$$$ - What's your breaking point?

[GNT]

Since this came up in the Toy Fair thread and I don't want that thread thrown off topic, here's the thread to discuss your breaking point when it comes to the Vintage toy line.

With price hikes, how much are you willing to pay for a figure before being more selective or stopping altogether?

 

[Lukanator]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

If they get above the current TRU prices ($9.99) then I am done buying action figures. Unless I happen to get a raise to compensate for the hike in prices.

 

[Diablo20]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

I'd say $10 is about the point I start thinking real hard if I need a figure or not.

 

[Ashy_Larry]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

I don't know if there is a breaking point yet, but i do have a scale back point. And that's what i'll be doing if figures are $10+.

It's really not an issue for me, the pegs have been bare, or have had the same warmers since Nov. So there's nothing to buy.

I'm old fasion, it's more fun for me hunting figures down in stores with my son. If wave 4 and 5 have the same availiblity as the ROTJ wave and BAD wave that had BG-J38, then that will be my breaking point. It's a shame, because hasbro puts out some really cool stuff, just can't get my hands on it, without ordering online.

 

[JediClones]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

£8.99 (the standard figure price in the UK is £7.99) for a mainstream figure, which is about $15. Not that I would spend $15 on a figure in America. £8.99 was the point where I condensed my collecting to something more enjoyable for the money; not just 'buy every new figure if possible'. I don't get much fun out of trying to get every Vintage figure. Hunting for something, and actually having a good purpose for displaying it is much more fun. So, the breaking point may have reduced my collecting, but it has made it much more enjoyable.

 

[DarthMenace]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

For me I don't see the value at this scale if it's more than $7.99. $8 bucks is a lot of money for one figure and starts adding up real quick. I'm already choosey at $7.99 but in my area Targets just bumped it up to $8.99. I think figures will move slow enough at this price that Target will eventually lower it so I'm not too worried. But $6 dollars is the number where I buy indiscriminately. Above that and I pick and choose. Which sucks for a customizer like myself who may want to buy multiples of a given figure.

 

[Spookymufu]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

If they get above the current TRU prices ($9.99) then I am done buying action figures. Unless I happen to get a raise to compensate for the hike in prices.

my TRU is selling vintage for $10.99.......I wont pay that...

 

[CIS]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

For me it's $10. UNLESS it is a figure I really really really want.

 

[wookncrook]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

I've saved tons of $$ this year due to the fact that stores aren't stocking ANYTHING anymore!

 

[jediZ]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

I think that anything over 5.99 is a joke, but breaking point? I'd say that the breaking point is $8. If they were selling for 6.50, I would even buy the prequel vintage. At the current prices, I get selective.

Explain to me how they can sell SL figs with extra weapons, stand, card and a die for dollars less than vintage?

 

[stylie_steve]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

Prices over here have always been expensive but I am and have been paying $19.99NZD for years but anything higher is my breaking point.

One chain of stores raised prices to $25NZD so needless to say I do not buy from them any more.

 

[AaylaSecurasMan]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

$7.99

 

[Rocket_Back]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

I've saved tons of $$ this year due to the fact that stores aren't stocking ANYTHING anymore!

This. And I wouldn't say I have a "breaking point" but I buy significantly less than I used to because of all the price hikes and I pass on a lot that I wouldn't otherwise pass on. If it gets worse, I'll just cut even more out.

 

[Shoeless_Jedi]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

Wow, I'm definitely jealous of you a lot of you guys. Living in NYC, and having Toys R Us as one of my only local brick and mortar options, I'm paying around $13 for a vintage fig. I would have thought that would be my breaking point, but I think the limited number of figs I've been interested in, plus the horrific distribution that means I only get to buy figures about once every 3 months, I've been able to sustain.
So at this point, well, I guess $14 is my breaking point, as I've refused to pay that much for a figure online, even though I can't find it in a store.

 

[Rukh]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

£10 for single carded figures at retail, so yep I'm already virtually at breaking point as £8.99 is the going rate in the UK for the vintage figures *due to TRU exclusivity at the moment* Trouble is though, most figures have to be sourced via eBay or Independant suppliers, so factor in another £3 for p+p per figure (if only wanting a single figure) so its really about £12.

If it goes to £13 all in..BYE BYE Hasbro - it really would be unlucky 13!


Sound in theory...but I have a bad feeling about this

 

[K3PO]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

I'm not buying every single vintage figure. For example, how many Obi-wans do i really need that don't look that diffrent. referring to the AOTC and ROTS figures. I have the ROTS and that's good enough. I figure I'm basically off setting the price hike by not buying every figure they toss at us.

 

[Thrawn2006]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

$7.99 is my limit. Beyond that, I'd save the money and invest it in something from SS or Gentle Giant.

 

[bossk73]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

They reached that when they jumped over the $7.00 mark. At this point I think it's more about greed and seeing what they can get away with. After they reach the $10.00 mark next they will be bumping it up to $12.00! There is no real sense to all these markups if there is nothing else to offer with the figure. At least every Saga Legend and Clone Wars figure has a pack-in figure stand. Maybe with the added cost of VOTC Hasbro could include a clear figure stand in the bubble behind the figure to at least justify some of the mark ups!

 

[RuleOfTwo]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

Anything above $10.00! Ebay can be decent. But, some sellers are asking $10.00 with "Buy It Now" plus another $10 for S&H. What in the world are they thinking? lol. Good luck selling that, dude

 

[Rossk]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

What really grinds my gears are for example. The Commander Gree figure from the TAC was like what $5-$6? Now he's $8 in retail, and is more than likely to get even higher. Is there a difference in the figure that deserves to make it $3-$4 more?

NO, THERE ISN'T! Same mold, same paint scheme, same accesories, and an even cheaper cardback. Hasbro is raping our wallouts and no one is doing anything about it. If it gets to $9.00 for a figure, I'm really cutting back. If it reaches to $10.00 a figure, I'm out.

In this economy we can't $10 a pop for a figure. Hasbro, your buying the ammo for your own suicide. Stop now.

 

[b_i_thomas]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

It's already nearly at the breaking point for me. $8 for a figure is already the most I want to pay, though I've already gotten accustomed to paying more for the Marvel Universe figures. There are still some characters to be made that I would like to own, but I've got so many already that it is difficult to justify getting more when the price is going up to $11 per figure.

I don't know how this trend can continue in general. Kids probably can't afford figures with the existing prices, and with the continued dwindling interest in toys, I'm sure that rising prices won't help. I theoretically can afford the increase, but I certainly don't want to. Who will be left to purchase the volume needed to keep action figure lines alive?

 

[HothHan]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

I will never pay upwards of $10 for a Star Wars figure. I rarely shop at TRU unless there is a sale with SL being $8.49 and Vintage being $9.99.

I can still tolerate Wal-mart and Target prices when they are around the $8 mark, but it all adds up so quickly.

I seem to find the best selection at Target around here ( along with the most destroyed cards).

 

[MandoMan]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

Hopefully with the price of figures goin up , maybe now ill have a chance to actually find something in the store!!

Seriously though , my breaking point wld be a dollar more. Anything more then $10.00 better come with a starcase otherwise , PASS for me.

 

[Rossk]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

Well the 6% increase puts it back to $8.44 at Wal-Mart for me, which that is what it was at the beginning in the Vintage Line. So it doesn't really affect me. But if it gets higher...above $9.00. I'm totally scaling back, army building is off the list. Buying the figure that I don't have, and don't really need(backgrounders), its gonna stay on that shelf.

 

[vikingrobot]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

My wife and I went Xmas shopping for the kids at Toys R Us and I never even looked at Star Wars there. She asked why I didn't even want to look. She got excited and thought I had quit collecting. "I quit collecting at Toys R Us." I'm already picking out certain figures at 7.99/8.99.

At 9.99, I'm going to Tunghori.

 

[LordStarscream]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

$9.99 before tax, unless it's one of the very, very few figures on my short list of epic wants that doesn't even exist at this point (Ultimate Arena Padme, for example). I've passed on quite a few figures this year that I would have picked up if they had been a few dollars less expensive.

 

[Rossk]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

At 9.99, I'm going to Tunghori.

Oh yeah, I forget about him. Well if many collectors drop out, Tung is in the best situation to make money. Go tung!

With the raises I'm pretty sure 90% of kids couldn't afford it.

 

[Kobayashi]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

Probably $10. I've passed on many figures at higher prices (Toys R Us, Newbury Comics, etc).

 

[Darth_Satan]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

I don't care about the price because I am already selective about what I buy and where from. I have never felt the need to have everything because there is so much duplication. My only breaking point is when everything that comes out is a resculpt or EU.

I find it both amusing and somewhat gratifying to see the rest of the World (hello USA

) finally having to cope with what we in Europe have had to put up with ever since 1995. You are all making a song and dance about it and yet your toys are STILL cheaper! For example, it costs me less to ship stuff over from there than it does to drive 2 miles to Toys R Us and buy the same item off the shelf (which would only get there months later, if even at all, in the majority of circumstances). Perhaps some have been spoiled for too long?

 

[Mojack]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

Well for a single, carded, basic figure I would have to say that it kinda breaks down like this for me:
$1.00 - $3.50 (Clearance) - Buy practically anything. In a moment of weakness might even buy another Plo Koon for a dollar

$4.50 - Buy whatever as long as it is not a 100% repack. Will even buy multiples of some army builder figures.
$5.00 - Buy pretty much everything as long as it at least has a decent upgrade.
$6.00 - Buy all new (never made before) figures and all figures with major changes such as new body and face sculpt.
$7.00 - Buy all new figures and very discriminate with figures I already have even if it has a new body and face sculpt (For example, I probably would not get the new Obi Wan at this price).
$8.00 - Buy only all new figures. Even then it might be hard to pull the trigger.
$9.00 - Buy only all new figures that I fear would be hard to find and would go for more than this later (such as Jacen Solo and the gang. There were early rumblings that these were hard to find and so they were). Buying at this price would be very rare and even the Jacen Solo wave I managed to get at TRU for $5.00

$10.00 - No matter the figure I'd wait for the sale.

I never really thought about it but I think for the most part this is how I have purchased figures in the past.

 

[Halomite]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

Depends on the rarity of the figure. I'll pay around $15 for something thats damn near impossible to find, I've done it in the past and thats with lower prices too. All together I won't spend more than $12 for normal retail price. I can buy a 6-8" Mcfarlane Halo figure with more articulation and detail for that price.

 

[Darth_Tippy]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

Well Target's new price of $8.99 has me cut cutting my purchases in half. Anything above that I would be very selective as in only if I don't have said figure or a major update.

 

[Julythrunov]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

I'm so selective about what I buy it doesn't really matter to me what the price hikes are. I'm not buying 75 % of this stuff anyway, so it balances out. Heck I'd pay $25 for the new bespin han, if it's as good as it should be.

 

[rickyd]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

Over 10 bucks and I'm out. (A good vintage Grand Moff Tarkin notwithstanding)

 

[urbnns69]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

I'm so selective about what I buy it doesn't really matter to me what the price hikes are. I'm not buying 75 % of this stuff anyway, so it balances out. Heck I'd pay $25 for the new bespin han, if it's as good as it should be.

Please, please, please tell me that's NOT true! There isn't a modern 3 3/4" action figure on the planet that is worth $25. I even get extremely picky with the original vintage figures at that price! Modern? Forget it!!

By the way, you better believe that Hasbro monitors sales on eBay. And you can bet your life that one of the reasons we are seeing the ridiculous retail prices we are is because people are buying these things on eBay for outrageous prices. Before you make that next purchase on eBay, consider how you may be affecting the future of the hobby.

$8 is my ceiling. Any higher than that and I'm waiting for a sale or just not buying.

Could you imagine me trying to build one of my clone armies for $25 a figure?? Holy Bijeezuz!

 

[GrandAdmiralJSK]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

$8.99. Unless its like a couple of my wish-list holy grails like some key EU figures Ive wanted, or a few OT/PT figures we needs re-dos of. At $9.99 I'll nearly completely cut back.

After that, Ill basically just drop out or buy them loose from guys like Tunghori.

$7-9 is where they should stay.

 

[nintendo2600]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

At the current retail price I buy very few figures. They gotta be something really speical or a new first figure of a charater for me to open my wallet at todays prices. The vehicles and multipacks I don't mind paying the going retail for though as there has been some really cool offerings as of late that I had no issue slapping down the cash for.

 

[Masterfett]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

As I mention in another thread $10 per single figure wold be my limit, at some point an item becomes too expensive for what it is and has nothing to do with affordability.

That factor might come into play as far as kids are concerned though, so I can't see them getting to outrageous on pricing.

I've been paying $9 for the last 3 years so one Dollar more wouldn't hurt, but is a 4" piece of plastic worth $11?
They'd have to supplement with more/better accessories, and definitely have better QC on paint apps!

Oh and a lot less repacks!

 

[ohmAniPadmeOhm]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

I paid 11.00 for the Vintage General Grievous at TRU last fall. I thought that was pretty expensive but I wanted him and he was sold out everywhere else so I paid it. On average though, I don't know if I'd be willing to pay more than 8 dollars for a figure. Anything more and I'll scale way back on how much I spend.

 

[Turbowars]

Re: $$$ - What\'s your breaking point?

I think I would stop at around 12-15 a figure since I only buy OT.