I didn't get to the Toy Show that is held in Germany every year so I don't know for sure but it appears that Exoto is raising their prices on 1/18th scale diecast to the $250 (US dollars) mark.

I understand and agree that these are the most highly detailed diecast available on the open market today but at $189 retail, this was starting to stretch the average collectors purse strings a bit much, at $250 it will surely snap them altogether.

Comments?

My opinion is that there is a way too high of an opinion of ones product and makes me want to :U




[Modified by DiecastCollector, 12:41 AM 1/31/2003]

 

I don't own any Exoto and at those prices I probably never will. I guess I'll take quantity over quality.

 

I honestly don't think I would ever spend $250 for a single brand new diecast model in 1/18th scale. I mean if it was an older diecast, with incredible detail that was quite rare, and I really, really wanted it, I might consider it, but no way for a brand new diecast. If it's a matter of a brand new diecast that's rare because so few were produced, then they can take a walk. If it's old and rare, rarity is caused by the age, but when companies short run a popular diecast, they're screwing their loyal customers for the sake of the bottom line. I mean what is the deal. What are they thinking..... "if we produce a bunch of diecasts, they won't be rare, hence they won't be worth as much, but if we only make a few, they'll be much more rare and we can sell each one for a mint!" I mean sometimes I think these companies are really trying to stick it to collectors.

For example....
10,000 diecasts @ $20 each = $200,000 or
5,000 diecasts @ $40 each = $200,000.

If you were them, which would you choose. It costs them less to produce fewer diecasts and increase the price because they're "rare", and the still get the same revenue. Does this sound familiar? Can you say Ertl? But at least Ertl realizes that a commanding size of their collectors wouldn't consider a diecast at $250.

 

No, I would not buy one for $250.00. I think that the detail is great, but not for that price. Other companies are doing just fine with their "lower" price detail. Maisto and AutoArt come to mind, and they give you customer service on top of it...!

:seeya

Matt

 

I think spending $250 for a 1/18th is something I wouldn't do. I have one of their Grand Sports, but I found it for less than $100. So, I would even spend the $160 that some retailers were selling it for. If this is right they could be running the risk of just plain losing a lot of potential buyers and collectors of their models.

 

After talking to Mr. Tony keussan (I know that's not spelled right...) numerous
times I can say with the utmost certainty that he does have a very high
opinion of his product. His opinion is slightly higher than it should be I believe.

Don't get me wrong I love Exoto Cars. They have a certain feeling to them
a certain "look" that no one else has yet to replicate IMHO (though if anyone
is close it has to be AutoART) Tony K likes to say "A real quality diecast looks
as good from an inch as it does from a foot" (Loosely quoted) and I do tend
to agree. His cars do have that look to them.

But the prices are getting far out of hand. When AutoART is approaching the
level of Exoto Fast, And even Ertl can produce cars in the Creative Masters
Plant over in China and put out a product like the Precision 100 (Granted Ford
did name the price point and tell Ertl the quality they wanted) but the fact
remains that in this day and age a very GOOD diecast will set you back a
paultry $50 to $80 dollars, Exoto is getting WAY out of the ballpark.

They lead consumers on and don't produce product for years that has put a
very bad taste in most collectors mouthes, they raise prices almost as "Furiously"
as they detail thier cars. And Tony likes to flat out flame and bad mouth the
competition.

These 3 factors IMHO have disuaded many a die hard collectors from buying
Exoto pieces.

 

:eek: $250 :confused: The Exoto I own I bought brand new on ebay for $40-$50 each. The exoto cars are not worth near that much. But,they are very nice diecast. $250.......No Way! :nonod:

 

For $250 I could buy FIVE AutoArt cars. And that is EXACTLy what I'll do. :yesnod: :yesnod:

 

:iagree:

I haven't been able to convince myself that I need an Exoto badly enough to spend $150. $250 will never happen.

 

I will not spend that much on a diecast car.

 

I have 6 of the Exoto GS cars right now and if they raise the price to that level then I wont be buying any more. I like them, but not that much.
The only thing I can think of is that mister egotist doesn't like the fact that his cars sell on ebay for less than $100 and thus the market for any future releases is lessened, so by raising the price he is trying to force out the secondary market and trying to keep the cars at the level associated with "true" collectors. Bad idea IMHO.
My wife bought me the first Grand Sport prototype at full retail $150 as a gift because I told her it was an awesome car to have in my collection. I bought into the limited production run hype (5000) worldwide. Yeah, well 50,000 units later, under different liveries. :crazy: I'm not going to pay full MSRP for any car now. No point since they'll all show up on ebay much cheaper.