1/6 Hot Toys - MMS290/D10 - Avengers: AoU - War Machine Mark II

[BatBrain]

See, people who have been around a while view the whole thing differently than some of the new collectors. Today's prices are what they know and they're very excepting of them, while people who have been absorbing the increases for a while are getting turned off and/or straight up priced out.

Shame is this won't stop until these companies push it to where it backfires on them badly enough to do damage. You would think that what we've been seeing on Sideshow would be the first warning signs to them (HT, SS, etc.). Now they are choking on a multitude of different releases, many of which have been collecting dust for way long, and are still sitting there despite Spook deals, 10%-20% discounts, extra/double/triple rewards, etc.

Whether it be overproduction, the movie not being popular, the character not being popular, the final product not being popular, whatever.... you'd think that this would have been something that would make HT reevaluate their strategy... and then they launch a 2nd string character, head to toe of reused parts... for $340+. Man.

Perhaps this trend is mostly stemming from Asia where adult toy collecting has grown to an epic level, and even 5"-6" figures could run from $50-$80.

IDK. Prices have jumped in the last 3½ years that I've been collecting 1/6, but the level of quality has clearly increased also. I'm still around because the figures have gotten better and the average price for regular figures are $190-$260, which is still justifiable in my book. But the day you're Star Lord/Winter Soldier/Cap/Thor type figures are regularly $275-$325+ for no apparent reason, I'm throwing in the towel just on principle alone

Ugh. $340 repaints of 2nd string characters really get me going

Well said. And the fact that some figures are diecast seems to give HT a belief they should charge a lot more as if it's some precious metal. While it seems cool so far- and I'm including Robocop here-we have yet to see how these will hold up. The oldest diecast figure now ironically is WM Mark 2 1.0 and that's just over a year old. Who knows if these will outlast their plastic counterparts 4-5 years from now.

BTW I must spread rep around before giving you more. So I owe you.

 

[hokietwo]

As some of you pointed out, I think HT knows that not that many people will be interested because of the price jump from IM3 War Machine 2.0, I have a feeling this will be the Hawkeye for this particular Avengers lineup of figures.

No chance this ever sniffs Hawkeye territory. My money is on this being available less than $340 a year from now. Hawkeye was a first release of the figure. The process of collecting the first Avengers was way different than all of the crap that is getting tossed around for 20+ figures this time. Avengers was basically 9 figures which for most people the price and value was worth it. Very few people will try to collect the entire line for AOU. They will approach 20 figures in this line. That is over $6,000 for one movie. Totally absurd for most collectors. If a person try's to collect them all I say good on ya!

When you start looking at figures on the chopping block for nice to have for Avengers: AOU, War Machine will be at the top of most lists, especially since there is one already available for $100 less. I look at Thor and Black Widow and they are in that list as well.

 

[PopCultKid]

Well said. And the fact that some figures are diecast seems to give HT a belief they should charge a lot more as if it's some precious metal. While it seems cool so far- and I'm including Robocop here-we have yet to see how these will hold up. The oldest diecast figure now ironically is WM Mark 2 1.0 and that's just over a year old. Who knows if these will outlast their plastic counterparts 4-5 years from now.

BTW I must spread rep around before giving you more. So I owe you.

Yup, so far so good but we'll see how the die cast holds up.

If the hikes hit outer space like I mentioned, then I can easily see myself giving up on licensed figs and sticking to customs. I know that I won't get much support on that front on this side of the forum, but there are a lot of fallacies over here. I appreciate the limited hand crafted artistry more than the mass produced offerings in general. Despite what the anti-custom folks think, I know that someone like Denny from Iminime pockets give or take $40 on each set that sells for $450, as opposed to HT making 5-6X their money on a $340 WM. Everything about the former sits way better with me

 

[AW177]

but............but.......avengers

Get the IM 3 one and buy separate Avengers stand...!

 

[Pro Design]

you know i understand that the craftmanship has increased over the years... but it in no way comes close to the price increase. you look at the blade figure from a few years ago. he has accessories out the wazoo... looks incredible, outstanding details and killer sculpt... and is $160 less than this reissue figure w/ none of the accessories. hell even the mk7. 5 times the accessories, same 2 heads, same electronics and $75 cheaper. drop the BS diecast myth/justification. its pennies on the dollar price difference for it. its gimmick, not much more...

it just gets irritating... the people running the show think that gimmick = $$ when in fact its peoples' addiction that = $$. the addict's "ohhh instabuy... gotta have it... po'd but hate myself" mentality is what keeps these prices going to a range that is going to eventually push the majority away. and it pisses me off! ruining something i enjoy with greed. you would think that someone in charge would be saying "hey lets sell 10000 of these at $200 vs sell 4000 of these at $345" end of rant... before i go home and burn all these things!!! lol

 

[Boba Debt]

.....as opposed to HT making 5-6X their money on a $340 WM. Everything about the former sits way better with me

Can you PROVE this comment?

Because that profit margin would be astronomical by economic standards. The most successful companies in the world only have 3-8% profit margins and by your estimates Hot Toys would have 500-600% profit margin, unless I misunderstood your comment.



By the way, the members of this forum are the worst at misplaced blame. Hot Toys is producing a character from the film. The are not just issuing a repaint for the sake of making more money.

As for the price increase it's not hard to understand why this figure costs more then the original release.


Just a couple reasons are the cost of energy is a lot higher now, especially in China. There has be additional licensing fees for this figure since it has the head sculpt and it is from the Avengers license. The cost of shipping is higher due to several reasons, the most prominent one being the cost of fuel.


For people that claim to love Hot Toys so much, a lot of you seem to really hate them.

 

[Pro Design]

Can you PROVE this comment?

Because that profit margin would be astronomical by economic standards. The most successful companies in the world only have 3-8% profit margins and by your estimates Hot Toys would have 500-600% profit margin, unless I misunderstood your comment.



By the way, the members of this forum are the worst at misplaced blame. Hot Toys is producing a character from the film. The are not just issuing a repaint for the sake of making more money.

As for the price increase it's not hard to understand why this figure costs more then the original release.


Just a couple reasons are the cost of energy is a lot higher now, especially in China. There has be additional licensing fees for this figure since it has the head sculpt and it is from the Avengers license. The cost of shipping is higher due to several reasons, the most prominent one being the cost of fuel.


For people that claim to love Hot Toys so much, a lot of you seem to really hate them.

sorry i gotta disagree with you. i think you are misreading what people are saying. its not that they are slapping a repaint on the figure. its that they are slapping a repaint on a figure that was already over priced... and adding $60 to it. understand it has a reused head from IP, but still doesnt come close to justifying the price increase. if these things were the same price as its identical predecessor this bad blood brewing wouldn't be there to the extent it is. and its quite the contrary... people love them, love this hobby... the totally unjustified amount of price jacking is what's ruining it. so its a hate not on the product but the BS greed levels from the parent company.

ps... we're all paying almost 1/2 the price for gas as i've been the past few years. so it should be reflected in my shipping costs no? which should reflect in cheaper figures no?

 

[hokietwo]

I have another theory on the price increases as well. If you look at how much left over stock the BBTS and Sideshows of the world have accumulated in the last year, that is real money real losses that are going to come through for expected cash flow.

Now fast forward into 2015, these places have shrank their discounts from 8% to list, they are holding to the minimum orders now to stop having dead and excess. This means there are less pre-orders coming into Hot toys. They have budgets targets and numbers as well. Since the orders are down their prices have to automatically go up to achieve just the same level of revenue last year.

The licensing and that stuff matter to, but what you are starting to see is the bubble on Hot Toys figures. They are working on expansion territory right now, testing the price elasticity on the figures. When volume goes down, price goes up and demand goes down we will finally start see lower prices for pieces as a result.

 

[chewblacca]

I hope prices go down. After AOU, I'm done with Hot Toys Iron man. The stealth Mark 7, mark 43, hulk buster, now this. It's all getting way too expensive for me.

 

[MTL79]

So is the AOU War Machine darker than the IM3 WM as initially reported? I can't find any well lit figures of the AOU WM....

 

[hokietwo]

So is the AOU War Machine darker than the IM3 WM as initially reported? I can't find any well lit figures of the AOU WM....

The paint appears to be darker and now having a finish on the paint that gives it a shine is the noticeable change. It could be the same paint and the gloss could just darken or lighten the finish.

 

[Y4NK33 PL4N3T]

I have another theory on the price increases as well. If you look at how much left over stock the BBTS and Sideshows of the world have accumulated in the last year, that is real money real losses that are going to come through for expected cash flow.

Now fast forward into 2015, these places have shrank their discounts from 8% to list, they are holding to the minimum orders now to stop having dead and excess. This means there are less pre-orders coming into Hot toys. They have budgets targets and numbers as well. Since the orders are down their prices have to automatically go up to achieve just the same level of revenue last year.

The licensing and that stuff matter to, but what you are starting to see is the bubble on Hot Toys figures. They are working on expansion territory right now, testing the price elasticity on the figures. When volume goes down, price goes up and demand goes down we will finally start see lower prices for pieces as a result.

I have a hard time believing Hot Toys orders on Iron Man products are down globally. If they were, why would they commit to cranking out every single variation of IM & WM imaginable plus every villain? My guess for the price hike is that their internal costs to manufacture these are increasing as well as the cost to procure licenses. Plus, Hot Toys knows IM is their bread and butter so tacking on an extra $20-25 per figure is something they may feel won't discourage their customers from pulling the trigger anyway.

As for the bubble, I don't know. I've been hearing that since the first day I joined this forum yet 1:6 has exploded globally and doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon. For every person that states that they've had enough, there may be 10 taking their place.

 

[Pro Design]

As for the bubble, I don't know. I've been hearing that since the first day I joined this forum yet 1:6 has exploded globally and doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon. For every person that states that they've had enough, there may be 10 taking their place.

its just like walter white and that dam blue! lol

 

[Y4NK33 PL4N3T]

its just like walter white and that dam blue! lol

 

[mynameschris]

If anyone from the UK wants one locally Toy HQ just put it on their website for £299.99

 

[Guff]

If anyone from the UK wants one locally Toy HQ just put it on their website for £299.99

Ouch. I paid £210 for Iron Patriot.

 

[YankeesFanboy]

If anyone from the UK wants one locally Toy HQ just put it on their website for £299.99

That's $445.

 

[hokietwo]

its just like walter white and that dam blue! lol

Hot toys hydra. Cut off one Hot Toy collector 10 take his place! Hail Hot Toys!

 

[edabang]

Hot toys hydra. Cut off one Hot Toy collector 10 take his place! Hail Hot Toys!

:goodpost :hi5
Hail Hot Toys!


Sent using J.A.R.V.I.S.
Have a nice day

 

[loki2371]

Hot toys hydra. Cut off one Hot Toy collector 10 take his place! Hail Hot Toys!