Integration

jwyss234 · 04-29-2022, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBlueMarvel

Please feel free to edit my comments. Even I get tired when reading my own thoughts.

To answer your question, I don't know what they will do. But they do seem to be trying out some different price levels. RETRO/ARMY BUILD-$22 REGULAR-$25 DELUXE-$30-$55 HASLAB-$300-$400 (maybe a dead end now) 3.75" RETRO-$20 Hasbro MCU Cosplay stuff.. That's a lot to juggle and a lot of fat to trim.

I assume someone is buying 3.75" Retro since we're into 2nd and 3rd waves, but wouldn't be shocked if it went away. I say, stop retro re-trash, both 3.75" and 6" and step up the game and compete with the higher end 1:12 figs. Or, charge more, keep everything the same and prepare to put a wrap on the line because the product, as is, isn't worth $35-$45. Take the time and effort to make things people want to collect.

Instead of trying to string together these next few questions/thoughts/observations into coherent paragraphs, I'm just numbering these to get them out there. And this is more questions and how I'm seeing the state of things. I'm not expecting answers or trying mount any sort of counter argument or anything like that.

I don't think standard priced figures will be going anywhere. While I definitely think there is a place for premium figures, I just don't think Hasbro will ever convince people to pay premium prices for lower tier characters like The Hood.
There are too many figures being released. BAF waves have gone from 6 figures per wave to 7 figures per wave. The number of BAF waves each year has also increased. Add on to that fan channel exclusives, store exclusives, retro carded waves, and premium waves. Heck, there are even three premium waves this year with ML 20th, SM 60th, and X-Men The Animated Series. And there could be a fourth if they do another MCU premium wave.
With the price increase, would people be more receptive to smaller wave? A 7 figure BAF wave at $25 per figure is $175 before tax. However a 4 figure wave would only be $100 before tax. Does the change in total price help any make a difference to anyone?
If folks are receptive to smaller assortments, do we even need BAFs anymore? Would eliminating the BAF pieces decrease the price any or at least allow for more accessories? We've seen that Hasbro can sell regular 6" figures with out BAFs as well as larger, deluxe figures on their own.
The premium figures aren't really "premium" anymore. Most of them look like they could be swapped out for a regular release from a BAF wave. For example, the Future Foundation Spider-Man costs more but only comes with a few accessories while the retro carded Ben Reilly Spider-Man costs less and comes with more accessories. The deco on the FF Spidey isn't advanced or more intricate so why is it in a premium line like the Spider-Man 60th Anniversary?
If Hasbro was going to make premium figures that can compete with Figuarts or Mafex, should each figure be given a unique sculpt or will it be more about paint and accessories? Or all three of those?
And finally, the character selection in these recent waves stinks. Going back to the Future Foundation Spider-Man, why is he even in the 60th anniversary wave? From what they've shown, he's not a premium figure worth $28. But that Armani suited Doc Ock that StuartGreen2019 has been asking for would be worth it. That particular look for Ock hasn't done much for me in the past but I would far more interested in a new Doc Ock than FF Spidey. Even looking at the upcoming BAF waves like the Bone Breaker wave, did they have to include Darwin, Vulcan, and Maggot in the same wave? Were those three really more popular than Banshee or the armored Psylocke people have been asking for? And I'm not saying those three should never get figures. I'm just asking why it was necessary to put Darwin, Vulcan, and Maggot in a wave with a skinny Sabretooth and a lackluster Wolverine.

04-29-2022, 05:11 PM	#76098
jwyss234 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Middle TN Posts: 2,837	Quote: Originally Posted by TheBlueMarvel Please feel free to edit my comments. Even I get tired when reading my own thoughts. To answer your question, I don't know what they will do. But they do seem to be trying out some different price levels. RETRO/ARMY BUILD-$22 REGULAR-$25 DELUXE-$30-$55 HASLAB-$300-$400 (maybe a dead end now) 3.75" RETRO-$20 Hasbro MCU Cosplay stuff.. That's a lot to juggle and a lot of fat to trim. I assume someone is buying 3.75" Retro since we're into 2nd and 3rd waves, but wouldn't be shocked if it went away. I say, stop retro re-trash, both 3.75" and 6" and step up the game and compete with the higher end 1:12 figs. Or, charge more, keep everything the same and prepare to put a wrap on the line because the product, as is, isn't worth $35-$45. Take the time and effort to make things people want to collect. Instead of trying to string together these next few questions/thoughts/observations into coherent paragraphs, I'm just numbering these to get them out there. And this is more questions and how I'm seeing the state of things. I'm not expecting answers or trying mount any sort of counter argument or anything like that. I don't think standard priced figures will be going anywhere. While I definitely think there is a place for premium figures, I just don't think Hasbro will ever convince people to pay premium prices for lower tier characters like The Hood. There are too many figures being released. BAF waves have gone from 6 figures per wave to 7 figures per wave. The number of BAF waves each year has also increased. Add on to that fan channel exclusives, store exclusives, retro carded waves, and premium waves. Heck, there are even three premium waves this year with ML 20th, SM 60th, and X-Men The Animated Series. And there could be a fourth if they do another MCU premium wave. With the price increase, would people be more receptive to smaller wave? A 7 figure BAF wave at $25 per figure is $175 before tax. However a 4 figure wave would only be $100 before tax. Does the change in total price help any make a difference to anyone? If folks are receptive to smaller assortments, do we even need BAFs anymore? Would eliminating the BAF pieces decrease the price any or at least allow for more accessories? We've seen that Hasbro can sell regular 6" figures with out BAFs as well as larger, deluxe figures on their own. The premium figures aren't really "premium" anymore. Most of them look like they could be swapped out for a regular release from a BAF wave. For example, the Future Foundation Spider-Man costs more but only comes with a few accessories while the retro carded Ben Reilly Spider-Man costs less and comes with more accessories. The deco on the FF Spidey isn't advanced or more intricate so why is it in a premium line like the Spider-Man 60th Anniversary? If Hasbro was going to make premium figures that can compete with Figuarts or Mafex, should each figure be given a unique sculpt or will it be more about paint and accessories? Or all three of those? And finally, the character selection in these recent waves stinks. Going back to the Future Foundation Spider-Man, why is he even in the 60th anniversary wave? From what they've shown, he's not a premium figure worth $28. But that Armani suited Doc Ock that StuartGreen2019 has been asking for would be worth it. That particular look for Ock hasn't done much for me in the past but I would far more interested in a new Doc Ock than FF Spidey. Even looking at the upcoming BAF waves like the Bone Breaker wave, did they have to include Darwin, Vulcan, and Maggot in the same wave? Were those three really more popular than Banshee or the armored Psylocke people have been asking for? And I'm not saying those three should never get figures. I'm just asking why it was necessary to put Darwin, Vulcan, and Maggot in a wave with a skinny Sabretooth and a lackluster Wolverine.