$106. Are they not aware there's a really deep recession or a shallow depression (well, at least not a great one)? That Tidal Talisman was a little less than 2/3rds cheaper than this and was released before the stock markets around the world crashed, and $40 isn't too bad a price (not much sticker shock for a luxury or showpiece item). It would be like any kind of business rolling out some really elite, really expensive new item in 2009. Not gonna do well.
Quote:
Think how fast something like Colibri, Apkallu or Gear plushies would sell out if they were priced reasonably.
I remember coming across a FFXI Tiger plushy when searching for something totally unrelated to FFXI, plushies, or tigers for that matter (go figure). I think this is where SE should be going. Seriously, who wouldn't want a Colibri plushie to sit on a shelf or desk. You can get a good number of female players to buy it if it triggers the "awwwww, that's so cute" line and if it looks cool enough and not too kiddish, you may get some male players to buy it as something to adorn their room (like a poster) [not sure how big/small this demographic is, can barely conceptualize it actually]... or buy it for their girlfriends or be pressured by their girlfriends into buying it. I think Colibris would be the best seeing as they are the merit monster. Apkallus are not as prominent, though can tap into the penguin affinity many people have. Moogle and nomad moogle plushies I'd rank right up there with Colibris. And some Automatons may have the appeal, Carbuncle too. Plushie Ruszor, Doomed, Orobon, or Sandworms probably wouldn't be the best sellers.
Why the hell is SE focusing so much on the metallurgical route, making high end items I used to remember only seeing in very niche catalogues or in one store in a mall that never had that many customers and was stocked to the brim with all things pewter or crystal? Going the soft/fuzzy non-high end would probably profit them more. How many $100 silver dog tags are they going to sell/how many people would be willing and able (not hesitant) to buy them vs. say a $12.95 plushie Colibri or Moogle? Let's assume similar price:manufacturing cost ratios. If plushies have 10x the demand of the dog tags (and remember, if someone buys 2 of them, like 1 of each version, they would count twice), they would bring in more money than the expensive but lower demand jewelry. Crappy economy- people can blow $12-25 or so on frivolous items but $100 makes the eyes go wide and gives an uncontrollable utterance of "WTF?", good economy- people can blow $100 on frivolous items.
Someone should transfer this thread or at least the whole plushie idea part of it into feedback & suggestions to give SE some less mindboggling and more sensible ideas. What are they going to unveil next, a $499.99 statue of Shantotto? A $999.99 1:25 scale model of Tu'Lia? Or will they sell actual rubies... with markup... because they turn around and label it Carbuncle's Ruby? Better hope they don't get any ideas with Peiste Dung.
____________________________
=================================================
Somewhere out there, there is a road with 2 signs on it. One says "No Trespassing". The sign right next to it says "FREE KITTENS".
=================================================
