TFCC Exclusive "news" about universe seacons

Ah, sorry. I wasn't aware that any "official" pictures of the toy were still available, so yeah I guess this doesn't necessarily mean that any small changes will be made to the final product.

Last updated March 10th
(This update: 5 new TF Universe 2.0 toy reviews)

The molds have been produced, though. Twice, at least. (G1 and Japan) Both times, you could get the set for around $35-40 (In the case of Japan, the set was under 4000 yen. That's about $35 today. I can't speak with authority at the moment to what it was a few years ago, but if memory serves, it would still have been in the $35-40 range.). The $30 bit is, I'm sure, a bit of a guess, but it's still a realistic one. Although there's been inflation since the original uses of these molds, technology has also advanced to the point where the toy companies can do more for less. This is why I think a $5 standard figure for the limbs is probably a fair guess.


I won't call this figure impossible. I do think it's high, but it's realistically so.

Given the lack of remolds (and remember, Astrotrain also had minicons), I'd love to see this set at around $50-60. And as much as I'd like this set, if it's more than that, I'll probably end up passing.

I've addressed most of this already, so I'll only say that "I'm sorry you'll probably be passing on this toy"

Let's be realistic, at least. I just don't see $50-60 as realistic. We've pretty much NEVER gotten an exclusive at only 1.5 - 2 times retail....

I think the two variables we need to explore while pricing this is:

1) How many units will be produced?
2) No remolds

How many Astrotrains and Airazors were made? 2000?

How much development and mold production for their new heads did FP had to pay?

I'm pretty sure that'd be a huge chunk of the money needed to order production of the exclusives ... so I agree with G.B. and Foster about this probably being below $100. Probably around $75-87.

$50-60 would be wishful thinking ... but who knows? FP may surprise us.

-airfox

Hmm....looks like I'm going to have to finally join the club so that I can order those things as soon as they are up. Of course at the same time I've sort of wanted Airrazor and the combiners since I'm a sucker for clear figs, so I may end up spending a bit on all this club stuff.

That's a good point. Everybody's trying to guess what would be a reasonable price--but FP is gonna sell 'em for as much as they can. 'Cause that equals more profit, and ol' Brian has strippers and coke to worry about, right?

But I'm thinking just under $100 works to maximize profit while keeping the cost acceptable to hardcore fans--which is basically who's gonna be buying these.

In this vein, I do have a question (not one to which I expect an answer). I wonder how quickly FP wants to "sell-off" their exclusives before they begin to think they've made too many? Both Astrotrain and Airazor are still available. Therefore, one might argue that they either made too many, or priced them too high. If the cost to FP per unit is going to be roughly the same for 1000 as it is for 2000 units (as Pete's suggested), then we probably can't expect too much wiggle room on the price they charge us (although there may certainly be some. As you say, they'll want to charge as much as they think that they can get away with). But they also want to make sure that there are enough made so that everyone who wants one gets it. Make too many, they lose money. Make too few, they anger club members, who might leave, resulting in, again, lost money.

But back to the original question. Does FP consider the fact that Astrotrain and Airazor are still available to even be a problem? If their vision for these is "longer term" than a year, then we probably can't expect them to be doing too much adjustment to the basic pricing model. If they hoped to be sold out inside of six months, they'll want to do something different. Either in terms of price or (more likely, in my opinion) in terms of how many toys are produced.

Of course, I'm well aware that this is my most speculative post on the matter yet. Feel free to offer opposing viewpoints.

A big problem with the Club right now is that's essentially pointless for some people to to join unless they plan on making at least two purchases. One's the convention, if it's feasible, then you have to choose one of the at most two exclusives offered during that same year. Personally, I don't have any especially ill will towards the club yet but I really don't see much being done to dissuade me or who knows how many other fans of that conclusion either.

The _idea_ of the Seacon set is definitely a step in the right direction, but any number of factors could turn it into a step backward just as easily.

Yes, but right there you're using member prices, and not what us non-members would be paying, as a starting point. That's $127 for Astrotrain (retailed at $25 during Armada 4 years ago) and $82 for Airrazor (retailed at $10 during Energon 2 years ago). On top of that, your estimate is also based at least in part on on what _Walmart_ might've charged and I know at least some people heard "Classic" Devastator originally pitched for less than $30 too. Plus, given all the fanfare about this set and movie related hype, there's going to be alot of temptation to increase the price just because they think/know it'll be hot.

I would be VERY surprised if the MC/FP Seacons show up with a price under $125/$150.

They need to turn down that orange.