Star Wars Toys are a Rip Off ?

I went to Target the other day to find some of the new SW figures to no avail. But I did notice that the Marvel Legends figures were on sale for $2.99. I picked a couple up because they looked pretty cool and I can't resist a good bargain! Anyways I opened them up and they are super nice figures, tons of articulation and detail, feel very sturdy and stand up easily, and come with a fee comic and a piece of a giant Galactus toy (collect all 7 to build him). I couldn't help but think even at their normal retail price of $6.99 these figures are a great value. Then I started thinking about how SW figures run anywhere from $5 - $11 (starwarsshop.com) and they are only a fraction of the size of these Marvel figures and nowhere near as much articulation.

It seems like Hasbro could easily sell the basic SW figure for $3 retail and still make a good profit. Paying an average price of $5.99 for a little SW figure with no articulation or cool accesories in comparison to the $6.99 Marvel figures really makes them seem like a rip off.

I was just wondering how you all feel. I always buy most of the SW toys during movie years, and then in non-movie years my addiction dies down and I only buy what I really want or stuff that is on sale. I really don't see myself collecting SW in the future besides clearance items unless Hasbro lowers their prices or they start a new line of figures similiar in quality and price to Marvel Legends or McFarlane toys.

 

Marve legend rock but i still want sw toys.

 

Yeah I'll always love SW toys over everything else.......but do you feel you are getting what you pay for with each basic figure at $5-6?

 

Key word "Sale".

 

$2.99 seems very low for a marvel legends figure even on sale. I always see them in the $7-$9 range.

Do I think that SW toys are a rip off. No not any more than anything else in this world. I can accept that there is a certain premium due to the name but if I felt it was to high and I was getting ripped off I probably wouldn't buy them.

I think Hasbro has done some pretty impressive things in that scale. Its easier to make larger scale figures with more articualtion etc. then it is to make something in the 3 3/4 range.

 

I'm not saying they're a rip-off, but I do think they're a tad overpriced. As quickly as they go on sale or clearance now, I've found that I'm generally putting off getting new ones until they go on sale. If I see a figure that I particularly like, I have no problem going ahead and getting it, but anything that doesn't absolutely spark my interest tends to be left on the pegs in hopes of a later sale. Sure, I occasionally miss out on something by waiting, but I have yet to lose my mind just because I missed out on a figure.

I do think the idea of keeping them limited in terms of articulation, or keeping them at their current size is an homage to the original line. I think there was a tiny backlash on the 'roided up figures in that first line back in '96(?). Either way, sure, it'd be great if they were cheaper. But I assume since they're not, they're selling quite fine at the their current price.

 

It seems like Hasbro could easily sell the basic SW figure for $3 retail and still make a good profit.

No...as a matter of fact they couldn't.

 

I always thought the price was fair, when I was a kid, toys cost around the $5 mark as well. So I have no problem paying $6 for a toy today.

 

When I was a kid toys were free so $6.00 is quite a jump from that

 

I do feel the Star Wars figures are a tad expensive. If they were a $1 less that would be great.

 

i've thought the price of SW figures was high for a long time, and marvel legends are a great example of what the line could be. look at any other line--LOTR, Marvel, Batman, FF, TMNT,--star wars figures are the smallest for the money.

i think the only reason they stick to the 3 3/4" format is for nostalgia.

 

Yeah, and I think its a valid reason.

I for one don't want the line looking like any of those figures you mentioned. If I did I'd buy more unleashed then I do.

 

I remember when POTF2 first came out you could regularly get the figures at TRU on sale for $3.99, which is a decent price.

I guess I will also mention that I feel the Unleashed figures are a great deal at $15, since they are comprable to statues that would cost waaaay more.

 

I always thought the latest $5.99 ROTS figures weren't top form and really not worth the $5.99. I'd like to own a few of the figures but the sculpts and details just don't seem worth that kind of money.

 

I tend to agree and I myself took advantage of the Marvel Legends sale at target(2.99 a piece thats a steal I can keep one set sealed then open the other and create my 16in galactus!) Marvel legends though regularly are about 6.99 a pop and mcfarlane toys(unless on sale will run anywhere from 7.99 and up).

However I found some decent deals at KB toys the other day all their star wars toys are buy 1 get the next 50% off(So I picked up a 12in chewbacca exclusive and obi wans starfighter) The line has gotten better in the articulation department though with the ROTS toys.

And I also agree that they keep them that size for the nostalgia factor.

My personal faves at this point though are the unleashed line I love these things!

 

I don't think SW toys are rip offs. Sure, they're high priced, but that probably has a lot to do with license fees and of course the popularity of SW at this point.

What does bother me, though, is that for example a Clone Commander is priced at $6 - $7, but the new Commander Bacara at $12 - $14! Back in the day every SW figure had the same price.

Oh, by the way, those prices are online prices. Due to an apparent lack of vision of the Dutch retailers I'm dependent on online shopping...

 

Some of the deluxe figures are rip-offs such as the Droid Starfighter. Back in 99 you could get three of them in a set for 14.99 and that included a handle to hold them in formation. Now Hasbro is selling just one fighter for 9.99 and only tossing in a token buzz droid. Come on, the air trooper should just be a basic figure since it could easily fit in the basic packing.

Don't get me started on the "deluxe" General Reinkeen from the Saga line.

 

Yeah I think many of the "deluxe" figures are the most obvious rip offs. $10 for Rieken with a piece of extra plastic, Jabba's court denizens, and even the new ROTS ones that you mentioned.

 

Well, here in Chile the average price for a Star Wars figure in a common store is $7.990 chilean pesos and that's like 12-13 dollars each!!! so yeap, I consider it a rip off.. But I still buy them, though...

 

i definitely felt ripped off by the deluxe clone trooper with jetpack. it should have been a basic figure. it's not worth $10.

 

4.99 would be perfect.

 

Honestly though, when was the last time any us paid retail for an ROTS figure. $3.97 is what I picked most of mine up at.

Yeah, thats one of the main problems with online retailers. You shop "scalper" sites you pay scalper prices. It sucks for those of you in other countries but thats the way it is. Take a $5.99 figure and charge $12 for it just because its new or "rare".

 

I think the deluxe figs(except for operating table anakin and the clonetrooper packs) are a rip once sidious, obi wan, jet pack clone etc go on clearance I will gladly pick them up but 9.99 is too much.

 

Welcome to a Capitalist market! Companies charge what people pay! It's a sad fact that if none of us bought SW toys for $6-10 then Hasbro would charge less. Think about it... there are collectors out there with 20+ clone troopers all about for $6-10. Also they own all of the figures in a series...this is thousands of dollars a year just from a couple collectors. Add in the fact the figures are foreign made for probably only a few cents a piece. Plus after market rip offs, ebay, and high public demand....you add all this up and you get a product worth well less than the production cost and retail price. God Bless America!!!!

 

Actually, the real reason that Marvel legends are less expensive than SW is that Toybiz (makers of ML) OWNS the liscense to make them, so they dont have to pay liscensing fees.

Hasbro has huge fees to pay to lucasfilm and has to renew the liscense every few years. That explains a large part of the pricing scheme.

onward