Stitch came in at the more traditional Ultimates price, but he's also a lot smaller than most Ultimates. I'm leaning towards 40 being the new going rate, but it's possible the double-licensing fee is playing a role too (though it hasn't mattered much for the other figures in the line). As you said though, we're going to see prices rise so long as the tariffs keep going up and right now the current administration seems to only want to escalate on that front. And what sucks is say these things get removed when a new administration takes over, prices won't come down if the market feels it's conditioned the consumer to accept a new price point. Our only saving grace is it's a bunch of hot air and they're cancelled quickly, but markets hate uncertainty so as long as the threat is out there it's likely to have an impact.

Other Ultimates slated to release around that time or later, like the Metaluna Mutant and the Jaws figures, are still the same price so Dracula Shredder might just be considered a deluxe. It's also possible that the dual licensing means they're more worried over the profit margins shrinking at more of a rapid rate compared to other figures without that caveat. Prepare for it now before it potentially becomes a problem later.

I still fully expect prices to rise across the board eventually either way.

Chote has the...honor...of being selected for Walmart Collector Con which starts next week. If you want this dino dude, it will cost 50 bucks. I don't think this is something I personally need in my collection and certainly not at that price.

https://bsky.app/profile/preterniadotcom.bsky.social/post/3ljsdom5fvu2i

Why, NECA.    Every time I think I'm done... everytime I think - that's the last Turtles figure I'm ever going to need they show me something else that I'm like... dammit.

This guy is right in my wheelhouse.   I love this look and I don't think I'll be able to resist this figure.    So now that's Panda Khan from the cartoon collection and now this samurai dinosaur from their Mirage line I'm going to have to have.

That looks worth it. The Triceraton gladiator didn’t seem worth 50. Chote does. I’ve at least saved him in my favorites so the links are all accessible on the 13th.

He's definitely an easier sell at that price than Ace Duck. It just kind of sucks the Ultimates price held strong at $35 and has seemingly just blown by $40 and $45 to arrive at $50. There's probably an obscurity tax at play here too since this guy, unless produced in small numbers, is going to peg-warm eventually, but they may be scaling back. The Triceratons never did become shelf warmers, at least not where I live, so NECA is finding the production sweet spot with them. And for those that want Chote, at least it's one less figure being sold during Haulathon.

I'm still of the mindset that Chote is 50 because of his size, like Cryin Houn or the Triceratons. I haven't seen otherwise, so I think regular sized singles will still hover around 35.

Prices are definitely going to suck butt from now until...who knows. I hate it. 

Having said that, I'm a consumer whore and want Chote and Ace, so I'll dole out the cash.

Posted by: @normdapito

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I'm still of the mindset that Chote is 50 because of his size, like Cryin Houn or the Triceratons. I haven't seen otherwise, so I think regular sized singles will still hover around 35.

That's possible,  and I was ready to agree until I saw that the wrestling Ace Duck was also $50... and I thought...is he that big?   So that's what led to me speculating.    But I'd be happy to be wrong.   Still marshal arts dinosaur is a must have to stand next to my samurai Panda -  I hope he's not $50 too, but I'm preparing myself...

Ace Duck is a pretty big figure too, yeah.  I imagine the cutoff is somewhat arbitrary, but he comes in the larger size packaging as well:

Yeah... I guess it's not that relevant to me if the only figures I'm interested in are the ones they charge 50 bucks for though.    Chote and Panda Khan are both must haves and if they are both $50 instead of $35 it is what it is.   but it means I might pass on that Tattoo 2-pack I was thinking about - because I only want half of that anyway and it's alot to drop all at once.

I had this stream replay running in the background while working yesterday afternoon by Nostalgia Unboxed and Mad Hatter (

where Johnny mentioned that an online vendor recently shared in a Facebook group (I think) that NECA did warn their partners that prices were going up. Supposedly, we shouldn't see the increase until May/June so it might not even apply to what we're seeing here. Or, since these are Walmart, it's just coming early for them since these won't be offered elsewhere for at least a little while. I guess all that is to say this is either the new normal, or it's going to get worse. I'm suddenly worried what those Sakai turtles are going to cost individually. I was thinking $40, because I think the toon singles were $38 or some weird number, but I guess no one should be surprised if they end up higher.

So... I was under the impression that Chote was part of Collector Con and was to be offered today at Wal Mart.  But when the listing went live this morning at 7 am -  the two NECA figures weren't orderable... everything else  that's up for sale today had an order button but Chote and the Ace did not.   So I ordered the G.I. Joe figure I wanted, ate the shipping cost on that and moved on.   Now Chote is orderable, apparently -  but if I order him alone there's a shipping cost for him too.   And now Crystal Ball is pre-sold out so I can't combine the orders... nonsense.   I hate this stuff man.    And I'll have to do it tomorrow too and probably have the same stupid issues.

If it makes you feel better, Chote is probably fulfilled by NECA so there may not be a way around shipping costs, though sometimes people have luck getting Walmar to waive it after the fact.

It seems Chote, Ace Duck and Keno are all fulfilled by NECA, so there's always going to be a shipping cost.