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

[Stanlore]

In Hong Kong, at Toy Hunters, the pre-ordering for figure has changed alot as well.

When i first started 5 years ago, you could pre-order figures up to release date. They rarely sold out prior, and we only had to place down HK$100 deposit for figures under HK$1200, and HK$300 for ones over. When the figure arrived, all those who ordered could go and pick up.

Then when Ver.1 Joker came out, they implemented a new rule. Collections of the figures were based on when you placed your pre-order. First come first serve. Fair enough.

When DX08 came out, the pre-order deposit was upgraded to HK$500 minimum. Figures over HK$1500 required 800 dollar deposit.

Samurai Predator and Luke Skywalker required HK$1000 deposits.

Finally.. the new QS series and Hulk also requires $1000 deposit which is fine, cause they cost more in total. However for the Mark VII, a figure in HK that costs around 1500 total, they now are asking for a $1000 deposit. THATS 2/3 OF THE RETAIL PRICE. Its a deposit thats gonna be locked up for almost a year. This really blows.

From HK$100 deposit to a HK$1000 deposit... this is getting rediculous. If it was 3 months that wouldn't be as bad. For the Avengers set, thats almost USD$650 worth of deposit money locked up for a possibly a year.

 

[Hamanu]

Its an interest free loan for them. Instead of going to the bank and pay interest, they'll blackmail you, the customer into providing them with free cash to run their business.

Sleazy

 

[Niceman]

In Hong Kong, at Toy Hunters, the pre-ordering for figure has changed alot as well.

When i first started 5 years ago, you could pre-order figures up to release date. They rarely sold out prior, and we only had to place down HK$100 deposit for figures under HK$1200, and HK$300 for ones over. When the figure arrived, all those who ordered could go and pick up.

Then when Ver.1 Joker came out, they implemented a new rule. Collections of the figures were based on when you placed your pre-order. First come first serve. Fair enough.

When DX08 came out, the pre-order deposit was upgraded to HK$500 minimum. Figures over HK$1500 required 800 dollar deposit.

Samurai Predator and Luke Skywalker required HK$1000 deposits.

Finally.. the new QS series and Hulk also requires $1000 deposit which is fine, cause they cost more in total. However for the Mark VII, a figure in HK that costs around 1500 total, they now are asking for a $1000 deposit. THATS 2/3 OF THE RETAIL PRICE. Its a deposit thats gonna be locked up for almost a year. This really blows.

From HK$100 deposit to a HK$1000 deposit... this is getting rediculous. If it was 3 months that wouldn't be as bad. For the Avengers set, thats almost USD$650 worth of deposit money locked up for a possibly a year.

That's shameful.

 

[subzro]

Exactly, I think I paid $150 for my Blade figure which had an excellent sculpt, great outfit and a ton of accessories.

Now we get Wolverine for $235!! And all he really comes with is a base!

Blade for $150, now it's $500+ on Ebay
One figure I would love to have but I'll never pay that much.

Blade 2.0

 

[Hydeous]

In Hong Kong, at Toy Hunters, the pre-ordering for figure has changed alot as well.

When i first started 5 years ago, you could pre-order figures up to release date. They rarely sold out prior, and we only had to place down HK$100 deposit for figures under HK$1200, and HK$300 for ones over. When the figure arrived, all those who ordered could go and pick up.

Then when Ver.1 Joker came out, they implemented a new rule. Collections of the figures were based on when you placed your pre-order. First come first serve. Fair enough.

When DX08 came out, the pre-order deposit was upgraded to HK$500 minimum. Figures over HK$1500 required 800 dollar deposit.

Samurai Predator and Luke Skywalker required HK$1000 deposits.

Finally.. the new QS series and Hulk also requires $1000 deposit which is fine, cause they cost more in total. However for the Mark VII, a figure in HK that costs around 1500 total, they now are asking for a $1000 deposit. THATS 2/3 OF THE RETAIL PRICE. Its a deposit thats gonna be locked up for almost a year. This really blows.

From HK$100 deposit to a HK$1000 deposit... this is getting rediculous. If it was 3 months that wouldn't be as bad. For the Avengers set, thats almost USD$650 worth of deposit money locked up for a possibly a year.

This is done to prevent those who scalps and flood the market. I guess they are doing this because a lot of people end up not gettin their Bruce lee m icon, DX Indy etc and they'd rather lose their deposit rather than buying it and selling it at the secondary market. As ht are not selling well as it used to.

 

[murdomac]

As has been said the 'bottom line' cost of these figures is pennys compared to the retail price and there seems little reason, at least thats how it's percieved, for the prices to be going up as much and as fast as they are, what will undoubtably happen soon is a smaller less well known company will get a good licence start producing Hot Toy quality figures at a much better price point and we as customers will buy those insetead and the decline of hot toys will begin.

Unfortunatly HT are suffering from thier own success probably started out being run by fans/enthusiasts and is now bieng run by accountants who don't appreciate Hulk, Wolverine etc for what they mean and probably don't even know who/what they are but only see and care about the % mark up per piece.

 

[Dollmanron]

As has been said the 'bottom line' cost of these figures is pennys compared to the retail price and there seems little reason, at least thats how it's percieved, for the prices to be going up as much and as fast as they are, what will undoubtably happen soon is a smaller less well known company will get a good licence start producing Hot Toy quality figures at a much better price point and we as customers will buy those insetead and the decline of hot toys will begin.

Unfortunatly HT are suffering from thier own success probably started out being run by fans/enthusiasts and is now bieng run by accountants who don't appreciate Hulk, Wolverine etc for what they mean and probably don't even know who/what they are but only see and care about the % mark up per piece.

Sounds about right to me.

 

[Hamanu]

There's a wonderful blog post that explains what happens when a business that was started by enthusiasts goes corporate.

The topic here is WotC's now infamous Xmas layoffs. For those that might be unaware of the background WotC is the company that made Magic, then bought TSR (publishers of D&D) and was bought by Hasbro.

https://grubbstreet.blogspot.com/2011/12/titanic-had-band.html

 

[subzro]

As has been said the 'bottom line' cost of these figures is pennys compared to the retail price and there seems little reason, at least thats how it's percieved, for the prices to be going up as much and as fast as they are, what will undoubtably happen soon is a smaller less well known company will get a good licence start producing Hot Toy quality figures at a much better price point and we as customers will buy those insetead and the decline of hot toys will begin.

Unfortunatly HT are suffering from thier own success probably started out being run by fans/enthusiasts and is now bieng run by accountants who don't appreciate Hulk, Wolverine etc for what they mean and probably don't even know who/what they are but only see and care about the % mark up per piece.

I seriously doubt that it costs the same to produce a figure today as it did 2 or 4 years ago.
The company i work for bought a piece of equipment 3 years ago for $350.000. Today that exact same piece of equipment is $500.000.
The price increase for this piece of equipment was not because of greed, It is a combination of labor costs and skyrocketing material costs. It seems that Hot Toys could be dealing with some of the same issues.

 

[Lejuan]

The company i work for bought a piece of equipment 3 years ago for $350.000. Today that exact same piece of equipment is $500.000.

I bet the company that produces that equipment didn't ramp up their production quantities at the same time as jacking their price though...

That's the other part of this equation - collectors can't on-sell their stuff to finance other purchases as they used to, 'cause it seems HT is saturating the market with large edition sizes. These things are feeling to me more and more like expensive toys than collectibles.

 

[Niceman]

They are selling higher quantities at higher prices....

They're still collectible, but don't make the mistake of thinking they're investments.

 

[Lejuan]

They are selling higher quantities at higher prices....

They're still collectible, but don't make the mistake of thinking they're investments.

That wasn't my point. The fact that these thing aren't selling out like they used to principally because the edition sizes are so large makes them less, quote-unquote, collectible. Thanks to large runs and re-releases HT have simultaneously deflated the aftermarket trade and made current purchases more expensive. The figures aren't as scarce and cost a lot more, therefore... expensive knick-knacks rather than collectibles.

 

[robbiethepainter]

I bet the company that produces that equipment didn't ramp up their production quantities at the same time as jacking their price though...

That's the other part of this equation - collectors can't on-sell their stuff to finance other purchases as they used to, 'cause it seems HT is saturating the market with large edition sizes. These things are feeling to me more and more like expensive toys than collectibles.

HT is only filling orders. Blame retailers for the increase in edition sizes. If retailers are ordering 1000 then HT will make a 1000. This is why there is a pre order system. The problem is retailers too have seen the secondary market demand jump and want to get a piece, so they order extra. When everyone does this, it generates a surplus. Look at how many individuals just on this site are now selling HT figures brand new.

 

[Lejuan]

HT is only filling orders. Blame retailers for the increase in edition sizes. If retailers are ordering 1000 then HT will make a 1000. This is why there is a pre order system. The problem is retailers too have seen the secondary market demand jump and want to get a piece, so they order extra. When everyone does this, it generates a surplus. Look at how many individuals just on this site are now selling HT figures brand new.

Ah. But if that's the case then could HT not lower the MSRP to reflect the quantities being produced - then there wouldn't be a surplus of figures 'cause there'd be buyers for a $180 figure where there aren't so many for a $200+ figure. The figures then sell out and retain some degree of exclusivity as collectibles.

Or not. I just don't care enough to properly get my head around it

 

[robbiethepainter]

Everyone can speculate all they want about how much these cost to produce, but no one has any clue because they don't work for HT. If production costs have gone up, then HT will charge more. Doesn't really matter about the addition size. And honestly I don't give two $#its either, I just tired of the vilification of HT when there is plenty of blame to go around.

All this rhetoric reminds of the US housing debacle. Everyone pointing fingers at banking and wall street, which has validity, but maybe people who bought houses way more expensive then they could afford could maybe take a little credit too. Or those that bought to flip, dumping them when they couldn't sell, which then drives down the value.

Maybe I'm wrong but this all sounds familiar for some reason.

 

[thenammagazine]

Its an interest free loan for them. Instead of going to the bank and pay interest, they'll blackmail you, the customer into providing them with free cash to run their business.

Sleazy

Nah, it's an anti-********* measure. Too many flaky *******s preordering and canceling and leaving stores stuck with product for far too long. Don't blame them, blame the ********* customers responsible for it.

Truth

 

[Hamanu]

Nah, it's an anti-********* measure. Too many flaky *******s preordering and canceling and leaving stores stuck with product for far too long. Don't blame them, blame the ********* customers responsible for it.

Truth

He's talking about the HT flagship store in Kong Kong, not your average brick&mortar small retailer.

 

[robbiethepainter]

nams answer probably applies to the HK too. Douchbaggery is everywhere.

 

[thenammagazine]

He's talking about the HT flagship store in Kong Kong, not your average brick&mortar small retailer.

Your point? It's entirely relative. Look how many ****tards here create threads to ***** about the NRD Sideshow Collectibles now charges despite having contributed repeatedly to the problem of preordering and canceling when the item's ready to ship.

 

[skooternb]

Your point? It's entirely relative. Look how many ****tards here create threads to ***** about the NRD Sideshow Collectibles now charges despite having contributed repeatedly to the problem of preordering and canceling when the item's ready to ship.

If you aren't sure about that you want to pay for the item then don't bring others down by creating a false demand.