BOYCOTT of Wotc miniatures

[Taelorn76]

I think Archfiends will stay at $9.99, but Giants will go to 12.99
1. because of size and
2. just because they can.

I was just at WoTC.com and they are still listed at $9.99
Archfiends product info

 

[Goobermunch]

I'm not sure where sluggo read this. I just checked wizards site at http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndmin/966250000, and the price for Archfiends is still $9.99. Of course the price for Giants of Legend is also $9.99, so maybe WotC hasn't updated their product calendar.

--G

 

[thalmin]

Has WotC announced any different pricing for Giants of Legend? My preorder info for Giants is still $9.99 for both the regular and the huge packs.

(edit) How did I manage so many feet in one mouth?

 

[Davelozzi]

I'd be disappointed if the price increases, and would probably buy a little less, but will definately still be buying. But frankly, until I see something more concrete I'm just taking this for what it is - a rumor.

 

[Demmero]

Unconfirmed press release at an unidentified messageboard.

(edit) The rumor is rampant at the WotC boards as well, but the only source given is one distributor's pricing in their catalog. So far, the other distributors still list the minis at $9.99.
Still no indication of an official announcement on the new price.

There's an article or press release on dragonlance.com saying that the MSRP for Archfiends is $12.99.

 

[Harlock]

I've decided to boycott trollish posts. Ah damn, broke the boycott...

Anywho, a three dollar price increase too much for you? Buy them on the net. Buy them in bulk. Or simply don't buy them. I don't care. I think from the general tone of the thread your boycott is a flaming failure. Sorry.

 

[thalmin]

There's an article or press release on dragonlance.com saying that the MSRP for Archfiends is $12.99.

Thank you.

 

[Demmero]

Why would they? They (like any business) are under no obligation to do so and it would undermine their new product line of they were to tell everyone that, by the way, the price will be going up in a couple months. Better to hook people early for cheap and then gradually increase the price. Business 101.

I understand that. Someone else had suggested that maybe the price for the first two mini sets were set low (perhaps as an incentive to get more people to try them out) and that the $12.99 price was more in line with what WotC planned to sell the booster packs for. There is a precedent for this: when 3E came out, the three Core Rulebooks were sold for about $20, with the expressed caveat that the prices would eventually go up to $30. I heard no announcement that the miniature sets were following this stategy. That to me indicates this is a strictly a price increase.

And I think most of what you say is true, with one exception. When the new mini lines first came out, there were a lot of people who expected them to be flops. Instead, it seems like they've sold really well. I'm just wondering if WotC might not 'undermine their new product line' more by jacking up the price 30% for Archfiends and another $3/pack for Giants of Legend. I've bought slews of minis from the first two sets; a 30% price increase is so prohibitive that I'm considering skipping the Archfiends set altogether.

I suppose that if you raise prices 30% and sell 20% less product, you're still making more money in the short term. But if you alienate that 20% of your audience to the point that they stay away from your product in the future, you come out a loser in the long run.

 

[John Crichton]

And I think most of what you say is true, with one exception. When the new mini lines first came out, there were a lot of people who expected them to be flops. Instead, it seems like they've sold really well.

That's a good deal of speculation. Some vocal folks may have not been too high on the D&D miniatures but that's hardly a reason to think they were going to fail (or flop, as it were). It is widely known that people on the net (ENWorld certainly not excluded) who don't like something are considerably more outspoken than those who will support something - the masses, if you will. Looking at market sales for similar product (clicky-type products) along with the Hasbro/WotC marketing power and influence it was more of a safe bet that they would do well rather than flop.

That said, if the price hike is true, it would be consistant with the way businesses run things, as mentioned above. Not only that, but the miniature line isn't something people have to buy if they want to play, unlike the core books (let's just say this is true, SRD aside). The folks who will buy the minis will find a way, over time, to acquire them. The price going up still leaves them as a cheaper alternative to metal figures. If you really want them, you (you, in the abstract sense) will find a way to buy them, despite the price increase.

 

[Demmero]

That said, if the price hike is true, it would be consistant with the way businesses run things, as mentioned above. Not only that, but the miniature line isn't something people have to buy if they want to play, unlike the core books (let's just say this is true, SRD aside). The folks who will buy the minis will find a way, over time, to acquire them. The price going up still leaves them as a cheaper alternative to metal figures. If you really want them, you (you, in the abstract sense) will find a way to buy them, despite the price increase.

I (I, in the absolute "me" sense ) really want to keep buying the minis, but I think a 30% increase prices them out of my means. $3 doesn't sound like much at first, but if you're a collector, those $3 per pack add up in a hurry.

And like you said, the minis aren't something you NEED to buy to play the game. The price increase could actually help me SAVE hundreds of dollars every three months...IF I just decide to give the things up cold turkey.

::Grumbles::