This point may have been made already, but the cost model I've yet to see is the the part about Skywarp. He's a $10 mold, packaged with a $20 mold, selling as part of a $20 set. Now that either makes him free, or Magnus half price, or somewhere in between. The point is, money is still being made on a set of exclusives that are discounted 33% from their retail counterparts. If those exclusives can be profitable at that price, I refuse to believe the greater exclusivity, extra parts (of which there are few), and extra hands in the cookie jar justify a 5- or 6-fold markup on these toys.

 

EDIT: Here's an idea: Some engineering folks could lend their services to Transrepro after obtaining the set and duplicate the new parts at a reasonable price, as they've done with Alt Windcharger's gun barrel. I would gladly pay $20 a set for parts to mod retail seekers into con exclusive clones.

/Snip

 

 

But it's not about cost is it?

It's about exclusivity, you are paying for the knowledge that only 1000 (Or whatever) people own this mold.

Hell, would people complain if they came with a numbered certificate?

Unicron's Herald is correct. It isn't just about the cost. It is the eclusivity, It is also the fact that it is limited in number. Small run, limited edition exclusives, are going to be much more expensive than mass market pieces. The reason why the Ultra Magnus/Sky Warp two pack was so inexpensive was the fact that, not only were they simple repaints, but they were done in mass quantities and shipped to every Target store across the US. That is alot of figures and that cuts down on the individual cost per figure. With the BotCon exclusives, they are very limited in number, probably no more than a few hundred. and some of them at least will require retooling. That adds to the cost, and, since the castings are limited to a small run, that cost cannot be spread out over thousands of lower priced pieces as would be dione with mass market offerings, and that makes the cost significantly higher. Also, you aren't only paying for the figures, but also entry to the con and all the other "goodies" that go with it. The cost of the figures is only part of that cost.

STOP CALLING EVERYTHING 'NEMESIS'.

:tflol

To be honest, if money weren't such a big issue for me (I own a Dozen Transformers to give you an idea -most of them Presents) I would just freakin' Love to go.

 

And I live in the hope of getting last years pre-beast wars Megatron for my Beast Meg collection.

Still don't have the new Deluxe one, although the off Colours aren't such a big issue for me.

This point may have been made already, but the cost model I've yet to see is the the part about Skywarp. He's a $10 mold, packaged with a $20 mold, selling as part of a $20 set. Now that either makes him free, or Magnus half price, or somewhere in between. The point is, money is still being made on a set of exclusives that are discounted 33% from their retail counterparts. If those exclusives can be profitable at that price, I refuse to believe the greater exclusivity, extra parts (of which there are few), and extra hands in the cookie jar justify a 5- or 6-fold markup on these toys.

 

EDIT: Here's an idea: Some engineering folks could lend their services to Transrepro after obtaining the set and duplicate the new parts at a reasonable price, as they've done with Alt Windcharger's gun barrel. I would gladly pay $20 a set for parts to mod retail seekers into con exclusive clones.

 

Actually, Classics Prime was more like a Deluxe mold floating around in a big empty box, but I digress...

I've read alot of this thread but not all of it. Some good stuff, some bad stuff...

 

Anywho...

 

If I had enough money at the moment to go to BotCon and get this set I would. Unless something changes between now and then I will not be going and will not be getting this set (stupid $3400 foundation repair).

 

Just looking at my three Classic seekers - It looks like a Starscream and Skywarp could be combined into a nifty Thundercracker with just a little painting. I'm no kitbasher but even I can see it - Thundercracker for $20.

 

If somebody has done this already please make fun of me :tfgrin

 

Edit: and paint the extra Ultra black :thumb

So when can we expect pics?

As soon as the set is sold out. :redface

Anybody wanna send Starscream, skywarp and ramjet back to hasbro?

No.

 

 

 

I also think Arcee would make a good extra figure btw. :thumb