[CLLCTR5]

Originally Posted by Ara1

Hey guys,

Here's what disappointed me this year.

Forcing a premium retail price via strong arm tactics.

.

TFM dropped MSRP prices by upwards of 20% plus on over 60% of the Armour line. There were no strong arm tactics...they only actually followed up on a rule that was in place but ignored for years.

[Ara1]

Originally Posted by CLLCTR5

TFM dropped MSRP prices by upwards of 20% plus on over 60% of the Armour line. There were no strong arm tactics...they only actually followed up on a rule that was in place but ignored for years.

They took action this year to ensure none of their retailers established their own price levels. I spoke to a (bricks and mortar) retailer last week. He's forced to sell his FMs for a higher price. If he says he's been strong armed, I believe him-- he's been in the model business for awhile and runs one of the largest shops in the region. He sells dozens of 1/72 armor per week at a price he manages, which is the way it should be.

The high price would be understandable if there was an increase in value. The newer releases may be better but the $32 Rufe I was going to buy 6 mos ago is exactly the same as the $60 one today.

[CLLCTR5]

Originally Posted by Ara1

They took action this year to ensure none of their retailers established their own price levels. I spoke to a (bricks and mortar) retailer last week. He's forced to sell his FMs for a higher price. If he says he's been strong armed, I believe him-- he's been in the model business for awhile and runs one of the largest shops in the region. He sells dozens of 1/72 armor per week at a price he manages, which is the way it should be.

The high price would be understandable if there was an increase in value. The newer releases may be better but the $32 Rufe I was going to buy 6 mos ago is exactly the same as the $60 one today.

I am also a brick and mortar. Bricks and mortars that try to be discounters are shooting themselves in the foot. Unless your brick and mortar is in the desert you are not making re-investment money on sales...you're basically working for free at best.

The most that TFM did was act on a pricing policy that has always been in place but not enforced. Just like the most successful collectibles company there is, Department 56 http://www.d56.com that and the fact that I will re-state...ALL of the smaller Armour were re-priced DOWNWARD by (not quite) 20% more like between 15%-20% is completely ignored in this case. All of the models that were previously $70 are now $60 and a few $80 are also $60. It is only the $90's and $135's that were marked up and it was only relative to the actual cost of manufacture. The old owners at TFM were very disorganized and if you can believe it did not base their retail price on the cost of manufacture. (?????) Unbelievable bad business by the previous owners...the new owners are only trying to correct it.

If you don't think the $175's are worth it...that is your opinion...and I respect it...but it has nothing to do with the actual cost of manufacture. Those models were created by the old TFM and if the new TFM do not sell them at $175 they will simply stop making them.

Just remember when you speak of TFM...you are speaking of owners that have just been put in place. They are basically a brand new company with old toolings and a shiny logo that is recognized by tens if not hundreds of millions. Different girlfriend...same name. Don't blame her for taping over your collection of Baa Baa Blacksheep because that was the old girlfriend.

[SKUNKY]

Originally Posted by CLLCTR5

.....Different girlfriend...same name. Don't blame her for taping over your collection of Baa Baa Blacksheep because that was the old girlfriend.

...Are you just speaking metaphorically or do we know each other from somewhere?...

[CLLCTR5]

Originally Posted by SKUNKY

...Are you just speaking metaphorically or do we know each other from somewhere?...

[TopHat]

Originally Posted by SKUNKY

...Are you just speaking metaphorically or do we know each other from somewhere?...

Does Mrs. S. know about this Baa Baa Black Sheep-overtaping girlfriend?

[SKUNKY]

What Mrs. "S" doesn't know, won't hurt me....

[pfb6736]

Any news or rumors on 2008 models ? It's October and need to figure out what I (I mean my wife) will be buying for the Holidays

Thanks

[John Youngs]

[quote=Armour Addict;52892]Ha, way to go Skunky!
I tend to see life the same way.

AA - Yup, me too! Personally, I'd like to see more "Vietnam-era" planes such as the A-4 Skyhawk, the MiG-21, the F-8 Crusader, and most of all, the F-100 Super Sabre (or "Hun" as it was referred to back then...). The SR-71 would be nice, but other then an F-12 (which "didn't exist" according to our gov't) which I personally observed landing at Kadena AFB in Okinawa (they rolled it straight into a hangar & shut the doors behind it! The F-12 was the "interceptor", missle-carrying version of the SR-71. It was best distinguished by the large folding fin underneath the center of the tail section), most of us never saw much of the SR. A Cessna A-37 would be nice, as well as a nice collection of A-1 Skyraiders (Sandies or Spads) incl. BOTH cockpit versions. But, these will probably not happen anytime soon, if ever. It's a lot cheaper to roll out different versions of existing molds, as you pointed out earlier... - JY

[John Youngs]

[quote=Armour Addict;52892]Ha, way to go Skunky!

I tend to see life the same way.

I got an even better idea... - how about a 1/48th scale B-52 "D" or "G" model... - wonder what that puppy would weigh... - JY