kltower

Two years ago Hobby Master models in Kuala Lumpur can be bought for between RM150 to RM300 (USD1=RM3.50, January 2015).

Now, the new models goes for RM300 onwards. A HM F-14 sells for RM550 - 590. (USD1=RM4.50, December 2016).

However, according to the Toymax Co owners the prices of the models have actually came down. The cost of the HM models in Malaysia have risen because of our currency depreciation.

Relatively, where are the most expensive HM models.

HM F-14 Jolly Roger selling at ToyMax for HK$930 (RM539, HK$1=RM0.58).
Big Mac cost HK$19.20
48 Big Mac meals will buy you a HM F-14 in Hong Kong.

A similar F-14 in Kuala Lumpur can be had for RM550.
A Big Mac cost RM8.30
In Malaysia, it takes 66 Big Mac to buy one F-14.

Ukrainian_Falcons

It doesn't surprise me that the cost is down, you just have to look at the quality of workmanship to see they aren't exactly hiring "Dragon" level of quality factory workers these days, if there making these in the south of China like most companies do, there pretty much hiring farmers and goat hearders these days.

TooBeaucoup

The problem is twofold.

Firstly, the sole distributorship of HM and CW belongs to one entity in Malaysia. Unfortunately, he has the business sense of a foot stool and the greed of a thousand starving hogs. I've never encountered such a sleaze in my adult life and certainly wouldn't wish it upon my worst enemies. But that is a story for another day. I've since stopped collecting HM and CW and would only purchase them during my travels (mainly HK). There was one other retailer in Malaysia which had very reasonable pricing but he has since stopped stocking HM and CW due to complaints of price undercutting from this other entity. This story is anecdotal as no one could give me a true account on what happened. While the ringgit depreciation has an impact on prices, one could ask why is it more expensive to buy in malaysia than in the USA? Or even around the same price as the US? Transportation cost is higher to the US. So are labor cost, rental cost of warehouse/retail space in the US. On top of that, most US retailers provide free shipping above a certain amount. Malaysian collectors have been fleeced for the longest time but most just put up with it. The general apathy in everything we do is the reason why the country is failing and/or descending to a failed state status. But i digress.

Secondly, the fault lies with the manufacturer also. CW is overpriced and quality has steadily declined. Rehashing of liveries with different configurations is gimmicky (as seen with the last 2 releases). But HM's problem extends beyond ever increasing price and decline in quality. It's the variety of products they produce and the need for their distributors to absorb them (popular or not, defective color or not). When retailers have a substantial amount of unsalable models, they tend to mark up other more popular goods. I don't agree with this method and avoid such retailers 100%.

kltower

I have bought from both, the first party A and HH the second party.

Like it or not A is the official distributor of HM products in Malaysia. So when A complained to HM, then HM is not selling to HH. So HH can no longer sell HM products.

It was rumoured that the reason why HH can undercut A is because the owner of HH being an airline pilot can airfreight in the products cheap.

Become friend with A, he can gives you some good discount.

But of the late, I see the prices offered by some third parties are about and sometimes even higher than what A is selling.

That means the weaken ringgit has cost the price to go up.