Yet another one bites the dust,,,

S

SST55

Guest
As a kid I built models. I must have built 20-30 '40 Fords and made them as close as I could to the mods running locally. The Thunderbolt Fairlane by Tasca, Alan kulwicki's Wonderbird, DW's tide ride and of course the #3. You get the picture.
Now Revell calls it quits.
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Revell stops making NASCAR model kits: From the revell.com site: Over the years we have been pleased to provide you with the finest NASCAR plastic model kits featuring the most popular drivers. Regrettably however, over the last several years we have faced increasing licensing costs that are greater than our increase in sales. Despite our best efforts to secure reasonable licensing terms for NASCAR model kits in general, and the Car of Tomorrow in particular, we have been unable to develop a program that allows us to market the product at a viable price point. Consequently, we will not be issuing a kit on the Car of Tomorrow and, in fact, will be exiting the NASCAR business altogether. We will discontinue all sales of NASCAR plastic kits by February 28, 2009.(revell.com)(12-10-2008
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Note they say reasonable licensing terms in other words Brian's choking the chicke,,I mean golden goose,,,again.:eek:
 
Also, wouldn't they have to negotiate with some over the number style, and maybe even some sponsors over the logos. Too many hands sticking out for the dollars.
 
That's too bad, but that's Nascar's lisencing fees for ya. Maybe Revell can start doing other racecar models, like some late models, sprint cars or even modifieds (new and vintage). I'd buy 'em.
 
As an avid modeler at 43 years of age, I knew this one was coming. About four years ago Slixx got out of the NASCAR decal business because of the liscencing fees. See, they made it possible to keep up with the never ending special paint schemes and changes that can't be offered in just one kit. The COT model would have made it possible to have a common kit that could have facilitated several manufacturer and driver needs. But now, we have nothing. Nice NASCAR, niiiiice. :sarcasm:
 
I don't believe they have their own line but they license, for a fee of course, all items related to Na$car. Shirts, hats, die cast, models, coffee cups, golf balls and the list goes on and on. If it's related to Na$car you're going to pay for the right to sell it.
IIRC a few years back there was some "bootleg" stuff and Na$car went after them with a vengence.
 
SST55 said:
I don't believe they have their own line but they license, for a fee of course, all items related to Na$car. Shirts, hats, die cast, models, coffee cups, golf balls and the list goes on and on. If it's related to Na$car you're going to pay for the right to sell it.
IIRC a few years back there was some "bootleg" stuff and Na$car went after them with a vengence.
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That's nothing new. Most companies who see a market will have licensing agreements and will prosecute those who don't pay those fees.
 
Right you are. My "problem" is that Na$car determines the price. You don't like it, tough. In good times this worked for them. It's a bit different now, Craftsman said seeya, so did Sprint, Interstate batteries is no longer the "official" supplier, neither is Union 76.
Their business model was to get the most $$$$ they could, and they did for many years. Things have changed, they haven't. It will be their downfall as they are too greedy for their own dammmm good. If there's a dollar to be made Na$car wants, no demands 95¢. Just my humble opinion of course.
 
Aircraft modelers are facing a similar situation. The suits at Boeing won't allow a B-17 bomber to be reproduced as a plastic kit or as an image in a flight sim without a hefty fee despite the fact that the original was paid for by taxpayer money.
 
SST55 said:
Right you are. My "problem" is that Na$car determines the price. You don't like it, tough. In good times this worked for them. It's a bit different now, Craftsman said seeya, so did Sprint, Interstate batteries is no longer the "official" supplier, neither is Union 76.
Their business model was to get the most $$$$ they could, and they did for many years. Things have changed, they haven't. It will be their downfall as they are too greedy for their own dammmm good. If there's a dollar to be made Na$car wants, no demands 95¢. Just my humble opinion of course.
Click to expand...

Who do you think should set the price for what a licensing fee should be? The licensee? They'd say 1 cent, or less. Maybe Nascar is overcharging. And if they are at some point the market forces will convince them to lower their fees. Or they will see a dramatic drop off in receivables. Sometimes its not all about you. They should be allowed to follow their business model and it that leads them to bankruptcy then so be it.
 
I'm surprised dad hasn't gotten in on this one...... he can tell ya all about rights and such....... the problem here is huge though........ In the old days, NASCAR would beg toy manufactures and model companies to put together kits. They knew they had to get their name out there..... but then again, that was a time when there were all kinds of perks bein handed out to anyone who would write a good word, or hype them in any media. Then the late 80's hit, in comes ESPN, marketing, and the boom of the 90's. Everyone wanted on the train.......... ( and I know I will get blasted for this, but we can thank Dale and Terresa for some of this as well....) They were some of the first to realize the money potential from a stylized number, an autograph, and image..... so here comes the trademarks.......
Now adays, in order to put out a kit, you have to go to (for example) NASCAR first, then Rick Hendrick, get his OK, then Jeff Gordon, then Dupont, then Chevrolet, then Pepsi, and so on and so on......... by the time you have everyones ok, and the fees the profit margin is all but gone....... while at the same time, the general public are more interested in BUYING a car that looks like Jeff's already....... instead of taking the time, effort and painstaking measures to BUILD somethin to be proud of...... As a result, the diecast is nearly the same price as the model, but its already FINISHED........
sad but true, modeling and craftsmanship are headed the way of the dinosaur.........
 
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