Hot Toys, you’re going to put yourself out of business!

[DVD1]

Checking out these ikea detolfs. 50 quid seems pretty good to display 5 figures. Today looks it is going to be a trip to ikea instead of the pub, at lunchtime !!

 

[Uncanny Web-Slinger]

Got my first Detolf the other week. You get what you pay for... A cheap looking cabinet

 

[RagingBull]

Got my first Detolf the other week. You get what you pay for... A cheap looking cabinet

Ha you not like it then Nova? I think there great for the price. I think they look better when your got a few lined up rather than just one by itself.

 

[Uncanny Web-Slinger]

It's okay and i get why people like them, you can't beat the price but i dunno, just doesn't look right to me. I guess i'm a sucker for having furniture match and it stands out like a sore thumb

 

[Grosby]

Checking out these ikea detolfs. 50 quid seems pretty good to display 5 figures. Today looks it is going to be a trip to ikea instead of the pub, at lunchtime !!

It's four shelves, so four if you want it to look nice, I guess... I myself, having only one Detolf, pack in at least six figures a shelf - it's possible. One shelf even have seven figures. It's not a great look, I admit, it makes them look less museum-like/impressive, which people don't like.

I agree with Nova though, I think Detolfs look cheap, not really what I'd call a nice piece of furniture. They work well, perfect size and glass on all sides and priced low, but I don't like the look of them - I don't like that metal shelf or the fake wood top, maybe just the whole 'style' of it. I look over at it and I always think that one day I hope to either find or create something else. I guess I really only bought it out of convenience and I imagine a lot of people buy for the same reason.

 

[Doctor Who]

I managed to cram 10 Iron Men figures along with the switchout BD parts on one shelf, and about 30ish 5inch Doctor Who figures with a TARDIS and a console. You can fit alot and still have it be visible if you puzzle.

 

[sky_captain]

Got my first Detolf the other week. You get what you pay for... A cheap looking cabinet

Well excuse-moi, monseur le hot s***

 

[Lejuan]

Well excuse-moi, monseur le hot s***

___________

 

[thenammagazine]

It's okay and i get why people like them, you can't beat the price but i dunno, just doesn't look right to me. I guess i'm a sucker for having furniture match and it stands out like a sore thumb

Hence why they come in more than one color.

 

[Rotfish]

Well excuse-moi, monseur le hot s***

Best post I've seen in this thread.

 

[die]

I bet more old ladies in the world have more Detolfs than we do , so they can display their nick nacks

My grandma will not step foot into Ikea because she thinks it's Best Buy (she shuns technology.)

She's also senile and thinks it's short for: I Kill Elderly Americans


But seriously, all of her nick nacks and whatnots are in the same place they were when I was a kid, on some old ornate wooden night stand thingie that she dusts 3 times a week. I would venture to say that people who collect Sideshow & HT stuff probably account for a nice chunk of the detolf sales. I've seen plenty of collections in the showcase section here that easily have 4-6 detolfs for their collectibles. Sports memorabilia is probably a big chunk too.

I would die if there was a grandma's version of SSF online though, where old ladies discuss "brass cat grails" or new detolfs for ceramic butterflies and cherubs.

 

[Red Metal]

Granted 50 customers at $200 each does equal the same amount as 100 customers at $100 each, however, every company should strive for the 100 customers at $100, because those people will perpetuate the business longer. Having more customers spreads out the financial bottomline - you don't need as much from each person, so if someone doesn't pick-up a figure on a given month it doesn't hit that hard. Having more customers also gives you better visibility and word-of-mouth.

Now, sure HT needs to price these appropriately as materials and quality go up, but honestly it's not consistent. I think one thing alot of people really have issue with is that the HT pricing is not consistent across the board or consistent across a given license. Within Marvel you have IM MkII Unleashed for $25 less than Wolverine - I'm just not seeing the how or why.

I'm in the category of people who will always try to buy these types of figures, but if the price gets too high, then I'm out. And that applies to any of my collectibles or hobbies. It's not because I'm willing to spend $200 on a 1:6 figures, I'd be willing to go to $300 - there has to be a point of dimishing returns, even as a collector. It's like that with life all over.

 

[KillerCam251]

We are all in this hobby, "collecting", cause we all LOVE it. It really doesn't matter what it is you collect or how much it costs. It only matters what you like and are willing to pay as the collector. What cracks me up more is everyone here that call others "crazy" for the prices they pay, in some cases I can see that point, but all in all the only person that matters to is yourself (and spouse) for most of us. As collectors we need to be happy with our decisions on what we purchase and not worry what others think about the cost or what the item looks like.

It is all about perspective, why people who don't collect HT are bashing them and their prices is beyond me, and people who do collect HT if it is too much money quit buying them, no one is holding a gun to your head to make those purchases. As long as a company like HT puts out products that I feel no other action figure/statue can compare to I will keep buying my favorite characters.

 

[SnakeDoctor]

Granted 50 customers at $200 each does equal the same amount as 100 customers at $100 each, however, every company should strive for the 100 customers at $100, because those people will perpetuate the business longer. Having more customers spreads out the financial bottomline - you don't need as much from each person, so if someone doesn't pick-up a figure on a given month it doesn't hit that hard. Having more customers also gives you better visibility and word-of-mouth.

That's just not how the world works. Higher price, higher quality and fewer customers is a completely legitimate business strategy ... happens all the time. Works for BMW, Mercedes, and Porsche. Works for Heckler & Koch and Kimber. Works for Omega and Rolex. Works for Armani and Coach. Works for Nike.

BMW doesn't want to be Ford. HK doesn't want to be Glock. Omega doesn't want to be Casio. Coach doesn't want to be ... whoever else makes purses (gotta tell ya, that's the only purse brand I know -- side effect of marriage). Nike doesn't want to be Addidas. And Hot Toys doesn't want to be Hasbro. They want fewer customers at higher prices, and they're making a killing at it.

SnakeDoc

 

[robbiethepainter]

That's just not how the world works. Higher price, higher quality and fewer customers is a completely legitimate business strategy ... happens all the time. Works for BMW, Mercedes, and Porsche. Works for Heckler & Koch and Kimber. Works for Omega and Rolex. Works for Armani and Coach. Works for Nike.

BMW doesn't want to be Ford. HK doesn't want to be Glock. Omega doesn't want to be Casio. Coach doesn't want to be ... whoever else makes purses (gotta tell ya, that's the only purse brand I know -- side effect of marriage). Nike doesn't want to be Addidas. And Hot Toys doesn't want to be Hasbro. They want fewer customers at higher prices, and they're making a killing at it.

SnakeDoc

Hot Toys is not only a business but they are craftsman. Remember most of their team started as collectors. I know personally I am working on a figure that eventually I will sell and I'm not making a cost effective one. I'm making the very best thing I can, and with that will come with a hefty price tag. Some will be interested and others will be think its too expensive. Cost is not my driving force but excellence.

 

[thenammagazine]

That's just not how the world works. Higher price, higher quality and fewer customers is a completely legitimate business strategy ... happens all the time. Works for BMW, Mercedes, and Porsche. Works for Heckler & Koch and Kimber. Works for Omega and Rolex. Works for Armani and Coach. Works for Nike.

BMW doesn't want to be Ford. HK doesn't want to be Glock. Omega doesn't want to be Casio. Coach doesn't want to be ... whoever else makes purses (gotta tell ya, that's the only purse brand I know -- side effect of marriage). Nike doesn't want to be Addidas. And Hot Toys doesn't want to be Hasbro. They want fewer customers at higher prices, and they're making a killing at it.

SnakeDoc

You're not gonna sell that mentality to a NECA collector.

 

[highlanderpdx]

They want fewer customers at higher prices, and they're making a killing at it.

SnakeDoc

Why the hell would any company that is in the business to make money want fewer customers???? If I was in the toy business I would want as many people as possible to buy my products and not be so arrogant to say we will only sell to the rich.

 

[Lejuan]

Higher price, higher quality and fewer customers is a completely legitimate business strategy ...

Legitimate business strategy sure, but HT's quality over the last two years has not increased commensurate with the increase in prices, which is what tends to grate.

Two years ago MMS117 - T2 Arnie - MSRP'd for around $150.
Now we have DX10 T2 Arnie MSRP'ing for around 50% more than this.

In two years.

This kind of jump in price is consistent across all of their lines. No doubt they're investing more in R&D. Maybe manufacturing costs have gone through the roof. Maybe their licenses cost more to acquire. Maybe they're paying their artists better.

Or maybe they figure that they have enough of a customer base now that they can afford to charge exorbitant prices that are out of all proportion to the actual cost of making these things because they reason that for every customer they lose, they'll pick up another two.

 

[meanstreak]

I don't think HT will last more than two years if their prices keep steadily going up.

 

[RagingBull]

I remember my 1st figure was the Joker Dx & paying £120 for it & thinking I was mad spending that amount on a figure but when I got it in hand I was blown away but my point is, how many new interested people will be willing to drop the amount of money for todays asking prices. Example the best HT seller for price in the UK has the Joker Dx.2 up for £186 + postage so nearly £200. So say I'd just discovered HT now, I'm pretty sure after seeing the price I'd passed this figre up, HT wouldn't of managed to get me hooked & I wouldn't of gone on to buy over 50 HT figure's like I did. HT will always need to attract new customers but if they keep raising there prices, fewer & fewer people will start up in this hobby which isn't healthy for any business. The customers they have now will keep buying for now but they won't be around for ever.