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JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

PadForce wrote:Im in the UK and have paid about $330 including shipping for SW including all cassettes (not sure if I am going to have to pay import tax though). Whilst it would be pretty painful if SW was over here for that price to me is worth the extra money just to ensure I get him (plus the takara box is a bit nicer).

On the other hand, if Hasbro see the takara versions going for that much why would they charge only $90 for SW or $20 for 2 cassettes rather than the $200 and $50 / $60 they go for on the net? Cant really see that much of a mark-down happening myself.

The reasons Japanese items cost so much are multiple. The main reasons are:

- Conversion from Yen to US Dollars
- Import Duty
- Profit margin set by the middle man (ie. the stores that carry such items)
- Shipping

With Hasbro supplying directly over the world, most of those costs are offset.

Yeah, being UK most of those factors are different but I am happy anyway, even if it is £50 cheaper in the end whenever (if) it gets to the UK that extra £50 ($75 odd) is worth paying now to definitely get it.

Not that I'll have any chance in hell of seeing either of these in Australia. Pretty much goes for most of the figures shown at the toy fair this year. I kinda feel that we get jacked here Down Under. I mean, all I seem to be able to find are a buttload of Bumblebees of all persuasions, Cyberverse (which I'm just not interested in), or the play sets. I haven't seen any decent Generations stuff on the shelves since I bought Wheeljack ages ago. I really wanted Wreck-Gar but never, ever laid eyes on it. I'm hanging for FoC Magnus and Starscream but doubt I'll ever see them. Grimlock? Fat chance. Any of the Masterpiece figures? Pffft! As if! I saw a Hasbro cartoon-accurate-colour-scheme Starscream years ago and nothing since. And it's not like I live out in the middle of nowhere either. I live in Melbourne and check the TRUs and Kmarts and Big Ws and Toyworlds. Nothin'.

Mindmaster wrote:I'm actually interested in Acid Storm. If he's all camo-y like his Universe Deluxe was, I'd get him.

Yeah, I'm sure some folks will be happy for a variant seeker and I actually like his colors. So, by all means enjoy!! =)

It sure seems odd though, to release a character which is never named in G1 and leave the main seeker and one of the most popular characters of the franchise in an inferior mold from 6 years ago and out of production? The idea seems poorly conceived. I could see if they were releasing a Generations Deluxe of Acid Storm for the kiddos, but an MP for a collector market? Especially the North American collector market, which doesn't strike me as the same level of hardcore (and thus more likely to buy obscure characters) as the Asian collector market. Why not an Ultra Magnus from the mp10 mold instead? At least he's a popular G1 character. *shrug*

More than just an apparently odd decision to release Acid Storm, it's just the overall feeling that Hasbro apparently sees little to no value in the North American "collector" market, that strikes me as strange. I'm not angry at Hasbro. They're the ones who have to work hard at running a business and turning a profit. I respect that. I just think they're missing an opportunity to make a nice little profit by intelligently embracing their collector market.

As someone else mentioned, they've said NOTHING about Sideswipe or Red Alert and I guess no word on mp17, 18 and 19 yet either?

Ah well. At least Takara is MAKING these wonderful figures available...so I guess I should be glad for what we DO get! Even if I can't afford to buy many of them.

As to pricing, I have to think that if Hasbro Soundwave is coming with 5 cassetes, he's gonna be over $120...I just can't see 6 MP grade transformers in one kit, costing less than $120. I wouldn't be surprised to see $129.99 at release.

Mindmaster wrote:I'm actually interested in Acid Storm. If he's all camo-y like his Universe Deluxe was, I'd get him.

Yeah, I'm sure some folks will be happy for a variant seeker and I actually like his colors. So, by all means enjoy!! =)

It sure seems odd though, to release a character which is never named in G1 and leave the main seeker and one of the most popular characters of the franchise in an inferior mold from 6 years ago and out of production? The idea seems poorly conceived. I could see if they were releasing a Generations Deluxe of Acid Storm for the kiddos, but an MP for a collector market? Especially the North American collector market, which doesn't strike me as the same level of hardcore (and thus more likely to buy obscure characters) as the Asian collector market. Why not an Ultra Magnus from the mp10 mold instead? At least he's a popular G1 character. *shrug*

More than just an apparently odd decision to release Acid Storm, it's just the overall feeling that Hasbro apparently sees little to no value in the North American "collector" market, that strikes me as strange. I'm not angry at Hasbro. They're the ones who have to work hard at running a business and turning a profit. I respect that. I just think they're missing an opportunity to make a nice little profit by intelligently embracing their collector market.

As someone else mentioned, they've said NOTHING about Sideswipe or Red Alert and I guess no word on mp17, 18 and 19 yet either?

Ah well. At least Takara is MAKING these wonderful figures available...so I guess I should be glad for what we DO get! Even if I can't afford to buy many of them.

As to pricing, I have to think that if Hasbro Soundwave is coming with 5 cassetes, he's gonna be over $120...I just can't see 6 MP grade transformers in one kit, costing less than $120. I wouldn't be surprised to see $129.99 at release.

This is great for those who wanted Soundwave but either can't find or can't afford the Takara version. I have him and it truly is a masterpiece. I will still be getting the Takara cassettes because I normally buy my Masterpieces from them but again, this is great for those who can't afford them.

Hero wrote:So does this mean we're not getting Sideswipe?

I was at the Toy Fair and the Hasbro rep said that the Sideswipe/Red Alert is a licensing issue. Sounded like he was going to say something more but didnt. He didnt exactly say "It's a licensing issue" but he said yes when asked if it was a licensing issue but I thnk there was more to it than that judging by his reaction to the question.

Another rep we spoke to talked to us about the plastic situation. He mentioned, plastic cost, weight etc etc, that designers even put the figures on scales to make sure they are within maximum weight requirements and explained that is the reason for so much hollowness in the figures. They want to make the nicest figure possible but all the requirements make it very hard. Details and design have to be compromised.

When we asked another rep about availability of Soundwave, he said they will be making it more accessible than OP which he knows was difficult to find. They could only allocate so many units to certain stores and some never got them. Probably based on sales of those store,location,etc. I have a feeling they said this about Prime when Thundercracker was hard to find. We'll have to wait and see.

I asked how much Soundwave was going to be and he started to say he didn't know, but interrupted himself and said, well, I do know but I can't say.

Mindmaster wrote:

Megatronsdemise666 wrote:Didn't really care about a release of a hasbro soundwave.

But now I'm excited! .
I would say his price would be 80$ with all the cassettes?

He's somewhere between MP Starscream and MP10, so there's $74 USD right there. Cassettes, if sold individually, would probably go for Scout prices ($10 USD), and there's five of them. We're probably looking around $120 USD.

Yeah but optimus prime was 100$ and that was with a trailer and roller.

So soundwave will be 80-90$

Mindmaster wrote:

Megatronsdemise666 wrote:Didn't really care about a release of a hasbro soundwave.

But now I'm excited! .
I would say his price would be 80$ with all the cassettes?

He's somewhere between MP Starscream and MP10, so there's $74 USD right there. Cassettes, if sold individually, would probably go for Scout prices ($10 USD), and there's five of them. We're probably looking around $120 USD.

Yeah but optimus prime was 100$ and that was with a trailer and roller.

So soundwave will be 80-90$

lowman_x wrote:Not that I'll have any chance in hell of seeing either of these in Australia. Pretty much goes for most of the figures shown at the toy fair this year. I kinda feel that we get jacked here Down Under. I mean, all I seem to be able to find are a buttload of Bumblebees of all persuasions, Cyberverse (which I'm just not interested in), or the play sets. I haven't seen any decent Generations stuff on the shelves since I bought Wheeljack ages ago. I really wanted Wreck-Gar but never, ever laid eyes on it. I'm hanging for FoC Magnus and Starscream but doubt I'll ever see them. Grimlock? Fat chance. Any of the Masterpiece figures? Pffft! As if! I saw a Hasbro cartoon-accurate-colour-scheme Starscream years ago and nothing since. And it's not like I live out in the middle of nowhere either. I live in Melbourne and check the TRUs and Kmarts and Big Ws and Toyworlds. Nothin'.

Actually this stuff should see retail here (I managed to score Prime and Thundercracker at retail), but you need to keep on TRU about it. I actually wish I'd know you were caught out with the MPs- I could have hooked you up between the TRUs where my fiance is and where I am.

If you get stuck when these MPs hit, let me know and I'll see if I can track him down in the ACT and the Central Coast/Newcastle areas in NSW.

Bowspearer wrote:

lowman_x wrote:Not that I'll have any chance in hell of seeing either of these in Australia. Pretty much goes for most of the figures shown at the toy fair this year. I kinda feel that we get jacked here Down Under. I mean, all I seem to be able to find are a buttload of Bumblebees of all persuasions, Cyberverse (which I'm just not interested in), or the play sets. I haven't seen any decent Generations stuff on the shelves since I bought Wheeljack ages ago. I really wanted Wreck-Gar but never, ever laid eyes on it. I'm hanging for FoC Magnus and Starscream but doubt I'll ever see them. Grimlock? Fat chance. Any of the Masterpiece figures? Pffft! As if! I saw a Hasbro cartoon-accurate-colour-scheme Starscream years ago and nothing since. And it's not like I live out in the middle of nowhere either. I live in Melbourne and check the TRUs and Kmarts and Big Ws and Toyworlds. Nothin'.

Actually this stuff should see retail here (I managed to score Prime and Thundercracker at retail), but you need to keep on TRU about it. I actually wish I'd know you were caught out with the MPs- I could have hooked you up between the TRUs where my fiance is and where I am.

If you get stuck when these MPs hit, let me know and I'll see if I can track him down in the ACT and the Central Coast/Newcastle areas in NSW.

Keep on them, Lowman, it's the only way.
Kmart's been getting the new range of Generations, Bot-Shots etc. If either of you are after a certain figure and are having difficulty finding them, drop me a PM with your email. I'm usually the first to get a look at all the new TF coming into work.