Retail Price Gouging ? - whats your opinion?

[Guy]

Most of the members know I never complain about a dealer. Its their business to run their establishment the way they want.


Today is that exception.



I got a Squadron monthly mailer in the mail today (December, 2007 issue) and of course went right to the figure section. I was Shocked to see Squadron price gouging our hobby with pricing of Young busts at $80.96 for the US 101st Paratrooper. They have the MSRP at $89.95……..What is going on squadron?

You can see at the link below that the Young busts go from $48.50 to $80.96 at Squadron. They say this is what they need to turn a profit……….I say give the business back to the old owner who knew how to use a calculator and run a successful business as he did for years

Squadron listing of Young Products
http://www.squadron.com/SearchResults.asp?offset=0


I would suggest you all check with your regular supplier before you place an order for anything from this retailer.

I plan on boycotting Squadron in the future. I don't like their practices.



We all have had to deal with rising prices, but when I can save $20.96 on a single figure.........you know where I'm not going.

Gordy may decide to deleat this posting, which is fine. I just had to bring attention to the above.

 

[KeithP]

I had noted a similar effect with Squadron over the past couple years. Some items very very attractively priced and others that I thought were misprints they were so high.

Certainly vote with your wallet...

BTW, I hope that Gordy does not edit out. I think this is worth discussing as it goes to the heart of our hobby in a couple of respects. Affordability and Sustainability.

Keith

 

[John Long]

I think that this was the fear from the outset after the news of a merger was announced. Squadron is also MMD which is a distributor to the local hobby shops. Do you suppose that it's happening on that level as well? How exclusive is their distribution rights on certain lines?

 

[Joe Hudson]

Hey Guy,

I have to admit that is just plain crazy!!

Here is the $$ for Red Lancer's
Item: YM1807
YOUNG MINIATURES
1/10 SCALE RESIN-METAL BUSTS
U.S.PARATROOPER, 101ST AIRBORNE, NORMANDY, 1944

$60.00

and here is Neil's

180MM...#YM1807

101st Airborne
Normandy 1944

$ 72.95


I would say we all need to shop around!

 

[megroot]

Here is the price at Marco Ghanghini (bestsoldiers shop) 56 Euro = $ 82,-..
So i think that's the price we had to pay for this beuaty. this is ex P&P.

If we made a revieuw, i suggest we name the price for the piece in the revieuw. At leat i find that usefull.

Marc

 

[PJ Deluhery]

I think if we vote with our wallets, Squadron will get the message.

 

[AJLaFleche]

My opinion...this has been a long term paly by Squadron. When they first started carrying figures, such as Andrea, their monthly flyer had good deals. These slowly crept up to today's levels. Remember, for a lot of modelers, Squadron may be the only place they shop. Sneak the prices up and the unknowing find themselves overpaying while Squadron reaps exces profit.

 

[garyjd]

I guess that's why they call it suggested retail price. Good luck shoping. ~Gary

 

[moore]

Guy,
This is interesting that you bring this up. My husband was just talking with a couple of guys this weekend about Squardron. He has always thought they were high. He would only buy on sale and even that was not much of a sale.
He has been in his hobby for a long time and has been lookng at Squardron since about late 1969.
He gets the flyers and catalog and we look at the figures for me but have not bought any.
I have pretty good guidance from friends before I buy a figure. So this helps me since I am pretty new to the hobby.
So I appreciate this topic.

Dee

 

[thegoodsgt]

I always enjoy reading online conversations like this one about specific companies or retailers. I only have to ask a simple question...have you sent your comments directly to Squadron, to the new owner? As Keith said, we always vote with our wallets, but direct feedback from consumers is an option that we rarely utilize.

 

[Figure Mad]

Hi Guy

I have just gone on Historex agents site to take a look even they have it at only £33 which in the present climate is $66 +P&P. I think companies that supply items like this were a very good part of our hobby when accessability to the manufacturers was difficult, now we have the internet and can purchase direct, they seem to be loosing business from this and put there prices up. In the short term the modeller is the looser, because we will find another way of aquiring the things we want, in the long term these companies will suffer from increased pricing........

I personally now buy from the manufacturer if I am going to purchase anything like this..........

Dave

 

[Piotr Czyz]

In my opinion USD value had dropped significantly lately (comparing to the other currencies). And since a lot of manufactures are not from US they have to increase their prices just to cover their expenses (which are quoted not in USD but with in their local currencies). And the manufactures incresed their prices (but only those prices quoted in USD).

And that's a reason why Squadron have risen up the prices.

 

[Anders Heintz]

In my opinion USD value had dropped significantly lately (comparing to the other currencies). And since a lot of manufactures are not from US they have to increase their prices just to cover their expenses (which are quoted not in USD but with in their local currencies). And the manufactures incresed their prices (but only those prices quoted in USD).

And that's a reason why Squadron have risen up the prices.

The low value of the dollar should not affect non US companies pricing, what it does is increase the exports from the US and decrease the imports.

Sure the dealers here in the US who buy things from other countries in their local currencies (Yen, Euro, Pound etc etc) will have to increase their prices as their cost is more as the dollar is worth less.

However, for these companies to increase their prices due to the low dollar would be completey counter productive, if anything they should lower them and more items would be sold to US dealers.

 

[Roc]

The only way to handle alleged retailers and manufactures of price gouging is to avoid them, and to inform your fellow modelers.
Unfortunately this is the only language price gougers understand.

Cheers
Roc

 

[mikec55]

There are plenty of figures out there that I'd really like to have but I just can't afford to buy figures on a regular basis anymore, whether it's due to gouging or the sinking dollar. Since ebay is no longer an option, I'll wait til someone runs a sale or puts the ones I like in the clearance bin (that'll be a long wait). With today's prices, I might splurge once a year & pick up a figure or 3 at one time, but then again, at today's prices, maybe not. On the other hand, as slow a painter as I am, it'll take a lifetime to finish off the gray army I amassed back when prices were more affordable.

Mike