Novaprimal93 wrote:With all the money that has been made off of these molds, I don't really see the justification of a $200 dollar price tag when all they have is a new paint job. I think half this price would have been perfect. But what do I know?
Myself, I don't see the justification of making it part of the VS line when it has nothing to do with a Shattered Glass version of the original Japanese Generation 1 line... But rather their own take on the TFCC/BOTCON franchise.
Plus, atop of the fact that this is the very first e-HOBBY product offered state-side, and they used different colored plastics ($$$)... There are import fees ($$$), and other factors/fees that allow both companies to make a profit.
Besides, your preferences aside, them doing this made the item be at least $50 cheaper (versus if you were to just import it or buy it elsewhere).
Plus, if rumors are true, expect to hear that TFCC is (yet again) charging $5 for Soundwave's headband. A cheap rubber item they sold at BOTCON 2012 for their version, and quite possibly this one as well.
gothsaurus wrote:Yeah, I wish it were less... but this is about what I'd expect for the set.
It's not cheap or easy to pull out all the metal molds (think forklifts) and pay a crew to run a short, limited-edition job (AND print and design new boxes... paint the figures.... pack and ship them...etc).
It's all the production hassle of doing a full run of a million toys, only trying to make up the money with a couple thousand buyers.
It reminds me of working on a printing press... and how running an extra thousand or two of something only cost a few cents more (and took a few seconds longer.) All the cost was in the setup.
And gothsaurus saying that has me wish I had my own TF-like ranking system. Because he'd be a 8 (mods here would have been a 9, Seibertron would have been a 10) right now.
That, and this is why I tried explaining to others about the prospect that TFCC may have made some changes to the sets that they might sell. Because if they were permitted to make their own set, it would allow them to shave off some $$$ in the end.
But I guess e-HOBBY does not "roll out" like that. And as for me... I guess I am contempt with my only e-HOBBY exclusive for the time being.