2024 Deluxe VC343 Cobb Vanth (Mandalorian Armor)

[Jeff]

New thread for this one...  moving forward the DLX figures will come on over-sized cards with a VC # instead of the dumb boxes.

Pre-order tomorrow, 5pm ET, at all the usual places.

- VC343 Cobb Vanth (Mandalorian Armor) - DELUXE (must be all the acid-etched paint apps on Fett post-sarlaac armor)

[Ryan]

Gimmie.

I love that they went back to the more standard looking Deluxe cards & blisters... but I am still not sure if this release is worth the price jump over a regular figure, or that anything here makes this figure "Deluxe". The figure itself looks great, though. I still want a version of Cobb without the armor, but I am really happy to finally get him in TVC. As for the cardback, I don't want to complain too much given that it is no longer just the plain boxed deluxe, but I'd rather have had a deeper multilayered blister on a standard-sized cardback. The larger cards don't fit as well in a carded display if you try to organize by VC#. Nothing in this large or "Deluxe" enough that it really needs a large blister to display.

[Jeff]

Pre-order Link @ Amazon -> https://amzn.to/46s6YEL

#ad #sponsored #thanksforyoursupport

[Matt_Fury]

Gimmie.

I love that they went back to the more standard looking Deluxe cards & blisters... but I am still not sure if this release is worth the price jump over a regular figure, or that anything here makes this figure "Deluxe". The figure itself looks great, though. I still want a version of Cobb without the armor, but I am really happy to finally get him in TVC. As for the cardback, I don't want to complain too much given that it is no longer just the plain boxed deluxe, but I'd rather have had a deeper multilayered blister on a standard-sized cardback. The larger cards don't fit as well in a carded display if you try to organize by VC#. Nothing in this large or "Deluxe" enough that it really needs a large blister to display.

Agreed.  I've been thinking of doing a video about the deluxe figures...but I don't want to be too negative about them.

Anyway, glad to get Cobb Vanth finally!

[Rob]

You should.  There’s just nothing about this that justifies a nearly 50% markup over a basic figure.  They just space the accessories out and make the card and bubble needlessly bigger to gouge.

[Jeff]

There’s just nothing about this that justifies a nearly 50% markup over a basic figure.

I don't know if it justifies a 50% price hike, but you have to admit the paint deco on this guy is crazy and definitely way more than we get on someone like Axe Woves or other basic figures these days.

They seem to be using the more expensive ink-jet printing process to get more intricate patterns onto the figures.  I guess we see how good it translates to the finished product, but the amount of "acid-etching" on the armor is crazy.  Look at the "acid burn" on the chest plate, the helmet, the shoulder pauldron, the gauntlets.

(click for a larger pic)

[Muftak]

Also in explanation of the higher price, someone on the Hasbro  team ( I believe it was Chris Reiff) said that they would never be able to release the ROTJ Boba Fett as a mainline figure again because of the paint apps and the complexity of assembling the arms with the hoses that attach. So far, every Boba Fett or Mandalorian constructed in that way has been at Deluxe prices, including the otherwise regular carded exclusive Target Fetts in 2022 and 23.

It all goes back to the underlying fact that in reality all the brand-new tooled figures in TVC really cost $25, we just get a price break because so much reuse and repainting is going on to bring the average figure price down. They have a brilliant budget on these to hide the reality of the figure cost.

[Nicklab]

There was a time that this would have easily fit in a mainline figure blister.  I count just about the same number of accessories (and similar accessories) to the TVC 1.0 version of Jango Fett.

The paint apps are absolutely improved.  And the Hasbro team has talked about it as an innovation.  But this still reeks of being the Fett Tax at work.

Granted, the paint on the chest plate looks amazing.  And I'm wondering if Hasbro was working to fine tune that before offering Boba Fett in that look from Tython when he reclaimed his armor.

[Jeff]

I believe it was Chris Reiff) said that they would never be able to release the ROTJ Boba Fett as a mainline figure again because of the paint apps and the complexity of assembling the arms with the hoses that attach. So far, every Boba Fett or Mandalorian constructed in that way has been at Deluxe prices, including the otherwise regular carded exclusive Target Fetts in 2022 and 23.

For those that missed it, this was the full blurb around that topic (you can watch the interview at the link):

https://www.bobafettfanclub.com/news/collectibles/hasbro-answered-our-action-figure-questions-on-the-boba-tax-a-new-empire-boba-fett-mold-and-more/

"However, fans have noticed that Boba Fett figures, especially those that are retailer exclusives, are a bit pricier than other figures, often getting a Deluxe version and pricetag. It’s jokingly referred to online as the “Boba tax,” and Reiff gave some insight into why that’s the case.

“The amount of parts and assembly labor to put him together is unique amongst Star Wars figures, and all those different pieces, the chest armor, the shoulder pieces, even the little rangefinder that moves, all that stuff, multiple piece backpacks, gauntlets, hoses on his arms, it all adds up. And it really is about that assembly labor and piece count that really drives his cost,” he said.

Reiff said that while he knows the increased price is frustrating to fans, removing features to meet a lower price point wouldn’t necessarily make fans happy either.

“Because if we tried to do him at the regular price, I don’t think he would meet the expectation of what TVC has developed for fans because we couldn’t afford to do his level of detail at that lower price,” he added."

[Rob]

Okay fine you guys win.  I don't often think about the expense of paint apps.

[Nicklab]

I believe it was Chris Reiff) said that they would never be able to release the ROTJ Boba Fett as a mainline figure again because of the paint apps and the complexity of assembling the arms with the hoses that attach. So far, every Boba Fett or Mandalorian constructed in that way has been at Deluxe prices, including the otherwise regular carded exclusive Target Fetts in 2022 and 23.

For those that missed it, this was the full blurb around that topic (you can watch the interview at the link):

https://www.bobafettfanclub.com/news/collectibles/hasbro-answered-our-action-figure-questions-on-the-boba-tax-a-new-empire-boba-fett-mold-and-more/

"However, fans have noticed that Boba Fett figures, especially those that are retailer exclusives, are a bit pricier than other figures, often getting a Deluxe version and pricetag. It’s jokingly referred to online as the “Boba tax,” and Reiff gave some insight into why that’s the case.

“The amount of parts and assembly labor to put him together is unique amongst Star Wars figures, and all those different pieces, the chest armor, the shoulder pieces, even the little rangefinder that moves, all that stuff, multiple piece backpacks, gauntlets, hoses on his arms, it all adds up. And it really is about that assembly labor and piece count that really drives his cost,” he said.

Reiff said that while he knows the increased price is frustrating to fans, removing features to meet a lower price point wouldn’t necessarily make fans happy either.

“Because if we tried to do him at the regular price, I don’t think he would meet the expectation of what TVC has developed for fans because we couldn’t afford to do his level of detail at that lower price,” he added."

This talking point from Chris came across like complete BS.  Because the number of parts involved with a figure like the Mandalorian Death Watch Airborne Trooper is absolutely comparable to figures like the most recent Boba Fett figures. 

The higher prices seem to correlate far more often with CHARACTERS than they do with paint apps or the number of parts.  Hasbro trotted out the paint apps argument first.  And then it was parts.  Because if you look at the current Deluxe TVC Jango Fett it's a complex figure, but the paint apps are much simpler than Boba Fett.  It seems far too convenient for Hasbro to keep shifting the rationale.

[Rob]

Counterpoint, I bought six Deathwatch Airborne Troopers, I’ll buy one Cobb Vanth.

[Matt_Fury]

If you ordered this from Amazon, this figure now has a delivery estimate of 4 November.

[Nicklab]

If you ordered this from Amazon, this figure now has a delivery estimate of 4 November.

I got that update, too.  And I just went back to check the excel file I use to track my orders.  The originally announced delivery date was in January.  It's not completely unexpected that the date might get moved up.  But I wonder how long Hasbro is going to keep padding the original delivery dates?  Because this Cobb Vanth delivery got moved up by two whole months!

[Jeff]

Sounds like DLX Cobb Vanth is starting to hit Walmart - $24.97 in most places.