G1 toy prices today

Discussion in 'Transformers Toy Discussion' started by Liampope, Jun 11, 2014.

  1. Liampope, Jun 11, 2014
    #1
    Liampope

    Liampope Well-Known Member

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    I've not been round here long, but have seen plenty of times people moaning about the supposedly high price of Transformers these days. 'This is disgusting - Voyagers should cost 1.99', 'I'm not buying that till it's in a clearance bin', etc etc :) 

    So I was curious as to how the prices compare with original G1 prices.

    My source is the UK 1985 Argos Catalogue which lists...

    Optimus Prime - £15.95
    Soundwave - £10.95
    Seeker - £8.95
    Autobot car - £7.45

    Using the first online UK historic price inflation calculator I came across, I get equivalent today prices of...

    Optimus Prime - £42.21
    Soundwave - £28.98
    Seeker - £23.68
    Autobot car - £19.71

    If you recognise they were main line toys (i.e. not MP, etc) and equate G1 OP as a Leader, SW/Seeker as Voyagers and cars as Deluxe, which seems reasonable to me, then seems we are not getting a bad deal at all when you look at normal RRPs for those classes. And that's even if you ignore the massive increase in quality, part count, design complexity, articulation because you consider that should be a given as it's just progress. Leader is about equivalent price to OP, but we are paying loads less for smaller classes compared to G1 - e.g. G1 car compared to average Deluxe. Wow now I know why my dad was so pissed when my little brother broke Jazz on the very birthday I got it - that was a £20 toy!! I can still hear the '****ING HASBRO CRAP!!!' now :) 

    So will we still moan they are too expensive and expect transforming toys to cost less than a pint? :) 

    How does a comparison like this work out for US prices or other markets?
     
  2. RandomGuy, Jun 11, 2014
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    RandomGuy

    RandomGuy Well-Known Member

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    According to a scan I found of a 1985 catalog, Optimus Prime ran $19.88 back then in the US.

    Adjusted for inflation, that amounts to $43.80 in today's dollars.

    So yeah, Prime was basically Leader Class. Just going by that, I'm gonna guess that the rest of the line would work out similar as well.
     
  3. grimlock1972, Jun 11, 2014
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    grimlock1972

    grimlock1972 Optimus, serving up the primest of ribs since 1984

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    I am going to add one factor here, Transformers of the G1 era would likely cost more to produce than what we are getting today assuming they used all the same materials as in the 1980s.

    That said i agree much of the moaning about prices is a bit much, in the US we were spoiled on cheap deluxes for too long compared to much of the world.
     
  4. Killamarshan, Jun 11, 2014
    #4
    Killamarshan

    Killamarshan Iacon Tourist

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    It's difficult to work out an exact price comparison as you have variables such as differing material and labour costs.

    I'm stating the obvious here but somethings are relatively more expensive, others less - like electronics for instance, relatively far more expensive in 85 than now. There isn't a one size fits all way of calculating.


    I do remember in 1985 that Transformers were considered expensive, so on this occasion I don't think the calculator is that inaccurate. With Transformers we had a long period of non shifting price marks (2002 - 2010) which has perhaps skewed some attitudes, we were treated to good prices for quality toys for a very long time.