How much should Valiant Variants cost?

Aram · Post by **Aram** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 12:56 pm

You know... because we haven't talked enough about variants!

I did some number crunching and came up with what I believe to be the fair price range of what the Variants should go for with explanations. What are your opinions? Do you think shops should be inflating the variant prices high enough to pay for their entire orders based just off variant sales and still making a nice profit? Do you think you should be entitled to a copy of every Variant for free? Regardless of if you like them, hate them or both.. What's your opinion on what the prices should be?

Here's what I came up with;

Low range:
(This is the lowest average I calculated most smart shops could charge and ensure the risk of up ordering is acceptable.)

1:20 Variants $11.
1:50 Variants $25.
1:100 Variants $60.

High Range:
(This is the highest average range I calculated that shops could charge to equal the entire costs of their entire orders including counting shipping from diamond and labor, aka even if they never sell a regular comic{out of 110 in their stock} they have probably already made all costs back, If they are able to sell ALL the variants at equal to this price)

1:20 Variants $22.
1:50 Variants $55.
1:100 Variants $100.

and.... Discuss!

BugsySig · Post by **BugsySig** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 1:03 pm

I think that is a fair assessment. The problem comes with speculation, greed and (for the logical person like you and me) print runs.

Ignoring the greed and speculation elements, it is difficult to lump all 1:20s, etc, together when there are bound to be so many more variants of XO #1 in the marketplace compared to say Harbinger #4.

Dr. Solar · Post by **Dr. Solar** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 1:05 pm

Variants should sell for whatever the market will bear. That is the American way.

To suggest anything other is communist. Or Facist. Or it means you like JarJar Binks.

BugsySig · Post by **BugsySig** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 1:08 pm

Dr. Solar wrote:Variants should sell for whatever the market will bear. That is the American way.

To suggest anything other is communist. Or Facist. Or it means you like JarJar Binks.

Hey hey hey!

Let's not start throwing the J word around here. This is a polite, civilized forum.

Crow331 · Post by **Crow331** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 1:08 pm

They should be FREE, FREE, FREE!!! Just like comic books !!! FREE, FREE, FREE !!!

Heath · Post by **Heath** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 1:15 pm

I may be a hypocrite here, but I'd consider paying $10 for a Harby #1 1:20 just because I like that cover so much. None of the other covers so far would be worth more than cover price to me.

kevinbastos · Post by **kevinbastos** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 1:18 pm

Dr. Solar wrote:Variants should sell for whatever the market will bear. That is the American way.

To suggest anything other is communist. Or Facist. Or it means you like JarJar Binks.

seriously funny.

lorddunlow · Post by **lorddunlow** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 1:28 pm

I say that VEI should end all of this bickering right now with the announcement of lenticular animation covers from this point forward. All the covers are now in one comic book - you just have to "hold it the right way" to see the one you want.

GGSAE · Post by **GGSAE** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 1:29 pm

Dr. Solar wrote:Variants should sell for whatever the market will bear. That is the American way.

To suggest anything other is communist. Or Facist. Or it means you like JarJar Binks.

Exactly. Think of the retailers as a Bank that undertakes an initial public offering. Sure, they probably have a hand in supporting the shares of the stock after it's debut, and they definitely facilitate the distribution of shares, but by in large the price is determined in the secondary market (the exchanges). Really at that point the bank has no more to do with it, so the retailers can sell a couple at whatever price they want (to local customers or some formula you proposed above), but most will hold off selling it right off the bat and their price is determined by the online community - mostly ebay.

And as others said, they're not all the same....some have cooler covers, is part of a more-coveted title, etc., etc.

GGSAE · Post by **GGSAE** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 1:30 pm

Oh and Aram, have you decided whether to buy, sell, or stop-collecting the variants yet? You seem to be flip-flopping a lot!

400yrs · Post by **400yrs** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 1:56 pm

I'm feeling a bit whiny and entitled today so I believe that ALL the variants should be free to those of us who have been membbers here for..... Let's say five years with over 3,000 posts.

Aram · Post by **Aram** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 2:00 pm

GGSAE wrote:Oh and Aram, have you decided whether to buy, sell, or stop-collecting the variants yet? You seem to be flip-flopping a lot!

I'm selling my extras and still buying what I can afford as long as my lcs gets them, which is probably going to stop after next month and just before X-O 5. Diamond came through with replacements at my lcs so I currently have every known variant except the X-O 1 gold given away at sdcc.

I over paid by a good amount for my QR's but otherwise I've done ok, though it has pretty much pushed me financially to my stopping point. My current plan is to finish with august... Assuming diamond comes through again. I doubt I will get septembers variants and I know I am out of the collect them all game come October, except for maybe trying to get any Archer and armstrongs. That may be my one Variant exception ongoing, with the possibility of future number 1 issues or given the unlikelyhood that I come across ones for super cheap in the future.

I'd much rather spend my money on HC's and tpbs.

theres no way I could do that and variants unless I win the lotto or something soon.

greg · Post by **greg** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 2:01 pm

Print runs on these are around 1,000 to 2,000.

Less than half of CEAR... similar to the Shadowman Volume 3 variants.
Those are all $11 to $22, right?

Just sayin'.

SnotDrip · Post by **SnotDrip** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 2:14 pm

400yrs wrote:I'm feeling a bit whiny and entitled today so I believe that ALL the variants should be free to those of us who have been membbers here for..... Let's say five years with over 3,000 posts.

Crap that means I am out

SnotDrip · Post by **SnotDrip** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 2:15 pm

SnotDrip wrote:
400yrs wrote:I'm feeling a bit whiny and entitled today so I believe that ALL the variants should be free to those of us who have been membbers here for..... Let's say five years with over 3,000 posts.
Crap that means I am out

Still out I think

SnotDrip · Post by **SnotDrip** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 2:15 pm

SnotDrip wrote:
SnotDrip wrote:
400yrs wrote:I'm feeling a bit whiny and entitled today so I believe that ALL the variants should be free to those of us who have been membbers here for..... Let's say five years with over 3,000 posts.
Crap that means I am out
Still out I think

working on it...couple hundred more to go

Paladon · Post by **Paladon** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 2:18 pm

400yrs wrote:I'm feeling a bit whiny and entitled today so I believe that ALL the variants should be free to those of us who have been membbers here for..... Let's say five years with over 3,000 posts.

What about those of us that have been here for 7+ years and just never post because we have crippling social issues and live in our mother's basement?

400yrs · Post by **400yrs** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 3:13 pm

Paladon wrote:
400yrs wrote:I'm feeling a bit whiny and entitled today so I believe that ALL the variants should be free to those of us who have been membbers here for..... Let's say five years with over 3,000 posts.
What about those of us that have been here for 7+ years and just never post because we have crippling social issues and live in our mother's basement?

You guys get the Joe Petrilak award.

Aram · Post by **Aram** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 3:45 pm

lorddunlow wrote:I say that VEI should end all of this bickering right now with the announcement of lenticular animation covers from this point forward. All the covers are now in one comic book - you just have to "hold it the right way" to see the one you want.

+1 on this. And make it $14.99 or less

.

etos45 · Post by **etos45** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 4:29 pm

Dr. Solar wrote:Variants should sell for whatever the market will bear. That is the American way.

To suggest anything other is communist. Or Facist. Or it means you like JarJar Binks.

From each retailer according to his ability, to each fan according to his need... for free. That's the American way, right?

And there is nothing wrong with JarJar, he was just providing the much needed comedic relief to a story that was about to take a very dark turn.

I would say, in reality, if the fans are willing to pay out the butt for these, then that's what the retailer should charge. I know if someone wants to pay me some ridiculous price for one of my comics, they can have it.

dbngaa · Post by **dbngaa** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 4:31 pm

etos45 wrote:
Dr. Solar wrote:Variants should sell for whatever the market will bear. That is the American way.

To suggest anything other is communist. Or Facist. Or it means you like JarJar Binks.
From each retailer according to his ability, to each fan according to his need... for free. That's the American way, right?

And there is nothing wrong with JarJar, he was just providing the much needed comedic relief to a story that was about to take a very dark turn.

I would say, in reality, if the fans are willing to pay out the butt for these, then that's what the retailer should charge. I know if someone wants to pay me some ridiculous price for one of my comics, they can have it.

I'll give you $2.00 for a Turok #1.

caxiotis · Post by **caxiotis** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 4:33 pm

400yrs wrote:I'm feeling a bit whiny and entitled today so I believe that ALL the variants should be free to those of us who have been membbers here for..... Let's say five years with over 3,000 posts.

What?! I got about one months and 700 posts go

Aram · Post by **Aram** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 4:38 pm

dbngaa wrote:
etos45 wrote:
Dr. Solar wrote:Variants should sell for whatever the market will bear. That is the American way.

To suggest anything other is communist. Or Facist. Or it means you like JarJar Binks.
From each retailer according to his ability, to each fan according to his need... for free. That's the American way, right?

And there is nothing wrong with JarJar, he was just providing the much needed comedic relief to a story that was about to take a very dark turn.

I would say, in reality, if the fans are willing to pay out the butt for these, then that's what the retailer should charge. I know if someone wants to pay me some ridiculous price for one of my comics, they can have it.
I'll give you $2.00 for a Turok #1.

Damn! That's like 2000% of what I paid for my last copy!

Aram · Post by **Aram** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 4:40 pm

dbngaa wrote:
I'll give you $2.00 for a Turok #1.

Or like paying $1,300.00 for a QR Variant!

dhudson1 · Post by **dhudson1** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 4:40 pm

Simple supply and demand. Retailing in collectibles (and that is what variants are) is not simply cover costs and mitigating risk.

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