shabs89
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Jul 8, 2015 13:37:47 GMT -5
Posts: 204
|
Post by shabs89 on Jan 24, 2018 5:18:25 GMT -5
I'm from Scotland too and I also face the struggle of finding figures. The price difference between uk and US is shocking. But the thing that makes it most difficult to collect is the exclusives. I mainly collect flashbacks but for the past 2 months I haven't bought a figure as I have lost the drive and passion as a collector, but also due to the fact that I am fed up of having to resort to the BAY and paying over the top prices for figs, not to mention extra custom charges and extortionate shipping fees. It annoys me as I have collected around 150 figs and still have around 50 figs I am missing but will have to pay top dollar if I want them. Until then my collection will always remain incomplete. I question myself if it was ever worth starting a collection and I sometimes think if I should just sell the lot. I really wish mattel design team would look in to this.
|
|
Bizzle
Main Eventer
Jason Koumas is having a party, bring your vodka and your charlie.
Joined on: Aug 8, 2011 6:31:04 GMT -5
Posts: 1,150
|
Post by Bizzle on Jan 24, 2018 5:55:39 GMT -5
Ringside doesn't help with its criminal P&P charges to the UK.
|
|
Deleted
Joined on: Mar 29, 2024 3:07:36 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2018 6:13:44 GMT -5
Ringside doesn't help with its criminal P&P charges to the UK. How much do they charge nowadays? And have you checked USPS for the actual price? Tracked services from the US are not cheap
|
|
muuk76
Superstar
UK Flashback Collector.
Joined on: Apr 21, 2015 12:10:52 GMT -5
Posts: 978
|
Post by muuk76 on Jan 24, 2018 6:25:06 GMT -5
Interesting points raised.
Mattel's main market is the USA.
It's USA stores that show interest in exclusive lines.
It's a shame that since elite 52 the amount of flashbacks has decreased in the regular elite line, Undertaker and Scotty 2 Hotty the only two up-to elite 57, poor previous sales on other flashbacks ?.
The removal of the flashback logo on the regular elite line is an attempt to not identify them as flashbacks in hope people will pick them up.
|
|
Deleted
Joined on: Mar 29, 2024 3:07:36 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2018 7:10:07 GMT -5
Recently I have noticed that the wwe figures are becoming harder and harder to get especially in Scotland. Anyone else in the UK noticing this trend? For a start we're rationed of almost all exclusives and by the looks of things not even getting entrance greats. Also I have seen a significant rise in the prices for instance, the price of angle's entrance greats is around £35 almost $50, if we even get it. And that elite ring with goldberg is at cheapest £100, $140 whereas I saw a post a couple of days ago on here about the same ring $22 missing goldberg from walmart. I'm my opinion the difference of price and availability of figures between UK and USA is INSANE! Totally agree still waiting on smyths to get in elite 54 the past two toys r us ive been into have had litreally nothing init 1 elite nasty boy in one shop but if I order off ringside I have to pay like $40 for shipping and a extra £25 for import costs it’s a absolute joke!
|
|
Deleted
Joined on: Mar 29, 2024 3:07:36 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2018 7:11:38 GMT -5
Ringside doesn't help with its criminal P&P charges to the UK. don’t forget the import charges you get aswell after you have paid a lot for shipping already I ordered RC HBK and RC Macho man and end up paying more for shipping and import charges than I have for the figures
|
|
Taylor
Superstar
Joined on: Dec 21, 2013 4:41:06 GMT -5
Posts: 798
|
Post by Taylor on Jan 24, 2018 9:31:05 GMT -5
I'm at the other end of the spectrum in this in that I'm interested in collecting other WWE lines but, being a 'completionist', it's not even worth trying as it would prove way to costly and time consuming to even attempt to buy the whole lines I'm interested in. Just sharing to show this situation affects current collectors and potential new ones for Mattel over here.
I was looking into getting some figure defender cases for my current Retro's plus any future ones from RSC, £300/ $430 just for shipping. I don't even want to imagine what the import charges would be on this. I'm sure they are expensive to ship but I've purchased the same amount of cases in the past from private sellers and that figure is just crazy.
|
|
maske2g
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jan 31, 2011 7:00:54 GMT -5
Posts: 2,972
|
Post by maske2g on Jan 24, 2018 9:42:05 GMT -5
This has been the same for 7 years.
Hands up who bought Defining moments 1,2,3,4,5 in England? Legends? Original entrance greats? Then now forever? Build Jim Ross, Ricardo, Johnny L? HOF 1 and 2? Oh, no one. That's what I thought.
|
|
maske2g
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jan 31, 2011 7:00:54 GMT -5
Posts: 2,972
|
Post by maske2g on Jan 24, 2018 9:50:58 GMT -5
Interesting points raised. Mattel's main market is the USA. It's USA stores that show interest in exclusive lines. It's a shame that since elite 52 the amount of flashbacks has decreased in the regular elite line, Undertaker and Scotty 2 Hotty the only two up-to elite 57, poor previous sales on other flashbacks ?. The removal of the flashback logo on the regular elite line is an attempt to not identify them as flashbacks in hope people will pick them up. Dude, you are mainly talking sense, but I have to say there are a couple of BIG caveats here.
"It's USA stores that show interest in exclusive lines." - its USA stores who DEMAND exclusives. When you have 6000 stores in one country (Compared to say Smyths 100), you can make these demands. i.e . "We sell so much product, we want some figures that only we can sell. "
In the case of Walmart, who own Asda, they tried to send some TNF basics. And they were very soon 2 for 15 quid. supermarkets do not do toys well.
In the case of Target, after some poor sales they were not taking up the full allocation, we got late offerings, like HOF 3.
TRU are TRU, and hence we get TRU exclusives, most of the time.
With regards to Flashbacks, you have to go further than that. I've posted lists before, showing just how FEW new flashbacks Mattel can make, due to legal issues, people that wont sign, etc etc. And when you look at early 90's midcarders that aren't selling, it's no surprise we are not getting any new ones. They have literally run out of people that they can both make, and sell.
I called the sharp decline of figures 18 months ago, and it's no surprise it has arrived.
The UK facebook group has become the new home of figure sellers that can't sell at previous high prices.
|
|
maske2g
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jan 31, 2011 7:00:54 GMT -5
Posts: 2,972
|
Post by maske2g on Jan 24, 2018 9:54:24 GMT -5
The price difference between uk and US is shocking. This is solely down to exchange rate, and oil prices.
We weren't complaining when Elites were 12.99 and the rate was 1.80 to the pound.
|
|
pauloso
Superstar
Joined on: Jan 25, 2017 14:18:42 GMT -5
Posts: 658
|
Post by pauloso on Jan 24, 2018 10:23:12 GMT -5
The US Exclusives are killing the hobby for me, I have lost interest especially with flashbacks seemingly becoming mainly US retail exclusives. If the new Flashback Elite, basic and Hall of Champions do not make it to UK retail then I am done. Is MattelDesignTeam aware of the situation in the UK? I doubt it hes only in charge of the team that designs the elites he doesn’t run Mattel I get that but he is the best route we have to those higher up at Mattel, whether they would listen is another matter. IIRC when he attended the pop up shop in London last autumn he was surprised by how few of the non main elite lines make it the UK. maske2g For as long as I have been on the boards you have correctly been calling the downturn in UK collecting with issues such as the£3/5 elites we were getting early last year (especially some of the less popular flashbacks such as Sid,Tugboat) and just the fact that for "adult" collectors it is such a niche hobby. Mattel's bread and butter in the UK is the young market and at an rrp of £18-20Ifor an elite I do not know how many elites they are selling. Two full priced figures is basically a PS or Xbox game and I know what most parents will go for.
|
|
Deleted
Joined on: Mar 29, 2024 3:07:36 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2018 10:36:57 GMT -5
I doubt it hes only in charge of the team that designs the elites he doesn’t run Mattel I get that but he is the best route we have to those higher up at Mattel, whether they would listen is another matter. IIRC when he attended the pop up shop in London last autumn he was surprised by how few of the non main elite lines make it the UK. Exactly my point, he’s surprised because he has nothing whatsoever to do with distribution
|
|
shabs89
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Jul 8, 2015 13:37:47 GMT -5
Posts: 204
|
Post by shabs89 on Jan 24, 2018 11:22:33 GMT -5
The price difference between uk and US is shocking. This is solely down to exchange rate, and oil prices.
We weren't complaining when Elites were 12.99 and the rate was 1.80 to the pound.
I was referring to the entrance greats Kurt angle, and the and the entrance greats line in general
|
|
WFTCUK
Mid-Carder
Joined on: May 15, 2017 17:14:36 GMT -5
Posts: 134
|
Post by WFTCUK on Jan 24, 2018 11:23:03 GMT -5
Don't blame Mattel. It's the UK stores who place the orders.
Thankfully have a friend in the USA who I can get stuff off in bulk and avoid customs.
|
|
Deleted
Joined on: Mar 29, 2024 3:07:36 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2018 11:27:55 GMT -5
Don't blame Mattel. It's the UK stores who place the orders. Thankfully have a friend in the USA who I can get stuff off in bulk and avoid customs. Failure to declare an items true value is in fact illegal though. So I wouldn’t recommend it
|
|
WFTCUK
Mid-Carder
Joined on: May 15, 2017 17:14:36 GMT -5
Posts: 134
|
Post by WFTCUK on Jan 24, 2018 11:31:54 GMT -5
Don't blame Mattel. It's the UK stores who place the orders. Thankfully have a friend in the USA who I can get stuff off in bulk and avoid customs. Failure to declare an items true value is in fact illegal though. So I wouldn’t recommend it I only receive it. I don't ask them to mark down low value or gift, I always put away £100 to cover customs and nice surprise when they mark it down. They'd get into trouble, not me.
|
|
maske2g
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jan 31, 2011 7:00:54 GMT -5
Posts: 2,972
|
Post by maske2g on Jan 24, 2018 11:44:44 GMT -5
This is solely down to exchange rate, and oil prices.
We weren't complaining when Elites were 12.99 and the rate was 1.80 to the pound.
I was referring to the entrance greats Kurt angle, and the and the entrance greats line in general Whilst that one has a life of it's own, Network spotlight, DM's, Elites, have all been pretty much 30% more expensive than in the US.
Hopefully this little bump back to 1.42 will have a knock on effect within 2 months.
|
|
|
Post by SteveHulk on Jan 24, 2018 14:26:24 GMT -5
This has been the same for 7 years. Hands up who bought Defining moments 1,2,3,4,5 in England? Legends? Original entrance greats? Then now forever? Build Jim Ross, Ricardo, Johnny L? HOF 1 and 2? Oh, no one. That's what I thought. (...those 3 BAF series and HOF 2 were actually available in the UK - but I get what you're saying!). To be fair though, the original EG, DM and Legends figures were all during the first 2 years of Mattel having the licence, when the line hadn't really caught on here and wasn't as popular. And they weren't store exclusives either, so were much easier/cheaper to get on eBay and the secondary market (...I remember buying full sets of the Legends figures and including shipping/fees, it worked out around £12-£15 each!). These days, people seem to be charging an arm and a leg for the figures... especially store exclusives. And the fact that all these exclusives are Flashbacks (that have all but disappeared from the main line) just adds salt to the wound. The price difference between uk and US is shocking. This is solely down to exchange rate, and oil prices.
We weren't complaining when Elites were 12.99 and the rate was 1.80 to the pound.
...I know the exchange rate is poorer now - but how come we (UK) still have to pay much more than the equivalent US price for figures? I mean, the Entrance Greats figures are $24.99 in the US - which is about £18 with the current exchange rate... so why on earth is the RRP £32.99 (almost double) here? Who actually "recommends" or comes up with these prices?
|
|
|
Post by CrossRhodes on Jan 24, 2018 15:41:04 GMT -5
As someone from Northern Ireland (the UKs armpit) where we only have 4 TRU's & 6 Smyths in the whole of the country I wish we'd all stop the bishin and moaning.
Everything is more expensive than it used to be & It's not going to change anytime soon. I too was disgruntled with last year's price rises in the UK I was downright aggrieved at DM Macho being £32!
But you're all going to have to suck it up or stop collecting. I went with the later for around 8 months & then the AJ figures started dropping & I was sucked back in.
Shopping around helps, not immediately rushing out & buying everything as soon as it's released helps. You are going to miss out on some things & as a recovering completionist I feel for you but if you still have the passion you'll find a way to make it work.
I'm not coming for anybody I'm just kind of sick of the consistent dismay on the forum. If you really want something stop moaning & find a way.
|
|
maske2g
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jan 31, 2011 7:00:54 GMT -5
Posts: 2,972
|
Post by maske2g on Jan 25, 2018 5:57:10 GMT -5
This has been the same for 7 years. Hands up who bought Defining moments 1,2,3,4,5 in England? Legends? Original entrance greats? Then now forever? Build Jim Ross, Ricardo, Johnny L? HOF 1 and 2? Oh, no one. That's what I thought. (...those 3 BAF series and HOF 2 were actually available in the UK - but I get what you're saying!). To be fair though, the original EG, DM and Legends figures were all during the first 2 years of Mattel having the licence, when the line hadn't really caught on here and wasn't as popular. And they weren't store exclusives either, so were much easier/cheaper to get on eBay and the secondary market (...I remember buying full sets of the Legends figures and including shipping/fees, it worked out around £12-£15 each!). These days, people seem to be charging an arm and a leg for the figures... especially store exclusives. And the fact that all these exclusives are Flashbacks (that have all but disappeared from the main line) just adds salt to the wound. This is solely down to exchange rate, and oil prices.
We weren't complaining when Elites were 12.99 and the rate was 1.80 to the pound.
...I know the exchange rate is poorer now - but how come we (UK) still have to pay much more than the equivalent US price for figures? I mean, the Entrance Greats figures are $24.99 in the US - which is about £18 with the current exchange rate... so why on earth is the RRP £32.99 (almost double) here? Who actually "recommends" or comes up with these prices? I know Steve, this one seems to have taken on a life of it's own. I'm guessing that Smyths have started to be a bit more dynamic with their pricing. high to start with, so that that catch the NOW generation, and then quicker reductions. There is no way I will pay 32 for this.
|
|