The Energon Pub

News Credits: 187 · Tue Feb 07, 2012 3:20 pm

A statement released by Hasbro today addresses the short lived Transformers Prime First Editions:

Hasbro wrote:
As we greatly value our TRANSFORMERS fans and consumers, we appreciate the opportunity to clarify and explain the current situation with TRANSFORMERS PRIME First Edition figure availability in the U.S.

We very much apologize for the miscommunication with our great retailers in the U.S. Regrettably, as a result, the TRANSFORMERS PRIME First Edition Wave 2 Deluxe, Wave 1 Voyager and Entertainment Pack figures were posted for pre-sale in error. Final product was not produced for these figures to ship within the U.S. As such, any consumer who placed a pre-sale order with Big Bad Toy Store or Entertainment Earth in the U.S. received a note that their order had been cancelled and these orders will not be fulfilled. While it is common for Hasbro to cancel production and/or shipment of collectible figures prior to being listed for pre-sale, this particular situation was unique. We deeply regret this circumstance and understand your frustration.

We would also like to express that we hear the fan community in the U.S. loud and clear – you want these specific TRANSFORMERS PRIME First Edition figures. While we can’t confirm anything at this time, and the format in which these figures are packaged and distributed may change, the team is looking into ways to make these available at a later date in the U.S. and will keep the fan community and our retailers posted as opportunities develop. We want to make this right, and making these figures available to the U.S. fans is a top priority for the team. We greatly appreciate your understanding and ongoing enthusiasm for the brand and hope in the mean time, you enjoy the TRANSFORMERS PRIME figures that are hitting shelves now and in the coming weeks.

News Credits: 1 · Tue Feb 07, 2012 3:35 pm

I'll believe their "attempts" when I see them happen :/

I have Takara version of Cliff and Bulk so I'm a little less vexed, but I'd have been happier with Hasbro's versions. The statement only seems to prove they have a monkey running their marketing team. Why else would Hasbro think the USA wouldn't want, need or care for the FE's?

Would be nice if they did released them later though, even in different packaging. I wouldn't mind having Prime and I *really* want that entertainment pack

...At least they addressed the issue and didn't shove it aside...

News Credits: 1 · Tue Feb 07, 2012 3:45 pm

Hasbro! I love you again.

Wait... That was for FoC Bruticus. This? Well, I'll believe it when I see it.

Like FoC Bruticus.

News Credits: 1 · Tue Feb 07, 2012 3:45 pm

good to see Hasbro is trying to find away to bring the first edition figures back for those who missed out on them.

News Credits: 6 · Tue Feb 07, 2012 3:46 pm

HASBRO.
Your listening. More availability? A Combiner? Am I Dreaming? Come on guys, pinch me please!

Tue Feb 07, 2012 3:50 pm

What would make them not produce these toys for America?

News Credits: 3 · Tue Feb 07, 2012 3:52 pm

funeralthirst7 wrote:What would make them not produce these toys for America?

That was my thought. Kind of strange.

Tue Feb 07, 2012 3:53 pm

Although this is good news, I have still lost a lot of respect for Hasbro through all of this. I don't understand why there was no intention of releasing this line in the US. As far as the possibility of a future US release, I'll believe it when I see it.

News Credits: 2 · Tue Feb 07, 2012 4:03 pm

Not produced for sale? In that case, why did they ship to Canada?

So what Hasbro really said was, "WalMart told us to stick our collector friendly toyline up our exhaust pipe, in favor of a more gimicky, kid friendly toyline (Robots in Disguise) that will sell to soccer moms and minivan dads throughout America. And we had to listen because if you want to sell toys in the US you have to blow WalMart's crankshaft pretty hard."

And that is the sad reality of toy retail. All of the other toy outlets don't even come close to Walmart's purchasing power, and it's only made worse in this economy. They will continue to dictate what makes it to production as long as there is no serious competition. And there may never be again. Toys R Us did it for a long time in the late 80's and 90's, until the government stepped in and broke up some of their shadier dealings. Not that that should/could happen in this case, but...

It kills me that larger toy manufacturers only see that bigger picture, and don't work with smaller retailers on some level to produce content and projects through alternative channels. Not putting all their eggs in one basket, as it were. Something more along the lines of DC Direct in partnership with comic/specialty shops. Somehow, the collector market is able to support itself in Japan so much that they get an endless array of repaints, variants, and all around better paint jobs at higher price points. Things like eHobby seemingly flourish.

Why is it that these things sell in foreign markets but not here?

Tue Feb 07, 2012 4:08 pm

Okay Hasbro,you win for now. But pull this shite again within 6 months,you're back on THE list.

Tue Feb 07, 2012 4:12 pm

So basically Hasbro is saying: "Oh hey sorry about that first edition mix up, you actually weren't supposed to get ANY of them. Those were for Canada silly! Enjoy your light-up happy meal toys because that's all you're getting. We know you're butthurt though

"

News Credits: 1 · Tue Feb 07, 2012 4:13 pm

And the Fans rejoice!

News Credits: 1 · Tue Feb 07, 2012 4:19 pm

Color me impressed.

Now, you want to color me satisfied? I need dates and locations. Thanks.

Tue Feb 07, 2012 4:22 pm

Hmm...I see, well I am glad that they have heard us LOUD and CLEAR. Good job for those of us who spammed them with tons of "Why no Prime FE?" emails. :grin:

Edit: Still lame though because I already paid for a FE CJ. :sad:

Tue Feb 07, 2012 4:24 pm

To paraphrase a great bot:

Hasbro, the United States fans are here, and we are waiting... to buy these 1st edition figures!

Arcee, Bumblebee, and Starscream flew off the shelves at my TRU. Well, both TRUs in my area. I'm sure the rest of these figures would do the same if you keep the volume lower than DOTM volumes. Otherwise, fill those preorders from Entertainment Earth and Big Bad, sell the rest on the HTS site.

Tue Feb 07, 2012 4:24 pm

i swear to god they better fix this. but i doubt they will.

News Credits: 4 · Tue Feb 07, 2012 4:28 pm

I eagerly await news of the FE molds being repainted into g2 colours.

News Credits: 22 · Tue Feb 07, 2012 4:29 pm

Hasbro wrote:We would also like to express that we hear the fan community in the U.S. loud and clear

That was a good one...

News Credits: 17 · Tue Feb 07, 2012 4:36 pm

craggy wrote:I eagerly await news of the FE molds being repainted into g2 colours.

I'd kill a man for a bright purple TFP Megatron, seriously. |:|

Tue Feb 07, 2012 4:39 pm

Oh, I see how it is Hasbro, you bring back first editions and DOTM toys such as Soundwave havent even hit shelves yet! OK, Oh, and BTW, wer still waiting for mirage and Shockwave..................
>:oP

Tue Feb 07, 2012 4:39 pm

Oh, I see how it is Hasbro, you bring back first editions and DOTM toys such as Soundwave havent even hit shelves yet! OK, Oh, and BTW, wer still waiting for mirage and Shockwave..................
>:oP

Tue Feb 07, 2012 4:40 pm

I would still love to hear an official explanation for why they discontinued the Prime figures that WERE released in the USA (but, apparently, nowhere near me)and are replacing them with the new ones. Doesn't make sense to me. The molds for the other ones were already made and paid for, why not continue using them?

Tue Feb 07, 2012 4:41 pm

The only way hasbro has ever re-released a figure has always been a stupid repaint or a freaking Bumblebee mold :BOOM:

News Credits: 1 · Tue Feb 07, 2012 4:42 pm

If they actually..somehow did manage to get us figures, I would be gracious for the opportunity and reward them with buying a Bulkhead figure as well as my previously only-interested-in Optimus figure. I don't even care if they came in boxes, a damn plastic shopping bag would suit me fine.

That's if anything were to ever come of it. Which I'm less than sure of.

Ah hell, if they released him again, I'm sure I'd even be willing to spring for 2 Primes.