Breakdown of the Price Increases Hasbro Said were Coming

It will be interesting to see which retailers follow suit and which ones hold steady.

I have a number of August or later releases on pre-order from Amazon using the wish list trick, and while the deluxes are at $22.99 already, the Voyagers and Leaders are still at $29.99 and $49.99 respectively.

I guess Hasbro thinks that the same volume of product will move no matter what the cost is. I, for one, think that they are kind of "shooting themselves in the foot" over their offerings, and that many of us will be a bit more choosing in our purchases. I get the whole "best version of a character" mind frame, but with the versions we have already, Hasbro is really going to have to knock it out of the pack on their future products. Between the blatant QC issues, hollowness, distribution and availability issues, and seemingly inferior plastics used as of late, the "fun-factor" of collecting is starting to go by the way-side.

TF-fan kev777 wrote:It will be interesting to see which retailers follow suit and which ones hold steady.

I have a number of August or later releases on pre-order from Amazon using the wish list trick, and while the deluxes are at $22.99 already, the Voyagers and Leaders are still at $29.99 and $49.99 respectively.

Interesting, we'll see what happens with those prices.

increases for joes you cant find

Oh don't worry, mortals! According to certain of your politicians, who shall remain nameless, all of this 'inflation' isn't real! And even if it is real, it's only 'transitory'! They're politicians - we can trust them, right?

DeathReviews wrote:Oh don't worry, mortals! According to certain of your politicians, who shall remain nameless, all of this 'inflation' isn't real! And even if it is real, it's only 'transitory'! They're politicians - we can trust them, right?

come on man!

DeathReviews wrote:Oh don't worry, mortals! According to certain of your politicians, who shall remain nameless, all of this 'inflation' isn't real! And even if it is real, it's only 'transitory'! They're politicians - we can trust them, right?

Since when does Death care about inflation?

william-james88 wrote:

DeathReviews wrote:Oh don't worry, mortals! According to certain of your politicians, who shall remain nameless, all of this 'inflation' isn't real! And even if it is real, it's only 'transitory'! They're politicians - we can trust them, right?

Since when does Death care about inflation?

And why is everyone linking inflation to politicians? Just asking, but it seems a whole lot like scapegoating

Jelze Bunnycat wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

DeathReviews wrote:Oh don't worry, mortals! According to certain of your politicians, who shall remain nameless, all of this 'inflation' isn't real! And even if it is real, it's only 'transitory'! They're politicians - we can trust them, right?

Since when does Death care about inflation?

And why is everyone linking inflation to politicians? Just asking, but it seems a whole lot like scapegoating

Scapegoating? That strawman over there told me to trust him!

All jokes aside, I was expecting worse hikes to be fair

I know this isn't really the point but what is that Power Rangers price point? Is that for the morphers? I can't think of anything else at a $30 price point. Lightning Collection figures are $20, basic action figures are $10, megazords are non-existent at the moment.

King Kuuga wrote:I know this isn't really the point but what is that Power Rangers price point? Is that for the morphers? I can't think of anything else at a $30 price point. Lightning Collection figures are $20, basic action figures are $10, megazords are non-existent at the moment.

Going by the Beast Morphers Price Points, it's either the Deluxe Zords (T-Rex Standalone, the rest in 2-packs) or the larger Role Play Weapons. The former are set for a Fall release.

I stand by my previous post. Demand has not gone anywhere, but supplies are drastically reduced because suppliers have been shut down. That's a large reason of why the new NextGen gaming systems are hard to find; as non-essential suppliers (you know, like makers of metformin were designated) they had been shuttered. Now there is a massive backlog of supplier orders, meaning increased costs (partially from demand and partially because of re-startup costs, rehiring costs vs sustained employment which is always more expensive, and some new tax hikes). I am expecting a cost rise across the board (ALL products with the possible exception of perishables/food) of between 15-40% before the end of 2022. I hope it doesn't happen, but signs are pointing that way.

King Kuuga wrote:I know this isn't really the point but what is that Power Rangers price point?

Lightning collection; it's the same price point as black series, tf deluxes, marvel legends, ect


https://www.toysrus.ca/en/Power-Rangers ... 5480F.html

Also, come one guys, there's a short video there with all your answers. If something is unclear, just give it a look, it will answer all your questions.

Jelze Bunnycat wrote:

King Kuuga wrote:I know this isn't really the point but what is that Power Rangers price point? Is that for the morphers? I can't think of anything else at a $30 price point. Lightning Collection figures are $20, basic action figures are $10, megazords are non-existent at the moment.

Going by the Beast Morphers Price Points, it's either the Deluxe Zords (T-Rex Standalone, the rest in 2-packs) or the larger Role Play Weapons. The former are set for a Fall release.

Didn't realise the prices were in Canadian dollars. Wasn't that clear on first sight, maybe add CND?

I can easily stop buying these and end my Transformers collecting.

william-james88 wrote:

King Kuuga wrote:I know this isn't really the point but what is that Power Rangers price point?

Lightning collection; it's the same price point as black series, tf deluxes, marvel legends, ect


https://www.toysrus.ca/en/Power-Rangers ... 5480F.html

Also, come one guys, there's a short video there with all your answers. If something is unclear, just give it a look, it will answer all your questions.

That's too much work.
Also I was naively thinking that a $20 USD toy wouldn't be $30 CAD, because even if they were shooting for a round number, $25 CAD is the closest equivalent.

King Kuuga wrote:Also I was naively thinking that a $20 USD toy wouldn't be $30 CAD, because even if they were shooting for a round number, $25 CAD is the closest equivalent.

Yeah that makes sense, since you knew the others were Canadian prices. Just comes to show that the prices outside the US are pretty damn unfair. Alas, out lighting series toys will now be $34 CAD. Honestly, it doesn't make sense. The basic figures are one third the price but are as big and have decent enough articulation.

In general, the lighting collection should not be the same price point as the licenced figures. Star Wars and Marvel figures both have that extra heavy licencing fee Hasbro has to keep paying (passing off that cost to us), but they don't have that for Transformers or Power Rangers. That's why a Transformers toys sells for as much as the licenced lines and yet has more than double the parts plus an entire additional phase based in Japan (so double the design cost as any other action figure toyline).

But Power Rangers? the only explanation is that this is the line used to generate the biggest margins to sustain the same prices for all Hasbro figures of the same size/class as a whole.

william-james88 wrote:

King Kuuga wrote:Also I was naively thinking that a $20 USD toy wouldn't be $30 CAD, because even if they were shooting for a round number, $25 CAD is the closest equivalent.

Yeah that makes sense, since you knew the others were Canadian prices. Just comes to show that the prices outside the US are pretty damn unfair. Alas, out lighting series toys will now be $34 CAD. Honestly, it doesn't make sense. The basic figures are one third the price but are as big and have decent enough articulation.

In general, the lighting collection should not be the same price point as the licenced figures. Star Wars and Marvel figures both have that extra heavy licencing fee Hasbro has to keep paying (passing off that cost to us), but they don't have that for Transformers or Power Rangers. That's why a Transformers toys sells for as much as the licenced lines and yet has more than double the parts plus an entire additional phase based in Japan (so double the design cost as any other action figure toyline).

But Power Rangers? the only explanation is that this is the line used to generate the biggest margins to sustain the same prices for all Hasbro figures of the same size/class as a whole.

Well even though PR actors aren't exactly A-listers, they still have to pay them for the rights to their likenesses when those figures come with a face sculpt. Also, as I've remarked on some Facebook TF groups, $20 (USD) has become the de facto price point for collector-targeted action figures. Star Wars, Marvel, DC, Ghostbusters, He-Man, even Jurassic Park is starting to get in on it. That's why I think TF deluxes and PR Lightning Collection settled there. It's a proven price point that signals that it's similar to these other higher quality lines. As you said, maybe the margins are better, but that's just the icing on the cake.

Some of these prices increases are already in effect. But many are still at the old prices like 40$CAN voyagers and 30$CAN deluxes.

Better buy the things NOW at the old prices while we still can. If there's something you even just kinda want and it's at "full price" but that price is the old one, consider the thing on sale and get it NAO!

Maybe if they stocked the shelves of Walmart and Target more, they'd sell more figures and make more money..

I know I'm not alone when I say -The aisles around here are pretty empty of the good figures.
There's not enough for kids to buy.. let alone all us more adult fans .

khrome wrote:Maybe if they stocked the shelves of Walmart and Target more, they'd sell more figures and make more money..

I know I'm not alone when I say -The aisles around here are pretty empty of the good figures.
There's not enough for kids to buy.. let alone all us more adult fans .

It's like this everywhere. The stupid savage lockdown on served to screw up every layers of the global economy. Add money incentive for people to NOT work, and you have the Perfect Storm for disaster.

It's not over. Companies like my shop are buying raw materials en masse in case of an upcoming hyper inflation. The irony is that will be one of its cause.

It's not over.

Prices will probably have to be raised again for transformers to compensate for the loss of sales in hiking up size classes to the next price wise. I'll just hope the pound goes to goold old days conversion rates of $1.6 or higher.

We wrote an article a few days ago about the price increases in the Canadian market. It gave us an idea of how high the increases would be for the US market, which is about $1-$5 increase depending the class, but it didn't give us the exact price. Well, now we know.

Preorders for Transformers figures coming out in the second half of 2021 are now up at Hasbro Pulse, Entertainment Earth and other places, showing the new prices ($USD).

Deluxes, like Gnaw, remain at the same $22.99 we already saw earlier this year.
https://hasbropulse.com/collections/tra ... movie-gnaw

Voyagers, like Wreck-Gar, will now be $31.49.
https://hasbropulse.com/products/transf ... -wreck-gar

Leaders, like Dinobot Slug, will now be $52.99.
https://hasbropulse.com/collections/tra ... l-witwicky

Moving onto exclusive lines, the come at a premium price too.

The Pulse exclusive Shaterred Glass Starscream is $38.99. It is the same as voyager Shaterred Glass Megatron.
https://hasbropulse.com/collections/tra ... iant-cover

Premium Finish Bumblebee, a redeco of a deluxe SS Bee, is $34.99.
https://hasbropulse.com/collections/tra ... -bumblebee

Premium Finish Optimus Prime, a redeco of Siege Optimus Prime, is $53.99.
https://hasbropulse.com/collections/tra ... imus-prime

I preordered Slag, Wreck-Gar, and Gnaw at Target, and they're still $49.99, $29.99, and $19.99. Hopefully Walmart will follow suit. The Walmart closest to me actually sells SS Voyagers for $26.86.

I have those 3 preordered through Amazon & Gnaw is $22.99.
Slag is still $49.99, & Wreck-gar is still $29.99.
It’s going to be interesting to see if those last 2 stay at those prices.
Also, what the prices are in-store if they arrive at all early.

Hasbro is nuts.

Solrac333 wrote:Hasbro is nuts.

For raising voyagers by $1.49 ?

william-james88 wrote:

Solrac333 wrote:Hasbro is nuts.

For raising voyagers by $1.49 ?

Maybe he started collecting only after TLK hit with their 10$CAN price hike for every class.

I wish transformers cost that much over here. Even after the price rises they're still cheaper for you.

Bounti76 wrote:I preordered Slag, Wreck-Gar, and Gnaw at Target, and they're still $49.99, $29.99, and $19.99. Hopefully Walmart will follow suit. The Walmart closest to me actually sells SS Voyagers for $26.86.

This is why I'm not too concerned. Retailers have been undercutting prices for a while now so prices probably wont change that much right away. In store Target and Walmart sells SS figures for under $19, they'll continue to do whatever they feel like with prices. Eventually Amazon will lower their prices on these new pre-orders to match Target as they have been for a while now.

And yeah, I went with Target for the three as well.

Emerje

The rising costs are understandable.

For me, the worst part about this is that the deluxe class is increasing the most, when these figures are the ones that usually lack the most, a lot of times, not just size.
Sure, the engineering is better, the overall sculpting is improved as well...
But I can't really think of a deluxe that I have that should more than $15. Even ER Ironhide has enough issues that I don't put him being worth $20.
I guess the one exception would be SS86 Hot Rod... With the accessories, $20 is probably fair.

As others, I think osupreme included, have said, this simply means I'll be spending less and less in the upcoming years. Which I'm definitely okay with. Just last night I added up what I've spent in the last year (well, over a year including what's preordered and will arrive late summer/early fall) and it doesn't sit well with me. And this is considering I've been selective, skipped a lot, and missed out on a few like Sunstreaker and Trailbreaker (I'm just not spending $30 on either of these guys).

Moving forward, I'm ready to start phasing out of collecting all together...
Dinobots, Galvatron, Sweeps, Insecticons, Blitzwing, and Astrotrain are my main wants.
Wreck-gar, Perceptor, Blaster, Gnaw... I'm in for those as well, but even those are almost "icing".

But in terms of prices going up, it's going to happen no matter what; outside of the costs of the materials, inflation kicks-in either way...
I'm not going to be surprised at all if prices don't ever go back down, and only increase.
In fact, I don't think materials costs are going to decrease either...
So I'm ready for the price of a deluxe to go up to $24.99 by the end of 2022.
Which again, will be the beginning of the end of my collecting.

Sowndwave76 wrote:The rising costs are understandable.

For me, the worst part about this is that the deluxe class is increasing the most, when these figures are the ones that usually lack the most, a lot of times, not just size.
Sure, the engineering is better, the overall sculpting is improved as well...
But I can't really think of a deluxe that I have that should more than $15. Even ER Ironhide has enough issues that I don't put him being worth $20.
I guess the one exception would be SS86 Hot Rod... With the accessories, $20 is probably fair.

As others, I think osupreme included, have said, this simply means I'll be spending less and less in the upcoming years. Which I'm definitely okay with. Just last night I added up what I've spent in the last year (well, over a year including what's preordered and will arrive late summer/early fall) and it doesn't sit well with me. And this is considering I've been selective, skipped a lot, and missed out on a few like Sunstreaker and Trailbreaker (I'm just not spending $30 on either of these guys).

Moving forward, I'm ready to start phasing out of collecting all together...
Dinobots, Galvatron, Sweeps, Insecticons, Blitzwing, and Astrotrain are my main wants.
Wreck-gar, Perceptor, Blaster, Gnaw... I'm in for those as well, but even those are almost "icing".

But in terms of prices going up, it's going to happen no matter what; outside of the costs of the materials, inflation kicks-in either way...
I'm not going to be surprised at all if prices don't ever go back down, and only increase.
In fact, I don't think materials costs are going to decrease either...
So I'm ready for the price of a deluxe to go up to $24.99 by the end of 2022.
Which again, will be the beginning of the end of my collecting.

Hot Rod was a Voyager though Prices will also go up because of rising wages. I think the fandom has been spoiled with the notion of Class = size of toy with little to no regard of engineering and parts count. Not to mention the human tendency to stick with prices from our past like a fixed point in time.

Man, those are ugly prices. I'm not talking about the amount of the price, I just mean those are ugly numbers.

While I'm glad Leaders aren't $2 more, $54.99 is a more appealing price to see on a shelf.

If I was still a buyer for retail, I'd be getting in trouble for oddball retails like those.

ZeroWolf wrote:Hot Rod was a Voyager though Prices will also go up because of rising wages. I think the fandom has been spoiled with the notion of Class = size of toy with little to no regard of engineering and parts count. Not to mention the human tendency to stick with prices from our past like a fixed point in time.

Right, but outside of the 7 accessories, most would agree that he is a deluxe. A damn good one, but still a deluxe.
Either way, imo, he's worth $20.
Where as a figure such as ER Cliffjumper is worth $12.

Sowndwave76 wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:Hot Rod was a Voyager though Prices will also go up because of rising wages. I think the fandom has been spoiled with the notion of Class = size of toy with little to no regard of engineering and parts count. Not to mention the human tendency to stick with prices from our past like a fixed point in time.

Right, but outside of the 7 accessories, most would agree that he is a deluxe. A damn good one, but still a deluxe.
Either way, imo, he's worth $20.
Where as a figure such as ER Cliffjumper is worth $12.

Size maybe but not build. Calling him a deluxe is like calling MP Primal a Voyager.

william-james88 wrote:

Sowndwave76 wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:Hot Rod was a Voyager though Prices will also go up because of rising wages. I think the fandom has been spoiled with the notion of Class = size of toy with little to no regard of engineering and parts count. Not to mention the human tendency to stick with prices from our past like a fixed point in time.

Right, but outside of the 7 accessories, most would agree that he is a deluxe. A damn good one, but still a deluxe.
Either way, imo, he's worth $20.
Where as a figure such as ER Cliffjumper is worth $12.

Size maybe but not build. Calling him a deluxe is like calling MP Primal a Voyager.

Okay. Fair enough... He's more than a deluxe... But minus the accessories he's come with, he's still not a voyager imo.
If he were, then with those accessories Hastak would've sold him as a leader class figure.

Sowndwave76 wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

Sowndwave76 wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:Hot Rod was a Voyager though Prices will also go up because of rising wages. I think the fandom has been spoiled with the notion of Class = size of toy with little to no regard of engineering and parts count. Not to mention the human tendency to stick with prices from our past like a fixed point in time.

Right, but outside of the 7 accessories, most would agree that he is a deluxe. A damn good one, but still a deluxe.
Either way, imo, he's worth $20.
Where as a figure such as ER Cliffjumper is worth $12.

Size maybe but not build. Calling him a deluxe is like calling MP Primal a Voyager.

Okay. Fair enough... He's more than a deluxe... But minus the accessories he's come with, he's still not a voyager imo.
If he were, then with those accessories Hastak would've sold him as a leader class figure.

The accessories dont figure much into the final price, they require no assembly. They are just there to appease those that only look at size and think they are getting ripped off.
His voyager price point is due entirely to his parts count and the higher cost that brings.

william-james88 wrote:The accessories dont figure much into the final price, they require no assembly. They are just there to appease those that only look at size and think they are getting ripped off.
His voyager price point is due entirely to his parts count and the higher cost that brings.

In short, the amount and size of the molds needing to be cut in order to make the figure. That's where most of the budget goes.

I get it. I really do.

But you're telling me that just the figure itself fit the voyager scale budget, and the 7 accessories were basically thrown-in for free???

I'm genuinely saying this...
I wish someone with the facts could educate us on how this really plays out.
As of right now, I don't believe that Hastak charges $29.99 for a voyager figure, and only makes $2-$5 off of each in profit. *I'm not inferring anyone claimed this.
Even for a company as huge as they are, I would think they'd still have to make at least 200-300% (if not more) of the manufacturing costs in profits.
Think about it... If ER Cliffjumper costs $10 all said and done per figure... They charged $20... And not all of that remaining $10 is actually pure profit. I'd be shocked if this is the relative formula for figures of any class size.
Seems to me, a figure like Cliffjumper would cost $5, and that's why they have to charge $20...
All said and done close to 3x the amount of the production costs come in as profit.

But maybe it's lower since they're putting out x number of figures per wave.

Sowndwave76 wrote:I get it. I really do.

But you're telling me that just the figure itself fit the voyager scale budget, and the 7 accessories were basically thrown-in for free???

It's not 0$ but it ain't much to make the figure jump from deluxe to Voyager. It couldn't have been sold as a deluxe even if it came with no accessories, that's what I mean. The bulk of costs come from extra assembly due to more parts. And there have been times when accessories wee literally thrown in for free, like with RID warrior angel supermodel prime.

As for your question, on a 30$ figure, Hasbro sells it to Walmart for around half (so 15$). So for the toy to be profitable, it has to cost Hasbro less than 10$. And making Transforners is more expensive than every other Hasbro action figure due to the human labour in assembly (nothing is automated).

There was a wonderful and eye opening article from Bandai about the cost of production lines and how an incremental detail (like sanding speue marks) could make all the difference in cost (and thus price). Can't find it though.

Do you remember that preorder for the Black Ironhide from generations Selects? MSRP on that figure was $24.99. Now, it could have meant two things. One, that while this toy was labelled as a deluxe, the higher price accounted for the extra accessory that didn't come with the Siege Ironhide mold, which was also sold as a deluxe. Two, that the MSRP for deluxes going forward would be 24.99. Well now we have more evidence for the latter. Firstly, we have confirmation from Canadian retailer Toysnowman that Hasbro has announced a price increase to retailers. You can check out their video below, but here are the Canadian prices going forward:

Deluxes 33.99 to 35.99
Voyagers 44.99 to 47.99
Leader 72.99-76.99
Titan 249.99-264.99

Secondly, Marvelous News has reported that Marvel Legends 6" figures will be going up to $24.99. Those toys are usually offered at the same price as deluxe Transformers figures and 6" Black Series Star Wars figures. And that $24.99 is indeed the same price as that Generations Selects deluxe Guard.

We do not have the specifics as to the US price increase for voyager, core class, leader, commander, and titan class Transformers but we are sure to find out soon.

Meanwhile, Toys R Us are boosting their prices even further.

16$CAN for core.
43$CAN for a deluxe.
50$CAN for voyager.
85$CAN for leader.
140$CAN for commander.
115$CAN for the shelfwarmer Ectotron (who started at 80$CAN when it came out)


Like, come on.

That does it. I'm done collecting.

Solrac333 wrote:That does it. I'm done collecting.

Or, do what others like me are, and only buy what you know you really, really want.
But I understand, this can be frustrating.

Also, maybe you were close to being done before this.

I'll be so close to retiring once we get all 5 Dinobots, and all 3 main Insecticons.
Once I have those, I could step away and be happy.
I'd like a new Astrotrain and Shockwave.
I could see dipping back in for those guys down the road. But yeah, that will also depend on price, appearance, how annoying the play gimmick is, etc.
But maybe the biggest temptation would be a new set of Constructicons...
Who knows... By the time that happens, maybe I'll be able to justify the cost because I will have been out of the game for a while.

A slight error in the article: 'former' means the first item in a list or pair, 'latter' means the last item.

I could be wrong but this really feels like record fast timing for boosting the price again within a certain amount of time. Like, there's usually either a very small price hike from year to year, or one big price hike every trilogy or so. This is both a high price hike AND within a year of the last one. I'm not one to complain about these things, but this may be where I start the steady decline to my cap on collecting TF's. Or, as the user above me mentioned, where I start getting REALLY selective about what I pick up. Which sucks, cause sometimes I'm just in a bad mood and had a rough week at work, and on the way home stop at Walmart to pick up a lil' deluxe to make my day better. If this is true, it looks like the end of that for me. Dang.

Haslab Victory Sabr is gonna look like a real bargain once released

william-james88 wrote:Haslab Victory Sabr is gonna look like a real bargain once released

You can say that again.
That 30 or so dollars "markup" would looks like nothing compared to TrU's insane double price hikes.

Top Spin slaps Ironhide, "You are a Deluxe!"

Ironhide replies "you are a sad similar height man!"


Price hikes kinda expected when they've been selling smaller deluxes for a while now, they either make them smaller or raise prices.

£1 sodas now £1.20 in my local shop and that's the stuff with out sugar tax

Just remember, mortals! Your leaders have declared that all of this inflation you're directly witnessing is NOT happening! There is no inflation... (Jedi mind wave)