Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 60

Thread: Transformers retail prices in 2012 unchanged despite exchange rate

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1
    Join Date
    24th May 2007
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    38,239

    Default Transformers retail prices in 2012 unchanged despite exchange rate

    Moved these posts here from the BigW Pricing topic, as my posts were getting the News posting off-topic.

    Pity about the prices though, as it shows Hasbro have gone another year without passing on the difference in exchange rate over the last few years.

    So comparing to US$ prices, and compensating for approximate tax-rate difference...

    Deluxe
    In America - US$12
    Here - AU$24-30 (about US$25-31)
    Difference - US$13-19 (over 100% extra here)

    Voyager
    In America - US$20
    Here - AU$48-50 (about US$50-52)
    Difference - US$28-30 (up to 150% extra here)

    Bot Shots single pack
    In America - US$4
    Here - AU$7 (about US$7.50)
    Difference - US$3.50 (almost 100% extra here)

    Bot Shots Launcher pack
    In America - US$8
    Here - AU$17 (about US$18)
    Difference - US$10 (over 100% extra here)


    That's a lot of extra money going into Hasbro's pockets... and more reason not to buy locally this year. Buying locally at those mark-ups just gives them reason to justify it if we accept it.

    This looks to be the first line that I'm not planning to buy any of it domestically. Importing is too cost-effective for me as a completist to not do it.
    Last edited by griffin; 26th February 2012 at 04:56 PM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    20th Jul 2011
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    102

    Default

    Well it could be the probable landslide during DOTM, which left them not enough budget to either change the size of figures or the prices, or I'm completely off.
    Either way I'll just stick to the reality of their 'vampire' powers.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    1st Mar 2010
    Location
    Dapto
    Posts
    12,777

    Default

    Cheers for the heads-up KaRNiV8L PRiME, appreciated as always mate
    I agree DD, that is a more palatable price on the Deluxes but the Voyagers are really no better than TRU ; but I completely agree with Griffin and believe sending a message via our wallets to Hasbro AU is really essential if we're to try and get more comparable pricing - Educating the parental masses is what really needs to be done though.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    5th May 2008
    Location
    Clifton Hill, Melbourne
    Posts
    4,272

    Default

    I am quite surprised by the price of the individual Box Shots. I would be pretty happy to pick one or 2 up for $7.
    The deluxes are pretty good too.

    I think we have to remember that we will never have the prices or prices anywhere close to what America has for many reasons.
    We are a smaller market that is spread out. That means less product sold to a bigger area. That makes transport costs much higher. We also have much higher overheads (I am pretty sure the staff at Big W get paid much much more than the staff at the Big W equivalent in the US) and rent and insurance. Even though the price of the actual product has gone down, the price of everything else (transport, insurance, staff, rent and so on) has stayed the same (actually has gone up a bit due to inflation)

    We also have to remember that a few years ago deluxes at Big W were a lot closer to the $26-30 price point. If we picked up a deluxe for $24 on sale we did pretty well. Now it is the standard and the on sale price is $18-20. So the prices for some figures have gone down. And even though some other figures (like voyagers) have not dropped down by as much, they also have not gone up with inflation either.
    Last edited by Golden Phoenix; 26th February 2012 at 02:09 PM.
    |Buy ALL my things!|Collection Thread|Current Collection Count: ~661|
    |Wants|Galaxy Force Blue Rumble|

  5. #5
    Join Date
    24th May 2007
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    38,239

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Golden Phoenix View Post
    We are a smaller market that is spread out. That means less product sold to a bigger area. That makes transport costs much higher. We also have much higher overheads (I am pretty sure the staff at Big W get paid much much more than the staff at the Big W equivalent in the US) and rent and insurance. Even though the price of the actual product has gone down, the price of everything else (transport, insurance, staff, rent and so on) has stayed the same (actually has gone up a bit due to inflation)
    We are indeed a smaller market... but America is about the same land-mass as us, so transport costs are comparable. And they have inflation and fuel-based cost increases comparable to us as well. But since Hasbro currently sells the toys to American retailers at 35-45% of the price they charge Australian retailers... the transport and inflation factors only affect the retail prices. If hypothetically, Hasbro sold the exact same product for the same (wholesale) price in the different countries, then we would be able to pin any retail price differences on non-Hasbro factors. But unless someone does something about it, Hasbro will keep charging Australian retailers MORE than the retail price in America (for the exact same product).

  6. #6
    Join Date
    24th May 2007
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    38,239

    Default

    I was thinking that with all the factors in play, we need to visualise this, using the Deluxe Class as an example...



    Note though, that it isn't just Hasbro not passing on savings of the exchange rate - it is just easiest to show the cost breakdown of the Deluxe size-class.
    And our Wholesale price has the added component of funneling commission to the American Companies, who are already getting profit from their own domestic sales to pay for R&D, staffing, shareholders and future projects.

    But Retailers are parties to the "offence" of either being negligent in not chasing up savings (by doing research on what items should be costing them) or intentionally accepting the higher prices to keep the higher profit margin (the margin between wholesale and retail is often about 40%, so smaller wholesale/retail prices means smaller margin per unit).
    I'd never expect these multi-national corporations to give us a fair deal with pricing, but looking at the cost breakdown above, can you see why I'm so passionately upset about how much we are being shafted here.

    (I'll move these into a new topic, as my posts are taking this one off-topic)

  7. #7
    Join Date
    22nd Feb 2012
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    157

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by griffin View Post

    That's a lot of extra money going into Hasbro's pockets... and more reason not to buy locally this year. Buying locally at those mark-ups just gives them reason to justify it if we accept it.

    This looks to be the first line that I'm not planning to buy any of it domestically. Importing is too cost-effective for me as a completist to not do it.
    I agree with all the points you're making here. Not that I personally will be buying any TF's anyway but its the principle. This country is expensive enough without having companies pulling this sort of thing. I work for a manufacturer/exporter so we're struggling because of the high value of the dollar. Yet getting our component suppliers (who are obviously importers) to pass on the saving they're making is a struggle.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    24th Nov 2009
    Location
    1984
    Posts
    8,244

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by griffin View Post
    After all the attention with the US Toyfair, and the Titans being of no interest to older fans, I can wait until BotCon now to buy these things for half the price of here.
    It's disgusting how much extra we have to pay for things just because of our location. It was in the news this morning that we actually pay 40% more for Vegemite in Oz than what the Brits do (among other things)
    New Acquisitions:
    TR Astrotrain, Skullsmasher, & Hardhead
    Scouting For:
    G1 Boxes & Cardbacks
    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    [COLLECTION] [CREATIVE] [MK COLLECTION]



  9. #9
    Join Date
    8th Nov 2012
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    2,122

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by 5FDP View Post
    It's disgusting how much extra we have to pay for things just because of our location. It was in the news this morning that we actually pay 40% more for Vegemite in Oz than what the Brits do (among other things)
    That is depressing.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    12th Jun 2011
    Location
    Gladstone
    Posts
    6,449

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Mythirax View Post
    That is depressing.
    If you know a little about economics the prices we pay are not that bad (and you don't need to be a numbers guy to understand it).

    There are a few problems we have that stop things being as cheap here as they are in America.

    Yes you can buy a figure and have it sent to you from America for less than picking it up locally, but that doesn't mean the local price isn't fair when you consider the economic factors.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •