these troopers are cool in troops!

Just wait.

These look really fun (especially w/ the glowie heads), but at $70, I might have to pass. I know that's the average price on vinyl figs, but I dunno...I'm starting to feel the wallet tighting up.

I thought vinyl toys used to be the "cheap toys", so what happened? Everything vinyl that comes from Japan is almost $100. Have vinyl toys really become very costly to make? This is just a general question--not so much a complaint.

Were older japanese vinyl toys made in China, or were they always made in Japan?

I don't see how the prices for these are any different than any average secret base figure that has been released at retail in the last few years. $70 for a 5" tall Secret Base figure...$70 for a 5" tall Toygraph figure...

Or am I completely off here?

Would I like to see them cheaper? Sure.
Can they be found for less, probably if you have some sort of Japanese connection.
But unfortunately, I think the pricing is in line.
S7 probably has to buy them at retail (not wholesale) and prices them accordingly.

Yeah, I think they cost about $35 in Japan. I'd buy a couple at that price, but honestly I'm starting to think even that's too expensive anymore.
How is it that these things use to cost a buck or two when we were kids and now we're shelling out $70-100? (Other than the fact they made and sold TONS of them back then.) Maybe I'm just getting paranoid that McCain might win and the economy will continue it's decline and in that case I shouldn't be spending gobs of money on a a little plastic man. (Seriously, that thought has me so depressed...)

If the American economy continues to decline(Canadian dollar attached) then wouldn't it your best interests to invest in toys that have international value...only because the yen seems slightly more stable? just a thought. Not that i'm into these things for solely for the investment, but its often a consideration when spending large sums of cash on something so superficial.

Dude, put down the Wild Turkey.....

JD > WT

Jameson > *

Money, money... money. The roots of all evil, right ?

By all means...complain. $70 is a lot, no question.

However, I think the price makes decent sense. Look at your average Bandai Ultra or Godzilla kaiju toy today. What--$15?? Economy of scale here. Bandai is a multi-billion yen international company that pumps these things out by the tens of thousands (same as the toys we had when we were kids).

Toygraph...not so much. I'm guessing Toygraph's got fewer than half a dozen people rotocasting and spraying these things by hand...and in VASTLY fewer units/run.

Again, it's fine to have feelings about the dough we're dumping on inanimate objects that we can't eat or fuel our vehicles with...but I think the economy of scale does make a certain sense here.

[of course...we're ultimately responsible for fleecing ourselves, to a certain degree, because the state of the market is simply such that small vinyl producers CAN charge that much for their toys...regardless of their manufacturing costs and profit margins!]

obviously there's no problem with the price, as these are gone.

it's pricy, but in comparison to what? an action figure maybe...but not in comparison to everything else we covet here.

I love these...the price is only a concern when I can't afford it...but I can't afford a log cabin right now either and I still love them...

Oh great... now I have a craving for pancakes with maple syrup...

Oh great... now I have the urge to drive up to Vancouver...

Even buying direct from japan, it will cost you around 4.5k each after the transfer fees and local shipping.
add another 1.5 to 1.8k for international shipping, plus paypal fees etc, it comes close to $60ish, so probably not worth the effort for the minimal savings.
i think maybe better off just supporting local shops stateside.

on a sidenote, given the niche nature of such figures, it will never be able to achieve the same pricing as mass produced toys. these are collectibles and are priced as such. my take is that the price is fair.

it may be alot but these are really damn cool. im dying for one in one of the colorways on either end. and that spike ball accessory is pretty shweet too!

max toy version sounds interesting.

grumble had these up and gone.

But the five troop platoon pricing breaks down to $35 or so per trooper.

But its just an empty paint can. You can get them from home depot for $2.00- I thought about using them somehow a while ago and bought some.


phil

Damn, sold out at Future Plastik real quick.

Go here: http://artstorm.co.jp/sufes.html

Click on Limited Items.

Scroll all the way down.

Has that guy been mentioned yet? Because all I can say is KILLER.

He's been mentioned. That one is Space Trooper VX.

(Wonder if the name has anything to do with the nerve agent)

I didn't see "VX" mentioned anywhere...just that it's a collab with AstroZombies. Gotta say...I don't like the head sculpt. I like the previous "simple" head sculpt, better. Though the clear smoke body is pretty cool...