Production cutbacks (4 Viewers)

[Simpson & his donkey.]

I agree , have enjoyed this thread and the calm way it's been discussed . I think the decision is a common sense one and while it may mean a few things slip by that I'd like to have got, in the long term it secures the continued monthly release of new items to choose from. I also think that as so many items are being retired that some of them are bound to be around for a while , others of course may not. Times are tough out there and any policy that streamlines your business etc has to be a good thing.

Rob

Yes I have already been very selective in my collecting. But I think K&C has raised the bar and are producing far more interesting releases .This will encourage people like me to get back involved into spending alittle more then they would of. The master of toy soldier making is changing his creative way to meet this challenge. You have to give him credit for that. Simmo.{sm2}

 

[Mitch]

I have read this with interest. I am interested in why credit is being given to a statement which, at its crux is a negative??? Production is being reduced for one reason and that must be because of lower sales. You don't cut back if you can sell more sets is that not obvious??

K&C are taking this action to keep profit coming in at a decent level (whatever that may be for them) . I could understand the praise if the sales were lower and they announced lower prices or similar but all they are saying is production is to be reduced. I just cannot see what there is to praise any company who does this.

Nothing innovative here or really very interesting or important IMO it would have been if they were say, retiring a couple of ranges now that would be a talking point but, this for me is rather uninteresting and, shows the market for whatever reason is rather poor at the moment. Thats the interesting point what is being done to attract collectors to buy more who are already in the grip of the hobby and, intice new collectors
Mitch

 

[Vezzolf]

Production cutbacks are quite likely reflective of reduced K/C sales and increased competition from other toy soldier manufacturers.....Much higher K/C prices and dealer discount policies have also not helped to move product off the shelves....However if this is indeed a marketing ploy to effect "panic purchases" or "perceived value"....Forget it....I think most collectors are going to make intelligent choices and not rush to spend hard earned cash indiscriminately simply because of production cutbacks.... Time will tell

 

[Phantom Warrior]

I could understand the praise if the sales were lower and they announced lower prices or similar but all they are saying is production is to be reduced. I just cannot see what there is to praise any company who does this.

Mitch

At least K&C recognized market conditions unlike other companies in other collectable categories like baseball cards, Dragon 1:72 armour, etc. and kept pumping out high volumes of product and gimmicky rare special cards until collectors got tired of it and the market collapsed.

Terry

 

[Currahee Chris]

At least K&C recognized market conditions unlike other companies in other collectable categories like baseball cards, Dragon 1:72 armour, etc. and kept pumping out high volumes of product and gimmicky rare special cards until collectors got tired of it and the market collapsed.

Terry

Agreed.

Just curious but why doesn't this announcement show up on the actual KC website for the dispatches? Something didn't get prematurely leaked here did it?? ^&confuse

Regarding the "panic" purchase notion,

- if you collect WW2, aren't there several other quality manufacturers out there doing the same thing? Correct me if I am wrong here but isn't WW2 the most prevalent range out there today?

- if you collect Naps- same thing

- if you collect ACW,WW1 or AWI- Same thing

I guess the "panic" purchase could affect people like myself who are strictly buying the Egyptian range for the time being. Panic purchases would seem to affect those of us who are into the lesser known ranges like AE, Light Horse or LoJ per se. I dropped off the KC WW2 radar awhile ago as I got tired of the retirements and the range simply got tooooo big for me to handle. There just isn't anything in the KC catalog that is that amazing that I gotta have it or die.

 

[lancer]

I'm curious about the whole situation for we collectors. Does anyone except me believe that the constant, high number, of monthly releases is putting too much pressure on both the collector and the manufacturer? Sure, it's fun to anticipate what might be done every thirty days, but it can turn out to be a bit of a drag in terms of finance and the worry about not being able to afford Item A because Item B might be coming out next month? I, for one, would be a lot happier with a reduced rate of product release, say every other month or every third month. Sure would be a lot easier to keep up, catch up, or even save for a special release. Certainly would reduce the pressure on the manufacturer as well. With all the buyers and all the different lines available, I don't see how there would be a sales slump. There is always catching up to do. -- Al

 

[sammy719]

I'm curious about the whole situation for we collectors. Does anyone except me believe that the constant, high number, of monthly releases is putting too much pressure on both the collector and the manufacturer? Sure, it's fun to anticipate what might be done every thirty days, but it can turn out to be a bit of a drag in terms of finance and the worry about not being able to afford Item A because Item B might be coming out next month? I, for one, would be a lot happier with a reduced rate of product release, say every other month or every third month. Sure would be a lot easier to keep up, catch up, or even save for a special release. Certainly would reduce the pressure on the manufacturer as well. With all the buyers and all the different lines available, I don't see how there would be a sales slump. There is always catching up to do. -- Al

No K&C bashing here, but I only collect First Legion WWII and besides the quality of that line, one of the best things is there is only a few releases every month or so of WWII, some people will say that's terrible, but it allows me to collect the line without bankrupting me as well, and that was also a reason for me to leave K&C as much as I liked K&C could not keep up with releases as well as retired stuff, so hope this doesn't chase people away from K&C, I like having all the manufacturers doing good, they do good, we do good...Sammy

 

[nmrocks]

No K&C bashing here, but I only collect First Legion WWII and besides the quality of that line, one of the best things is there is only a few releases every month or so of WWII, some people will say that's terrible, but it allows me to collect the line without bankrupting me as well, and that was also a reason for me to leave K&C as much as I liked K&C could not keep up with releases as well as retired stuff, so hope this doesn't chase people away from K&C, I like having all the manufacturers doing good, they do good, we do good...Sammy

WOW!?!?! too many choices is a problem??? Am I still in America? you really get stressed cause you can't have all the toys you want? What a world, not 100 years ago people had to work 10 to 14 hrs. a day just to feed themselves (in many places in the world they still do) and we're stressed by too many toys?
Bottom line: CHOICES ARE GOOD! and only those with "control issues" will tell you otherwise


PS Sammy, glad the slower release allows your budget "Affordable" $450 artillery and $350 armor and $60 per figure fit your budget

 

[sammy719]

WOW!?!?! too many choices is a problem??? Am I still in America? you really get stressed cause you can't have all the toys you want? What a world, not 100 years ago people had to work 10 to 14 hrs. a day just to feed themselves (in many places in the world they still do) and we're stressed by too many toys?
Bottom line: CHOICES ARE GOOD! and only those with "control issues" will tell you otherwise


PS Sammy, glad the slower release allows your budget "Affordable" $450 artillery and $350 armor and $60 per figure fit your budget

Not gonna get into a argument with you Nmrocks, you buy what you like I'll buy what I like is the ol 'saying there buddy, no where in my post did you read choices are a bad thing, and yea the price of First Legion is higher, but since I only purchase about every other month works for me, lightnen up dude, only soldiers...Sammy

 

[Rob]

Thing is I think we may all be reading a little too much into all this. As Jules said earlier, the sky is not falling in.All thats happening is that more things are being retired that are available now than normally would have been and the new releases will not be around as long as they once were. But lets be honest here, how many of us were able to buy absolutely everything anyway, surely over the years we've all had to let many items go by havn't we?.Unless you've won the lottery or are a banker most of us can't have it all.

One thing will not change,K&C are still the only company that can give us WW2 collectors quality releases from most of the major theatres of the War. I want to continue collecting items from all the different ranges, who else can give us that??. As a WW2 collector and student I have interest in all major theatres of that War and as a result want representations of the troops and vehicles involved on those fronts, one or two theatres won't do for me. And take a look at someone like Britains, they may be famous and big sellers but the figures/faces don't have the realism I want (sorry, no offence meant but its the truth).

We will just adjust our habits slightly is all, its no big deal to me , I'll have to be more choosy but I'll still be collecting the only company that really does it for this particular collector. :smile2:

Rob

 

[sammy719]

Thing is I think we may all be reading a little too much into all this. As Jules said earlier, the sky is not falling in.All thats happening is that more things are being retired that are available now than normally would have been and the new releases will not be around as long as they once were. But lets be honest here, how many of us were able to buy absolutely everything anyway, surely over the years we've all had to let many items go by havn't we?.Unless you've won the lottery or are a banker most of us can't have it all.

One thing will not change,K&C are still the only company that can give us WW2 collectors quality releases from most of the major theatres of the War. I want to continue collecting items from all the different ranges, who else can give us that??. As a WW2 collector and student I have interest in all major theatres of that War and as a result want representations of the troops and vehicles involved on those fronts, one or two theatres won't do for me. And take a look at someone like Britains, they may be famous and big sellers but the figures/faces don't have the realism I want (sorry, no offence meant but its the truth).

We will just adjust our habits slightly is all, its no big deal to me , I'll have to be more choosy but I'll still be collecting the only company that really does it for this particular collector. :smile2:

Rob

Rob, your always a man of common sense, and a easiness to your tone, you should be a moderator!...Sammy

 

[Rob]

Rob, your always a man of common sense, and a easiness to your tone, you should be a moderator!...Sammy

Thank you Sammy,I'm afraid they don't want me:redface2:

Rob

 

[sammy719]

Thank you Sammy,I'm afraid they don't want me:redface2:

Rob

Maybe we'll start a thread Rob for Mod!!!!

 

[Rob]

Maybe we'll start a thread Rob for Mod!!!!

You're very kind mate, I don't think they think I'm mod material, I've had a couple of run ins in the past and maybe spoilt my copy book.:rolleyes2:

Rob

 

[Mitch]

Terry...

I would hope they would know the market conditions but, again, why the praise?? they should know them its their field. I would say this about any manufacturer who had made a similar statement its not praise worthy and its not open to abuse. Things are tough and they are going to reduce production and amounts of sets to sustain their profit thats all fair enough.

I agree with Rob to a point about it being unimportant to a point but, I can see exactly where Al and others are coming from as he is exactly the type of collector who gets hit with these announcements. Using him as an example he has funds to spend and likes K&C the price increases etc have limited the budget but, he will still buy what he can from K&C now, from what I can see his concerns are very valid as not only is he hit by rising costs now, less time to get the sets that may come out. And, he is not alone there are many who discuss this on here and elsewhere. This is a legitimate concern and should be for all of us.

I would also think that this is the place to discuss these issues without it always being seen as an attack on K&C as its clearly not
Mitch

At least K&C recognized market conditions unlike other companies in other collectable categories like baseball cards, Dragon 1:72 armour, etc. and kept pumping out high volumes of product and gimmicky rare special cards until collectors got tired of it and the market collapsed.

Terry

 

[sammy719]

Terry...

I would hope they would know the market conditions but, again, why the praise?? they should know them its their field. I would say this about any manufacturer who had made a similar statement its not praise worthy and its not open to abuse. Things are tough and they are going to reduce production and amounts of sets to sustain their profit thats all fair enough.

I agree with Rob to a point about it being unimportant to a point but, I can see exactly where Al and others are coming from as he is exactly the type of collector who gets hit with these announcements. Using him as an example he has funds to spend and likes K&C the price increases etc have limited the budget but, he will still buy what he can from K&C now, from what I can see his concerns are very valid as not only is he hit by rising costs now, less time to get the sets that may come out. And, he is not alone there are many who discuss this on here and elsewhere. This is a legitimate concern and should be for all of us.

I would also think that this is the place to discuss these issues without it always being seen as an attack on K&C as its clearly not
Mitch

Agree with you about the attack thing, I post one time about my K&C past and some dude wants to blow it up into something it isn't, gimme a break...Sammy

 

[Currahee Chris]

This is a legitimate concern and should be for all of us.

Trust me when I say this, this "announcement" - official or otherwise, is a non event for me. (So why do I keep discussing it then?? Good question {sm3}{sm4})

The elasticity of my KC defense budget gave out a couple years ago and sort of forced me out of the game- with the exception of the Egyptians. I believe this thing has happened to a lot of people. I have accepted it as a fact of my collecting life and am moving on with it. If and when scantilly clad topless dancing girls cost more than a Tiger, I may have to bag the Egyptians as well!! :tongue:

@NMRocks- Ray, I do respect you very much as I appreciate your candor on your posts. I know you aren't a johnny come lately to KC like a lot of guys are. I know we can recall the days when KC dispatches were quarterly and retirements were very slow. I know, things have changed but KC took pride in itself as a company as being able to produce toy soldiers for collectors on a workingman's budget. I'm not so sure they are still shooting for that same demographic these days. And yes, while there is some sticker shock with other companies products, the rate of releases make is realistically possible to assimilate a sizeable collection while spending less money over the course of time- simple fact is, higher prices but less selection or depth does appeal to a growing number of collectors. As does lower priced, wide open selection. Collector's can make their choices.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

I made no attack on anyone. All I said was K&C be commended for recognizing the changes in the market and taking action in their best interests and the best interests of the collectors. Rather than resort to gimmicks and coercion to spur demand and likely alienate collectors, they cut production. In the past, manufacturers in other collectables markets went the other way (Beenie babies, baseball cards), alienated collectors and brought about a total collapse of their market.

Terry

 

[lancer]

I made no attack on anyone. All I said was K&C be commended for recognizing the changes in the market and taking action in their best interests and the best interests of the collectors. Rather than resort to gimmicks and coercion to spur demand and likely alienate collectors, they cut production. In the past, manufacturers in other collectables markets went the other way (Beenie babies, baseball cards), alienated collectors and brought about a total collapse of their market.

Terry

A point well taken, Terry. There is a danger, though, with decreased production, ie., increased scarcity. That danger comes from the speculators that ruined both the baseball card and beenie baby hobbies. Kind of a "****ed if you do, ****ed if you don't" situation. Flood or restrict the market? A risky balance. We'll see what happens. -- Al

 

[Currahee Chris]

You can always go the opposite end of the spectrum- like St. Pete- high pricing and low production runs- not a lot of "speculation" going on there.