The End of Three Piece Sets (1 Viewer)

[Kevinthecollector]

I am kinda disappointed with how they have all but discontinued the three piece sets for many ranges. I miss getting the beautiful red boxes and taking each individual figure out of its foam resting place. In addition, three pieces are always great to get. The best part is that they are also much cheaper than getting three individual pieces

Kevin

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

I think the three piece set will be slowly phased out by all manufacturers. With figure prices rising monthly the sticker shock is less severe when you buy a single figure. So they think.

 

[AIDMAN]

I too think that slowly but surely we will see the end of 3 and 4 figure sets, Just maybe the 2 figure sets will hang on but in keeping with the financial situation we are now all facing a single figure in a clamshell...(YUK!!!)..looks like it is cheaper...But relitively costs more!!. Guess thats
how it has to be. But I sure prefer taking off the lid of a nice red box to see whats inside, than opening those Ugly, OK i can see what it is before i open it Clamshells....YUK!!.YUK!!.

Steve

 

[Currahee Chris]

Welcome aboard Kevin!!

I agree wholeheartedly with you. Funny how some of the little things are some of the biggest things you miss when they are gone.

 

[lancer]

Agree. Nothing like the thrill of opening that box for the first time to see your new TS. Clamshells suck. Almost need a hacksaw to get some of them open. -- Al

 

[thebritfarmer]

Agree. Nothing like the thrill of opening that box for the first time to see your new TS. Clamshells suck. Almost need a hacksaw to get some of them open. -- Al

From Britains? Never had that issue. Just flip it over and it is sealed with a sticky label. I just run a knife to break the seal and then the back pops open.

I actually prefer the clamshells. You can see the product before you buy and is easy to open and remove the figure. Also easy to put back if the need arises. Brilliant move on Britains part IMO. The boxes are nice but lets face it most aren't displaying the box, it just gets stored with the rest of them.

I also like being able to buy 1 figure at a time as it does help with the budget and also invariably in a pack of 3 you get a figure you either a)don't like or b) want more of and the only way to do this is buy more sets of three which is more expense and more figures that you may not want.

 

[marco55]

Some very good points Scott.
Mark

 

[Kevinthecollector]

I understand where you are going, thebritfarmer, but for me as a younger collector the three piece sets are better because they are cheaper in the long run and I would get soldiers that I wouldn't think I would like but then that piece may be perfect for a new diorama. I do agree with your second point that it's annoying when you get one soldier that you really like in a three piece set and want the same model. They should make all soldiers available in three piece sets for singles, too. As everyone was saying clamshells are annoying as they are also hard to store. As you said Chris, the little things become the big things

Kevin

 

[rebelrat]

I think the three piece set will be slowly phased out by all manufacturers. With figure prices rising monthly the sticker shock is less severe when you buy a single figure. So they think.

Hit it on the nail. I have been collecting the ACW range since the late 90s and the current cost of a single
infantry figure is equal to the cost of a mounted figure around 2000. Prices have almost doubled - in case of mounted pieces even more. But the figures themselves are so much better sculpted nowadays. I agree that the clamshell packing does not compare to the once blue/now red boxes that they once all came from.
The hobby itself seems to be growing as evidenced by the enormous offerings by the various manufacturers - could it be that the clamshell sets are typically the only sets not produced with max production numbers? Definitely a cost thing.

 

[Winston]

The hobby itself seems to be growing as evidenced by the enormous offerings by the various manufacturers

Or has the variety of offerings reached saturation point, in terms of the available spend on the hobby.

Whilst there are many fanatical collectors. There's also the collectors on the fringe who don't feel the urge to purchase every set released in a given manufacturers range.