The Energon Pub

[FellintoOblivion]

With deluxe size toys already pushing $16, a ~60% increase from about 5 years ago where do we go from here?

The price of voyagers hasn't increased nearly as much, only about $2-3. I feel like were pretty much at the tipping point with the deluxe class, I would have a real hard time justifying any more then the current prices, especially if the FoC size figures are going to be the new norm.

If one is to take the less cynical point of view and assume that the rather large price increases were driven by an increase in costs rather then greed, could the deluxe class be in trouble? If costs continue to go up but the consumer isn't willing to support any further price increases will Hasbro just kill off this size figure? Commander figures are already around $7 which isn't far from where deluxe used to be, perhaps they will just add a little extra heft to that class and up the cost a few more dollars, in which case we would just end up with a range of under-sized, 2007ish deluxe-priced commander figures.

[Blurrz]

Haven't looked at the American CPI over the past few years, but the prices are more or less from the cumulative inflation over the yeras, and probably a byproduct of the American dollar losing its worth. We also have to consider international countries' dollars, specifically the ones where toy materials are from, are increasing. I'd also say that one of the factors could be that Hasbro wants a standard pricing in Canada and the US.

Anyways, I think the pricing should be a standstill for the next few years - I just don't think it will go any much higher since the price increase was rather drastic.

[Cobalt Prime]

I used to see new Deluxes on the pegs when they were around the 8-10 dollar mark and grab the ones I didn't have in one fell swoop. Now, though, it's turned into a waiting game. I've passed by the new Beast Hunters Deluxes numerous times already waiting for some kind of significant sale, something that I'll probably be waiting a long time for. Just can't seem to get myself to mentally justify paying an almost Voyager cost for a Deluxe.

[Dagon]

I agree with Cobalt. I used to see a new wave of figures in the store on a payday and buy the whole shebang. Now I've started just looking at figures and then putting them back. I'm not entirely certain if that's due to the prices or if I just know from a glance that I won't be interested in the toy for long enough to justify the purchase.
As for where this is going to end up, anyone think this is Hasbros' attempt to ween us off of a size class? If Deluxe prices reach the Voyager price, they could effectively get rid of Voyager figures and make more of a profit off of assininely priced cheaper figures. I don't mean to get all conspiracy theory here, but DOTM was really Voyager light in terms of figures and BH has downsized a number of PRID Voyager toys to Deluxes....

[gavinfuzzy]

Not from the US, so I don't know the "Standard" prices.

But as of my trip there 2 weeks ago, commanders were $11.90 at Target/walgreens, and Beast Hunter Deluxe were $19 at target.

Seriously, I was pretty shocked to find that kind of prices, Nearly catching up with Singapore's $23US per deluxe, $16 a Cyberverse.

The only places with decent prices are are Ross/TJMaxx/Other discount chains that apparently go $12 a Voyager, $7 a Deluxe and $6 a Cyberverse. That's pretty reasonable. Unfortunately I did not find anything I did NOT have.

Stock of TF in general, where I went in SF was pretty scarce. Only saw FOC wave 1, A few PRID Knockouts and old ass DOTM stuff.

[RAcast]

I've given up on deluxes altogether at this point, unless I can find them at a reasonable price or on sale. All of my recent purchases have been Voyagers (Soundwave and Grimlock) and Kre-O (Microchange Combiners, Prowl, and Trailbreaker to get free shipping ).

[fenrir72]

Live with it bro. Expensive hobby nothing we can do with it.

[dinojack86]

I was actually wondering the same thing. I've passed on Deluxe FOC Starscream several occasions due to him being like $17.00- when you live in CA you might as well call it $20 with taxes included. It's rediculous but probably not much can be done about it. I would say at some point Hasbro will have to adjust sizes/prices. I'm still shocked they're only charging $21-$23 for a Voyager. They've got to be taking hits from that price point unless the cyberverse and other stuff is selling well. There's a good question- are TF Prime and FOC toys selling well?

[RhA]

Live with it bro. Expensive hobby nothing we can do with it.

Or just quit the hobby.

[Henry921]

Live with it bro. Expensive hobby nothing we can do with it.

Or just quit the hobby.

NEVER! I'll quit when you take the figures from my cold dead hand!

But seriously, I'm getting out of the game after this year. Once I have Quakewave and the cassettes I'll have all the MP characters I want, and after Beast Hunters and the end of the Prime cartoon I won't be buying entire figure waves. After the Fansproject Stunticons I won't be getting any more 3rd party figures. I'm calling it quits with a sizeable armada of characters to work with.

As far as prices go, they're a pretty big factor in this decision. I bought Generations Optimus, Megatron, and Soundwave on a whim, which reignited my passion. There's a big difference between dropping $33 and dropping $48 and I don't know for certain I'd have made the same decision today.

[GuyIncognito]

You know what else is going up in price?

Gas
Oil
Milk
Ice cream
Coffee
Chicken
Cars
Houses
...

It's called "inflation".

[Optimum Supreme]

Where do prices go from here?

Up. Always up. Up up and away.

It is ridiculous that deluxes have gone up so much and voyagers not nearly as much, but I'd say that means we're in for voyagers either jumping up to the $30 mark soon, or else just going away and having the tiny, hollow, barely painted deluxes in the $20 area and then something more like weaponizer size (bigger, but simpler transformations and less detailed deco, maybe with more gimmickry) as the next step up.