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12-21-2009, 01:52 PM | #31 |
I LIVE!
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Altus, OK
Posts: 6,087
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Quote:
The price WILL go up, it may even skirt above Hasbro's current $7.99 MSRP (Walmart charges $8.44 for the Marvel lines, and they have less stuff than Joe or Star Wars!)
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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.
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12-21-2009, 02:00 PM | #32 |
Hog Driver
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 12,238
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I don't think anyone is really fooled. I think most people are aware of markups and "for sale" gimmicks. The value of something is based on the demand. If people still buy a product when the price goes up then the buyer makes out and maintains that price. If less people buy, then he might have to lower the price again. Nobody has to buy anything when it comes to luxury items or toys. Why would someone stop buying something he wants just because he finds out it was really cheap to make and the buyer makes a huge profit? Can we the buyers buy it from someone for cheaper than what Hasbro sells it for?
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12-21-2009, 05:35 PM | #33 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: TN
Posts: 1,178
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OH my god!! You mean someone is making a profit when I buy something? We'll that's news to me. I'll teach them to make a living, I'll just stop buying anything. That's it, we should organize a boycott of everything. We'll all get together and stop purchasing anything until they agree to give it to us at cost. Who believes in capitalism any more anyway. That's what ruined the soviet union, right?
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12-21-2009, 05:41 PM | #34 |
Banned
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 1,983
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I think the problem is that stuff isn't free. Everything should be free, free to be given and made, or taken, roughly, preferably with red hair.
....wait, what? >_>;; |
12-21-2009, 05:47 PM | #35 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Cobradelphia
Posts: 1,811
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Quote:
Sounds about right for the making of the product, but missing ALOT of other things that go into determining the final price. Can't just say, it costs 1-2 bucks to make and ship the figure and then they mark-up from there. Technically, it's true, but that mark-up isn't pure profit.
Hasbro's end: employee salaries, health insurance, manufacturing insurance, facility maintenance, profit, advertising, misc. cost of doing business expenses and probably more Retailer's end: employee salaries, health insurance, manufacturing insurance, facility maintenance, profit, advertising, misc. cost of doing business expenses and probably more So all that needs to be factored in as well. All businesses do it, not just toy manufacturers. So it's not like they're some Evil Corporation laughing at all of us as they make 6 dollar profits from each figure. My company, I get billed out to the client at 3x my salary. But that sure as hell isn't all profit for the company, the difference between my bill rate and my salary. Probably marketing is the biggest user of most of the mark-up money. A good example, go to a bar, all those things sitting on the tables advertising different kinds of beer? That's given to the bar by the beer distributor, it's a form of advertisment. The money to produce those things, which generate no immediate return revenue and possibly may not generate any at all, that money has to come from somewhere. It's not to say that the figures/vehicles could be cheaper, they probably could by a buck or so and the companies still make a good profit, but it's no where near as horrible as people like to make it out to be. Once again the truth is spoken. There is much more involved than you can imagine, to factoring any merchandise's price point.
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Link to my Buy/Sell/Trade thread: (HUGE COLLECTION ON SALE CHEAP!! EVERYTHING MUST GO!!) http://www.hisstank.com/forum/g-i-jo...ale-trade.html Here is a link to my feedback thread: http://www.hisstank.com/forum/buy-se...tml#post522578 |
12-21-2009, 05:48 PM | #36 |
Banned
Join Date: May 2008
Location: On break
Posts: 4,659
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Quote:
OK, here is some intel on manufacturing that might not sit well with some of you. Also, I will not make anything up only list facts.
I have been in Materials planning, engineering, purchasing for over 10 years now so I know a great deal regarding the tooling, manufacture, and shipping, export/import of goods. I also know someone on the inside ( A toy purchasing agent for one of the big three retailers) who I recently had a conversation with. Here are some facts, It costs almost nothing to have goods made overseas. I have a machine part, I send the drawing out for quote and the quote comes back, 1500.00 for tooling and 10 cents a piece for a gear made of brass ( Brass in much more expensive than plastic and heavier to ship). I buy 10,000 pcs at 10 cents plus the tooling and a little less 700 dollars for the freight. That makes my cost per piece around .42 cents. We sell this gear to the customer for 267.00USD. You also need to realize that with each addition order the price is reduced because the tooling is already payed for. What I am trying to say is that Hasbro does well and makes a decent profit but some of you ( like me) would stop collecting if you knew how much these retailers mark up the Joe, Transformers, and Star Wars line. I could not believe the ROC figures were 10 bucks when they came out. Also, Marvel Universe went from 5 to 10 bucks overnight, My friend said that the vehicles are the biggest markup, I mean come on the Falcon and Pit are over 100 dollars and then they go on sale for half? Remember the battle pack from Target? They were 15 bucks at the end. Night ravens go from 40 to 20! All I am saying is that as collectors we need to show some restraint when buying up these toys at full price, if people stop paying so much these retailers will lower the prices. Example, look how comic packs ( SW, Marvel, Joe) come with a comic ( paper is expensive!) and two figures and goes for 12 or under but a single carded figure goes for 10? That should be proof enough that there is a high mark up. A final thought is that the 25th line was priced nice ( actually a little low) and I understand a price increase but I mean the ROC, 40 dollar vehicles and 10 dollar figures is nonsense ( By the way, for 9.99 you get a vehicle and a figure but figures are 9.99?) By the way, rent the film " The corporation" and you will never pay full price for sneakers again! There your issues with pricing is gone...........FOREVER!!!!! Outside of that, What Troynos and Derek said was spot on the money! |
12-21-2009, 05:55 PM | #37 |
Mad Scientist at Large
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 14,793
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One little problem with the magic gear analogy.
Keep in mind, guys, that the average Joe isn't made of one piece like the hypothetical brass gear. The average GI Joe figure is made from 30(!) pieces. Those pieces then need to be put together, then painted. Do GI Joes cost a lot less to make than we pay? Of course, but I'd bet it's a lot more than 42cents that dreamers here think. |
12-21-2009, 05:58 PM | #38 |
Banned
Join Date: May 2008
Location: On break
Posts: 4,659
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Good point Zefram.
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12-21-2009, 06:01 PM | #39 |
#voteblackjack
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Northwood, NH
Posts: 35,747
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Quote:
I have a machine part, I send the drawing out for quote and the quote comes back, 1500.00 for tooling and 10 cents a piece for a gear made of brass ( Brass in much more expensive than plastic and heavier to ship). I buy 10,000 pcs at 10 cents plus the tooling and a little less 700 dollars for the freight. That makes my cost per piece around .42 cents. We sell this gear to the customer for 267.00USD.
Part of the 1500 tooling expense Part of the 700 dollar freight Part of the employee's salaries Part of employee's health insurance costs Part of the employee workman's compensation insurance (which yes, does come out of that, so if you know anyone milking workman's comp, you're paying for it) Part of the company's 401k match Part of the cost of operations of the company (utility bill, building maintenance and/or rent, cleaning company) Part of the company's advertisement Part of the packaging cost for that gear Part of the storage cost for stocking that part before sending it to the client Part of the overall company profit Part of the theft insurance Part of the company overhead (computer maintenance, buying printer paper and printer inks, buying pens, buying pads of paper) Part of the company slush fund (for rainy days, translation: when times are slow and not much revenue being generated) Part of the company's sales teams (which are usually non-revenue generating, most companys, the people that go out and sell the company and the products, the commissins they make, where do you think they come from?) That's all off the top of my head, I'm sure there's more.
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12-21-2009, 06:02 PM | #40 |
The Chaos Bringer
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Skid Row Yo!!!
Posts: 2,506
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I have a few cents to contribute, first my personal account, when going to the store I'm now very selective as to what I buy, true there are lines that have me sucked in because I hate having holes in my collection. For example the two new JLU 6 packs I just found @ Target today. I know there's a slight chance these things will be impossible to find as most Targets I've seen are discontinuing JLU product as soon as the new year. Are they worth 29.99? Hell no. But I'd rather spend it then not have the product. If I don't buy them then some secondary market scalper sure will @ 100% mark up. Those first 6 packs from years ago are going for 250.00 each on EBAY. I sure as shit would never pay that. However I will bide my time on these things and hold on to my receipt and wait for clearance. I do try to be economical when collecting.
Roc for example I think is second rate and they look like glorified corps figures. I wouldn't take some of those figures for free. I also don't try to be a completist on Star Wars figs. I only buy new unique characters. I think it's shady of Habro to have the Marvel Universe figures when we all collected Marvel Legends now we have to buy them all over again in a different scale? I think they're over priced and they suck. I'm a little sore they skipped some characters in Marvel Legends. Mattel's Infinite Heroes also sucks, the JLU figures may not have the same articulation, but they have a fresher look. Also nothing compares to the DCU line. But even with that I'm selective. I also noticed with the recession, secondary market sellers are less likely to buy from middlemen, and they really low ball you with offers. Money's tight everywhere and unless Hasbro or Mattel puts out quality desirable product I refuse to give them money. My point is OP, that unfortunately our ilk will feel moved to buy anything @ any price regardless of what it is and what it costs. There are a lot of those collectors out there trust me. I don't judge (meaning I won't resort to name calling) what people spend their money on but I do disagree with it at times. I'm sure you've heard of the Mattycollector subscription figure debacle again (I think third time this year). Fans are not very ardent when a new toy is dangled in their face. I expected a crap storm raised at the Mattel Panel @ this years comic-con, but nobody called them out unfortunately. It just proves my point no matter what the cost, what the circumstances there are those fans that blindly support a company or product. |
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