1/6 Hot Toys - MMS 249 - The Joker (Bank Robber Version 2.0) - 1/6 - TF Exclusive 2014

[BadMuthaDude]

Somewhat on that topic I saw this post on facebook.



I agree with some of that at least.

I disagree with that rant. I'm fine with 2.0's or updated releases. I don't care if someone wants to feel special by owning something that someone else can't get, I care about letting everyone who wants one have the opportunity to get one. If there is an obvious demand for a collectible that was released 5 years ago, why not make a new one and let new collectors have a chance.

My issue is not with re-releases. It's the constantly increasing prices. I know fans are to blame by showing HT over and over that they will pay crazy prices. Of course HT will want a piece of that. However, I think if the gap of production cost and profit is going to continue to grow like this, it's going to be easier for another high end company to produce the same quality and offer it for much less. Maybe it will be a company with people who have a passion for these properties and will not overlook those finer details about the characters that fans appreciate.

 

[spindrift]

Hurry up PO on this Joker- I want to see the price and get it over with!

 

[haytil]

For me, and perhaps for other collectors, the rising prices aren't going to affect if we buy, so much as how many we buy.

In the past, I would've purchased multiple figures (i.e., built myself a SWAT team of Gordons). At previous price points, I might have purchased more than one of these guys.

But if the price, this time around, is DX-level, rather than reflective of previous Toy Fair Exclusive prices, then I'll only be picking up one.

 

[DiFabio]

Back when MMS releases were below the $200 price point, there were so many figures that I bought multiples of, Joker was no exception.

My favorite one was T-1000. He came with two heads, a myriad of options and was $140-$160 depending where you shopped. I had no qualms about buying multiples. If it came out today though? They'd surely charge $300 for it. It sucks.

 

[The Chev]

Back when MMS releases were below the $200 price point, there were so many figures that I bought multiples of, Joker was no exception.

My favorite one was T-1000. He came with two heads, a myriad of options and was $140-$160 depending where you shopped. I had no qualms about buying multiples. If it came out today though? They'd surely charge $300 for it. It sucks.

Now the t-1000 was a loaded release, So was the Tech Noir T-800. Sadly, accessories are becoming less and less. It's rare that we get a ALT head sculpt now -a -days.

 

[J-Mart]

Hmn. Did a quick search and nothing screams awesome to me.

And the $$$ they ask for those figures is insane.

The prices you are seeing are not directly from Iminime. Those are resell prices which are at least $100 more expensive. I bought a Tyler Durden figure directly from Denny Kim (CEO of Iminime) for $390 + $43 to ship it from Korea. Not that much more than Hot Toys. Also, Karanazov80's post summed up pretty well why they cost that much. It justifies the price when you know all that goes into it. Iminime also creates figures that you know other companies won't ever do.

 

[karamazov80]

I think I've lost a fair amount of general interest in the hobby, but have specifically been disenchanted by the behavior of HT and lack of quality from SSC, to the point where I don't muster much excitement for releases in general. But I think the price also plays a factor for me. It's hard for me to justify more than, say, $200-225 for a mass produced figure of a character that I don't really LOVE and that isn't going to be an essential part of my collection. So, in the past, the T-1000 Fab refers to appealed to me and I bought one. Same with other supporting guys like Two-Face, Bank Robber Joker, War Machine, Ghost Rider (even though he was over $200, it wasn't by much, and it was a fair price with the bike), black Spidey, umpteen Iron Man variants, etc. At the prices we are getting to now, forget it. I wouldn't pay $280 for a nicer, updated Two-Face. I even question if I would shell it out for Colonial Marines, who many of us have dreamt of seeing updates of for years. I would pay for Hicks and Hudson. But Apone, Vasquez, etc.? Not so sure.

 

[The Clown Prince of Crime]

I find all the complaining funny because most of the complainers will buy the damn things anyway Not to mention, we don't know the official price yet and people are criticizing and complaining about something that isn't even official at this point. I bet if the official price is $250, the complainers be like, "That's not too bad. Better than Ebay, and just a bit more than I wanted to pay." And they will still buy the figure, so what's the point. For 3 years I've seen people whining about the prices, the quality, and it's the same old S***. Figure comes out and the majority still buys it even if its just another Iron Man repaint. If this figure is $240-$250 or more I won't get it. My actions will speak louder than words even if it doesn't make any difference. Because it's not who I am underneath, but what I DOOO that defines me

 

[karamazov80]

I've seen that sentiment posted a lot over the years (possibly in every HT thread made?), and I think it applies to a certain group, but there are certainly also those who don't buy, who have had buying habits change drastically (as mine have), or get out altogether at a certain point because of the changes in price and other factors such as releasing about 50 Jokers by now. And I do think HT's business philosophy has certainly changed over time to focus more on the short-term nature of the collecting hobby for the products they are producing, which attracts a different kind of collector. But of course, it is what it is. Much of it is justifiable by increasing expenses on HT's end in various respects. Some of it is no doubt an exploitation of customers who will pay whatever is asked as a means of maximizing profit. And HT doesn't respond to comments on this forum, but to the almighty yuan. But it certainly is affecting folks.

 

[DiFabio]

I think I've lost a fair amount of general interest in the hobby, but have specifically been disenchanted by the behavior of HT and lack of quality from SSC, to the point where I don't muster much excitement for releases in general. But I think the price also plays a factor for me. It's hard for me to justify more than, say, $200-225 for a mass produced figure of a character that I don't really LOVE and that isn't going to be an essential part of my collection. So, in the past, the T-1000 Fab refers to appealed to me and I bought one. Same with other supporting guys like Two-Face, Bank Robber Joker, War Machine, Ghost Rider (even though he was over $200, it wasn't by much, and it was a fair price with the bike), black Spidey, umpteen Iron Man variants, etc. At the prices we are getting to now, forget it. I wouldn't pay $280 for a nicer, updated Two-Face. I even question if I would shell it out for Colonial Marines, who many of us have dreamt of seeing updates of for years. I would pay for Hicks and Hudson. But Apone, Vasquez, etc.? Not so sure.

Yeah, I know exactly what you mean. It feels like I'm becoming a spectator in this hobby more and more.

There was a time a few years ago where I was getting a 1/6 figure a month. Those "non-interest" things were must buys for me, like the Spider-Man 3 figures. I wouldn't normally get them, but for the quality and price, I couldn't pass them up. Today? Forget it, you're forced to be choosey. In the past year I've only bought four figures. DX 13, DX 14, 60s Batman and Robin, the former with rewards points, spook codes, and monthly $20 off codes.

I find all the complaining funny because most of the complainers will buy the damn things anyway Not to mention, we don't know the official price yet and people are criticizing and complaining about something that isn't even official at this point. I bet if the official price is $250, the complainers be like, "That's not too bad. Better than Ebay, and just a bit more than I wanted to pay." And they will still buy the figure, so what's the point. For 3 years I've seen people whining about the prices, the quality, and it's the same old S***. Figure comes out and the majority still buys it even if its just another Iron Man repaint. If this figure is $240-$250 or more I won't get it. My actions will speak louder than words even if it doesn't make any difference. Because it's what I DOOO that defines me

You're right. It's been happening steadily for the past couple of years.

It'll be 2015 and the price for an average figure will be $300 and it'll still be "not too bad, better than ebay, and just a bit more than I wanted to pay". Will it still be the same when these things are exactly half a grand?

 

[a-dev]

I guess we are prone to making generalisations and assumptions on certain matters. Who really knows how many people complain about prices and then still buy? How could it be possible to discover whether or not that is really the case.

Likewise with that rant I found on facebook yesterday, how would he know that the same people asking for 2.0s are the same people who complain about HT's pricing? This is the part I found myself agreeing with yesterday but after people's thoughts today I have to question.

 

[Rambler]

I am way more selective of what I buy because of price. I have to completely LOVE the character to want to spend $200+ on a figure. I love Ledger's Joker, and I own the V1 of this guy, but if he comes in at over $225, I'm most likely out. There are other figures and/or accessories to bashes I'm working on that I would rather have.

I don't blame HT for wanting to make money. Thats the point of business.

 

[Haloid1177]

So is this going up today? Been out of the 1/6 scale game for a while.

 

[Sidious-66]

Surely HT increasing their prices on these figure with a small rise here and a small rise there will surely backfire at some point?

They are chasing more money which is understandable as it is a business but if they lost a huge number of collectors who lets just say for talking sake spent $1000 over the course of a year and they got pissed off with the rise in the cost of their figures.

So HT could lose a collector who spends a lot of cash each year on their products for the sake of adding $25-$50 onto the retail price of their figures.

 

[The Clown Prince of Crime]

Yeah, I'm very selective, always been that way. I never buy a figure because it looks good. I have to like the character and the film, and still, I think about it if the price is too much. When I bought the DX11, it was the first time I felt bad about buying a figure. Even when I got it and saw it, it didn't feel right, and the damaged box didn't help either. At least I got a new box from SS, but even though the quality is there, I still couldn't justify paying that much. I actually sold the Bank Robber to get DX11. As much as I like the DX11, I didn't get the same feeling I got from the DX1 when I first bought it. Maybe I am jaded...but then again, I'm really exited about the 84 T800 and the price isn't terrible.

 

[The Clown Prince of Crime]

Surely HT increasing their prices on these figure with a small rise here and a small rise there will surely backfire at some point?

They are chasing more money which is understandable as it is a business but if they lost a huge number of collectors who lets just say for talking sake spent $1000 over the course of a year and they got pissed off with the rise in the cost of their figures.

So HT could lose a collector who spends a lot of cash each year on their products for the sake of adding $25-$50 onto the retail price of their figures.

I don't think they are losing customers. When I first went to the HT facebook page, it had less than 1000 likes, and now it has 225,555 likes. Also, don't forget these figures probably cost less in Asia and as important as the US market might be, Asia is their bread and butter. I mean, I don't see HT opening any new stores in the US like they do in Asia.

 

[Sidious-66]

I don't think they are losing customers. When I first went to the HT facebook page, it had less than 1000 likes, and now it has 225,555 likes. Also, don't forget these figures probably cost less in Asia and as important as the US market might be, Asia is their bread and butter. I mean, I don't see HT opening any new stores in the US like they do in Asia.

I should have stated that I was speaking hypothetically.

 

[The Clown Prince of Crime]

I should have stated that I was speaking hypothetically.

Oh..well, you're aren't wrong. I'm only buying one HT this year, well two. I bought the Crow, and I'm getting the T800, but if it was 3 or 5 years ago, it would be more than two figures, but at the same time the prices are higher, so buying less makes no difference I guess.

 

[Sidious-66]

Oh..well, you're aren't wrong. I'm only buying one HT this year, well two. I bought the Crow, and I'm getting the T800, but if it was 3 or 5 years ago, it would be more than two figures, but at the same time the prices are higher, so buying less makes no difference I guess.

Another problem with HT is the way that they rushed out the Crow figure. I got him too and I'm happy with him but he should have been so much better.

 

[The Clown Prince of Crime]

I forgot about one thing. The increase of the prices might be only a problem for those of us who aware of it because we know what we used to pay 6 years ago. However, if you are just discovering HT now, or just getting into now because they are making your favorite characters from the Avengers or something, then paying 270-300 might not feel so bad, because that's just the standard price. They don't know anything else or the history like we do.