The Energon Pub

Sun Jan 02, 2011 12:17 am

Have you ever unfortunately forgotten Transformers for a while and then you came back into the hobby and realized all the good stuff you missed in your hiatus? Then, did you look for figures you missed out on all over the Internet to find them either sold out or at prices so high you almost had a heart attack? Did you wish you could find some place that had them at retail price, but found nothing? I'm one of those people that was just described. I passed on classics, universe, many movie 1 figures, and many RotF figures. I regret that now. Perhaps some of you reading this have a similar situation. So I created this thread to help out this type of thing. Where have you guys found out-of-production Transformers toys for retail prices (or at least very cheap)? It can be an actual store or website. I was recently successful at T.J. Maxx where they had a boatload of ROTF.
P.S. Let's keep it down to anything other than: eBay, defunct stores such as KB Toys (or Kaybee, or Kay B, or K Bee or whatever spelling), sites like the "buy, sell, trade forum" or "crave", or any auction/trading site.

News Credits: 1452 · Sun Jan 02, 2011 12:40 am

http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/brand.aspx?brand=2
http://tfsource.com/
Local hobby stores
Conventions

News Credits: 1235 · Sun Jan 02, 2011 1:09 am

You might get lucky searching thrift stores, garage sales, flea markets. Unfortunately, about the only place to get TF for retail is when they are actually in retail. Most stores and websites that carry TF that are no longer in retail are aware of this fact and that there is a demand and price accordingly. Most everybody is in it to get the best bang for their buck.

News Credits: 5749 · Sun Jan 02, 2011 1:58 am

Where I live there are a chain of stores called Vintage Stock. They buy and sell old movies, video games, comics, and toys, etc. I've come across some really good deals on TF's there, because the employees have no idea how to price these items. I picked up a complete G1 Quickswitch with instructions for $2.99 and a G1 Bristleback only missing his hand gun and combiner hand for $1.99 with no GPS.

Sun Jan 02, 2011 8:59 am

I never thought to look at TJ Maxx before, and I happen to have a location near me. While I'm out and about today, I can look there.

News Credits: 1 · Sun Jan 02, 2011 9:26 am

El Duque wrote:Where I live there are a chain of stores called Vintage Stock. They buy and sell old movies, video games, comics, and toys, etc. I've come across some really good deals on TF's there, because the employees have no idea how to price these items. I picked up a complete G1 Quickswitch with instructions for $2.99 and a G1 Bristleback only missing his hand gun and combiner hand for $1.99 with no GPS.

I really love those type of stores. However there is nothing like that near me now, when I was younger there used to be loads of small independent stores selling this kind of stuff. Now unfortunately they've all vanished, I guess the combination of a poor economy and intense competition from giant supermarket chains have pretty much killed them off. Sadly, I'm very much restricted to Internet purchases these days.

News Credits: 3 · Sun Jan 02, 2011 10:22 am

MightyMagnus78 wrote:
El Duque wrote:Where I live there are a chain of stores called Vintage Stock. They buy and sell old movies, video games, comics, and toys, etc. I've come across some really good deals on TF's there, because the employees have no idea how to price these items. I picked up a complete G1 Quickswitch with instructions for $2.99 and a G1 Bristleback only missing his hand gun and combiner hand for $1.99 with no GPS.

I really love those type of stores. However there is nothing like that near me now, when I was younger there used to be loads of small independent stores selling this kind of stuff. Now unfortunately they've all vanished, I guess the combination of a poor economy and intense competition from giant supermarket chains have pretty much killed them off. Sadly, I'm very much restricted to Internet purchases these days.

Unfortunately, some of the small independent vintage stores know what they have(such as the one near me) and price them accordingly.

Sun Jan 02, 2011 10:29 am

Midnight_Fox wrote:
MightyMagnus78 wrote:
El Duque wrote:Where I live there are a chain of stores called Vintage Stock. They buy and sell old movies, video games, comics, and toys, etc. I've come across some really good deals on TF's there, because the employees have no idea how to price these items. I picked up a complete G1 Quickswitch with instructions for $2.99 and a G1 Bristleback only missing his hand gun and combiner hand for $1.99 with no GPS.

I really love those type of stores. However there is nothing like that near me now, when I was younger there used to be loads of small independent stores selling this kind of stuff. Now unfortunately they've all vanished, I guess the combination of a poor economy and intense competition from giant supermarket chains have pretty much killed them off. Sadly, I'm very much restricted to Internet purchases these days.

Unfortunately, some of the small independent vintage stores know what they have(such as the one near me) and price them accordingly.

A buddy of mine and I went to one near us, and found they had two MOSC GoBots - Royal-T and Screwhead - for $0.99 each. We snatched them up, and were amazed - no paint chips, all the chrome was in place, etcetera etcetera. Unfortunately that store has never had anything else since.

Sun Jan 02, 2011 11:45 am

The places I have noticed that will some times have great selections; check your local Walgreens, Rite Aid, and Big Lots. I just got movie Sideswipe and Brawl at Walgreens. Universe Galvatron, Acid Storm, and Prowl at Rite Aid (seriously covered in dust) and animated Swindle and Lockdown at Big Lots. These were all in the last two months! They are mostly charging 2-6$ over the original price but hey better the ebay + shipping.

Sun Jan 02, 2011 2:24 pm

Hmm...my local Rite Aid stores usually have nothing except cheap crap toys and one of those universe (old line) mini combiner packs.
My Walgreens stores are just letting the pegs go bare...literally. The TF pegs are absolutely bare.
I'll have to check Big Lots too.

Sun Jan 02, 2011 7:34 pm

Maybe about a decade ago you can find some older Transformers in foreign countries at a mom-and-pop toy store. But I am sure now you won't find them, since they were probably bought by scalpers and sold on ebay, which may explain why you see all those super rare transformers in MISB condition on ebay.

News Credits: 1 · Sun Jan 02, 2011 8:37 pm

a local rite aid had 2 universe classics sunstreakers for 17.99

Sun Jan 02, 2011 9:05 pm

jlogano20 wrote:a local rite aid had 2 universe classics sunstreakers for 17.99

Wait...is that USD? That's insane for a deluxe.

News Credits: 2 · Mon Jan 03, 2011 12:50 pm

You can try craig list also. I've got some good deals from the local sellers who didn't care but just want to get rid of their son/grandson's toys.

News Credits: 97 · Mon Jan 03, 2011 11:52 pm

El Duque wrote:Where I live there are a chain of stores called Vintage Stock. They buy and sell old movies, video games, comics, and toys, etc. I've come across some really good deals on TF's there, because the employees have no idea how to price these items. I picked up a complete G1 Quickswitch with instructions for $2.99 and a G1 Bristleback only missing his hand gun and combiner hand for $1.99 with no GPS.

Dude, where are you? lol. I moved to Fayetteville, AR a few months ago, and had never seen a store like Vintage Stock before. I try to drive around and hit most of their locations on a semi-regular basis now. Picked up a set of G1 Topspin & Twintwist for $4 each, a loose, complete, pristine Sixshot for $70. Vintage Stock FTW!

News Credits: 33 · Tue Jan 04, 2011 12:05 am

I check charity stores, flea markets, boot fairs ect all the time. I've scored some of the best items in my collection that way (how else could I afford 4 G1 Optimus Primes? lol)

My advice in the case of boot fairs is to get there before anyone sets up and ambush any stalls that have toys.

Tue Jan 04, 2011 2:41 am

Amelie wrote:I check charity stores, flea markets, boot fairs ect all the time. I've scored some of the best items in my collection that way (how else could I afford 4 G1 Optimus Primes? lol)

My advice in the case of boot fairs is to get there before anyone sets up and ambush any stalls that have toys.

Boot fairs? I got no clue what that'd be called on this side of the pond...

News Credits: 33 · Tue Jan 04, 2011 5:19 am

I don't think you generally have the equivalent thing in the US. A boot fair is when lots (sometimes hundreds) of people turn up to a field\park\carpark ect in their cars\vans, set up stalls and sell [usually] 2nd hand stuff. So I guess its like an en masse garage sale.

Tue Jan 04, 2011 5:20 pm

El Duque wrote:Where I live there are a chain of stores called Vintage Stock. They buy and sell old movies, video games, comics, and toys, etc. I've come across some really good deals on TF's there, because the employees have no idea how to price these items. I picked up a complete G1 Quickswitch with instructions for $2.99 and a G1 Bristleback only missing his hand gun and combiner hand for $1.99 with no GPS.

Vintage Stock, eh? I am VERY familiar with those fabulous stores! They got some seriously good bargain-basement deals on some stuff. A friend of mine and I were out toy-hunting in northerwestern AR and I stumbled upon a 100% loose G1 Sixshot for SUPER-cheap...My friend couldn't resist and bought him! He also located (and bought) the most pristine G1 Predacons I had ever seen, also for SUPER-cheap!

Needless to say, I LOVE that place! =)

News Credits: 5749 · Tue Jan 04, 2011 5:45 pm

Savage wrote:Dude, where are you? lol. I moved to Fayetteville, AR a few months ago, and had never seen a store like Vintage Stock before. I try to drive around and hit most of their locations on a semi-regular basis now. Picked up a set of G1 Topspin & Twintwist for $4 each, a loose, complete, pristine Sixshot for $70. Vintage Stock FTW!

Pyrostrata wrote:Vintage Stock, eh? I am VERY familiar with those fabulous stores! They got some seriously good bargain-basement deals on some stuff. A friend of mine and I were out toy-hunting in northerwestern AR and I stumbled upon a 100% loose G1 Sixshot for SUPER-cheap...My friend couldn't resist and bought him! He also located (and bought) the most pristine G1 Predacons I had ever seen, also for SUPER-cheap!

I just replied to your PM Pyro. I'm in central Oklahoma, and I've got four VS's in driving distance. They really are great stores, and not just for toys. I've picked up all kinds of cool stuff there at great prices: comics, video games, etc.

News Credits: 1 · Tue Jan 04, 2011 7:08 pm

OptiMagnus10 wrote:
jlogano20 wrote:a local rite aid had 2 universe classics sunstreakers for 17.99

Wait...is that USD? That's insane for a deluxe.

yes they have them high but it beats ebay for some of those but i have yet 2 find anything that great

Wed Jan 05, 2011 9:39 pm

jlogano20 wrote:
OptiMagnus10 wrote:
jlogano20 wrote:a local rite aid had 2 universe classics sunstreakers for 17.99

Wait...is that USD? That's insane for a deluxe.

yes they have them high but it beats ebay for some of those but i have yet 2 find anything that great

Yeah good point.