Seibertron.com Energon Pub Forums

My rules of thumb-
Call around first, don't waste time driving around and getting notta. However, Wally has pretty bad costomer service, at least in Chicago, try going there first. And of course be polite, that always helps

Liege Evilmus wrote:

Cyber Bishop wrote:Make friends, the more friends you have all working for the common good of finding the toys the better.

Form a group with local collectors and inform each other of what you find (since you can't always hunt, someone from the group may be able to hunt a bit more than you).

Wal Marts get trucks every day except Sunday. Now they may not shelf every day they get trucks all the time.

Maybe you can help me on this, I can always make small talk with Moms, and Grandparents who don't realy know what they're looking at. For me it's a fun way to share what I know, and I like opening conversations with "You know they'll hate you if you get that one!"

These people are always looking for whatever advice they can get, and again, I love sharing it.

But as for local collectors, unless they're with a supportive girlfriend, they are very untalkative, you can tell even somewhat afraid of the interpersonal contact, and they run off

Maybe they feel embarased about being grown and collecting toys for a hobby, but I'm doing the same thing.

The guys that are taken are the exact opposite, they wanna talk, get coffee next door, and all that jazz, which in itself is kinda weird.

So I guess I'm asking, with out slapping them in the back of the head or sharing any of my women, how do I make the shy guys like the taken guys?

I wouldn't mind meeting some other collectors in my area. I know tons of sci-fi people, and I have fun with them. But outside of this, I could care less about most sci-fi. TFs are something very specific, and I wouldn't mind meeting some locals with that same particular intrest.

I suppose u could just politly ask if they need any help, or ask if their in to tfs too. I've made quite a few collector friends that way.

TIP:

Always pop by those old, rundown looking stores.

There's usually some very old stuff there.


I got a MISB Japanese COnvobat/ Bat Primal at 788 Yen from one such store.

Anyone know the number for all-spark figures? Also, my cousin says that his k-mart has the figures but won't release them anytime soon because it'll destroy the store.

Transformers Screen Battles - 087-06-0450.

Anybody know what the DCPI # is for the Target Exclusive Deep Space Starscream? Also, is the DCPI number for the Allspark figures the same as the Movie figures?

I find a "contact" is the best way to usually get what your after. At my local TRU I know this woman, Nancy, and on Black Friday she set aside one of the $20 Cybertron GF Primes for me. She's awesome.

Optimist_Prime wrote:I find a "contact" is the best way to usually get what your after. At my local TRU I know this woman, Nancy, and on Black Friday she set aside one of the $20 Cybertron GF Primes for me. She's awesome.

Be careful. some stores have policies that allow them to fire their employees for doing that. Make sure your getting someone the company trusts, or else someone you don't care about at all.

Another tip at some stores is to put a bunch've things in your cart and tell them you need more of the item so they'll restock the shelf. Its a workaround on the "Anti-collector" policies. After they pull out the next box of product and go about their buisiness, just get the ones you want.


And be nice. give the little kid that Starcream he's eyeing in your hands.

Anybody have the DCPI or SKU's for Stealth Bumblebee and Premium Bumblebee??

muswp1 wrote:Anybody have the DCPI or SKU's for Stealth Bumblebee and Premium Bumblebee??

Those DPCI's are the same as the other deluxes

Thay all come in the same case assortmant with the previous released deluxes

KoH4711 wrote:And this is my personal rule... if I ever hear a kid in a store who is looking for something I have in my hands, I always give it up. This past Christmas, I snuck a Cybertron Soundwave to a mom after her son was upset they couldn't find it. She said it probably just made her son's Christmas, and that was worth more to me than having him on the shelf ever could be. (*end warm fuzzy moment*)

couldn't have said it better myself.

A story comes to mind: My Uncle was bringing my cousin to a Toys'R'Us way back in like 1990 when the first Batman came out looking for a Batmobile. My cousin, who must've been like 8 or so, runs ahead of my uncle to the action figure aisle. My uncle overhears a man's voice: "Sorry, kid, there's not enough for you," or something like that, then my uncle sees the guy walk around the corner, some 30 or 40 year old jackoff, with a Batmobile tucked under each arm. Dude, that's just chickensh*t.

So, yeah, I TOTALLY agree with you on that rule.

Anyways, I guess my advice would be to, if possible, have as many long distance contacts as possible. Brother stationed in North Carolina? Sister moved to California? Uncle in Ohio? Give'em a call if you're on a good basis with them. I don't even think an Alternators Rumble or Ravage even made their way to the Southeast Texas/Southwest Louisiana part of the country (trust me. I looked EVERYWHERE) but my cousin found a couple of each in Iowa for me. So, yeah, I'd say try not to focus in just your area. You never know where there might be a gross surplus of MP Screamer's just sitting there on clearance.

UPC's needed for: Animated leader Ultra Magnus
THx!


For those that are having a hard time finding Universe wave 3, here are the UPCs

Ironhide- 653569 325178
Sideswipe- 653569 325208
Silverstreak- 653569 325215

Deceptiwho? wrote:I personally like to drive to the "small town" wal-marts and what not to check for TF's lower population, usually , greater finds.... Also check wal mart late at night they usually have thier pallettes out and the employess are usually very good about helping u search them!! one more thing tell ur situation to the employee that u are talking to that usually makes them want to help u more!! Happy hunting!

QFT I have found many of my grails that way. And sence I work at a target lemmie give you guys a few tips

1) if you use the price scanner to check the back don't always trust it. The team members PDAs are updated more often than those. So just ask somebody with a gun to check.

2) Check in the morning for new tfs. Usually overnight team stocks tfs the dayside team which I'm on usually does'nt stock tfs during the day every once in a while we'll get some on a pull, but check in the morning.

Dunno if theres any Aussie collectors reading this, but I thought id throw this out there, seeing i work for Target in Sydney.

Best time to check for new TFs for us, is either wednesday or thursday mornings. We have a weekly sale on different items each week, starting on either the wednesday or the thursday, and the night before we always push as much stock out as possible.

Chances are, most of the time (and i know some of my fellow staff are like this) if they cant find what your looking for, or they dont know, theyll lie and just say, we're sold out. If one team member tells you this, and you have the time, perhaps as another who may be more helpful. because 9 times out of 10 there is stock either on a shelf somewhere, or sitting in the reserve waiting to be pulled.

If a member of staff cant hold or raincheck an item for you, dont get upset with them, its usually store policy, and theres nothing they can do about it.

Canopy shelves, you'll find at the end of the day when things need to be cleaned up, staff will put things anywhere and anywhere to get their cleaning done asap.

Stock for our stores comes in every few weeks, but when our deliveries come theres plenty of merchandise and may take a few days to get to the floor.

Be polite to the staff. The last thing we often want to deal with is some rude prick who cant use basic manners. Being polite gets you a long way with staff.

Wait for the big toy sales. I know here in AUS we have a massive toy sale in july, where a lot of people will get in to lay by stuff for christmas.
Get in early, research when a sale starts and dont leave it more than a day or two after the start of sale to get in and get your products.

As I've said, a lot of this may only occur to Australian collectors and stores, but i thought it was worth a post =]

Make sure to check the clearance aisles in stores too-sometimes it can be a goldmine. I've found Mighty Muggs, Target-exclusive scouts, TRU reissues, and even Classics/Universe figures by checking around.

Call me old fashioned, but I actually enjoy going through all the bots on the shelves. The fun is in the hunt.

Anyone have the DCPI for Target Bruticus Maximus?

Thanks Dkaris, those are some good tips espically the one about stock being put out on wed/thurs. The target toy sale coming up is a good time to get stuff because with these high prices you need to save money. ($50 for a voyager? Come on!)

Scout around before you buy! Sometimes you should know whats popular and unpopular at certain stores.

Does anyone have the numbers for TRU exclusive Cybertron Mode Ratchet and Arcee yet?

Talked with a TRU associate today. They've over stocked Freeway Jazz and Soundwave for 5 to 6 each and he told me they are not ordering anything new of the animated line if they cannot get rid of at least half of the current animated line figures. Guess just keep waiting.

AAA discounts

use your AAA membership to receive discounts on online puchases through AAA.com

KMart.com 5% off

Kohls.com 15% discount on purchases of $100 or more (including sale items)

Target.com 10% off

follow link if you are member and enjoy savings
http://www.aaa.com

I picked up Animated Rodimus Minor and Ironhide today - don't know how it is with the other TRU stores, but mine had them mixed in with the Generations and HFTD deluxes, not on the Animated endcap.

Vapes wrote:Call me old fashioned, but I actually enjoy going through all the bots on the shelves. The fun is in the hunt.

I agree, after all, that IS how I found generations drift! (Topleftmost shelf at the VEEEEERRRRRY back.)

I think that HasbroToyShop updates there site for new transformers around the begining of each month. They added RTS a few days back and Axor was at the begining of last month, along with other new HFTD.