I'm not worried about the price on these. Almost every year I get the Master Collector sets and those cost $270 - $295 for 15 figures. With the BBTS sets you have get 14 figures for $110 after shipping. The quality on the figures looks as good as the MC stuff and unlike the MC set, you get 14 unique characters where the MC sets rely heavily on army builders.
This just shows how off the MC prices really are.
As loathe as I am to defend MC, I think you are being a bit unfair Pete.
Hasbro did all the work on these sets and BBtS is just buying them ala Walmart/TRU exclusives. MC has to do all the work and deal with a factory and all costs. They also package them into an event. Granted that may or may not mean anything to a buyer, but it is an "extra".
Pete didn't say that. I did. 
I don't think I'm being unfair with Fun Publishing and I have started a thread on their boards addressing this. They basically said the same thing but my point is that they are too expensive. I've told them that I think they are missing a golden opportunity right now. I think they should do a large run of a figure. Do a run of 2000 and make it's price comparable to retail (and sensible shipping). They could really use a cool one off as a great way to promote the G.I. Joe Collectors Club and loose that elitist reputation they have if they are just willing to throw out something really cool that everyone can afford.
I buy the high price items pretty much every year. Last year I was a mule for Stealth Viper, Pete the Greek and Real Boss and bought everything I was allowed to purchase when I was at the con, so I do support their efforts. BTW, shutting my suit cases was a challenge. 
I want them to succeed. That's why I keep challenging them on things like shipping. I'm not screaming "Boo, they suck" and then secretly buying the stuff from Chinese bootleggers or midnight runners.
As Keith Morris said "question authority, I'll pay the price the future belongs to me".
Oops, sorry Pete, I was on my phone when responding. My mistake. Apologies all around.
As to your point Morgardee, I understand the logic behind what you are saying, but time and time again fandoms have proven your point is wrong. Sorry to be blunt, but all fandoms vastly over estimate what their buying power is, and what "EVERYONE" wants. Look at any club exclusive, and or, store exclusive and you will see that the numbers needed to make the price point what you consider reasonable just don't work for small companies.
Look at the BBTS Piranacon exclusive that I pointed out. It was a reissue of a classic combiner for $60. That is about what it would have cost at a large retailer. It was something "EVERYONE" wanted released in the TF fandom. There was talk of how great it was and "EVERYONE" was going to get it. Well look at it now. Twice in the last 3 months BBTS has had it reduced on sale and they still have stock. The same goes for the Dreadnok and Marauder sets. The $50 price point is not that far off of retail ($7+ without tax). That is pretty good considering it is an exclusive to a, relatively, small outlet. However I don't imagine BBTS will sell out of the set anytime soon.
Now take MC, and even smaller, let's say "boutique" outlet. They make no bones about the fact that they charge more. I don't have a membership and stopped a long time ago when they couldn't get product to "international" customers on time or at a reasonable price. So don't take this as some grand defence of MC. However they have done a bunch of exclusives for both TF and JOE fans and it is always hit or miss. Yes they get some items that sell out and it seems obvious after the fact that they would, but more times than not it doesn't work that way, especially with a smaller JOE fandom. They have a business plan that relys on small runs at higher costs, with a plan of no stock left over. That leaves them little room for branching out from that plan, and having met Brian I get the distinct impression he has no interest in doing anything other than what he wants.
I think, with GI JOE especially, there is too much of a wait and get it even cheaper attitude. So much product is showing up at deeply discounted prices now, especially unreleased items, that organizations like MC just can't compete (along with other poor business practices). So MC does what other stores do, and tries to get the "high end" shopper. It seems to work for them since they are still in business while others (3H former TFClub organization) went out of business trying to please everyone.
However all this verbal diarrhea I just spouted boils down to this point. I am cynical, and I still haven't seen any evidence that most fandoms don't "say" they will support something, but when it comes time to pay up those large, vociferous crowds disappear.
