Topic: Why did they raise the price of code 3 to $50

Explorer, the reason is the same reason your $8 movie ticket use to cost $1, gas when I was your age was $.17 a gallon and now I pay $4.00. Its called Inflation. So looking at it realistically Code 3 has done pretty good even though I do agree they are getting a little high. So now I just buy what I really want instead of everything they make.

I also believe to price increase also includes to inprovement in details. In my view the details have went up with the prices and that would be some of the cost increases too. Because if you look at some of the early issued FDNY Seagreave Ladder trucks and the currents ones that is what I am basing my views on plus the added cost of materials and shipping costs also

The main culprit is the international cost of Zinc. Zinc is the metal used to make Code 3s, as well as most other diecast replicas, and has gone through the roof in the past year or so. Add into it the higher cost of labor now in China, and I would assume would be the case as well at thier new factories as well. The high cost of fuel, which runs the cargo ship that ships the containers across the pacific and the trucks that get it from the port to the distribution wharehouse. Internatonal shipping rates have also risen substanially, and it costs Code 3 more to ship test shots back and forth, and there is the rising cost of airline tickets, so when John Dunkel flies back and forth for R&D, or to the Orient to check on production, that costs more now too.

All these things have contributed to the increase in cost to the consumer of Code 3 releases. Unfortunately, becuase of the state of the economy, it's a bad time to raise prices becuase collectors have less disposable income to spend on Code 3 and other die cast collectables. There is a fine line that Code 3 has to tread with keeping releases affordable, while trying to recoup costs and make a profit. I think we're just about at the limit as to what most will pay for a engine, and as we've seen with the last few ladders, we've probably past the limit as to what most would pay for a ladder. It's going to be tougher and tougher for Code 3 to continue to make money, without raising prices beyond what the average collector is willing to pay.

Everything is more expensive, here's a great point about the economy, look at the 23 min. mark! This goes out to the democrats!