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06-26-2012, 02:11 PM | #41 |
I LIVE!
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The "Joe collectors are cheap" thing has been going on since 2002.
I think a LOT of it is skewed perceptions on cost: early on, Joe was underpriced to get it to move when it was still re-establishing itself as a brand. Then, good old Walmart repeatedly undervalues the line's retail offerings. Joes weren't $5 in 2007 because Hasbro wanted them to be, they were $5 because that's what WALMART wanted them to be. Over the past couple years, PoC has generally been about $8 and up everywhere except Walmart. Because of Walmart's presence, there is a skewed perception of what Joe figures really should be worth (and then fans get shocked when Walmart FINALLY starts going MSRP or higher with movie stuff). With that, up until MAYBE recently, retro Joe stuff has been astoundingly affordable. 80s Joe was produced in extreme quantities when it was a high tier brand, and as a result of that a generally simpler construction, more of the product has survived to this day than in other brands, leading to lower prices on a LOT of it. And a continuing thread is that Joe fans are HIGHLY resistant to spend more (or what they view as "more") than "retail" on products, despite issues with lower productions and limited availability. In 2004, the MCC reissue was gather dust at TRU at $80 while TF Fans were buying Masterpiece Optimus Prime for $70. I've yet to see a single high priced Joe item truly succeed, where as Transformers and STar Wars get multiple items a year
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Originally Posted by TheRealDubya
Any sort of panic at this stage is just pure unsubstantiated reptile brain stem fear.
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Originally Posted by SmokePants
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06-26-2012, 02:16 PM | #42 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 2,161
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Quote:
I'm mostly staying away from the retailiation figs for that reason (with some exceptions like Red Ninja and some of wave 2 when ever it hits). I don't think that makes me cheap, just not a fool who is easily parted with his money. Don't get me wrong, I supported the crap out of this line through POC and 30th and even ROC to an extent (not all but some of the better stuff) but I won't just toss money's down "in support" on things I feel are overpriced, have lesser quality, and are not worth my attention. If that makes me cheap, sorry, but I am the same way with ALL the toylines I collect and those other communities seem to understand that POV, so there you go. |
06-26-2012, 02:18 PM | #43 |
Cobra Viper
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Harlingen
Posts: 240
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Quote:
In general, yes...it's because people ask Hasbro to make this or that. Then when it finally comes out, they just vanish and wait for clearance.
Then they curse retailers and ask the rhetorical question why they're not carrying the line for the next wave. It goes like this... ..... Cheap-ass Collector: Hasbro, pretty please give us updated Sky Striker! Will buy it asap! Hasbro: Fine, will be available in retail soon. Cheap-ass Collector: Thanks! You rock! I kiss your asses! Mwah! ..... Cheap-ass Collector: I wants Sky Striker pretty please! Retail: Ok, srp is $39.99 Cheap-ass Collector: What?! Fuck that! Toys are supposed to be cheap! I have wife and kids! I'm on fixed income! Ancestors taught me to spend only a little! Economy is bad! I want good deals! I want promotions! I want freebies! I want you kiss my ass because I am customer almighty! Will wait for clearance! Bye! Retail: Fuck this Sky Striker! Will never carry GIJoes anymore. Dirt cheap customers, no sale, no more deal with Hasbro! ..... Hasbro: WTF?! We made Sky Strikers for these bastards, why they not buy?! Fine, let's not release Data Viper because very costly. Let's also make less articulate vehicle drivers for Retaliation line and increase prices to make up for Sky Striker investment loss or else we run out of business. Damn cheap collectors. ..... Hasbro: Next wave for Joes will be available soon. Stay tuned. Cheap-ass Collector: Yay! ..... Cheap-ass Collector: Where new wave for Joes? Retail: No GIJoes, sorry! Cheap-ass Collector: And why?! Retail: Will never carry GIJoes anymore. Dirt cheap customers, no sale, no more deal with Hasbro! Cheap-ass Collector: Damn you Retail and Hasbro! You don't care for collectors! You ruined my childhood! You kill GIJoe line! All your faults, not mine! I needed that today! I mean, not to masturbate, but a good laugh!
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06-26-2012, 02:27 PM | #44 |
Grumpy Old Man
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: San Marcos, TX
Posts: 958
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I have been involved with many of the major toy lines of the 80s for years as both a collector and a seller, and I can say without a doubt that GI Joe collectors are the most difficult to deal with....mostly because they're cheap. To wit:
Transformer collectors gladly fork over huge amounts of money for their new product. GI Joe collectors wait until it hits clearance. He Man fans spend $25-30 a month to get ONE new figure. GI Joe fans think a loose/complete vintage figure is "too expensive" at $5. Star Wars collectors will pay $25-30 to get that one missing accessory from their collection. GI Joe collectors complain about paying $1 for an accessory. I have had Joe collectors come to my booth and spend an hour picking through every item in my inventory. They present me with a stack of 10-12 figures and about 20 accessories, and want to know if I'll take $20 for "the pile". Ugh! As a collector, I love this about Joe collectors because I'm NOT cheap and this gives me an advantage in the buying arena. As a (part time) seller, it gives me fits to see how much Joe collectors are simply unreasonable in their cost expectations on most items.
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06-26-2012, 02:41 PM | #45 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Virginia
Posts: 2,392
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I think the perception is that there are an inordinate number of scavengers and parasites in the Joe hobby. Rather than support the line and help it grow, they would prefer to live off its carcass. I don't know if it's true, though. I'm not like that.
I do often wonder why people didn't pre-order a set of 30th Anniversary Wave 3 if they wanted Storm Shadow so badly. |
06-26-2012, 02:41 PM | #46 |
Enemy Penetrator
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: New England
Posts: 2,502
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Quote:
In general, yes...it's because people ask Hasbro to make this or that. Then when it finally comes out, they just vanish and wait for clearance.
Then they curse retailers and ask the rhetorical question why they're not carrying the line for the next wave. It goes like this... ..... Cheap-ass Collector: Hasbro, pretty please give us updated Sky Striker! Will buy it asap! Hasbro: Fine, will be available in retail soon. Cheap-ass Collector: Thanks! You rock! I kiss your asses! Mwah! ..... Cheap-ass Collector: I wants Sky Striker pretty please! Retail: Ok, srp is $39.99 Cheap-ass Collector: What?! Fuck that! Toys are supposed to be cheap! I have wife and kids! I'm on fixed income! Ancestors taught me to spend only a little! Economy is bad! I want good deals! I want promotions! I want freebies! I want you kiss my ass because I am customer almighty! Will wait for clearance! Bye! Retail: Fuck this Sky Striker! Will never carry GIJoes anymore. Dirt cheap customers, no sale, no more deal with Hasbro! ..... Hasbro: WTF?! We made Sky Strikers for these bastards, why they not buy?! Fine, let's not release Data Viper because very costly. Let's also make less articulate vehicle drivers for Retaliation line and increase prices to make up for Sky Striker investment loss or else we run out of business. Damn cheap collectors. ..... Hasbro: Next wave for Joes will be available soon. Stay tuned. Cheap-ass Collector: Yay! ..... Cheap-ass Collector: Where new wave for Joes? Retail: No GIJoes, sorry! Cheap-ass Collector: And why?! Retail: Will never carry GIJoes anymore. Dirt cheap customers, no sale, no more deal with Hasbro! Cheap-ass Collector: Damn you Retail and Hasbro! You don't care for collectors! You ruined my childhood! You kill GIJoe line! All your faults, not mine! Yadda yadda! ..... It's the same old cycle. I wouldn't be suprised if Hasbro does not trust its own product, because, unfortunately for Hasbro, majority of us Joe collectors are cheap. Sure, we've bought the SDCC James McCullen, Sgt. Slaughter, Zarana, but we're just a handful of folks who don't mind paying back Hasbro for its good efforts. I wish Hasbro the best of luck no matter what. But seriously, I don't think Joe collectors are really that cheap. I mean, even if every adult collector out there bought a Skystriker at its initial MSRP, you still wouldn't have sold enough to save Joe at retail. Kids would need to embrace the line as well. If Joe collectors really do have a reputation for being cheap, then I would suspect it is because the perception is based off the words of a vocal minority rather than actually being based in reality. Of course, those are just my thoughts. I have no facts to back my point up, lol. |
06-26-2012, 02:42 PM | #47 |
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Of course other collecting communities haven't dealt with as high of rising costs vs loss of quality, oh sure costs have risen on TF's but for the most part they have stayed between $12-$15 for "regular sized" (sorry not up on my TF terminology as I buy very few) vs. GI Joes that have jumped from $5 (25th) to $8 (ROC) and back down to $6-$7 (POC and 30th) and now are up to $9 (Retaliation, but this time with a loss of quality). It's no wonder people pass on this stuff, you can't budget for it.
For the record, Transformers deluxe figures were $10 in 2008. The new Generations relaunch coming in a few weeks will likely see them in the $15 range. A $5 increase is rather sharp, but has been mitagated by the $13 pricepoint between 2010 and today. GI Joe average $7 in 2008, and has stayed relatively consistent with the exception of the movie stuff (which have likeness and studio fees Joe doesn't have in non-movie years). $9 for a figure sucks, but keep in mind that STar Wars is pushing $10 for figures about on par with Joe (or less, since the Vinatge line gets relatively few accessories with their figures)
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheRealDubya
Any sort of panic at this stage is just pure unsubstantiated reptile brain stem fear.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SmokePants
This is why companies are secretive -- because we all want the truth, but most of us cannot handle it.
|
06-26-2012, 02:43 PM | #48 |
Hisstank.Com General
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Location: Atlanta
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06-26-2012, 02:44 PM | #49 |
I'm here for Cobra.
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Oregon, in the woods with the bears.
Posts: 16,370
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Quote:
so I was thinking my parents were not rich when I was kid.
now I am wondering why are as joe fans labled cheap. is it cause TF fans were the kids with rich parents? I had a few nice TFs the number was maybe 9 or 10 I loved them but I knew they were very expensive and My mom put some of them on lay away. I had a lot more joes! and really played w them for the bulk of my child hood. is this why were are labled as "cheap" I dont get it Joe always seems like the step kid of TF. I mean no offense to anyone in anyway. I am proud that my parents took care of me and gave me a great childhood even though they strugled at times. and am proud to say that they are well off now. but what do you all think |
06-26-2012, 02:47 PM | #50 |
I'm here for Cobra.
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Oregon, in the woods with the bears.
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