The Energon Pub

GetterDragun wrote:

MagnusPrimal wrote:

Rodimusprime256 wrote:Seriously people. They're just toys. Sorry if you can't go but get over it.

Not helpful.

But true.

Glad you can go. If you don't want to listen to those of us who have other responsibilities, don't read the thread.

MagnusPrimal wrote:

GetterDragun wrote:

MagnusPrimal wrote:

Counterpunch wrote:I really don't think Classics were going to be resumed after the movie. So, I have to admit that I'm glad that there is even a chance, albeit and expensive chance, to pick up these characters.

The problem is, with only 3 more figures that needed done, Hasbro probably could've slipped the molds into the next line or two and released them. Haven't they done that before? The characters didn't actually have to fall under the 'Classics' banner. Now, however, since they're Botcon exclusives, we'll never see them at retail. Sorry, but I still think these characters in this mold were just too popular to make $300+ exclusives out of.
I've liked the Botcon exclusives before. Heck, I loved last year's. I didn't get them, but I would have liked to. However, it would have been much worse had Hasbro released half the set at retail, and then the other half has Botcon exclusives. That's the stupid part of this.
And I personally don't feel grateful at all that 'at least they've been made,' as there is no more chance of me getting them now than there would be if they didn't exist at all.

So it's not ok for people going to Botcon and who payed the money to get awesome exclusives?

Not figures that should've been released at retail in some manner, no.
Last year's exclusives were awesome, I didn't get them, and yet I have no problem with that. You know why? Because I had no expectation of getting them at retail. Also, Hasbro didn't release half the group at retail, and then save the other half for 'con exclusives.

So cause it's that good it should go to retail? I'm sorry, but you're talking about 3 seekers in one case assortment and that is stupid. Remember toys are for kids and us collectors make up a small percentage of the purchases...and what parents are going to buy 3 of the same toy just because they are different characters? Hasbro has been sticking to two repaints per line for a long time now, so why should they change. Besides, Classics are done anyways, so it's better than never getting anything.

MagnusPrimal wrote:

GetterDragun wrote:

MagnusPrimal wrote:

Rodimusprime256 wrote:Seriously people. They're just toys. Sorry if you can't go but get over it.

Not helpful.

But true.

Glad you can go. If you don't want to listen to those of us who have other responsibilities, don't read the thread.

I'm sorry, but whining because you can't get a figure is childish. What's next, making threads that high end sports cars suck because we can't all buy them? It's absolutely rediculous. I guarantee you would have people complaining if the set was $100 since it would be $20 a figure and that's above retail. Mmaybe they shouldn't produce any exclusives at all? I mean it seems the consensus is that Convention Exclusives are ok as long as most of the collectors don't want it. And I'm sorry, I expect some great figures for that money and Master Collector delivered. Master Collector went above and beyond for people going to the collection.

GetterDragun wrote:

MagnusPrimal wrote:

GetterDragun wrote:

MagnusPrimal wrote:

Counterpunch wrote:I really don't think Classics were going to be resumed after the movie. So, I have to admit that I'm glad that there is even a chance, albeit and expensive chance, to pick up these characters.

The problem is, with only 3 more figures that needed done, Hasbro probably could've slipped the molds into the next line or two and released them. Haven't they done that before? The characters didn't actually have to fall under the 'Classics' banner. Now, however, since they're Botcon exclusives, we'll never see them at retail. Sorry, but I still think these characters in this mold were just too popular to make $300+ exclusives out of.
I've liked the Botcon exclusives before. Heck, I loved last year's. I didn't get them, but I would have liked to. However, it would have been much worse had Hasbro released half the set at retail, and then the other half has Botcon exclusives. That's the stupid part of this.
And I personally don't feel grateful at all that 'at least they've been made,' as there is no more chance of me getting them now than there would be if they didn't exist at all.

So it's not ok for people going to Botcon and who payed the money to get awesome exclusives?

Not figures that should've been released at retail in some manner, no.
Last year's exclusives were awesome, I didn't get them, and yet I have no problem with that. You know why? Because I had no expectation of getting them at retail. Also, Hasbro didn't release half the group at retail, and then save the other half for 'con exclusives.

So cause it's that good it should go to retail? I'm sorry, but you're talking about 3 seekers in one case assortment and that is stupid. Remember toys are for kids and us collectors make up a small percentage of the purchases...and what parents are going to buy 3 of the same toy just because they are different characters? Hasbro has been sticking to two repaints per line for a long time now, so why should they change. Besides, Classics are done anyways, so it's better than never getting anything.

I never said release them in one assortment, all at the same time. Show me that quote. Please. They could release them over the next couple of toy series. They've slipped molds from previous series into new/current series before. Easy repaints. Heck, they repainted the car bros. how many times? At the very least, they should have done this with Thundercracker. I would've liked it with Thrust too, since he wasn't part of the TRU reissue series, and I don't have a G1 or G1-themed Thrust. But that's just me.

GetterDragun wrote:I'm sorry, but whining because you can't get a figure is childish. What's next, making threads that high end sports cars suck because we can't all buy them? It's absolutely rediculous. I guarantee you would have people complaining if the set was $100 since it would be $20 a figure and that's above retail. Mmaybe they shouldn't produce any exclusives at all? I mean it seems the consensus is that Convention Exclusives are ok as long as most of the collectors don't want it. And I'm sorry, I expect some great figures for that money and Master Collector delivered. Master Collector went above and beyond for people going to the collection.

Ok, one more time, slowly and clearly. I am not happy because these exclusives, imo, should have been released at retail in some manner. They fit right into a line that is still on the shelves, with characters that fans have been asking for. The vast majority of said fans either cannot or are not, for whatever reason, going to Botcon.
Did you completely miss my post where I mentioned how I thought last year's exclusives were great, I wish I had a set, but it didn't bother me since I see no reason why that set would have ever been released at retail? Of course, if they released half at retail then the other half as Botcon exclusives, that would've pissed me off too.
And I find it to be elitist and condescending when people tell me complaining about something I think is wrong is ridiculous. I'm certain *you've* never complained about anything toy-related on these boards, have you?
And you can guarantee me anything you want, because it means squat, unless you've suddenly developed psychic powers that allow you to see into other realities where they were actually released for $100.

MagnusPrimal wrote:

GetterDragun wrote:I'm sorry, but whining because you can't get a figure is childish. What's next, making threads that high end sports cars suck because we can't all buy them? It's absolutely rediculous. I guarantee you would have people complaining if the set was $100 since it would be $20 a figure and that's above retail. Mmaybe they shouldn't produce any exclusives at all? I mean it seems the consensus is that Convention Exclusives are ok as long as most of the collectors don't want it. And I'm sorry, I expect some great figures for that money and Master Collector delivered. Master Collector went above and beyond for people going to the collection.

Ok, one more time, slowly and clearly. I am not happy because these exclusives, imo, should have been released at retail in some manner. They fit right into a line that is still on the shelves, with characters that fans have been asking for. The vast majority of said fans either cannot or are not, for whatever reason, going to Botcon.
Did you completely miss my post where I mentioned how I thought last year's exclusives were great, I wish I had a set, but it didn't bother me since I see no reason why that set would have ever been released at retail? Of course, if they released half at retail then the other half as Botcon exclusives, that would've pissed me off too.
And I find it to be elitist and condescending when people tell me complaining about something I think is wrong is ridiculous. I'm certain *you've* never complained about anything toy-related on these boards, have you?
And you can guarantee me anything you want, because it means squat, unless you've suddenly developed psychic powers that allow you to see into other realities where they were actually released for $100.

I didn't say they'd be released at $100 for the set, I said people would've complained still. But the fact of the matter is, the arguments aren't over that these aren't great exclusives, the argument is over the price (above being a Convetoion Eclusive, because if they were the same price as retail, but you'd have to buy them from Master Collector, no one would care).

I think the solution is that we drop this, we can all agree that these are great figures. But we can't all agree on the price, so there is nothng more to say in this thread.

GetterDragun wrote:I didn't say they'd be released at $100 for teh set, I set people would've complained still. I've also complained and I've also been wrong. But the fact of the matter is, the arguments aren't over that these aren't great exclusives, the argument is over the price (above being a Convetoion Eclusive, because if they were the same price as retail, but you'd have to buy them from Master Collector, no one would care).

I think the solution is that we drop this, we can all agree that these are great figures. But we can't all agree on the price, so there is nothng more to say in this thread.

My big thing is these should have been mass-released (although they are overpriced, imo). I think exclusives should be cool (although I don't care much for exclusives anyway. Even ones I can get, and I have a few). That's all. I'll drop it now.
They will be nice figures, I expect.

The problem with the perception that the demand is high enough to merit doing even Thundercracker, much less Dirge and Thrust is that one of the seekers we DID get is currently on clearance nationwide, second markdown at some stores even...The last wave of Classics has hit retail and will be clearanced SOON to make way for the movie. While many of us think that they could have squeezed in another wave or two...hasbro clearly didn't plan for that and is just letting Classics do the only job they planned for...a place holder on store shelves until the movie hit...It was a fun ride, but the Classics ride is over. People HERE may feel the demand is high enough for a mass release, but if Hasbro felt the same they would have never let any of the jets become Botcon exclusives...but like Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, Ratchet & Ironhide Hasbro decided that the retail options just weren't viable enough...so it was either Botcon / TFCC or Thundercracker becomes yet another "what could have been" figure and joins all kinds of other really good figures in the Unreleased Universe with the G2 Cycles, the Seacons, Drench, etc.

I've heard lots of "Hasbro should"'s and I'm sorry but I think Hasbro got this one right. The next line is already planned, they said they were underway with the planning at last year's BC and stated that they usually plan out pretty much all the waves before the line even launches wave 1. Would they release Thundercracker after that? I hear lots of "Hasbro KNOWS we want it"...well, ask the Universe Seacons how well Hasbro responds to finding a home when Hasbro has heard loud and clear at every Botcon and SDCC since they were first shown that a ton of us want that....and they still show no signs of hitting any sales outlet anytime soon...

Look, I can understand the dissapointment from people who can't get them, but a lot of the posts I've seen are just really sour grapes, the "I can't get them so YOU shouldn't be able to" mentality or the "I think it's really cool so they should make something less cool for those who can afford to go" I've seen in posts is something my 5 year old son knows better than to pull. Though I do enjoy the "I've never been to a Botcon, or joined the club and now I'm going to boycott them both" is kind of like a deaf man boycotting a radio station.

MM, I really did not like the direction this thread was going in, so I have stayed away from posting in it for a few days. However, I am just bursting with something to say and noone to say it to, sooo..

Not to beat a dead horse, but did you ever really expect this set to be just $100?

I think most people, myself included, were expecting this tobe about 225. Similarly, as others have mentioned, we pretty much knew what was coming in this set months back.

Now, I imagine that those who wanted this set to add to their collection would have started getting their $225 together a little while back and were quite disapointed to see it cost 150 more, (if they are not collecters club members).

Theres 3 months to the event, thats 12.50 a week extra. I'm sure there are people here who really cannot afford $12.50 a week. If you are in that position, I'm sorry but, what the hell are you doing even thinking about wasting money on toys?

So assuming that you can afford that 12.50, what is the issue? Now, I completely agree with the sentiment being voiced that this is overpriced and would have been great at retail. However, the people who are upset are implying that there is no way in hell that they can afford this set, which I think in most cases, might be an exageration.

Additionally, we all have atleast a few valuable figures in our collections. Sell them. This set will not come around again. The MPs, BTs, MIB G1s can always be reaquired later with ease.

Oh, and what about Credit Cards? There is always that route. True you would be paying a little more over time. However, the lower payments would ease the burden a bit. Just don't buyany other TFs till the CC is paid off.

As I said, I sympathize with those who really have no extra cash, but it looks like you could not have afforded it even had it been a more respectable 225.

If you could afford the 225, I think it is time to kiss the $100 goodbye, fax in your order and enjoy completing your seekers.

P.S. How can you prefer that this set never be made rather than be an exclusive. Atleast this way they exist, and maybe some day, even 10-20 years from now, you may be in a position to aqfford them. How can that not be better? For example, I could not go to Botcon to grab my Racthet and Ironhide. I want them realy bad, but am not abut to pay for the whole set just to grab to grab Ironhide. And Ratchet, there is no sign online. However, atleast I know theya re out there and I will have them one day. Besides, I enjoy my personal chase figures.

Bonger wrote:
Theres 3 months to the event, thats 12.50 a week extra. I'm sure there are people here who really cannot afford $12.50 a week. If you are in that position, I'm sorry but, what the hell are you doing even thinking about wasting money on toys?

QFT

Bonger wrote:Theres 3 months to the event, thats 12.50 a week extra. I'm sure there are people here who really cannot afford $12.50 a week. If you are in that position, I'm sorry but, what the hell are you doing even thinking about wasting money on toys?

There's also people who actually live AND collect TF stuff outside of the United States.

In other words, people who have to factor in monetary conversion plus the cost of shipping if they get someone to pick up an unboxed set for them.

You make it sound so simple, but in reality, it's not. Not everyone can set aside $12-$25 a week. They can however afford to set even less aside to pick up a figure from retail.

So please people (I know it's not just you who has said something like Bonger so don't think i'm singling you out), quit preaching about how easy it is to save up the money to get these sets. I find it quite condescending and insulting that people think they can preach to others how to manage their finances.

Finances aren't black and white, everyone has different jobs, earn varying amounts of money each week and have varying bills. So what works for you may not work for someone else.

I do not want to get this whole thing going again however, in response..

I'm not trying to be condescending. What I am saying is exactly what Gutter quoted. That if someone does not have 12 bucks to set aside, that person should atleast for now, not be buying anything new until they get themselves into a better position. And more importantly, those who are complaining, did you set aside 225? If you did not, would you still be complaining if it was 225? Did you think for a moment that it would be under 200

As for people overseas, I think that depends more on the country. For people in places like the UK with a strong conversion rate, even with shipping, I think you might be less impacted than we are. A friend of mine works in London doing the same thing I do and gets paid the same, in pounds. So this would cost him, theoretically, half as much. Ye shsipping is a pain, but having odered from and shipped to Europe, its not THAT bad. Most of the time about 20 bucks will cover it. People in the UK seem to have been paying something obscene like 20 dollars for the Classics. For them, this set is proportionally actually more like 160 USD, if you follow my drift.

As for the countries with weak exchange rates, trust me, I feel your pain. The reason I collect now is that I grew up in Pakistan. Trust me dude, you're looking at a 500% markup and extremely limited avaialblility. I got like 1 TF every 6 months as a kid, which is probably why I collect now. Anywho, living in one of those countries collecting would not be an option but for the extremely wealthy anyway.


This is not to get this going again. If you choose to make a statement by not buying this, thats cool. If the pricing or avaialblity offend you in some way, all the power to you for not purchasing. However, if you did not set aside 200 already, and can't/don't want to set aside another 12-15 a week, please see what Gutter quoted.

Just my 2 cents. If I knew a Collector in real life, I would probably not be posting this. However, I don't so you get to read it lol.

Once again, no offense intended.

Bonger wrote:As for people overseas, I think that depends more on the country. For people in places like the UK with a strong conversion rate, even with shipping, I think you might be less impacted than we are.

Australia.

And while the Australian dollar is currently at a very high point (compared to the last few years) i've found that shipping from the States is absoloute murder.

I could probably muster up the money for a bagged set (considering i'll be doing a tax return a few weeks later) but I do dread the cost of shipping and may in fact be better off going for the non-attendee package (if I recall that includes shipping?)

Ooh yea, Australia has got to be hefty shipping wise.

What do you pay for airmail parcels from the US, like 4o-50 dollars?

Depends on the size of the package really.

I haven't gotten anything from the States for a few years. Last time I did the postage ended up more than the actual item!

Burn wrote:Depends on the size of the package really.

I haven't gotten anything from the States for a few years. Last time I did the postage ended up more than the actual item!

Ouch, harsh!

How much is Hasbro charging to ship the Iacon package?

I would assume it's in the cost of the package (which in a way is screwing State-side guys over if they're paying the same postage as someone in Australia)

So I can go two ways.

Pay the Iacon Package which will set me back about 3/4 of a week's wage, get a fancy box and a fancy pin (I gotta admit, I like the idea of the pin) or be nice to someone so they can pick me up a non-boxed bagged set and hope postage doesn't cost $100US (which it shouldn't).

Cost wise when you factor in postage there's probably not much difference. Just a fancy pin. (And I do have a small collection of pins...)

Hmm, well if it works out to the same cost, get the box set. The box should be nice looking and do't forget the certificate of authenticity just incase someone questions whether you are holding a Transformer or Go-bot.

Can I ask a silly question? Why does Botcon sell their limited figures as part of a package?

For the toy conferences in Japan- you pay $20 for an entrance fee, and then you purchase limited figures separately if you wish.

Can't they be bought individually at BotCon as well?

I can't see what people are griping about. Surely these exclusives are just the same as everything else in life: if one can't afford it, one doesn't buy it. Do people complain that they can't afford a helicopter, or a castle, or five houses?

Leonardo wrote:Can't they be bought individually at BotCon as well?

I can't see what people are griping about. Surely these exclusives are just the same as everything else in life: if one can't afford it, one doesn't buy it. Do people complain that they can't afford a helicopter, or a castle, or five houses?

I do!! I want a Ferrri dang it!!

Am I crazy but when I get my boxed set I am busting it open so my seekers can be displayed together..

Oh and if you get the member package it rounds to about $55.80 a fig.
I would think that individually on ebay they will go for more than that a piece.

Stormrider wrote:Can I ask a silly question? Why does Botcon sell their limited figures as part of a package?

For the toy conferences in Japan- you pay $20 for an entrance fee, and then you purchase limited figures separately if you wish.

The club have to give Hasbro guaranteed numbers to be produced. The club are then not going to want to have any left over so this way they recoup costs and ensure they won't be left holding any stock.

GetterDragun wrote:So cause it's that good it should go to retail? I'm sorry, but you're talking about 3 seekers in one case assortment and that is stupid. Remember toys are for kids and us collectors make up a small percentage of the purchases...and what parents are going to buy 3 of the same toy just because they are different characters? Hasbro has been sticking to two repaints per line for a long time now, so why should they change. Besides, Classics are done anyways, so it's better than never getting anything.

Actually, for those of us who literally have no chance of getting of getting it, no it's not better than not getting anything, because WE ARE NOT GETTING ANYTHING. In fact, some of up actually perceive it as a slap in the face that something I've seen being asked for by what appeared to be the vast majority of the fan base is being made available only to a very small percentage of that same fan base. The fact that these are the last three figures in a group widely perceived as a team in and of themselves only makes it that much worse.

To bring up an analogy I made before, what kind of reaction would you expect if Hook, Mixmaster and Scrapper were made available at retail, individually, and Bonecrusher, Scavenger and Long Haul were made exclusive to some convention at vastly inflated prices? Somehow I can't imagine that going over any better than this. Would you still tell people to "Just be glad they got made?"

The suggestion has been made that they could be made store exclusives, or an online exclusive at Hasbro's store. Limited numbers, slightly higher prices, maybe packaged with a DVD, and sold as exclusives for the collectors market, and people might not be quite so upset.

Bonger wrote:Theres 3 months to the event, thats 12.50 a week extra. I'm sure there are people here who really cannot afford $12.50 a week. If you are in that position, I'm sorry but, what the hell are you doing even thinking about wasting money on toys?

Oh, and what about Credit Cards? There is always that route. True you would be paying a little more over time. However, the lower payments would ease the burden a bit. Just don't buyany other TFs till the CC is paid off.

Let's see here: I've got a sudden, unforeseen, surgery coming up. I was quite comfortable, financially, before this came up, now I've got sudden concerns about how to pay for the surgery. Maybe I could have afforded the figures before, maybe they were too far out of my price range in any case. The point it that no, I cannot save up the cost of that set in three months, even though I might have been able to before. As for credit cards, not everyone has them, and not everyone can get them. Some people actually have credit so bad they're denied them, and some people are too security conscious to risk having one.

You're not going to find out, but I can assure you that I do, on principle, draw a line that would have prevented me from paying $300+ for so few figures. I object to the price on principle, and, if I'd cared about the previous sets, I'd have done the same for them. If I'm going to pay out that much for anything, it's going to be either electronic in nature, or it's going to be a functional, high-quality bladed weapon. Or it's going to be something that will be medically necessary.

The reason I'm objecting to this set is the fact that it prevents most fans, myself included, from being able to complete a team that is among the most popular in the history of Transformers.

It seems to me that everyone that has posted on this thread has forgotten what a convention is all about.
We in the UK go to Auto Assembly to mix with fellow collectors, Meet our favourite voice actors and comic writers/artists. To trade and purchase from dealer tables, and to see and hear about future TV shows, Comics and Toys. This is why we pay an entrance fee.

It seems that Master Collector has turned BotCon into a cash cow that is designed to get as much money from Collectors as possible, and from the attitude of a lot of people that say I'm going can't wait tuff on the rest. You are to blind to not see this. I know most of the western world are going down the consumerist path but I find this incredably rediculas.

When BotCon started the exclusives were a bonus for going now it is just about charging as much money as possibly for a few figures that you would normally buy for 10-20 dollars. It seems by this thread a lot of people cannot see that. Has the reason you should be going to BotCon slipped away in this bid to get a few figures? or does nothing that a convention stands for past you by?

All most of us that are dispondent have said is we find this unfair and have given good reasons on the most part about how it would still have been practical for, if not a full release, a limited release of these figures.

In return we have had comments like stop whinning and get over it and don't be childish. Now whats more childish going to a convention just for a pack of toys or going to a convention for the reasons Conventions were started in the first place. I find comments like these to be very insulting. For a Mod to then quote that comment and to indorse it is rediculas.

We are a community of fans we have the right of freedom of speech in most of our Countries. More over this site is in a Country that that right is more important than any other, and for people to say thats life get over it and stop bitching is very offensive.

Now I oppologise if I have offended anybody for my thoughts on what I think a convention is all about. I however feel that a certain Mod of long standing needs to look at how he portrays himself on these boards and if he needs to take this ferver I await his PM.