If I'm not wrong, the MSRP of FT-30A Maverick is around $125 in China. It is priced at $180 in USA.

That's during normal times.

 

Shit, they dropped the pre order amount... I paid 20 quid last week! Bugger! Ah well...

 

I emailed showz this question. I'll post here as soon as I get something back

 

And there’s why the after market pricing exists. False scarcity and panic buying just like this years toilet paper.

 

Shhhhh. Don't say toilet paper to loud the Karen's will hear you.

 

That comes out to the same ratio as every other FT product mentioned in my posts (Berserk, Thomas, Sheridan), so you're not observing anything unusual there. I'm sorry you're having this much trouble grasping the pricing structure of FT products and how China prices relate to NA costs and retail prices. I feel like I've let you down despite doing my best to explain how it works without giving away anything confidential, and stating what is real compared to what we might wish were the case.

 

I wouldn't call it false scarcity, nobody's trying to return their hoarded Stunticons to retailers after they realize they don't need a pallet's-worth like toilet paper. There's real scarcity based on how many figures FT can get out the door.

Their product always sells out eventually but now people are stuck at home with nothing to do but shop online after a 3-4 month drought from FT (with their workforce only at 60%). You can't count on anything sitting around at retailers on release anymore.

 

The false scarcity is FT themselves. How is it they are one of the most popular yet they miraculously can't put out anywhere near the amount other companies do? That ain't factory space or this year's situation, that's false scarcity which is only helped by the panic buying (which has been happening for years).

 

What if I told you FT ships as much or more to retailers than other 3Ps, it is the demand that is higher not the supply being lower.

 

I think FT puts out more product than any other 3P. Even in a pandemic they're getting back to about 1/month only missing a few months. XTB hasn't had a single release this year, has any 3P put out/scheduled more than FT?

 

I would say that's false since when we ask certain retailers they seem to talk about being sent a limited supply.

More unique molds, sure. But they hardly release anywhere near the same amount of a certain character.

 

Weren't those comments made in regards to limited-run repaint figures like Phoenix-X, Sovereign-M, Quietus-T? Or were they comments by Asian sellers, not NA retailers? What I posited is true regarding the major NA retailers that work with FT. They get plenty of stock from FT and still sell out of it.

 

They've been mentioned for both regular and special releases from both Asian and NA sellers

 

I'm going to remain skeptical because I see how many units come to NA retailers and how quickly they sell through them, so the anonymous statement you mention does not ring true for standard FT releases aside from one figure last year where I recall they sent a partial shipment like a week or two earlier than the main body of the allotments to some retailers. Hardly the norm. FT moves relatively large numbers of units relative to other 3Ps making MPs and the demand still swallows them up.

 

My salary was impacted by the current going ons. Although I can still afford the hobby easily, I've decided to cut back from FT products. Yeah I am probably one of their biggest fans, but so what. If the price does not make sense, then it does not make sense.

To me at least, this seems to be specific only to FT products. Has there been a huge increase in AIR freight? Absolutely. We got cheap pricing last time for certain items because of the frequent flights between Mainland China and the US. But as far as I know SEA freights have not been impacted, and I should know since my company ships quite a bit of things from China. We've also been able to get our partner companies there to REDUCE prices. After all demand is down overall, and there's plenty of capacity in many factories there.

I mean if we are talking about a general price increase, we should be seeing this across the board. I have not seen any impacts on items from other companies. The preorders for other companies' products are still showing the same prices. Heck look at DX9 Gabriel, it's getting reissued at the same price as a year ago.

I mean in the end it's your money, do what you will with it.

 

Cheers mate, im gonna be very interested to see what they say

 

You know what i've dreamed?
FT lowering Thomas price to 180 after seeing so many rant about the price.  

 

To bad dreams aren't real  

 

I just want my space choo choo  

 

It may come true.