Price rises - Not only Toy soldier we have seen increases, i was surprised how much some have gone up in price, some JJ figures i bought recently were £53 and when i bought the first in the range they were £40 and that was not that long ago. I do not lay the blame on the TS manufacturers, the rises are due to circumstances beyond their control. manufacturing costs [with COVID there is a pressure on the workforce] and transport costs have gone through the roof, there is only so much they can absort. They have to make a living, for us a hobby, for them their livelihood, they are businesses with staff and commitments, sometimes i do not think we realise the time, effort and expense of getting a figure, vehicle or plane from concept to market costs.
Plus I see a lot of China has gone into lockdown, so new releases might be hit or at least stalled. Without the new releases on a regular basis it will be hard for some maufacturers and dealers to carry on. Therefore if the releases are not forthcoming i think firstly, we must be understanding and secondly, use that TS budget to get those older bits and pieces you missed out on, i am, picking up the gaps in my collection. As without sales who know just how many choices will be left for us to buy from!
Back to the tanks, i do feel that the TGM tanks and vehicles are comparably competitively priced. Saw the FL King Tiger II at the London show and the price, it was more than i paid for my first car.
Another thing that occured to me - i am seeing fewer WW2 tanks and vehicle releases, JJ only 1 can remember and K & C in the last 12 months have released 1 WW2 tank [Sherman Firefly re-release], 2 LCs [re-releases], a Japanese Truck and a German truck.. There has been some post war tanks from K & C. I AM NOT having a go at either manufacturer, just highlighting what i think. The ranges they have concentrated on in the last 12 months do not lend themselves to armour, love the JJ Saxons but the Fyrd did not have access to armoured support and the Cowboys in American west did not round up steers in a halftrack.
