<div class='quotetop'>(Atemylunch @ Aug 23 2006, 10:37 PM) [snapback]1306168[/snapback]</div>
Interesting Kuhn.
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I'm also impressed that Master Replicas is open to honest feedback on their product line but also agree with Kurt's business sense calling for rational considerations when taking new product under advisement. We all know what we'd like to see...but...it's got to be worth the while to research, secure a license for...and sell enough copies to pay for the overhead and insure a sensible margin for the business.[/b]
I'll bet we will see a Slave One from MR. We saw an AT-AT before the Falcon, I think it's a matter of cost. Not popularity. Otherwise we would have an MR X-Wing or Tie by now, I wouldn't be surprised to see a Slave One before MR puts out either model.
MR does their homework on all of their products.
One thing to consider is MR only offers small production runs. They average 1500 units an offering. (In the world of manufacturing this is a small number.)
This is what their research tells them.
MR's primary concern is how many models can they sell to their retailers. Selling to individuals is icing on the cake(They make twice the profit). When they consider an offering the first people(in the outside world) they talk to are retailers.
I've never seen MR post and ask what do you want to see(I could be wrong). It would be great but we are not their primary audience. The retailers are, they buy in bulk(I'll bet even Kuhn doesn't do that
).
I think it's to bad that MR doesn't talk about how they evaluate an offering. But then most people would not understand, they would only complain about how little a product costs vs. retail.
To give you an idea of what a product costs.
Take the retail price, half that. You'll have the (aprox)wholesale cost.
To find what a product costs MR to manufacture, divide the retail price by 4.6.
These numbers are just a guess. (I used to be in the gift industry. These numbers are what we used.)
These numbers may or may not include packaging.
This is simplified, they also have to pay George, R&D costs, tooling costs, shipping from China(Insurance, imagine the fun if they lost a container). Then pay their people. In the end it's amazing that they can make money on props, but they do.
Sorry about the long winded post.
Max
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Let's face it,.. the fans, in most cases, ruin franchises... just look at what happened to Star Trek.[/b]
No kidding.
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LOLOL..you're right... I never buy in bulk for this stuff,... well?... almost never..
Max,.. your post a good post with very great information for all to know. People should read it a few times to let it sink in,.. if only, to understand a business perspective. Nicely stated mate.
I agree that cost has to do with everything made and sold. On the other hand... even the retailers buy in bulk to sell to the collector,.. so popularity must play a
small or better part into the equation. Otherwise, we would probably see something like a SS Assasin Chase Vehicle from EpII...lol. Which isn't bad,.. but not sought after or popular by any means..lol.
Overall Max,.. great post with great information. Good man. :thumbsup
:thumbsup
