Limited editions, re-release, open edition?

[Butters]

The dream is over...

 

[Uncanny Web-Slinger]

Yes I've seen those comments too. My point was that I'm getting out of HT because of their practices and that I get better bang for my buck with statues hence the example I gave with the 89 Joker. Way overpriced for an action figure. I still have over a dozen HT and EB in my collection.

This is happening with me, but not by choice. At this point i'd have more on order if they were offering the licenses announced last year that got me exicted.

In fact 3/4 current orders are figures delayed from last year, only 1 is a new order (i'm saving SSC RW for another HT pre-order), that would of been a minimum 4/7 new orders if "coming soon" meant coming soon

 

[Lejuan]

For ____'s sake Hot Toys please, please goddamit - give Nova his ____ing licenses so we can all catch a ____ing break.

 

[Butters]

This is happening with me, but not by choice. At this point i'd have more on order if they were offering the licenses announced last year that got me exicted.

In fact 3/4 current orders are figures delayed from last year, only 1 is a new order (i'm saving SSC RW for another HT pre-order), that would of been a minimum 4/7 new orders if "coming soon" meant coming soon

 

[greatwall]

How much more are we talking here?

I would pay twice as much as the retail price, if the edition number is 125 or less and no BS exclusive version.

 

[MaulFan]

While there's a sense of victory in snagging something that's hard to come by, or watching how high people are willing to pay for something you already have and paid less for and enjoying the deal you got, in the end, I buy collectibles because I like to see these things decorate my living and work spaces and it doesn't matter who does or doesn't have them, as long as I can.

 

[a-dev]

While there's a sense of victory in snagging something that's hard to come by, or watching how high people are willing to pay for something you already have and paid less for and enjoying the deal you got, in the end, I buy collectibles because I like to see these things decorate my living and work spaces and it doesn't matter who does or doesn't have them, as long as I can.

Speaking of having things - have you got your Enterbay T-800 yet?

 

[vodoun]

Seemed pretty straightforward to me. Apologies for the misunderstanding. But I have seen the double standards from time to time that baffle me. Some folks can't accept things for what they are.

It's shockingly terrible. Seriously. It's funny how somebody always condemns those as an elitist group that speaks out about it. Smear campaign?

While there's a sense of victory in snagging something that's hard to come by, or watching how high people are willing to pay for something you already have and paid less for and enjoying the deal you got, in the end, I buy collectibles because I like to see these things decorate my living and work spaces and it doesn't matter who does or doesn't have them, as long as I can.

They have taken the bridge and the second hall. We have barred the gates but cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes, drums... drums in the deep. We cannot get out. A shadow lurks in the dark. We can not get out... they are coming. They're already here.

 

[greatwall]

Do whatever, you have to do to make you happy. This is not about how highend or lowend the statue you have that make you better than others. It is all about personal preference. For me, i like rare pieces, so i don't mind to pay more for it. Not because i am any better than any collectors, because i can afford it.

 

[abake]

Amazing that the first option is actually winning. I'll never understand that mentality.

 

[Boba Ben]

None of the choices really fit my opinion on the matter. It doesn't matter that much to me that they want to make updated versions of figures they've already done or re-release things like they're doing with the Tumbler.

My only concern is that I usually just want to have the one best version of the character on my shelf. When the new releases devalue the original the way that the Classic has done with the original Predator 1 to below retail price on the forums(I don't sell on ebay anymore), I can see it being a pain to accomplish my goal of just having the best version at times.

I know it would never happen, but I wish they'd sell upgrade parts to update your old version of the character when it's conceivable such as the new head sculpt for Mark I.

 

[Moonloop]

Limited edition or not, a figure is gonna sell out eventually. Hot Toys is not going to constantly produce a figure year round for years just so it's available for everyone at all times. They need to spend those resources on making other different figures.

Point being that every figure is limited in one way or another and will eventually sell out. Unfortunately the figures are not available for everyone to buy always, and they never will be.

So, every release is limited to some extent, and that's the way it's always going to be. Some figures may get a re-release, but most won't. A figure will never always be available (except on eBay), and that's the way it has been and is going to be.

 

[COSMOSTARX]

Amazing that the first option is actually winning. I'll never understand that mentality.

Babies and elitists. Probably both.

People naturally want to be acknowledged for anything.

If nobody acknowledged your collection of stuff, you wouldn't care if they remade stuff. You would already have your stuff.

 

[thenammagazine]

Babies and elitists. Probably both.

People naturally want to be acknowledged for anything.

If nobody acknowledged your collection of stuff, you wouldn't care if they remade stuff. You would already have your stuff.

elitist babies > self-entitled douchebags

 

[316what]

No, not at all - I'm talking about 1/6 mainly -and I think people would feel differently about statues.

Since the focus is on 1/6, that negates my vote I guess.

Sure the per figure cost goes down the more you produce - but they are taking a huge risk in manufacturing more than the current demand. And these savings are diminished when you have to go back to re-manufacture the same item because you have to tool up again.

I am curious as to why a limited edition size dictates what you would pay for a figure. Iron Monger is $500 and is just as cool if there are 10,000 of them or there are 500.

It's not a matter of Iron Monger being just as cool. It's a matter of the company's average procurement cost versus the consumer's price. If 10,000 Iron Mongers were made, the cost should be considerably lower than if 500 are made.

Why is this so important? Can't we just keep collecting like we always have? Instead of worrying about edition sizes compared to cost.

HT are fastly becoming 'mainstream' in the hobby and as that happens they must cater to a larger group of collectors. And in turn raise their costs to make.....I can hardly believe it.....more money.

Catering to a larger group = more customers = more profits. They do not need to raise their costs to make more money. The influx of new customers already does this.

This collectors generation is changing. The toy company's have been making such cool products that edition size and limitability are not such factors. People are buying the Tumbler because its an awesome piece. Not because the secondary market value was high on the 1st run. Buts its always been buy because the price will go up. If re-release's and open editions keep coming the "value" of the "collectibles" will crash. Will that cause people to stop collecting? We shall see. Its a roll of the dice for these companies.

I disagree about this collectors generation changing. As long as people have been collecting anything (sports cards, Beanies, Hot Wheels, etc), edition size and limitability have been the driving factors behind the product. Those two items are what initiate the "buzz" around a product or product line. That is what gets people in the "hunt" and brings in new folks. Initially, many are just in it for the quick profit, but many also hang around and become collectors.

When the "value" of a particular "collectible" crashes, so will that particular "collectible." It's part of the collectible cycle. All one has to do is look back on what was "collectible" in the 80's, 90's, 00's and see what happened.

i think you need to keep items available to people..if you make limited you won't keep people collecting .you will lose them as collectors. they will focus in on something new.

If items are NOT limited and maintain some sort of value, you will lose your collector base. They will move on to the next thing that is limited and scarce.

 

[devilof76]

If items are NOT limited and maintain some sort of value, you will lose your collector base. They will move on to the next thing that is limited and scarce.

That's why I've always said I'm not a collector. Never had this mentality, and never will.

 

[MaulFan]

To me, if you're buying something because of its rarity an not because you appreciate what it is, you're wasting money.

 

[a-dev]

To me, if you're buying something because of its rarity an not because you appreciate what it is, you're wasting money.

If thats the sole reason to collect then yes I agree. Just save your money, don't spend it in the first place.

 

[316what]

That's why I've always said I'm not a collector. Never had this mentality, and never will.

It doesn't matter if you don't have this mentality though. Once the "base" moves away to something else, the end is near for the product they're leaving behind.

 

[316what]

To me, if you're buying something because of its rarity an not because you appreciate what it is, you're wasting money.

But what if you're buying for both of those reasons?