[TimothyR]

i'm not one to defend any of these companies..

but it's not just ebay that's driving prices up.. that's a really naive theory.

the price of most things are going up.. materials are costing more, transportation costs more.. people aren't able to buy as much stuff which means companies are making less money which means they need to simplify things to make stuff affordable.

hell.. gas was like two dollars less 10 or so years ago.

that being said.

it's really annoying that they're simplifying everything, yet prices remain just about the same. it's incredible.

hasbro has said that they're simplifying transformations and what not for kids for the new transformers movie line.. i think that's bullshit.. they just want to make a larger profit.. fewer joints, fewer screws, fewer pegs, fewer pins, less paint and less design time + equal prices as toys that were made with those things = a much bigger profit margin.

honestly.. i hope it blows up in their faces and this crap sits on the shelves forever (man of steel and iron man 3 line anyone?).. but something tells me, if that happens, we're the ones who are going to suffer.

there's nothing we can do.. we have no stake in these companies.. and they clearly only care about the bottom line. it's a shame they can't care about the bottom line AND have collectors in mind as well.

oh well. .. i guess we'll see what happens.

at least i know that hot toys and neca won't be going anywhere any time soon.