Quality vs price? Where is the line crossed?

[tylerh]

Hi all -

Trying to get my first prototype together I came to thinking -

There are 2 ways I can make my figure - One is with all the extras - Cape, pants instead of colored plastic, etc -

BUT - I would have to see them for like 45$ to cut close to even!!

Or, I can skimp out, and do a thinned down version, and probable see for 30$ comfortably

Wondering - If you are buying a hand assembled limited edition figure (like under 50 or 25 run) What is more attractive to you? Is the $15 even a factor if you like the figure either way?

Hoping to have a pic of my prototype figure head soon for you all!

[DocDrako]

Well, Zica's Buck Rogers line is so loaded with detail & extras that $30 is a good price as far as I'm concerned. If I had the extra money, I would own Tigerman by now. I wouldn't pay $30 for a Retro-Action figure.

Whatever avenue you choose, I am intrigued by your thread and will watch for your prototype.

[bobws]

Depends on the figure and character. The Mego Meet exclusive is something like that and i only have wanted 2 of the 6 so far.

[MIB41]

Value is always in the eye of the beholder. But just as with production figures, execution is usually the biggest part of selling your custom. The sculpt needs to be clean and the paints applied well. There are also a few really good outfit makers out there right now. So if your doing the costume yourself, you have to make sure your up to specs with those guys and gals. With so many folks making their own customs, you have to rise to top of that heap to really sell your own for any kind of serious money. My opinion.

When your talking about commercial lines, alot plays into that. What they look like is as important as who the characters are. For all the hub bub over what it takes to get these to the shelf, ultimately you have to make what the market demands. For some lines, I have understood why they didn't work. With others, I'm left scratching my head. One thing I have learned - If I was in the business of making figures, I would really do a serious market analysis to see what license is ripe for a hit. Alot of ideas get tossed around here. But seldom is there enough business to justify an entire run of figures just from one forum.

[sprytel]

$45 for a limited run figure does not sound out of line. Not knowing the character, it is hard to say... but in your example above, "pants" seems like an extra worth investing in. Mego fans will be much more forgiving of shortcuts that are "the way Mego would have done it" (like screen-printed bodysuits rather than individual articles of clothing).

[Wee67]

Depends on the figure and character.

Gotta agree with this. If it was a character I loved, then I'd probably be willing to spend a little more. Even with a lot of the Re-Megos going for about $20 each, some lines I eat up and others I pass by.

Its really a balance between the cost and love of the character.

[generic]

Its really a balance between the cost and love of the character.

Yep, I think this statement sums it all up.

[galaxyexplorer42]

If I want a character, then I'll more than likely get the figure regardless of quality. In saying that, great quality is ALWAYS better that shoddy quality, so when i get the doll that i get, great quality is a bonus. Ill always pay a few more bucks for better quality.

[drmego]

The truest indicator is the Mego Meet exclusive. No more than 40 have
ever been made, all characters that are well known, for about $30 each,
in a room full of die hard mego fans, and there are usually about 10
left over at the end of the weekend.

If this character is your own creation, you better have a good back story
to explain it.

[tylerh]

A lot of interesting info here -

Hopefully I should have a complete prototype by the weekend - Ill show pics and see if there is any interest -

Its not MY character but its The Headless Horseman - I have always loved that character and wanted to do one - even before I found out Castaway had already - But I think mine is a different enough take .. I guess I will see!!

[tylerh]

Also - I guess one option would be to just produce my own scupts as just heads, with a "recipe" card for how to create the rest of the figure - That way people can go as big or small as they want!