GARAGE KITS - pricing discussion

[Ruprekt]

Moderation note : this discussion has been split out from it's original thread
http://theclubhouse1.net/phpBB3/viewtop ... 7&t=112748
Which is why it starts rather ubruptly

Nice kit but $320? Really? I guess you're not looking to sell too many of them. That price is ridiculous to say the least.

[dmorrissette]

Nice kit but $320? Really? I guess you're not looking to sell too many of them. That price is ridiculous to say the least.

Considering the parts, size and amount of resin used, that is a reasonable price and I found your comment rude to say the least. I can't afford it either but I was raised with manners. Try some sometime

Dave

[nek33d]

Nice kit but $320? Really? I guess you're not looking to sell too many of them. That price is ridiculous to say the least.

If you remember my other kits were selling for $160-$200. This one not only uses 3 times the resin (1 gallon) but the huge difference is that we are selling it under
a legitimate company which means we have to pay taxes.What you don't know is that here in Greece you have to give back 26% and pay another 23% VAT.
In short, you wouldn't believe me if I told you that from the $320 my profit is 20!. This price is only for the Clubhouse, on ebay and other stores it will sell at $350.

[FilmMkr]

Really? I guess you're not looking to sell too many of them. That price is ridiculous to say the least.

Wow.

Do you mind if I run all of my ideas and concepts and pricing through you before I dare to produce another kit?

Golly gee willikers, your approval would mean the world to me and all the other guys who put up our own hard-earned cash to create kits. I know that we could learn SO much from you!

Please oh please oh please oh please??

Why don't you post some pix of the dozens of kits YOU'VE produced and remind us again how you became the world's leading authority on model kit production?

[gothiken]

Really? I guess you're not looking to sell too many of them. That price is ridiculous to say the least.

Wow.

Do you mind if I run all of my ideas and concepts and pricing through you before I dare to produce another kit?

Golly gee willikers, your approval would mean the world to me and all the other guys who put up our own hard-earned cash to create kits. I know that we could learn SO much from you!

Please oh please oh please oh please??

Why don't you post some pix of the dozens of kits YOU'VE produced and remind us again how you became the world's leading authority on model kit production?

+ 1

Kenny

[torpted]

Really? I guess you're not looking to sell too many of them. That price is ridiculous to say the least.

Wow.

Do you mind if I run all of my ideas and concepts and pricing through you before I dare to produce another kit?

Golly gee willikers, your approval would mean the world to me and all the other guys who put up our own hard-earned cash to create kits. I know that we could learn SO much from you!

Please oh please oh please oh please??

Why don't you post some pix of the dozens of kits YOU'VE produced and remind us again how you became the world's leading authority on model kit production?[/quote

LMAO! Exactly! All of us are lucky for ALL AND ANY kits produced.

[Randyman03]

Nice kit but $320? Really? I guess you're not looking to sell too many of them. That price is ridiculous to say the least.

If you remember my other kits were selling for $160-$200. This one not only uses 3 times the resin (1 gallon) but the huge difference is that we are selling it under
a legitimate company which means we have to pay taxes.What you don't know is that here in Greece you have to give back 26% and pay another 23% VAT.
In short, you wouldn't believe me if I told you that from the $320 my profit is 20!. This price is only for the Clubhouse, on ebay and other stores it will sell at $350.

Sorry you are getting so much grief!!

Your time and imagination are not free, neither is Roberto's incredible talent.

Do people notice that every year there are fewer and fewer kits produced? To see someone take a big swing at an incredible piece like this is awesome!! Talk about putting your huevos on the table!! You've made an incredible piece of art - thank you for making it available for people to buy.

By the way, is your caster in New York City? I live in the city - would it be possible to pick up a kit and save on the shipping all together?

I used to love when Ramsey worked near my apartment building - he'd drop off a kit I purchased while I was at work!! Talk about service!!

[Randyman03]

Really? I guess you're not looking to sell too many of them. That price is ridiculous to say the least.

Wow.

Do you mind if I run all of my ideas and concepts and pricing through you before I dare to produce another kit?

Golly gee willikers, your approval would mean the world to me and all the other guys who put up our own hard-earned cash to create kits. I know that we could learn SO much from you!

Please oh please oh please oh please??

Why don't you post some pix of the dozens of kits YOU'VE produced and remind us again how you became the world's leading authority on model kit production?

Just wanted to thank you as well Marc, for the incredible kits Filmy's Girls produces!!

I remember being at Wonderfest when "Pebbles" came out!! I think all of your kits were sold out before the doors even opened!!

Which of those gorgeous lovelies are still available - I know they sell out quick!!

[Ruprekt]

Nice kit but $320? Really? I guess you're not looking to sell too many of them. That price is ridiculous to say the least.

Considering the parts, size and amount of resin used, that is a reasonable price and I found your comment rude to say the least. I can't afford it either but I was raised with manners. Try some sometime

Dave

I call it like I see it. I didn't insult anyone or the kit.

[Ruprekt]

Really? I guess you're not looking to sell too many of them. That price is ridiculous to say the least.

Wow.

Do you mind if I run all of my ideas and concepts and pricing through you before I dare to produce another kit?

Golly gee willikers, your approval would mean the world to me and all the other guys who put up our own hard-earned cash to create kits. I know that we could learn SO much from you!

Please oh please oh please oh please??

Why don't you post some pix of the dozens of kits YOU'VE produced and remind us again how you became the world's leading authority on model kit production?

Whatever... Obliviously you failed to notice my registered seller icon. I've done 4 kits so far and do consider myself as knowing what I'm doing. I put up my cash just like everyone else, and take my chances I'll see my money back. "Golly gee willikers"?

[boondocksaint]

Nice kit but $320? Really? I guess you're not looking to sell too many of them. That price is ridiculous to say the least.

Considering the parts, size and amount of resin used, that is a reasonable price and I found your comment rude to say the least. I can't afford it either but I was raised with manners. Try some sometime

Dave

I call it like I see it. I didn't insult anyone or the kit.

Come on man. You edited your post from $320 ? Really? To the above post.
Have you ever heard the term if you don't have nothing nice to say ?
What do you get out of calling it like you see it? If the piece is too much for you just move along. Why bring negative attention to a guy trying to put out a product that he's invested thousands of dollars in ? As a producer of 4 kits would you appreciate someone making negative comments to something you were trying to sell?
Nobody is trying to tell you not to have an opinion , (well I'm not ) but when money is involved maybe you should think twice or maybe three times before you post.
Just some friendly advice

[nek33d]

I just want to say that I appreciate the feedback regarding the price of the kit.This is valuable information..
I know some won't be able to afford it but I can't sell it at a price that I'll loose $$$. Like I said at $320 profit is MARGINAL.
That's why I'm going to sell it for $350 on ebay and our online store.It's not like ALL potential customers are in the Clubhouse...
Actually from my experience as a producer it's quite the opposite..

[Lukvader]

I got my Sideshow Powergirl, 1/4 scale, full licensed, well (pre-)painted and with a beautiful coloured artbox last week.
Awesome piece for (only?) 399. And forums are full of high "pricing" on this and rising prices on others pieces.
So its understandable this starts here too when even 300 bucks for a kit are surpassed.
Its an open forum and I still hope everyone can write down his thoughts here, without being blamed for his opinion.

But I also learned that there is much effort behind each kit. Produced in a much smaller production run.
Its not really comparable to "big company-mass-products".
So its still the same: If it sells , pricing was right. Seller is happy and we have a nice new kit at home.
If it don't sell: pricing was out of demand. Seller has done something wrong and we don't have another nice new kit at home,
but money for another one.
Sometimes it's easy^^.

Anyway I always hope pricing and demand fit together. Cause then all are happy and we still see many great kits coming !
@clubhouse we all love this hobby AND new beautiful kits! Therefore many thanks to all producers, giving us the opportunity to
get some individual kits.

[dfchang]

You can't compare mass produced licensed piece with a garage kit. As you said that is apples to oranges. Narin charges this price routinely for his Predator pieces but it is worth it because of the size and intricate detail.

I own his Encounter and that cost close to 650 with shipping from Thailand.

This kit looks huge with a VERY difficult throne to sculpt and cast. Also sculpting naked females is very challenging to make look right. .

If anything he should have charged MORE. At 20 dollars profit he will have a hard time breaking even. He should charge at least 400. Why? Most people willing to pay 320 to 350 for a kit won't blink an eye to drop 400. It's just not a big deal.

But someone used to paying 150 for a kit shouldn't be the target of this piece anyway. They would never even consider it.

Great sculpt and great concept and I applaud the ambition. But know who you are making these pieces for and price accordingly. That is business.

You underpriced my friend, not overpriced.

[FilmMkr]

Whatever... Obliviously you failed to notice my registered seller icon. I've done 4 kits so far and do consider myself as knowing what I'm doing. I put up my cash just like everyone else, and take my chances I'll see my money back. "Golly gee willikers"?

Dude, I'm not going to get into some drawn-out little girl slap fight with you.

You were out of line, you know it, and so does every other respectful, civilized person on this board.

[resin addict]

Nice kit but $320? Really? I guess you're not looking to sell too many of them. That price is ridiculous to say the least.

Considering the parts, size and amount of resin used, that is a reasonable price and I found your comment rude to say the least. I can't afford it either but I was raised with manners. Try some sometime

Dave

I call it like I see it. I didn't insult anyone or the kit.

Ummm...yes you did.
Without knowing any of the details of the background or production costs of this particular piece, you made the following statement(s):
"Really?" (condescending)
"I guess you're not looking to sell too many of them." (sarcastic)
& "That price is ridiculous to say the least." (rude)

As others have said, if you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything.

[armandodlc]

Here's my 2 cents worth.
I may not be a kit maker, but I do buy enough of them to know a bit about it, and I see both sides of the argument.

Look, lets be real here, and please don't take it as an insult or demeaning of your craft...garage kits are, for the most part, expensive and priced out of most people's budgets. Is that justified? Maybe more for some kits than others, and again I don't pretend to be an expert on resin prices and the effort and skill it takes to do this right, but quality varies widely. What really gets my goat is the attitude most garage kit sellers take that it is an insult to haggle with them or question pricing. Dude, deal with it! We live in a capitalistic society! Its all about money. Perhaps the GK industry would become more than just a niche market if more attention were paid to pricing rather than singing the attributes of how awesome or how much of a work of art this kit or that one happens to be. Don't be so full of yourselves and acknowledge than several hundred dollars for a model kit is a lot of money!
Having said that, buyers need to realize that they are not forced to buy anything. If you don't like the price, don't spend it! Nobody is forcing you to fork your money out for anything. And the reality is, many of these kits are expensive to produce, especially the larger ones which use more resin and are done by reputable sculptors and casters. My philosophy is to save my money for the ones I really want, make comments about their quality, and then decide whether I will shell out 100 or 200 or 300 for a kit. I may think one is worth it, but another one isn't. Its all subjective. I recently acquired the crouching Alien and the Frankenstein chained kits. I am extremely proud of those acquisitions and will be building them shortly. I have looked at other subjects though, and although I see the quality, the subject matter doesn't attract me as much, so I am not willing to pay what they are asking. If the price was better, then maybe I would, but such is life. I'm not gonna whine about it.

Just remember, it's a hobby for some, and supplemental income for others, but it should be a loving craft for all.
Now let the angry flaming begin

Armando

[kitbuilderman]

A Really Outstanding kit,

As for the price goes think about this if the producer of these great kits THAT we all long for can't make ANY MONEY THEN WHY IN THE HELL WOULD THIS PRODUCER WANT TO PUT THEMSELVES THROUGH THIS?

Then if anyone is bitching about how much it cost ,please think twice because the day comes when there are no more producers means no MORE RESIN FOR ANYBODY ,

In other words if your bitching about price then please find another hobby because you are F@cking it up for the rest of us .

regards

[armandodlc]

How is pointing out that a kit is expensive bitching, Billy Ray? It is expensive! 320.00 is not chump change! That doesn't mean I wont buy it if I think I can afford it and I like the subject matter. There's a huge difference between whining about price and doing nothing else and actually committing to and buying a kit and supporting the artist that built it that way. Ruprekt was simply making a statement about how pricey the kit was, albeit in a somewhat rude and blunt manner (work on your etiquette, dude), but still...and he does support the hobby, having produced kits and participating in its advancement that way.

This is precisely the kind of prickly holier than thou attitude that I have grown to dislike more and more about some GK producers. What are we the consuming public supposed to do! Bow and say yessir, you are absolutely right, and pardon my even considering pointing out that that price is high. What was I thinking!! What an arrogant boob I am!!

IMHO, the argument that the hobby is dying has nothing to do with producers dropping out and everything to do with the fact that the public is simply losing interest in the hobby, and the fact that kits are pricey doesn't help. Producers who have interest in creating quality kits will not be deterred by people criticizing the prices they charge, but they will be deterred by lack of sales and lack of interest. That's whats important.

Oh and btw, I for one certainly intend to acquire one of these beautiful kits. I love GoT and the work these guys have done is simply amazing! I only hope my build up does it justice. However, it IS a pricey kit, and it will strain my budget. Now if you consider that bitching, then so be it, but I will point out that at no time have I asked for a discount or have questioned the producer's right to charge whatever he wants for his kit. I can only trust that he is fair, while still making a profit on it.

[boondocksaint]

My man what does someone coming in here saying man this kit is too damn expensive accomplish ? Do you really need your opinion to be heard that bad ? It only draws negative attention to someone who's trying to sell a product. And might sway someone's decision to buy it. In Such a small community we should all show one another respect to keep the hobby going.