Sassafras
Super Freak
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2016
- Messages
- 8,334
- Reaction score
- 3,079
Well, speaking as someone with 1 pool of money that gets budgeted out - or doesn't everyone start that way?As I mentioned before, I’m not even getting Legolas lol. Just saying in general.
The money that is being used for this hobby shouldn’t even be pulled from the same pool for vacations, imo.
These are rooted mass-produced products. The fact that they’re at/around $500 is great. Typically, it’d be more for a root job. On top of that, the higher quality and premium feel makes it. The realism, etc. My Hot Toys (even the best ones) just don’t compare and certainly not Asmus or Threezero, imo.
Like many, I've already been priced out as a collector - e.g. that started more with WETA statues than anything, then the money creep hit HT e.g. figs went from the 200s to the 300s and beyond. I won't be surprised if ASMUS as well is forced to raise prices. Labor, materials, shipping has all gone up.
While I'll splurge occasionally - and a number of folks are very happy with InArt - if you are charging diecast Iron Man DX prices you need to deliver, past expensive packaging and a rooted sculpt that may or may not come out of the box with issues. You need to care about every single detail of that costume, not just stuff you find interesting like weapons that get a premium treatment while you sneak in cheap pegs and cheap cloth. E.g. IMO Aragorn doesn't have any more of a premium feel than ASMUS or other companies. The cut and cloth on my new Obi-Wan is amazing (except the boots) and HT has been knocking it out of the park with its SW line lately. Beautiful sculpted hair, too.
Because, with InArt, 2 figs are gonna be ~1,000$ investment; and that's enough to make me pull up and think, hard . And I'm thinking hard this Legolas is a pass; the sculpt is off; InArt is a gamble with hair work; and they are cutting corners in the costuming department. Like I'm waiting on the Ranger cloak I spent extra on.