The Energon Pub

Bowspearer wrote:

Metrosuplex wrote:So you're saying that $150 import = $80 import. Got it.

How much you pullin' in? I'm just curious if I should imagine an Aspen-regular or a negative-credit preppy when I read such comments.

You're not getting it at all. Let me put it this way. Take Masterpiece Prowl for example. Generally what happens is that someone like BBTS will either import from a Japanese retailer or from a Japanese wholesaler, whereby they're paying not only for the item cost, but for freight - all of that gets factored into their markups, and presuming there's no price gouging, then you're paying a markup on quite possibly Japanese retail and a markup on shipping.


Let's compare that to buying from a Japanese online retailer - in this case HLJ.

In the case of Masterpiece Prowl (and this is all in USD), the preorder price from HLJ was $47.67 and the retail price from them is listed at $59.58 - plus whatever the shipping is.

BBTS want $79.99 for it on preorder plus whatever the shipping is.

In other words, if you by from an international importer rather than a local retailer (which is what HLJ is in the case of Japanese releases), then you're going to pay way more for it than if you'd gone for the local retailer option had had them ship it internationally to you.

It's the same deal here- anyone forking out BBTS prices on that rather than dealing with a Japanese online store, only has themselves to blame and has no right to complain about high prices which they've chosen to pay.

No, no, I understand what you mean completely. I've made that mistake with the micron arms set of 5, where I thought $15 was better than $26 and didn't factor how high the Japanese shipping would be (as not all sites list shipping before you place an order).

Anyway, your point is completely valid and well-taken; I was just complaining about the $150 price tag being high in general. For $150, I'd honestly prefer the 3rd Party Quake Wave. I don't mind reissues, but $150 for a reissue is too high for my tastes. At least the MPs are new, modern molds. Right?

Sparkimus Prime wrote:I don't know if it's your intention to shame others who either couldn't order from Japanese sites fast enough, or simply want to use a local distributor. If it is, i would recommend you reevaluate your attitude. I come to this site for information, not to feel ashamed.

Alternately, here's a thought - next time, read the entire exchange before jumping to conclusions.

If you'd bothered to actually do that, you would have realised that what I said was in response to this:

Metrosuplex wrote:By the sounds of incessant punning, I take it most of you just don't care about this news.

Is this Takara's response? Are they noticing 3rd Parties and reacting with more reprints of old toys? $150. Nice. They're making 3rd Party toys more and more affordable with these prices. Bravo. Excellent strategy.

This is a great gem to pull out and reprint... but $150???

In other words my response was to someone ignorantly accusing Takara of trying to rip people off, because they were choosing to pay import pricing rather than tracking something down through an online retailer local to that product and paying retail for it.

Next time read an exchange in its entirety before jumping to conclusions - all you've done here is make yourself look foolish.

Metrosuplex wrote:Anyway, your point is completely valid and well-taken; I was just complaining about the $150 price tag being high in general. For $150, I'd honestly prefer the 3rd Party Quake Wave. I don't mind reissues, but $150 for a reissue is too high for my tastes. At least the MPs are new, modern molds. Right?

Is $150 that high though? You cite Takara charging those prices as justifications for Quakewave, but then look at for example, Hercules which is at the $600 mark?

Also what reissues are you talking about? Personally I was quite happy paying $255+ shipping for Fort Max for example. As for Super Fire Convoy, I'll go back to my point and work backwards on it. My guess is that if you preorder him from an online retailer, you'll be hard pressed to find him for over the $100 mark- in fact I wouldn't be surprised if the preorder price in most online retailers (as opposed to importers like BBTS) was around the $80-$90 mark.

noctorro wrote:Personally, I don't see a need for a Prime reissue, which prime ever.

There are several people who would disagree with you where MP-10 is concerned - after the TRU debacle in the States last year.

Bowspearer wrote:

Metrosuplex wrote:Anyway, your point is completely valid and well-taken; I was just complaining about the $150 price tag being high in general. For $150, I'd honestly prefer the 3rd Party Quake Wave. I don't mind reissues, but $150 for a reissue is too high for my tastes. At least the MPs are new, modern molds. Right?

Is $150 that high though? You cite Takara charging those prices as justifications for Quakewave, but then look at for example, Hercules which is at the $600 mark?

Hercules is a laughably bad example in this case, y'know? Each figure is about $100, and they combine. So not only are you getting six very good figures, you're getting a positively MONSTROUSLY HUGE Devastator.

Bowspearer wrote:

Sparkimus Prime wrote:I don't know if it's your intention to shame others who either couldn't order from Japanese sites fast enough, or simply want to use a local distributor. If it is, i would recommend you reevaluate your attitude. I come to this site for information, not to feel ashamed.

Alternately, here's a thought - next time, read the entire exchange before jumping to conclusions.

If you'd bothered to actually do that, you would have realised that what I said was in response to this:

Metrosuplex wrote:By the sounds of incessant punning, I take it most of you just don't care about this news.

Is this Takara's response? Are they noticing 3rd Parties and reacting with more reprints of old toys? $150. Nice. They're making 3rd Party toys more and more affordable with these prices. Bravo. Excellent strategy.

This is a great gem to pull out and reprint... but $150???

In other words my response was to someone ignorantly accusing Takara of trying to rip people off, because they were choosing to pay import pricing rather than tracking something down through an online retailer local to that product and paying retail for it.

Next time read an exchange in its entirety before jumping to conclusions - all you've done here is make yourself look foolish.

I did in fact read the whole exchange, and it still came across as conceited on your part regarding importing. I did not insult you, I simply wanted you to evaluate how you came across, and maybe choose your words in a more positive way. Maybe next time actually read constructive criticism, and not continue to antagonize people.

RAcast wrote:

Bowspearer wrote:

Metrosuplex wrote:Anyway, your point is completely valid and well-taken; I was just complaining about the $150 price tag being high in general. For $150, I'd honestly prefer the 3rd Party Quake Wave. I don't mind reissues, but $150 for a reissue is too high for my tastes. At least the MPs are new, modern molds. Right?

Is $150 that high though? You cite Takara charging those prices as justifications for Quakewave, but then look at for example, Hercules which is at the $600 mark?

Hercules is a laughably bad example in this case, y'know? Each figure is about $100, and they combine. So not only are you getting six very good figures, you're getting a positively MONSTROUSLY HUGE Devastator.

Actually your argument here is utterly fallacious. The fact is that I'm looking at a TFSource listing as we speak which is for a Hercules set at a RRP of $593.70. Regardless of whether it's 1 TF or a gift-set - the fact is that fans will spend $600 on a single TF related purchase - especially when there was a Classics Devastator set for a 10th of that (and even if you want to find something of equivalent scale, you're then looking at Maketoys Giant for the $400 mark) - not to mention that when it comes to combiner teams, it's essentially a given that if you buy one then you're stuck getting the set.

It's also rather convenient when you ignore my mentioning a reissue Fort Max as evidence of how shaky a claim that $150 [ or higher] for any reissue is unreasonable.

Sparkimus Prime wrote:

Bowspearer wrote:

Sparkimus Prime wrote:I don't know if it's your intention to shame others who either couldn't order from Japanese sites fast enough, or simply want to use a local distributor. If it is, i would recommend you reevaluate your attitude. I come to this site for information, not to feel ashamed.

Alternately, here's a thought - next time, read the entire exchange before jumping to conclusions.

If you'd bothered to actually do that, you would have realised that what I said was in response to this:

Metrosuplex wrote:By the sounds of incessant punning, I take it most of you just don't care about this news.

Is this Takara's response? Are they noticing 3rd Parties and reacting with more reprints of old toys? $150. Nice. They're making 3rd Party toys more and more affordable with these prices. Bravo. Excellent strategy.

This is a great gem to pull out and reprint... but $150???

In other words my response was to someone ignorantly accusing Takara of trying to rip people off, because they were choosing to pay import pricing rather than tracking something down through an online retailer local to that product and paying retail for it.

Next time read an exchange in its entirety before jumping to conclusions - all you've done here is make yourself look foolish.

I did in fact read the whole exchange, and it still came across as conceited on your part regarding importing. I did not insult you, I simply wanted you to evaluate how you came across, and maybe choose your words in a more positive way. Maybe next time actually read constructive criticism, and not continue to antagonize people.

Clearly you didn't read the entire exchange or you've scanned parts of it - based on your response here. Like I implied, you missed out on Asian online retailers and so you just accepted that you had to pay higher prices on it because you by your own actions had missed the boat. There's no shame in that and plenty of people prefer to shop that way - if so more power to them, just as long as they accept that they're paying import prices and that they'll never be terribly indicative of "local" online retailers.

However that wasn't what I was initially responding to. What I was responding to was a board member who was claiming that Takara was trying to rip him off (not BBTS, Takara) because he was paying BBTS import prices - BBTS of course, having a track record, especially with Takara MP releases for example, of charging close to 200% of the price of Asian online store Masterpiece preorders.

TBH I find the pro-third party arguments to be steeped in "Veruca Salt" levels of childishness at the best of times, something I've gone on record as saying here numerous times. Considering the numbers of grown adults who conveniently decide that ethics suddenly don't apply to them or the situation because "I want it now"; I make no apologies for putting it that way.

However using the utterly flawed argument that prices, by an importer with a track record for what appears to be price gouging on Takara imports, are evidence of not only Takara trying to rip them off, but justification for third party IP theft, are nothing short of ridiculous fallacies and Takara deserves better (particularly when as the MP line demonstrates, they're now genuinely trying to give fans what they want).

Heck, even Metrosuplex openly conceded the point, so why are you trying to drag it out?

Someone just does not know when to let the wind out of their bag, let it go friend, you are clearly not someone worth having a polite discussion with. Just let it go and you will be better off for it. Good day sir.

Unfortunate news to those who were looking forward to Takara's C-001 Super Fire Convoy, a reissue of Robots in Disguise Optimus Prime/Fire Convoy. Our friends at Big Bad Toy Store informed us that, because Takara has appeared to lose interest in this project, are cancelling preorders, as they will be unable to fulfill said orders. The following message was sent to those who preordered:

Hello,

The purpose of this message is to inform you that we unfortunately will not be able to fulfill your preorder for product TAK11741 C-001 Super Fire Convoy - 2014 Reissue - Preliminary Preorder. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this cancellation has caused. We have recently been informed that Takara will not be producing this product, which is why we are unable to fulfill our preorders. Due to this matter, all remaining preorders have been cancelled accordingly.

Thank you for your understanding during this matter and have a wonderful day!

Sincerely,

BBTS Customer Care

I wonder if they dont want to compleat with a master piece version

I was really surprised and happy when they announced he was getting reissued...But of course, RID gets the shaft again :/

Are we sure this was even a real thing? It seemed a bit out of left field all along to be honest.

Maybe no one really cared? So due to low interest, they shelved the project?

Personally, I think the thing was grossly overpriced. I get some of these toys are vintage, but COME ON! It's getting hard to know whether or not to place the blame on rising material costs or outright exploitation.

But yeah, go MP for that kind of money. The MP line is generally fantastic, so if they put more resources there, I'm sure the majority of fans would be happy.

First Star Saber now this.

Metrosuplex wrote:Personally, I think the thing was grossly overpriced. I get some of these toys are vintage, but COME ON! It's getting hard to know whether or not to place the blame on rising material costs or outright exploitation.

Your argument here is ridiculous. You're claiming it was overpriced, yet you're going by BBTS prices which tend to have at least a 50% markup on Japanese retail prices where Transformers are concerned - in many cases around a 100% markup on Japanese retail prices in fact.

If you choose to pay import prices instead of importing things from Japanese retailers (or doing the even more common sense thing and preordering) then that's your call. However stop whinging about supposedly being ripped off when you are the one choosing to get scalped here by going with a US based importer when the banner ads on the right of this thread give you plenty of options in terms of Japanese-based retailers.

That's too bad that he got cancelled. It's a great figure. I wasn't going to buy one, but only because I already have him, otherwise he would have been preordered for sure (even at $150).

I guess the orders were insufficient in number so Takara backed out. I'm fine since I have him already, but this really sucks for those looking forward to getting their hands on him.

Oh well, it happens. He was never officially solicited by Takara Tomy so this is no great loss for them, retailers jumped the gun. Entirely possible it was based on bad information by someone confused about the MP poll. No complaint from me, I've got three red ones and a yellow one (plus one of each Magnus) from Hasbro so I wasn't ordering anyway.

And it's correct that ordering Transformers from a non-Japanese importer is a bad idea compared to a Japan-based exporter like HLJ, AmiAmi, or Hobby Search (the big three). Not only will you get them faster that way, you'll also get them for below Japanese MSRP and tax free. For example I pre-ordered MP Soundblaster off HLJ for 12,640JPY (about US$127), 20% off the retail price (before tax) of 15,800JPY. Shipping will probably run the price up another $25 or so, but it's still cheaper than BBTS's price of $160 plus shipping. Even better I got G2 Sideswipe for 5,200JPY (about US$52) which is much better than BBTS's US$80 price tag.

Only time I used BBTS for a brand new Japanese Transformer was Fortress Maximus because I knew the shipping on that from Japan would push the total way beyond BBTS's shipped price.

Emerje wrote:Oh well, it happens. He was never officially solicited by Takara Tomy so this is no great loss for them, retailers jumped the gun. Entirely possible it was based on bad information by someone confused about the MP poll. No complaint from me, I've got three red ones and a yellow one (plus one of each Magnus) from Hasbro so I wasn't ordering anyway.

And it's correct that ordering Transformers from a non-Japanese importer is a bad idea compared to a Japan-based exporter like HLJ, AmiAmi, or Hobby Search (the big three). Not only will you get them faster that way, you'll also get them for below Japanese MSRP and tax free. For example I pre-ordered MP Soundblaster off HLJ for 12,640JPY (about US$127), 20% off the retail price (before tax) of 15,800JPY. Shipping will probably run the price up another $25 or so, but it's still cheaper than BBTS's price of $160 plus shipping. Even better I got G2 Sideswipe for 5,200JPY (about US$52) which is much better than BBTS's US$80 price tag.

Only time I used BBTS for a brand new Japanese Transformer was Fortress Maximus because I knew the shipping on that from Japan would push the total way beyond BBTS's shipped price.

Amen to that bro' Though hlj is still a wee bit expensive than amiami or hobbysearch (no wonder they always get sold out)

Sad news for those who were looking forward to get this...

Still, though its a great toy, the overpriced tag on this was... well... exagerated.

Still, RID or Car Robots, call them as you want, was a great line.

Way superior to the unicron trilogy

Deathscythetransform wrote:Way superior to the unicron trilogy

But... I liked the Unicron Trilogy (Armada, to be exact).

Mindmaster wrote:

Deathscythetransform wrote:Way superior to the unicron trilogy

But... I liked the Unicron Trilogy (Armada, to be exact).

And there's a VERY good reason Cybertron Optimus Prime has held it's value very well over the years (far better than RiD Prime).

Mindmaster wrote:

Deathscythetransform wrote:Way superior to the unicron trilogy

But... I liked the Unicron Trilogy (Armada, to be exact).

I also enjoyed armada a lot more than energon and cybertron

Emerje wrote:Oh well, it happens. He was never officially solicited by Takara Tomy so this is no great loss for them, retailers jumped the gun. Entirely possible it was based on bad information by someone confused about the MP poll. No complaint from me, I've got three red ones and a yellow one (plus one of each Magnus) from Hasbro so I wasn't ordering anyway.

Not to mention that this is BBTS we're talking about who have a bad habit of jumping the gun on product listings.

Emerje wrote:Only time I used BBTS for a brand new Japanese Transformer was Fortress Maximus because I knew the shipping on that from Japan would push the total way beyond BBTS's shipped price.

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that was a bad call. Considering that shipping prices to the US seem to be about the same as they are to Australia based on what you've said- here's what you would have been up for with just Fort Max in a shipment. It cost me $255AUD at the time when the dollar was worth around ($1.07USD).

I wound up getting mine shipped in a bulk lot with one other Fort Max and 6 MG Gundam Kits for around the $140 mark and when I was playing around with the shipping calculator for an individual shipment (one of them wasn't mine), an individual Fort Max was going to be just under $80AUD to ship out.

The long and the short of it is that you would have been better off getting it from HLJ at the time and even better off still if you and someone else had done a bulk order.

Mindmaster wrote:Unfortunate news to those who were looking forward to Takara's C-001 Super Fire Convoy, a reissue of Robots in Disguise Optimus Prime/Fire Convoy. Our friends at Big Bad Toy Store informed us that, because Takara has appeared to lose interest in this project, are cancelling preorders, as they will be unable to fulfill said orders. The following message was sent to those who preordered:

Hello,

The purpose of this message is to inform you that we unfortunately will not be able to fulfill your preorder for product TAK11741 C-001 Super Fire Convoy - 2014 Reissue - Preliminary Preorder. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this cancellation has caused. We have recently been informed that Takara will not be producing this product, which is why we are unable to fulfill our preorders. Due to this matter, all remaining preorders have been cancelled accordingly.

Thank you for your understanding during this matter and have a wonderful day!

Sincerely,

BBTS Customer Care

We've been asked by the powers-that-be to pull our news story about the cancellation. Not quite sure what that means for the time being but stay tuned!