There are two factors here: Sideshow accommodating those collectors who complain about "exclusivity" and taking advantage of that request.
We already know that the total cost per statue from start to finish is less then $100 a unit. Then you take into account that the more you produce the less it cost to produce each unit. Add to that, Sideshow could (should) make a total run of 1500-2000 including exclusive to accommodate the huge demand for a character like Batman, which WILL SELL OUT. Now you figure when you have a run of 2000 units and a run of 750 units cost you just under a $100 ea unit to produce that the cost on the larger run will be $50 or less per unit.
There are more then 750 collectors in the world. Who want and can afford this and other statues.
Usually price increases when there is high demand and limited product. Not a price increase when the item has NOT even been produced yet!
It's ridiculous when you can pay $50 for a 7" porcelain statue via mail order and have no paint flaws, breaks or idiots whining about ES. But you pay $400 for a statue made out of crap material and has QC issues from here back to china.
I only post this because I now see veteran collectors complaining about the price gouging. If they would simply produce statues at a run that is sufficient for the growing number of collectors out there at a reasonable price point we would all be happy. It is absolutely ridiculous that they increase the price point, sticking it to the collecting community, when it is easier to increase the ES and keep the price point the same or lower. I know SS is greedy and that they won't reduce the price to help us fuel our hobby. But increasing the price on a product that hasn't even made it into production and won't be in collectors hands for another 9 month to a year is just bad business.
