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batch 2:

Do I post these here? The M&M thread I found was closed...

Only have time for a quick snap:

I am lost, Pete... Let me see if I understand correctly; your rationale is that manufacturer is losing the distributors, so they cut the price. Distributors are too facing a declining demand, but they don't cut the price. P.S. I am not very convinced with this flow of argument given the MSRP of various toys. Regarding Macross toys; Yamato keeps the same price for VF-1 from last year. The ones with a different mold cost more (understandable, but still not "lower"). GNU VF-1 is very expensive. Bandai DXs cost more than they worth IMHO. VF100 is insanely priced. MF model kits are expensive. Some Bandai exclusive goods' MSRP are ridiculous. Revys got bigger boxes and charged more lately. P.P.S. MSRP matters. Manufacturers don't just want to sell to the distributors, they want the distributors to be able to sell to end-users too (or else the distributors won't buy again). The MSRP is supposed to give a balance on a healthy margin and price attractiveness. If the price cut doesn't transfer to the customers, it hurts the manufacturer in the end.

I still believe this is not the $500 toy we have been talking about. - The price is far from what we've heard. - The release date was said to be 2010 spring for the toy. - The previouly announced SDF has a clean name of "SDF" on its tag. This one has "SDF prototype HDR" title, which seems to describe that "it's not the thing". - I hope I am right.

Just read more info; yes that is a resin kit. I suppose this is not the same as the toy announced previously? It I'd a bit confusing as it is also 1/2000 and in a close time frame.

1/2000 完全変形 SDF-1 マクロス プロトタイプモデルキット（H.D.R仕様） 2009年12月 出荷予定 予価　 210,000円（税込） （本体価格：200,000 円） ■材質：PU、亜鉛合金、他 ■商品サイズ：要塞艦時／全長約64cm ■パッケージサイズ：：高さ２０ｃｍ×横７６ｃｍ×幅３０ｃｍ ■付属品：組立説明書/変形説明書/組み立て用ビス edit: the pics look real enough, but I am unsure about the other info... The price is too high, and release date seems to be far earlier than announced before.

Sorry... But where did they say it's web exclusive?

http://www.yamato-toys.com/items/detail.php?gid=1519 Plain VF-1S 8295yen Dec

I've seen similar setups with the VF-0S - I mean, the transformation sequence thing. Man, I almost cried for that.

That Minmay costs US$770 locally... (That's 260+ Big Macs.) No wonder it's bigger than the SDF.

SMALL?! Frankly, it does look small in the photo. However, when you imagine how tall it is when compared to the 1/60s - to head it's 2 VF-1 battroid height, to the cannon it's more than 3. Now stack up your 3 VF-1's and look again... It's huge to me!

I see that you now worry for Yamato, not for your wallet. As a counter argument, I would have bought more than one if it's the "regular price" merchandize; and only one or even none if it's web exclusive. (For the same yen price, a regular item is 40% cheaper than a web exclusive one in where I live.)

I love the poses you have for the 1S'!

The problem is... The Yamato web site only sells inside Japan. So the new middlemen are the people who get the goods in Japan and ship to overseas. Just like the Overdrive and HLJ now... And we know they charge more for web exclusive items. P.S. We are not arguing, really! Just clarifying thoughts.

I don't understand... Instead of a middleman which works in large quantity (distributor/retailor) and cheaper overhead/item, you introduce a middleman which works in smaller quantity (order from web and forward it to you) and charge for a crazy amount. And there is no competition - shops, Japan or other regions, do not sell at the MSRP. Often there is a discount on top of the MSRP in Japan, and it's more volatile outside Jap. If it's a web exclusive, the one company control all the supplies and thus the price. It doesn't have to be in plain brown box, and last time I've heard it's cheaper than the standard valks. Definitely not at twice the cost!

What's the good with it to make it web exclusive????

Even more so that the original? I'll be surprised if it really was, judging with the amount of toys and model kits spawned from the series.

Anyone has more information on this plain VF-1S? http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?...st&p=798750

I can't bring myself to agree that anime toys are getting cheaper, even judging only at the yen price. Maybe they are getting better too, but the price do get higher. And I am sure that some of them are just packaged to be better, not really so.

I agree. HG affects people not only people in North America and Europe. As Yamato cannot reach those markets, they have a smaller customer base, and in turn less efficiency and higher costs. Would ever HG's license expire?

The Bird of Prey and Double Nuts have tighter shoulders. My 25th can hardly rise his arms... Well, you get the picture.

I have little knowledge on North America general consumer price level to comment how expensive Yammies are in North America. I just wish to express my thoughts, related or unrelated to the discussion above. Or even consistent myself. I am living in a city that I do not have to pay for a hefty shipping fee on top of the Yammies. I have some experiences buying overseas, and the shipping cost is a major pain. Talking about the price of the toy itself; the local price < yen price x exchange rate (by 30%). It sounds like a cheap deal now... but the Yammies are still very expensive by local standard. Say, a VF-1 w/o SSP would cost around 22 Big Mac combo. That's 3 weeks of lunch money for many. It was a tough decision for me when I wanted to get my first valk; it is just too much money for a toy, I thought. So I didn't buy it after a couple of years later. It's not only Yammies that the price is inflated during the years. Video games, Chogokin, Gunpla model kits, the perception has changed. I don't drink, smoke or party-things, and I don't even go to movies. Toys and video games are the only thing I would spend my entertainment money. So I fell for Macross merchandizes. Would someone please give me an idea on the price they pay for a 1/60 VF-1 in terms of Big Macs?

They didn't say anything beyond that...