>>7966257Sure, literally, they didn't purposely sabotage their lines.
They just cheaped them the fuck out as a lower cost alternative to the larger figures. It back fired on them though, as consumers were used to getting a high quailty figure with the smaller scale lines.
So effectively, it was self sabotage due to incompetence.
And the production costs aren't very close. Hasbro was doing 1:18 two packs for less than $20 even when the MLs were brought back, for both Marvel and GI Joes lines.
Right now, Hasbro has been taking a loss with their ML and Star Wars lines, because costs have been going up, but their figures have not gone over $19.99 since... how long ago? 8 years ago?
Historically, Hasbro Marvel figures went from being $7 to $14 within three years. Whereas mass market 1:18 figures went from $6 to about $10 in 5 years. We can see from Jazware's that something that's licensed would only cost $13.
Hasbro (and WalMart and Target) are just scared of going over $20, so they're eating that cost just to make buying a 6" palpable for every consumer.
In the collector's market, we can see from tiny companies making 1:18 figures are still much less than 1:12 toys made by tiny companies, like Boss Fight vs 4H. These companies aren't willing to eat the costs nor are getting mass sales to drive down prices, so you get an idea of their true costs.
Also, the 1:18 lines sold HUUUGELY. Shit like this ran concurrently with Marvel Universe AND the Marvel Legends line. A new wave every 2 months vs every 3 with the ML and MU lines.
We don't see this level of merch anymore.
