Action figure prices: how high is too high? What would make you quit?

[SilverStar17]

Depends on the item. The higher the price ... the fewer make the cut.

SnakeDoc

If I have learned anything from my collecting habits, it's to never set boundaries for myself, because eventually I always cross the line. I'll always spend money on junk I don't need as long as I can afford it, weather it's "worth it" or not. Is a HT Vader really worth $300? **** no! But I can afford to spend it, so I do

Only thing that will really stop me from collecting stuff is when I genuinely can't afford to do it.

Disposable income is to be disposed of.

Pretty much my sentiments as well.

I'll simply be more selective on what I get. If I really want a particular figure and I'm able to afford/get it whether or not it's actually worth that price, then I'll get it.

 

[D'oh!]

A few years ago, I told myself that $200 was my limit -- and passed on Tech Noir Terminator because of it. Then I shelled out over $200 for the Reeve Superman, justifying the price because a portion was being donated to the Christopher Reeve Foundation. Since then, I've said screw it and buy what I like -- Kylo Ren being my latest acquisition.

I guess $300 is my new threshold; I passed on the latest Vader because it's just not worth it to me. But honestly, I'd pick up a Ripley at whatever price if HT finally decides to make one!

 

[EVILFACE]

When Sideshow Universal Monsters went from $20 to $40 it was shocking. I still cant believe I shelled out $300 for DX13.

 

[P.]

i don't pay $850 for HT Kyle Reese today, though i desperately need a second one.
i still might pay it before our currency denomination (2.5 times to a dollar), but today the converted price is too ridiculous.
but if i didn't have one already, i still might pay the price.
so i guess i didn't meet "too high" for my existing needs on existing (reasonable) market yet.
but my needs aren't as wide as usually collectors have.

 

[Iggyrox]

I look at the new, all-plastic Play Arts Kai action figure prices and man they can't be seriously charging $200 for those.

When I first started, it took a great deal of justification to plunk down $200 for the DX06. I thought paying $250 for the DX11 would be my limit. Now I don't even flinch spending $300 or more for the right 1/6 figure.

I guess It's how you justify the purchase in relation to what you think you can afford. Someone might have PO'd those yucky $200 Play Arts Kai figures by now and he or she is completely happy with that.

 

[cmiller99]

Only thing that will really stop me from collecting stuff is when I genuinely can't afford to do it.

Disposable income is to be disposed of.

 

[TheMajor]

£200+ makes me question how much I want a figure. Hot Toys is making the decision more and more easier with each price hike.

 

[MegaPrime33]

I stopped collecting toys from Hasbro and Mattel and Playmates a while ago when the avg price for a 3.75" figure was $10 give or take. It's just not worth it to me. The only exception to the rule was the TMNT Classics line. They did a great job and I was ok with the $20 price point. But of course they cancelled that line.

 

[Snake Plissken]

When the standard, barebones MMS hits $300. I think at that point, I might buy one once a year if it's truly special.

 

[BadMuthaDude]

How high is too high? the current price with the awful exchange rate.

 

[holtrax]

Remember the good old days when hot toys figures used to be about $150 -200?. My first hot toys purchase was the lost predator back in 2008 which i got for $159. Now the price points are definitely too high for some of these figures..I think once they went past $300 for a figure that's when i really started to question myself and started limiting the amount of figures i buy. Now i only buy one or two a year because i can't really justify spending close to $1000 a year for 3 figures.

 

[bmarz1000]

Answer carefully. "They" are reading this.

 

[Mogli]

I already skip a lot of stuff because of prices, and it's not getting better. I only buy a few lines from Neca now, since the prices go up to $25 sometimes. Play Arts prices are ridiculous now, and I only buy Metal Gear and some FF lines. With Hot Toys, I only buy when a figure is going to sell out, which means I wait for a couple years sometimes, during which it also might go on sale. Anything over $250 is really tough to consider. The Star Wars OT line and maybe Suicide Squad are the last lines I'll get in a rush. When they reach $300 for a standard figure I'll probably stop buying more than one figure a year, since they've already made a lot of the classics I've always wanted.

 

[JIM007]

i respect hot toys and sideshow because they make great products and they want to make profit...but i dont like to fill like a victim each time i pay for a figure
i cannot justified their escalated prices... especially if you compare what you can buy with $300-$800 in the general market (from furniture, food supplies even a car)
1) figures are not even numbered to justify that,
2) multiple releases for each character specially marvell characters
3) they dont respect their royal customers that make them who they are (many of the early fans stop collecting because they couldnt afford it anymore)

Also in Europe there is a huge economy crisis and i can add some problems
1) usa and china can buy most figures for the price of $250
2) dollar value almost is equal with euro now ( a couple of years ago was 70 euro for each $100)
3) Custom taxes 20%-30%
4) shipping costs

what i suggest at least is one main supplier in Europe that help collectors to buy same prices as USA and China

 

[Jabba]

i respect hot toys and sideshow because they make great products and they want to make profit...but i dont like to fill like a victim each time i pay for a figure
i cannot justified their escalated prices... especially if you compare what you can buy with $300-$800 in the general market (from furniture, food supplies even a car)
1) figures are not even numbered to justify that,
2) multiple releases for each character specially marvell characters
3) they dont respect their royal customers that make them who they are (many of the early fans stop collecting because they couldnt afford it anymore)

Also in Europe there is a huge economy crisis and i can add some problems
1) usa and china can buy most figures for the price of $250
2) dollar value almost is equal with euro now ( a couple of years ago was 70 euro for each $100)
3) Custom taxes 20%-30%
4) shipping costs

what i suggest at least is one main supplier in Europe that help collectors to buy same prices as USA and China

Totally agree with this. Bought once a figure for 350$ because it was from my top 5 favorite movies. I will never do that again. Max 300$ and it must be something special for my soul (need to heal you when you look at it). They should stay around 180-200 $. We in Europe have 30-40 % higher prices then USA and China and thats bad.

 

[darthkush]

Answer carefully. "They" are reading this.

GOOD. I hope they do. Maybe they'll all calm down and figure out ways to keep the prices decent without sacrificing quality.

I'm beginning to have a hankering for a new Iron Man but at 350 plus, I can't do it. I want a War Machine(at least one) and every figure of him is too much.

Do you think the other toy companies might be reading this or just Hot toys?

 

[cmiller99]

Hot Toys don't read these boards.

 

[P.]

Hot Toys don't read these boards.

wasn't Butters their official paid advertiser?

 

[xipotec]

My personally limit is about 250.00 on a new figure.

Older ones out of print I might go to 300.00.

Anything new for over 300.00 gets shot down for now.

 

[devilof76]

I seriously doubt I would shell out over $5,000 for a figure. But you never know.

How can you not know for sure whether or not you'd ever spend $5000 on a figure?