Fanstoys went nuts on prices

[drifand]

I am actually a good supporter of their products until recently.

I noticed a number of members on a Fanstoys group buying up pieces and just reselling them at 40% price hike.
Is saddens me that a third party now cost way more than an original Masterpiece by Takara.
I understand in older Fanstoys pieces asking for higher prices, but some are just insane!
A Quietus asking for $600USD, wow honestly. Even my Omega FT didnt cost that much.

Even the new ones like Hunk, Sherridan are asking over $190 is to me over the top.
It saddens me that people are buying it as an Investment rather than how great the toy is.
Not sure what others feel. I kind of turning away from Fanstoys at this stage.

[jimoinj]

Yeah there is a scarcity to the toys, some would say artificial scarcity, which along with demand is driving up the prices on the secondary market. However wait for the reissues and you will get a better deal. For example I heard Quietus is being reissued, and since X-Transbots is releasing a greatly improved version that may put pressure on the price. Sadly though, prices are rising in part because of what people are willing to pay. It's a pity the QC from Takara has fallen away because frankly I think Fanstoys is doing a better job, as well as being more prolific and putting out characters never done by Takara (eg. Astrotrain). But yes I can see how it's pricing some out of the market. Luckily there are other options like Xtransbots and MMC.

[Omega Metro]

Missed out on Sheridan because I didn’t want to preorder it because Fans Toys take forever to release stuff. Still waiting for Berserk that I paid for back in 2017 which Toybot won’t refund me for. So will never buy a Fans Toys product again. So prices don’t concern me as other companies will get my money instead.

[Jellico]

Got to say I wanted a Thomas, but the prices after pre-release have scared me off. If I want to spend that money I would crack and buy a MP44.
The price on the little guys like Hunk and Sheridan are a worry too because they need to inspire me enough to replace reasonably solid Bad Cube bots I already have on the shelf.
Finally I held off pre-release Thomas last year because of weak design and quality choices with bots like Jabber. Fans toys did themselves no favours over the last two years.
This has been a bad year for me with all MP scale bots. There have been new characters I want like Arcee (have Rouge but I had hopes...) and Astrotrain but the execution and prices make it hard to support anyone.

[1AZRAEL1]

People suck. They are scalpers, nothing more.

[primatives]

Yeah I hear you. Was a bit of a turn off seeing how pricey they are.

But they have such good feel and quality compared to Takara. Not to say they dont have QC issues of their own

[jimoinj]

Got to say I wanted a Thomas, but the prices after pre-release have scared me off. If I want to spend that money I would crack and buy a MP44.
The price on the little guys like Hunk and Sheridan are a worry too because they need to inspire me enough to replace reasonably solid Bad Cube bots I already have on the shelf.
Finally I held off pre-release Thomas last year because of weak design and quality choices with bots like Jabber. Fans toys did themselves no favours over the last two years.
This has been a bad year for me with all MP scale bots. There have been new characters I want like Arcee (have Rouge but I had hopes...) and Astrotrain but the execution and prices make it hard to support anyone.
Wouldn't you worry about MP44's QC?

[graza78]

I don't think reissues will help the price. I bought fanstoys jetfire when it first released for $220 AUD delivered. Its reissue price is around the $380 mark. Similar story to Kup, paid around $120 delivered, now its $215 for the reissue.

I don't think prices will go down. The demand is too high and takara set a precedent with MP44 for around $500, so fantoys know they can also sell at a high price (Fanstoys product are far superior to takara imo).

[Jellico]

Wouldn't you worry about MP44's QC?

At then end of the day, for better or worse, it is the new default Masterpiece everything will be judged against. There is a reason MP10 was the standard comparison piece in every MP review. MP44 now fills that role.

If you are a collector you need a Prime and MP44 is the Royals Royce. No matter how good, 3rd party will always lack that Takara cachet.

Besides there will be a decade of reissues. They will get it right eventually.

[loophole]

I've found that in the last couple of years if you don't get your preorders done straight away you will miss out where as before you could get in last minute

[drifand]

Missed out on Sheridan because I didn’t want to preorder it because Fans Toys take forever to release stuff. Still waiting for Berserk that I paid for back in 2017 which Toybot won’t refund me for. So will never buy a Fans Toys product again. So prices don’t concern me as other companies will get my money instead.

You should have disputed it when you had the chance regardless of the reputation of the retailer. I only suggest you to "Swap" Berserk as credit for something. Also I wont be dealing with dishonest principals of business policies. You can see I was a fan of Nippon Yasan, and now out of it. Simply because you are unable to provide the product, you should be refunded.

I wish you all the best, but something tells me you got too tired of it.

[drifand]

I managed to get Thomas from Savier's toys at $280 aud shipped which he just shipped. Compared to what current people are asking $400 usd.
My anger just builds up whenever someone in the Fanstoys group just say "Oh I happen to have an extra asking for $425usd" it just shows scalping.

When a 3p cost so much, I am just taken back that people are blindly supporting it by paying it. Even my Banday VF-1S Roy folker doesnt cost so much.

[primatives]

I wonder how high prices can get. Sure people will pay for it now but it will get to a certain point where most will not buy it anymore because its so pricey.

I reckon MP44 is cool but at that price point I wont get it and hoping TE release a metallic version.

I also think Starscream V2 is really cool but again at that price point Id pass because the value imo isnt worth that much.

Maybe Im wrong but whether or not its artificially inflated it could backfire later down the track when they cant move as much product due to price when it comes to Fans Toys.

Im definitely a fan of their design, paint and use of die cast.

Good opportunity for other companies to step up if they're game.

[graza78]

I wonder how high prices can get. Sure people will pay for it now but it will get to a certain point where most will not buy it anymore because its so pricey.

I reckon MP44 is cool but at that price point I wont get it and hoping TE release a metallic version.

I also think Starscream V2 is really cool but again at that price point Id pass because the value imo isnt worth that much.

Maybe Im wrong but whether or not its artificially inflated it could backfire later down the track when they cant move as much product due to price when it comes to Fans Toys.

Im definitely a fan of their design, paint and use of die cast.

Good opportunity for other companies to step up if they're game.

We might have already seen the limit people are willing to pay. The later fanstoys releases seem to be selling well/selling out. The stunticons were definitely harder to acquire without paying scalper prices, as is Thomas. Saying that, you can still grab reissue Fanstoys Kup/Skyfire/Breakdown cause they are damn expensive (at least 30% markup??)! The same can be said for Takara's beast wars Megatron, it was/is $400 and still available; the higher price would have definitely impacted sales and made it less appealing.

Fanstoys have a reputation for good paint, sculpt and hardware. I'd definitely pay more for Fanstoys versus Takara nowadays.

I used to only collect Takara MP, though now I wouldn't preorder a Takara MP at all, but will definitely preorder Fanstoys without worry. As for other 3P MP, MMC is usually pretty good, and X-transbots has sort of been getting better compared to the offerings a few years ago, but I don't trust their product like Fanstoys. FT>MMC>X-transbots=Takara

[Jellico]

I think both Fanstoys and Takara have been suffering from the same problem over the last few years. A major change of aesthetic which has forced the designers to relearn their craft which has lead to multiple QC issues.


Fanstoys have a reputation for good paint, sculpt and hardware. I'd definitely pay more for Fanstoys versus Takara nowadays.

Fanstoys are pretty but they never saw a problem that they couldn't fix with an extra hinge and panel. Historically Takara would come up with the more elegant solution. Probably because the need to deal with children encouraged more playtesting as opposed to cheap CAD solutions.
Paint and die cast are double edged swords. Eg I have glass shelves. No way I am going to put Sovereign, Quietus, and a potential Scourge together on a glass shelf. Paint gets scratched. Especially with FT's love of random panels and lack of playtesting.
That said, they are still the best MP scale option available at the moment.

[drifand]

I think both Fanstoys and Takara have been suffering from the same problem over the last few years. A major change of aesthetic which has forced the designers to relearn their craft which has lead to multiple QC issues.

Fanstoys are pretty but they never saw a problem that they couldn't fix with an extra hinge and panel. Historically Takara would come up with the more elegant solution. Probably because the need to deal with children encouraged more playtesting as opposed to cheap CAD solutions.
Paint and die cast are double edged swords. Eg I have glass shelves. No way I am going to put Sovereign, Quietus, and a potential Scourge together on a glass shelf. Paint gets scratched. Especially with FT's love of random panels and lack of playtesting.
That said, they are still the best MP scale option available at the moment.

I dunno. I have Voltron SOC, The Power Rangers Dragon, and Megazord, Voltes V, Gao Gai Gar, Fanstoys Aparche, MP-44,MP Bluestreak, Toyworld Jazz, MP Ultra Magnus, SOC Dairugger 17, SOC Godsigma, SOC Godmas. Badcube Hoist and Trailbreaker, MP Sunstreaker, sideswipe, bumblebee and probably 10 more bots on my glass shelf for over 4 years now?

Not to mention my other shelf have all my FT dino, Quietus, Soveriegn, PG Gundams etc... Glass is strong on my cabinet.

The issue now with Fanstoys is the Fanstoys Admin doesn't care and in fact promotes peple to buy three Fanstoys pieces and sell in the group. Quietus for USD$600? wow, really? Pretty sure my Bandai Roy Forker VF-1S cost less and is a better toy.

Like FT-Rogue. Now I look at Takara's MP, I just go for that instead as price difference is about 50-80 dollars.

I dunno. I just feel Fanstoys is now Fanboys. The toy I once love and knew is no loger a topic, just more of an investment value nowadays. If you know me, I buy toys to play and display, not to keep in boxes and sell.

[DaptoDog]

Paint and die cast are double edged swords. Eg I have glass shelves. No way I am going to put Sovereign, Quietus, and a potential Scourge together on a glass shelf. Paint gets scratched. Especially with FT's love of random panels and lack of playtesting.
That said, they are still the best MP scale option available at the moment.

I've got Sovereign, Quietus and Thomas on one detolf shelf and it's fine. Got three FT dinos in another for months, no problems.

[drifand]

the latest insecticons reissue was a sign for me to turn off Fanstoys. I know people dont care, as to them is worth it. I do thank them for making Omega and Jetfire and many cool ones but unfortunaely I feel greed has got the better of them < partly the fan based fault. No issues if people want to continue supporting them.

[jimoinj]

the latest insecticons reissue was a sign for me to turn off Fanstoys. I know people dont care, as to them is worth it. I do thank them for making Omega and Jetfire and many cool ones but unfortunaely I feel greed has got the better of them < partly the fan based fault. No issues if people want to continue supporting them.

I love Fanstoys, but am forced to pick and choose when their options are expensive as the bugs (and hard to get). I went for Phoneix for around $380 because I wanted him so much, but the bugs were too much and I have good enough alternatives from BadCube. Happy with prices for the minibots and the stunticons, Apache is attractive but if it costs too much I'll go with MMC for Springer. I just take it on a case by case basis. Sometimes the figure is so good I'm willing to spend more, eg. Thomas and Quietus (particularly where no good alternatives and character is important to me).

[drifand]

Regardless how good, I wont be paying premium prices for a company that isnt licensed. (You dont deserve the profit at crazy price points) The fact is they are pushing the profit margin as they feel they can dictate what people are willing to pay. You dont buy? He will, I dont care attitude. Is proven in the FB Fanstoys group, so toxic with investors. I bought Phoneix for $285. the three bugs are no where close $400. I am glad I am done with mp line maininly.

[primatives]

Doesnt bother me that it isnt licensed. As long as it looks like the character and is good quality and not outrageously price Ill get it.

But yeah prices are at a level where im choosing carefully but Im happy with where Im at so if I dont purchase anything for the foreseeable future im ok with that

[drifand]

Doesnt bother me that it isnt licensed. As long as it looks like the character and is good quality and not outrageously price Ill get it.

But yeah prices are at a level where im choosing carefully but Im happy with where Im at so if I dont purchase anything for the foreseeable future im ok with that

It bugs me because I feel they dictate what Fanboys are willing to pay while a licensed 3p such as Threezero cost the same and is properly licensed. That is what I consider stealing or taking advantage, to add insult, a Macross DX chogokin doesn't cost as much and is licensed.

As far as prices go currently the new bugs reissue by them is totally out. And this is price set by Fanstoys not the Fans, so my concern is the owner knows exactly what he is doing and is aware of the Fandom.

Good quality yes, but prices are now outrageous. They are now definitely saying they are better than Takara, you want it you pay. I be guessing how much Fort Max cost at this present course of pricing.

[jimoinj]

It bugs me because I feel they dictate what Fanboys are willing to pay while a licensed 3p such as Threezero cost the same and is properly licensed. That is what I consider stealing or taking advantage, to add insult, a Macross DX chogokin doesn't cost as much and is licensed.

As far as prices go currently the new bugs reissue by them is totally out. And this is price set by Fanstoys not the Fans, so my concern is the owner knows exactly what he is doing and is aware of the Fandom.

Good quality yes, but prices are now outrageous. They are now definitely saying they are better than Takara, you want it you pay. I be guessing how much Fort Max cost at this present course of pricing.

This is the problem though. They are better than Takara, and far more prolific. This all wouldn't be a problem if Takara gave fans what they wanted. Because it hasn't, many have turned to third-party.

[drifand]

This is the problem though. They are better than Takara, and far more prolific. This all wouldn't be a problem if Takara gave fans what they wanted. Because it hasn't, many have turned to third-party.

Its quite subjective. I tend to feel Fanstoys are not very perfect either but let the fans talk it up highly of their products. Takara needs to qet their quality at where it should be.
Also Takara has not shown any sort of aggressive raid unlike what Bandai does. I noticed Fanstoys had totally stopped publishing any future releases since last year. Maybe they finally finish Bersek lol.

[jimoinj]

They are lying low, but they still released Seaspray and Drag Strip. At the very least they are still putting out reissues, hopefully a new figure comes out soon. I'm not sure it will be Beserk or Soundwave though as they have been promised for years.

[primatives]

Yeah I do agree that FT designs are very nice. When you have it in hand it feels like a very well made product. QC is another issue where they are not perfect. I use these as display pieces so it hasnt broke on me yet. If Takara releases what fans want Id purchase them but they dont.

[jimoinj]

Some of their pieces have breakage issues and overcomplicated transformations - Koot and Jabber for instance. But so do Takara ones - MP44 and Hound. But it's not due to transformation just terrible QC.

[DaptoDog]

FT-51 Chomp just up for preorder on TFSource for US$240! FT squeezing the fans hard now.

https://tfsource.com/3rd-party-figures/ft-51-chomp-fans-toys/

[primatives]

FT-51 Chomp just up for preorder on TFSource for US$240! FT squeezing the fans hard now.

https://tfsource.com/3rd-party-figures/ft-51-chomp-fans-toys/

Doesnt look like its flying off the shelves.
..yet haha

[drifand]

FT-51 Chomp just up for preorder on TFSource for US$240! FT squeezing the fans hard now.

https://tfsource.com/3rd-party-figures/ft-51-chomp-fans-toys/

Yes, as they know they are in position to dictate what you need to pay. Only a good handful of people dont play into their scheme and know where to draw the line.

[jimoinj]

Well it's sold out! I guess people don't want what happened with Lupus to happen again.

[drifand]

Well it's sold out! I guess people don't want what happened with Lupus to happen again.

I wont pay $100 for Lupas. There is a difference in buying a good toy than buying a toy just because the company doesnt want to make. People throw logic out of the window because they think Lupus is worth every dollar which is rubbish as if it was to reissue constently nobody wants it. Fanstoys being sold out is because of toxic fan base being FOMO themseleves and just wanting 4 pieces of each. I am not bothered.

Take Stomp for instance, I have it and I sure dont see anything USD500 worth at all. The owner knows this and he purposely let this hype stays as it becomes a justified price when he does reissue this piece at a easy USD$285 next time.

From what I am seeing, new stuff like mini bots by Fanstoys are now at easy $160, and stuff like Jazz/mirage are easy $230 starting point.

Is a shame of what the company has become and how people support it. This is what happens when there is no competition sadly and Takara didnt take them down.

[jimoinj]

If Takara took them down, fans would only be able to buy whatever Takara bothers to put out, which seems to be endless rehashes of Prime, seekers, Bumblebee etc. Fanstoys and other third party companies give choice to fans to get characters they want.

Prices are too high because Takara doesn't give them enough competition, in quality or output.

[drifand]

If Takara took them down, fans would only be able to buy whatever Takara bothers to put out, which seems to be endless rehashes of Prime, seekers, Bumblebee etc. Fanstoys and other third party companies give choice to fans to get characters they want.

Prices are too high because Takara doesn't give them enough competition, in quality or output.

Except Fanstoys is not behaving like a 3p, if you are not seeing it. I wont justify the prices set, but thats my take. If you are a fan, be my guest, not going to hold you back. I dont pay premium for non license and thats me, if its reasonable, sure why not. Fanstoys are turning Bandai style, reduce production raise prices. I am not in for this BS game.

[jimoinj]

Isn't it more that they r seeing the prices it's going for on the secondary market and raising prices accordingly. They r still selling out. If Takara lifted its game it wouldn't be a problem. I don't care if something is licensed. I care if it's good. Hasbro power of the primes chug was licensed but its garbage.

[drifand]

Isn't it more that they r seeing the prices it's going for on the secondary market and raising prices accordingly. They r still selling out. If Takara lifted its game it wouldn't be a problem. I don't care if something is licensed. I care if it's good. Hasbro power of the primes chug was licensed but its garbage.

To be honest, It doesnt matter Takara lift its game at this point. Fanstoys are in control of whatever they feel like to price, and are NOT at all bothered with the compeition because the fanbase just want it and lost the plot of whether is actually any quality at all. To them, is a rare piece and if NOT it be a rare piece down the road so they buy three piece to keep.

You dont care is unlicensed but you are paying over licensed price says that you are allowing the company to make easy profits. (I wont debate here, as there are reasons why 3p has all the while been affordable < but Fanstoys are taking advantage at this point, I can clearly see what they are doing, but hey is up to you.)

[jimoinj]

If Fanstoys really wanted to take advantage they could raise prices further as their stock is still selling out. I would think for me, and many who buy Fanstoys they are popular because of the quality of product they offer, not just because they are rare. But the way they keep selling out sure doesn't help, and people don't want to miss out. I mean if Takara released more characters, more often, then Fanstoys would have more competition. Where people have options and choice they can turn down the company that charges too much. Of course, the other issue is recently Takara is charging ridiculous amounts too...look at MP44. With the breaking legs...

[drifand]

dude, they already took advantage, which part you didnt see? LOL

FYI I have a lot of Fanstoys figures, I know the quality and I can tell you its no tperfect either, and many fans seem to hype it up. Take for example Their Blurr, and Six shot, its far from perfect, in fact nothing to shout about and they are charging stupid prices.

Thomas, was great but not without flaws.

Please step back and dont let things cloud your judgement and justify the cost. I bought Thomas at $290aud NOT $400USD. The insecticons are a clear indication of a cash grab by the company where each insecticons used to be just $80aud each and now over $180USD each for the reissue.

Nuff said. I started this thread was because of awareness. If you fail to see it by all means continue to buy, nobody's stopping you to pay ridiculas prices.

Fanstoys has taken advantage of the fanbase and created a false sense of scarcity. Increasing FOMO causing all stocks to be sold within less than a week. Takara doesn't do this, in case you never realised. Don't believe? watch for Jazz and Mirage by Fanstoys.

[Tha_Phantom]

Did Fanstoys lose their Pokemon license?

[Sinnertwin]

Fans Toys can charge what they want, it's us the consumer that's enabling them.

[jimoinj]

I have to admit it's going a bit crazy with US$300 (or about AU$400) for reissues. These are big but not particularly complex figures and are an easy pass for me at that price.

[drifand]

I have to admit it's going a bit crazy with US$300 (or about AU$400) for reissues. These are big but not particularly complex figures and are an easy pass for me at that price.

That's what I am trying to say, wouldn't have mind if it was just 20% increase.