Mars Toys 1/6 MAT023 Alfred Pennyworth (Batman '66)

[Asta]

An explanation for the $20 increase on Alfred.

I had to cut these up to remove the political element:

 

[Asta]

And... crisis averted and normal service resumed...

 

[Raven]

An explanation for the $20 increase on Alfred.

I had to cut these up to remove the political element:

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That's kind of odd. At one point I naively thought the US was the main audience for most American programs, until I found UK, Canada, Germany, Mexico.. etc. all had atrong viewership. The Uk more often than not, actually competes or even surpasses in its fans of "pure American" pop tv. One would think that would extend to collectibles too. But maybe not. Heck it may just be that things have gotten bad enough economically abroad over the last few years they've already cut back ahead of us. On top of everything else that happened last year, this new tariff has me seriously debating when is the nostalgia limit gonna be tipped? The camel's back is gonna break sometime.

 

[Raven]

And... crisis averted and normal service resumed...

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Did something happen overnight I'm no doubt going to receive phone alerts about in a couple hours? Was something rescinded, a deal made or pigs fly? Enquiring minds wanna know.

 

[Asta]

Did something happen overnight I'm no doubt going to receive phone alerts about in a couple hours? Was something rescinded, a deal made or pigs fly? Enquiring minds wanna know.

Besides USPS starting to accept parcels from China again yesterday, I don't know of anything else.

 

[Asta]

This is the perspective from Giantoy on the USPS suspension and subsequent lifting of it, and the effect of tariffs:

(Kit also uses 4PX).

 

[pixletwin]

Deleted a bunch of posts and issued a couple of warnings. No politics outside the dark room folks. Also, no one cares if you are leaving a thread. YOU are not the subject of the thread.

 

[Asta]

To clarify, if you're outside the US you'll see Alfred listed as $227.

If you're in the US the price will have the 10% tariff applied because, taxes have to be prepaid by the seller:

 

[Raven]

To clarify, if you're outside the US you'll see Alfred listed as $227.

If you're in the US the price will have the 10% tariff applied because, taxes have to be prepaid by the seller:

View attachment 755755

But there shouldn't be taxes just tariffs right? Taxes are for US which Kit is not.

 

[Asta]

But there shouldn't be taxes just tariffs right? Taxes are for US which Kit is not.

Taxes are generally prepaid now, as they are on places like ebay as Kit mentioned.

4PX handle the tax, so it's in the amount you pay. Only now there's an extra 10% for the US.

With every 4PX delivery I see these two entries always exactly two hours apart:

2025-01-30 12:04 Released from customs: customs cleared.


2025-01-30 10:04 Arrival to the destination airport

The system operates like clockwork.



Since increasing the price for Alfred to $247 across the board Kit has managed to get his site to separate the US, so all other countries will now see the original $227 listing.

 

[darth dennis]

Deleted a bunch of posts and issued a couple of warnings. No politics outside the dark room folks. Also, no one cares if you are leaving a thread. YOU are not the subject of the thread.

I'm leaving the thread...but I'll be back after this stupid work meeting

 

[ymba]

The q is what happens to the items already shipped out of China at the old price?

 

[Asta]

The q is what happens to the items already shipped out of China at the old price?

Presumably they'll go through okay because they were correct at the time of despatch.

 

[ymba]

In the US, workers are getting cut left and right ,AI is affecting many workplace , and with prices rising everywhere, I really wondered if the collectors will start pulling back on these secondary characters or at least the “ non essential “ figures.

I already see even the custom market where in the past figures cost $1,500-$2,500 the sellers are having a tough time moving for 4-5 months. 2 years ago, the secondary and primary custom market would sell in weeks.

Think you will start seeing some of the secondary figures being sold for less than retail soon ? The ripping effect could affect Mars now more than ever. Do we all need an Alfred for $300?

I do wonder what % of figures come to US for many toys manufacturers like Mars

 

[Asta]

In the US, workers are getting cut left and right ,AI is affecting many workplace , and with prices rising everywhere, I really wondered if the collectors will start pulling back on these secondary characters or at least the “ non essential “ figures.

I already see even the custom market where in the past figures cost $1,500-$2,500 the sellers are having a tough time moving for 4-5 months. 2 years ago, the secondary and primary custom market would sell in weeks.

Think you will start seeing some of the secondary figures being sold for less than retail soon ? The ripping effect could affect Mars now more than ever. Do we all need an Alfred for $300?

I do wonder what % of figures come to US for many toys manufacturers like Mars

From what Kit said most of his customers are from the US.

It could have quite an impact on the hobby, or on all hobbies, because the price of everything else supplied by China will have increased as well.

If the potential market is reduced then the landscape of the sixth scale world may be changed. On the positive side those companies that overcharge may lower their prices to stay in business. On the negative we may see less niche figures being made.

 

[Raven]

From what Kit said most of his customers are from the US.

It could have quite an impact on the hobby, or on all hobbies, because the price of everything else supplied by China will have increased as well.

If the potential market is reduced then the landscape of the sixth scale world may be changed. On the positive side those companies that overcharge may lower their prices to stay in business. On the negative we may see less niche figures being made.

Probably not lower regular prices but maybe more sales like there were just after Covid hit. On the other hand, preorder numbers could drop and everything be super limited to the point if we ever recover and economy eventually bounces back before we try to nuke the AI Overlords and wipe ourselves off the board for the apes to take over...they'll make for some nice museum pieces.

 

[ymba]

From what Kit said most of his customers are from the US.

It could have quite an impact on the hobby, or on all hobbies, because the price of everything else supplied by China will have increased as well.

If the potential market is reduced then the landscape of the sixth scale world may be changed. On the positive side those companies that overcharge may lower their prices to stay in business. On the negative we may see less niche figures being made.

Since I have collect customs, I do see the buyers of market of $200-$300 are even more price
sensitive than the high end 1/6. It would not be a good thing for the manufacturer, the vendor and collectors if most collectors are US buyers because there will be less secondary figures made driving cost per unit up for those who want them if demand is low

 

[jsgord58]

I fear a 50% or more stock market decline like in 2008 because the stock market is the most expensive in history. A decline like that would probably trigger a deep recession like in 2008. Combine that with the tariffs/trade wars and that is a potent brew that will hit consumers very, very, hard and perhaps hit things like collectibles especially hard.

 

[tjg]

Remember the good days when all we had to worry about was whether or not Penguin would come with a collapsible umbrella or if they would get Julie Newmar’s proportions correct?
…good times….

 

[IBM5100]

The ripping effect could affect Mars now more than ever. Do we all need an Alfred for $300?

Even at $227 this Alfred is too much for me. 1966 Batman will always have a place in my heart but Michael Gough is my Alfred and I have him so I'm good.