Mkall wrote:I'm going to say this. I'm going to say this and most aren't going to like it and I'm going catch a lot of flak for it (probably anysays) but here goes.
The most overpriced figures from a collector's point of view is...
3rd Party Products.
Told you that you wouldn't like it but hear me out.
I've yet to see a figure producd by a 3PP that I didn't think Hasbro could've done better had they decided to do it.
City Commander is a simple partsformer, and the parts that don't go on the robot simply folds into an excuse of a cannon. It's magnificent to be sure standing on the shelf, but I can't but think that something better could've come of it.
Protector is very similar to City Commander, but the parts that don't go on the robot form a large cannon base. Imposing, yes. Homaging the original, yes. Design cop-out, IMO yes.
Perfect Effect. Neat little figures, tons of playability and accessories but they're SMALL and PRICEY.
Impossible Toys... do I really need to say anything here?
Hercules is straight forward and very simple, also the QA that plagued the early figures but TFC was kind enough to provide replacement parts.
Battle Tanker - Imposing but horifically finicky.
Delicate Warrior (iGear Arcee) - Decent quality, but devilly simple.
BUT we buy them anyways, usually at whatever price is being asked of us. Now there are usually logical arguments to be made - low production runs, material quality, design, parts count, distribution etc and those are valid arguments. When it comes down to the pocketboook though, we usually pay easily 70% more for a 3PP figure than for a HasTak figure of roughly the same size.
We get them because they're the only game that makes these figures that we want. I've always stated, and now I feel vindicated by the recently-seen Bruticus, that if Hasbro decides that they're going to do a G1 reimage, they have the potential to do it much better than anything 3PPs can match. But due to marketting conditions, they often can't so we're stuck with what we're offered.
I'm glad somebody said it. Because if it didn't get said, I was going to. 3rd party prices are a joke. End of story. Except I don't buy them and flat out refuse to do so until I feel the worth of the product that I 'm getting is more inline with the price tag. Because quite frankly, most 3rd party products aren't that great and aren't worth the price tag attached to them. TFC Herc seems to be today's gold standard of 3rd party.
Sure, I won't deny that its a cool figure no question about it. However, I think its price point far exceeds it value. The individual robot modes are not at all accurate (and some are flat out hideous) and Hercules, while big and impressive, has minor color issues and quirks with him that annoy me. For $250, Herc is an awesome must have figure. For a mortgage payment, it better be perfect. Which, it surely isn't.
Sorry, no matter how you justify and rationalize, I can't get onboard the "paying $100 for a voyager sized figure" train.
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