20 - Twentieth - 20%

Things - they are a changin' . . . just a little

Change is a major constant that we must live with.  With the departure of 2015 and the arriving of 2016, the change of the calendar brings a new anniversary onto the landscape.  Twenty years is generally considered a milestone in almost all areas of life.  Biological age, years of marriage, the age of a car . . . 20 is a magical number for many things.  And so it is for a business.

In 1996, DeJankins was born, so this new year will mark 20 years of dino-business.  And here we are, dressing up our "low-tech" website as part of the celebration.  You have, no doubt, seen some of the changes.  More are on the way.  We've had a successful first 20 years, accomplishing what we set out to do in 1996, and we're hoping to have another 20 of continuing that tradition.  If you aren't familiar with what our goal was for this company, check out the "About" DeJankins page.

Since we have finally received all the 2015 releases (some just days before Christmas), and since the first wave of 2016 figures are now in stock, it is time to mention one of the things we plan on doing for the entire year to celebrate our 20th anniversary.  Every 20th order which we receive, we will automatically discount by 20%.  And you can know if you are the 20th order by checking your invoice number.  If it is an even multiple of 20 (for example 1680, 1700, 1720), then you will receive the discount.  Pretty easy.

And so, here at the end of 2015, DeJankins wishes our 360+ customers a wonderful 2016!  Can't wait to get our hands on all those 2016 prehistoric figures!!

What's the word for this year? Delay . . . . again!

I really wish I had better news, but I don't.

Concerning CollectA's Deluxe feathered Tyrannosaurus, the Deluxe Spinosaurus, walking and swimming versions of the standard sized Spinosaurus, and the two Mini Dinosaur collections -

New items will be arriving November 31st for release in December.

And concerning Mojö 2015 figures which should have been here a month ago . . .

Nothing.

And, just so you will know, we're taking a little time off.  DeJankins staff will be out of town for two weeks from October 4th through the 18th.  We apologize for any inconvenience.

Time for another update . . . so soon??

It hasn't been very long since the last two updates, but enough has been happening to warrant another status note.

Mojö Thylacine

The 2015 Mojö Fun figures are now on their way to DeJankins.  We hope they will arrive in the next few days.  Exactly what we will get in is not known just yet . . . it has been quite a while since the order was made, and no order summary or invoice has yet been received to describe the contents of the shipment.  But as soon as we have the items in stock, we will certainly update the Mojö page in the DeJankins "Store" showing what items are here and what their cost will be.  Check back occasionally to stay on top of things.

And about the Tamba Sauropod - the Kinto Soft Model Tambatitanis is sold out again.  It didn't take long for those six to get claimed, but it was good that we were able to find a few for customers that weren't able to get it last year when we had a larger number in stock.

The new Terra dinosaurs from Battat have begun showing up in our area of North Carolina.  DeJankins is not able to purchase these items from the manufacturer because of the exclusive contract with Target stores.  But we have been picking them up as we come across them to make them available to DeJankins customers who have not been able to get them in their area.  This is mainly benefitting our customers outside of the United States.  If you find yourself in that situation, send us an email and we'll let you know which of those items are currently available here.

Enough news for today.  Thanks for your kind support!

What's really here, and what is not . . . . CollectA update

There were a couple of confusing emails and two invoices that seemed to indicate one thing when the actual shipment was somewhat different.  So, here's the current status of CollectA figures for 2015 . . .

In stock now at DeJankins:

• Deluxe Acrocanthosaurus, Daeodon, Moropus, Guidraco, and Pliosaur (from earlier this year)
• Standard Temnodontosaurus, Smilodon, and from earlier this year the Xionguanlong, Medusaceratops, Nasutoceratops, and Daxiatitan
• Baobab Tree

We are still waiting on:

• Deluxe Feathered Tyrannosaurus rex and "short-legged" Spinosaurus
• Both versions of the Standard sized "short-legged" Spinosaurus (walking and swimming versions)
• Mini-Dinosaurs collections 1 and 2

I hope this clears up any doubts as to what is currently available.  Thanks so much for your business!

Some good news, some not so good, but mostly good news . . .

There are a few updates which you may be interested in . . .

The first of the Schleich World of History Dinosaurs "playsets" has arrived - Velociraptor on the Hunt.  It comes in a nice window box with the 2012 version Velociraptor, two new Compsognathus figures (green and orange), and a Tyrannosaur skull.  Though many will find it painful to purchase this set if they had already bought the Velociraptor, it is the only way to get the two small Compsognathus dinosaurs.  DeJankins has this set in stock now, for $22.

Velociraptor on the Hunt playset from Schleich

Some not so good news comes to us from the Director of Sales Operations for CollectA USA.  Some of the remaining 2015 releases were not in the container recently received by CollectA USA, and so we will have to wait a bit longer for them.  The figures which DID arrive are the standard Smilodon and the Deluxe Acrocanthosaurus, Feathered Tyrannosaurus rex, Daeodon, and Moropus.  The figures we are still waiting on include the Guidraco, Temnodontosaurus, Baobab Tree, and the three versions of the short-legged Spinosaurus.  An estimate of when they may be expected has not been given.

For those of you who wanted to get the Tamba Sauropod, the exclusive Kinto Favorite figure developed for the Osaka Natural History Museum by Hirokazu Tokugawa, but did not get one last year . . . I have six now in stock.  Thanks to the efforts of a good friend, I was able to get a few more of these for any of you that still wanted to get one.  Just send an email to DeJankins and order yours before they run out again.

Tamba Sauropod from Kinto

Not totally unexpected . . .

Both the first and second shipments last year from the orient for CollectA here in the United States were delayed.  Part of the reason given was extended time clearing customs.  The first container to come in this year was also delayed.  So, it is not unexpected that I received information yesterday from the Director of Sales Operations for CollectA in the US that their second shipment was being pushed back from the original "June/July" estimate to August.

Not good news for the collecting community, but it will help us all develop more patience in our lives.

Well, this mistake will be good for you, the DeJankins customer

Well, the price list and order form had the same wholesale price for the CollectA Guidraco as was listed for the Acrocanthosaurus, Feathered Tyrannosaur, the Moropus, and the Pliosaur.  And so, I listed the Guidraco at $21, just like all the rest.  Only recently did I find out for certain (though given a heads up by an astute customer) that the price must have been wrong.  Well, it was, and that mistake will save you money if you have already put in your order for the 2015 CollectA Guidraco . . . OR if you do so before the first of May.  I will honor the $21 price through the end of April, but beginning May 1st, the price will be $31.  I'm sorry to have to do that, but I do need to make a little money on these fellows.  Just contact us  and we'll put you down for a $21 Guidraco.

Current Status

January 5, 2015 - two things happened that evening, the second putting an abrupt stop to the first.  That evening I was creating a new blog entry here to describe the 2015 offerings from the various manufacturers whose products you will find in our store.  The abrupt end of that blog, before it could be saved, was when the old DeJankins computer died.

It has been two months, and much has happened in the ten weeks since.  It is time to provide updates to you, our customers.

The "swimming" Spinosaurus from CollectA.

Product numbers and prices are finally available for the new "short-legged" Spinosaurus from CollectA.  As many already know, there will be three versions on this creature.  One is the Deluxe 1:40 figure, in a walking stance.  The others are standard sized figures (XL), one walking and the other shown swimming.  Prices will be $21, $11, and $11 for them respectively.  The current estimate of their availability is June.

All 2015 Safari Ltd. items have been out since the new year started and the Papo Apatosaurus and Tupuxuara are now available.  The second of Papo's Mini-Tub of Dinosaurs will not be out until summer.  The Schleich Kentrosaurus, Anhanguera, and eight mini-dinosaurs are all in stock.  The remaining Schleich World of History figures (large and small) are expected later this summer.  Bullyland has NO new prehistoric figures for 2015.

The first half of this years figures from CollectA should be arriving any day now, and the remaining pieces are expected this summer.  The Kinto fish and mammals (Dunkleosteus, Anomaolocaris, Smilodon, and Woolly Mammoth) have been stuck in customs for some time.  Hopefully they will soon be ready for shipping to retailers.  Mojö is still looking for a North American importer/distributor.  The Canadian importer decided not to continue with Mojö just as the US importer did several years ago.  DeJankins will not be getting the new 2015 Mojö dinosaurs until they have their new distributor.

GeoWorld is rebranding the Jurassic Hunters figures, now calling their items by the name of their new "Dr. Steve Hunters" character.  The six prehistoric marine reptiles are expected this summer, and we hope to see the six crocodiles and early reptiles by the end of the year.

As you might have heard, Safari Ltd. and the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh have parted ways.  For collectors, the main outcome from that decision was the immediate retiring of the entire Safari Carnegie Collection.  New figure development for this line has ceased as has production of all figures in the collection.  DeJankins has all current Carnegie dinosaur figures in stock, along with about twenty of their retired pieces, some going back to the early 1990's.  If you delayed purchasing any of these figures, you might want to get them while you can.  It can be expected that prices will rise dramatically on these figures as time passes.  No more are being made, and what remains in store stocks will only decrease with the passing of time.  Check out our stock and our really good prices, many still below MSRP.

Of course, with the demise of the Safari Carnegie collection, one could see two silver linings in that cloud.  First would be that Safari Ltd. will want to replace that line with a new line of dinosaurs.  And the Carnegie Museum will also need a new line to anchor their gift shops.  We may find that moving the Safari Carnegie Collection to retirement may mean two new lines may rise from those ashes.  And let's not forget that Jurassic World will be on us in less than three months with all of it's attendant merchandise.

Lastly, there has been no definite word on the next batch of Battat Terra dinosaurs nor of the re-release of the old Boston Museum of Science figures.  Our best goes out to Dan LoRusso, their creator, as he perseveres through radiation treatments.

The Red Rex . . . found in time for Christmas!

They still have not come to any of the Walmart stores in the DeJankins area of North Carolina, but a long time friend of DeJankins has come across some of the exclusive Red Schleich Tyrannosaurus figures at Walmart stores in Texas.  Because of his help, we have half a dozen of this Walmart exclusive, just for you, and just in time for Christmas.  Actual cost to DeJankins (price, tax, and shipping) for us to get the figure here was $36 each.  For the first six to contact us for this figure, we will let you have one for $40.  Contact us soon!

New Supplier on the block - Rebor Studios

Their first offering is a Yutyrannus, and it looks to be a very nice piece!  The model is a 1:35 scale replica of Yutyrannus based on the result of the latest research, and is made of top quality PVC, the base is made of polystone and is solid and heavy.  It is about 10.5 inches long and just under 3.5 inches high.  The base adds another inch and a quarter to the height.

Two additional models are anticipated later this year, a "King T-rex" and a Utahraptor, both also created in 1:35 scale.

So, the question for DeJankins customers is this . . .   At about $42, would you be interested in getting your own copy of this figure?  DeJankins would very much like to provide products from this company to you, but only if our friends and supporters are interested in this line.   Drop us an email to let us know what you think.

Thank you!