[Phantom Phan1200]

I agree 1/48 is always more impressive looking on the shelf when compared to 1/72.

I think the reason CW ships all their product to Japan fist is to supply the Top Gun stores. My suggestion is only ship what they need for their stores to Japan & drop ship the rest of their product from China to distributors around the globe.
It would save us all a little $$ & help prevent CW from going the way of the dodo bird.

[Epapazian]

Originally Posted by Gort

Couldn’t agree more, Epapazian. I’ve beat the drum on this theme so hard I’ve punched a hole through it. But bare with me one more time ...

Prices are rising like a tide. As they do (and please excuse this silly simile), more and more collectors will struggle to keep their ever lovin’ noses above water, until, finally, they can’t. Lucky survivors will doggy paddle until they, too, succumb.

In other words, collectors will purchase fewer models the higher prices climb. And at some point as prices overtake people’s ability to pay, the diecast world, as we know it, will collapse.

Can’t say when that’ll happen. Can’t say for sure it’ll happen. But buyers’ pockets are only so deep, and if this CW issue portends the future, I'd advise we take swimming lessons.

In the marketing world, the traditional "solution' for this problem is to use the high priced "quality" brand as a kind of "loss leader" while 'line-extensions"---in our case, smaller scale, less detailed diecast models or, perhaps 1:72nd scale hybrids ( plastic with some metal ) are introduced to lure specific mindsets within the total consumer base ( price-conscious collectors, for example ). Also, savvy marketers spare no effort to draw in new customers. Classic examples are the fruit juice brands pitching people to drink their product on all eating occasions---not just at breakfast, A-1 steak sauce trying to sell itself as a hamburger add-on---not just for steaks, and many others. One hopes that Hornby and Hobby Master appreciate the need to promote military diecast collecting---and there are so many ways to do this---so their overall customer base grows large enough to support a variety of products---some high priced with modest production runs and others going the "mass"distribution route. Do that, and everybody wins.

[jjgilz]

I agree with Epapazian. The challenge is to broaden the hobby. Right now, companies can't produce enough to lower the price. 1,000 to 2,000 models worldwide is NOTHING compared to other collectables. The challenge is to keep prices low while searching for that sweet-spot of models that appeal to the hobbyist and the masses and we need to expand the hobby to appeal more to the masses. I believe that we need more modern military models. Could you imagine if CW made an A-10 or F-18 with all of the current units? Each unit would buy at least 100 or 200 alone plus you add in the standard 1,000 to 1,500 models. Thats a start to expanding the hobby. Even casual model collectors would notice the difference in quality. If you find that sweet-spot, let me know... I'd like AimHigherJets.com to be the first to carry it! hehe

Jeff

[Cardinal]

Originally Posted by ChairmanMilo

Boys, did you read the Flying Mule newsletter? Prices aren't going up across the board. The price of his VF-41 F-14 exclusive are going up from $69.99 to $74.99, a $5 increase. Nowhere in his newsletter does he mention anything about the prices of other CW releases going up that high. For an exclusive release we should all expect to pay a bit more, right?

In a few of the webshops that I frequent I don't see the price of new CW releases going up past $60. Why are you all so upset?

Quoted from the May 7, 2008 Flying Mule Newsletter:

Some disappointing news to share this week—we've been forced to raise the price of our upcoming exclusive Century Wings F-14 Tomcat (Jolly Rogers) from $69.99 to $74.99. Unfortunately, the factory in China where these models are produced have made this necessary, citing increased production costs, including an rise in the price of materials, fuel and labor, and the addition of a "poison inspecition cost," which was recently implemented in response to increasing pressure from the United States. We regret that this may also mean further price increases in the months to come, so be sure to read future newsletters for updated information.

Now, the question is, is the price increase because of the 'exclusivity' of the release or because of the cited increased production and 'compliance' costs?

[trex0770]

Originally Posted by Cardinal

Quoted from the May 7, 2008 Flying Mule Newsletter:

Some disappointing news to share this week—we've been forced to raise the price of our upcoming exclusive Century Wings F-14 Tomcat (Jolly Rogers) from $69.99 to $74.99. Unfortunately, the factory in China where these models are produced have made this necessary, citing increased production costs, including an rise in the price of materials, fuel and labor, and the addition of a "poison inspecition cost," which was recently implemented in response to increasing pressure from the United States. We regret that this may also mean further price increases in the months to come, so be sure to read future newsletters for updated information.

Now, the question is, is the price increase because of the 'exclusivity' of the release or because of the cited increased production and 'compliance' costs?

Well if the upcoming Tomcat is a US exclusive wouldn't the overall cost be less since it's from an existing mold and paint scheme (except the number). It also shouldn't need to be ship to Japan first (remember it's a US exclusive).....good thing it's a US exclusive otherwise it'd it'd be more expensive?!?

BTW, what does the "poison inspection cost" entail? Does the Chinese gov't "hire" people to inspect the models by licking each plane to check for poison???? I don't get it.

[Epapazian]

Originally Posted by trex0770

Well if the upcoming Tomcat is a US exclusive wouldn't the overall cost be less since it's from an existing mold and paint scheme (except the number). It also shouldn't need to be ship to Japan first (remember it's a US exclusive).....good thing it's a US exclusive otherwise it'd it'd be more expensive?!?

BTW, what does the "poison inspection cost" entail? Does the Chinese gov't "hire" people to inspect the models by licking each plane to check for poison???? I don't get it.

As Corgi, Carousel and others may have learned---I hope---- don't trust the Chinese about anything to do with diecast production.

[kingpin]

Originally Posted by trex0770

BTW, what does the "poison inspection cost" entail? Does the Chinese gov't "hire" people to inspect the models by licking each plane to check for poison???? I don't get it.

Thats funny!

Glen

[kingpin]

Hello

I was updated on the pricing issues

the 1st F-8 will be suggested retail of $69.99 along with the Jolly Rogers F-14 at $69.99 SRP

After that I was told to look at the $74.99 SRP as being the standard for future releases..

Also only 1250 of the 3000 production on the F-8 Checkmates is being brought to the USA to sell the rest is abroad.

This is no different than the Nascar market constant price increases every year.

Racers Den will do our best to absorb our cost increases to try to keep the prices at a resonable level..


Thanks
Glen

[HotTrap429]

Originally Posted by Epapazian

This seems to be the way the diecast market is evolving. The quality manufacturers are going to raise their prices and collectors are going to buy fewer models and be more selective about their purchases. I used to jump on most new entries as soon as the first version appeared. Then, I would buy three or four others, more or less, as they appeared----even if some weren't really my favorites. Except for HM's Kate and a few others, I now wait to see what the next set of liveries look like before making a decision on which one of the first batch to buy.

Sadly, I have no CW planes. They came out already out of my price range. Epapazian's comments are an echo of my sentiments. I really couldn't afford much on a teacher's salary before and I can afford even less now. That's why I'm buying planes I like that are sold at reduced prices (21st Century, HM sale items, older Corgi molds, an occaisional Witty, etc....).

[Gort]

Originally Posted by HotTrap429

Sadly, I have no CW planes. They came out already out of my price range. Epapazian's comments are an echo of my sentiments. I really couldn't afford much on a teacher's salary before and I can afford even less now. That's why I'm buying planes I like that are sold at reduced prices (21st Century, HM sale items, older Corgi molds, an occaisional Witty, etc....).

I think a lot of us are in the same boat, HotTrap. As much as we love this hobby, coldblooded economic reality is making it tougher to purchase new diecast goodies. Thank goodness for stores like Tuesday Morning and excellent MHII members with models to sell.