[Joe Moore]

Marvel Comics - Scarlet Witch Statue by Iron Studios

[TheBlueMarvel]

Pretty nice. I think the cape and manifestation of her hexes are strong elements in the overall design.

[ddarko]

This is nice, but what is up with that pricing? These 1/10 scales went from 89.99 to 169.99 really quick. Now, they are going up again to 199.99? That feel like a lot!

[Mordiganne]

Finally! Wonder if they'll make a Spiral for the villians side. She was kind of popular in the 90s.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddarko

This is nice, but what is up with that pricing?

Prices go up. Expect more of the same. Inflation is going to be hitting hard.

[ddarko]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mordiganne

Prices go up. Expect more of the same. Inflation is going to be hitting hard.

Um, sure, I understand inflation happens. BUT, we are talking about an increase from 89.99 to 169.99, and then to 199.99 within a span of almost a year! I am not sure inflation accounts for that much of a price hike, ESPECIALLY, given that other manufacturers have not seen a similar increase.

So all things being equal, it does appear that Iron Studios is just pushing the pricing to see how far they can go.

Just for comparison, a 1/7 scale from the likes of a high-end manufacturer like Alter averages around ~150-200 USD at the moment. So this being a 1/10 at 199.99 USD cannot be explained by just inflation, no?

[Runamuck]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddarko

This is nice, but what is up with that pricing? These 1/10 scales went from 89.99 to 169.99 really quick. Now, they are going up again to 199.99? That feel like a lot!

Exactly. It's ridiculous. Every new statue has a higher price tag. That seems like more than just inflation. Which, to me, seems like an excuse a lot of times. Prices go up, but incomes stay the same. Amazing how that works.

[Mordiganne]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddarko

Um, sure, I understand inflation happens. BUT...

Inflation is caused by many, many factors and those factors have been exacerbated and accelerated by world events. That's just reality.

Not sure what else to say. If you don't like the prices, don't pay them. Complaining is not going to change the price they're being sold for. If enough people don't buy them (unlikely, it's X-Men) Iron Studios would cost correct to meet their financial requirements.

No one likes paying more than what something *used* to cost, but again, that's reality. Food, gas, electricity, cars, tires, furniture, clothes...toys. All these things used to cost less to purchase than they do today.

Prices go up.

[Mordiganne]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Runamuck

Prices go up, but incomes stay the same.

That's the bigger issue involved here. Stagnant wages. But that's not something to delve into here on a message board about toys.

So last thing I'll say on the subject, it's a statue. It's not essential and it's not something anyone couldn't live without. If you (generic you) can't afford to buy it or have qualms about doing so...don't. You'll likely be better off/happier in the long run.

[Runamuck]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mordiganne

That's the bigger issue involved here. Stagnant wages. But that's not something to delve into here on a message board about toys.

So last thing I'll say on the subject, it's a statue. It's not essential and it's not something anyone couldn't live without. If you (generic you) can't afford to buy it or have qualms about doing so...don't. You'll likely be better off/happier in the long run.

No worries, I never do pay for things frivolous things that I think are too expensive. I used to be a big statue collector, but the prices got out of control, and quality(in my opinion) went down, or stayed the same. So I don't really buy anymore. Same thing happened with Bishoujo. When I started collecting them, they were $50. Now $100 is a good price. They priced me out.

I am also a firm believer that prices go up because manufacturers raises prices. They do it to line their pockets to start off, then when they see people are willing to pay that, it becomes the norm. It's not always the case, but I'd be willing to bet it's the case a lot more than we think.

[ddarko]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mordiganne

Inflation is caused by many, many factors and those factors have been exacerbated and accelerated by world events. That's just reality.

I think you may have not read my reply beyond the point you quoted. The issue is that inflation does not account for the price increase we see. The easiest way to see it is that other manufacturers do not show a similar percentage increase in price.

Iron Studios, within the span of a year, has more than doubled their pricing.

So my point was that what you say is untrue i.e. price does not reflect reality. There is good reason to think that Iron Studios is just pushing the pricing to see how much they can get away with it. I am hoping that these do not sell well, just so that they can go back to pricing things more reasonably in line with “reality” that you speak about

[ddarko]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Runamuck

No worries, I never do pay for things frivolous things that I think are too expensive. I used to be a big statue collector, but the prices got out of control, and quality(in my opinion) went down, or stayed the same. So I don't really buy anymore. Same thing happened with Bishoujo. When I started collecting them, they were $50. Now $100 is a good price. They priced me out.

I am also a firm believer that prices go up because manufacturers raises prices. They do it to line their pockets to start off, then when they see people are willing to pay that, it becomes the norm. It's not always the case, but I'd be willing to bet it's the case a lot more than we think.

Exactly this!

There are times when you can make sense of the price increase. In most cases, it has just been price hikes to see how much they can get away with. After all, Koto can produce their re-releases for around a 5-10% increased rate, while they charge almost twice that amount for new releases, which aren’t always better with visible seams (looking at you Mera Bishoujo lol). So that is clearly not inflation at work.

I never buy the new Bishoujo ones till they hit the bargain bin these days. They do drop quiet a lot if you wait, so that might help you too if you are into that line.

[Joe Moore]

It's not just inflation. Shipping is more expensive and slower than it's ever been. This is causing places to pay for more expensive shipping methods that they then roll into the MSRP. Materials (especially any plastic) has massively shot up in price over the last few years, higher licensing cost, higher cost for labor (sculptors, painters included), production runs are getting smaller, and then whatever their profit margin needs to be to not only sustain, but expand.

[Mordiganne]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Moore

It's not just inflation. Shipping is more expensive and slower than it's ever been. This is causing places to pay for more expensive shipping methods that they then roll into the MSRP. Materials (especially any plastic) has massively shot up in price over the last few years, higher licensing cost, higher cost for labor (sculptors, painters included), production runs are getting smaller, and then whatever their profit margin needs to be to not only sustain, but expand.

Nah. Surely it's just Iron Studios intentionally gouging statue collectors. [/s]

[ddarko]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Moore

It's not just inflation. Shipping is more expensive and slower than it's ever been. This is causing places to pay for more expensive shipping methods that they then roll into the MSRP. Materials (especially any plastic) has massively shot up in price over the last few years, higher licensing cost, higher cost for labor (sculptors, painters included), production runs are getting smaller, and then whatever their profit margin needs to be to not only sustain, but expand.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mordiganne

Nah. Surely it's just Iron Studios intentionally gouging statue collectors. [/s]

Come on, no need for the sarcasm. My point is that when you look at other manufacturers, this price hike does not make sense. How do we explain that? Do other manufactures not ship? Do they not use materials? Do they not have to pay licensing fees?

This is why I say the pricing hike is not due to inflation or increase in costs. Sure, some of the increase can certainly be attributed to such things, BUT not this much of an increase. The percentage increase by Iron Studios does not match with what we see across the board from other high-end statue manufacturers. That is the problem. Also, do keep in mind that I am not talking about the last few years. I am talking about the last one and half years. Iron Studio price hike has taken place in that short period of time, which is hard to explain given that other high end manufacturers have not made such increases.

As sarcastic as your comment was Mordiganne, it is the truest statement you have made so far, in my humble opinion. They are just trying to see how far they can push it. Now certainly, that is business. Personally, I think that is why it does not help when folks like yourself try to brush it up for increase in costs. It really isn't. The more people are aware of it the better, so that they can hold the line. If people just keep giving into whatever prices they set, it just goes out of control for the entire market.

[Joe Moore]

This isn't some isolated incident to one or two companies raising prices. Every toy company is seeing price increases, or using some serious cost cutting measures to mitigate the rising costs. Super7, NECA, Koto, Hot Toys, Sideshow, Iron Studios, Mezco, etc. All of their prices have gone up, in some cases significantly.

Hasbro buries their cost in reusing parts for years, and reissuing figures all the time spreading the production cost out over a number of releases. NECA does this to an extent as well. McFarlane packs in only the barest of accessories and does variants to keep their figures at $20.

Any companies who give answers, all say the same thing. Costs to do business are rising faster than before.

[Mordiganne]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddarko

My point is that when you look at other manufacturers, this price hike does not make sense.

Ok, well, believe whatever you want, I guess...

[ddarko]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Moore

This isn't some isolated incident to one or two companies raising prices. Every toy company is seeing price increases, or using some serious cost cutting measures to mitigate the rising costs. Super7, NECA, Koto, Hot Toys, Sideshow, Iron Studios, Mezco, etc. All of their prices have gone up, in some cases significantly.

Hasbro buries their cost in reusing parts for years, and reissuing figures all the time spreading the production cost out over a number of releases. NECA does this to an extent as well. McFarlane packs in only the barest of accessories and does variants to keep their figures at $20.

Any companies who give answers, all say the same thing. Costs to do business are rising faster than before.

Joe,

I want to be precise here. The issue isn't merely a price increase. The issue is the extent of the price increase. Questions have to be asked since the extent of the price increase is not similar when compared to other statue manufacturers. There are other high-end statue manufactures like Iron Studios (IS) who have not raised the prices to the extent Iron Studios has done within a short span of time. So this is what makes them stick out.

[ddarko]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mordiganne

Ok, well, believe whatever you want, I guess...

I mean, it isn't simply my belief though. I explained the fact upon which my position is predicated. As long as that fact remains true, my position remains more than just my personal belief. You can convince me to abandon my belief by giving me evidence to the contrary i.e. proof that most companies have increased prices to the extent that Iron Studios has done within the one and half years.