modern toy prices... get these kids off my lawn

[misterdroid]

Maybe I am becoming a cranky old man, but have toy manufacturers lost their minds? I was at TRU last week, and apparently the shelves had just been stocked because I found several chase figures. One of these figures was an all black variant of the new 3.75 Mortal Kombat figures.
I personally could care less about this figure, but my son is a hardcore gamer and he loves cool looking, masked monochromatic figures. So I decide to grab him the figure. Figuring how much can it be I head to the checkout... well, the answer apparently, is $14.99! Fifteen bucks for a 3.75 inch figure with no accessories... holy crap that is expensive. Needless to say, I did not buy the figure. I cannot support such practices.
However, on later reflection, maybe I am the problem. Maybe I am suffering from cranky old man "back when I was you age"-itis. Is this what toys cost now days? I buy very little mainstream modern stuff... am I out of touch?

[Saroyan]

I think it's a little of both.

Toys are more expensive today than they were and it takes some getting used to- toy sellers also know that there is a collectible aspect to toys that didn't apply 25 years ago that may also figure into the price. From what I have seen from TRU- if an item doesn't sell, it does get marked down...after a while.

On the other hand, according to DollarTimes.com - Financial Calculators and Save Money Guide $14.99 in 2011 dollars had the same buying power as $7.20 in 1985. I wasn't buying any 3.75 in figures back then but I think they sold for less than $7!

[BlackKnight]

In 1985 3&3/4 Inch Joes and Star Wars were like 1.50 to 2 Bucks ...
& On the Military Base, where we lived ...., They had sales all the time, where they Could be had for a Buck a piece, then at Xmas Time 50cents each ....., Then That 1 wacked out X-mas ..., My Mom Fought with other Military Moms and Wives for them at 25cents each.

I think Super Powers were like 2.50to3.50 each.... Unless on Sale or Clearance.

I had a few Transformers, and Vehicles for 3&3/4 inch stuff ..., but didn't get many of those because of how Expensive they were for us.

[4NDR01D]

In 1985 3&3/4 Inch Joes and Star Wars were like 1.50 to 2 Bucks ...

I got a bunch of carded 1982 gi joe right in front of me with $3.25. no way were they that cheap unless marked down.

[cjefferys]

Yeah, $1.50 to $2.00 in 1985 had to be a markdown. Star Wars figures in 1978 cost me at least $2.99 each. Sure I'm in Canada, but I think even in the US they were retailing for around $2.50 back in 78. I didn't buy any Joes in the early 80's but I do remember seeing them retail for over $3.00 each.


But anyway, $14.99 retail for a 3 3/4" figure is completely nuts. Shouldn't even cost 10 bucks IMO.

[emeraldknight47]

Trust me, you are not alone regarding sticker shock on the prices of new toys. Part of what I don't understand is how the manufacturers can justify such a high price on a few pieces of plastic molded and assembled probably in China or Mexico for next to nothing. Yeah, the initial sculptor needs to get paid along with the designer, but come on: this IS a toy I'm buying, not a diamond ring or a freakin' kidney transplant!!!

[Toyman_Chris]

yeah. I deal with the sticker shock all the time. Drives me nuts. I cannot believe they charge $10 for the 3 3/4 teen titans. I bought em and returned em right away the next day. Figure I will wait for clearance or skip em.

[clemso]

I was thinking that the other day. Can you imagine what a toybiz Marvel legend new on retail would cost now. It makes you think. The cost of plastic perhaps.

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

I think it's a touch of the geezer, with a touch of the new paradigm. I remember Mego's being about $5 when I was a kid.... and that was a lot of money. Star Wars guys a few years later were around $4, and GI Joe was around $5. Those were notable sums back then. I think one of the confounding variables for newer stuff is that it has to be manufactured to higher standards, which ups the cost. (Old style SW figures would be seen as cartoony nowadays.) And even if they're not mini-works of art, companies charge a LOT more for licensing fees these days. Merchandaising is a HUGE source of income for anything, so companies wring as much as they can for them. That's probably why you don't see a lot of known name rack toys: it'd be WAY too expensive.

Don C.

[MIB41]

It's not the economy and it's not manufacturing. It's pricing according to what companies think the market will accept. Hasbro put out the retro 12 inch Adventure Team Joes a few years back for $14.99 a piece. Soon they became $9.99. There is alot more manufacturing in those than a 3 3/4 inch figure. Retro figures in the 8 inch format are on average $19.99. And their made in smaller volumes. So why would a figure with less than a third of the manufacturing cost about the same? It's consumer demand. Companies think the market will accept them at that price. And if you buy it, then your encouraging it. It's pretty simple. Companies will push pricing as high as they can if the product moves. Once sales stagnate, they'll know the high end value has been reached and will back off.

[Werewolf]

I got a bunch of carded 1982 gi joe right in front of me with $3.25. no way were they that cheap unless marked down.

I agree. I've still got one of my Crystar card backs from 1982 and it was $3.44 and that was at Kmart.

[BlackKnight]

I don't remember paying 3.50 for a Joe in 85.
My Mom only Made like 3.25 and Hour I believe ... , and there's no way she worked over an hr, just to buy be a Flipp'in figure.

But I was also Only 10 ...., And only got to buy Joes with my Lawn Mowing money ..., Which I think was 2 bucks, every 2 weeks.

[Earth 2 Chris]

It seemed like most action figures were under $5 forever. I don't really recall what GI Joes cost back in the 80s, but I'm thinking in the $3 to $4 range. Super Powers figures were around $5 I think. That same size carried over into the Batman movies and BTAS figures and they were around $5 throughout Kenner's run.

Remember just about 7 or 8 years ago when JLU 3-packs were $9.99? Now a single figure smaller than those costs about the same on average. Of course the articulation and detail are nicer, but still.


Chris

[Werewolf]

This actually a really interesting topic. I've been looking through some of the card backs and toy packages I've saved to see what the stuff used to cost.

Secret Wars Wolverine from Ben Franklin $3.49
Thundercats $5.99 at Toys R Us.
LJN Dungeons and Dragons $2.68 at Toys R Us
Kenner Indiana Jones Belloq $2.87 on sale for $1.52 at Toys R Us.
Strawberry Shortcake Sour Grapes $5.97 at Toys R Us.
MOTU Battlecat $5.27 at Service Merchandise.
Jem Pizzazz doll $12.97 Toys R Us.

[Figuremod73]

I remember heman figures being pretty expensive around '83 and they probably werent three bucks a piece. Miss those days...