I've been hearing that people will get priced out for years, but OCD won't let you go. Maybe you'll stop with 1/6th, and then put that money into 1/12th, or statues, or something else.
Some do get priced out, but I see many of the same names here I've seen for years... the price barrier is never wanted when it arrives, and I would love to know just how many people have been able to stop because the price is too high.
I honestly don't think anyone who's been collecting for even a while ever gets "priced out". This is an expensive hobby. You don't get into it unless you already know what road you're going down. I personally have neither the cash, nor the space, to get into statues (nor the desire tbqhwy, maybe one or two tempt me and I'd have them as centrepieces, but a full blown statue collection never appeal to me) so I'm simply not getting into it. No exceptions, nothing. So if the base prices for them go up 50, 100 dollars, whatever, these are pieces that cost like 800 on average. If I had to blow 800 on each piece (plus taxes and shipping), 50 dollars wouldn't be the world. However, I collect figures, and yeah, 50$ in this context is quite a leap, since I remember the days of 250$ figures. Back in the day I bought the SM3 HT Raimi-Man for 130 euros, shipping included. Now the average figure costs me 300 euros.
With that said, the reason why I don't think anyone will get priced out (until we reach 400$ per base figure at least) is that by this point you already have 5, 10, 15 figures, and you're paying 50$, 70$ more now. It's not enough to make you skip an absolute favourite on principle by getting fed up witht heir practises. But it is enough to make you slow down. A lot more folks will be far more selective with what the buy. Costume, version, role in their displays, everything will have to pass through a filter before the average, budgeted collector, buys something. Granted, most of us are "supposed" to be doing that already, but sometimes you get caught up in the hype. Now with constant rereleases, a barrage of POs and raised prices, I can see people slowing down. But backing away entirely? Eh, at this point we're all at "sunk cost" territory. I woudn't be able to justify having a Kylo Ren and not a Vader, even if I'd have to end up paying 400 euros for him.
It's more about knowing how to be selective in what you actually buy and add to your display/collection . Back then you can buy every single release and then still re-sell them later on. It's what I used to do. Now that's a lot harder with Hot Toys reissuing every figure and also oversaturating the market with multiple versions of the same character.
Now I double check if I REALLY want/need this figure in my collection or if it's just a cool looking figure that you get swept up into the hype with. Like what does the costume/character actually mean to you to warrant having it in the collection. There's way too many filler figures that ultimately amount to nothing after a year or two in your collection. Stuff that you think is cool and hyped in the moment but then 2 years down the line you decide you don't care about it.
It also helps to aim for a definative representation of a character on the shelf. I don't like having two figures of the same character unless if it's warranted.
Like why do I need a Doctor Strange figure from his movie, Infinity War, No Way Home AND Multiverse of Madness. I just need 1 that ultimately represents him on the shelf.
Exactly. We're at a point where if you're an A-Lister HT will make every costume variation from every film you appear in. But with the sheer barrage of Marvel, and now Star Wars, movies, games and shows, the list becomes bigger and bigger. So we're being hit left and right with figures upon figures upon figures. Now you don't just have to worry about getting the main guy in his comic accurate suit and a villain to tick off the box. Now you have two or so "training" suits, multiple villains, variants, the "close enough" costume, some AUs and then supporting characters and everything in between. It's too much to deal with if you don't have a particular plan.
Personally I sat down and drew up a list some time back. Came up with planned displays and everything. But even with that it's hard. From NWH I was planning on getting Tobey, Ock and Goblin. That's 3 POs. I'd say Ock would go for near 400 and Goblin for 350, due to the Tentacles & Glider respectively. Add another 285 for Tobey. Add taxes and whatever, and it'd come to about 1200 euros minimum for me. Then we go to March and we have DS2. Shoot, I need a Strange. Who knows who else will appear there? I still need a Loki and a Wanda for my planned Sorcerers Display. Another near 1000. But wait, I want Strange for an Illuminati display. So do I plan to get another Strange later down the line? Then there's the Kenobi show. Assuming there's a CW flashback, at least a General Kenobi and a General Skywalker are locks. Bam, another 600. But hey, Vader will be there. Do I buy a RotS-esque version, or wait for a RotJ release? Let's say I pass on Battinson; I'm still waiting for the Joker 3.0, so another 350. Black Adam & Doctor Fate from Black Adam (assuming they happen at all) are another ~600. Ant-Man's got Kang and maybe MODOK. Wait, we've got Moon Knight too. And BP2, which means a new Black Panther, which I'm missing. So, without accounting for anything else (surprise licenes, other companies, whatever), I'm looking at a ~3500 minimum worth of a single year’s POs. That's not "huge" to someone with disposable income per se, but it is quite a bit to throw at literal dolls that will get a new version two years from now. And hey, if this is bad, imagine the onslaught that will be X-Men & FF. And so it goes...
You get my point. I think everyone should sit down and figure out exactly what they want out of this hobby. Do you buy out of habit, nostalgia, genuine interest, whatever. With Star Wars I started with "only the Sith" then went to "only the Force Users" and I'm close to "well, some guys like Boba too...". And that'll have me buying a Han and a Leia and whatever else, even though I literally never cared for them. That's what you want to avoid. Make sure every figure has a reason and a story to be there. Find the ones that are the perfect mix of nostalgia and still-active interest.
