Production cutbacks (1 Viewer)

L

lancer

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I've waited all day to see what the reaction to KC's announced production cutbacks would be. So far, nothing. Did anyone read the statement KC released with the Dispatches? I think there is going to be a monthly feeding frenzy on a regular basis, what with the new, lower production numbers. There won't be any waiting on the items you want anymore, because there won't be large numbers sitting to be bought a year down the road. Does the cutback mean everything will now be a limited edition even if not labeled as such? Sounds like it to me. This development is going to cause even more hard decisions by the collector. Buy it now or risk missing out. The way the statement sounds to me, everything across the board that KC makes will be drastically reduced in total numbers made. Feeding frenzy. -- Al
 
Al
Where is this K&C statement? I did not see it.

Thanks
Andy
 
Thanks Al. I guess that means this all gets more interesting. I may decide to take a break from this for awhile and maybe focus on FL or just TG.
 
To be honest, Lower production numbers and lower quantities is much better than too much product out there causing collectors to lose interest. Again this is just "MY" opinion. The up side to all of this if true is all popular releases will increase in their value faster over time. Once each piece made is sold out, retired, and sought after, new collectors will be hungry to acquire these releases just as they do now. ^&cool
 
PanzerAce1944 said:
To be honest, Lower production numbers and lower quantities is much better than too much product out there causing collectors to lose interest. Again this is just "MY" opinion. The up side to all of this if true is all popular releases will increase in their value faster over time. Once each piece made is sold out, retired, and sought after, new collectors will be hungry to acquire these releases just as they do now. ^&cool
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I do not agree with this statement. You can not make less of a new product and say its 'rare'. These same tactics killed baseball cards. An item is rare because in most cases it increases over time like the older K&C pieces. I believe that this strategy may just upset people especially new collectors who may wonder why something made recently is now being retired. I know I was upset when I saw that the wall section was being retired. It seems that was just released.
 
What killed baseball cards was too many different companies making too much product. Look at all the product lines K&C makes now versus 10 years ago.There has got to be 6 times more total volume today than back then. Again only in "MY" own personal opinion. If production numbers are reduced, then yes we all will have to pick and choose our favorites first. Only time will tell.
 
It must be an April fools day joke ! I never again want to include card board photos
and finely made military miniatures in the same breath !!!! :wink2:
 
PanzerAce1944 said:
It must be an April fools day joke ! I never again want to include card board photos
and finely made military miniatures in the same breath !!!! :wink2:
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That's right. If I had a couple of mint Mickey Mantle rookie cards to sell, I could buy every toy soldier in current production (or close to it).^&grin -- Al
 
Something had to give. The old high volume production model just doesn't work anymore. Name another mainstream TS company who's production run is in the thousands and not just in the hundreds. I can't think of anyone. Economic conditions like availability of skilled labour were bound to have the greatest effect on the largest company with the largest volume of production.

Andy didn't say production would be only 100 - 200 units so I doubt many items will disappear in a short time. But it may explain the retirement of popular items that have been out only a short time.

Terry
 
Phantom Warrior said:
Something had to give. The old high volume production model just doesn't work anymore. Name another mainstream TS company who's production run is in the thousands and not just in the hundreds. I can't think of anyone. Economic conditions like availability of skilled labour were bound to have the greatest effect on the largest company with the largest volume of production.

Andy didn't say production would be only 100 - 200 units so I doubt many items will disappear in a short time. But it may explain the retirement of popular items that have been out only a short time.

Terry
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This would seem to be what will become the norm. I would think that production is going to be dropped to the middle hundreds, at best, if the statement about the Sherman tanks is to be taken at face value. Not exactly limited, but not open ended either. Items just won't be around any where near as long. -- Al
 
I don't get it. The only real reason a company would chose to reduce production is because they simply can't sell fast enough of their inventory. Indeed, having products sitting on shelves for 2 or 3 years is not good for anyone. I hope kc is not reducing production because of a reduction in sales..

Alex
 
Here's how I see it.

Say K&C has a production capacity of X figures a month. They have to make a decision. Do they make a large production run on a few items that will be warehoused over a longer period, or do they make smaller runs of more products which will sell more quickly? It appears that they are choosing to make more sets in lower quantity rather than fewer sets in greater quantity.

With the enormous variety that K&C produces these days, I can see why they opted for more variety!
 
leeyn said:
Name of the second TS mainstream society has led the production is in the thousands, not only in the hundreds. I can not think of everything ..
........
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What ^&confuse^&confuse
Mark
 
I think it will just have to make me concentrate on what i really like and be more disciplined i know it would be great to buy everything you like but for me,money wise no chance.I'm just worried that people will start buying up in bulk and flog it on ebay but you can still find 250 items for sale months later so i'm not panicking what will be will be no mater what i say so like everything just make do and get on with it,i would rather this option rather the whole hobby disappears or only gets in reach of those with heaps of money and the average punter can't afford it,no need to panic i reckon and have fun.
 
Not only are they going to have cutbacks K & C seems to raise there prices almost every month .
 
Peter Reuss said:
Here's how I see it.

Say K&C has a production capacity of X figures a month. They have to make a decision. Do they make a large production run on a few items that will be warehoused over a longer period, or do they make smaller runs of more products which will sell more quickly? It appears that they are choosing to make more sets in lower quantity rather than fewer sets in greater quantity.

With the enormous variety that K&C produces these days, I can see why they opted for more variety!
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Warehousing can be a tremendous carrying cost for any manufacturer in any industry, not to mention that you need to move inventory as quickly as possible, which can be a problem with consumers always wanting the newest thing. Thus, if
things aren't moving as quickly as you'd like, lower your production numbers. I think manufacturers are probably trying to find the right balance between forecasts and expected demand. If your forecast exceeds demand, you've got a huge problem.
 
Andy's post did also state that they are still looking for more factories further afield but in the meantime these measures are needed, so perhaps it could be a short-medium term situation?.

One things for sure, it sure does make you consider which items you really want most of all.I've already got my list and will be picking those off as and when. It would appear that in this first wave of retirements that WW2/LAH took the biggest hit, I wonder if for instance Naps may take a big hit next time?.

Rob
 
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