Where the hobby going ? (1 Viewer)

It is a hobby and a luxury. If you want to play, you have to pay. It's all relative. Back when all planes had only propellers when I was a kid, my first five piece Britains set cost $1.95 and I was mowing lawns for $2.00. Look what it costs for yard work now versus the cost of a set.
 
It's hard to say what will happen to this hobby in the future... I do think that the manufacturers may have to seek lower cost facilities to produce their product in order to keep this hobby affordable to reach the greatest number of collectors as possible. With recent talk of Chinese currency revaluation, China may no longer be the place to manufacture these collectibles. The manufacturers that produce the finest product at the lowest cost to the collector will continue to thrive. The rest may find themselves squeezed out of the business altogether... :eek:
No question cost control will remain a challenge since these are pretty labor intensive products. Automation, if possible, would certainly make a difference if you could justify the volumes. In any event, I think you will continue to see a range of quality and price, just as in most products, even luxuries like these.;)

Sorry Peter, I must confess I took a few beyond 101 but it was not the major for my tastes either.:eek::D
 
The manufacturers should be smart enough not to set the prices of their current products above a certain level such that only a select few can afford to buy.

They would be wise to offer their new products so that the majority of collectors can comfortably afford to acquire a good range.

It all comes down to the supply and demand model.

Raymond.:)
 
I think before people were happy to pay the money as they thought long term they were a investment but going by ebay this maybe not the case
 
It's hard to say what will happen to this hobby in the future... I do think that the manufacturers may have to seek lower cost facilities to produce their product in order to keep this hobby affordable to reach the greatest number of collectors as possible. With recent talk of Chinese currency revaluation, China may no longer be the place to manufacture these collectibles. The manufacturers that produce the finest product at the lowest cost to the collector will continue to thrive. The rest may find themselves squeezed out of the business altogether... :eek:

I am not so sure about the highest price items being pushed out of the market. FL at the moment looks likt getting the attention of many collectors that are willing to pay more for better items. Also if a production run doesn't run into the thousands and cottage manufacturing is employed, etc., I am sure there will remain a market niche for the more expensive and exclusive items, for those that can afford them:eek:. It happens with cars and houses, so why not with toy soldiers? Just IMHO...


Paulo
 
I am not so sure about the highest price items being pushed out of the market. FL at the moment looks likt getting the attention of many collectors that are willing to pay more for better items. Also if a production run doesn't run into the thousands and cottage manufacturing is employed, etc., I am sure there will remain a market niche for the more expensive and exclusive items, for those that can afford them:eek:. It happens with cars and houses, so why not with toy soldiers? Just IMHO...


Paulo
The nation can go down but there are already those who can never be terminally effected...their lives will remain the same...in some cases they will finacially benefit on a down economy. I always see there being peolple to spend money regardless...it may be less for some and more for others but they will always remain.
 
No question cost control will remain a challenge since these are pretty labor intensive products. Automation, if possible, would certainly make a difference if you could justify the volumes. In any event, I think you will continue to see a range of quality and price, just as in most products, even luxuries like these.;)

Sorry Peter, I must confess I took a few beyond 101 but it was not the major for my tastes either.:eek::D

I was a Economics major and the best quote I ever heard was that, "economics was common sense made difficult."
 

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