K&C Retroactive Price Increases (2 Viewers)

[Naps...just Naps]

As for the Aussies - Turks it is the cost factor. Unfortunately I am a completest, but I have learned to change my ways due to prices.
Funny Chris you mentioned the upcoming building, in the past I would have been all over it. But, again due to cost, I,m passing on it.
In a way it is a bit unfair with this thread as it seems we are picking on K&C, but with me, due to the quality of K&C, I have pretty much decided to buy only K&C and T Gunn products from here on out, as the other companies are just as expensive and (my opinion) not the quality of the above two.
Geez, reading this entire thread has really put me out of the collecting mood!
Gary

I second that Gary.
This last week or so on the K&C forum has been so Bl**dy depressing.
I suggest we go and have a look at all the nice stuff we have collected so far and cheer ourselves up.
If we don't buy another thing we still have our current collections.

By the way I used to be a completest like you when I collected American comics. I still have all my old comics but I have still got the gaps in the collection where my wallet would not stretch to the cost of the missing items. I gave up ten years ago and don't miss it a bit.
We all have our limits financially and we all have a decision to make either way.
Some will stick with it and some will not. It's down to what you can afford and how much you want something.

Now I'm off to look in my display case at my Scots Greys whipping the backside off of those Frenchies...Then it's down to finishing off my Hougoumont set-up.
Let's get some enjoyment out of this hobby

Paul

 

[Rob]

I second that Gary.
This last week or so on the K&C forum has been so Bl**dy depressing.
I suggest we go and have a look at all the nice stuff we have collected so far and cheer ourselves up.
If we don't buy another thing we still have our current collections.

By the way I used to be a completest like you when I collected American comics. I still have all my old comics but I have still got the gaps in the collection where my wallet would not stretch to the cost of the missing items. I gave up ten years ago and don't miss it a bit.
We all have our limits financially and we all have a decision to make either way.
Some will stick with it and some will not. It's down to what you can afford and how much you want something.

Now I'm off to look in my display case at my Scots Greys whipping the backside off of those Frenchies...Then it's down to finishing off my Hougoumont set-up.
Let's get some enjoyment out of this hobby

Paul

Excellent post, fully agree, we all make our own decisions.

Back to enjoying the hobby!

Rob

 

[Currahee Chris]

If we don't buy another thing we still have our current collections.

Till he back bills us for the increased viewing pleasure costs associated with our current collections.

Welcome to the forum- this is par the course- someone will post a discussion about a vehicle or figure set and all's good, then around the 20-25th, Rob starts beating the drum for the new dispatches, then the new dispatches come out- some guys are thrilled, others not so much, then a day or two later price debates begin and charge on till something new happens. It's a vicious cycle I'm afraid, we're an irrascible bunch

 

[HAWKEYE]

As for my collecting i used to buy everything that came out over an 8 yr period but i have had to be more choosy because of room and now price. But i am still going to buy myself a jagdtiger or two. By the way gary you can pick up alot of those old baseball and football cards a lot cheaper now. They still have their magic

 

[IXEC]

Originally Posted by IXEC
K&C just shot themselves in the foot........

Really? I don't think this is the first time K&C is passing along expenses to consumers, and I doubt it will be the last.

Make that in the head.....

I'm selling my French Farm House & Gateway set...my Berlin Tenament Building....and Reich Chancellery Annex & Gateway sets this month....

Will be selling my Hurricane & Mustang....

I'll keep my Egyptian items....then I'm done with K&C, for good..

 

[Sahara]

I don't think anyone here is gonna tell Andy how to run his business. He does what he wants when he wants. That's the benefit of having your own business. Now I can decide if I like his business practices or if I want to continue to do business with him. Plain and simple alot of us can't afford these price increases. Result loss of customers.

 

[Rutledge]

If K&C didnt HAVE to raise prices no doubt they wouldnt.

Folks are always demanding greater detail and increased realism for their toy soldiers. Yet when it comes time to pay up for the higher quality they act amazed. Its like the guy at the restaurant who, stares at the bill in shock, wondering why, with a full stomach, he would ever have ordered so much food!

 

[Njja]

..........................................................................................

I don't really think people are trying to tell anyone how to run their business as much as they are expressing their views on current economic times.

An eariler post stated that few people had collections valued at 25K or more, another member spoke of his latest $400 purchase and the number of figures and vehicle he had received. I must submit that it is fairly easy over a 5 or 10 year period for even an average collector to accumlate just such a collection.

As prices increase coupled with difficult economic times many collectors will reflect on exactly how much they are spending......and on what!

This is why I have always advised on allowing your collection to help fund future purchases, after all how many things does one person really need to be satisfied? Speaking only of myself I fully accept the fact that the next package arriving will make little difference in my den (which currently has far to many items just sitting on the floor!

I fully accept those with little concern for the value of their collection. I prefer to find myself with $0 invested so while the value may go up or down with time, my personal investment is not affected.

Price increases are to be expected......labor costs overseas will only increase, as will shipping & warehouse space as foreign economic situations change.

How does the average collector cope with the situation? I supose with realistic goals. Many say they will limit their purchases, if you have a budget and stick to it the only thing that might change is the number of packages you receive.

Unless you are Donald Trump (or a builder) you are going to run out of room anyway sooner or later!

 

[Currahee Chris]

..........................................................................................

I don't really think people are trying to tell anyone how to run their business as much as they are expressing their views on current economic times.

An eariler post stated that few people had collections valued at 25K or more, another member spoke of his latest $400 purchase and the number of figures and vehicle he had received. I must submit that it is fairly easy over a 5 or 10 year period for even an average collector to accumlate just such a collection.

As prices increase coupled with difficult economic times many collectors will reflect on exactly how much they are spending......and on what!

This is why I have always advised on allowing your collection to help fund future purchases, after all how many things does one person really need to be satisfied? Speaking only of myself I fully accept the fact that the next package arriving will make little difference in my den (which currently has far to many items just sitting on the floor!

I fully accept those with little concern for the value of their collection. I prefer to find myself with $0 invested so while the value may go up or down with time, my personal investment is not affected.

Price increases are to be expected......labor costs overseas will only increase, as will shipping & warehouse space as foreign economic situations change.

How does the average collector cope with the situation? I supose with realistic goals. Many say they will limit their purchases, if you have a budget and stick to it the only thing that might change is the number of packages you receive.

Unless you are Donald Trump (or a builder) you are going to run out of room anyway sooner or later!

Best post yet on the thread.

The good news is that we as a forum are progressing- only took 105 posts till we started namecalling That's gotta be a record of some sort.

 

[Spitfrnd]

Best post yet on the thread.

The good news is that we as a forum are progressing- only took 105 posts till we started namecalling That's gotta be a record of some sort.

I am sure of it.

 

[Vezzolf]

No one is telling...."You"...What to do....Do what you please Terry. Makes no difference to me......I purchase a lot of K/C but to echo the majority of the sentiments on this thread...I will be purchasing "much less".....And I will be boycotting the price increases on older stock......and I"m sure so will many others.....Time to take a Stand...Most will

 

[Vezzolf]

Vezzolf I have to ask this with the greatest respect, I didn't think you purchased a lot of K&C anyway?. Apologies if I'm wrong
Rob

Rob, In answer to your question...(no appologies needed)...I do purchase a fair amount of K/C products regularly.....80% of my collection is in K/C....But I will be purchasing much less....especially in lieu of these announcements and the pressure of K/C on dealers who may try to offer some moderate occasional discounts or incentives to loyal customers

 

[ecuriel]

Originally Posted by IXEC
K&C just shot themselves in the foot........




Make that in the head.....

I'm selling my French Farm House & Gateway set...my Berlin Tenament Building....and Reich Chancellery Annex & Gateway sets this month....

Will be selling my Hurricane & Mustang....

I'll keep my Egyptian items....then I'm done with K&C, for good..

Will you be selling them at original retail?

 

[Vezzolf]

I guess those people who like to wait for the discounters to sell at lower prices are going to be disappointed. This ought to clear out some old inventory sitting on shelves. A 2 month long pre-Christmas sale.

I don't remember K&C doing this in the past. For those of you who have been enjoying telling Andy how to run his business, looks like he has listened and followed your advice. Too late now to let sleeping dogs lie.

Terry

Wow now we're all worried...I think K/C should be concerned...They will be losing many loyal customers

 

[Rob]

No one is telling...."You"...What to do....Do what you please Terry. Makes no difference to me......I purchase a lot of K/C but to echo the majority of the sentiments on this thread...I will be purchasing "much less".....And I will be boycotting the price increases on older stock......and I sure so will many others.....Time to take a Stand...Most will

Absolutely your choice Vezzolf, thats what freedom is about. Me I love the product too much and theres a whole raft of older stuff I want, starting with those Big Red 1 figures. As for the majority making a stand, I doubt it very much. Firstly this forum is a tiny minority of the customer base and secondly the majority of folk not on the forum who buy from shows or on the internet will either not know about the rise in price and just pay whats on the ticket or just not care(85% of K&C UK customers arn't even online).TS Collecting is very addictive,not many non TF customers will wish to miss out for the sake of 'making a stand' , because in the end they will miss that item they wanted and be the only losers.

Also,and I'm trying to be tactful here, some folk declaring they are boycotting K&C do appear to be the same guys that have historically stuck the knife in to K&C at every given opportunity, so their position is of no surprise.

Rob

 

[mikemiller1955]

I guess those people who like to wait for the discounters to sell at lower prices are going to be disappointed. This ought to clear out some old inventory sitting on shelves. A 2 month long pre-Christmas sale.

I don't remember K&C doing this in the past. For those of you who have been enjoying telling Andy how to run his business, looks like he has listened and followed your advice. Too late now to let sleeping dogs lie.

Terry

"A 2 month long pre-Christmas sale"...

where is this...did I miss something...

what's on sale....

these pieces have been there at these prices all the time...

that's the Christmas sale...

buy them at their original price before they go up...

that's the Christmas sale...

sounds like a bag of coal for Christmas...

 

[Vezzolf]

"A 2 month long pre-Christmas sale"...

where is this...did I miss something...

what's on sale....

these pieces have been there at these prices all the time...

that's the Christmas sale...

buy them at their original price before they go up...

that's the Christmas sale...

sounds like a bag of coal for Christmas...

Sounds like the kind of Christmas sale Scrooge would endorse

 

[PolarBear]

For me the aspect of the price increase that is most problematic is its retroactive nature. By this I mean that if a dealer has pre-2009 figures that don't sell before January 1st, they will then have to charge the new higher price (for example $35 for an item that was $21) for them during the coming months of 2011. IMHO these older items do not merit a markup since they were not part of a new run made at a higher cost. They should sell at their original price until gone and replaced by those from one of these new production runs.

 

[Vezzolf]

For me the aspect of the price increase that is most problematic is its retroactive nature. By this I mean that if a dealer has pre-2009 figures that don't sell before January 1st, they will then have to charge the new higher price (for example $35 for an item that was $21) for them during the coming months of 2011. IMHO these older items do not merit a markup since they were not part of a new run made at a higher cost. They should sell at their original price until gone and replaced by those from one of these new production runs.

Could not agree more...Well said....Much Applause to you

 

[Rob]

Rob, If I may say so.... trying to be tactful of course....the K/C Rah Rah boys need to wake up....K/C products are good but not the best value for the money anymore.... there is life after K/C...

Which underlines my point Vezzolf, if you feel that way, and taking into account your many criticisms of the company over the months, why on earth do you A) keep buying the product and B) keep coming to this area of the forum, surely you would have given up by now if there was a much wider choice elsewhere...oh wait there isn't is there, K&C offer the widest choice don't they.

Rob