Pricing, where's your limit?? (2 Viewers)

[uksubs]

It all and well saying KC item have improved in detail but where the proof ? Let see some photos to back it up ? To me some of KC early figures are the best , as for there armour still the same good standard as before , planes same price less a pilot now but not a bad thing to keep price down

 

[Spanish soldier]

I ask a question:
Is it better for manufacturers to increase prices and have fewer customers and lower prices and have more customers?^&confuse

Francisco

 

[uksubs]

I ask a question:
Is it better for manufacturers to increase prices and have fewer customers and lower prices and have more customers?^&confuse

Francisco

Depend on the profit margin :wink2

 

[Mitch]

Brad...

How do you really know what is going on?? You are assuming you know something that you do not so, with the greatest of respect please don't try and say that I know or, you seem to believe you know there is more to this than meets the eye.

Plain and simple I think a price discussion is slanted and unfair if we isolate one manufacturer and make out they are the only one that face this issue when we clearly can see that not to be the case. Now, I would like to discuss the issues raised regarding price and not all of this other guff!!

As for how many times we have discussions about price well, as many as members wish same as scale, detail and all the rest. Its what the forum is all about so, if there is a price, scale detail discussion everyday then that's fine with me. The proverbial warts and all I am interested in everything toy soldiers
Mitch

Mitch,

Please. You know there are other issues going on here, plus Sammy did collect K & C and still has an interest in them.

Moreover, how many times can we or do we need a discussion about prices, which, in any event, seems to have strayed from Sammy's original question.

However, I'm sure you'll argue otherwise, as is your want.

Brad

 

[Mitch]

Francisco...

You would think that would be the best option.
Mitch

I ask a question:
Is it better for manufacturers to increase prices and have fewer customers and lower prices and have more customers?^&confuse

Francisco

 

[swalterh]

But if it is really eye appealing and turns up on your own personal want list doesn't that burden of paying a few extra dollars fall off by the wayside if it is something that "YOU" really like ?

I have to agree 100% with this.

At the end of the day it's the appeal of the item to the individual consumer that ultimately determines the value.

 

[swalterh]

Swalterh...

I think you will find that FL also have bold black lines on a number of their figures so, if we are to go down the line of discussing the merits and demerits in terms of painting then I am all for it. All manufacturers do some good work and some poor work and FL is not immune to this

Mitch

Mitch

Agreed on the black lining. FL in all liklihood "imitated" K&C on this. I'm more referring to their shading. The FL figures do have more "depth" then the K&C figures. Again, not trying to put down K&C, Andy and his people do some great work. I'm just trying to provoke an informed discussion. In general, I wish we could keep a little bit better of a handle on the more personally motivated topics though.

Personally I collect figures from many of the companies being discussed, so I really don't have a dog in the fight (per say). IMO they all have there own special appeal and that is what makes this hobby so enjoyable.



Shane

 

[Spanish soldier]

Do these prices favors the increase of new collectors?
In the future, only a minority of wealthy collectors

Francisco

 

[Panzer ace]

I think the re-phrased question should be, do you have a price limit when it comes to K&C items? The answer for me personally is no, I like their products and that is why I purchase them. I like their quality, their innovation and the fact that they have regular and timely releases. As a comparison, I do not buy Collector’s Showcase because I do not feel that their products are worth the price they charge (despite the fact that their prices are cheaper than K&C’s). It is pretty black and white for me.

 

[Spanish soldier]

I also like their products, but prices go up every month and I have the money, I would be in an offside position:redface2:


Francisco

 

[Jack]

I have never been in business so my understanding of these things is simplistic but am I right in seeing an undercurrent that is more than a basic 'It is too dear for me'? Are people saying it is an 'unnaturally' high price that could and should be lowered? I have no idea what the profit margin for K&C is in a 45 dollar figure but for argument sake (maths is not one of my skills) let's say it is ten dollars. Even if K&C halved their profit margin - and what businessman in their right mind would do that - that would reduce the cost of the figure to 40 dollars. Is that an unacceptable price? I would like cheaper figues at the same quality but isn't that, by definition, impossible?

 

[Phantom Warrior]

I have never been in business so my understanding of these things is simplistic but am I right in seeing an undercurrent that is more than a basic 'It is too dear for me'? Are people saying it is an 'unnaturally' high price that could and should be lowered? I have no idea what the profit margin for K&C is in a 45 dollar figure but for argument sake (maths is not one of my skills) let's say it is ten dollars. Even if K&C halved their profit margin - and what businessman in their right mind would do that - that would reduce the cost of the figure to 40 dollars. Is that an unacceptable price? I would like cheaper figues at the same quality but isn't that, by definition, impossible?

In fact, probably no one knows. Each of the main producers seems to operate under very different business models and provides different quality and different production volumes at different prices. While there is quite a bit of overlap, each seems to appeal to one or two market segments and price is one of the important market factors.

Terry

 

[Warlord 1]

In fact, probably no one knows. Each of the main producers seems to operate under very different business models and provides different quality and different production volumes at different prices. While there is quite a bit of overlap, each seems to appeal to one or two market segments and price is one of the important market factors.

Terry

I wonder how long it takes to make a figure or vehicle (I know there are numerous other costs involved). It was just reported on CNN that the average hourly wage in China is $1.35 an hour. The President is hopeing to raise the minimum wage here in The U.S. to $9.00 an hour.

 

[sammy719]

Let me add my tuppence worth here about this thread, as I have stated I DO collect K&C, though in small Civil War numbers, (for my sons collection) mine to and have always enjoyed K&C products for the most part, never have started a thread about K&C wth a hidden agenda or some conspiracy b.s., I chose the K&C section for this thread as most of the metal collectors on this forum collect some type of K&C, or have in the past and also noticed there seems to be more collectors selling K&C items in the classified section more these days, so it was a simple question, no witch hunt, no smoking gun, anyone that knows me on either forum knows that I truly appreciate all the metal manufacturers and what they bring to the industry and have stated this many a time, and again I did asked any mods to move this thread if they felt the need to, still here...sorry to Andy or K&C if they feel I was singleing them out as was not the case, just a question that I was curious about...Sammy

 

[waynepoo]

I wonder how long it takes to make a figure or vehicle (I know there are numerous other costs involved). It was just reported on CNN that the average hourly wage in China is $1.35 an hour. The President is hopeing to raise the minimum wage here in The U.S. to $9.00 an hour.

OK, if TS were manufactured here in OZ where our minimum wage is $15.96 AUS per hour what would their price be then? In the U.S which is yet to reach $9.00 U.S per hour? And the poor old chinaman gets $1.35 per hour! Would any of us in the west work for $1.35 an hour? We of course would like to pay less for everything but also want to be paid more for our labour, I guess we can't have our cake and eat it as well.
Wayne.

 

[marco55]

Wow! $15.96 per hour.What would that convert to in US dollars?
mark

 

[Jack]

OK, if TS were manufactured here in OZ where our minimum wage is $15.96 AUS per hour what would their price be then? In the U.S which is yet to reach $9.00 U.S per hour? And the poor old chinaman gets $1.35 per hour! Would any of us in the west work for $1.35 an hour? We of course would like to pay less for everything but also want to be paid more for our labour, I guess we can't have our cake and eat it as well.
Wayne.

If anyone is interested this is the address for the Australian High Commission in London and the Australian Embassy in Washington

http://www.uk.embassy.gov.au/lhlh/Visas_and_Migration.html

http://www.usa.embassy.gov.au/whwh/home.html

By the way Wayne we do not say 'chinaman' anymore. It went out with 'cobber'! (Please take note Howard!)

 

[marco55]

There are a lot of toy soldiers on ebay from ALL manufacturers.
Mark

 

[Jack]

Wow! $15.96 per hour.What would that convert to in US dollars?
mark

$16.52 per hour but you have to put up with 22 million people calling each other 'mate'.

 

[TomNT]

$16.52 per hour but you have to put up with 22 million people calling each other 'mate'.

Yes I know mate, it is hard! :wink2:{sm4}

Tom