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Wal Mart Price Hike, more than target now

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Re: Wal Mart Price Hike, more than target now

Postby Grimlock Shakur » Fri Oct 05, 2012 11:47 am

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Grimlock Shakur wrote:I'm just glad I'm not a completist, now that's hardcore!


I'm glad and sad I'm a completist. :-) :-(



it's all good, that's your thing! :APPLAUSE:
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Re: Wal Mart Price Hike, more than target now

Postby smilepandabye » Fri Oct 05, 2012 12:14 pm

This is exactly the reason I'm selling a huge chunk of my collection. The quality and availability just isnt there anymore. As if the price at walmart werent bad enough the stores in my area arent even carrying the deluxes or voyagers anymore for Prime. All you find are the FOC toys and i'm not too impressed with them. Kmart and TRU can't move their product thus they never get restocked with newer toys. I remember when deluxes were 9.99 you had to rush to the store so no one else would get the one you needed.
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Re: Wal Mart Price Hike, more than target now

Postby Dagon » Fri Oct 05, 2012 12:26 pm

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It Is Him wrote:Also, the likelihood of me paying $17 at retail is extremely low. Just because I can quantify where the number is coming, doesn't mean I have to go along with it.



This has been one of the most frustrating things I've seen in the fandom since the 07 movie, this crazy idea that because a thing can somehow be 'justified' or explained, it is by default acceptable.
Don't like Bayformers? Well, YOU'RE wrong because get with the times.
Don't like obviously smaller toys at the same price? Well, YOU'RE wrong because of part counts and plastic weights.
Don't like what a figure looks like? Well, YOU'RE wrong because Hasbro doesn't care about fans, only 10% of sales, piss piss piss.
Don't want to pay $17 bucks for an obviously small deluxe? Well,....

You are ABSOLUTELY correct. It does not matter to me in the slightest bit if the price increase is due to oil or transportation costs or whatever. People can choose to justify it in any way they wish. It doesn't matter. The ultimate thing comes down to whether or not I'm going to pay for it, be it these tiny deluxes or movieverse figures or Botshots or whatever. IF I don't want to pay for it, no amount of explaining why is going to make any difference.
That goes whether it's retailers or Hasbro or whoever is behind this price hike.

All that aside, things like this make me both happy that I'm only on the hunt for a few TFs from any of the recent lines, and makes me reconsider whether or not I'm actually interested in any of them at these prices. I'd really like a set of combaticons, but based on all the bad stuff I've heard about them I'm not sure I'm willing to take the 17$ a piece gamble.
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Re: Wal Mart Price Hike, more than target now

Postby DarkEnergon » Fri Oct 05, 2012 1:50 pm

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The price wouldn't be a major issue for me if the quality of the toys was still good. You take a ROTF toy (regardless of the style, many of them were very well-made) and put it next too one of the flimsy TP deluxes and you get sad fast.

I didn't mind paying $35 for a first-edition cliffjumper, because he ended up being awesome.

You have to be more selective, yes, but I guess what I'm saying is... I'd rather have one very good toy instead of three crappy ones... but what I really really want is the characters I like from the show to be cool toys. Not what you get with Knock Out or Airachnid.
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Re: Wal Mart Price Hike, more than target now

Postby Cliff Jumper » Fri Oct 05, 2012 2:36 pm

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Evil_the_Nub wrote:I just got back from Wal Mart and they were still at the $15 price. It doesn't really matter anyway, I STILL haven't seen a figure I want in 2 months.

On the plus side it's been 15 pages and no one has blamed this on Michael Bay yet.


It's all Michael Bay's fault for not putting Cliffjumper in the movie. Then they kill him off in Prime. This has caused the crucial but small Cliffjumper fan base to stop collecting. :lol: :lol:

Seriously though I kinda wonder if the price hike is artificial just to see how much people are willing to pay for the toys. Although I know the real reason is the price of plastic and oil has increased thus toy prices increase.

I wonder if they relaxed on the plastic in the packaging, maybe just put them in a cardboard box a la G1, or blister card with bubble no vacuum formed insert, G1 would that offset the prices?
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Re: Wal Mart Price Hike, more than target now

Postby PrymeStriker » Fri Oct 05, 2012 2:41 pm

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Cliff Jumper wrote:
Evil_the_Nub wrote:I just got back from Wal Mart and they were still at the $15 price. It doesn't really matter anyway, I STILL haven't seen a figure I want in 2 months.

On the plus side it's been 15 pages and no one has blamed this on Michael Bay yet.


It's all Michael Bay's fault for not putting Cliffjumper in the movie. Then they kill him off in Prime. This has caused the crucial but small Cliffjumper fan base to stop collecting. :lol: :lol:

Seriously though I kinda wonder if the price hike is artificial just to see how much people are willing to pay for the toys. Although I know the real reason is the price of plastic and oil has increased thus toy prices increase.

I wonder if they relaxed on the plastic in the packaging, maybe just put them in a cardboard box a la G1, or blister card with bubble no vacuum formed insert, G1 would that offset the prices?


Putting them in baggies in a cardboard box, kind of like the Arms Micron line (except with translucent window ala-G1) would make me happy. It would cause less stress with the twistie-ties, that have become cheap paper ones now. :-(

I know, I'm that lazy. :roll:
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Re: Wal Mart Price Hike, more than target now

Postby Cliff Jumper » Fri Oct 05, 2012 3:03 pm

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exactly PrymeStriker.
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Re: Wal Mart Price Hike, more than target now

Postby Optimum Supreme » Fri Oct 05, 2012 3:32 pm

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I wouldn't be surprised if there weren't some idiotic "safety" regulation that prevents them from doing anything cheaper with the packaging.
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Re: Wal Mart Price Hike, more than target now

Postby Cliff Jumper » Fri Oct 05, 2012 6:17 pm

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Optimum Supreme wrote:I wouldn't be surprised if there weren't some idiotic "safety" regulation that prevents them from doing anything cheaper with the packaging.


I would think it or theft problems.
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Re: Wal Mart Price Hike, more than target now

Postby PrymeStriker » Fri Oct 05, 2012 6:27 pm

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Cliff Jumper wrote:
Optimum Supreme wrote:I wouldn't be surprised if there weren't some idiotic "safety" regulation that prevents them from doing anything cheaper with the packaging.


I would think it or theft problems.


But what about security cameras?
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Re: Wal Mart Price Hike, more than target now

Postby Erailea » Fri Oct 05, 2012 7:20 pm

PrymeStriker wrote:
Cliff Jumper wrote:
Optimum Supreme wrote:I wouldn't be surprised if there weren't some idiotic "safety" regulation that prevents them from doing anything cheaper with the packaging.


I would think it or theft problems.


But what about security cameras?



Camera's have never stopped people from stealing. All it does is allow the store to submit a police report because they have evidence and file an insurance claim.
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Re: Wal Mart Price Hike, more than target now

Postby PrymeStriker » Fri Oct 05, 2012 7:30 pm

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Erailea wrote:
PrymeStriker wrote:
Cliff Jumper wrote:
Optimum Supreme wrote:I wouldn't be surprised if there weren't some idiotic "safety" regulation that prevents them from doing anything cheaper with the packaging.


I would think it or theft problems.


But what about security cameras?



Camera's have never stopped people from stealing. All it does is allow the store to submit a police report because they have evidence and file an insurance claim.


I believe "cheaping-up" the packaging does not make this crime any harder or easier. Unless, of course, it's endurance is equal to that of cotton candy.
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Re: Wal Mart Price Hike, more than target now

Postby Bowspearer » Fri Oct 05, 2012 7:40 pm

On a slightly different topic, I wonder how many other Australians here can remember paying up to $40 for deluxes at the height of the Asian Economic Crisis a decade ago (and yes, I'm serious, that really happened). Man Imagine the responses THAT kind of a price hike happening in the US would get. :lol:
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Re: Wal Mart Price Hike, more than target now

Postby Erailea » Fri Oct 05, 2012 7:54 pm

Bowspearer wrote:On a slightly different topic, I wonder how many other Australians here can remember paying up to $40 for deluxes at the height of the Asian Economic Crisis a decade ago (and yes, I'm serious, that really happened). Man Imagine the responses THAT kind of a price hike happening in the US would get. :lol:


Yikes. That'd be the trigger for me to go off into Tin Toy land. If I hadn't decided to switch gears to MP's & the like I'd probably be veering more in that direction right now, even at half that cost. The $18-20 factor hasn't hit my area yet but it's *very* close :/ Was at Walmart this evening to get a card and poked into the toy isle out of habit. The deluxes were a few cents short of $16 :/
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Re: Wal Mart Price Hike, more than target now

Postby Bowspearer » Fri Oct 05, 2012 8:23 pm

It Is Him wrote:I know a bunch of you guys are nodding your head in agreement about psudeo-Hayek economic theory, talking about inflation and hyper inflation. Unfortunately, most of what's being said isn't true. Between 2011 and 2012, inflation has been less than the standard 3% that we've come to expect. We're far from a hyper inflation scenario - in fact, the the US dollar deflated between 2008 and 2009 during our recession. (And no, the Federal reserve isn't printing more money than it should be) Most importantly, we're forgetting other variables in the equation here.


Actually the fact that that Quantatative Easing (QE) is being and has been repeatedly used is testimony to the fact that the world is entering a hyper-inflationary period and that money is being overprinted. Furthermore the fact that consumer costs are rising (right across the board, not just with petroleum based products) is also evidence of a devalued dollar and therefore inflation.

It Is Him wrote:First, the price of raw materials have increased. As it's been said before oil in the commodities market is not only expensive, it's also unpredictable - what with all the political turmoil in the middle east.


Actually last I checked, the US, like Australia, is fairly self sufficient when it comes to oil. The reasons for the price fluctuations are that the US and Australian Governments stupidly tied their oil prices into global markets and that scale of supply and demand, rather than domestic supply and demand and regulating oil prices to that domestic market.

It Is Him wrote:Second, the US dollar has grown weaker to the Chinese Yuan. Where do our toys get made? Exactly. That means the price of labor, land and other costs are increasing when converted back into the US Dollar.


Which is actually evidence of a devalued dollar and therefore inflation. The fact is that Western countries seldom manufacture anything these days and as a result, the physical economy (our productivity and infrastructure - ie our manufacturing potential) has shrunk, reducing the value of our currencies which has been further compounded by practices such as QE.

Furthermore the big increase is that Chinese labour costs have skyrocketed with wages going up at least 30% in the past few years and I suspect the trend will only continue.

It Is Him wrote:Third, the toys that are here are selling poorly. Hasbro admitted it recently during one of their investor conferences, though it was obvious to us when DOTM Deluxe Wave 7 was cancelled here in the US. As a result, Hasbro is trying to extract more profit from those of us that are still doing well enough to afford a luxury good. When raising prices, Hasbro know they're going to price some people out, but even though they're losing customers, their expecting to make more off that consumer base. If they don't, prices may go back down. Or the deluxe class could disappear, and become something new.


Hasbro's poor market-share there is due to the fact that it's run by idiots! The fact is that the toy market has changed, with kids going to video games earlier and the toy market being more predominantly adult collector driven.

Yet in both these cases, Hasbro only has itself to blame for its poor performance. On one hand, Hasbro is trying for a quick fix on movie lines and letting the likes of the Marketing Department of Walmart call the shots, who in most cases have no clue about the toy industry and how to create and grow trends rather than simply chase them.

As the old saying goes, you get out what you put in - which is bugger all when you're chasing rather than creating trends. So as a result, they wind up trying to base a toyline designed to have at least a 12 month shelf life around a fad which may only last 3-6 months which the line is playing catchup on anyway. Smell wonder that kids smell the staleness a mile off and go to video games. For anyone saying that Action figures can't compete in that environment, I have 1 word for you - Skylanders.

Secondly, Hasbro refuse to properly cater to adult collectors in the wash of this. The Avengers toyline is a classic example of this. You can't expect to shove the first few waves of the line with upteen dozen repaints of the same few figures and then wonder why you end upwith a raft of pegwarmers. That of course leads to the part of the equation which is the fault of retailers (TRU is one retailer guilty of this) using automatic reordering systems based around average sales which can see 1 or 2 lone figures staying on the pegs for 2 weeks after the rest of the case has sold on the first day, making the wave/line look like a poor performer. Retailers need to pull their fingers out of their backsides and put them on the pulse because in this climate, they can't afford to ignore system problems that have been there for years and which they couldn't be bothered addressing.

In short, Hasbro's problem isn't the market- it's how it handles the market and recognising that it needs to be in the driver's seat - not retailers.
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Re: Wal Mart Price Hike, more than target now

Postby trence5 » Fri Oct 05, 2012 9:19 pm

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Re: Wal Mart Price Hike, more than target now

Postby User897 » Sat Oct 06, 2012 12:11 am

Very well said, Bowspearer. I have said it a million times, and I will say it a million more. HasBLO will never get on top of the situations that THEY have created if they don't take responsibility for their product! This goes for the Star Wars brand, as well as Transformers.

The level of idiocy is truly mind-boggling.
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Re: Wal Mart Price Hike, more than target now

Postby Bruticus1983 » Sat Oct 06, 2012 3:18 am

i went to my walmart and there the same way. i dont know if hasbro is losing mony or we are getting ripped off.
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Re: Wal Mart Price Hike, more than target now

Postby Bruticus1983 » Sat Oct 06, 2012 3:22 am

User897 wrote:Very well said, Bowspearer. I have said it a million times, and I will say it a million more. HasBLO will never get on top of the situations that THEY have created if they don't take responsibility for their product! This goes for the Star Wars brand, as well as Transformers.

The level of idiocy is truly mind-boggling.


Sooooo true but yea right now hasbro is being a :CON: and its annoying me
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Re: Wal Mart Price Hike, more than target now

Postby Skywarp84 » Sat Oct 06, 2012 5:01 am

Hi, new member here but long time collector. I agree with many here. Prices getting higher and buying multiples gets pretty pricey. I've been focusing mostly on the classics, generations, and fall of cybertron but those here in SC are 15.99
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Re: Wal Mart Price Hike, more than target now

Postby MagnusPrimal » Sat Oct 06, 2012 10:37 am

I went to my Walmart today, and the price is $15.47 there as well.
I can't be too mad at the moment though, since I finally found Dreadwing! And since I had a $10 gift card, he only cost me about $13 after tax!
I'm very glad I was able to resist the BBTS $42 offer now!
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Re: Wal Mart Price Hike, more than target now

Postby Cliff Jumper » Sat Oct 06, 2012 11:19 am

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That is what I would think too PrymeStriker. Although I read somewhere, pretty sure it was here on a different thread, that cardboard boxes and simple blister card packaging is not used anymore because they make theft much easier. I doubt that though, as I have seen many stolen toys in the new packaging.
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Re: Wal Mart Price Hike, more than target now

Postby romeostarkiller » Sat Oct 06, 2012 3:23 pm

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These price increases have been happening in my area as well, at the moment my locals stores only have transformers prime stock and there is no way i am going to pay AU49.99 for a Optimus or Megatron figure that looks very poorly made.

I also hate the fact how they put those 'try me out' holes in the front of the boxes, kids just come along and nearly destroy the part that is accessible which really puts a collector like me off buying them.

I generally get most of my Transformers from overseas now as even with postage its cheaper than driving to my local store.
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Re: Wal Mart Price Hike, more than target now

Postby Flakmaster » Sat Oct 06, 2012 8:23 pm

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Thank goodness I've given up collecting for the most part.

(Other than you, FE Optimus. You shall be mine once you are up for online ordering)
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Re: Wal Mart Price Hike, more than target now

Postby It Is Him » Sat Oct 06, 2012 8:24 pm

Bowspearer wrote:
It Is Him wrote:I know a bunch of you guys are nodding your head in agreement about psudeo-Hayek economic theory, talking about inflation and hyper inflation. Unfortunately, most of what's being said isn't true. Between 2011 and 2012, inflation has been less than the standard 3% that we've come to expect. We're far from a hyper inflation scenario - in fact, the the US dollar deflated between 2008 and 2009 during our recession. (And no, the Federal reserve isn't printing more money than it should be) Most importantly, we're forgetting other variables in the equation here.


Actually the fact that that Quantatative Easing (QE) is being and has been repeatedly used is testimony to the fact that the world is entering a hyper-inflationary period and that money is being overprinted. Furthermore the fact that consumer costs are rising (right across the board, not just with petroleum based products) is also evidence of a devalued dollar and therefore inflation.

It Is Him wrote:First, the price of raw materials have increased. As it's been said before oil in the commodities market is not only expensive, it's also unpredictable - what with all the political turmoil in the middle east.


Actually last I checked, the US, like Australia, is fairly self sufficient when it comes to oil. The reasons for the price fluctuations are that the US and Australian Governments stupidly tied their oil prices into global markets and that scale of supply and demand, rather than domestic supply and demand and regulating oil prices to that domestic market.

It Is Him wrote:Second, the US dollar has grown weaker to the Chinese Yuan. Where do our toys get made? Exactly. That means the price of labor, land and other costs are increasing when converted back into the US Dollar.


Which is actually evidence of a devalued dollar and therefore inflation. The fact is that Western countries seldom manufacture anything these days and as a result, the physical economy (our productivity and infrastructure - ie our manufacturing potential) has shrunk, reducing the value of our currencies which has been further compounded by practices such as QE.

Furthermore the big increase is that Chinese labour costs have skyrocketed with wages going up at least 30% in the past few years and I suspect the trend will only continue.

It Is Him wrote:Third, the toys that are here are selling poorly. Hasbro admitted it recently during one of their investor conferences, though it was obvious to us when DOTM Deluxe Wave 7 was cancelled here in the US. As a result, Hasbro is trying to extract more profit from those of us that are still doing well enough to afford a luxury good. When raising prices, Hasbro know they're going to price some people out, but even though they're losing customers, their expecting to make more off that consumer base. If they don't, prices may go back down. Or the deluxe class could disappear, and become something new.


Hasbro's poor market-share there is due to the fact that it's run by idiots! The fact is that the toy market has changed, with kids going to video games earlier and the toy market being more predominantly adult collector driven.

Yet in both these cases, Hasbro only has itself to blame for its poor performance. On one hand, Hasbro is trying for a quick fix on movie lines and letting the likes of the Marketing Department of Walmart call the shots, who in most cases have no clue about the toy industry and how to create and grow trends rather than simply chase them.

As the old saying goes, you get out what you put in - which is bugger all when you're chasing rather than creating trends. So as a result, they wind up trying to base a toyline designed to have at least a 12 month shelf life around a fad which may only last 3-6 months which the line is playing catchup on anyway. Smell wonder that kids smell the staleness a mile off and go to video games. For anyone saying that Action figures can't compete in that environment, I have 1 word for you - Skylanders.

Secondly, Hasbro refuse to properly cater to adult collectors in the wash of this. The Avengers toyline is a classic example of this. You can't expect to shove the first few waves of the line with upteen dozen repaints of the same few figures and then wonder why you end upwith a raft of pegwarmers. That of course leads to the part of the equation which is the fault of retailers (TRU is one retailer guilty of this) using automatic reordering systems based around average sales which can see 1 or 2 lone figures staying on the pegs for 2 weeks after the rest of the case has sold on the first day, making the wave/line look like a poor performer. Retailers need to pull their fingers out of their backsides and put them on the pulse because in this climate, they can't afford to ignore system problems that have been there for years and which they couldn't be bothered addressing.

In short, Hasbro's problem isn't the market- it's how it handles the market and recognising that it needs to be in the driver's seat - not retailers.


While I agree with you on some things, I'm going to tactfully remove myself before things get too political out of respect for the mods. Let me know when the inflation rate exceeds 200% in the United States, and maybe I'll start listening to critics of the central bank.
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BeastProwl wrote:What the **** is wrong with you?
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