Increasing prices and customers

[generalszabo]

How are my fellow UK collectors handling the current exchange rate of 92p to $1?

$100 is now £92. $285 would now be £262, there’s basically no difference now. Plus shipping and customs fees there’s just no way I can justify buying Hot Toys right now.

How am I coping? I'm not lol

The exchange rate would be bearable if it wasn't for the shipping and customs fees. Given that I only buy statues, my savings are rapidly depleting

 

[chrisstbh]

How am I coping? I'm not lol

The exchange rate would be bearable if it wasn't for the shipping and customs fees. Given that I only buy statues, my savings are rapidly depleting

Yeah it's crazy, I can imagine statues are even worse. I think it's time for a break until things settle.

 

[generalszabo]

Yeah it's crazy, I can imagine statues are even worse. I think it's time for a break until things settle.

Defo, I still have 5 pieces on order I'm waiting for, and one of them is the Queen iron man bust

After those, I'll be close to stopping altogether

 

[chrisstbh]

Defo, I still have 5 pieces on order I'm waiting for, and one of them is the Queen iron man bust

After those, I'll be close to stopping altogether

I've cancelled all of my pre-orders

 

[generalszabo]

I've cancelled all of my pre-orders

If the bust comes in this year, I have no chance so will have to cancel and eat the deposit

 

[MeatHookGekko]

People in their twenties and early thirties may have less responsibility (children, families, mortgages, health care needs, etc) and thus more disposable income.

^
But they may form a massive general demand for further development in 3D printing machines.

That's the future of this hobby, if it has a future left.

Imagine if someone with incredible talent just shared a blueprint and everyone here just punched out something cool. Imagine if you could get a custom headsculpt that way of any celebrity you wanted. I mean, at this point, people are printing out 1/1 firearms or enough components to get you 90 percent there, think about how staggering a new normal like that becomes.

 

[shells075]

How are my fellow UK collectors handling the current exchange rate of 92p to $1?

$100 is now £92. $285 would now be £262, there’s basically no difference now. Plus shipping and customs fees there’s just no way I can justify buying Hot Toys right now.

I remember a time when £1 was worth $2
Collecting was good back then.

 

[chrisstbh]

I remember a time when £1 was worth $2
Collecting was good back then.

Wake me when it’s back to at least 75p to $1

 

[JMT1979]

To buy a $285 figure from Sideshow it's now going to cost me:
Figure: £273.49
Shipping: £42.61
Import Fee: £63.22
Handling Fee: £11
A whopping grand total of: £390.31

I'm out for now. As someone that is on what was once considered a pretty good salary here; I really can't justify this, almost £400 for a single figure is beyond a joke.

That's horrendous. I can't believe how much the import fee is.
At least here I have options like Popcultcha and Sugo Toys who I can buy from at amounts a lot lower than from SS.

 

[Wor-Gar]

Anyone who believes they have a valuable collection for their future is in for disappointment.

If its valuable now, sell it fast.

Many reason have been pointed to in these 2-pages: generational interest, technology changes, too many "collectors" (just look at the 3 inch SW market).... all of these reasons are true.

A few very rare pieces might retain some sort of value in the future -- like the 3 inch Vader with telescoping lightsaber from 1977 (if you can find a buyer) -- but the majority of everyone's collections will be valueless and best served to be given away to hospital children.

 

[chrisstbh]

That's horrendous. I can't believe how much the import fee is.
At least here I have options like Popcultcha and Sugo Toys who I can buy from at amounts a lot lower than from SS.

Yep, 20% on the final shipped price + a £11 handling fee by the courier, fun times.

Prices in the UK are basically what you’d pay all in from Sideshow anyway so it’s easier just to buy from SS as they get it sooner.

HK sellers are about to get even more popular now, although I’m not sure I can even stomach those prices.

 

[choombaz]

Anyone who believes they have a valuable collection for their future is in for disappointment.

If its valuable now, sell it fast.

Many reason have been pointed to in these 2-pages: generational interest, technology changes, too many "collectors" (just look at the 3 inch SW market).... all of these reasons are true.

A few very rare pieces might retain some sort of value in the future -- like the 3 inch Vader with telescoping lightsaber from 1977 (if you can find a buyer) -- but the majority of everyone's collections will be valueless and best served to be given away to hospital children.

Or the jawa with the vinyl cape, which I have, but I don’t have the packaging anymore

 

[MGS_OldBoy57]

For me personally prices are hitting harder than before. Prices of everything really. I use Sideshows payment plan as it helps me budget the higher dollar figures ($300+) but I definitely only buy figures I gotta have now, classics. Years ago I would buy figures I thought were “cool” and just resell them. Not anymore.

 

[potato]

^
But they may form a massive general demand for further development in 3D printing machines.

That's the future of this hobby, if it has a future left.

Imagine if someone with incredible talent just shared a blueprint and everyone here just punched out something cool. Imagine if you could get a custom headsculpt that way of any celebrity you wanted. I mean, at this point, people are printing out 1/1 firearms or enough components to get you 90 percent there, think about how staggering a new normal like that becomes.

the future i see is we all have this magic box that can reproduce whatever items we want to, and dispose of then when we dont want them no more. just need to download the 3d files.

 

[potato]

I started with this hobby in 2016. Coomodel had a few knight releases which got my attention, because I'm a big medieval fan. So I bought the SE001 Teutonic Knight and was super happy. It was about 180 Euro back than and had really cool accessories.

Flash forward to 2022 and I just got another Coomodel Teutonic Knight. This time for nearly double the price. Ok, it has a real chainmail hood included but apart from that I feel it could be a realease from 2016. Same kind of accessories, clothes, boots. A bit better diecast stuff. But even the nonexclusive knight was close or over 300.

I know inflation is a thing and prices will increase also because workers in China getting more money - and shipping costs went through the roof.


But it made me think. There are many collectors who can't spend 250-350 bucks on every figure. On the other hand, there is a whole generation of rather young people (20-40) who can and will afford nearly everything. The money is there. It costs 350? hmmm. Expensive. But I need to have it, so I buy it.

I feel we have an increasing gap between collectors who are priced out and collectors who don't care and buy everything they want for any (nearly) any price. Which is just free market, supply demand...but what would happen if more and more would simply stop buying for any asking price?

Hoe do you feel about the price tags these days?

you need to look outside the toy market. folks are lining up to buy iphone 14 which isnt cheap and they do this only once a year. but there are luxury watch collectors, exotic car collectors, luxury fashion collectors, video game collectors, those hobby easily cost same or much more. folks always looking ways to spend their money and they would start off with low entry hobbies, not everyone can afford a rolex or ferrari but most folks with a job can afford few hot toys once they got bored with hasbro action figures and want to move up the ladder.

 

[jaws2020]

Probably going to get roasted for this but the younger gens might have more disposable income because they've been priced out of owning property, starting families later, new cars etc.. it gets worse with every new generation. Their main concern is where they'll find the space to store these toys! And yes we definitely live in a world where there doesn't seem to be a price cap and quality seems to vary, but the price rarely does.

 

[chrisstbh]

Probably going to get roasted for this but the younger gens might have more disposable income because they've been priced out of owning property, starting families later, new cars etc.. it gets worse with every new generation. Their main concern is where they'll find the space to store these toys! And yes we definitely live in a world where there doesn't seem to be a price cap and quality seems to vary, but the price rarely does.

I don't really have much in the way off bills, saving for a house but don't see that happening anytime soon... Don't drive either and never having kids but even I can't justify these costs with all of my disposable income.

Although I have pretty much run of space for now.

 

[generalszabo]

Probably going to get roasted for this but the younger gens might have more disposable income because they've been priced out of owning property, starting families later, new cars etc.. it gets worse with every new generation. Their main concern is where they'll find the space to store these toys! And yes we definitely live in a world where there doesn't seem to be a price cap and quality seems to vary, but the price rarely does.

There will be various demographics that purchase these expensive toys but I agree that if they're not going to spend it on houses they can afford a few more figures and statues each year

To play devil's advocate for those saying it is all too expensive now (which I agree with), you could argue now is the best time to collect, as the prices will never go down!

 

[Rondesmo]

Remember the time when a figure was 180-200$ and a 1/6 vehicle was 600$.
It seemed expensive but now sounds a bargain.
The hobby was fun and recreative.
Now everything is outrageously expensive and frustrating.
Perfect time to get the head out of the water and leave the hobby and, let’s face the truth, the addiction.

 

[Wor-Gar]

Remember the time when a figure was 180-200$ and a 1/6 vehicle was 600$.
It seemed expensive but now sounds a bargain.
The hobby was fun and recreative.
Now everything is outrageously expensive and frustrating.
Perfect time to get the head out of the water and leave the hobby and, let’s face the truth, the addiction.

I remember when they were $65.

I've also seen a lot of people leave the hobby over price increase. But then I've seen a lot more come into the hobby too. So... price is relative I suppose.