This certainly does appear to be a surprisingly controversial topic, which I frankly consider to be more in the category of a group commiseration. I doubt there is anyone here who would not prefer that any of their favorite products were priced lower. I also doubt that anyone here is completely insensitive to price. In simple economic terms, for a consumer the maximum price they will pay for a product is simply determined by their price elasticity of demand for that product. So to that extent, the answer to the thread question is at the point where the supply curve for your product crosses the demand curve. At a price above that point, there will be no purchase, below, there will. So I suppose the real question asked is what is each collector's price elasticity of demand for their painted metal figures and vehicles etc. I suppose that may be interesting to some but in the end the only meaningful answers are those collected by the market. That is, if a given product's prices reach the point at which they cause a reduction in sales, then prices will either stabilize at that point or sales will be reduced. If that point is above cost, the product will likely continue to be produced, if not it will not.
So while I certainly would enjoy paying less for the figures I fancy, talking about it doesn't seem terribly productive to me. I can only say that as price increases I will buy less and at some point I will buy none.
Now how this discussion lapsed into some apparent debate about which figures are the best is somewhat beyond me. The perceived relative difference in quality among figures is certainly a factor in defining the price elasticity for that set of figures or whether you are willing to pay more for what you perceive you are getting in return. It should be obvious by now that perceptions of quality differ, as do price elasticity’s of demand. So if you happen to be someone who perceives that the price difference between two completing products is not worth the quality difference, obviously you would chose the lower price product. If not, the reverse is true. Why that should bother anyone is rather baffling.
Having said all that I was particulary confused in reading the following post, to which I offer a few simple observations in reply.
.....The subject is not about quality, sculpting, painting, design, etc. but about price.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! These I will admit do have some bearing on the price. But there are many other things to be taken into account. Having studied Cost Accounting in my younger days and having been in retail for some 35 years I feel I have a fair grip on the subject.
Fascinating. I am not sure what you mean by some bearing but quality generally affects costs unless you are able to find a cost dislocation event (a circmstance where the cost of the quality is priced below its actual cost, which is a short term situation usually.) So I would simply say, quality costs more to produce and for those who perceive a value in it, quality justifies a higher demand.
Can I see the difference between a $32 Britains figure and a $39 JJD and a $45 K&C figure. Yes I can.
Can I see the difference between a $45 KC figure and a $65 FL figure. No I cannot. .....
Well if that is true, you are very fortunate. Many would say the same about the difference between various lower and higher priced products and for the sake of economy, those who truly cannot see the differences certainly have a financial advantage over those who can. Unfortunately, I am not blessed in that way. More's the pity I suppose.
I would also note that there are some that would find that the differences you cite between some of the figures are actually reversed for them. That is some may find a greater quality in some JJD figures over some KC figures, etc. To me, unless we are debating absolute qualities of specific figures, akin to judging figures at an exhibition, this is a fruitless exercise. Individual preferences and biases based on previous purchase decisions are just too prevalent to make that anything more than a recipe for a meaningless exchange. Nonetheless, this thread certainly has produced a variety of fascinating divergencies, a bit of the old sound and fury I think.
