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Why have transformers prices skyrocketed?

PostPosted: Sun Jul 12, 2015 10:52 pm
by herculesbeetle
I went to amazon to buy transformers revenge of the fallen long haul who was originally a little over 20 dollars. He is over a hundred dollars Who the hell would spend over a hundred dollars on a toy? :BANG_HEAD: . I have transformers hunt for the deceptions payload(just a yellow repaint of longhaul). Should I bother buying long haul or just enjoy my repaint of him that I have. I am very reluctant to spend over a hundred dollars on transformers revenge of the fallen long haul. He is too expensive. How come transformers animated wreck gar and transformers hunt for the deceptions payload are both voyager figure but are only 60 dollars on amazon while other voyagers are over a hundred dollars? Many thanks.

Please explain transformer economics to me. Transformer fan for 10 years, but am new to transformer selling and pricing. :CON:

Re: Why have transformers prices skyrocketed?

PostPosted: Sun Jul 12, 2015 11:51 pm
by LOST Cybertronian
There is no hard rule for why some Transformers are more expensive than others in the aftermarket. They are long gone from stores and people who have them for sale can price them for whatever they want. It doesn't mean anybody is going to buy them but someone just might.

Looking at Amazon, there is also this one in the U.K for $403.23.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/ ... dition=new

If you don't mind one slightly used, there is one on ebay for $39.99

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Transformers-RO ... 1a02d7eab9

Re: Why have transformers prices skyrocketed?

PostPosted: Mon Jul 13, 2015 1:11 am
by fenrir72
Victim of its own success I guess.

Re: Why have transformers prices skyrocketed?

PostPosted: Mon Jul 13, 2015 4:28 am
by MemphisR56
Inflation.

Someone quite recently put the price of an '84 autobot car into an inflation calculator and discovered that what they were worth then is actually *more* than what we pay for your bog standard deluxe now.

They've actually gotten cheaper.

Context is very important.

Re: Why have transformers prices skyrocketed?

PostPosted: Mon Jul 13, 2015 6:26 am
by LOST Cybertronian
It's also possible that people are trying to capitalize on the current Devy craze caused by CW Devastator. Then it's just a matter of fashioned supply and demand.

Re: Why have transformers prices skyrocketed?

PostPosted: Mon Jul 13, 2015 8:17 am
by gavinfuzzy
Amazon's "market" prices are generally rubbish, so you can't base it off just that.
Have a look round ebay / other local auction sites etc.

Re: Why have transformers prices skyrocketed?

PostPosted: Mon Jul 13, 2015 10:00 am
by ScottyP
One toy that came out six years ago seeing an increase in secondary market value does not establish a pattern. If anything, I think it's a serious buyer's market right now. Heck just yesterday I grabbed this. Remember when you couldn't touch those for less than $250? They've cratered in the past year, to the point where $150 +/- ~10% is just kind of what they go for now. I'd say a lot of Botcon stuff is like that, even Antagony went for sub-$400 a couple weeks ago and I can't remember the last time that sold for less than $500-ish.

There are obvious exceptions, especially as those that grew up on movie toys begin to get older and have more disposable income, but even the Japanese G1 market has stabilized in price after really getting exponentially higher year after year.

A lot of the stuff we talked about over in this thread can be applied here, I think. As a serial buyer now for about a decade, I can say with confidence that we're in a downturn price wise, with the movie-related market probably being the one area most bucking that trend followed closely by TF: Prime.

Re: Why have transformers prices skyrocketed?

PostPosted: Mon Jul 13, 2015 3:16 pm
by Optimum Supreme
Take an economics course. Pay attention when they get to supply and demand. That should clear things up, at least somewhat.

Re: Why have transformers prices skyrocketed?

PostPosted: Mon Jul 13, 2015 5:57 pm
by herculesbeetle
Can anyone tell me where I can get transformers revenge of the fallen long haul for a reasonable price?
thank you

Re: Why have transformers prices skyrocketed?

PostPosted: Tue Jul 14, 2015 12:55 am
by Counterpunch
herculesbeetle wrote:Can anyone tell me where I can get transformers revenge of the fallen long haul for a reasonable price?
thank you


eBay where the figure goes for between 20-40 dollars

go man go.

Time is a'wastin.

Re: Why have transformers prices skyrocketed?

PostPosted: Tue Jul 14, 2015 8:16 am
by GuyIncognito
herculesbeetle wrote:
Please explain transformer economics to me. Transformer fan for 10 years, but am new to transformer selling and pricing. :CON:


Economics 101: High demand + low supply = high prices. People still want this figure, but you can't get it in stores anymore. If someone has an unopened one to sell, they can sell it for as much as someone is willing to pay.

Re: Why have transformers prices skyrocketed?

PostPosted: Tue Jul 14, 2015 2:27 pm
by thedistinctroom
3 reasons I've determined: (Besides inflation)

1. China does not wish to prostitute themselves just doing cheap labour anymore, now that they are an economic super-power. So, they raise manufacturing prices accordingly.

2. Also, plastic is a Petroleum (Oil) based product, which explains a lot. Some countries have literally risen and fallen over the constant human need for oil.

3. And, the budgeting department @ Hasbro probably has a stake in the prices being so bloody high. After all, Hasbro is a money-making business corporation and not a selfless / free-giving community service.

Yes. The general quality of mainline TF's have REALLY diminished, and indeed they are much more expensive now. It's not fair. However, there are ways to avoid these absurd prices. Obviously, one way is to stop buying newer TF's that you just flat-out do not need.

:BOT:

Re: Why have transformers prices skyrocketed?

PostPosted: Wed Jul 22, 2015 2:16 pm
by RAR
I always thought they'd moved some production to Vietnam as that was going to reduce product leaks and save on production costs.

Considering the had enough sense to order lots of plastic when the Oil price collapsed some months ago you would think they could maybe consider passing some of those benefits on to the consumer - if for no other reason than if you make a good product at a good price more people will make repeat purchases than might be the case if you make a mediocre product at a high price.