1/6 Price vs. quality poll

[DarthNeil]

For me (and I suspect many more) its a very slippery slope between no longer being a completist and all and all just quiting the line.

Those that never considered themselves completists might not know what I mean.

Once you stop being a completist its easy to pass on a lot of figures. Once you pass on a lot of figures its easy to pass on entire lines.

I'm in total agreement.
I used to be a completist with Hasbro (when I seriously got back into it with their Ep III line). The re-hashes and multiple coloured clones quickly pushed me out of the completist territory--not to mention the $2 price hike.

 

[FlyAndFight]

I can't vote in the poll, because it uses as its premise the assumption that Sideshow could not have released the hobbits at any lower price point without a) sacrificing quality, b) dropping accessories, or c) losing money. None of these assumptions have been established as fact, they are only speculation.

My sentiments exactly.

i would pay 10 bucks extra for a figure if SS change their paint factory than the one they have right now

Why would you be willing to pay 10 bucks more for something that should have been done correctly for the original price in the first place?

 

[pixletwin]

Bespin Luke will sell for $54.99.

So much for the $15 price hike.

 

[Alice Adrenochrome]

For me (and I suspect many more) its a very slippery slope between no longer being a completist and all and all just quiting the line.

Those that never considered themselves completists might not know what I mean.

Once you stop being a completist its easy to pass on a lot of figures. Once you pass on a lot of figures its easy to pass on entire lines.

You're right.
I guess that is part of the problem actually: a lot of people don't understand competists. They might understand the concept, but it goes no farther that that.

 

[Cocoboloboy]

Bespin Luke will sell for $54.99.

So much for the $15 price hike.

That's the stuff. Exactly why I love SSC. Great product at a great price.

 

[Darklord Dave]

I can't vote in the poll, because it uses as its premise the assumption that Sideshow could not have released the hobbits at any lower price point without a) sacrificing quality, b) dropping accessories, or c) losing money. None of these assumptions have been established as fact, they are only speculation.

Actually this isn't speculation, but observation of the market place. We know that Toybiz had much larger runs and thus were able to charge less. They also obviously spent less on R&D and manufacturing. HT and Medicom charge more because they have very limited runs and spend more on manufacturing.

SSC is somewhere in the middle - they can charge less for Luke because he's a popular character and the edition size will be correspondingly higher. The LotR line isn't strong and the edition sizes will not be as large as for SW, this combined with the more complex costuming equals higher prices.

 

[pixletwin]

Actually this isn't speculation, but observation of the market place. We know that Toybiz had much larger runs and thus were able to charge less. They also obviously spent less on R&D and manufacturing. HT and Medicom charge more because they have very limited runs and spend more on manufacturing.

SSC is somewhere in the middle - they can charge less for Luke because he's a popular character and the edition size will be correspondingly higher. The LotR line isn't strong and the edition sizes will not be as large as for SW, this combined with the more complex costuming equals higher prices.

Which would explain Indy, which is even more specialised than LOTR as far as fan base, IMO.

 

[Captain Faramir]

Makes sense to me. Which of course is too bad, since it's such a cool line. Oh well.

 

[Alice Adrenochrome]

... this combined with the more complex costuming equals higher prices.

Not necessarily Dave. But some of you expect the price to be higher (for what ever reason), and so, Sideshow satisfies your hunger!

Even if the costs for manufacturing the Hobbits is higher, Sideshow could cut in a bit on their profit, leaving the price untouched, delivering the same quality as allways. The more these figures are going to cost in the future, the more people will quit the line. Then there's no profit at all for Sideshow, and no more LotR 12" figures for anybody.
Anyway, no matter how swell these figures are, I'm beginning to think that a lot of people find $70 to much.

 

[The Josh]

Actually this isn't speculation, but observation of the market place. We know that Toybiz had much larger runs and thus were able to charge less. They also obviously spent less on R&D and manufacturing. HT and Medicom charge more because they have very limited runs and spend more on manufacturing.

SSC is somewhere in the middle - they can charge less for Luke because he's a popular character and the edition size will be correspondingly higher. The LotR line isn't strong and the edition sizes will not be as large as for SW, this combined with the more complex costuming equals higher prices.

Well, said Dave. If this was a few years back the LOTR line might be a little bit cheaper than it is right now. Why? Cause LOTR items where flying off the shelves which is why we got pieces like the ML at 9500 pieces. Things have slowed down a lot on LOTR and there are plenty of people who aren't into the 1:6th figures that collected the SSW line. Therefore the ES has to be less and the prices go up because the demand isn't there. Not to mention the materials used on these in order to look as nice as what we're getting will add to the overall cost.

Not necessarily Dave. But some of you expect the price to be higher (for what ever reason), and so, Sideshow satisfies your hunger!

In order to get better materials to make these look the way they do it will cost more. Not to mention the cost of the new body and other items that go into "new" figures like the Hobbits. But some of you it appears want something for nothing basically and don't like it that not everyone feels the same way.

Now, do I expect $70 for GTG when he comes out? No, because it should be a fairly straight forward costume and normal body.

 

[pixletwin]

...Not to mention the cost of bodie and ...

Why are we paying for his ****?

 

[Batty]

Why are we paying for his ****?

No! No! He's talking about Bodie.

 

[CAhobbit]

I'm in the $70 is ok category. Given what we are getting for the two hobbits (for example) I find $70 to be a good price for each of them (the costumes and accessories are fantastic IMO). Of course I do expect a much better paint app. then what we got on Faramir for these upcoming figures. I've been a completist of this line so far (and of the Angel line as well) which is easy (at least for me) since few figures have been released in both those lines. Obviously if the pace was stepped up and the prices started to soar higher and higher then I would have to be a little more picky about what I buy (since I do collect outside the 1/6 lines as well at times) but I don't see myself abondoning the line completly.

 

[The Josh]

Why are we paying for his ****?

Damn new I should have spell checked.

 

[korelius]

hmmm...tough one...the quality is definitely there but the price is way too high...what about cutting cost on the packaging? Say a plainer box without all the pretty pictures and photos? Cutting back on the accessories too, I dont need 2-4 different light sabers ignited, not ignited, damaged, not damaged...or a notepad someone was holding for one scene, or lembas bread...or a robots head on the ground...most important are likeness in sculpt, obi wan 12" good, mace windu 12" bad, and quality clothing...thats my 2 cents!

 

[DarthNeil]

Damn new I should have spell checked.

You KNEW you should have spellchecked?... Oh the irony.

 

[Nazgurl]

I wouldn't say that I'm necessarily okay with $70 each, but that's what they cost, so that's what I'll pay if I really want them.

I will say, however, that should they start reaching the $75 - $100 mark, I will have to rethink the "completist" way of thinking in regards to collecting this particular line, especially since I only buy the exclusives and so cannot go to any of our esteemed board dealers for a better price.

 

[RoboDad]

Actually this isn't speculation, but observation of the market place. We know that Toybiz had much larger runs and thus were able to charge less. They also obviously spent less on R&D and manufacturing. HT and Medicom charge more because they have very limited runs and spend more on manufacturing.

SSC is somewhere in the middle - they can charge less for Luke because he's a popular character and the edition size will be correspondingly higher. The LotR line isn't strong and the edition sizes will not be as large as for SW, this combined with the more complex costuming equals higher prices.

Actually, Dave, you pretty much defined speculation there. Drawing reasonable-sounding conclusions based on external observations. That is speculation. Without seeing a spreadsheet of Sideshow's cost of materials, labor, packaging and shipping, none of us can be absolutely certain one way or the other.

However, let me add a couple of other data points that you did not include in your observations. We know that there will be regular versions of the hobbits, and they may (based on past trends) carry a lower MSRP than the exclusives. Sideshow will sell some of these to dealers, who will then turn around and sell them to customers, often at a 10-15% discount off of MSRP. Do Sideshow and the dealers both profit from these transactions? One can reasonably assume that the answer is yes, else why would they participate?

So, My conclusion is that if there is enough profit available in the revenue stream to support a wholesale and discounted retail transaction, then the profit margin on a direct sale model (the exclusives) is significantly higher.

 

[The Josh]

You KNEW you should have spellchecked?... Oh the irony.

 

[Fritz]

I'm ok with $70 for Frodo and Sam. The closer the 12" figures/dolls get to $100 though, the closer I am to dropping them. Even now, I only collect the Dead line and the 12" LotR and the LotR figs are still in their boxes in the closet. No way I'm buying a Medicom or Hot Toys figure for $100+. Just personal preference. I think you can tell by the trend of this pole, it seems the majority of people are willing to pay for quality.