Seibertron.com Energon Pub Forums

Pffft newbies don't know the meaning of the word hunt. Unless you were there during the dry spells and even worse the releases of Alt Tracks and Jazz you just don't know. Almost know one got Tracks or Jazz at retail, I only found one each at the same time no less and I was lucky to find them. This movie line will be a breeze to complete at retail unlike many previous lines. It is all about patience and persistence.

Seibertron wrote:You guys need to follow which waves we're currently on. BigBadToyStore.com and Entertainment Earth are great for figuring out what's out now and what's coming out in the near future.

That's exactly right!

There is a scale to desperation. Many have expressed that they are really desperate, getting sleepless nights, etc. Well if you truly are are really, really desperate you can even pre-order a wave assortment just to get this figure. You will get this figure you're so desperate for, and a bonus 7 others besides. Wave assorrtment 7 looks good.

Those who claim they've given up and thrown in the towel should do just that, because if he never arrives you've made your peace, decreased your stress, and moved on to other things. And should it be the case that in a few weeks time, they start hitting the shelves it'd be an extra pleasant surprise, getting him for $9.99 isntead of the ridiculous $49 I see some goons selling him for on ebay and Amazon.com
Don't say you're giving up, you're beat, etc, and still kill yourself everyday by going to the shops "just in case". Just give up.

And those in the middle who are only slightly miffed to acceptingly disinterested can decide whether or not you still want him when you get him in the stores. If he arrives get him. If he doesn't, what the hell!

Ha! I must disagree with some of you.

1. Why must I buy 8 figures to get BB. Okay, the one with 2 BB's is great, but I already have most of those, and the reast I don't want.

2. I don't mind hunting, but what good is it when there is NOTHING to hunt for? The shelves in my area have been barren at best, and now they are BARE. Naked. Nothing. No one from the stores wants to answer my questions, and the managers are "too busy" to "deal" with me. And I am not the only one. Hundreds, even thousands are in the same boat. That's kids and parents and collectors.

3. Hasbro DID drop the ball on production and I have it from one of the reps who admitted they didn't produce and distribute enough. He claims that Hasbro has "stepped up production", but I have yet to see it in stores, and on their very own HTS.com site.

Even Scorpunok is sold out.

Sportimus Prime wrote:Ha! I must disagree with some of you.

1. Why must I buy 8 figures to get BB. Okay, the one with 2 BB's is great, but I already have most of those, and the reast I don't want.:

Well, no reason at all! Unless you happen to be in group 1, those who are really really desperate. Obviously you're not. That's my point actually: that those who are do dying to get him and telling us about it every two hours or so do have options!

Incidentally, do you already have Payload, Longarm, Topkick, Dreadwing, Redeco Barricade (I wouldn't buy him except that he's in this wave assortment), Final Battle Jazz?

Sportimus Prime wrote:2. the managers are "too busy" to "deal" with me. And I am not the only one. Hundreds, even thousands are in the same boat. That's kids and parents and collectors.

Obviously not the scalpers eh? But that's one other thing that frustrates me and made me go the pre-order online route. you don't have to deal with the arrogance and the condescension of people who suddenly feel important because of you're desperation. Or who are exasperated that only 200 people asked them the same question today.

Like you say, the joy is in the hunt but only if there is a chance of success as failure! But if there isn't, because the forest isn't even there, then you might have to order the deer online, no?

Sportimus Prime wrote:3. Hasbro DID drop the ball on production and I have it from one of the reps who admitted they didn't produce and distribute enough. He claims that Hasbro has "stepped up production", but I have yet to see it in stores, and on their very own HTS.com site.

Even Scorpunok is sold out.

Did he mention that they screwed up even after factoring the bottom feeding scalpers?

Seibertron wrote:You guys need to follow which waves we're currently on. BigBadToyStore.com and Entertainment Earth are great for figuring out what's out now and what's coming out in the near future.

http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/menu ... egory=3761

Wave 4 (July / August 2007) has 2 Concept Camaro Bumblebees in it and is also the 1st wave to contain Concept Camaro Bumblebee:
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/prod ... ode=retail
http://www.entertainmentearth.com/prodi ... =HT81057D1

Wave 5 (August 2007) has 1 Concept Camaro Bumblebee:
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/prod ... ode=retail
http://www.entertainmentearth.com/prodi ... r=HT81057E

Wave 6 (August 2007) has 0 Concept but 1 Classic:
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/prod ... ode=retail
http://www.entertainmentearth.com/prodi ... r=HT81057F

Wave 7 (August 2007) has 1 Concept:
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/prod ... ode=retail

Plus there's at least two gift sets that will have Concept Camaro Bumblebee: 1) The Target 2 pack with Classic Camaro Bumblebee and 2) the set with Voyager Optimus Prime.

Please note that many stores will get multiple cases of each wave. August is the next big restocking ... Target stores across the country are suppose to have a shelf refresh for toys sometime during the week of August 5th (through the 11th). I think retailers and Hasbro under-estimated the success of the movie toys which I think is rather humorous because if they hadn't, the movie haters would be making fun of all of the typical movie toy line pegsitters. I'd much rather see the success of the line like this ... they'll make more toys. This isn't like the hard to find figures at the end of the line ... these are hard to find figures at the beginning of the line which means they can always change case structures later down the road for future waves. Notice how Wave 6 has all early wave figures in it.

thank god for the sanity of seibs!! maybe they will all listen if it comes straight from the website master's mouth!!!!!!!!!

I am soo tired of seeing posts like this one recently. Theres just so damn many of the "I can't find blah blah blah" variety that finding the actual good posts is starting to become a chore.

What the hell is so hard about sitting tight and waiting till the damn figure is stocked on the shelves. And if its not, boo frickin hoo, go to BBTS or ebay or some other online resource and purchase it at a later date.

As you can see from Seibertron's post, theres still waves with this included to come put all of this month. And you rlocal walmarts, targets etc will probably take their sweet time puttin them on shelves. Why? Because they don't care that YOU are out looking for the figure. To them, its just another toy and will go on the shelf whenever theres space AND they feel like it.

Also, contrary to popular belief, every town is not filled with scalpers waiting to strip the shelves clean..... Theres a few and some towns may be victimized. However, if you can't fuind the figure ANYWHERE, I find it hard to believe that theres a scalper mafia out there scouring your whole state.

Now, if this was late October and you hadn't seen it anywhere, I would panic. Waaay too early right now.

Trying to locate an obscure KO from the 80s or some lucky draw figure, it would make an interesting, entertainting post and I would love to help out. Finding some $10 toy that has only ben out for a week is just annoying.

Also, the amount of time people spend looking and posting about finding BB, and the gas spent driving around. Save the gas money, use the search time to put in a couple of hours of OT and go buy one online. Much easier.

Don't take it personally OP, I just chose to make use of your post to vent a little as the enjoyment I derive from reading the posts here seems to be on the decline since posts like this started popping up every 2 minutes and pushing the good ones off the front few pages.

PS.S Be much easier to just make use of the sightings forum anyway.

Bonecrusher27 wrote:

Sportimus Prime wrote:Incidentally, do you already have Payload, Longarm, Topkick, Dreadwing, Redeco Barricade (I wouldn't buy him except that he's in this wave assortment), Final Battle Jazz?

You didn't consider if I WANT Dreadwing, Longarm, Payload, or Topkick. I don't. Then again, I can always ebay 'em. But then, I become the thing I hate...a scalper.

Sportimus Prime wrote:2. the managers are "too busy" to "deal" with me. And I am not the only one. Hundreds, even thousands are in the same boat. That's kids and parents and collectors.

Obviously not the scalpers eh? But that's one other thing that frustrates me and made me go the pre-order online route. you don't have to deal with the arrogance and the condescension of people who suddenly feel important because of you're desperation. Or who are exasperated that only 200 people asked them the same question today.

Some of us are new to this sort of thing. You need to keep that in mind next time. I have not bought a TF since the late 1980's, and only started in the last 3 months at most. I only recently discovered plaes like BBTS, HTS, and so forth. Before, I had no interest. Pre-orders are still new to me. By the time I discovered it, the pre-orders were sold out. That too was a surprise. How can something be sold out when a store that is taking pre-orders not have any to begin with? Do you see where I am coming from? It's easy for those who know the in's and out's to say "hey, take it easy man. It's all good." Not so much for newbs like me who are less informed and are still getting acclimated to this stuff.

Like you say, the joy is in the hunt but only if there is a chance of success as failure! But if there isn't, because the forest isn't even there, then you might have to order the deer online, no?

The forest was there. Scalpers chopped it all down before most had even a inkling of a chance. Not a fair chance, mind you, not even a teeny-tiny slim "cold day in hell" kind of chance.

The deer online is over-priced or sold out. I looked online on evilbay, and they're still in the $30+ range before shipping, and their auctions still have ways to go. Bullcrap.

Did he mention that they screwed up even after factoring the bottom feeding scalpers?

He actually admitted they under-estimated them. They should have known better. they made a ton of Scorpunoks,Ratchets, Blackouts,and Brawls. Very few BB's (even the '74's), Starscreams, and Ironhides.

Sportimus Prime wrote:
Some of us are new to this sort of thing. You need to keep that in mind next time. I have not bought a TF since the late 1980's, and only started in the last 3 months at most. ... How can something be sold out when a store that is taking pre-orders not have any to begin with? Do you see where I am coming from? It's easy for those who know the in's and out's to say "hey, take it easy man. It's all good."

Don't get me wrong I wasn't intending to target you or anybody. you can see that from my original post. I suggested three outcomes depending on one's level of desperation. To me they were the most obvious routes to every post that has come up on this subject, which if you do a search, has been very very many. I do realise where you're coming from and I'll help you out on this.

Koloth wrote:Pffft newbies don't know the meaning of the word hunt. Unless you were there during the dry spells and even worse the releases of Alt Tracks and Jazz you just don't know. Almost know one got Tracks or Jazz at retail, I only found one each at the same time no less and I was lucky to find them. This movie line will be a breeze to complete at retail unlike many previous lines. It is all about patience and persistence.

When i was a noob whippersnapper, i trudged 9 miles barefoot in the snow looking for alternators Tracks when he first came out, and.. nothing!

but not really.

and i did find him when he was re-released later on. And i can say that i was fortunate and honored to have laid eyes on one energon ultra magnus in my lifetime at my local walmart. But hindsight is always 20/20.

A phrase comes to mind: The thrill of the hunt.

Personally, i've seen 5 lines come and go (trilogy, alternators, and classics 1.0), and there are SOME anomalies always in each line. To me, at this time, completely freaking out about this is somewhat premature. For everyone that wants to make sure they get a bumble bee, just make sure you buy the rest of the figures in the wave so that you clear off the shelves and make room for the store to send another order of case assortment xyz to replenish its pegs.
It would seem that a lot of 08 bb's are coming out in this wave and more waves to come, for a long time to come. There should not be a shortage. If you want to stop scalpers, don't give them your money. Or they will retain their omnipotent powers and know exactly where and when every 08 bb will be released in every store in every city, and snatch them all before all of the regular humans and little boys and girls can have any.

Koloth wrote:Pffft newbies don't know the meaning of the word hunt. Unless you were there during the dry spells and even worse the releases of Alt Tracks and Jazz you just don't know. Almost know one got Tracks or Jazz at retail, I only found one each at the same time no less and I was lucky to find them. This movie line will be a breeze to complete at retail unlike many previous lines. It is all about patience and persistence.

True enough.

Does anyone remember Wave 2 of Energon?

Rodimus, Prowl, and Snowcat were in that wave for the first time. Rodimus was considered "godly" for all of about 2 months there and people were sure that GI Joe collectors were going to buy every Snowcat in sight.

These were inSANEly hard to find. Energon's bad distribution coupled with a reduction in WalMart's shelf space at the time made it an infuriating hunt.

Know what happened then?

They came back more times than Jean Grey. Wave after wave, followed by "Bonus" two packs. When it was all said and done, WalMart was clearancing the two packs for $5.

OG collectors can sympathize with all you noobs. But take a damn hint and listen to some of the hard won advice we have. Especially mine. I have a massive ego to maintain after all.

Seibertron wrote:You guys need to follow which waves we're currently on. BigBadToyStore.com and Entertainment Earth are great for figuring out what's out now and what's coming out in the near future.

http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/menu ... egory=3761

Wave 4 (July / August 2007) has 2 Concept Camaro Bumblebees in it and is also the 1st wave to contain Concept Camaro Bumblebee:
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/prod ... ode=retail
http://www.entertainmentearth.com/prodi ... =HT81057D1

Wave 5 (August 2007) has 1 Concept Camaro Bumblebee:
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/prod ... ode=retail
http://www.entertainmentearth.com/prodi ... r=HT81057E

Wave 6 (August 2007) has 0 Concept but 1 Classic:
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/prod ... ode=retail
http://www.entertainmentearth.com/prodi ... r=HT81057F

Wave 7 (August 2007) has 1 Concept:
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/prod ... ode=retail

Plus there's at least two gift sets that will have Concept Camaro Bumblebee: 1) The Target 2 pack with Classic Camaro Bumblebee and 2) the set with Voyager Optimus Prime.

Please note that many stores will get multiple cases of each wave. August is the next big restocking ... Target stores across the country are suppose to have a shelf refresh for toys sometime during the week of August 5th (through the 11th). I think retailers and Hasbro under-estimated the success of the movie toys which I think is rather humorous because if they hadn't, the movie haters would be making fun of all of the typical movie toy line pegsitters. I'd much rather see the success of the line like this ... they'll make more toys. This isn't like the hard to find figures at the end of the line ... these are hard to find figures at the beginning of the line which means they can always change case structures later down the road for future waves. Notice how Wave 6 has all early wave figures in it.

Wow. See I didn't even know you could do that. I'm so temped to pre-order a wave 4 set right now. Course that would be total overkill (and expensive). Plus, I was trying to keep my collecting limited to Autobots that appeared in the movie and Decepticons that have descent in scale toys (I've only gotten Barricade right now, plan to get Leader Brawl, and hold onto hope for a larger Bonecrusher and Blackout, a Starscream with hands, and a leader Megatron with a descent paint job).

It's nice to see for sure that he'll be in more waves and that Hasbro is likely upping production. Again thanks to the more experienced collectors and your perspective/information.

In many ways I'm hoping for news of a new Megatron and Blackout more than anything else. And a Starscream with hands.

Count your blessings. You have any idea how long it will be before this bugger appears over here? We don't even know if Argos is getting the proper 2 pack or just voyager Prime with a carded 70's BB. Went out looking for Barricade and my town is so behind, all they have is the 2 protoforms. Thats right.

PROTOFORMS ONLY.

But that's ok. I'm a very patient man. The few I hunt randomly appear and because of the long wait, it feels so much sweeter when I finally get a hold of them in my hands.

I was so happy to unexpectadly see Anime Galvatron on a shelf, I actually went

"Sweet merciful crap!"

and promptly hid him behind other tfs so I could return the next day with teh money to get it. Ah, that was a good feeling.

Basically, be patient. Have a look around every so often just in case. This is a hobby where you have to bide your time and be sensible.