I've collected the classified line since launch and have found that the quality of the figures has really tanked. To begin with, the launch figures were the not the most sturdy solid figures, and I was hoping they would improve the quality. But the last year I feel like every figure has been made of rubber, has loose hip and ab joints, fall over easily, and almost feel like an arm or leg is going to rip off while posing them....they feel cheap. What is everyone else's thought on this?
I suspect there is going to be a split between collectors coming over from 1/6th and collectors coming over from 4 inch.
As a primarily 1/6th collector, and mostly modern military, the current DAM figures are pushing 275-300, depending on the set. So my first thought is that a 25 dollar Classified figure ( I'm averaging it out some here) would mean I could get one DAM guy or 11-12 Classified guys. Even if I pushed the price point to 30 dollars a shot, that still comes to like 10 Classified guys over just one sixth scale figure. Plus it's less space. And there is a decent amount of support from other brands/3rd party/customs out there.
For 4 inch collectors, I can see some real sticker shock, and the value might not be there. The scale goes up and the detail goes up, but it's an entirely different form of collecting.
When I see bulk "value" , my expectations on quality goes down. Kind of like old Soldiers Of The World stuff at Target back in the day. I'd say to myself "This is a pretty cool accessory set for 7.99......" But if it was 19.99, I'd balk at the flaws inherent in the set.
Something I will say is this, there are some Classified sets that look like no doubt peg warmers. For example, Lady Jaye. In cases like that, Hasbro would be better off upping the accessory load out. This is a strategy that Ultimate Soldier did back in the day that was extremely effective. If the sold a motorcycle guy, they added in a mass weapons card inside, so you'd get 10 weapons, even if it didn't quite fit the entire theme. The issue was raw value to the set. Because the hope was people would look at the Hasbro comparison, see the fewer accessories and price tag, see the Ultimate Soldier one a little bit cheaper with more stuff inside, and that would swing the collector over.
Because of this scale, some accessories can't cost that much more to produce. I would have loaded up figures like Lady Jaye or Tomax/Xamot with way more stuff. Do you remember when Blue Box Toys had that old Cy Girls line? They'd pack a unique weapon in some of the sets, to entice collectors outside of female figure collecting to buy the set just for the rare accessory. One of the Mezco Blades has a ton of headsculpts and a ton of sunglasses, and I thought that was pretty cool to do.
A good example is the classic Cobra Viper laser rifle. And the Cobra Infantry laser submachine gun. Both classics from the RAH era. I just don't see a reason why every last single Cobra figure doesn't have both of those jammed into each set.
The marketing origin of "Flag Points" was to help get peg warmers sold and to push out old inventory. The same strategy could still work today. Maybe it's not a whole figure but maybe an accessory card. Same thing for the Super Trooper concept. You want people to support the line as a fan who perceives the brand can relate to the average collector, not just as a raw consumer and hobbyist.
