The Energon Pub

Wed Sep 29, 2010 2:15 am

What the hell! Did I miss something in the last couple weeks? I have been following the prices for several Alternators figures over the last few months, and it seems like all of the sudden there are a ton of figures for sale on ebay. They are all about $20-$30 more expensive in the last couple weeks too, it seems. Has anyone else noticed this, or am I just incorrect? I expect a few characters to be priced high such as Nemesis Prime and Swerve, but some others are really getting into the territory of "expensive". I am beginning to think I got into collecting this line a bit too late.

News Credits: 22 · Wed Sep 29, 2010 2:23 am

I used to have most of them, but I sold them all off, except for Grimlock and Hot Rod. I looked up Prowl yesterday, and there was a TON of him on eBay. And yeah, kind of expensive. I bought all my Alternators in stores or online for no more than $20, and now they're $40-50. It surprised me as well. Not sure what's going on, but I decided on getting Classics Prowl instead. Alternators Prowl just looked wrong, with the hood/chest drooping down instead of pointing forward.

Wed Sep 29, 2010 2:53 am

Rodimus Prime wrote:I used to have most of them, but I sold them all off, except for Grimlock and Hot Rod. I looked up Prowl yesterday, and there was a TON of him on eBay. And yeah, kind of expensive. I bought all my Alternators in stores or online for no more than $20, and now they're $40-50. It surprised me as well. Not sure what's going on, but I decided on getting Classics Prowl instead. Alternators Prowl just looked wrong, with the hood/chest drooping down instead of pointing forward.

I think you made the right decision getting Classics Prowl. I think it is a better representation than the Alternators version as well.

It just seems strange to me that prices really seem to have increased during the last few weeks. I am hoping that the huge supply will drive prices back down. I have to guess that a few people sold for good profit and now everyone with an Alternators figure is flooding the market (ebay at least). That is what I am hoping at least.

What is really making me take notice is the number of loose figures that people are putting GIANT "Buy Now" prices on. I can't fathom paying $50-$60, and even $65-$70 for let's say Mirage. I got him in a lot of 3 a couple months ago MISB with Rollbar and Skids (also MISB) for $90 including shipping. Crazy!

News Credits: 22 · Wed Sep 29, 2010 3:05 am

Yeah, I know. I spent a couple of hours yesterday searching for some figures I am planning on getting, and some of the Buy It Now prices were just laughable. $2500 for a MISB G1 Jetfire? I don't think so! $500 at best, but only for the die-hard collectors. Me, I'll be happy with a loose complete figure. Or even the Classics (or Universe?) Jetfire, it looks close enough. I just need something to go with my Armada Starscream and my Armada Jetfire is already combined with Prime, and I don't do doubles. (Except maybe Battle Hooks Prime, even though I already have Leader Prime from RoTF.)

Wed Sep 29, 2010 4:55 am

I actually have two RoTF Primes to display in both modes! I don't tend to do doubles either though. Except for Universe Hound. I bought two of him so I could have one out of package, and then keep one nice and minty for the future in case something happens to the first one. Hound is my favorite, so it was kind of a must do for me. I typically don't buy too many repaints either. I am happy to just buy my favorite representation of molds that I like.

News Credits: 15 · Wed Sep 29, 2010 8:49 am

I have ROTF Prime combined with Jetfire as it takes up less space. I use the 2007 leader to display the Alt mode.

As for Alternator Prowls chest/hood being flat rather than stick out forward Im kinda glad they did things differently from the other Alts as they all tend to be very similar and while I know that its truer to G1 its nice to have a few different ideas in the mix.

Wed Sep 29, 2010 9:21 am

The Alternators always seemed to command higher prices than other figures. Online retailers like BBTS had them up for sale at what seemed like really silly prices. I think some of them were over $100! I only have a couple of them that I bought on clearance. Even then I think they were $40-50.

News Credits: 1 · Wed Sep 29, 2010 11:12 am

jeez, I paid $40 for my BTA Sunstreaker. There's no way I'd pay more for a figure that doesn't have all the metally goodness and junko-tasteyness of the Asterisk line.

News Credits: 23 · Wed Sep 29, 2010 1:11 pm

One reason that there's a flood of TF listing on eBay might be that eBay has been running free listings for sellers. Since doesn't cost or cost minimal for the seller to list items you'll see a lot of them start to unload their TF inventories.

News Credits: 402 · Updated Oct 21, 2022

I've actually noticed the Prices have come down a bunch on the secondary market for many of the Alternators. Used to be you couldn't get a grimlock for less than 100 bucks, now I see him going for far less.

Binaltech is a bit of a different story though.

Wed Sep 29, 2010 2:00 pm

I've never sold an alternator for more than $25... including my Swerve. Maybe I should charge more for the ones I have left, but no one seems to be interested in Alts anymore.

Wed Sep 29, 2010 4:12 pm

I guess classics/universe/generations has helped some people get that modern day G1 fix

Thank God I was into Alternators from the beginning and got most of the ones I wanted in stores.

I never even saw Wheeljack or Mirage in my area though and every time I go on ebay now I can't really find many that are at prices I can afford.

Wed Sep 29, 2010 4:15 pm

I got rid of my Wheeljack and Swerve because I thought having repaints was kinda lame.
I now kinda wish I'd kept WJ and gotten rid of Grimlock instead.

Wed Sep 29, 2010 9:56 pm

Mkall wrote:I've actually noticed the Prices have come down a bunch on the secondary market for many of the Alternators. Used to be you couldn't get a grimlock for less than 100 bucks, now I see him going for far less.

Binaltech is a bit of a different story though.

I actually know what you are talking about. They used to be ridiculously expensive, but then it seemed like prices did fall a lot. It just seems like they are in another inflation period as of very recently.