My take on the Retro Batman line so far

[Wasimhosen]

I thought I was doing the Batman unboxing. I'm willing to bet the count was similar though. A lot of the same fanbase. I'm getting the DTK eventually but Batman was my first love.

Now you made me go and count...
In the picture, there are 45 boxes (before the boxes change size... I assume the smaller ones in the foreground are the 8 inch and the bigger are the 12 inch).
Boxes are labeled 12 pieces per box.
We don't know how many boxes have been unloaded, other ones behind the bigger boxes, other shipments, etc... but based on what we see, that's only 540 8 inch figures in that pic.

[sprytel]

Looks like a full truck to me. No idea how many. Certainly not as many as the Retro-Action.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...5369670&type=1

Now you made me go and count...
In the picture, there are 45 boxes (before the boxes change size... I assume the smaller ones in the foreground are the 8 inch and the bigger are the 12 inch).
Boxes are labeled 12 pieces per box.
We don't know how many boxes have been unloaded, other ones behind the bigger boxes, other shipments, etc... but based on what we see, that's only 540 8 inch figures in that pic.

[Wasimhosen]

I was thinking about getting these. But it sounds like they are crap so ill pass for now.

3 Out of 4 of mine were fine and they're making good on the 1. I wouldn't say they were crap just needs improvement.

[Luke Landwalker]

I was thinking about getting these. But it sounds like they are crap so ill pass for now.

[Wasimhosen]

What do you think FTC's production runs are, generally speaking...? Have they ever stated? Like, the Batman Series 1 assortment... I would think they would have at least produced 5,000 of each figure, no?

Looks like a full truck to me. No idea how many. Certainly not as many as the Retro-Action.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.551326911627693.1073741849.113907185369670&type=1

[Astronut]

Cost of tooling and dealing with a probably Chinese factory willing to produce small numbers makes the cost for us much higher.

What do you think FTC's production runs are, generally speaking...? Have they ever stated? Like, the Batman Series 1 assortment... I would think they would have at least produced 5,000 of each figure, no?

[Astronut]

You guys make a lot of sense, thanks for the replies. I LOL'd at #3 Sprytel. And yeah, FTC will live or die depending on nostalgic collectors like us. So I recently ordered a Mad Monster Series set, Batman Series 1 set, and KISS Series 1 & 2 sets just to get started. I have some original Megos and some of the Mattel Retro-Action figures but I really want to acquire as many carded Mego-like figures as I can. The nostalgia factor is astronomical with these things. Love 'em.

[Wasimhosen]

First let me say that I love the fact that these have come back and that FTC is supposedly doing many more DC characters. Now my question. I know inflation is a b*tch but you have to wonder how we went from $3 retail in 1983 to an identical figure for $30.00 retail today. Is that not beyond rate of inflation? I mean, a comic book was 60 cents in 1983 so at that rate a comic book would now cost $6.00. Am I missing something...?

Mego was mass producing these things so much that they were still on shelves years after they went out of business. The new run is more of a vanity line. Mattel tried and due to various reasons, distribution being the main one in my opinion, failed and they probably produced many more than Figures will. Cost of tooling and dealing with a probably Chinese factory willing to produce small numbers makes the cost for us much higher. I'm willing to give them another chance and I've preordered wave 2 and the Titans. I think they're small enough that every order counts and to continue to get these figures we need to support them. We weren't a big enough community to affect Mattel but we can Figures. The line will live or die by our patronage.
/gets off soapbox

[sprytel]

First let me say that I love the fact that these have come back and that FTC is supposedly doing many more DC characters. Now my question. I know inflation is a b*tch but you have to wonder how we went from $3 retail in 1983 to an identical figure for $30.00 retail today. Is that not beyond rate of inflation? I mean, a comic book was 60 cents in 1983 so at that rate a comic book would now cost $6.00. Am I missing something...?

In previous discussion, the top explanations given are:

1. The cost of the license from DC has increased well beyond the rate of inflation.
2. Old Mego figures were produced in much larger quantities, which kept prices down.
3. The FTC guys are greedy capitalists preying on nostalgic toy collectors.

Pick from that list whichever explanation(s) you'd like.

[Iron Mego]

Licensing fees are much more now than they were 30 or 40 years ago. It is how DC makes it money.

[Astronut]

First let me say that I love the fact that these have come back and that FTC is supposedly doing many more DC characters. Now my question. I know inflation is a b*tch but you have to wonder how we went from $3 retail in 1983 to an identical figure for $30.00 retail today. Is that not beyond rate of inflation? I mean, a comic book was 60 cents in 1983 so at that rate a comic book would now cost $6.00. Am I missing something...?

[Wasimhosen]

Let us know if the new body is equally too tight. Not going to bother contacting them right away if the fix is just as bad as the original.

- Marty

Will do.

[Wasimhosen]

I don't know if you have a New England comics close but they had the set for $115.95. Almost the same as from Figures with the shipping. Newbury is way overpriced on most things. NE is usually very reasonable.

Was in a Newbury comics store in New Hampshire last week and they were $32.99.

[megocrazy]

Saw these figures at my local comic shop. I thought they looked great. They had them at 29.99.

Was in a Newbury comics store in New Hampshire last week and they were $32.99.

[ubermanx]

That's exactly what was going on with my Batman. I contacted FTC and theyre sending a new body today.

Let us know if the new body is equally too tight. Not going to bother contacting them right away if the fix is just as bad as the original.

- Marty