The Real Truth Behind the Marvel Price Hikes

[moraldeficiency]

I don't think I am. I think that Marvel thinks they're underpriced. Now, they're market research is able to be a little more sophisticated than mine ( I mean, really, I'm just comparing on Craig's List). That would be my assumption: that they are doing surveys, etc. Maybe the majority shareholder's crazy nephew Eddie told him to do it. I don't know.To use my analogy, if the local apts. that I'm comparing to raise their prices, and people still pay, well, that's what the market will bear, ie, they were underpriced before, recession or no recession.

And by the way, "the recession" is just an excuse. Because I doubt that when we had a growing economy, anybody said, "Hey Marvel, the economy's growing. Don't you thing you should raise you some prices?"

Maybe so, but if you've got the most expensive house on the block, then you increase prices by a third during a recession...well it's just a bit too much.

I doubt anyone wants the prices raised, but to say the recession thing is just an excuse is underplaying the horrific situation we're currently in by quite a bit. Right now they should be thrilled they're one of the few people making money and should be bunkering down until this economy bounces back up not tinkering with prices suddenly and making the same mistakes so many of these companies made when the economy was actually good. When the economy was booming marvel did raise their prices on comics, just not by a third suddenly and strictly for the reason of seeing what would happen. I'd say your slimming the line for maximum profit is a bit more correct than seeing what the market would bear. This is a luxury company after all, you don't need comics to live, unlike housing and there is a point you reach where customer reaction can severely hurt you to the point of damn near bankruptcy (they've seen that before).

I'm just hoping people understand what's happening and send the message. NA, DA and Hulk are pretty awful anyway. The buisness I have (landscaping) I have to make the choice every day between maximum profit and customer satisfaction. I always choose the later not because I'm a nice guy but that's how you beat your competition and get future work. Marvel is selling a product (an unessential one at that) not renting a house or anything of the sort, people can up and say **** off at anytime and good luck bouncing back if enough of them do.

 

[Harlekin]

Criminal?? No one is committing a crime.

I set the price up front and people pay it. Where's the crime in that? If they decide it's too much or I'm a big mean scalper, guess what? They don't buy 'em. No harm no foul.

No one is being fooled or taken for a ride or scapled.

It's called Supply and Demand.

There's only so many front row Jonas Brothers and Hannah Montana tickets out there. If you want them, you gotta pay for 'em. Not only that, you gotta pay more than the other guy is willing to.

Same thing with comics. If you're pissed Marvel is asking too much for Pet Avengers, or your offended they want to make more money in the down economy than YOU think they should....don't buy it. The choice is, was and always will be yours.

Okay, so I will comment.

This isn't a case of supply and demand. You're not actually involved in the production process. It's like buying all of a baker's loafs of bread for a dollar a piece and then selling them again for two. If I want to sit front row at Hannah Montana, I shouldn't have to buy my ticket at an inflated price from you. I should be able to get it for its intended and valued price from its original producer (in this case, the concert organiser). You're ****ing over the system, and honestly, ****ing over the people.

Frankly put: you and people like you are the reason I couldn't get an AC/DC ticket.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Missing AC/DC should be a crime.

 

[Manic]

Scalpers (or "brokers" or whatever) really shouldn't be the first to stand up and defend someone else's business ethics unless they're using themselves as a counter-example.

 

[iloveclones]

Maybe so, but if you've got the most expensive house on the block, then you increase prices by a third during a recession...well it's just a bit too much.

It's a bit too much for you. From my perspective, if someone out there is willing to pay it......

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Capitalism in a nutshell.

 

[iloveclones]

I don't know the legality of brokering. I know here in the 'burgh, there are certain guidelines that they have to follow(whether they do or not is a separate issue). But if it's legal, I don't have a problem with them making money off of tickets. If Hannah Montana or AC/DC are so committed to the idea that they want the concert available to the masses, just put on a second show for free (or cost). I guarantee you that tickets for the first show won't be scalped.

 

[moraldeficiency]

It's a bit too much for you. From my perspective, if someone out there is willing to pay it......

Go scalp some ac/dc tickets slumlord.

Actually as an real answer, why don't you do that then? Just raise all your rent prices by a third for no reason then to make some green. I'm gonna say you realize that while you might get one person to go with it, most are jumping ship immediately, especially with how cheap places are now, and you'll lose too much money trying to convince people to accept an absurdly overpriced apartment when there are so many alternatives. But I could be wrong.

 

[Harlekin]

I don't know the legality of brokering. I know here in the 'burgh, there are certain guidelines that they have to follow(whether they do or not is a separate issue). But if it's legal, I don't have a problem with them making money off of tickets. If Hannah Montana or AC/DC are so committed to the idea that they want the concert available to the masses, just put on a second show for free (or cost). I guarantee you that tickets for the first show won't be scalped.

And lose money? Besides, scalpers would still be able to make a profit. Thing is, the practice isn't allowed and shouldn't be.

I'm just glad my parents have managed to get me a ticket for a later show.

 

[Spider-Jay420]

Okay, so I will comment.

This isn't a case of supply and demand. You're not actually involved in the production process. It's like buying all of a baker's loafs of bread for a dollar a piece and then selling them again for two. If I want to sit front row at Hannah Montana, I shouldn't have to buy my ticket at an inflated price from you. I should be able to get it for its intended and valued price from its original producer (in this case, the concert organiser). You're ****ing over the system, and honestly, ****ing over the people.

Frankly put: you and people like you are the reason I couldn't get an AC/DC ticket.

It is supply and demand. What do you call it when there are only a handful of great tickets and everyone and their brother wants them? There are only so many seats in the front row, ya know? Supply is low. Demand is high. Whatever the market will bear. I don't have to be involved in the production process.

Couldn't get a ticket? Why didn't you get a cheap ticket in the nosebleed sections? Don't tell me those were all gone too. It's the same show from up there. You hear the same songs as they do in the front row.

You don't have to buy a ticket at all. But if you Want to and the venue says "sorry Harley, but we don't have any more seats because they sold in 3 minutes. AC/DC is pretty popular, ya know?" Then what? You have 2 choices:

A) If you really want to go that badly, you can pay an Entertainment Broker like me and you can sit in the front row, yes, at an inflated price. A price that reflects the difficulty of obtaining highly sought after tickets. I'm not screwing anybody. I provide a service. If my service is not appreciated, no biggie, listen to your CD's instead. At home.

B) you can sit in front of your computer at 10am saturday morning when they go on sale, and if you're lucky, get a great seat at face value. That's what I do. and I get great tickets doing it. You can even join their Fanclubs, for a fee THE BAND charges, and find out when the Pre sale is and get your tickets early.

"Me and my kind" didn't stop you from anything. Where were you when the tickets went on sale? Working? Sleeping? Sorry you missed out. Next time you can try to get them yourself, or let me know and I'd be happy to sell you some great seats.

 

[iloveclones]

Well, as I said, my "research" would have to indicate to me that a rent increase is warranted (and remember, I'm bound by contracts. I can't just up and do it.)

You're a little wrong about the apt. prices being down. Now, housing prices are very location dependant, but here, they seem to be climbing. Rule of thumb is when people aren't buying houses, they have to live somewhere. I mean, those foreclosed on people gotta hang their hat somewhere So there are more renters in the market. Supply and Demand take over, and it's time to raise prices.

 

[iloveclones]

And lose money? Besides, scalpers would still be able to make a profit. Thing is, the practice isn't allowed and shouldn't be.

I'm just glad my parents have managed to get me a ticket for a later show.

But they're "losing" money, leaving it on the table, by underpricing their own product/performance. And they have every right to do that. Just as someone else has the right to say, "Hey, I think that's worth more. Let's find out."

As I said, I don't know the legality of it. I suspect it depends on the locality.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I don't know the legality of it either, but I'd come down on the side of scalping being morally reprehensible for the same reason comics speculating was back in the day. Everyone who buys something with the sole intention of reselling it at a higher price is effectively depriving someone who actually wanted it from buying it at the price the people who created it deemed appropriate. That seems wrong to me. Granted, the people who shell out double or triple the original price for it are just as guilty of perpetuating the practice, so they're kind of dumb.

 

[venom892]

It's not about being apologists. Businesses are in business to MAKE MONEY.

Recession or not.

"They should lower the price because we're in a recession. Comics should be cheaper because I just lost my job. I'm having a hard time making rent because Amazing Spider-Man comes out 3 times a month and that's not fair."

Grow up.

Why are you outraged that a company wants to make more money?

I'm a ticket broker. I bought Detroit Red Wings tickets for the Finals at $350 per ticket. I sold them for game 1 at $1000 each. And yes, even though we're in a recession and Michigan is in shambles, people are paying $2,000.00 for a pair in the lower bowl.

Now, am I not supposed to take their money because we're in a recession?? Call it greed, call it unethical, call me a scalper, whatever, I'm trying to get as much as I can, just like Marvel. Just like every other business. Screw the recession.

That's the way it works boys. Sorry if that's not fair, but that's the way it is.

You know I don't want to judge or anything but as a fellow action-figure collector I'm sure you know there have been plenty of "brokers"who instead of buying the figures they want buy the store's stock and then double and triple the price on ebay.But I guess your ok with that.Hell it seems to me you would that yourself.

 

[roach]

It is supply and demand. What do you call it when there are only a handful of great tickets and everyone and their brother wants them? There are only so many seats in the front row, ya know? Supply is low. Demand is high. Whatever the market will bear. I don't have to be involved in the production process.

Couldn't get a ticket? Why didn't you get a cheap ticket in the nosebleed sections? Don't tell me those were all gone too. It's the same show from up there. You hear the same songs as they do in the front row.

You don't have to buy a ticket at all. But if you Want to and the venue says "sorry Harley, but we don't have any more seats because they sold in 3 minutes. AC/DC is pretty popular, ya know?" Then what? You have 2 choices:

A) If you really want to go that badly, you can pay an Entertainment Broker like me and you can sit in the front row, yes, at an inflated price. A price that reflects the difficulty of obtaining highly sought after tickets. I'm not screwing anybody. I provide a service. If my service is not appreciated, no biggie, listen to your CD's instead. At home.

B) you can sit in front of your computer at 10am saturday morning when they go on sale, and if you're lucky, get a great seat at face value. That's what I do. and I get great tickets doing it. You can even join their Fanclubs, for a fee THE BAND charges, and find out when the Pre sale is and get your tickets early.

"Me and my kind" didn't stop you from anything. Where were you when the tickets went on sale? Working? Sleeping? Sorry you missed out. Next time you can try to get them yourself, or let me know and I'd be happy to sell you some great seats.

but if you and your kind didnt buy a bunch of seats then they would be available right???
Entertainment broker???? That is too funny.
So what I'm gonna do is buy up all of the comics that come out next wed and then resell them online at 20$ a pop. Would that be fair cause you didnt get down to the distributor before I did???

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Well, let's be serious: comics wouldn't sell for $20 a pop.

 

[Spider-Jay420]

You know I don't want to judge or anything but as a fellow action-figure collector I'm sure you know there have been plenty of "brokers"who instead of buying the figures they want buy the store's stock and then double and triple the price on ebay.But I guess your ok with that.Hell it seems to me you would that yourself.

Absolutely I'm OK with that. Guess what? I don't buy them or I try to find a better price. And yes, I have done that. Or at least tried to.

 

[roach]

Well, let's be serious: comics wouldn't sell for $20 a pop.

if I had bought up every comic that is coming out today and I was the only way you'd find out whats going on with your fav characters....some would...some would.
However I am not an evil prick and wouldnt dream of making money off of someone elses hard work

 

[Spider-Jay420]

but if you and your kind didnt buy a bunch of seats then they would be available right???
Entertainment broker???? That is too funny.
So what I'm gonna do is buy up all of the comics that come out next wed and then resell them online at 20$ a pop. Would that be fair cause you didnt get down to the distributor before I did???

Absolutely. What you do with your money is your business. If I'm asleep at the wheel and you make a score? Good job! I'm not gonna condemn you and call you names. I'm not gonna buy them online at that price though. That's my choice. You aren't forcing me to buy them.

 

[Spider-Jay420]

if I had bought up every comic that is coming out today and I was the only way you'd find out whats going on with your fav characters....some would...some would.
However I am not an evil prick and wouldnt dream of making money off of someone elses hard work

You're right Roach, some would and some wouldn't. You win some you lose some. I'm sure it will bring you a smile to know I've eaten many many many tickets that people wouldn't pay money for.

and making money of someone else's hard work doesn't make you an evil prick. Opportunistic, but not evil.

Are the people who sold the Obama/Spider-Man comic at *GASP* more than cover price evil? They didn't fool or trick anybody. If someone is wiling to shell out more money for something, it doesn't make the other person evil for accepting it.

 

[Spider-Jay420]

And another thing.. FAIR?! What are we, in Kindergarten?

Let's say you have an Obama/Spider-Man comic. First print, Mint condition. I want it and so does Corpy. I'm only gonna pay cover price, but he offers you $50. You're gonna sell it to me, right? Because that's FAIR and you don't wanna be an "evil prick".

 

[Anubis]

I'd sell it to Corpy, and when I deliver it to him I bash him on the head, rob his place then I'd probably just give it to you for free.

 

[Spider-Jay420]

Thanks Anubis. Every single last one of you would sell it to Corpy too. You're lying if you say otherwise, and guess what? There's nothing wrong with that.

Of course, I'm not gonna hurt and rob him because I'm not a criminal, but hey, whatever you like tough guy. Thanks for the free comic.

 

[Anubis]

Well, if you're not willing to pay more than cover price, you probably don't have any money for me to steal. But then again....

 

[venom892]

Absolutely I'm OK with that. Guess what? I don't buy them or I try to find a better price. And yes, I have done that. Or at least tried to.

Yea I never pay those prices ether but if you buy it just to sell it your depraving someone who actually wanted that figure.Whatever dude I ain't going to change your mind.But a word of advice.Don't mention the whole "Broker" thing in the products forum.