality of the sculpt. Here’s the truth of the matter:
-the sculpt is great, especially when done justice by a talented painter like those on these boards
-$60 is an incredible bargain for a mask made directly from the movie mold.
Neither of these issues can logically be called into question, and I don’t think most fans who are upset with TOTS are unless they’re committed to blindly bashing the company. Legitimate criticism of TOTS, however, includes:
-a size issue that was by no means “accidental” and could have been avoided in a number of ways (multiple sizes, a larger size that could be padded for those with smaller heads, etc.(
-atrocious customer service, including but not limited to: failure to respond to multiple email requests for updates on shipping (this happened to me multiple times), no mention of possible post-Halloween delivery at the time of pre-order, no indicator on the site of the masks’s size.
-Chris Zephro’s callous dismissal of fans who have legitimate gripes with the issues mentioned above.
People not on the “TOTS is pure evil” end of the spectrum or “TOTS can do no wrong” end recognize these as irrefutable facts and have some compassion for their fellow fans who wanted what we all did: to have an accurate and affordable mask from the new film to wear to the premiere and/or Halloween night. This was not a tall order to deliver and for various reasons, it wasn’t. If that’s not the fault of TOTS, please tell me who’s fault it is.
Seems that a lot of folks who don’t have the head size issue are quick to dismiss that criticism because it doesn’t apply to them. I also see that criticism dismissed because of the quality of the sculpt. Here’s the truth of the matter:
-the sculpt is great, especially when done justice by a talented painter like those on these boards
-$60 is an incredible bargain for a mask made directly from the movie mold.
Neither of these issues can logically be called into question, and I don’t think most fans who are upset with TOTS are unless they’re committed to blindly bashing the company. Legitimate criticism of TOTS, however, includes:
-a size issue that was by no means “accidental” and could have been avoided in a number of ways (multiple sizes, a larger size that could be padded for those with smaller heads, etc.(
-atrocious customer service, including but not limited to: failure to respond to multiple email requests for updates on shipping (this happened to me multiple times), no mention of possible post-Halloween delivery at the time of pre-order, no indicator on the site of the masks’s size.
-Chris Zephro’s callous dismissal of fans who have legitimate gripes with the issues mentioned above.
People not on the “TOTS is pure evil” end of the spectrum or “TOTS can do no wrong” end recognize these as irrefutable facts and have some compassion for their fellow fans who wanted what we all did: to have an accurate and affordable mask from the new film to wear to the premiere and/or Halloween night. This was not a tall order to deliver and for various reasons, it wasn’t. If that’s not the fault of TOTS, please tell me whose fault it is.
Well I know I never said it was accidental, I am just going off of my own theories based on multiple copies of the same mask and the difference between them. For which there are big differences in some cases. Why? Couldn’t tell you, but the theory I think is probable is the size of the molds.
As for dismissal of any of this shit, uh no, I have said in several other instances on this topic that it quite frankly sucks major ass for everyone having issues, and that I clearly got LUCKY. So if any of that was directed at me, you can take me off that list of people.
Mask looks amazing worn and in various lighting. Just my opinion, sure as hell not a TOTS apologist. I have had several gripes and issues with their asses in the past, just so happened this time, I got lucky. The elrod mask for me was basically the issue that folks are having with this new mask.
The elrod, at least my copy, I had to damn near butcher to hell and back to get it to fit, and the hair isn’t even remotely an attempt to make the mask more accurate. Why couldn’t they just use the camel hair? Would of been a hell of a lot closer to what it should look like if they had. Got the excuse of they ran out of camel hair or whatever the hell excuse they were running at the time, and now years later, it’s still that same hair so that was a bullshit reason. The size is very small, and is ridiculous to think that it’s a one size fits all, So why would they say such fuckery?!I have my fair share of gripes with their stuff.
Not once in any of my posts did I write off anyone who has issues with the mask. I genuinely feel bad for those folks. Said it several times. It’s shit, when this is a big time to be a Halloween fan, since we are finally getting the movie we asked for.
Amen !!! When all the Hype dies down , I’m going to get 3 more of these things . A mask made from the movie mold silicon master , and for $60 ? Some people just like to complain about everything . Anyways , here’s my current copy . Love this mask !!!
That’s a damn good copy Juice. Is it straight from Tots?
And anyway, just my two cents: the hype for this movie and this mask is crazy. I’m not so sure this would’ve been smooth sailing for any company, let alone one that is probably still relatively little and young. I remember when these guys were just posters and artists from the community and look where they’ve gotten. They really should remember their roots when it comes to those C&D’s though.
I wasn’t targeting you in particular. There are some folks here (and the Facebook group, which is so obnoxious and toxic I left after a day) who dismiss the valid criticisms made and those who make them. They continue to circle back to the affordability and accuracy of the sculpt, which few if any honest critics are complaining about. The copy I got was beautiful but I saw no reason to keep a mask I’d been waiting to wear on Halloween for months when it was far too small. I sold it off in the hopes it will bring someone else the joy I was hoping to experience myself.
There are also a number of people using the “well, just try them on until you find one that fits.” I live in Lafayette, Louisiana. We have one Party City and two Spirit Halloween stores. Neither have had the masks in and tell me they don’t expect to get them in. I’ve searched the stock of the entire state’s stores and there’s nothing. I don’t have the luxury of trying another one on. I know TOTS couldn’t have anticipated the response the movie is getting, but I also think the sizing issue was one so easily fixed that it seems a ploy to get the dedicated fan to double-dip. I wish that wasn’t the case with any company, but recent events have proven it very likely is.
I’m in NY and lucked out. The Party City in Manhattan is huge but of all the copies there; none fit. Trust me when I say you can search my posts and will find I am the first to advocate for larger masks. At 24.5’ it’s hard to find any that fit. I don’t think TOTS intentionally wanted people to “double dip” they just make most of their sculpts extremely small. Their large H2 is the only mask that fits me, but then there are 100 people who say their head is swimming in that mask. I expect them to release a larger version due to the demand and it is unfortunate that not all copies fit the same. Of 15 tried on, only 1 fit me.
I agree 100 percent. The guy just blantantly ripped off someone. Zero respect for this community.
Exactly. 
I thought he was a cool guy too, extremely disappointed. I understand capitalism but he bought a mask many were interested in that the artist sold to him at a very fair price. He could have just not been selfish and allowed somebody who actually wanted it to own it at a fair price. Always considered this a tight-knit community and I lost a lot of respect for him after this
I will say that I sent multiple emails as well about an issue when ordering and aside from one response I never got a response after that in a span of four months. TOTS is a good company but it needs to improve its customer service for sure. As for Zephro’s callous dismissal I’m starting to see that perhaps that is true considering the lack of response to my inquiries. Hopefully TOTS gets its act together in that respect.
I was looking at getting one, but decided to wait until at least after I see the new movie to see if I really want one. Supply issues made that decision easy. And with such high demand out of the gates, I wonder if once things cool down if we don’t see a more consistent paint job. Having multiple sizes is a nice idea, as I wear a 7-5/8 to 7-3/4 hat, so rarely does a mask fit comfortably, but that seems rare, even with an independent maker.
As far as TOTS goes, they are pretty much the best mass production mask and prop maker, from my experience (I have many of their masks). Ghoulish has some good stuff as well, Rubies/Forum is really hit and miss, and a lot of other companies come and go. Rubies has a tendency to be thinner pulls (resulting in masks that don’t hold their shape well and require hours of applying heat with a blow drier, among other procedures just to try to get it to lay right) and sometimes uses an odd latex recipe that smells like old rubberbands (I have a “Collector’s Edition” Freddy from a few years ago that has such a strong rubberband odor, you can smell it a few feet away…I just need to eventually get a silicone one).
TOTS sculpts are almost always on point and even if their factory does a poor job of painting/hairing on a copy, a novice can do a couple of simple fixes to make it look great, while someone more experienced can make them look truly incredible with a full overhaul. Not bad for masks that typically range from $50-$80. Their Halloween II mask was honestly the first good looking mass produced Myers ever and is what brought me into mask collecting.
I have no experience with their customer support, so I can’t speak on it.
It’s all good, I was just clearing my name of the trolls and dudes who just ignore what others say about the issues they are having. Not my camp of folks. I do genuinely feel bad this is such an issue, when it’s this major year for us Halloween fans. We have waited for this for almost a decade, and it’s shitty that it’s being dampered down by issues with the licensed mask for the movie.
I hate to say wait until the hype dies down to see how they handle those copies of the mask, but that’s obviously not the point and not what the fans want to have to do. Totally get it. Like I said, I got major lucky on my copy. And I agree, it’s tough to try them on, when literally no one has them, and if they do, they have like 1 or 2, not exactly many options there.
I appreciate your understanding. I can’t speak for anyone else, but that’s all I’m asking for. We’re all huge fans of The Shape and many of us have longed for a return to greatness for the series. I’ve never actually wanted another sequel (don’t like any of them outside of a few scenes here and there) but the idea of doing what H20 should have been got my interest. Confirming H2 was also being ignored (really hate what that film does to H1) brought me fully onboard. Then we see the mask and for me, it’s the next best thing to using a Kirk mold, and I began counting the days until I’d get the mask and be able to wear it on Halloween night. Those hopes were dashed, and while I’m still excited for the movie (waiting for it to start as I type this) Halloween night won’t be the same now. At least I have a good copy of the TOTS H2 and will have a superb indie mask for next year.
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