So I managed to get VS for 300$, should be in less than a month. Should I look out for something during handling him?

 

Several things:
- Careful with attaching and detaching the Victory Leo parts from Star Saber, both in jet mode and robot mode. For the robot mode pieces try to come in/pull out at an angle.
- Watch Wotafa's two videos on how to transform this set.
- Careful rotating down the Star Saber faceplate on the detachable head.
- Very carefully insert the blade into the hilt, one of the configurations doesn't really fit that well.
- Be gentle with the face hinge on the little brainmaster.
- Don't forget the little button on the back when detaching Saber from the big robot mode.

 

Thanks!

 

Thanks!

 

Finally arrived and yup, also got a scratch on Ss's gold chrome 

 

I really wish they had opted for metallic gold paint.

 

Wasn't that the initial plan? Like it would also have detailing in the sculpt? Easily the better option.

 

IDK, it would have looked better by a country mile and I think most people that backed the thing would have agreed.

Chrome is just not smart for toys.

 

Metallic paint scratches, too, as we've seen from complaints about the faceplate.

It's going to be hard to find a perfect paint job on any of these, just like when any figure is released at retail. I know, "this is Haslab, blah, blah, blah". But the fact is that this was a retail product that didn't find a fit in the retail line and was shoved into Haslab to get made. Deathsaurus shared the same fate.

What I hope happens next is that this shows Hasbro there's an interest in a new "Supreme" class range at $119.99 that splits the difference between Commander and Titan. If we stripped down the added stuff for VS and DZ, we'd easily hit that mark. It might take some convincing on Walmart's part to carry a $119.99 toy - they tend to cut off retail at $99.99. But Target would for sure.

 

I wonder, would $119.99 really be splitting the difference? With Commander currently at $89.99 (and probably going up) and Titan being $199.99, splitting the difference would probably be closer to $150 than $120.

 

$129.99, then. But I think a lot of fans would rather pay that than $180 for these figures with the extra stuff.

 

Which things would you strip down to get to that price? To me, the bells and whistles are what make HasLabs special. Not sure if I’d want a retail version missing joints, paint apps, etc.

 

Yeah, to me part of being a Haslab is that it should have all the bells and whistles. For curiosity’s sake I’d like to see what Deathsaurus would have looked like if he had to fit into the mainline but I’m glad we went this direction. Mostly fine releases are good for characters who get new toys regularly, for characters like Deathsaurus and Victory Saber who may not get done again for a decade or longer I’d rather we go all in and do it properly.

 

I'd be fine without the cannon, the shield, the stand and the Micromasters.

Those things might make the Haslab feel special, but if you didn't know those were a thing and the aforementioned stripped down version were offered at $129.99, would you have complained? I sure wouldn't have and I would have saved myself $50. Not to mention, there'd be less "I paid $180 for a Haslab, I need perfect paint!" comments.

 

I’m just not sure how much those items contributed to the base cost though. The tier unlocks seem to be funded more by economy of scale covering their cost, rather than being included in the original $180.

 

Those items were always covered by the $180. Rather, they get cut as support fails to materialize and the overhead translates to the smaller run. The tiers adding value is a marketing illusion. Those were (usually) always planned.

 

If they get cut if the project doesn’t reach a certain budgeting target, then they’re not really included though, right?

 

The budget for the $180 Haslab was for all items at a certain level of support. Those items weren't created out of thin air as tiers were unlocked - they were planned at the $180 level all along.

Anyhow, comparing apples to apples, basically, all the bells and whistles at the run the Haslab did have compared to that of a new size class at $129.99 would have been included. So, negotiating the idea of limited run item versus a retail run item is fruitless, no matter the angle you take.

Victory Saber has all its items at $180. It's not unbelievable to think that he couldn't have been released at $129.99 without those items. In fact, I firmly believe it when parts count and plastic use are compared to other Commanders.

 

I think another factor to consider is retailer cut. Hasbro receives 100% of profit on HasLabs. How is pricing affected if they are sharing profit with retailers because it’s sold at mass retail?

 

The fact they'd be selling more than 27,000 units would probably reduce the overhead on profit sufficiently.