SSC Flint

[creature4000]

I just hope the joints are tight!

 

[ProgMatinee]

At the same time, I'm totally apposed to the "I'll wait until it goes on clearance crowd too. That mentality hurts us all in the end as companies become more reluctant to produce certain items.

Thats kinda hypocritical to say that collectors should either buy it or not buy it based on their level of want, but then follow it with saying people shouldn't wait for it to hit their own established price level.

 

[ProgMatinee]

All I really want is some consistency really when a line starts. I would really like to know that figures will be $100-$125 each depending on accessories for say 2 or 3 years.
I started collecting the line believing the base price would be $100 when I saw CC then when I saw SE I assumed decked out figs would be $120. But NOW based on the low amount of accessories on Flint it looks like the base price for bare bones figures is $125. Thats a price increase of 25% in the span of just 1 year. How much will decked out figures be? $150? Then a year from now bare bones figures will be $150 and decked out figures $175?

Come on, I know inflation, I'm a financial analyst. Inflation rates for the last decade have been around 3%. SSC prices are not a victim of inflation, they are a victim of SSC changing their business model and raising their per unit profit margins.

I understand and agree with the philosophy of "don't like it don't buy it". But those of you trying to drive off the complainers with that mantra are only encouraging people to drop the line which in turn ends up raising your prices. Is that really what you want? You'd prefer to pay $150-$200 for product just so you can tell us complainers "don't like it don't buy it".

 

[EVILFACE]

Easy. Just tell yourself that all the GIJoe figures are going to be sold by SS for $125. If they are less, no big deal.

 

[teemu]

Dont forget U.S. Dollar devaluation which causes inflation...the dollar is only worth 4 cents, plus its printed by the ton,out of thin air,backed by NOTHING!

 

[ProgMatinee]

Dont forget U.S. Dollar devaluation which causes inflation...the dollar is only worth 4 cents, plus its printed by the ton,out of thin air,backed by NOTHING!

it don't come in to me like its worth 4 cents, so I shouldn't be sending it out like it is.

 

[CaptainDinobot]

Dont forget U.S. Dollar devaluation which causes inflation...the dollar is only worth 4 cents, plus its printed by the ton,out of thin air,backed by NOTHING!

Sad to say, everything you said is completely true.

 

[ProgMatinee]

Easy. Just tell yourself that all the GIJoe figures are going to be sold by SS for $125. If they are less, no big deal.

except they'll be $150 in a year and $200 in 2 years. if not sooner.

 

[drjedisith]

All I really want is some consistency really when a line starts. I would really like to know that figures will be $100-$125 each depending on accessories for say 2 or 3 years.
I started collecting the line believing the base price would be $100 when I saw CC then when I saw SE I assumed decked out figs would be $120. But NOW based on the low amount of accessories on Flint it looks like the base price for bare bones figures is $125. Thats a price increase of 25% in the span of just 1 year. How much will decked out figures be? $150? Then a year from now bare bones figures will be $150 and decked out figures $175?


ditto!

 

[drjedisith]

All I really want is some consistency really when a line starts. I would really like to know that figures will be $100-$125 each depending on accessories for say 2 or 3 years.
I started collecting the line believing the base price would be $100 when I saw CC then when I saw SE I assumed decked out figs would be $120. But NOW based on the low amount of accessories on Flint it looks like the base price for bare bones figures is $125. Thats a price increase of 25% in the span of just 1 year. How much will decked out figures be? $150? Then a year from now bare bones figures will be $150 and decked out figures $175?


ditto!

 

[D. Martin]

Thats kinda hypocritical to say that collectors should either buy it or not buy it based on their level of want, but then follow it with saying people shouldn't wait for it to hit their own established price level.

Not in the least. There is nothing hypocritical about it. It's true 'wait for it to hit clearance' collectors hurt the industry. When a retail chain drops the price on something, they charge the manufacturer for the discounted price they mark the item down to to ensure the retailer still gets the same profit margin. That means that retailer buyers can actually destroy toy lines by over purchasing them beyond the demand and then discounting them.

That killed the Heroes line, and is it right for small companies like Mezco to risk their existence on customers that feel they have a right to set their own prices?

You won't convince me otherwise since I'm in a position that allows me to speak directly to the companies and I can see the damage 'clearance collectors' cause, and no matter what self-righteous excuse clearance collectors have for why they do it, they aren't looking at the big picture.

 

[Khev]

It's true 'wait for it to hit clearance' collectors hurt the industry.

Its the collector's fault if a collectible's retail price is higher than the perceived value? If an item goes on clearance then the demand obviously wasn't there in the first place.

 

[Swantiago]

Ex Snake Eyes cost 120 and he came loaded with gear!

Compare Snake Eyes to Flint and I can't help but fail to see what my extra 5 bucks is getting me. And that includes the 10 cent plastic exclusive.
So for an extra 5 bucks I'm getting a figure with less accessories.....

Don't get me wrong I'm not particularing afflicted by the increase.
I still ordered the Ex even though being a euro customer Im looking at about 180 dollars to pay for him!

I can really understand where everyone else is coming from and it shows big time with the Ex still being up for preorder,. It seems most people are going third party seller for this one.

 

[Swantiago]

Its the collector's fault if a collectible's retail price is higher than the perceived value? If an item goes on clearance then the demand obviously wasn't there in the first place.

Exactly!! I think the initial Joe buzz has settled and people are fading from the line.

I can't see many of these figures being hard to find in a couple of years.

SS need to either drop their ES or drop thir prices, otherwise I think this line could come to a sudden halt.

 

[ProgMatinee]

Not in the least. There is nothing hypocritical about it. It's true 'wait for it to hit clearance' collectors hurt the industry. When a retail chain drops the price on something, they charge the manufacturer for the discounted price they mark the item down to to ensure the retailer still gets the same profit margin. That means that retailer buyers can actually destroy toy lines by over purchasing them beyond the demand and then discounting them.

That killed the Heroes line, and is it right for small companies like Mezco to risk their existence on customers that feel they have a right to set their own prices?

You won't convince me otherwise since I'm in a position that allows me to speak directly to the companies and I can see the damage 'clearance collectors' cause, and no matter what self-righteous excuse clearance collectors have for why they do it, they aren't looking at the big picture.

Well. You're a toy company sympathyser which is fine, but you can't fault collectors for establishing the demand side of the economic model. What are we collectors supposed to do? Sell our souls to collectible companies if we're remotely interested in being a collector? Either you're a collector that pays full price or you shouldn't be a collector? Its their own fault if they lose me as a direct customer if SSC wants to cut production from 5000 units to 2000 and then pass on the lost income onto me by doubling retail prices!

 

[Swantiago]

Yeah I'm gonna cancel the throne from SS direct and get from somewhere else.

I don't know if anyone here collects 3a toys but they are top quality figures reasonably priced and are released in tiny Edition Sizes.

And they include shipping worldwide in their prices. I just bought 4 ,12 inch exclusive figures shipped for 320 bucks. thats 80 bucks a figure . Bargain!

If a tiny manufacturer can produce such quality at affordable prices, why can't SS?

 

[ortiz344]

Its the collector's fault if a collectible's retail price is higher than the perceived value? If an item goes on clearance then the demand obviously wasn't there in the first place.

Amen, if the item was priced correctly these would fly off the shelves.
Collectors will support lines, but once you get blind collectors to start questioning the price, you got a problem. Im not going to overpay for an item just so i can personally support the line,not buying at retail sends a message (and the message isnt 'i dont want this', its 'i wont pay that much').

 

[D. Martin]

Its the collector's fault if a collectible's retail price is higher than the perceived value? If an item goes on clearance then the demand obviously wasn't there in the first place.

Not true, really, in a lot of cases. When Hasbro announced the Big Millennium Falcon forums were full of people stating they'd buy it on clearance. This was before the retail price was even known.

There are more collectors like that than you might think. It isn't a matter of perceived value vs. suggested retail pricing as much as it is an incredible amount of collectors that don't want to pay full price for anything.

IMO, if something isn't worth the asking price I don't want it for less. Price is really irrelevant when it comes to pieces I want. Heck, I just spent over $200 on a Platoon Lerner figure, and it was worth it to me because money isn't *that* important. You pay the price offered in exchange for goods you want. I don't think that collectors are entitled to lower prices. I also don't think any company owes us anything. We choose to purchase their products.

 

[ProgMatinee]

I can care less about low edition sizes. If SSC wanted they could sell double or triple the product if they priced the items more reasonably. They could milk the SW or GI Joe cow all they want across 10,000 units for all I care.

Think about it. SSC has more than cut in half their edition sizes...does anyone really think SSC's revenues and profit has shrunk by 50%? I don't. So if units are cut by 50% then where is the revenue coming from? Its from the 2000 that are now paying twice what they used to pay per figure!

Again I can care less for small edition sizes. Its not like I plan on reselling these. I'd prefer to spend less at the register.

 

[ProgMatinee]

I don't think that collectors are entitled to lower prices. I also don't think any company owes us anything. We choose to purchase their products.

Is that what you do with everything? Such as gasoline. If fuel was 5x more expensive than what it is now, you'd consume an equal amount? Or if you like x brand beer and they started charging 3x more for it you'd still pay that rather than switch brands? Or if red shirts cost 8x what blue shirts cost you'd still wear red?

I SERIOUSLY DOUBT IT. You would reevaluate your tastes or priorities. So then lets say you switched off "x" brand beer because it got too expensive. If you still liked "x" and saw it on sale for a good price does that mean you can't buy it on clearance because you don't like the regular price? No you'd scoop it up while its cheap.

So the only difference here is you feel bad for toy companies.

Your argument is based on feelings and not any real economic logic.