Kind of funny now when you compare numbers.

[hotrodrock]

I was looking yesterday at some of my RCCA cars from the mid '90s. There were some cars of Gordon and Sr. that had 10-12 thousand cars made. Those were the Elites of their time because distributors sold the Action cars. Haven't added them up, but it doesn't look like that if you added up all of the 1/24 Elites to be released in 2010 that they would total up to what used to be made of just one particular car by the RCCA. Times have changed.

[ODSpice14]

Yeah funny how people complain over overproduction and now are complaining about supposed under production on the e-points stuff. I bet not a single one sells out the first day or if it does it will be late afternoon

[18KB & 29KH]

Wonder if they'll last at these numbers. This year equals reduced quality and a more expensive diecast for an Elite.

[kspool]

How do you figure more expensive when they've dropped the price to $89.99 for the elites?

[18KB & 29KH]

They haven’t truly lowered the price; although I think MA has with their ARC diecast. The only thing RCCA has done to lower the price is repackaged the diecast with a lower cost package. Two ways to look at this. They removed the original box that cost $10 to manufacture, thus allowing them to charge $90. So they didn’t actually lower the price. Also the diecast is now lower quality, getting close to an ARC. You could argue they lowered it by 3%, considering inflation (average per year). Except I don’t think there was inflation in 2009, I think there was actually deflation. The other way to look at this is an increase in price. Diecast - $90, Elite box - $15 (they said the manufacture was increasing the price by $5), Total new price is $105. Also they are going to charge separate shipping, another $8 equaling $113. An increase of 13% with no inflation in 2009; coupled with the reduction of quality.

I’m not knocking RCCA. Just not fooled by the “lower price.” I think they a struggling and need to make some changes.

[morphius7777]

Interesting...

Although I don't think most collectors put that much thought into why the price was lowered. I will agree with you that the quality seems to have dropped a bit on the Elites.

[Y2j767]

Originally Posted by 18KB & 29KH

They haven’t truly lowered the price; although I think MA has with their ARC diecast. The only thing RCCA has done to lower the price is repackaged the diecast with a lower cost package. Two ways to look at this. They removed the original box that cost $10 to manufacture, thus allowing them to charge $90. So they didn’t actually lower the price. Also the diecast is now lower quality, getting close to an ARC. You could argue they lowered it by 3%, considering inflation (average per year). Except I don’t think there was inflation in 2009, I think there was actually deflation. The other way to look at this is an increase in price. Diecast - $90, Elite box - $15 (they said the manufacture was increasing the price by $5), Total new price is $105. Also they are going to charge separate shipping, another $8 equaling $113. An increase of 13% with no inflation in 2009; coupled with the reduction of quality. I’m not knocking RCCA. Just not fooled by the “lower price.” I think they a struggling and need to make some changes.

just want to throw my two cents in here. first off, the choice of repackaging the elite is better than raising the price. 89.95 looks alot better than 104.95. its just a box, if your going to display the car with the box, i can see the difference, but most of the time, its just going to sit in storage. second, the quality of elites are just fine. antenna, detailed undercarriage, hood and trunk tethers and bumper bar is enough. at least they changed some things that are not visible at the quick glance. if they keep all the quality improvements, then you would be looking at a diecast close to to the range of 120.00, which is not a good sales idea after years of being under 100.00. the economy put them into this position and give it time. the detail will come back when the economy comes back. sure they have not made some great choices the last few years but at least they are attempting to change sales and help collectors.

[indianastate33]

RCCA did drop the price of purchasing an elite from $99.95 to $89.99. I think you are putting too much thought into it. And the detail level of the elite is not decreasing for 2010. It decreased for most of the 2009 cars to keep the price at under $100. I wish they wouldn't have reduced the details in 09, but I understand why they did.

[ODSpice14]

Yeah and I doubt the boxes are going to be a big seller for them. Ill predict they end up being a VOD and then done away with totally for 2011 if not before then. I think they are going to be a huge headache. I can see a ton of people complaining over them when its not in pristine condition.

[refuse24]

Those Elite boxes are nothing but a waste of money and who the hell display's there collection with those boxes.

I will admit i do have 1 of my elites display because i don't have a case for my cars yet.

That is getting worked on as we speak.Somebody is building me a Joey Logano custome display case that will hold 20 cars and i can't wait to see it when it's all done.

If somebody has a mass collection of elite's there's no way there going display all of them with the box,I am so glad RCCA is doing away with those boxes.