I've been a visitor here for years but never posted until this thread. I totally agree. The prices of new models are ridiculous. And it's not just M.B.T.s, even soft skins are becoming out of my reach. This probably seems like a whinge to those who can afford to spend 6 times the price of a kit on aftermarket barrels, tracks, etc; but for the working poor like me it's a painful and truthful fact that the hobby I've had all my life (I'm 55 now) is becoming too expensive.

The bottom has dropped out of the South African currency, the Rand/Dollar exchange rate is approximately R15.00 to the Dollar, so needless to say my purchases have also dropped off significantly. Fortunately, like many the kit stash is rather substantial, so for now my purchases are limited to the necessities like glue and paints, etc.

Online shops like Hobby Easy and Lucky Model do often have some great specials, so I look out for those as well.

Be still my beating heart, I was at one of my LHS today and nearly gagged at the prices on new kits. The AFV Club M60A1 was marked at $105 CDN, Takom Chieftan Mk 11, $100 CDN, a new aircraft was listed at $123 CDN, not one I was interested in, but Lord tunderin dyin. I feel my days of new purchases may have come to a shuddering halt. There are 3 or 4 LHS and prices may differ by a few $ here and there . Like many, my hobby budget is limited, and mail order, due to the tattered Loonie, is a no go. Anyone else have that dread feeling?

Just adding my 2c

Yes, you can get better value online, and sometimes because of location or subject that's your only choice. However if you are lucky enough to have a LHS that you can go in and browse and get your paints , tools, glues etc don't you think they also deserve your support on kit purchases? Just imagine what it would be like if they were not there.
Reviewing my 2015 purchases about half of the kits were bought at the LHSs (I'm lucky to have more than 1 nearby), a quarter at Telford and a quarter on-line

A friend (non-modeler) asked me if I thought the low cost of crude oil these days would lower the cost of plastic, injection moulded kits. I said that it seemed a reasonable assumption but, as you have pointed out, the kit costs continue to rise.

In the "global economy," it seems that kit pricing has gone to whatever the market will bear.

. . . Are the manufacturers receiving a REASONABLE return on investment or is it excessive? . . . Like everything else, there always has to be a villain or culprit responsible!

Be still my beating heart, I was at one of my LHS today and nearly gagged at the prices on new kits. The AFV Club M60A1 was marked at $105 CDN, Takom Chieftan Mk 11, $100 CDN, a new aircraft was listed at $123 CDN, not one I was interested in, but Lord tunderin dyin. I feel my days of new purchases may have come to a shuddering halt. There are 3 or 4 LHS and prices may differ by a few $ here and there . Like many, my hobby budget is limited, and mail order, due to the tattered Loonie, is a no go. Anyone else have that dread feeling?

Being in Canada with the 30% exchange rate, one has to be very choosey as to what new kits to purchase. I for one consider myself lucky to have a stash of 150+ kits in my stash. I built it up over 20 years when the exchange rate was much better and a lot of my kits are older dragon with the etch and metal barrels etc, and some nice older Tamiya with an emphasis on the Tigers. I mostly concentrate on paints and finishing supplies now. Regards....Dale