[behindthemask]

Quote:

Originally Posted by atomicsmurf

I hear ya. I never thought about the art work as being an expense. Good point. But what do you reckon these things actually cost to manufacture? 50 cents per figure? Less?

It probably costs Hasbro 50cents to pay the manufacture to make the figure, packaging would be a seperate cost, and the artwork would either be commissioned for a said price or the artist may want royalties for each item sold, etc. Then you have hasbro works who box them, and ship them, answer the phone, operate the site, lots of warehouse space, lots of overhead costs, then they sell them to retail for $7, they sell them for $9.99, store makes $ hasbro makes $$ and we all lose money.

[MGTAJ]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Abbadon

If nothing else, having a core of loyal fans is amazing word of mouth publicity- consider how the MU following has exploded in the past year.
Hell, just since I've been a member of this site, we've seen a ton of joinups from people searching for Marvel Universe and finding this (great) site.

That's how I ended up here!

[MadMax0905]

Quote:

Originally Posted by atomicsmurf

Wow. That's B.S. My local MU prices are already $9. 2-Packs $17-something. So they take the stands away to save *them* money, and then they increase the price again. Nice one, hasblow. lol I've already cut back on buying MU's.

I agree!!! Where's the savings???? I personally like the stands but if they're going to take them away why not include more accessories!!!

[trebleshot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Abbadon

On a large scale, I agree...but Hasbro has been awesome to collectors- making stuff that no kid would ever know about in a million years- like classic Havoc. No kid says "Mommy! I want the skinny guy with the eggbeater on his head!"
There's clearly at least an ...appreceation...for us collectors.
If nothing else, having a core of loyal fans is amazing word of mouth publicity- consider how the MU following has exploded in the past year.
Hell, just since I've been a member of this site, we've seen a ton of joinups from people searching for Marvel Universe and finding this (great) site.

The Star Wars collectors get even crazier exclusives and stuff that never even hits stores- like the white Boba Fett. If they only cared for selling the most of that, he'd be a normal release. They have kept that send away model since the 80's Kenner days, and it's paid off.

Establishing a brand loyalty is what keeps fans loyal through all those repacks and repaints- which is why they sprinkle a new figure or two in a repaint wave- if the collectors are out looking for one fig, they're more likely to also but that repainted Iron Fist (or Darth Maul repack).

Sure, there is definitely a level of appreciation for the collectors and fans, and that shows through in the way they handle reusing molds. It may be the basis for a particular costume or paint scheme, but it's not the main reason for doing it.

Even if there were no collector base or brand loyalty, Hasbro would still do redecos to offset the R&D costs of the toys. Look at all the armor variants in the IM2 line. Some are comic-inspired and "for the fans" while others are simply ways of reusing the mold and possibly getting another sale out of it.

[Fedup23]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadMax0905

I agree!!! Where's the savings???? I personally like the stands but if they're going to take them away why not include more accessories!!!

90% of these characters fight crime with their fists while wearing a bathing suit..not much to accessorize. Sure give DD his club and some blast effects for certain characters (which they do) but if you want scuba gear or assless chaps then there is the spiderman cartoon line. I think MU figures come accesorized when its appropriate.

[MGTAJ]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadMax0905

I agree!!! Where's the savings???? I personally like the stands but if they're going to take them away why not include more accessories!!!

Hasbro will have an agreement in place to sell MU figs to retailers at $x each. They are making savings due to constraints such as the ones mentioned previously because otherwise they'd be selling them on at pretty much break-even. The price increase we have seen at retail is the retailers trying to increase profits that have shrunk due to less consumer spending in these tough economic times.

[Jason Abbadon]

Quote:

Originally Posted by trebleshot

Even if there were no collector base or brand loyalty, Hasbro would still do redecos to offset the R&D costs of the toys. Look at all the armor variants in the IM2 line. Some are comic-inspired and "for the fans" while others are simply ways of reusing the mold and possibly getting another sale out of it.

Absolutely- and it seems to me that the bucks or base figures are produced en masse and painted/detailed later- which would explain why some IM2 molds got reused forever but stuff like the comic series rarely did.
No repainted villians for example.