Discussion on Sideshow Pricing

[Python]

I suspect this thread will achieve little other than to be yet more discussion regarding pricing. It will still continue in the individual threads, more so as prices break new barriers. We're at a point where prices are rising unbelievably quickly and well beyond inflation we see elsewhere, so it will quite often dominate discussions. Often at the expense of some of the positives that might have been discussed otherwise which is sad, but understandable really. Look at the Wolf Predator LSB, it was almost double the cost of the Predator LSB that came only several months before it (we'll put aside the outcome for the sake of this topic) That kind of increase is going to be talked about, a lot...

Although, in fairness. There was still a tonne of positive talk around that bust... Until it shipped.

[aa909]

Originally Posted by Python

I suspect this thread will achieve little other than to be yet more discussion regarding pricing. It will still continue in the individual threads, more so as prices break new barriers. We're at a point where prices are rising unbelievably quickly and well beyond inflation we see elsewhere, so it will quite often dominate discussions. Often at the expense of some of the positives that might have been discussed otherwise which is sad, but understandable really. Look at the Wolf Predator LSB, it was almost double the cost of the Predator LSB that came only several months before it (we'll put aside the outcome for the sake of this topic) That kind of increase is going to be talked about, a lot...

market is saturated and prices are climbing faster than market can absorb = bubble is gonna burst.... prices will drop in secondary market first. just a matter of time.

[nbr3bagshotrow]

Originally Posted by COI

The real problem for me isn't when people say something along the lines as "ouch, too expensive for me, pass" or even variants of "I don't think it's worth it at all"; what I think is annoying AND useless is when the armchair economists come in to tell Sideshow how to run its business, or the armchair socialists stop by to scream GREED! as if that's any type of argument. Or when people who have never run a statue business, commissioned a statue, sculpted, painted, dealt with China, etc just somehow know that SS is way over-charging. And those same people sneer when someone in the business offers any sort of explanation, despite the fact that they're the ones demanding answers.

On a personal note, I don't get why people pee in their own Cheerios. This is hobby. Like with anything, there will be positive and negative aspects, but the fixation on the negative and on stuff you have no control over is baffling, because you're ruining your own fun.

Originally Posted by aa909

it's a hobby, it should be fun and enjoyable... once you start stressing about money in this hobby it's time to step back and reassess... for too many folks here this transitions from being a fun hobby to an obsession / addiction... not healthy folks

Two great posts here.

I especially like the hypocrisy of those who cry “greed” yet want lower ES to either keep the secondary prices high or to have something others can’t get because of low ES. Talk about greed.

[Eky]

Originally Posted by COI

I can stick this to the top, but I have a couple of problems with it.

First, price increases are not exclusive to Sideshow, but people act like SS is the only one upping prices. This is an industry-wide problem at the moment.

And mainly, I think it's inevitable that price complaints will happen in every thread where a price is revealed. It's impossible to contain conversation to 'stuck' threads, and people ignore them after a while and the conversation gets spilled over. You can see this with the QC thread we stuck to the top that people never use.

Thoughts?

I agree.
People, we, will continue to speak of prices in each dedicated thread anyway. Each time a price is reveal.

Here is usefull for general price discussion but won't prevent the other thread from still being flooded by the same reactions.

[Ryanbusts]

Originally Posted by aa909

market is saturated and prices are climbing faster than market can absorb = bubble is gonna burst.... prices will drop in secondary market first. just a matter of time.

Already has started.

I think if there is a dedicated thread in SS for controversy- it could work. No harm in trying.
I for one obviously have no problem whining about prices, QC, Etc.
so if in a thread such as Huntress for the example. Mid debacle, any forumers can suggest to please take it to the "controversy" thread. Perhaps some would. But how does that help other collectors in the community. Especiqlly newbies.


On the other hand, isn't that the point of Forums and statue threads. I mean, does everyone here want to hear just praising and critique? Pricing is a factor. The more it's brought up, the more we even on a forum can get word spread and hopefully have some good effect on prices or even ES. Yes I believe that an ES of 100 should cost more than an ES of 1000. I also don't think certain characters should cost more because of "popularity". It goes on.

Point is, this is a place to enjoy a hobby, express opinions, and Not be jerks to each other. If you don't like or agree with a post- don't read or respond to it.

[ukshaun]

On the subject of pricing, Sideshow or any company, i'm assuming are upping prices for two reasons, inflation (obviously) and manufacturing costs. While nothing can be done about inflation, manufacturing costs could maybe be addressed by going elsewhere. Quality sacrifice shouldn't enter the solution. Among the impressive statues, there appears to be some lesser quality statues entering the mix.

Assuming the prices will continue to increase, i'm assuming it means collectors with smaller wallets have no option but to buy fewer statues.

If Sideshow and other companies selling statues can sell their stock, then it's business as usual, and prices will continue to rise. If however, shifting stock slows to an unacceptable level, then problems will have to be solved, or it's GAME OVER

Sorry if it sounds like i am stating the obvious.

[Viper245]

Originally Posted by COI

The real problem for me isn't when people say something along the lines as "ouch, too expensive for me, pass" or even variants of "I don't think it's worth it at all"; what I think is annoying AND useless is when the armchair economists come in to tell Sideshow how to run its business, or the armchair socialists stop by to scream GREED! as if that's any type of argument. Or when people who have never run a statue business, commissioned a statue, sculpted, painted, dealt with China, etc just somehow know that SS is way over-charging. And those same people sneer when someone in the business offers any sort of explanation, despite the fact that they're the ones demanding answers.

On a personal note, I don't get why people pee in their own Cheerios. This is hobby. Like with anything, there will be positive and negative aspects, but the fixation on the negative and on stuff you have no control over is baffling, because you're ruining your own fun.

Excellent post! The arm chair prognostication from some people that don't have a clue what the cost structure of manufacturing statues is for these companies is annoying to say the least. They bloviate on as if what they are saying is fact when in reality they only have a small sliver of the entire picture.

Originally Posted by aa909

it's a hobby, it should be fun and enjoyable... once you start stressing about money in this hobby it's time to step back and reassess... for too many folks here this transitions from being a fun hobby to an obsession / addiction... not healthy folks

Absolutely. That was the reason I started this thread. I was getting tired of reading page after page of price complaints in almost every thread. It's getting to the point for me where it's taking the fun out of coming to this section.

[ComicJesus]

Originally Posted by COI

As long as I've been on these boards and in this hobby, people complained about pricing. Things always seem too expensive and prices will continue to rise. First $300 was the breaking point...then $400, then $500, and on and on and on...

That's not to say there won't be a breaking point, but it's perception more than anything else. Someone starting the hobby today might one day be talking about the "good ol' days" where PFs were $500 and we had to walk to 10 miles to school in the snow.

I think part of the issue is as well, we aren’t privy to the actual costs associated with these items. We can think about licensing, and dealing with China, etc etc, but we may never have a numbers rundown. Nike, a publicly traded company, so the rundowns are out there, costs them $30 to make a $200 shoe. I’m not sure SS is in that territory, but I was thinking the other day, what if the NRD is their profit that they make on the statue? Or maybe it’s half that. These would all be interesting things to know.

[BlackestNight]

Originally Posted by ComicJesus

I think part of the issue is as well, we aren’t privy to the actual costs associated with these items. We can think about licensing, and dealing with China, etc etc, but we may never have a numbers rundown. Nike, a publicly traded company, so the rundowns are out there, costs them $30 to make a $200 shoe. I’m not sure SS is in that territory, but I was thinking the other day, what if the NRD is their profit that they make on the statue? Or maybe it’s half that. These would all be interesting things to know.

In the end, do those numbers matter? It certainly doesn't stop the fans of Nike from lining up on the streets overnight to a buy a pair of sneakers.