If Playmates sold basic figures with premium paint jobs, would you buy them?

[Zulithe]

I just posted about this as a random thought in the "sightings" thread, figured it might be a cool idea for a poll.

We all know how the TMNT action figures from playmates differ a lot from the "paint masters" or "prototype" figures shown in promo images or at conventions. But what if they were to sell these figures with better paint jobs at a premium price targeted at collectors? Maybe they could even use better materials for things like the accessories, as well as have those fully painted as well. Would it interest you?

Imagine, a standard TMNT basic figure is 8.99 retail price, right? How much would you pay for the same figure with a vastly improved paint job along with premium painted accessories/weapons and maybe slightly better packaging? $15? $20? $30? We have seen figures that are similar to this sold at conventions, for example the black-boxed figures from the 2012 New York International Toy Fair. But while those are pretty nice, they could have been even nicer.

Clearly they couldn't sell items like this alongside the normal figures, as it would be confusing and possibly a sales disaster. But they could sell them at specialty shops or online (playmates.com or maybe even amazon.com, as we've seen amazon selling the Night Shadow Leonardo)

Thoughts? Answer the poll and let's hear your thoughts.

[Jester]

If I had the money, sure, I'd probably pay Marvel Legends price ($15-20) for one. The big thing would be how many other adult "collectors" would be willing to do it. Playmates would have to make their money for this little venture, after all.

[LH]

If Playmates made a figure with a premium paintjob of a character I liked and billed it as a "collector series" then I would consider paying around $20 to $25 for one. but around that price range, I certainly wouldn't buy a whole set.

[Powder]

I'd support it, definitely.

[Tossled]

I can't see myself dropping more than $20 for an action figure but under that, and I interested.

[Oculus Orbus]

I would buy it, but only if the final product is worth it. With Playmets, my expectations couldn't be lower, specially with that kind of quality collectibles.

[TheBlueTurtle1]

I was all set to order myself the new Nick TMNT figs, then I got the classic figures, and they looked just like the protos. When it came to buying the Nick figures, I couldn't get past the missing details, they seem like well what they are ad thats toys.

I would 100% purchase better quality (collectors) Nick TMNT. I think they will do them at some point. I would pay more for them than 8.99.

[Theli]

The paintjob of the new Figures compared to them on the promo photos is really bad if you ask me.. As i've seen the promo photos i was like " oh well this figures looks nice - iam not much into the new show but this figures is not bad ". Then i saw the real figure and i thought myself: "fail!". But the paintjob on the classic collection is very well done...i think the people who have been responsible for that figures working for playmate have to be die hard fans from the first hour. It seems like there's a personal heart-work into this figures (if we can oversee the fabric-fail of herp derb eye-paintjob)

[Zulithe]

Well, the classic figures are a little different, the designs are much simpler so it's harder to mess up the paint.

[FoxZerro]

I would definitely buy a Raphael, and I'd probably go as far as $25 for the figure. Based on the quality of that initial purchase, I'd get the remaining Turtles in the order of Michelangleo, Leonardo, then Donatello.

Raph is always my test figure purchase if I like him then I will be ready for the others. That is the reason why I didn't purchase the rest of the classics line. All the articulation is nice, but very loose and while they look really good I want to be able to pose them without fear.

[Scanderson]

I have a set of the Toy Fair figures, and they are such an upgrade from the the retail figures. I am not sure the difference in production costs, but I believe the Toy Fair pieces are hand painted. I would pay good money for a full set of Toy Fair quality figures.

[Ravenxl7]

I would still mostly stick to the regular figures, but I would probably get one or two "premium" figures. Really depends on characters done, how available they would be, and how much more they would cost. Ultimately I would probably get a Raph and maybe a villain, like Shredder. I would also probably keep them in-package. Not my usual thing for my collections, but I'm starting to leave a couple of things in-package.

Though ultimately, I honestly don't think it would be worth their time investing in such an idea.

[tmntman]

I wouldn't mind paying a little more, but I wouldn't pay more than $3 to $5 more per figure. First of all, I don't think it would be costing them that much to do additional paint applications. And if they are already covering the costs of tooling and molds from the regular run of figures, then the added expense to Playmates would be pretty minimal unless you want museum quality paint jobs. And at that point, they would cease to be toys in my eyes.

Also, paint applications aren't the only important or most important aspect of a figure to me. So taking a blandly sculpted or poorly articulated figure and giving it a $20 paint job just seems like polishing a turd to me.

[Theli]

Is there any plans that the Nick. Turtles gets released with a good inked paintjob? I think about buying the 2012 ones, but the paintjob really say "no" to me. The promotion photos are too good to say " okay let's buy the undetailed paintjob versions" if there may exist detailed ones.

[Oculus Orbus]

Is there any plans that the Nick. Turtles gets released with a good inked paintjob? I think about buying the 2012 ones, but the paintjob really say "no" to me. The promotion photos are too good to say " okay let's buy the undetailed paintjob versions" if there may exist detailed ones.

No plans have been announced, and I really wouldn't count on it.