TRU raises price on "retro-action" figures

[hedrap]

Crazy. This has to be a TRU price increase or Matty is nuts to jump the MSRP. It's as if no one studied Mego during 70's stagflation.

If GA sold out, twice, and TRU is beginning to see peg warmers, than doesn't that mean Retro Action could be less if they were sold exclusively through Matty?

[MIB41]

That's BS... The response to Wave One had everything to do with the novelty of getting a Mego-like figure again. Novelty over...I will sit on these if their truly $22.00 a piece. I guess they think fan boys will be fighting over the RC, helmet head, Batman so their taking advantage. Whatever! I have five of the original Mego RC Batmans. Mattel can't touch them. I went into a TRU tonight and they had 18 of these warming the pegs. The people involved in this gig are getting greedy and coming on this forum playing coy about it. "Oh they were very successful!" Spare me the mind screw. And I thought Hasbro was a bunch of money grubbing w*ores.

[geoffdude]

Wow. I'm going to respond to A LOT of these post on this subject.

Here we go.

Regards,

g.

[geoffdude]

Was in TRU yesterday and it's that time of year again.....prices are getting raised on a store wide range...since "retro" is selling well it's fair game...they're going from $19.99 to $22.99...I was told not ever store is increasing their prices but most are...wave 2 is due out any time now so this is a bummer...I know Mattel feels the retro figures are worth more than this so the price will probably stick......every one chime in and lets see how many stores are affected

This is insane.

This probably means Mattel has raised the wholesale price on FUTURE retro figure assortments, and TRU is reacting NOW by passing that price increase to current stock.

Mattel is infamous for doing this on most of their DC toy lines.

g.

[geoffdude]

yeah good luck with that one toys r us

"IF" this is a true fact, then TRU did NOT do this on their own. They are passing on the price increase Mattel is setting for wholesale.

Understand.. Mattel sets the price for retail by what they charge on wholesale.

g.

[geoffdude]

They are going the wrong way with the price.
They would sell more volume and make more in gross if they went a couple of bucks the other direction. Unless there is a minimum price set by Matty, online vendors can cut the sales of TrU on this.

No they can't.. not if Mattel has raised the wholesale price (which is probably the case).

g.

[geoffdude]

No disrespect to the line but the figures aren't worth anything over $12.00

They're just plastic and cloth like any other figure

Actually, yes they are (unfortunately). It's not 1985 anymore. Look at the prices of action figures 1/2 their size ($8.99 for most). These figures are normal priced, at current prices for most toys, for the $18-$20 currently charged. I don't champion the price point, I'm just stating it's in line with other toy lines.

Raising the wholesale price though is WAY beyond reasonable however.

g.

[geoffdude]

I hope this isn't gonna be the general rule for these from now on. Huge mistake if you ask me, this is definitely gonna kill the line. I hope the Doc can shed some light on this

It may be. And don't expect too much from Doc on this matter.. as he seems to be towing the line with respect to staying in check with Mattel issues these days (my opinion).

g.

[geoffdude]

Plastic... petroleum... oil spill... $$$

Any excuse to jack the prices up.

This is not the reason at all. Mattel is REALLY just revenue hungry these days. They have raised the wholesale prices on all DC action figure lines (4 lines that I know of) over the last 6 months or so. The price increases have been quite gross on the JLU toy line specifically. Simple matter or corporate greed at work.

g.

[rche]

No they can't.. not if Mattel has raised the wholesale price (which is probably the case).

g.

precisely my point g. If Matty has either raised the wholesale, or raised the MAP, the TrU will follow suit. If TrU is merely raising the retail price, which you are suggesting they would not do, then they could be undercut by online vendors.

However; and I am still viewing this piece of info as rumor; it would still make more sense to increase distribution and thus increase sales, decrease cost due to volume, and increase the overall gross even if lowering the price by a few bucks. If the products are selling better than initially anticipated, the above theory makes more pocketbook sense than to maintain the current sales footprint but increase the bottom line.


I am still viewing this as rumor tho, as stated. Only a few more weeks to the comic con. I would hope the pricing info will come at that time, along with some new pics of what is in store for this line.

[geoffdude]

Wave 1 sales exceeded expectations. Green Arrow sold out in three weeks
both times.

The only other places to buy them retails for $25.00.

With all due respect Doc.. but what does any of that have to do with the price of tea in China?

Basically what you're saying is that because "initial" sales "seemed" pretty good, Mattel feels validated to raise wholesale prices. And by your statement above.. you think this is true? And acceptable?

Wrong.

I've seen this exact situation play out before.. if the price increase is true, it WILL stifle future sales. The line may make enough profit for Wave 2 to make some production money back, but by wave 3, these things will be hanging on TRUs pegs at the $23 price point and no one will want them. TRU will not order more, and Mattel will stop production.

Current sales are NOT enough to justify any price increase.. I don't care what any bean counters say.

g.

[geoffdude]

Meaning the price for wave 2 has gone up as well?

Doc won't say, or admit, it.. but that would be MY guess. Wholesale prices by Mattel raised = retail prices increased.

g.

[geoffdude]

Is this the beginning of the end of the Retro-Action Heroes? One of those lines that suddenly vanish?

Many toy lines never get beyond a wave 2. The factors for why are too many to list. This line could die for many reasons.. but ANY price increase would contribute for sure to the lines early death.

Mattel really is out of touch on what price points are truly reasonable in the current economic environment. The prices, and sales tactics, they employ on matty.com are just beyond belief.

regards,

g.

[starsky]

not unless tru wanted to get greedy and make an extra $3 per figure.

[geoffdude]

This all makes good business sense. As a customer, I don't like seeing prices go up, but I recognize that raising prices is probably the right move for TRU. Why not make a little more $?

It's hard to argue that raising prices is a terrible idea if the product is doing better than expected. Ideally, they'll now have enough margin to put this line on sale, and work it into some of their ad circulars.

Hi Duncan,

Partner.. you're a bit out of touch with the reality of the situation.. sorry, but it's the truth. This toy line will not be in any TRU ad circular... ever. It's not an item/product worthy of that space.

Raising prices on any product is not GOOD business (basic business 101). Adding MORE value to a product for current price IS good business.

However, I don't fault TRU, as I see them as passing on price increases from Mattel.

And for the record.. I really don't think this line IS doing better than expected. Just my knee-jerk feeling.. but I'm tripping all over these figures each and every time I visit Toys R Us, or visit their web site, or AMAZON, or other online toy sites selling them.

Regards,

g.