Thank you for mentioning the international customers. Shipping to Japan for instance is $250. Shipping is also not combined. Japan is pretty much next to China, where Eternia will likely be produced. Mattel ships them all from there over the Pacific Ocean to the US. From there over the Atlantic Ocean to Belgium, and from there over most of Asia and China to Japan. That's more than one time around the world. I wish international buyers were given access to our favorite toys for the same, or at least a similar price with shipping, as in the US.
I feel like if Stan Solo can ship his Bantha directly to anyone, anywhere. Then why can’t a HUGE toy company like Mattel drop ship directly from China to save on shipping. I feel even more for those that live in countries where they are screwed by VAT on top of shipping.
High international shipping cost aside, one has to mention, that when you do the math you will realize that Mattel charges buyers from the countries that fall under their new "international shipping improvements" now pay a premium on top of the base price. People asking for confirmation and clarification from Mattel in the Mattel Creations Forum are being ignored. It's really unfortunate that Mattel decided to go this route. One may disagree, but I feel it's discrimination. For us it is now take it or leave it.
I passed for 2 reasons. Whether if it's Origins or Masterverse, my main Playset displays are MOTUC Castle Grayskull and Snake Mountain. Those were made for collectors. Dense plastic, airbrushed details, painted details, much larger, etc. This Eternia set won't fit in with what I am working with. Also... it's too damn expensive for what it is. If it were $300 + shipping, sure. $550 plus... nope. I even threw one in my cart just to see how much it would be... $653 including Tax and Shipping. That is basically what I paid for Super 7 Snake Mountian, and that was a work of art. This is not a work of art, it's not a collector scale set, with collector details... it's a toy.
As much as people like to call it "the Golden Age of Toy Collecting", I personally think it's the age of "Rethinking your relationship to collecting". One thing is trying to toy hunt for vintage figures that are expensive because they're difficult to get, another thing is toy hunting figures in stores, and a completely different thing is pre-ordering overpriced toys directly from the company because "it's cheaper than trying to chase down the original release". We've been collecting toys, now we're buying collectible toys that are priced as if they're already sold out before ever releasing. Thank you AnalogToys (+ Retroblasting, Articulated Ninja and all creators who saw things for what they are). I think we're in a new era of toy collecting, and we need content creators who aren't dancing to the old corporate tunes.
Wow! that's exactly it. they are creating a "need". I was telling my wife the other day we are victims of the horrors of capitalism, now we beg companies to sell to us.
This is really getting out of hand. I remember the rich kids got the best toys but at this rate the rich kids/collector's will be the only ones that can afford any toys
so true. this is why I hate all these pay to produce gimmicks used by multi billionaire dollar corporations. it leaves out the majority chuck of us casual collectors who cannot put down major money right away for a toy we might receive a year later. therefore it becomes all about dealers and scapers ordering the quantity limits in in order to sell it back to us peons at 3 times the cost. oh yeah this is such a fun hobby.
Oh come on. Hasbro and Mattel core sales are made of toys selling mostly around the 10$ price point. We’re talking about Little Pony, Pepa Pig, Paw Patrol etc. toys for adult collectors don’t matter, that’s why they’re pushing the prices. I only wish other companies could get those big licenses and compete w Hasbro et al. If Hiya Toys or the makers of acid rain could make SW figures, I’d be over the moon.
i notice Hasbro doesnt even mention G.I.Joe in that list, a property that they DO own. it is a shame because i would love to see Boss Fight Studios actually get the Joe license. also you said the exact thing i have been telling people for 20 years, i collect action figures but i view them as modern pop art.
It's strange Hasbro left off G.I. Joe, considering the surprise success of the Classified line. I've heard the theory that they're secretly ashamed of promoting a war toy line. (Guess Transformers gets a pass because they aren't human.)
@@lo1bo2 There's definitely some bullshit going on. Considering the removal of the "Real American Hero" tagline, the terrible designs of the first wave, and the shitty distribution that still plagues the line, it's as if they want this line to fail.
@@DeepenedDelusion I give them some credit for listening to fans after the first wave and moving away from the video game influenced designs. But distribution has been terrible and hardcore fans are frustrated dealing with exclusives. Glad I am very picky and buy just a handful of things. (OK, I admit not having the budget to buy a lot.)
@@DeepenedDelusion if you look at the history of GI Joe you can kind of see why some of these things are happening to the line right now as far as "marketing and branding" go. Now I agree that its BS and I'm not condoning Hasbro for doing it now, but when Gi Joe first launched in the 60's as a 1/6 scale doll it was all military inspired. It was built upon a sense of National pride in our armed forces, but as the Vietnam war dragged on and the political climate in the country changed so did the branding of the doll. Fast forward again to the late 70's and 80's and again national pride started to swell again in the country and the branding changed to a Real American Hero and the scale of the doll changed. Now the brand kind of lost its self I think in the late 90's and has just recently started to kick off again with Classified with many of those 80's and 90's kids reaching middle age, but again the political climate in the country is not the best unfortunately, (which as a 4th direct generation veteran of our military saddens me quite a bit). I don't agree with it, but that's just my 2 cents on why I think the brand is kind of marketed the way it is.
We live in an age where we rationalize our purchases I can see a collectors point of so I pay thousands for a vintage play-set that is disintegrating or this new one. Mattel is counting on that logic of the collector to sell this. I can appreciate eternia but it’s not something I want. Do I feel it’s overpriced yes but I think playing on that notion of do I pay 550 or 5500 for a grail piece for MOTU collectors is what pushed this. Perceived value is the man behind the curtain here and for at least 8100+ and counting it’s perceived as value added.
I wanted this when it was announced and figured I could start saving some cash here and there to buy it when I comes out. Then suddenly "hey we need $550 bucks right now!". So I've got Grayskull and most of what I consider core figures, I'm going to get a few more figures then I'm good. I'll probably get Snake Mountain but yeah, I'm never going to own Eternia and I'm cool with that.
Content creators have the power and times like this content creators need to put aside their differences and agree on one thing and that is to tell their fans that enough is enough. We need to make a stand right here right now as a collective and show these companies that we're just not going to take these price hikes any longer
The direct from manufacturer to consumer point you made is so important and overlooked by many. There's a big difference in margin from selling direct versus through a retailer.
I honestly think Eternia is going to be a one off thing that will fund for Mattel. Eternia for He Man fans as you said is a highly desirable item, I can see how collectors will want a "crown jewel" for their collections and seeing as it's pretty much compatible with classic He Man figures it's a more cost effective (yeah sounds odd saying that) route to go as you will be getting a boxed, fresh item to use for your He Man figs instead of Ebay prices. The item itself will have resell value also due to it's limited availability and WILL be scapled after the crowdfund ends - just like the original which will no doubt go up in price again now since it will be the "original one". There is also the angle of He Man only having a finite amount of items before a collection is complete and although it certainly has a catalogue of product compared with the larger lines of Transformers, TMNT etc MOTU (if you only buy origins line) does have a rather realistic finish line you can reach in terms of what to buy, however I understand I could be wrong on this, I was never the biggest fan of He Man being more of a Transformer and MASK collector and wouldn't be able to name them all! Again I hope this IS a one off, but at least in this case I can understand to a point why it's selling.
I bought and reviewed almost all the Newer Origins and Masterverse figures available. Eternia is my ultimate dream! I never had one as a kid and had most of the vintage MOTU stuff. But I still have not funded it yet! It's alot of money to me. And I spent toys of money on all my stuff over the years. I think I'm gonna try to fund it. But it will the last day if I do!
I'm not happy about the price but I've wanted an Eternia since I became a collector and this is still way more affordable than any other way of getting one.... not only that but it will be brand new/mint.
I really wish toy companies would get back to just making TOYS! Their own licenses, their own creations, their own products. I miss the days of going to the toy store and seeing something new just about every visit. Now it's pretty much the same stuff every week. Movie this, TV show that, Comic book this... As for the price, I don't know the mark up on toys, but I would bet it is REALLY HIGH. A news article a few years before the pandemic discussed the process of getting clothing from the manufacturer to the racks at Walmart. Walmart was selling a pair of jeans for around $20.00. They only paid the manufacturer 50 cents each. Yes there are burden rates that the stores must put on a product: utilities, employee pay, just the cost of doing business. But I would bet that if the toy is made in China, after tooling and initial design costs, each item is bought for a relatively low cost compared to the sale price. These high prices for toys today are just unrealistic.
It's sad that being in the UK I'm now priced out of toy collecting. Mattel have also made it nigh on impossible to get their Hammond Collection Jurassic Park toys in the UK now. For me to get any of these Mattel Jurassic or MOTU toys I'd have to pay about three times as much with shipping and import charges.
We TF fans are fortunate as the bar for copyrighting a robot is much higher than for copyrighting a human character in China. A 3rd party could just make slight variations and call it a homage and there would be nothing hasbro could do.
The more Hasbro and Mattel raise their prices on retail items the more of those items will go to clearance which will be good for the collector in the short term. If prices get too high retailers will get priced out of carrying the items just like retail vehicles and playsets.
Hey Mike. Honestly, it's shocking that even Grayskull came out in stores. Playsets don't do well and take up a lot of shelf space that stores would rather use for something else. I don't really have a problem crowd funding large items like this as it's not the 80's anymore and toys just aren't king.
I found 16 Grayskulls in my local Target and not one of them was on a shelf. They were stacked in a big heap on the floor in the main drag. I was hoping to find Snake Mountain this year in the same manner but probably not gonna happen.
@@retrotoypile3838 Yes we will be seeing Snake mountain at clearance even with the $100 price point. This set is way less desirable than Grayskull or Eternia and hardcore collectors have a vintage one already. That said I love the new internal features of the origins snake mountain
@@TrevorToonArt The odd thing about the old shelf space myth is too often I see the opposite problem, where several times per year (and not just restock time) shelves are all but empty with too little product to put on them in the boys toys section. Over in the lego and barbie multiple aisles however, never an empty space, well not for more than 5 mins.
So many toys lines are all about adult collectors now. So quality is scaled up and production numbers scaled down, with higher prices. And they have a dedicated consumer base of hardcore fans with disposable income so they know they'll pay gouging prices. Same thing happened with dinosaur figures, with new companies catering solely to adults.
You are right on, Tony. The fans are doing themselves a disservice when they are basically telling Mattel, "I want it, no matter how expensive." Disney Parks have the same business model, as does lots of hotels in Las Vegas. As long as people are willing to pay, these companies will keep raising prices. A fool and his money...
Nicely said and Totaly agree! If people whould speak with thair wallets this whouldn't happen so we have the power to change that BUT as you said..people still pay for it..well..then its lost for these who can't or won't pay for this. So this is why I quit and I should have sone it sooner but it really grabbes you as a collector so it takes time to come to the place to say I quit but the prices helped a lot so I thank them! No more from me;)
@@Dghost24 you do reallise that all you saying is boo I couldn't buy it why is all that people paying for it? all I can say is that the wisest decision as a grown up is decide what you want to have or not this is a hobby after all not a life or death scenario, having a tantrum about why I can't buy something is for 3 years olds, if you can you buy it if you can't you don't that's all, I like the set but I preffer to spend 550 in a PS5 for instance but that's me, we can't get mad for the people whom bouth it and could, there's no revolution against the toy companies of anything of the sort, we are after all just the cherry on top, we are not AT ALL their target customer and we should get used to it
I was under the impression the brick-and-mortar stores were done carrying the MOTU Origins line? I only saw a handful of figures at my local Target, and that was it. Playset reissues? I don't see them anywhere, and even if I did, how can they justify an asking price of$550 for one playset? It's highway robbery!
I agree completely, Tony. If you're not blinded by bias, it's clear that the markup on Eternia is absurd, even considering inflation. The formula I've used has been that Eternia is roughly 7-times the cost of Grayskull, at least in the US and is nowhere near that much larger. The only reason it is that expensive is because Mattel thought they could get that much for it and they were right. It's no different than the Robbie Reyes HasLab. I don't collect MOTU Origins at all. My youngest son loves the figures, but he doesn't care whether he's playing with them on an Eternia playset or just on pillows and blankets. They've priced this thing way outside of the range of most parents buying it for their kids (which is something else a lot of collectors have and will jump on me about). I have no skin in this game and I am glad it funded for the people who want it/can afford it, but there is no logical argument that it's technically worth the price they're charging.
Great commentary Analog and thanks for your efforts. I am astounded that a public trading company such as Hasbro can be so disconnected from the public. The tumble in stock prices to a record low might be the slap in the face required to make the boardroom conscious of their grievous and malicious deafness. Whether they are capable of acknowledging their responsibility is a whole different scenario I highly doubt will ever occur. Whatever sort of credibility and integrity that might have been gained is unceremoniously flushed down the toilet with the rest of their crap.
Should have released this in 3 different play sets to purchase and with the last set have the box large enough to fit the other 2 so you also get the original packaging
Respectfully disagree. Major retailers have their own distribution centers with thousands of drivers that transport merchandise to individual stores in each region, so Mattel is not sending product from factories to these stores for mass orders. There's over 4,600 retail stores just for a retailer like Walmart alone. When toy companies present product for sell , the buyers like Walmart and Target come to the table and work out those deals. Sometimes the buyer comes wanting what the company has for sale. Other times the buyer comes wanting something made within that license as condition of purchase. And sometimes the buyer will pay more for exclusive rights for a period of time. Those are just a few examples. When the buyers and the toy company shake hands and sign the contracts, the toy company's primary financial target is made and they move on to other prospective buyers. Its then up to the buyer to sell what they just bought, once it reaches their distribution centers. The tooling costs alone for Eternia will be tremendous for this. And yes, factories are absolutely going to charge measurably more to create something that is only a fraction of what they would make at mass. There's NO WAY you financially arrive at a price point that remotely approaches a similar offering at mass where tens of thousands of something is manufactured versus under ten thousand here. Honestly I thought it would be allot higher and I'm someone allot older than the generation that got these in the 80's, so I'm not applying nostalgia justifications to my reasoning. Flip the script on this as well. Can you imagine making ten of thousands of these at a price point you might like and finding out you can only sell a quarter of them? Thats why sellers weren't going to bite on this. The line has been out there for a long run and the rate of return is starting to depreciate. No one is going to gamble getting stuck with tons of overstock of these playsets in this economy. This crowdfund was the only way collectors of the product could get it and honestly its a good price domestically. Its a bigger problem for people in your situation because the manufacturer has to ship it directly to you. THAT is what happens when you don't have the middle man with the distributions centers to provide a different pathway for that product to reach you . And for that I am sorry if you wanted it, because its a crazy price to pay. But that is the cold reality of the business. No one at Mattel is saying, " Lets give preferential treatment to the US and screw everyone else." The reason why its different here is because the Mattel distribution warehouse resides here. If it resided in Australia then you would benefit and we would be screwed. But either way, they have to utilize carrier services to get it to your home from their warehouse. No semi from a retail buyer is showing up at their warehouse and loading their truck to bring it to you directly like they do for their distribution centers. So cutting out the middle man is actually where you lose.
Exactly, very well put. If retailers were somehow convinced to put a huge toy like Eternia on their shelves and it failed to sell, it could potentially kill the entire Origins line. That is why Mattel doesn't want to risk it. This crowdfunded playset may be costly for consumers in he short-term, but in the long run this will probably be a good thing for fans, if it ensures that we can still buy the basic figures at retail for the foreseeable future.
@@Rocket1377 Exactly. Even if it were a Walmart exclusive, they would have to make over 100,000 units just to lightly stock the 10,500 stores worldwide. And that's a ultra conservative number. There's just no compare with a crowdfund.
Tony as usual is right on the money. As long as people keep paying these inflated prices for playsets and action figures, Hasbro and Mattel are going to keep raising prices and taking advantage of collectors. This will trickle down to everyone. All toys are going to get multiple price hikes in the coming months.
Eternia like unicron is a grail item, which you kinda hinted at with the vintage aspect of things. That's why this is getting backed. Had this been anything else I think it would have struggled
We’ve set the precedent way before this, just look at what people are willing to pay on the secondary market. So, of course the current collector spending habits will factor in pricing. High demand will always equal higher prices.
In my opinion, its not necessarily high demand that we are seeing. We are seeing a group of consumers that have WAY too much expendable income completely lose their minds and pay whale prices for nearly anything that FOMO tells them to buy. Companies appealing to those types of consumers will definitely give them a short term boost but it will hurt them in the long term. You can only alienate the majority of your consumer base for so long before they become "price sensitive".
100% right on. When I heard they were coming out with Eternia I was excited and got the cc ready. Then I saw the price and unlocked "levels." Zero creativity went into this playset. They are disingenuous to price it at $550 when they have a $50 surcharge. Factor in taxes and you are looking at $700. Very disappointed and will not purchase this. Like most large corporations their mission is to gain the most profit in the short term.
I predict an even bleaker future where retailers are removed and the consumer has to shoulder the burden of purchasing, storing, and reselling toys. We'll call it Investment Economy. Great vid amigo.
Corporate PR 101. Use any world / newsworthy event to justify what you had already planned to do. How much do we want to bet that whatever happens in the next 5 years (price hikes guaranteed) that we will see mention of it from hasbro as a "reason".
I'm glad content creators like you exist. I'm tired of hearing how the price is justified. Now they're adding in figures that should be single card releases.
@@therealivydawg is that what I suggested? I never brought up the 80s and if that's the case then I would've complained about the Origin figures being over priced. Mattel is only follow Hasbro's lead. I don't feel sorry for these billion dollar companies. They're just greedy. Testing the market to see what people will spend. Now they're gatekeeping figures behind funding. At the end of the day I'll just quit collecting them.
Agreed! I was considering getting eternia until they announced pricing. $350 is the most I’d pay. I have no emotional attachment to it so I’m happy getting snake mountain instead
exactly! we get what we can get and that's it!, I don't know whay all the drama about the eternia set, it is expensive? yes it is, do they know it is expensive? oh yeah they know!, do they know is target to adult children with money to spend? oh yeah this one was intentional! so well the ones that can pay it they pay it, for the rest of us we'll happilly have Castle Greyskull in one side of the room and Snake Mountain in the other, it works for me! :D
Some collectors have a lot of money to spend, it's an investment to them and it being on kickstarter means than can make a relatively small number of Eternia playsets compared to the number needed to be made if it was available in the shops, 8000 rich toy collectors have signed up to Mattels kickstarter
They say you can’t compare the price between the vintage and the current line? I call straight bullshit! I did the math as well, comparing is allowed! Because from $89.99 in ‘87, to $550.00 in 2022 hell no!!! $250-$280 at most. I’ve caught hell for not backing this playset in so many ways, being told I’m not a true Motu fan. Keep doing what you do Tony, your the reverend, preach brother, take care! -Steve
I feel like Eternia is a 'jump the shark' move. We haven't even gotten Snake Mountain or the Fright Zone yet but Mattel has already skipped ahead to the albatross which broke the franchise.
Eternia is not the reason the franchise ended. Retailers over-ordered and Mattel overproduced the 1985 toys, and they were still clogging shelves by 1986.
Mattel produced little more than 4000 Eternia play sets in 1986 according to a lead engineer for Mattel at the time. The production numbers for the new playset are already double that. We’re price-sensitive because prices go up every couple months.
I just bought a 1980's ford conversion van for $500 and it runs. I got a whole as van for the price of an outdated plastic play set!!! They way people waste their money and abuse they accept is absurd.
By Mattel’s own claim, the Origins line was created for retail space. A competitively priced toy line that can be found in stores and our kids can relive the joys that we once did. I have been a vintage collector since 2002 but I’ve been getting the Origins toys for my son to enjoy. For some reason, this line took a turn toward the adult collector and never looked back. As evident by the goofy mini comic characters that nobody asked for. This line is now headed into MOTUC territory in which there will be limited quantities, characters that only five people are excited about, ridiculous prices, and exclusives that will be near impossible to get at retail prices once the eBay scalpers get them all. Why on earth does a billion dollar company need the fans to fund any projects at all? It’s a money grab and we all fell for it.
@@herbie747 Playsets I'm guessing. Make playsets compatible with MOTU Origins, Classics, Masterverse, or any toyline that could use one and sell them at prices competitive to the ones made by the established companies
Timmee Toys tried with their Star Attack Battle Station playset. Not a single retailer was willing to stock it, so Timmee is having to do direct to consumer sales through their website for far more than it would have sold at retail if a major retail chain had made a large buy. Even without retail support, it's $125, and they have the decency to have free shipping for it, too!
Love your video and right on toys but target in the US sold gray skull on clearance for $26 US dollars. I have my vintage toys and stopped collecting in 2019 it’s gotten out of hand and price like comics is crazy. A lot of figures of today u pay $600 for a hot toys figure and it starts to come apart it’s crazy.
I don’t know. History tends to be the best indicator of future events. Mattel has been pretty good about keeping retail prices down. Eternia seems to fall in line with their more direct model given the overpriced convention exclusives and the like. I doubt Mattel will change tactics anytime soon. Granted, that says nothing about Eternia being overpriced or not. Just that the price isn’t that surprising.
Totally agree 💯. This playset shouldn't be more than 350 shipped. Mattel can raise prices all they want it doesn't change the fact all their stuff goes on clearance at retail.
I'm super late on this but I'll toss the ol' hat in the ring anyway. MotU fans are a unique bunch; a collection of fans who had to wade through a fair amount of BS with Matty Collector and Super7 before Mattel brought back the license and ran with it. I'm personally a fan of their Masterverse line, particularly the New Eternia subline with modern versions of concept designs, but Origins is a fantastic update on the vintage figures. Eternia, like you said, was near the tail end of the line and underproduced compared to the other playsets in the line. Making a modern Eternia as a crowdfund vehicle made sense, and apparently the set is compatible with Masterverse as well as Origins (The little 40th anniversary panel they did had a comparison of a Masterverse figure with the playset), but I do agree it's overpriced. But why did this succeed while the Haslab Engine of Vengeance failed if both are overpriced? Hasbro has stepped on collectors' toes so much this past year they practically tap danced all over them, so I assume the EOV's failure was meant to fight back and show Hasbro flew a bit too close to the sun, especially since Marvel Legends is their evergreen line. Mattel has raised prices a touch, at least in their WWE line, but I feel they aren't as tone deaf as Hasbro is with regards to what fans want. Like I said, Eternia was a grail for vintage MotU collectors, and the Origins line has done modern takes on rarer figures like Ninjor, it shows me they are well aware of collectors' interests while Hasbro seems more interested in pleasing pencil-pushers and shareholders. Neither project was doing it for me, but I stood in solidarity with Eternia backers simply because the campaign as a whole was handled way better, especially with regards to their early bird special, as in everyone who backed during the period would get one, not axing the whole ordeal for everyone
I agree with you 100% that the price of this set, and the ease with which it was backed, will encourage toy companies to continue pushing the pricing limits. I feel that if Mattel continues to follow the Hasbro Haslab model, they will learn pretty quickly that the item they are gauging their customer base with better be really damned special to A LOT of people.
I have a feeling that McFarlane is going to make all these companies look dumb by releasing a 7 inch scale Batcave or Hall of Justice for like $150.00 or some reasonable price. His vehicles are already blowing them out of the water value wise. Plus Mattel had a lot of good will built up based on their pricing of WWE vehicles and playsets, they really don't need to go the price gouging route like Hasbro.
I am a collector with a large collection of vintage Star Wars, Gi joe and Motu. Now I buy lots of the new stuff but only for my children so they can live how I did in the day and use their imaginations not whats created for them on a devise like iPhone, tablets etc. so these increases suck for a dad trying to have his kids enjoy what a toy in intended for, playing. I watched motu go from $12.99 to $22.99 in a year. So just like that, I’m done buying from gauging companies. Your video is spot on.
Because Todd McFarlane is the first, last, and only word for his company and doesn't have shareholders to answer to. He can put out whatever he wants and absorb any loss as long as something else makes money. Mattel, Hasbro, and most other major toy companies don't have the freedom to do what McFarlane does.
Mattel did the early bird incentive first with their WWE ring crowdfund when it wasn't doing as well as they were hoping in the first week...then Hasbro copied that with the HISS tank, and then the Ghost Rider HasLab....and that last one kind of backfired on them. This new Eternia playset probably shouldn't be any more than $250, and they've got it over double that.
Thank you so much for mentioning the increased profit margins from not using traditional retailers. So many channels and comments seem to ignore that aspect when talking about these companies selling exclusives on their own sites, like Hasbro's VHS Marvel Legends, which aren't just going for regular retail prices, but are inexplicably *more expensive* than regular releases. When exclusives are more expensive in-store, you can at least kind of justify it with the store having to pay for the exclusive. But with the companies themselves? Nah, mate. It's pure price gouging at that point. I know a lot of people don't care about price increases, because they can afford it... but that "got mine" attitude isn't sustainable, nor is the price gouging from the big companies. It's just like comic books in the 90s, and the comics industry is barely on its feet now and that's *with* digital distribution, which toys can't benefit from.
In regards to Hasbro, you might want to look into its (mis)handling of Magic the Gathering, where efforts to increase profits have been doing plenty of damage. Funny how flooding the market with product with product while also increasing prices apparently didn't massively boost profits... Now, to take a term from the video game market, it looks like they are targeting the whales to save them, pinning hopes on selling $1000 box sets of 60 random "classic' cards which are neither tournament legal (so you can't even technically use them) nor straight reprints (instead seeing various changes like new borders, new art, altered text, etc). Mind, you could argue that both Eternia and Haslab have been increasingly targeting the collector whales, also.
Never knew there was an actual known phrase for targeting the biggest collectors with the first purchases. Is it just "Targeting the whales"? LEGO do exactly the same thing with massive sets that they know adults with seemingly unlimited budget will buy three of, instead of putting any effort into the smaller sets like they used to.
@@VorpalSlade For video game publishers, "whale" is the industry term a customer that will spend absurd amounts of money on in-app purchases, loot boxes, and the like. When you see a news story of someone spending $10,000 or even $100,000 in a single EA sports game (Madden, FIFA, etc), that's a whale. Publishers love whales, because they can get as much profit from one whale as they can thousands of "regular" players. And it is easier and cheaper to keep that one whale happy... If the term sounds derogatory, it is. That whole part of the industry isn't just insulting to customers, it is predatory and can be *intentionally* dangerously exploitative. Because the publishers ultimately don't care who they get the money from, as long as they get the money. And it simply is easier to get the money when you target those with gambling disorders, addictive personalities, self-esteem issues, poor money management, and the like...
@@BainesMkII I know the reality is the fact they're businesses so it won't make them money, but it used to at least *feel* like companies were prioritising building a loyal fanbase instead of openly and intentionally dwindling their customer pool to only the 1% willing to throw away the most money like they do nowadays. I never used to feel like a company didn't want me to buy their product because I'm not buying enough, I know the practice will have been around forever but it never felt this shamelessly obvious. Edit: Take GI Joe. The HISS is the only successful Haslab out of the last, what, four? And that's against two Star Wars and one Marvel product, where you'd think all the whales would be. And yet that still isn't enough to convince Hasbro that a strong, loyal fanbase is more worthwhile than a small handful of obsessed completionists, and of all their lines GI Joe is the one they've decided to make online exclusive. You can't write this stuff.
Here in New Zealand / Aotearoa I noticed yesterday that nearly all Transformers, Black Series, Marvel Legends ect have gone even more up in price now. Some Transformers were nearly double the price. Could have been a mistake but it's from listings on one of the main collector sites & it would be crazy if there's another price hike.
I definitely think the cost of a vintage Eternia is being factored into the cost of this playset. Like you said, this is how someone gets their Eternia. I hope you are wrong about MOTU going up altogether, but I do think if they end up attempting the never produced Powers of Grayskull Brontosaurus it will be around this price point, or potentially a New Eternia Grayskull? I dont think theres a lot of MOTU stuff to crowdfund personally At the risk of sounding in any way contrarian, which is not my intent, regarding Eternia and the HISS Tank I wonder how many retailers are interested in carrying these enormous items. Its one thing to (fairly) talk about a manufacturer eliminating risk; But I wonder how much of this is a result of the retailers not wanting to take risks. Albeit an TFA version, I remember 6 inch scale new order TIE Fighters being cleared out years ago, and you could fit significantly more of those on a shelf vs those two specific instances. Plus its a friggin TIE Fighter, a fairly iconic vehicle. If we are to believe them, the GI Joe Team touted the success of the Haslab as the catalyst to bring among other things GI Joe vehicles to retail - and wouldnt that be up to retailers rather than manufacturers? They also spoke of "what could they actually faciliate for retail" which in this instance I take to mean there is a size and price point retailers DONT want to stock. Im not taking any of the heat off Hasbro or Mattel, because the prices could and should be fairer (like any corporation gives a shit) but if I were a Toys R Us (still alive in Canada... for now} for example and your TIE Fighter got cleared out, why am I risking my shelf space and inventory budget on your next oversized item? If that has zero impact on some of these oversized crowdfunds I for one would be shocked. Just a factor I have yet to hear discussed.
Yea this was a rock and a hard place situation for me. I love Masters and wanted the toy, just was shocked at the price. My view was that I wasn't going to buy unless it looked like it would go. When there was almost the minimum needed, I jumped in. On one hand, we don't want to pay a lot. On the other hand, the best way to continue the line is profit for the company making it. We get more toys, they make money. Everyone wins (sort of). Rock and a hard place....
I knew it was too much for what it is, I know I should support it, but I really wanted it, cut back on some purchases, sold some items to make some room and money for it and I’m stoked to get it.
Just discovered your channel. I've been a Cherry Picker for years, but I am just about at the end of my collecting because of price increases. Sadly, I think I'll be pushed completely out within 2 or 3 years. If MOTU figure prices go up because of this, I may be out sooner.
Awesome brake down. I truly appreciate how you , 3POA , Articulated ninja , and retro blasting have been explaining this. It really helps me to understand how it works
Absolutely spot on. I only had a mild interest in this playset at best as it holds no nostalgic value for me, but at $1200+ to get it here to Oz, no thanks. I'll wait for Snake Mountain, which I'm sure will now be double the cost of Grayskull thanks to this getting funded.
I agree on many of your views Tony but, hasn't the precedent already been mostly set from previous crowd-fund campaigns and various pre orders throughout the past decade?
Isn't this just because wages are going up in China? There's also the supply chain issues causing costs to go up because you have to pay extra to get into a factory but from what I understand wages are up substantially in China
Although I agree the price is a bit high I think this model is better to fight the scalping problem in our hobby. I would rather give a little extra money to Mattel than pay a scalper. At least this way everyone that wants one can get it and not get cut off by scalpers. I wish going forward most adult collectible toys would be made to order or crowfunded.
I'm sure the scalpers, and investors, are jumping onto these schemes as the limited production numbers and high after market values will too tempting to ignore.
@@edwinsmith-jones6205 Yes and I don't blame anyone for investing in this set. I think it would be a great investment. However, at least anyone that wants one can put in an order and not have to worry about it selling out in 2 minutes.
I'm so glad I collect McFarlane toys. I wish they could take a page out of his book and do people right. He's a privately owned company and it helps alot I'm sure.
The original was extremely expensive too. Eternia's RRP was actually 100 bucks, or 270 dollars in 2022. The new version is bigger, has more action features, and comes with several action figures.
Eternia is not the set that screwed over collectors. It was the GI Joe Classified HISS Tank that did it, but nobody seems to make negative videos of that project which was fully funded in less than 24 hours.
I think it is because people really wanted the HISS- it was worth the premium price to them. From my experience with haslab you get a premium made adult collector focused toy from it not a mass release toy for kids. (Backed the sail barge, razorcrest and two over priced skystrikers that I can't wait to get) Could Hasbro have put the HISS out at retail... I don't know? Probably? But the bigger and better question is do retailers want it? Is it worth the upfront cost for them? Are kids buying this stuff? Or is it only 30-40 somethings that are? Can they even sell it if they had it in store? Or would it go to clerance? TRU doesn't exist anymore and department retail stores only have limited space for toys. Do they back the high up front costs of a large action figure playset that might sit on a shelve for months and then have to be cleranced out? Are the margins worth it? Do kids what this stuff? I am guessing that if the retailers thought that it was worth it- they would be selling it. Barbie has a $199.99 barbie dream house out right now at my Walmart. Its cheaply made and big probably has a good margin for walmart and Barbie is a better seller then the boys action figures. And I don't know about you but as an adult I prefer my toys to be better made then the mass retail releases for kids. The sad truth is collecting toys is a niche market esp. for us, adult collectors. Kids are not into these brands they rather be playing video games or apps or with stupid stuff like roblox and fortnite toys. Sad.
Hey Tony, yeah the price of Eternia was a little experiment in seeing what people were willing to pay. And many felled for it. It was also based on what the original costs this day on ebay etc. You are correct on all points. Sadly and pathetically this just adds to this age of stupidity. And mind you, we all participate every time we purchase most items, but there are some like this playset that borders on criminal. A playset like this? Figures it cost Mattel to build it and ship it to the Continental United States about...$37.00. Probably $6.00 less.
So I’ve found that in most cases the markups of items is around 50%. Sounds like a lot but consider items like clothing who’s markups are closer to 1200% (yes that’s serious btw that’s how clothing stores are everywhere and can afford 75% off sales). I figure at retail this would sell around $200, so Mattel is making a mint off this one.
Well said! This is a devastating game collectors are playing with their wallets. Even though I have no interest in this playset it's still sad Mattel would go this route to the fans. I hated that I had to play the click fast enough game for a main character like Grizzlor. Pure rubbish the future of collecting.
What it will eventually move to is people just buying or designing the files & 3d printing the stuff themselves. Though ones ESG/carbon credit score will take a hit b/c its plastic.
If they did a Vintage Collection AT-AT haslab I would be all over it! See on haslab some projects get backed and some don't. If you want to pay more for something you can't get then people will pay.
Doesn't the online, direct-to-consumer model just fundamentally acknowledge that modern day action figures aren't for kids whatsoever? "Parents swipe up to preorder" yeah sure, my parents don't even know how to attach a photo to an email, I'm fairly sure they don't know how to order stuff through Hasbro Pulse. I just feel like this move intrinsically destroys the age-old argument that "You can't complain about these things, they're children's toys". If all large companies follow Hasbro, will there just be no toy stores parents can take their children to? Are parents going to sit in front of a computer with their kids on a Saturday afternoon scrolling through a website instead of taking a trip to Toys R Us?
First time I’ve seen your videos I am not a MOTU collector but I do TOTALLY agree with the price and cost and risk valuations, when a friend sent me the link to this my first reactions was-“that is ugly and way too expensive” but hey I if you like it and can afford it, go nuts!
I remember the when the has lab Star Wars barge came that to me was worth it as a collector you knew not many people would buy it, the latest has lab products look as though they could be released on mass market. Instead of trying to sell shit we don’t want why can’t they do market research and find out what we really want. They will taking as long as we allow them. Great video
I have a feeling that given this new (and quite bad, for the average consumer at least) precedent for them, Mattel will be doing yet another one of these crowdfunding campaigns for the recently anounced (more like a tease) MOTU Origins Snake Mountain; and very likely for a potential MOTU Origins Fright Zone future release, if they're up for it as well.
nah the Snake mountain will go to retail, the same as greyskull, they did get sold well and probably if it is prices similarly, everybody whom got Greyskull will get Snake mountain so it's a win win for mattel they get to sell they eternia set and both of the "smaller" set at retail.
Mattel will run the series into the ground before then. They’ll lose the liscences in 23-24 and finish the run with some stupid repaints passed off as “comic version” characters. We’ll never get a Fright Zone and I’m not confident we’ll see Snake Mountain if I’m being honest.
@@retrotoypile3838 Oh, I'm aware of that licensing issue, that they'll lose 1st option rights in a year or two. Mattel did drop the ball when they sold the MOTU IP. It's very likely they'll never ever do something like that again.
We who love LEGO have a similar problem. The price of small sets have increased yet are better than the sets from ten years ago. Now we have the huge LEGO UCS sets and Bricklink has their own special sets yet they’re owned by LEGO…it’s as if all new sets are special and the price reflects that “the fans are suckers” attitude from corporations!
Yep! I fear for the future of our hobby. There’s no doubt this is an amazing set, but I couldn’t display this anywhere anyway even if I could afford it, so no internal struggle for me, but the price, once you include all the extras and shipping it’s coming out closer to £700!!!! Do me a favour Mattel 🤷🏻♂️
Great video! I have slowed down on collecting MOTU and the newer GI Joe figures because of the increasing prices. It's getting insane. I'd love the Eternia playset, but now way I'm paying anything close to that.
i never saw the She Ra figures as a kid, they were in the girls' aisle i just found out this year, i want Mattel to release She Ra figures, but in Masters of the Universe style but with the Princess of Power card art.
well it was target to adult collectors, we overgorwn childs that have now the money to buy the things our parents couldn't, of course it was gonna work! the situatio is simple, if you wan it you pay it, if you don't then won't buy it and if you can't well though luck, I am in the later of the three but I'm not whinning about in youtube, this is a hobby!!! but you know there are more important things, like eating, so it is what it is either you want it and you can, you want it and you can't, or you don't like it and you won't. in the latter two well good for the ones who could, but a surprise? nah not at all
As a backer, i have to say i agree, it is over priced. As a die hard fan and collector, i honestly see this as my only chance of getting this play set. The value will sky rocket for this as well after campaign. It really sucks that it's supporting manufacturing price hike strategies. But I'm going to look at it as an investment and in support of this campaign in particlar. It was a tough internal battle but I rather be content with the cost and own Eternia than to miss the opportunity.
If things keep on going like this, I will stop collecting. Sorry, I‘m not rich, I don‘t have much disposable income, especially now with the soaring energy prices here in Europe. I’m a teacher, have pets, take care of children etc, I can’t and I WON‘T pay these insane, overblown prices for Mattel, Hasbro and LEGO products. As much as it hurts me, I think I’m done.
I agree with you Tony, it's definitely price gouging. That being said I did buy it mainly for fomo. The only thing I can say is that if someone didn't care about the exclusive figures they could be sold later to regain probably half of the eternia cost which would bring the actual cost down to about 350.
As a data point, it’s usual for the wholesale price for many items is between 50 and 60% of the suggested retail price. In other words a $10 USD toy costs the retailer $6 USD. On average, in most cases, there are MANY little quirks and variations. Like getting an extra discount for ordering x quantity over a minimum, or a percentage discount for paying in full in 30 days, and so on. For mass orders to retailers it’s not uncommon for shipping to be bundled into that wholesale price. Again, depending. Clearly Walmart doesn’t pay the same shipping as, say, Big Bad Toystore. Now mind, that wholesale cost is designed to make a profit for the company. I doubt strongly that profit margin is only like 5%. I suspect, and this is completely an out-of-my-rump number, that if you have a $10 USD toy wholeselling for $6, that manufacturing costs may well be $3. Then factor in exchange rate for Chinese money. So as shipping costs have risen, what has happened to the cost of manufacturing? Don’t they have contracts? If a company is contracted to make a toy for…hell I dunno, 1000 Won and that was $3 USD a year ago but now it’s more like $1.75, even with a 25% increase in bulk shipping aren’t they still making more profit now? And if the Chinese factory says no, now that toy is 2000 Won to make screw the contract, well, that’s a real problem now. And that’s my roundabout way of saying these crowdfunded mass-produced toys sold direct are just insane. You cannot build a brand or long term loyalty this way. This caters to the few real fans who have money and a LOT of scalpers who hope to ‘flip’ the thing quickly. There will be a shocking number of Eternias with $1500 USD price tags gathering dust at 2023/24 toy shows…
@@Rocket1377 I highly doubt that since times were different and the economy was different. Materials were cheaper, and so was the value of the dollar. Somethings an inflation calculator doesn't put into consideration.
Totaly agree! I stopped collecting as its impossible to get these expensive exclusives overseas waiting 6+ months due to pre-order and have to pile up to save postal cost in my country as well it is absurd to collect these days! No fun, just frustration so I did quit and I am so happy I did! For the people who buying Hasbro and Mattel (or other) stuff, their choise and good luck but I'M OUT ;)
I agree. I know it’s not a big comment, but you’ve put it just right. I used to collect 1:6 military figures but once they had increased their prices farther than 300% over 8 years, I happily quit the hobby. Principles people. Don’t be sheep. Vote with your feet. And yes the Hasbro Ghost Rider car is interesting but not enough to sell a kidney for.
Thank you for mentioning the international customers. Shipping to Japan for instance is $250. Shipping is also not combined. Japan is pretty much next to China, where Eternia will likely be produced. Mattel ships them all from there over the Pacific Ocean to the US. From there over the Atlantic Ocean to Belgium, and from there over most of Asia and China to Japan. That's more than one time around the world. I wish international buyers were given access to our favorite toys for the same, or at least a similar price with shipping, as in the US.
Absolutely. I agree 100%. I’m in Germany, and the playset with shipping will be almost 900 Euro for me. That’s just crazy.
I feel like if Stan Solo can ship his Bantha directly to anyone, anywhere. Then why can’t a HUGE toy company like Mattel drop ship directly from China to save on shipping. I feel even more for those that live in countries where they are screwed by VAT on top of shipping.
High international shipping cost aside, one has to mention, that when you do the math you will realize that Mattel charges buyers from the countries that fall under their new "international shipping improvements" now pay a premium on top of the base price. People asking for confirmation and clarification from Mattel in the Mattel Creations Forum are being ignored. It's really unfortunate that Mattel decided to go this route. One may disagree, but I feel it's discrimination. For us it is now take it or leave it.
Don't forget about the import/custom fees a lot of countries charge on top of the super high shipping costs.
@@jt1559 The customs / VAT fees are calculated as part of the order price. You pay them up front.
I passed for 2 reasons. Whether if it's Origins or Masterverse, my main Playset displays are MOTUC Castle Grayskull and Snake Mountain. Those were made for collectors. Dense plastic, airbrushed details, painted details, much larger, etc.
This Eternia set won't fit in with what I am working with. Also... it's too damn expensive for what it is. If it were $300 + shipping, sure. $550 plus... nope.
I even threw one in my cart just to see how much it would be... $653 including Tax and Shipping. That is basically what I paid for Super 7 Snake Mountian, and that was a work of art. This is not a work of art, it's not a collector scale set, with collector details... it's a toy.
As much as people like to call it "the Golden Age of Toy Collecting", I personally think it's the age of "Rethinking your relationship to collecting". One thing is trying to toy hunt for vintage figures that are expensive because they're difficult to get, another thing is toy hunting figures in stores, and a completely different thing is pre-ordering overpriced toys directly from the company because "it's cheaper than trying to chase down the original release". We've been collecting toys, now we're buying collectible toys that are priced as if they're already sold out before ever releasing.
Thank you AnalogToys (+ Retroblasting, Articulated Ninja and all creators who saw things for what they are). I think we're in a new era of toy collecting, and we need content creators who aren't dancing to the old corporate tunes.
this^^^
Wow! that's exactly it. they are creating a "need". I was telling my wife the other day we are victims of the horrors of capitalism, now we beg companies to sell to us.
This is really getting out of hand. I remember the rich kids got the best toys but at this rate the rich kids/collector's will be the only ones that can afford any toys
so true. this is why I hate all these pay to produce gimmicks used by multi billionaire dollar corporations. it leaves out the majority chuck of us casual collectors who cannot put down major money right away for a toy we might receive a year later. therefore it becomes all about dealers and scapers ordering the quantity limits in in order to sell it back to us peons at 3 times the cost. oh yeah this is such a fun hobby.
It affects parents and kids less because they aren't trying to buy full waves, and the kids I know care more about playing on phones than with toys.
Just like when I was 10 only one kid had the star wars figures and vehicles
Oh come on. Hasbro and Mattel core sales are made of toys selling mostly around the 10$ price point. We’re talking about Little Pony, Pepa Pig, Paw Patrol etc. toys for adult collectors don’t matter, that’s why they’re pushing the prices. I only wish other companies could get those big licenses and compete w Hasbro et al. If Hiya Toys or the makers of acid rain could make SW figures, I’d be over the moon.
i notice Hasbro doesnt even mention G.I.Joe in that list, a property that they DO own. it is a shame because i would love to see Boss Fight Studios actually get the Joe license.
also you said the exact thing i have been telling people for 20 years, i collect action figures but i view them as modern pop art.
It's strange Hasbro left off G.I. Joe, considering the surprise success of the Classified line. I've heard the theory that they're secretly ashamed of promoting a war toy line. (Guess Transformers gets a pass because they aren't human.)
I want someone to tackle the remaining COPS figures that Hasbro never made
@@lo1bo2 There's definitely some bullshit going on. Considering the removal of the "Real American Hero" tagline, the terrible designs of the first wave, and the shitty distribution that still plagues the line, it's as if they want this line to fail.
@@DeepenedDelusion I give them some credit for listening to fans after the first wave and moving away from the video game influenced designs. But distribution has been terrible and hardcore fans are frustrated dealing with exclusives. Glad I am very picky and buy just a handful of things. (OK, I admit not having the budget to buy a lot.)
@@DeepenedDelusion if you look at the history of GI Joe you can kind of see why some of these things are happening to the line right now as far as "marketing and branding" go. Now I agree that its BS and I'm not condoning Hasbro for doing it now, but when Gi Joe first launched in the 60's as a 1/6 scale doll it was all military inspired. It was built upon a sense of National pride in our armed forces, but as the Vietnam war dragged on and the political climate in the country changed so did the branding of the doll. Fast forward again to the late 70's and 80's and again national pride started to swell again in the country and the branding changed to a Real American Hero and the scale of the doll changed. Now the brand kind of lost its self I think in the late 90's and has just recently started to kick off again with Classified with many of those 80's and 90's kids reaching middle age, but again the political climate in the country is not the best unfortunately, (which as a 4th direct generation veteran of our military saddens me quite a bit). I don't agree with it, but that's just my 2 cents on why I think the brand is kind of marketed the way it is.
We live in an age where we rationalize our purchases I can see a collectors point of so I pay thousands for a vintage play-set that is disintegrating or this new one. Mattel is counting on that logic of the collector to sell this. I can appreciate eternia but it’s not something I want. Do I feel it’s overpriced yes but I think playing on that notion of do I pay 550 or 5500 for a grail piece for MOTU collectors is what pushed this. Perceived value is the man behind the curtain here and for at least 8100+ and counting it’s perceived as value added.
Yea not into the 500+ glotified monorail either. Good for those who wanted it but thats there nostalgia blinders talkin
Took the words right out of my mouth you are 100% correct
I wanted this when it was announced and figured I could start saving some cash here and there to buy it when I comes out. Then suddenly "hey we need $550 bucks right now!". So I've got Grayskull and most of what I consider core figures, I'm going to get a few more figures then I'm good. I'll probably get Snake Mountain but yeah, I'm never going to own Eternia and I'm cool with that.
Content creators have the power and times like this content creators need to put aside their differences and agree on one thing and that is to tell their fans that enough is enough. We need to make a stand right here right now as a collective and show these companies that we're just not going to take these price hikes any longer
Unfortunately the 8k+ people who have funded the Eternia set don't care.
@@jt1559 how many of those backers aren't just speculators buying one or more playsets just to resell, though?
The direct from manufacturer to consumer point you made is so important and overlooked by many. There's a big difference in margin from selling direct versus through a retailer.
If you live two blocks from the factory, or at least in the same bloody country. If you are overseas you are going to be screwed by the shipping costs
Great final thoughts at the end. Paraphrasing, "Get it if you want it, but don't try to convince the rest of us that the price is fair."
It's the same cost as it was in the 80's with natural inflation. I can't afford it now and just like the 80's my parents couldn't afford it then.
I honestly think Eternia is going to be a one off thing that will fund for Mattel.
Eternia for He Man fans as you said is a highly desirable item, I can see how collectors will want a "crown jewel" for their collections and seeing as it's pretty much compatible with classic He Man figures it's a more cost effective (yeah sounds odd saying that) route to go as you will be getting a boxed, fresh item to use for your He Man figs instead of Ebay prices.
The item itself will have resell value also due to it's limited availability and WILL be scapled after the crowdfund ends - just like the original which will no doubt go up in price again now since it will be the "original one".
There is also the angle of He Man only having a finite amount of items before a collection is complete and although it certainly has a catalogue of product compared with the larger lines of Transformers, TMNT etc MOTU (if you only buy origins line) does have a rather realistic finish line you can reach in terms of what to buy, however I understand I could be wrong on this, I was never the biggest fan of He Man being more of a Transformer and MASK collector and wouldn't be able to name them all!
Again I hope this IS a one off, but at least in this case I can understand to a point why it's selling.
the playset has reached a mythic status, and to say that hasn't played a huge part of the sales would be laughable.
Toy monorail rules
I bought and reviewed almost all the Newer Origins and Masterverse figures available. Eternia is my ultimate dream! I never had one as a kid and had most of the vintage MOTU stuff. But I still have not funded it yet! It's alot of money to me. And I spent toys of money on all my stuff over the years. I think I'm gonna try to fund it. But it will the last day if I do!
Just relax and let the FOMO take over. It's easier that way.
@@rotaxhippie Will do!
I'm not happy about the price but I've wanted an Eternia since I became a collector and this is still way more affordable than any other way of getting one.... not only that but it will be brand new/mint.
I really wish toy companies would get back to just making TOYS! Their own licenses, their own creations, their own products. I miss the days of going to the toy store and seeing something new just about every visit. Now it's pretty much the same stuff every week. Movie this, TV show that, Comic book this...
As for the price, I don't know the mark up on toys, but I would bet it is REALLY HIGH. A news article a few years before the pandemic discussed the process of getting clothing from the manufacturer to the racks at Walmart. Walmart was selling a pair of jeans for around $20.00. They only paid the manufacturer 50 cents each. Yes there are burden rates that the stores must put on a product: utilities, employee pay, just the cost of doing business. But I would bet that if the toy is made in China, after tooling and initial design costs, each item is bought for a relatively low cost compared to the sale price. These high prices for toys today are just unrealistic.
THIS is what turned me off so much in the 90s actually. Everything was based on an obscure comic book; ZERO originality
Well said sir!
It's sad that being in the UK I'm now priced out of toy collecting. Mattel have also made it nigh on impossible to get their Hammond Collection Jurassic Park toys in the UK now. For me to get any of these Mattel Jurassic or MOTU toys I'd have to pay about three times as much with shipping and import charges.
I feel for you man!
Same here in Germany.
Same in Greece...
I wish other franchises could have what Transformers have with its Third Party Market.
We TF fans are fortunate as the bar for copyrighting a robot is much higher than for copyrighting a human character in China. A 3rd party could just make slight variations and call it a homage and there would be nothing hasbro could do.
The more Hasbro and Mattel raise their prices on retail items the more of those items will go to clearance which will be good for the collector in the short term. If prices get too high retailers will get priced out of carrying the items just like retail vehicles and playsets.
Hey Mike. Honestly, it's shocking that even Grayskull came out in stores. Playsets don't do well and take up a lot of shelf space that stores would rather use for something else. I don't really have a problem crowd funding large items like this as it's not the 80's anymore and toys just aren't king.
I found 16 Grayskulls in my local Target and not one of them was on a shelf. They were stacked in a big heap on the floor in the main drag. I was hoping to find Snake Mountain this year in the same manner but probably not gonna happen.
@@retrotoypile3838 Yes we will be seeing Snake mountain at clearance even with the $100 price point. This set is way less desirable than Grayskull or Eternia and hardcore collectors have a vintage one already. That said I love the new internal features of the origins snake mountain
@@TrevorToonArt The odd thing about the old shelf space myth is too often I see the opposite problem, where several times per year (and not just restock time) shelves are all but empty with too little product to put on them in the boys toys section. Over in the lego and barbie multiple aisles however, never an empty space, well not for more than 5 mins.
So many toys lines are all about adult collectors now. So quality is scaled up and production numbers scaled down, with higher prices. And they have a dedicated consumer base of hardcore fans with disposable income so they know they'll pay gouging prices. Same thing happened with dinosaur figures, with new companies catering solely to adults.
You are right on, Tony. The fans are doing themselves a disservice when they are basically telling Mattel, "I want it, no matter how expensive." Disney Parks have the same business model, as does lots of hotels in Las Vegas. As long as people are willing to pay, these companies will keep raising prices. A fool and his money...
Nicely said and Totaly agree! If people whould speak with thair wallets this whouldn't happen so we have the power to change that BUT as you said..people still pay for it..well..then its lost for these who can't or won't pay for this. So this is why I quit and I should have sone it sooner but it really grabbes you as a collector so it takes time to come to the place to say I quit but the prices helped a lot so I thank them! No more from me;)
@@Dghost24 you do reallise that all you saying is boo I couldn't buy it why is all that people paying for it? all I can say is that the wisest decision as a grown up is decide what you want to have or not this is a hobby after all not a life or death scenario, having a tantrum about why I can't buy something is for 3 years olds, if you can you buy it if you can't you don't that's all, I like the set but I preffer to spend 550 in a PS5 for instance but that's me, we can't get mad for the people whom bouth it and could, there's no revolution against the toy companies of anything of the sort, we are after all just the cherry on top, we are not AT ALL their target customer and we should get used to it
I was under the impression the brick-and-mortar stores were done carrying the MOTU Origins line? I only saw a handful of figures at my local Target, and that was it. Playset reissues? I don't see them anywhere, and even if I did, how can they justify an asking price of$550 for one playset? It's highway robbery!
I agree completely, Tony. If you're not blinded by bias, it's clear that the markup on Eternia is absurd, even considering inflation. The formula I've used has been that Eternia is roughly 7-times the cost of Grayskull, at least in the US and is nowhere near that much larger. The only reason it is that expensive is because Mattel thought they could get that much for it and they were right. It's no different than the Robbie Reyes HasLab.
I don't collect MOTU Origins at all. My youngest son loves the figures, but he doesn't care whether he's playing with them on an Eternia playset or just on pillows and blankets. They've priced this thing way outside of the range of most parents buying it for their kids (which is something else a lot of collectors have and will jump on me about). I have no skin in this game and I am glad it funded for the people who want it/can afford it, but there is no logical argument that it's technically worth the price they're charging.
Great commentary Analog and thanks for your efforts. I am astounded that a public trading company such as Hasbro can be so disconnected from the public. The tumble in stock prices to a record low might be the slap in the face required to make the boardroom conscious of their grievous and malicious deafness. Whether they are capable of acknowledging their responsibility is a whole different scenario I highly doubt will ever occur. Whatever sort of credibility and integrity that might have been gained is unceremoniously flushed down the toilet with the rest of their crap.
Should have released this in 3 different play sets to purchase and with the last set have the box large enough to fit the other 2 so you also get the original packaging
Respectfully disagree. Major retailers have their own distribution centers with thousands of drivers that transport merchandise to individual stores in each region, so Mattel is not sending product from factories to these stores for mass orders. There's over 4,600 retail stores just for a retailer like Walmart alone. When toy companies present product for sell , the buyers like Walmart and Target come to the table and work out those deals. Sometimes the buyer comes wanting what the company has for sale. Other times the buyer comes wanting something made within that license as condition of purchase. And sometimes the buyer will pay more for exclusive rights for a period of time. Those are just a few examples.
When the buyers and the toy company shake hands and sign the contracts, the toy company's primary financial target is made and they move on to other prospective buyers. Its then up to the buyer to sell what they just bought, once it reaches their distribution centers. The tooling costs alone for Eternia will be tremendous for this. And yes, factories are absolutely going to charge measurably more to create something that is only a fraction of what they would make at mass. There's NO WAY you financially arrive at a price point that remotely approaches a similar offering at mass where tens of thousands of something is manufactured versus under ten thousand here. Honestly I thought it would be allot higher and I'm someone allot older than the generation that got these in the 80's, so I'm not applying nostalgia justifications to my reasoning.
Flip the script on this as well. Can you imagine making ten of thousands of these at a price point you might like and finding out you can only sell a quarter of them? Thats why sellers weren't going to bite on this. The line has been out there for a long run and the rate of return is starting to depreciate. No one is going to gamble getting stuck with tons of overstock of these playsets in this economy. This crowdfund was the only way collectors of the product could get it and honestly its a good price domestically. Its a bigger problem for people in your situation because the manufacturer has to ship it directly to you. THAT is what happens when you don't have the middle man with the distributions centers to provide a different pathway for that product to reach you . And for that I am sorry if you wanted it, because its a crazy price to pay. But that is the cold reality of the business. No one at Mattel is saying, " Lets give preferential treatment to the US and screw everyone else."
The reason why its different here is because the Mattel distribution warehouse resides here. If it resided in Australia then you would benefit and we would be screwed. But either way, they have to utilize carrier services to get it to your home from their warehouse. No semi from a retail buyer is showing up at their warehouse and loading their truck to bring it to you directly like they do for their distribution centers. So cutting out the middle man is actually where you lose.
Exactly, very well put. If retailers were somehow convinced to put a huge toy like Eternia on their shelves and it failed to sell, it could potentially kill the entire Origins line. That is why Mattel doesn't want to risk it.
This crowdfunded playset may be costly for consumers in he short-term, but in the long run this will probably be a good thing for fans, if it ensures that we can still buy the basic figures at retail for the foreseeable future.
@@Rocket1377 Exactly. Even if it were a Walmart exclusive, they would have to make over 100,000 units just to lightly stock the 10,500 stores worldwide. And that's a ultra conservative number. There's just no compare with a crowdfund.
Prices on origins in Canada have increased from $14.99 to 22.99 in the past 8-10 months.
Tony as usual is right on the money. As long as people keep paying these inflated prices for playsets and action figures, Hasbro and Mattel are going to keep raising prices and taking advantage of collectors. This will trickle down to everyone. All toys are going to get multiple price hikes in the coming months.
Eternia like unicron is a grail item, which you kinda hinted at with the vintage aspect of things.
That's why this is getting backed. Had this been anything else I think it would have struggled
We’ve set the precedent way before this, just look at what people are willing to pay on the secondary market. So, of course the current collector spending habits will factor in pricing. High demand will always equal higher prices.
In my opinion, its not necessarily high demand that we are seeing. We are seeing a group of consumers that have WAY too much expendable income completely lose their minds and pay whale prices for nearly anything that FOMO tells them to buy. Companies appealing to those types of consumers will definitely give them a short term boost but it will hurt them in the long term. You can only alienate the majority of your consumer base for so long before they become "price sensitive".
100% right on. When I heard they were coming out with Eternia I was excited and got the cc ready. Then I saw the price and unlocked "levels." Zero creativity went into this playset. They are disingenuous to price it at $550 when they have a $50 surcharge. Factor in taxes and you are looking at $700. Very disappointed and will not purchase this. Like most large corporations their mission is to gain the most profit in the short term.
I've noticed there are lots of motu figures around and outside of Eternia but very few figures can actually fit inside the building's.
Yes this very true. I love Masters and still on the fence about it. It’s a bizarre playset for sure.
I predict an even bleaker future where retailers are removed and the consumer has to shoulder the burden of purchasing, storing, and reselling toys. We'll call it Investment Economy. Great vid amigo.
I couldn’t get it. It’s over $1000 AUD + $200 for Delivery in Australia 🤦♂️
You've brought it to the point, mate!!! 👍🙌
Yep...same here.🙄Always watch and learn and save Not buy.😒
Don’t forget hasbro stated in an interview back in March that due to Russia/Ukraine there will be a price hike because “loss of revenue in that area”
Corporate PR 101. Use any world / newsworthy event to justify what you had already planned to do. How much do we want to bet that whatever happens in the next 5 years (price hikes guaranteed) that we will see mention of it from hasbro as a "reason".
I'm glad content creators like you exist. I'm tired of hearing how the price is justified. Now they're adding in figures that should be single card releases.
How much should it cost 80 bucks? It cost what it did in the 80's with natural inflation.
@@therealivydawg is that what I suggested? I never brought up the 80s and if that's the case then I would've complained about the Origin figures being over priced. Mattel is only follow Hasbro's lead. I don't feel sorry for these billion dollar companies. They're just greedy. Testing the market to see what people will spend. Now they're gatekeeping figures behind funding. At the end of the day I'll just quit collecting them.
@@therealivydawg no it does not. Not even with inflation, it cost the same. This playset cost waaaaay less money
Agreed! I was considering getting eternia until they announced pricing. $350 is the most I’d pay. I have no emotional attachment to it so I’m happy getting snake mountain instead
exactly! we get what we can get and that's it!, I don't know whay all the drama about the eternia set, it is expensive? yes it is, do they know it is expensive? oh yeah they know!, do they know is target to adult children with money to spend? oh yeah this one was intentional! so well the ones that can pay it they pay it, for the rest of us we'll happilly have Castle Greyskull in one side of the room and Snake Mountain in the other, it works for me! :D
I was in at 350 or less as well. It just feels like a greedy money grab.
Some collectors have a lot of money to spend, it's an investment to them and it being on kickstarter means than can make a relatively small number of Eternia playsets compared to the number needed to be made if it was available in the shops, 8000 rich toy collectors have signed up to Mattels kickstarter
They say you can’t compare the price between the vintage and the current line? I call straight bullshit! I did the math as well, comparing is allowed! Because from $89.99 in ‘87, to $550.00 in 2022 hell no!!! $250-$280 at most. I’ve caught hell for not backing this playset in so many ways, being told I’m not a true Motu fan. Keep doing what you do Tony, your the reverend, preach brother, take care! -Steve
I feel like Eternia is a 'jump the shark' move. We haven't even gotten Snake Mountain or the Fright Zone yet but Mattel has already skipped ahead to the albatross which broke the franchise.
Snake Mountain is confirmed for 2023, Eternia won't be out until 2024. Mattel are simply striking while the iron is hot.
Eternia is not the reason the franchise ended. Retailers over-ordered and Mattel overproduced the 1985 toys, and they were still clogging shelves by 1986.
Mattel produced little more than 4000 Eternia play sets in 1986 according to a lead engineer for Mattel at the time. The production numbers for the new playset are already double that.
We’re price-sensitive because prices go up every couple months.
I just bought a 1980's ford conversion van for $500 and it runs. I got a whole as van for the price of an outdated plastic play set!!! They way people waste their money and abuse they accept is absurd.
By Mattel’s own claim, the Origins line was created for retail space. A competitively priced toy line that can be found in stores and our kids can relive the joys that we once did. I have been a vintage collector since 2002 but I’ve been getting the Origins toys for my son to enjoy. For some reason, this line took a turn toward the adult collector and never looked back. As evident by the goofy mini comic characters that nobody asked for. This line is now headed into MOTUC territory in which there will be limited quantities, characters that only five people are excited about, ridiculous prices, and exclusives that will be near impossible to get at retail prices once the eBay scalpers get them all. Why on earth does a billion dollar company need the fans to fund any projects at all? It’s a money grab and we all fell for it.
This is the reason why competition is important. Someone should make their own version that could make Hasbro and Mattel be threatened.
Make their own version of what?
@@herbie747 Playsets I'm guessing. Make playsets compatible with MOTU Origins, Classics, Masterverse, or any toyline that could use one and sell them at prices competitive to the ones made by the established companies
Timmee Toys tried with their Star Attack Battle Station playset. Not a single retailer was willing to stock it, so Timmee is having to do direct to consumer sales through their website for far more than it would have sold at retail if a major retail chain had made a large buy. Even without retail support, it's $125, and they have the decency to have free shipping for it, too!
Love your video and right on toys but target in the US sold gray skull on clearance for $26 US dollars. I have my vintage toys and stopped collecting in 2019 it’s gotten out of hand and price like comics is crazy. A lot of figures of today u pay $600 for a hot toys figure and it starts to come apart it’s crazy.
I don’t know. History tends to be the best indicator of future events. Mattel has been pretty good about keeping retail prices down. Eternia seems to fall in line with their more direct model given the overpriced convention exclusives and the like. I doubt Mattel will change tactics anytime soon.
Granted, that says nothing about Eternia being overpriced or not. Just that the price isn’t that surprising.
Yea I dont think there going up price on there stuff like hasbro..
Totally agree 💯. This playset shouldn't be more than 350 shipped. Mattel can raise prices all they want it doesn't change the fact all their stuff goes on clearance at retail.
I'm super late on this but I'll toss the ol' hat in the ring anyway.
MotU fans are a unique bunch; a collection of fans who had to wade through a fair amount of BS with Matty Collector and Super7 before Mattel brought back the license and ran with it. I'm personally a fan of their Masterverse line, particularly the New Eternia subline with modern versions of concept designs, but Origins is a fantastic update on the vintage figures. Eternia, like you said, was near the tail end of the line and underproduced compared to the other playsets in the line.
Making a modern Eternia as a crowdfund vehicle made sense, and apparently the set is compatible with Masterverse as well as Origins (The little 40th anniversary panel they did had a comparison of a Masterverse figure with the playset), but I do agree it's overpriced. But why did this succeed while the Haslab Engine of Vengeance failed if both are overpriced? Hasbro has stepped on collectors' toes so much this past year they practically tap danced all over them, so I assume the EOV's failure was meant to fight back and show Hasbro flew a bit too close to the sun, especially since Marvel Legends is their evergreen line.
Mattel has raised prices a touch, at least in their WWE line, but I feel they aren't as tone deaf as Hasbro is with regards to what fans want. Like I said, Eternia was a grail for vintage MotU collectors, and the Origins line has done modern takes on rarer figures like Ninjor, it shows me they are well aware of collectors' interests while Hasbro seems more interested in pleasing pencil-pushers and shareholders.
Neither project was doing it for me, but I stood in solidarity with Eternia backers simply because the campaign as a whole was handled way better, especially with regards to their early bird special, as in everyone who backed during the period would get one, not axing the whole ordeal for everyone
Finally a wise point of view! Thanks mate, you're 100% right to me.
Greeting from France.
Had a comment taken off Facebook for posting a picture of the playset and commenting rise of evil 5 pack
I agree with you 100% that the price of this set, and the ease with which it was backed, will encourage toy companies to continue pushing the pricing limits. I feel that if Mattel continues to follow the Hasbro Haslab model, they will learn pretty quickly that the item they are gauging their customer base with better be really damned special to A LOT of people.
I have a feeling that McFarlane is going to make all these companies look dumb by releasing a 7 inch scale Batcave or Hall of Justice for like $150.00 or some reasonable price. His vehicles are already blowing them out of the water value wise. Plus Mattel had a lot of good will built up based on their pricing of WWE vehicles and playsets, they really don't need to go the price gouging route like Hasbro.
I am a collector with a large collection of vintage Star Wars, Gi joe and Motu. Now I buy lots of the new stuff but only for my children so they can live how I did in the day and use their imaginations not whats created for them on a devise like iPhone, tablets etc. so these increases suck for a dad trying to have his kids enjoy what a toy in intended for, playing. I watched motu go from $12.99 to $22.99 in a year. So just like that, I’m done buying from gauging companies. Your video is spot on.
it's funny how the McFarlane DC multiverse figures are still the same price, while Hasbro raised it multiple times.
and downgraded to shittier packaging
Because Todd McFarlane is the first, last, and only word for his company and doesn't have shareholders to answer to. He can put out whatever he wants and absorb any loss as long as something else makes money. Mattel, Hasbro, and most other major toy companies don't have the freedom to do what McFarlane does.
Bang on points Tony! Loved the melding of thoughts between Mattel vs Hasbro. 👍👍
Mattel did the early bird incentive first with their WWE ring crowdfund when it wasn't doing as well as they were hoping in the first week...then Hasbro copied that with the HISS tank, and then the Ghost Rider HasLab....and that last one kind of backfired on them. This new Eternia playset probably shouldn't be any more than $250, and they've got it over double that.
Thank you so much for mentioning the increased profit margins from not using traditional retailers. So many channels and comments seem to ignore that aspect when talking about these companies selling exclusives on their own sites, like Hasbro's VHS Marvel Legends, which aren't just going for regular retail prices, but are inexplicably *more expensive* than regular releases. When exclusives are more expensive in-store, you can at least kind of justify it with the store having to pay for the exclusive. But with the companies themselves? Nah, mate. It's pure price gouging at that point.
I know a lot of people don't care about price increases, because they can afford it... but that "got mine" attitude isn't sustainable, nor is the price gouging from the big companies. It's just like comic books in the 90s, and the comics industry is barely on its feet now and that's *with* digital distribution, which toys can't benefit from.
In regards to Hasbro, you might want to look into its (mis)handling of Magic the Gathering, where efforts to increase profits have been doing plenty of damage. Funny how flooding the market with product with product while also increasing prices apparently didn't massively boost profits... Now, to take a term from the video game market, it looks like they are targeting the whales to save them, pinning hopes on selling $1000 box sets of 60 random "classic' cards which are neither tournament legal (so you can't even technically use them) nor straight reprints (instead seeing various changes like new borders, new art, altered text, etc).
Mind, you could argue that both Eternia and Haslab have been increasingly targeting the collector whales, also.
Never knew there was an actual known phrase for targeting the biggest collectors with the first purchases. Is it just "Targeting the whales"? LEGO do exactly the same thing with massive sets that they know adults with seemingly unlimited budget will buy three of, instead of putting any effort into the smaller sets like they used to.
@@VorpalSlade For video game publishers, "whale" is the industry term a customer that will spend absurd amounts of money on in-app purchases, loot boxes, and the like. When you see a news story of someone spending $10,000 or even $100,000 in a single EA sports game (Madden, FIFA, etc), that's a whale.
Publishers love whales, because they can get as much profit from one whale as they can thousands of "regular" players. And it is easier and cheaper to keep that one whale happy...
If the term sounds derogatory, it is. That whole part of the industry isn't just insulting to customers, it is predatory and can be *intentionally* dangerously exploitative. Because the publishers ultimately don't care who they get the money from, as long as they get the money. And it simply is easier to get the money when you target those with gambling disorders, addictive personalities, self-esteem issues, poor money management, and the like...
@@BainesMkII I know the reality is the fact they're businesses so it won't make them money, but it used to at least *feel* like companies were prioritising building a loyal fanbase instead of openly and intentionally dwindling their customer pool to only the 1% willing to throw away the most money like they do nowadays. I never used to feel like a company didn't want me to buy their product because I'm not buying enough, I know the practice will have been around forever but it never felt this shamelessly obvious.
Edit: Take GI Joe. The HISS is the only successful Haslab out of the last, what, four? And that's against two Star Wars and one Marvel product, where you'd think all the whales would be. And yet that still isn't enough to convince Hasbro that a strong, loyal fanbase is more worthwhile than a small handful of obsessed completionists, and of all their lines GI Joe is the one they've decided to make online exclusive. You can't write this stuff.
Here in New Zealand / Aotearoa I noticed yesterday that nearly all Transformers, Black Series, Marvel Legends ect have gone even more up in price now. Some Transformers were nearly double the price. Could have been a mistake but it's from listings on one of the main collector sites & it would be crazy if there's another price hike.
I definitely think the cost of a vintage Eternia is being factored into the cost of this playset. Like you said, this is how someone gets their Eternia. I hope you are wrong about MOTU going up altogether, but I do think if they end up attempting the never produced Powers of Grayskull Brontosaurus it will be around this price point, or potentially a New Eternia Grayskull? I dont think theres a lot of MOTU stuff to crowdfund personally
At the risk of sounding in any way contrarian, which is not my intent, regarding Eternia and the HISS Tank I wonder how many retailers are interested in carrying these enormous items. Its one thing to (fairly) talk about a manufacturer eliminating risk; But I wonder how much of this is a result of the retailers not wanting to take risks. Albeit an TFA version, I remember 6 inch scale new order TIE Fighters being cleared out years ago, and you could fit significantly more of those on a shelf vs those two specific instances. Plus its a friggin TIE Fighter, a fairly iconic vehicle. If we are to believe them, the GI Joe Team touted the success of the Haslab as the catalyst to bring among other things GI Joe vehicles to retail - and wouldnt that be up to retailers rather than manufacturers? They also spoke of "what could they actually faciliate for retail" which in this instance I take to mean there is a size and price point retailers DONT want to stock.
Im not taking any of the heat off Hasbro or Mattel, because the prices could and should be fairer (like any corporation gives a shit) but if I were a Toys R Us (still alive in Canada... for now} for example and your TIE Fighter got cleared out, why am I risking my shelf space and inventory budget on your next oversized item? If that has zero impact on some of these oversized crowdfunds I for one would be shocked. Just a factor I have yet to hear discussed.
Yea this was a rock and a hard place situation for me. I love Masters and wanted the toy, just was shocked at the price. My view was that I wasn't going to buy unless it looked like it would go. When there was almost the minimum needed, I jumped in. On one hand, we don't want to pay a lot. On the other hand, the best way to continue the line is profit for the company making it. We get more toys, they make money. Everyone wins (sort of). Rock and a hard place....
I knew it was too much for what it is, I know I should support it, but I really wanted it, cut back on some purchases, sold some items to make some room and money for it and I’m stoked to get it.
Just discovered your channel.
I've been a Cherry Picker for years, but I am just about at the end of my collecting because of price increases. Sadly, I think I'll be pushed completely out within 2 or 3 years.
If MOTU figure prices go up because of this, I may be out sooner.
Awesome brake down. I truly appreciate how you , 3POA , Articulated ninja , and retro blasting have been explaining this. It really helps me to understand how it works
Absolutely spot on. I only had a mild interest in this playset at best as it holds no nostalgic value for me, but at $1200+ to get it here to Oz, no thanks. I'll wait for Snake Mountain, which I'm sure will now be double the cost of Grayskull thanks to this getting funded.
Great review. Thanks Tony. Hello from Mexico City
There was no limit to the number you could order, so most of the orders are probably sellers.
I agree on many of your views Tony but, hasn't the precedent already been mostly set from previous crowd-fund campaigns and various pre orders throughout the past decade?
Isn't this just because wages are going up in China? There's also the supply chain issues causing costs to go up because you have to pay extra to get into a factory but from what I understand wages are up substantially in China
Although I agree the price is a bit high I think this model is better to fight the scalping problem in our hobby. I would rather give a little extra money to Mattel than pay a scalper. At least this way everyone that wants one can get it and not get cut off by scalpers. I wish going forward most adult collectible toys would be made to order or crowfunded.
I'm sure the scalpers, and investors, are jumping onto these schemes as the limited production numbers and high after market values will too tempting to ignore.
@@edwinsmith-jones6205 Yes and I don't blame anyone for investing in this set. I think it would be a great investment. However, at least anyone that wants one can put in an order and not have to worry about it selling out in 2 minutes.
Couldn’t agree with you more Tony
This has opened the door for Mattel to follow Hasbro, both will now double down as they have references to say so
I'm so glad I collect McFarlane toys. I wish they could take a page out of his book and do people right. He's a privately owned company and it helps alot I'm sure.
Love how some channels/people rationalize the cost, by comparing it to the original going cost today. That's quite entertaining.
The original was extremely expensive too. Eternia's RRP was actually 100 bucks, or 270 dollars in 2022. The new version is bigger, has more action features, and comes with several action figures.
Eternia is not the set that screwed over collectors. It was the GI Joe Classified HISS Tank that did it, but nobody seems to make negative videos of that project which was fully funded in less than 24 hours.
I think it is because people really wanted the HISS- it was worth the premium price to them. From my experience with haslab you get a premium made adult collector focused toy from it not a mass release toy for kids. (Backed the sail barge, razorcrest and two over priced skystrikers that I can't wait to get)
Could Hasbro have put the HISS out at retail... I don't know? Probably? But the bigger and better question is do retailers want it? Is it worth the upfront cost for them? Are kids buying this stuff? Or is it only 30-40 somethings that are? Can they even sell it if they had it in store? Or would it go to clerance?
TRU doesn't exist anymore and department retail stores only have limited space for toys. Do they back the high up front costs of a large action figure playset that might sit on a shelve for months and then have to be cleranced out? Are the margins worth it? Do kids what this stuff?
I am guessing that if the retailers thought that it was worth it- they would be selling it. Barbie has a $199.99 barbie dream house out right now at my Walmart. Its cheaply made and big probably has a good margin for walmart and Barbie is a better seller then the boys action figures. And I don't know about you but as an adult I prefer my toys to be better made then the mass retail releases for kids.
The sad truth is collecting toys is a niche market esp. for us, adult collectors. Kids are not into these brands they rather be playing video games or apps or with stupid stuff like roblox and fortnite toys. Sad.
Hey Tony, yeah the price of Eternia was a little experiment in seeing what people were willing to pay.
And many felled for it.
It was also based on what the original costs this day on ebay etc.
You are correct on all points.
Sadly and pathetically this just adds to this age of stupidity.
And mind you, we all participate every time we purchase most items, but there are some like this playset that borders on criminal.
A playset like this?
Figures it cost Mattel to build it and ship it to the Continental United States about...$37.00.
Probably $6.00 less.
So I’ve found that in most cases the markups of items is around 50%. Sounds like a lot but consider items like clothing who’s markups are closer to 1200% (yes that’s serious btw that’s how clothing stores are everywhere and can afford 75% off sales).
I figure at retail this would sell around $200, so Mattel is making a mint off this one.
Well said! This is a devastating game collectors are playing with their wallets. Even though I have no interest in this playset it's still sad Mattel would go this route to the fans. I hated that I had to play the click fast enough game for a main character like Grizzlor. Pure rubbish the future of collecting.
What it will eventually move to is people just buying or designing the files & 3d printing the stuff themselves. Though ones ESG/carbon credit score will take a hit b/c its plastic.
If they did a Vintage Collection AT-AT haslab I would be all over it! See on haslab some projects get backed and some don't. If you want to pay more for something you can't get then people will pay.
Doesn't the online, direct-to-consumer model just fundamentally acknowledge that modern day action figures aren't for kids whatsoever? "Parents swipe up to preorder" yeah sure, my parents don't even know how to attach a photo to an email, I'm fairly sure they don't know how to order stuff through Hasbro Pulse. I just feel like this move intrinsically destroys the age-old argument that "You can't complain about these things, they're children's toys". If all large companies follow Hasbro, will there just be no toy stores parents can take their children to? Are parents going to sit in front of a computer with their kids on a Saturday afternoon scrolling through a website instead of taking a trip to Toys R Us?
First time I’ve seen your videos I am not a MOTU collector but I do TOTALLY agree with the price and cost and risk valuations, when a friend sent me the link to this my first reactions was-“that is ugly and way too expensive” but hey I if you like it and can afford it, go nuts!
I remember the when the has lab Star Wars barge came that to me was worth it as a collector you knew not many people would buy it, the latest has lab products look as though they could be released on mass market. Instead of trying to sell shit we don’t want why can’t they do market research and find out what we really want. They will taking as long as we allow them. Great video
I have a feeling that given this new (and quite bad, for the average consumer at least) precedent for them, Mattel will be doing yet another one of these crowdfunding campaigns for the recently anounced (more like a tease) MOTU Origins Snake Mountain; and very likely for a potential MOTU Origins Fright Zone future release, if they're up for it as well.
nah the Snake mountain will go to retail, the same as greyskull, they did get sold well and probably if it is prices similarly, everybody whom got Greyskull will get Snake mountain so it's a win win for mattel they get to sell they eternia set and both of the "smaller" set at retail.
@@juanjmiranda3478 I hope you're right.
Mattel will run the series into the ground before then. They’ll lose the liscences in 23-24 and finish the run with some stupid repaints passed off as “comic version” characters. We’ll never get a Fright Zone and I’m not confident we’ll see Snake Mountain if I’m being honest.
@@retrotoypile3838 Oh, I'm aware of that licensing issue, that they'll lose 1st option rights in a year or two. Mattel did drop the ball when they sold the MOTU IP. It's very likely they'll never ever do something like that again.
We who love LEGO have a similar problem. The price of small sets have increased yet are better than the sets from ten years ago. Now we have the huge LEGO UCS sets and Bricklink has their own special sets yet they’re owned by LEGO…it’s as if all new sets are special and the price reflects that “the fans are suckers” attitude from corporations!
Yep! I fear for the future of our hobby.
There’s no doubt this is an amazing set, but I couldn’t display this anywhere anyway even if I could afford it, so no internal struggle for me, but the price, once you include all the extras and shipping it’s coming out closer to £700!!!! Do me a favour Mattel 🤷🏻♂️
I would also like to add price hikes and massive dips in overall quality.
Great video! I have slowed down on collecting MOTU and the newer GI Joe figures because of the increasing prices. It's getting insane. I'd love the Eternia playset, but now way I'm paying anything close to that.
I couldn't agree more! These toy industries are getting way too expensive!
i never saw the She Ra figures as a kid, they were in the girls' aisle i just found out this year, i want Mattel to release She Ra figures, but in Masters of the Universe style but with the Princess of Power card art.
I couldn't agree more. I was astonished at the cost of Eternia and more shocked this successfully backed!
well it was target to adult collectors, we overgorwn childs that have now the money to buy the things our parents couldn't, of course it was gonna work! the situatio is simple, if you wan it you pay it, if you don't then won't buy it and if you can't well though luck, I am in the later of the three but I'm not whinning about in youtube, this is a hobby!!! but you know there are more important things, like eating, so it is what it is either you want it and you can, you want it and you can't, or you don't like it and you won't. in the latter two well good for the ones who could, but a surprise? nah not at all
As a backer, i have to say i agree, it is over priced. As a die hard fan and collector, i honestly see this as my only chance of getting this play set. The value will sky rocket for this as well after campaign.
It really sucks that it's supporting manufacturing price hike strategies. But I'm going to look at it as an investment and in support of this campaign in particlar. It was a tough internal battle but I rather be content with the cost and own Eternia than to miss the opportunity.
Hate to admit this, but you are 100% accurate Tony. I wish folks would wake up to this scheme
Eventually we will have to pay property taxes just to keep our action figures
If things keep on going like this, I will stop collecting. Sorry, I‘m not rich, I don‘t have much disposable income, especially now with the soaring energy prices here in Europe. I’m a teacher, have pets, take care of children etc, I can’t and I WON‘T pay these insane, overblown prices for Mattel, Hasbro and LEGO products. As much as it hurts me, I think I’m done.
I agree with you Tony, it's definitely price gouging. That being said I did buy it mainly for fomo. The only thing I can say is that if someone didn't care about the exclusive figures they could be sold later to regain probably half of the eternia cost which would bring the actual cost down to about 350.
As a data point, it’s usual for the wholesale price for many items is between 50 and 60% of the suggested retail price. In other words a $10 USD toy costs the retailer $6 USD. On average, in most cases, there are MANY little quirks and variations. Like getting an extra discount for ordering x quantity over a minimum, or a percentage discount for paying in full in 30 days, and so on.
For mass orders to retailers it’s not uncommon for shipping to be bundled into that wholesale price. Again, depending. Clearly Walmart doesn’t pay the same shipping as, say, Big Bad Toystore.
Now mind, that wholesale cost is designed to make a profit for the company. I doubt strongly that profit margin is only like 5%. I suspect, and this is completely an out-of-my-rump number, that if you have a $10 USD toy wholeselling for $6, that manufacturing costs may well be $3.
Then factor in exchange rate for Chinese money. So as shipping costs have risen, what has happened to the cost of manufacturing? Don’t they have contracts? If a company is contracted to make a toy for…hell I dunno, 1000 Won and that was $3 USD a year ago but now it’s more like $1.75, even with a 25% increase in bulk shipping aren’t they still making more profit now?
And if the Chinese factory says no, now that toy is 2000 Won to make screw the contract, well, that’s a real problem now.
And that’s my roundabout way of saying these crowdfunded mass-produced toys sold direct are just insane. You cannot build a brand or long term loyalty this way. This caters to the few real fans who have money and a LOT of scalpers who hope to ‘flip’ the thing quickly.
There will be a shocking number of Eternias with $1500 USD price tags gathering dust at 2023/24 toy shows…
Great vid! Hit the nail on the head with the price disparity from the vintage and origins.
The vintage figures were actually more expensive. He-Man cost $8.50 in 1982, which is equivalent to $25 in 2022.
@@Rocket1377 I highly doubt that since times were different and the economy was different. Materials were cheaper, and so was the value of the dollar. Somethings an inflation calculator doesn't put into consideration.
Totaly agree! I stopped collecting as its impossible to get these expensive exclusives overseas waiting 6+ months due to pre-order and have to pile up to save postal cost in my country as well it is absurd to collect these days! No fun, just frustration so I did quit and I am so happy I did! For the people who buying Hasbro and Mattel (or other) stuff, their choise and good luck but I'M OUT ;)
I agree with you.. although I pre-ordered the Eternia playset.
I really hope you enjoy it!
@@AnalogToys i hope so.. ☺️
I agree. I know it’s not a big comment, but you’ve put it just right. I used to collect 1:6 military figures but once they had increased their prices farther than 300% over 8 years, I happily quit the hobby. Principles people. Don’t be sheep. Vote with your feet. And yes the Hasbro Ghost Rider car is interesting but not enough to sell a kidney for.