"It costs HOW MUCH?????" Topic

Am I the only one who has absolutely had enough of reading responses to new releases that carp about the pricing?
Joe Wargamer emphatically states that he can make this new terrain piece for WAAAAY less and that the cost new equals 16.467 hours at his pay-rate. Or, I can't believe the cost of that building even though it is pre-painted. Do you think the painter worked for free? I bet it would cost that painter even more in labor hours than it would cost Joe Wargamer to buy that terrain piece.

If you don't want to pay the price, fine. Keep it to yourself, please. These are small companies trying to make some money in our chosen hobby who certainly don't need comments shooting down their intros.

RANT OVER

And, yes, I do work in sales.

Dear Historical Gamer

Can't argue. It's called capitalism. If you don't like the cost don't buy it. The simple fact is that most people haven't a clue as to "costing" (as opposed to "cost") which is what the costs are to make a particular thing. Fewer still understand things like "mark-up," "shelf life," "ageing." "inventory turns" etc.

For my own part they can rant away about it and it pretty much falls in the same category as the old geezer at the supermarket check-out line gumming on about "Why I remember when a quart of milk was 10 cents! and You could get gas at a quarter a gallon." I like to remind them that "Yah, but back then you made a buck ten an hour."

We could have our pre-painted buildings made in ad hoc factories in Bangaldesh, that would bring the price down. It works so well for the clothing manufacturers.

Quite. If companies feel they can charge the prices they do and still run a successful business, then good luck to them. Wargames models are a luxury product and those who sell them will charge what the market will stand. If you can't afford it, you need to find a cheaper alternative, a new hobby, a better-paying job or a cheaper/more understanding wife.

As it happens, I've still got over 3,000 unpainted AB Napoleonics (plus a similar number of OG 15s), bought in the late 90s, when they were around 15-18p per figure. That's definitely the highest return of any investment I've ever made and I'm wondering if a career in commodities trading awaits me.

Of course the Memsahib wants to know when I'm selling them, so that 'we' (i.e. she) can recoup the return on 'our' (her) investment… However, being but a mere woman, she does not understand the secret pact between a man and his unpainted lead.

Der R. Mark Davies

I believe I can help you with this in getting your wife to udnerstand.

Unpainted lead is to a gamer what shoes are to a woman.

Thanks, but it's actually less shoes for her… ;o)

Generally it's the market that decides if prices are too high.

So, nobody should say anything about pricing, is that it? Let the invisible hand of the maket work and sharrup.

Here's a news flash for you economists. The buzz about product, to include the perception of value, is the market at work. It's not just the vendor who gets a voice.

So, nobody should say anything about pricing, is that it? Let the invisible hand of the maket work and sharrup.

Here's a news flash for you economists. The buzz about product, to include the perception of value, is the market at work. It's not just the vendor who gets a voice.

The problem is that too many people who don't have a clue about being self employed or trying to earn a fair wage gob off and convince other people that some traders are over-charging, when in fact, if worked out properly they would be on less than the minimum hourly wage.

More often than not the problem is due to people that have no intention of trying to earn a living from this business charging so little (so they can get a few sales to fund their next project) that it makes people who do do this for a living seem like rip off merchants.

If someone sells a resin building at £1.00 GBP when all others seem to be charging £3.00 GBP, it is not because the others are fleecing you.
Imagine if you will that the person who charges £1.00 GBP gets an order for 100 of these buildings, I bet you any money he will be annoyed that he has to do so much work for so little money.
However the person that charges £3.00 GBP won't actually mind as it will be worth their while to spend 4 days getting £300.00 GBP but the chap that sold at £1.00 GBP, is he glad that 4 days work gets him £100.00 GBP?
I doubt it.

Michael.

I have some sympathy with those trying to make a living in the Wargames market.
But the market includes the guy selling up (2nd hand sales, stock clearance), selling cheap (Tesco?) or full cost (Waitrose).
That is the market and some people will choose new and some used/as new.
I wish AB would do ancient buildings also by-the-way!

Ancient buildings? These are the easiest to make out of cardboard and balsa. Simple square brick boxes with no windows and a door or two. For the rich you can have two such buildings enclosed by a small courtyard. For the really rich, whitewash the inner walls of the courtyard.

I made a whole ancient city (complete with market place, two temples (One ziggurat one Greek) and about sixty buildings from hovels to mini-palaces out of cardboard, Bristal plate, and some columns purchased from the Wedding Department of AC Moore and originally made to hold up the layers of a wedding cake.

I've come to the conclusion that none of the laws of economics apply to wargaming or wargamers.

You'll never be able to do a Laffer curve for it, that's for sure.

The part missing from the debate here;
There is a significant difference between saying that something is "expensive", and saying it is "not worth the cost".

Generally the former means a person can't buy it, while the latter means a person won't buy it.

It's important to recognize the type of criticism being displayed.

Hi

'The part missing from the debate here;
There is a significant difference between saying that something is "expensive", and saying it is "not worth the cost".

Generally the former means a person can't buy it, while the latter means a person won't buy it.'

Very good point – I have had an issue with a couple of rule sets that I thought were 'Too expensive' – in turn this meant I could not judge whather they 'Are worth it'!!!!

Democracy is a b….

Is it useful for you traders/authors to hear that a product isn't selling (more) because people think it is too expensive as opposed to not their cup of tea?

Regards

Is it useful for you traders/authors to hear that a product isn't selling (more) because people think it is too expensive as opposed to not their cup of tea?

Yes, though what people say they will do and actually do are far from the same.
People may say they would buy it, if it were £5.00 GBP cheaper, so you drop the price and they don't buy it…

It happens on Hobby News all the time to loads of companies, great feedback on the new release, people saying how good they are and how they need 3 of them.
Speak to the company after a few days and hear they have only sold one..

So it would be interesting but maybe not useful…