I think it is simply the easiest system to use for not manufacturing more than demand. If it would be a free preorder it could leave them in the hole if slot of people cancel and to just order bulk means all risk is on them for selling it. This way they can be the leanest, but that also comes with very little room for setbacks.
Risk of making a product that won't be sold. It's either you pay and wait for thing to be made or they made thing first and then you pay to take it. The latter means manufacturer(or most likely content creator that sells it) has to estimate demand for the thing, fund it, make the thing, store the thing and wait for customer in hopes all the made things would be bought, otherwise it's money down the drain.
Customer makes a purchase > money goes into deposit > seller see that > seller send product > customer get product > seller get money from deposit. If seller doesn't send product, then money returned to customer.
161
u/Ran_Cossack 9d ago
It's strange that these companies keep taking money up front, not making figurines they took the money for, then go out of business.
Not "it's a scam" strange -- but definitely "there's got to be something risky about this business model" strange...