Hi Guys,
If I may let me interrupt the ongoing debate with the following:
1. No one… K&C, dealers, collectors, manufacturers likes to raise prices. It can and does raise a “firestorm” of protest from all corners.
2. However, cost do rise and… after all adjustments and accommodations have been made a part of that “rise” has, alas, to be passed on to the consumer.
3. Companies that fail to do this through either fear of the negative reaction or timidity on their own part will, quite simply, go out of business.
4. All manufacturers producing in China have seen the growth in costs and prices in both labour and raw materials over the last 5 years. Many of us have “absorbed” these extra expenses and not passed them on to the end user.
However there comes a point when that is no longer possible… especially with older items.
5. Which brings me to production… As both Brett, Tony and others have clearly stated when K&C produce any item we do not, unless it is an SL piece, produce a finite number.
For most new figures we will only produce between 500-1000 pieces… Depending on popularity and subject matter that may last 3-6 months. After that we re order… and re order… and re order over a number of years. I wish the factory could always make that figure at the original price… but often they cannot because of their own rising costs.
K&C however have often kept that piece in their catalogue at the original list price until it is either “sold-out” or “retired”.
6. In the case of the older products that we have announced prices rises on that is why we have given dealers and collectors two month’s advance notice of the price rise to allow those that are still interested the opportunity to obtain the said items at the original list price while stocks last.
7. I would expect that most of the affected items will be retired in the near future to allow us to make room for new items.
8. At this moment K&C may be the “whipping boy” for raising prices however you can be sure as night follows day that our competitors will not be far behind… no matter what some may say.
9. Will these new prices force some collectors out? Sadly, of course it will that’s inevitable.
Will other collectors cut back and become more selective? Yes, and that may not be such a bad idea considering space and financial restrictions all of us have.
Will it damage K&C? Perhaps, in the short term but taking a longer perspective it will actually strengthen the company. None of us like the taste of strong medicine but it’s better to swallow it and get it down than spit it out and suffer the consequences.
10. Toy Soldier collecting has never been a cheap hobby but it’s still an exciting one that gives thousands of collectors around the world much enjoyment and great pleasure.
In order for the hobby and business to continue to grow and expand it requires companies that are innovative, productive, imaginative and… healthy and that takes… money.
If, as I am sure, there are forum members out there, who believe I’ve got it all wrong then as I have repeated on numerous occasions… Prove it! Take your own hard-earned savings and invest them in a little toy soldier company of your own… Put your own sign above the door and go for it… Show me, show the other collectors on this forum and show yourself how to do it better… cheaper… more reliably and 101 other things that go into making a successful, well-run company!
This forum is a wonderful, free asset to this hobby and business and allows collectors, dealers and manufacturers an opportunity to communicate directly with each other on a regular basis. I would like to thank Shannon, Pete and Treefrog for creating it and give us all our own personal “soap box”… Over and out!
Andy C.
