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We know that GW models have far outpaced inflation for the past couple decades with the result being that relative to income, GW models are more expensive then they have ever been. Every month the GW price thread comes up, and the issues of price of metal/plastic/resin, production costs, shriniking customer base, profit margins, price raises stockholders, divident payements, and others are hashed and rehasehd. This time, I'd like to concentrate on one particular aspect.

Do better models justify higher prices?

Despite what ones feelings may be about the present adventure of finecast, even a critic like me must admit that the overall quality of GW models has increased dramatically over the past 20 years. The many previously mentioned issues just cloud the fact that the only really germaine question for the customer is whether the increase in quality is worth the increase in price.

If the entire range was updated at the time of the hike, sure I guess. Some of the new stuff is fantastic, currently giving some tlc to some death company turned assault marines and I love this kit and would pay current prices for it no problem. Assault marines which are nearly the same price on the other hand, are not updated and don't have the level of detail and I would only pay it begrudgingly and only if I absolutely had to acqiure it for some odd reason.

Then again the price hikes makes me wonder if I shouldn't buy a few hundred dollars worth of stuff then store it for a few years and resell it at profit.

Yes, but only so far, especially when limited by painting ability

That said, GW's prices have far outpaced that and in some cases are on par with FW offerings. I'm ok with paying FW prices for FW level sculpts. I'm not ok with paying FW prices (or near FW prices) for the vast majority of primary GW offerings (there are a couple exceptions, the fantasy mounted Chaos lords being among them) whose prices are rapidly converging.

FW's prices have risen slightly over the last few years, the cost of a Death Korps of Krieg squad IIRC was ~$52 in 2006, now it's ~$58, increasing at about the rate of inflation. Basic GW plastic Cadians and Catachans have gone from $35 for 20 to $29 for 10, a 65% increase for the same product over the same amount of time. *THAT* I'm not OK with.

I'm completely going to answer off-topic and say that I'm willing to
pay high prices if I enjoy the game because buying the models
supports further development of that game.

This is why I buy as many Warmachine models as I do.

Games Workshop I only buy so much because those are models
I only buy for looks since I haven't played WHFB or 40k in years.

Everybody else I buy models from I pay for looks. And for those
models I am willing to pay more for looks if they are better.

To a point I'm willing to pay more for better models, but it's got to be within reason. For example, there is no degree of improvement that could be done to a 30mm figure to make me willing to pay $50 for one. The price I'm willing to pay per figure varies depending on how many I need to pay to viably play a game, but the returns diminish rather quickly.

Also, technically superior miniatures mean absolutely nothing to me if the quality of the sculpting is garbage, and that includes the artistic design. My beloved Ungors are now just $2.5 dollars a figure and have loads of options now, but their design is so lame that I just can't summon up the interest to buy any. They went from beautiful, viscious little runts in their last incarnation to a bunch of pot-bellied, hunchbacked, gribbly-bling covered schock with tree-trunk spears in the re-design. No thank you.

Eilif wrote:We know that GW models have far outpaced inflation for the past couple decades with the result being that relative to income, GW models are more expensive then they have ever been. Every month the GW price thread comes up, and the issues of price of metal/plastic/resin, production costs, shriniking customer base, profit margins, price raises stockholders, divident payements, and others are hashed and rehasehd. This time, I'd like to concentrate on one particular aspect.

Do better models justify higher prices?

Despite what ones feelings may be about the present adventure of finecast, even a critic like me must admit that the overall quality of GW models has increased dramatically over the past 20 years. The many previously mentioned issues just cloud the fact that the only really germaine question for the customer is whether the increase in quality is worth the increase in price.

No.

Not to the point where I have to put in for a second morgage just to buy some friggin miniatures to play a game with. GW uses any and every dirty trick in the book to pull the bait and switch to justify thier price gouging and overhyped sense of self worth.

Only reason that they do it is because they can, people will continue to pay, and they will continue to do so until they bottom out. Then comes the slash and burn Gordon Gecko sell off of the IP, because it was "Profitable" and then someone else picks it up and either does something with it to continue the cherade, or they crap on it some more.

As for "GW improving.... yadda yadda..." They haven't. All they did was to get some different sculpters, writers, and added in some bean counters and legal types to tool around chasing smaller companies for derivitives, copies, or similer gaming in a small bowel that is the miniatures gaming market, made the same miniatures with thier styles, and continue to push a now degraded game to people who are still trying to tell themselves that it is the same game they enjoyed.

They cut off thier nose to spite thier face for the sake of "sales" and forgot who the target audience for the game was.

Yes.

However, better looking Space Marines does not justify raising the price of Rhinos, Thousand Sons, Chaos Dreads, or any other models that haven't been updated.

Are you willing to pay more for your miniatures so that I can have a better looking army?

The poll as presented doesn't really apply to GW, since those 'better models' don't just result in higher prices for those models.

If GW only raised their prices on models that were improved, it would be a valid point. But because their prices are based on unit effectiveness and how many of them you need to buy, whether the model is the new hotness or something that's been around for 15 years has no bearing on what GW expect us to pay for it.

To a degree yes - I do get quite a bit of forge world stuff which is better and more expensive. However to be honest, I see that end of the hobby as being a bit of a luxury - so I would only buy stuff if I have sufficient spare cash to do so - or I wasn't too worried about getting overdrawn to do it!

To a point I will pay for better "quality" models, but that point is a long way back in the rear view mirror for most of GW's models, and now the majority of their range is significantly overcosted vs how "good" the models actually look/how they come together/the options/etc.

How long will it be until a figure like Logan Grimnar costs £20.00? Not very far away at the pace of GW's hikes. I've only bought 2 GW metal figures in 2011, The Sanguinor and Astorath. The reason I bought them is that I wanted perfectly cast figures in metal and not in the resin disaster. I paid £12 for the Sanguinor and £10 for Astorath, and while I'm pleased with the models I still shudder at how much I had to pay to get them.
The thing is this: I will never use them on the battlefield. GW's pricing to me has transformed what are basically toys into luxury items and I'm sure as hell not going to risk them getting damaged or worse stolen. Theft might become an increasing problem as GW keeps increasing prices and more and more people don't have the cash to afford the models.

Do I want to pay more money in exchange for more scrolls, skullz and other assorted crap/clutter on my models? No. I'm a wargamer first, and while I appreciate quality in my minis, there is a tipping point for me between price and excessive detail.

$11.40



$10.00



$30.00



The above three are all very lovely models. But one comes at a completely unjustifiable price. Can you tell which one it is?

Am fed up with the hyper inflated GW prices, and I have stopped buying new, for the past three years. Ebay is my main source of space marines now.

The last GW figure I brought was a thunderfire cannon, poorly scruplted, and cast. Couldn't finish it, it was that warped.

Why are they doing it, film licences, and having to keep to many shops open, while strangling independent shops.

If they didn't have the massive overheads of there shops, the prices would be cheaper.

Put simple GW grasp of the hobby is slipping, the die hard fans like most of this forum, are keeping this sick animal alive, unless their business model changes, there not going to survive.

Woody

I'm the guy that paid 100 euros for one OOP 28mm I liked... not GW one.

GW miniatures have improved yes but other companies today are at the front of innovation in miniature design, if there are such a thing as chart of quality for miniatures companies GW would be in the middle due to some plastic kits but still far from the guys in the top of the chart.

With that said and since GW best is still not there yet and others do provide competitive prices I voted No to the pool.

Forgetting GW for a moment and looking at some lted editions from that sculptor you like, sure I will pay more for better.

Fafnir wrote:$11.40



$10.00



$30.00



The above three are all very lovely models. But one comes at a completely unjustifiable price. Can you tell which one it is?

You also need to factor in weight(ie. amount of material used), and number of pieces. multi-piece models add to production cost.

Not refuting your assertion (the mek IS overpriced), but for the sake of completeness are these figs all equal in size/weight and number of pieces?

Well, the Big Mek uses finecast resin, which is cheaper than the pewter in the other two.

Furthermore, I just picked the Big Mek because it's one of my favourite GW models (and I'm incredibly glad to have gotten mine back when he was $18!).

I could use plenty of other examples.

$30.00


$25.00


$30.00

I would like to point something:


Metal is the most expensive material for making miniatures... BUT the machinery and nmoulds used to make metal miniatures are much more cheaper than the ones for plastic.


Plastic is a very cheap material but the moulds and machinery necessary to create the plastic sprues are very expensive.

Fafnir wrote:$10.00

This made me check out anima tactics.

-Loki- wrote:

Fafnir wrote:$10.00

This made me check out anima tactics.

One of my favourite models of all time. I haven't gotten around to painting mine yet (well, after stripping her after an unsatisfactory job) just because of how difficult, and down right intimidating she is.

The model's name is "Kujaku Hime," in case you're wondering.

And additionally, if you're interested in the game, she's actually pretty good.

Fafnir wrote:$11.40



$10.00



$30.00



The above three are all very lovely models. But one comes at a completely unjustifiable price. Can you tell which one it is?

A more equitable comparison is those 2 top models up against any Dark Eldar character (or Kasrkin for the top mini in particular). GW is still a more expensive but nowhere near as big a price gap as the mekboy, and its closer in size and I personally believe GW has more detail packed into them.

Again using Dark Eldar characters (Archon and Succubus as examples) I can use interchangeable parts from any of the Dark Eldar range to make my own unique model with head/weapon swaps, thereby changing the dynamic of an excellent model to my own personal aesthetic or gaming wargear loadout tastes. Those other models... not so much, as near as I can tell. I'm not knocking those models, they are excellent, but more my dollar I want a little extra customization options with minimal sculpting required.

Yes, I realize that buying extra kits to make it personalized only drives up the end price on a model thats already more expensive, but I rarely buy models in a vacuum, meaning that the $18.25 Archon/Succubus is only a small part in a large purchase of a Dark Eldar army, where the extra bits come from.

I voted yes to the poll, better models are worth a higher cost to me, but with the caveat that I want a little custom options to put my own personal touch on it.

Fafnir wrote:One of my favourite models of all time. I haven't gotten around to painting mine yet (well, after stripping her after an unsatisfactory job) just because of how difficult, and down right intimidating she is.

The model's name is "Kujaku Hime," in case you're wondering.

And additionally, if you're interested in the game, she's actually pretty good.

Even if I don't start playing, I'll be buying a few of them just to paint. Yuki is a stunning model as well.

I see it like this; if Hostess makes a better twinkie sure, I'll pay a little more it some. I refuse to pay $15 for the same twinkie just because Hostess reboxed Ho-Hos and tells me that they are better now. GW models (generally) are good, but not a good value imo. I don't want to support a company that is run by a bunch of greedy ass hats. I just don't get how they intend to survive long term at this rate, but then maybe they will just sell off their IP when the ship starts to sink.

Edit: Misread the title. Better models for higher prices? Yes.

But not on anything GW is selling.

Fafnir wrote:$30.00
*ELDRAD ULTHRAN*

$25.00
*HURON BACKHEART*

$30.00
*HIVE GUARD*

What country are you in, because those certainly are not American Dollar prices, and thus not very comparable to the $10USD Infinity and Anima Tactica miniatures.

Absolutionis wrote:

Fafnir wrote:$30.00
*ELDRAD ULTHRAN*

$25.00
*HURON BACKHEART*

$30.00
*HIVE GUARD*

What country are you in, because those certainly are not American Dollar prices, and thus not very comparable to the $10USD Infinity and Anima Tactica miniatures.

In my quick google-fu using cheapest price available on the internet:

Eldrad- $16.88
Huron- $14.18
Hive Guard-$21

Kujaku Hime- $5.83
Asawira Spitfire- $10.80

All USD, all as of 1340 hours, January 7th, 2011

Cheapest aside, the main GW site sells Eldrad for $20 and the Hive Guard for $24. I'm unsure where those prices came from, but it's certainly not $30 for each.

Absolutionis wrote:Cheapest aside, the main GW site sells Eldrad for $20 and the Hive Guard for $24. I'm unsure where those prices came from, but it's certainly not $30 for each.

It is probably the Canadian dollar prices.

Thats in the Land of OZ people. Where the American dollar is 95 Cents and they actually make more money than the average american. But still its ridicilious the amount that GW makes us pay for models. I know a few people that produce plastic models they say they spend 50 cents per a box of models and that the sprues and everything and the machines are the only expensive part but they rarely break.

Eilif wrote:Do better models justify higher prices?

They very well might if the rules were written for a demographic that wasn't brain dead whiney teens with Mommy/Daddys money.