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Thanks for sharing, cffincher! That's a nice VF in your avatar, too!

My MP Prime will be here Tuesday and I cannot wait!

Mine arrived today so the TRU.com nightmare is over. It is a FANTASTIC toy.

I just found MP Optimus and Thundercracker at my local TRU in NorCal and the prices are higher - WTF? I bought them anyway, might return them if I find a better price.

grymg wrote:I just found MP Optimus and Thundercracker at my local TRU in NorCal and the prices are higher - WTF? I bought them anyway, might return them if I find a better price.

I guess the SRP of $100 was really just a suggestion.

Not really going to be able to find them at a better price. TRU always raises their prices. Your only option is to use a coupon. (There's one currently active...) Other than that, they might lower the price for Christmas sales, but so far...what you see is what you get, unfortunately.

Gotta be honest, after having it in my possession, $120.00's too much. $250.00 for the import would've been ridiculous and brought on so much buyer's remorse that I probably would've quit the hobby.

He's not bad at $100.00 (which is what I paid), though flawed. Above that, ridiculous.

He has chrome chips on his bumper from his chest windows, he has paint chipping off because it's two different colors layered on top of one another, his die cast pieces have huge chunks of paint coming off... Yeah, I admit $100.00 for the set IS a good price, but for ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS, I'd like there to be little to no flaws. I don't think that's a ridiculous request.

Autobot032 wrote:Not really going to be able to find them at a better price. TRU always raises their prices. Your only option is to use a coupon. (There's one currently active...) Other than that, they might lower the price for Christmas sales, but so far...what you see is what you get, unfortunately.

Gotta be honest, after having it in my possession, $120.00's too much. $250.00 for the import would've been ridiculous and brought on so much buyer's remorse that I probably would've quit the hobby.

He's not bad at $100.00 (which is what I paid), though flawed. Above that, ridiculous.

He has chrome chips on his bumper from his chest windows, he has paint chipping off because it's two different colors layered on top of one another, his die cast pieces have huge chunks of paint coming off... Yeah, I admit $100.00 for the set IS a good price, but for ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS, I'd like there to be little to no flaws. I don't think that's a ridiculous request.

This is why I prefer to buy Tak's MP's. Was wondering about waiting for Has MP's, but after everything I went through importing Thundercracker recently only to discover that the quality was WAY worse that Tak's MP-11 it re-enforced my belief that the extra cost was worth it.

For me anyway.

Autobot032 wrote:Not really going to be able to find them at a better price. TRU always raises their prices. Your only option is to use a coupon. (There's one currently active...) Other than that, they might lower the price for Christmas sales, but so far...what you see is what you get, unfortunately.

Gotta be honest, after having it in my possession, $120.00's too much. $250.00 for the import would've been ridiculous and brought on so much buyer's remorse that I probably would've quit the hobby.

He's not bad at $100.00 (which is what I paid), though flawed. Above that, ridiculous.

He has chrome chips on his bumper from his chest windows, he has paint chipping off because it's two different colors layered on top of one another, his die cast pieces have huge chunks of paint coming off... Yeah, I admit $100.00 for the set IS a good price, but for ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS, I'd like there to be little to no flaws. I don't think that's a ridiculous request.

Sorry to hear about the flaws on your MP Prime. I finally decided to open mine today and found only a few minor paint blemishes on the back waist. The only other thing I noticed was that the ankles joints were too loose and needed to be tightened. I have both the Hasbro and Takara version and would say that the overall quality is the same. I actually prefer the color of the Hasbro version more, just looks so much more vibrant. I kinda wish Hasbro would re-release the G1 Optimus in this color scheme.

Arctorro wrote:

Autobot032 wrote:He has chrome chips on his bumper from his chest windows, he has paint chipping off because it's two different colors layered on top of one another, his die cast pieces have huge chunks of paint coming off... Yeah, I admit $100.00 for the set IS a good price, but for ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS, I'd like there to be little to no flaws. I don't think that's a ridiculous request.

This is why I prefer to buy Tak's MP's. Was wondering about waiting for Has MP's, but after everything I went through importing Thundercracker recently only to discover that the quality was WAY worse that Tak's MP-11 it re-enforced my belief that the extra cost was worth it.

For me anyway.

Actually, Takara versions aren't always QC-issue proof. The MP-10 Convoy I got had a stroke of black paint across the top of his right chest window, and the parts under his alt mode's headlights were under-painted (barely a mist coat of red.)

For the kind of money I paid (almost 270 USD), that kind of QC is atrocious. I don't know if this has anything to do with the fact that it's made in Vietnam instead of China, though.

I'd just like to get one at all.

SKYWARPED_128 wrote:

Arctorro wrote:

Autobot032 wrote:He has chrome chips on his bumper from his chest windows, he has paint chipping off because it's two different colors layered on top of one another, his die cast pieces have huge chunks of paint coming off... Yeah, I admit $100.00 for the set IS a good price, but for ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS, I'd like there to be little to no flaws. I don't think that's a ridiculous request.

This is why I prefer to buy Tak's MP's. Was wondering about waiting for Has MP's, but after everything I went through importing Thundercracker recently only to discover that the quality was WAY worse that Tak's MP-11 it re-enforced my belief that the extra cost was worth it.

For me anyway.

Actually, Takara versions aren't always QC-issue proof. The MP-10 Convoy I got had a stroke of black paint across the top of his right chest window, and the parts under his alt mode's headlights were under-painted (barely a mist coat of red.)

For the kind of money I paid (almost 270 USD), that kind of QC is atrocious. I don't know if this has anything to do with the fact that it's made in Vietnam instead of China, though.

Unfortunately I have been told by people who know a bit about production that to get a level of QC that we would deem acceptable we would have to pay SOC prices which are upwards of $300 before import costs

Archatron wrote:I'd just like to get one at all.

You and me both, brother.

Mightymegs wrote:

Archatron wrote:I'd just like to get one at all.

You and me both, brother.

Same here.

Havnt even seen the tag on the shelf at any TRU's here yet. hope they get them in soon. though with the dozen or so thundercrackers sitting on the shelf has me worried it wont be anytime soon.

A couple quick pics.

http://s1132.photobucket.com/albums/m57 ... 230003.jpg
http://s1132.photobucket.com/albums/m57 ... 230006.jpg

FortMacs wrote:

Mightymegs wrote:

Archatron wrote:I'd just like to get one at all.

You and me both, brother.

Same here.

Havnt even seen the tag on the shelf at any TRU's here yet. hope they get them in soon. though with the dozen or so thundercrackers sitting on the shelf has me worried it wont be anytime soon.

I fourth that notion. I'll admit I have a pre-order, but I'm growing rather weary. I can see TRU canceling it because they're stupid and can't seem to run their company and website as one and the same thing.

There's really no excuse for offering pre-orders and then not fulfilling them before or very soon after store releases.

Erailea wrote:There's really no excuse for offering pre-orders and then not fulfilling them before or very soon after store releases.

I couldn't agree more. I've actually been hunting him down at the 3 TRU's nearest me because I just have this feeling that they're going to cancel my preorder.

I sent TRU customer service an email yesterday about the preorder. I specifically asked about the shipping address because I am moving in a month and if it doesn't ship before then (or get cancelled) I wanted to know what I was supposed to do. They told me that I cannot change my shipping (not billing) address without cancelling my preorder which I told them in my inquiry that I did not want to do. So, needless to say I'm hoping it ships before the third week of November. Otherwise, my MP OP will be shipped to an old address where I no longer reside if he comes at all. I will talk with my apt complex and submit a forwarding address but you never know.

Anyway, it goes back to why I'm hunting him because this could all be avoided if I could find him first!

Masterpiece Optimus Prime, located and purchased at the 21st street Toys R Us location in Tulsa Oklahoma on 10/28

This location had several cases on hand, received on the previous day's truck. (The other Tulsa Toys R Us store location (at 71st & Memorial), still had not received even one at that time.)

Prime is being shipped, in quantity now it seems but also apparent is that it's not to every store, or location...yet.

Anyway, I thought I'd share the info and below are some pics from the day.

Enjoy.

StingerLAM wrote:

No wonder so many people are having trouble finding them, and pre-orders haven't shipped yet... They've all been sent to this one store!

Since his initial retail debut a month ago the Toys"R"Us exclusive Masterpiece Optimus Prime has been the source of much frustration to many collectors. Stores only receiving one or two cases at time, which almost immediately sell out, online pre-orders not shipping out when originally scheduled, etc. The whole thing has many fans worried they'll never lay hands on this highly anticipated figure, so hopefully this set of images will ease some of those fears. Seibertron.com member StingerLAM spotted 14 cases of Masterpiece Optimus Prime at a Tulsa, Ok Toys"R"Us just waiting to hit the shelves. That's 28 Masterpiece Optimus Primes in one store! We hope this is an indication that Masterpiece Optimus Prime is about to go from elusive to plentiful.

It should also be noted that StingerLAM managed to get the figure for it's original price of $99.99 by pointing out the price point on the unopened cases.

StingerLAM wrote:My dated receipt, 10/28/12, if anyone cares. Note that they gave me an immediate markdown of $20. (This was because I pointed out the $99.99 stickers on the outside of the shipping cases.)

Total BS to the nth degree! I had a print out dated a week ago from TRU manager in my area showing the price was $99.99 per unit. The same manager in Peoria, Illinois would not give me the discount so I had to pay the full 119.99 for a badly damaged box (justification was that the $99.99 was a "promotional" price)...there are also paint errors and I cannot open the thing until I can get my hands on another. I really hope these do start coming in droves and I'll be damned if I let them screw me over again if I find a sealed case that has the $99.99 price point on the outside of the friggin box!! So nice that the Tulsa store honored the price...kudos to you.

This definitely makes me feel a lot more comfortable. I'm still holding out hope on my preorder, and this really helps seeing this!

My guess is their buying them in bulk for the holiday rush/ christmas rush but i could be completly wrong on that.

Still say $100 is way to much for it but i think its total bullshit that they receive the figure with a price tag on it then they charge what ever they want, guess thats why the 3 TRUs ive been to in the past month have all had different prices. Just another reason why i dont buy from them anymore. Also just a heads up if the website is selling it for $100 then the store will price match it, all you have to do is mention it at customer service & they should look it up. Im not sure what the sites prices are like but if they are cheaper than at the store point it out. Just keep in mind that this is still at the discretion of the store, some might give the BS answer of that site & store prices are different.

Megatron Wolf wrote:Still say $100 is way to much for it

I'd like to respectfully ask why you think $100 is too much to pay for a very intricate, fairly large toy that transforms from a robot into a semi truck, complete with an opening trailer and a little cart. When evaluating the asking prices of different Masterpiece figures over the years on both sides of the pond, $100 for this seems to me like a great deal, so I'm curious what you see that's dissatisfying. Certainly, there isn't a person around who wouldn't be happy if they could buy it for less money, but that's true of just about anything (I don't think I've ever heard a person say "I'd rather pay more money for this exact same product"). So I'm interested in why you feel this is not a good value for the money.

100$ dollars too much? Well why don't they give them away for free. Maybe that would do? Hell, if you are not interested, then send them to finland. For even though we have TRU stores, we aren't getting any MP Primes.