is the toy solider market in Canada dead? (1 Viewer)

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zulucollector

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Similar to the line from Dr Zhivago that the private life in Russia is dead, is the toy market in Canada in the same boat.. With the Cdn dollar approaching a 12 year low against the greenback and only a couple years from parity; is this a death blow to collectors and dealers. This will be the first time in 5 years that I did not buy a toy solider in a month. I think already pricey in US dollars add another 30%+ exchange and 13% hst it makes it a very expensive proposition. I can buy a week of groceries for the price of 2 K&C figures. I am guessing our aussie friends are in the same boat as they also have a commodity based economy. Are collectors simply buying less, looking for deals or simply boycotting. I saw the threat on price deflation so I am guessing the manufacturers and dealers will have to decide to forgo some volume and maintain prices or cut to keep some markets going....
 
I'm still spending as much as I was before the dollar took the plunge, but unfortunately it doesn't go as far as it used to. Consequently, I've been much more selective with my buying. For example, I decided to forego the 7th Hussars "in garrison" figures in order to buy the new British and French artillery.

Cheers,

Brendan
 
Reality strikes the Toy Soldier market! Ebay is a good indicator of Toy Soldier market stagnation. Cut the price or keep the product on the shelf until ecconomies improve. Overpriced polystone and pewter are not selling out any more!
 
I have tried to be a small dealer. Hard to make a living off of it, I would say. Producers (some) want brick and mortar, and also min orders. Expensive stuff to stock. currency exchange is killing it in Canada. Saying a figure is 30US or 39 Cdn just doesn't sound attractive anymore after the years of good buys. Brendan, I owe you an email BTW. Having said that there are some good stockists, but they are hours away from the drop in market. Any producers out there, feel free to contact me to discuss.
 
I stopped buying from Canada several years ago when their postage rates doubled, just could not come at buying something for $100 and paying another $100 for postage, felt they shot themselves in the foot with this price hike. Robin.
 
It is unfortunate for our Canadian collector friends that the US dollar has appreciated so much versus the Canadian dollar. Hopefully, you will cut back on your toy soldier purchases rather than stop buying altogether. Also, it really depends on what you collect on how bad this is. There is no question that the price of 60mm matte figures has continued to rise over the years further exacerbating the exchange rate problem. That being said, collectors of traditional 54mm glossy toy soldiers (a minority here on the forum and in the hobby in general) are starting from a much lower price per figure than 60mm matte collectors. For example, once a year I order Hiriart toy soldiers for several dozen other traditional, 54mm glossy collectors, including two Canadians, at a cost per figure of about $17 US dollars for infantry or $31 for cavalry. Not cheap, but more affordable to be sure. However, I understand that if this isn't your cup of tea, it is irrelevant. Let's hope that things get better for you in the future. Oil can't stay at $35 a barrel for ever; the Canadian dollar will recover.
 
2016 is the year of the cutback for me. With the C$ at $0.70 and still falling, I am limiting myself to a few small purchases until the C$ goes back up to $0.90

Terry
 
Gents,

Man the Canadian dollar is down, its cold as all get out AND everyone is cutting back on the fun? Dayum, I really feel bad for y'all...seriously.

To better days...

John from Texas
 
katana said:
Reality strikes the Toy Soldier market! Ebay is a good indicator of Toy Soldier market stagnation. Cut the price or keep the product on the shelf until ecconomies improve. Overpriced polystone and pewter are not selling out any more!
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OK, Devils advocate time.

Manufacturers cut their prices, this devalues the stock retailers are holding, devalues previous purchases, this forces retailers to cut back on new stock holding which, in turn makes manufacturers have to cut back on releases.

Discuss. {sm4}
 
I really do hope things improve for everyone in Canada toy soldier wise.:salute::
 
It's not just Canada. Canada has fared poorly vs the $US but so has the Euro. Other countries have done slightly worse to much worse in 2015 including Sweden, Australia, NZ, Mexico, Turkey, Russia, Brazil. The $US was at a low in 2012 - The $CAN was worth US$ 1.10 but today the $CAN is worth only US$ 0.70

Terry
 
Australia in the last day has dropped below 70cents, lowest for a few years. That means a toy soldier is close to $100 Australian dollars....yikes. Robin.
 
Phantom Warrior said:
It's not just Canada. Canada has fared poorly vs the $US but so has the Euro. Other countries have done slightly worse to much worse in 2015 including Sweden, Australia, NZ, Mexico, Turkey, Russia, Brazil. The $US was at a low in 2012 - The $CAN was worth US$ 1.10 but today the $CAN is worth only US$ 0.70

Terry
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Sterling is also losing value against the dollar, I only got 1.41 yesterday whereas in September it was 1.57. I hope it does not continue to fall. I read somewhere it was to do with the uncertainty of a EU referendum.
 
I checked my bank online this morning and $100.00 US would cost $145.55 CDN $ including bank fees .

I have returned to painting instead of purchasing TS .

If I do purchase TS , I have them delivered in the US while on vacation down south ( I am not giving up on the southern vacation ! ). This eliminates delivery charges and HST (sales tax)charges when delivered in Canada .

Kirk

PS , I still don't understand why dealers in the US don't offer at least a partial credit on delivery fees to Canada since in most cases delivery in the US is free, I understand that the US Postal Service operates at a huge deficit but they must charge something for US delivery .
Just a pet peeve of mine
 
Partner said:
I checked my bank online this morning and $100.00 US would cost $145.55 CDN $ including bank fees .

I have returned to painting instead of purchasing TS .

If I do purchase TS , I have them delivered in the US while on vacation down south ( I am not giving up on the southern vacation ! ). This eliminates delivery charges and HST (sales tax)charges when delivered in Canada .

Kirk

PS , I still don't understand why dealers in the US don't offer at least a partial credit on delivery fees to Canada since in most cases delivery in the US is free, I understand that the US Postal Service operates at a huge deficit but they must charge something for US delivery .
Just a pet peeve of mine
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Some dealers like Treefrog do offer free international shipping for orders of $250 or more...
 
I've lost a couple of sales to Canadians because of the shipping costs not because of what I was charging for the items,
Mark
 
Cold Steel Miniatures said:
Sterling is also losing value against the dollar, I only got 1.41 yesterday whereas in September it was 1.57. I hope it does not continue to fall. I read somewhere it was to do with the uncertainty of a EU referendum.
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And that is a big factor in manufacturers prices that they have no control over.

Malcolm.:salute::
 
Empire MM said:
And that is a big factor in manufacturers prices that they have no control over.

Malcolm.:salute::
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I admit it is a concern for me and I suppose you share the same concerns as I do. I hope it will come back up, the girls at the exchange place seem to think it was fall to the 1.30s.
 
Cold Steel Miniatures said:
I admit it is a concern for me and I suppose you share the same concerns as I do. I hope it will come back up, the girls at the exchange place seem to think it was fall to the 1.30s.
Click to expand...

Wow, that is some dire forecasting, I sure hope it is not the case. A drop to 1.41, whilst a hit, is absorbable for me as I forecast / pre buy with drops in mind as a safety net.

Another difficult year the world over. If only politicians had foresight to truly think their actions through these days. Most are professional politicians where, in he past, the majority had been businessmen prior to.

Malcolm. :salute::
 
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