The Energon Pub

[-Kanrabat-]

Its a shame these reissues never came UK side officially. I'd have snagged the Starscream and Hotrod up, but with the discounts in the US - the reseller prices in the UK feel very unfair.

At those prices, might as well just import the Takara Encore editions from Mandrake.
Even when factoring in EMS shipping, there's some very nice deals over there.

[AllNewSuperRobot]

Its a shame these reissues never came UK side officially. I'd have snagged the Starscream and Hotrod up, but with the discounts in the US - the reseller prices in the UK feel very unfair.

https://www.kapowtoys.co.uk/

https://www.indemandtoys.co.uk/

These are your best bet.

[Amelie]

https://www.kapowtoys.co.uk/

https://www.indemandtoys.co.uk/

These are your best bet.

Sold out. And again - it would have been cheaper to get it from the USA and shipping it over. £40 GBP for a Hot Rod that's on sale for $15 USD is pretty bad, too.

[AllNewSuperRobot]

We've always drawn the short straw when it comes to pricing though...

[-Kanrabat-]

Quick question.
If the latest G1 Predaking was 200$US at BBTS, it's safe to assume that he would be that price at Walmart too if he ever come back.
Because Encore Skylinx exist, a re-reissue is possible. Any guess at what this guy would cost as a latest Walmart exclusive if it ever happen?


(BTW, my Skylinx was 4500 yen plus shipping at Mandrake)

[Rodimus Prime]

I'm all caught up now with my Siege and Studio Series collecting, but I'm still hoping to find a G1 Devestator giftset at Walmart. I heard some areas were still seeing them trickle onto shelves, but I haven't seen any in a couple of months, and even at that, the tags on the selves seem to indicate the set is already being clearanced. I've seen the set maybe once or twice in the wild, but didn't get it at the time, figuring I could pick it up later. Now, I'm worried I've missed my chance and will have to resort to the secondary market.

If you can find a set they're down to $30. Good luck!

Yeah, good luck. The Walmart I work at got them in when they were released and I haven't seen them since. They got bought up in a few days and that was it. I checked if more were coming in, but there weren't. Same with Starscream and Hot Rod. Once they're ordered, that's it. There's no restocking them, at least not where I work.

How many unsold Hot Rods is your store still stuck with?

5. And that's because I haven't bought mine yet. I got the last Starscream, when the shelf is down to the last Hot Rod, I'll get it.

[Emerje]

Quick question.
If the latest G1 Predaking was 200$US at BBTS, it's safe to assume that he would be that price at Walmart too if he ever come back.
Because Encore Skylinx exist, a re-reissue is possible. Any guess at what this guy would cost as a latest Walmart exclusive if it ever happen?


(BTW, my Skylinx was 4500 yen plus shipping at Mandrake)

Considering Devastator was smaller and had no electronics at $70 while Platinum Trypticon was bigger and had similar electronics at $160-ish so I would think Sky Lynx would be around $100-$120.

Personally I think Omega Supreme would be a better seller at around the same price.

Emerje

[buddha-con]

Is 110 a good price for the encore skylynx? Bbts seems to be the only place that still has him and most ebay listings are 150+

[-Kanrabat-]

Is 110 a good price for the encore skylynx? Bbts seems to be the only place that still has him and most ebay listings are 150+

Mandrake, dude. The shipping may be a bit high via EMS, but you can add stuff in the box without increasing the charge by much. Seriously, shop at Mandrake before even going to Ebay. You'll avoid knock-offs too.

Go there, and click the ENGLISH button:
https://order.mandarake.co.jp/order/?lang=en

For the Mandrake noobs, Mandrake is a "shopping center" regrouping 12 stores. You can combine shipping within the same store. Most will give you the shipping cost only after you made your purchase, but the SAHRA store will give the estimate right away.


BTW, for Encore G1 Skylinx:
https://order.mandarake.co.jp/order/det ... ks&lang=en

[william-james88]

Is 110 a good price for the encore skylynx?

No, its not. You can get him for 70 or less.

[buddha-con]

Thanks guys but I'm looking for misb.
Mandrake has good prices but they're all opened and/or damaged packaging

[-Kanrabat-]

Thanks guys but I'm looking for misb.
Mandrake has good prices but they're all opened and/or damaged packaging

I don't get the appeal to collect cardboard boxes, but eh, to each their own.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Sabrblade]

Thanks guys but I'm looking for misb.
Mandrake has good prices but they're all opened and/or damaged packaging

I don't get the appeal to collect cardboard boxes, but eh, to each their own.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

It might be less that and more that MISB has a higher guarantee of a mint conditioned, freshly untouched figure.

[-Kanrabat-]

Thanks guys but I'm looking for misb.
Mandrake has good prices but they're all opened and/or damaged packaging

I don't get the appeal to collect cardboard boxes, but eh, to each their own.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

It might be less that and more that MISB has a higher guarantee of a mint conditioned, freshly untouched figure.

As I said in my haul thread, my Encore Skylinx was "used". Meaning the box was open, yes, but the toy was squeaky clean and the sticker weren't even applied!
Also, Mandrake ALWAYS list their packagings as "damaged" because of the OCD of MISB collectors. I bought so many toys from them and 90% of the time, the "damaged" packaging was untouched. Only "severely" damaged can realy count. And even then, the condition is very good. If there is REAL noticeable deffects on anything you want to buy from a Mandrake store, it will be said so in the description and pictures will be already up.

Mandrake is no Ebay. Mandrake is LEAGUES above Ebay. And I never, ever had any problems with Mandrake compared to Ebay.

[Rodimus Prime]

Thanks guys but I'm looking for misb.
Mandrake has good prices but they're all opened and/or damaged packaging

I don't get the appeal to collect cardboard boxes, but eh, to each their own.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

It might be less that and more that MISB has a higher guarantee of a mint conditioned, freshly untouched figure.

As I said in my haul thread, my Encore Skylinx was "used". Meaning the box was open, yes, but the toy was squeaky clean and the sticker weren't even applied!
Also, Mandrake ALWAYS list their packagings as "damaged" because of the OCD of MISB collectors. I bought so many toys from them and 90% of the time, the "damaged" packaging was untouched. Only "severely" damaged can realy count. And even then, the condition is very good. If there is REAL noticeable deffects on anything you want to buy from a Mandrake store, it will be said so in the description and pictures will be already up.

Mandrake is no Ebay. Mandrake is LEAGUES above Ebay. And I never, ever had any problems with Mandrake compared to Ebay.

You're talking probabilities, even if they're high. If someone wants a pristine figure with 100% certain, the only way to be sure is to get a new or certified undamaged item. If a listing includes "damaged" in it, it covers the seller whether the item truly is damaged or not. If someone wants a pristine figure, that buyer is hard pressed to take that chance, no matter how good the reviews or recommendations are, especially if the buyer has never dealt with said online marketplace. This is not personal against you or your word, it's just a matter of being cautious about spending the money and time to get a figure.

[-Kanrabat-]

You're talking probabilities, even if they're high. If someone wants a pristine figure with 100% certain, the only way to be sure is to get a new or certified undamaged item. If a listing includes "damaged" in it, it covers the seller whether the item truly is damaged or not. If someone wants a pristine figure, that buyer is hard pressed to take that chance, no matter how good the reviews or recommendations are, especially if the buyer has never dealt with said online marketplace. This is not personal against you or your word, it's just a matter of being cautious about spending the money and time to get a figure.

I always debox so I don't care. But if anyone want hard proof that everything, including the packaging is 100% undamaged, pristine, and brand new, the only way is to buy it AFA Graded in the sealed plexiglass box and pay the price.



I'm not trolling. Even when buying from a store brand new, there is no guarantees that there is no damages already on the packaging or it won't be damaged in transport. The ironic cherry on top in buying a brand new sealed item is it can have factory defects that ruin the whole thing. It happened to me too many times.

[Rodimus Prime]

I think AFA is a waste of money.

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

I think AFA is a waste of money.

Agreed. One indulgent thing I'd like to do if I won the lottery would be to buy up some AFA graded toys, record video of myself smashing the stupid cases open with a hammer while laughing maniacally, and then donate the toys or sell them for cheap to people who will play with them.

The AFA profits off of and encourages the mentality of those who collect toys as trophies rather than as playthings.

[leokearon]

I think AFA is a waste of money.

Yeah, what's the point of buying a toy, if you aren't going to play with it.

[leokearon]

I think AFA is a waste of money.

Agreed. One indulgent thing I'd like to do if I won the lottery would be to buy up some AFA graded toys, record video of myself smashing the stupid cases open with a hammer while laughing maniacally, and then donate the toys or sell them for cheap to people who will play with them.

The AFA profits off of and encourages the mentality of those who collect toys as trophies rather than as playthings.

Reminds me of this: https://youtu.be/2XCIR-Fajyc?t=17

[-Kanrabat-]

I think AFA is a waste of money.

Exactly.
And notice the 30$ shelves to display 1000$+ AFAs.
It's quite telling.

[buddha-con]

To each his own, I just dont open everything.
I still have loose originals and I do open some with my kids.
Especially with most reissues, i think the packaging looks great so i prefer it to be at least in good condition. I'm not looking for AFA worthy.

[-Kanrabat-]

To each his own, I just dont open everything.
I still have loose originals and I do open some with my kids.
Especially with most reissues, i think the packaging looks great so i prefer it to be at least in good condition. I'm not looking for AFA worthy.

What do you mean by "good condition"? Nothing crushed nor super teared up, or no blemishes at all like a collector grade dollar bill?

[buddha-con]

To each his own, I just dont open everything.
I still have loose originals and I do open some with my kids.
Especially with most reissues, i think the packaging looks great so i prefer it to be at least in good condition. I'm not looking for AFA worthy.

What do you mean by "good condition"? Nothing crushed nor super teared up, or no blemishes at all like a collector grade dollar bill?

Never looking for collectors grade. I dont mind it not being perfect, I just appreciate the package being in a "displayable" condition as well.

[-Kanrabat-]

To each his own, I just dont open everything.
I still have loose originals and I do open some with my kids.
Especially with most reissues, i think the packaging looks great so i prefer it to be at least in good condition. I'm not looking for AFA worthy.

What do you mean by "good condition"? Nothing crushed nor super teared up, or no blemishes at all like a collector grade dollar bill?

Never looking for collectors grade. I dont mind it not being perfect, I just appreciate the package being in a "displayable" condition as well.

In that case, you won't have any problems with Mandrake. Because their generic "package damaged" for EVERY SINGLE items they sell is exactly as you describled. In case of any REAL damages to the box, they always show pictures.
Mandrake say "package damage" on everything only to protect themselves against the AFA obsessives. Consider an item that is only "package damage" without additional info or pictures as being basically "perfect".

Plus by buying "open", you save big bucks. I bought HUNDREDS of items from Mandrake so I know what I'm talking about.