The Energon Pub

[william-james88]

We here at the Wheeljack committee would like a word with you.

I am also part of the Wheeljack committe.

Serious question though folks, why are we outraged now by the price and not a year ago when BBTS showed their listing for upwards of 70$ ? It seems like all the time I have to convince people that cheaper alternatives to these high prices are available when you import the figure yourself, with many fans unaware of Japanese sites you can import directly from.

But suddenly, it's like everyone is an expert for this figure. It's like no one ever spent 65$ or more on MP Bee and everyone knows about import sites suddenly. Did no one buy their MP Bee from TF Source or BBTS?

Also, I would like to point out that for some reason, licenses from international car manufacturers seems tougher for Hasbro to aquire than Takara. That's been the case for over a decade (and why we never got another volkswagon bee toy since the first one in the states). If people are wondering why he costs as much as starscream, its pretty easy: Starscream doesnt require a vehicle license. This bumblebee does. Not saying this is all there is to it, but its definitely part of it.

[Hellscream9999]

We here at the Wheeljack committee would like a word with you.

I am also part of the Wheeljack committe.

Serious question though folks, why are we outraged now by the price and not a year ago when BBTS showed their listing for upwards of 70$ ? It seems like all the time I have to convince people that cheaper alternatives to these high prices are available when you import the figure yourself, with many fans unaware of Japanese sites you can import directly from.

But suddenly, it's like everyone is an expert for this figure. It's like no one ever spent 65$ or more on MP Bee and everyone knows about import sites suddenly. Did no one buy their MP Bee from TF Source or BBTS?

Also, I would like to point out that for some reason, licenses from international car manufacturers seems tougher for Hasbro to aquire than Takara. That's been the case for over a decade (and why we never got another volkswagon bee toy since the first one in the states). If people are wondering why he costs as much as starscream, its pretty easy: Starscream doesnt require a vehicle license. This bumblebee does. Not saying this is all there is to it, but its definitely part of it.

I dunno, I think they see as more of size:price versus parts/complexity:price, but I also think $65 is a bit much for a glorified deluxe.

But to your question, I think we've been drawing enough attention to the likes of amiami and such that people are taking them seriously, especially for as low a price as they offer stuff for

[Bronzewolf]

We here at the Wheeljack committee would like a word with you.

I am also part of the Wheeljack committe.

Serious question though folks, why are we outraged now by the price and not a year ago when BBTS showed their listing for upwards of 70$ ? It seems like all the time I have to convince people that cheaper alternatives to these high prices are available when you import the figure yourself, with many fans unaware of Japanese sites you can import directly from.

But suddenly, it's like everyone is an expert for this figure. It's like no one ever spent 65$ or more on MP Bee and everyone knows about import sites suddenly. Did no one buy their MP Bee from TF Source or BBTS?

Also, I would like to point out that for some reason, licenses from international car manufacturers seems tougher for Hasbro to aquire than Takara. That's been the case for over a decade (and why we never got another volkswagon bee toy since the first one in the states). If people are wondering why he costs as much as starscream, its pretty easy: Starscream doesnt require a vehicle license. This bumblebee does. Not saying this is all there is to it, but its definitely part of it.

I dunno, I think they see as more of size:price versus parts/complexity:price, but I also think $65 is a bit much for a glorified deluxe.

But to your question, I think we've been drawing enough attention to the likes of amiami and such that people are taking them seriously, especially for as low a price as they offer stuff for

Hahaha hahaha glorified deluxe. Too (almost painfully) accurate. And I don't
think of MP Bee as all that complex (if that's what you're getting at)...

[Hellscream9999]

We here at the Wheeljack committee would like a word with you.

I am also part of the Wheeljack committe.

Serious question though folks, why are we outraged now by the price and not a year ago when BBTS showed their listing for upwards of 70$ ? It seems like all the time I have to convince people that cheaper alternatives to these high prices are available when you import the figure yourself, with many fans unaware of Japanese sites you can import directly from.

But suddenly, it's like everyone is an expert for this figure. It's like no one ever spent 65$ or more on MP Bee and everyone knows about import sites suddenly. Did no one buy their MP Bee from TF Source or BBTS?

Also, I would like to point out that for some reason, licenses from international car manufacturers seems tougher for Hasbro to aquire than Takara. That's been the case for over a decade (and why we never got another volkswagon bee toy since the first one in the states). If people are wondering why he costs as much as starscream, its pretty easy: Starscream doesnt require a vehicle license. This bumblebee does. Not saying this is all there is to it, but its definitely part of it.

I dunno, I think they see as more of size:price versus parts/complexity:price, but I also think $65 is a bit much for a glorified deluxe.

But to your question, I think we've been drawing enough attention to the likes of amiami and such that people are taking them seriously, especially for as low a price as they offer stuff for

Hahaha hahaha glorified deluxe. Too (almost painfully) accurate. And I don't
think of MP Bee as all that complex (if that's what you're getting at)...

I mean complexity to manufacture, lots of small parts mean higher expenses, even if its just for an expensive deluxe

[Optimum Supreme]

since it was still left open whether or not that was Spike or Daniel.

I choose to believe it's Buster.

[Sabrblade]

since it was still left open whether or not that was Spike or Daniel.

I choose to believe it's Buster.

Now I want Hasbro's Exo-suited Witwicky to have Buster's blond hair just the mess with the fandom.

[Emerje]

If people are wondering why he costs as much as starscream, its pretty easy: Starscream doesnt require a vehicle license. This bumblebee does. Not saying this is all there is to it, but its definitely part of it.

I don't think vehicle licenses impact prices nearly as much as one would expect. Alternators were, what, US$20 while unlicensed Deluxe figures were US$10? Licensed movie figures cost roughly the same as non-movie figures, and in some situations less. That sort of logic would also say that the Japanese are overpaying for the larger, non-licensed MPs like Starscream, but realistically the Japanese prices are simply better balanced based on scale rather than pesky licenses. Then there's non-Transformers like Hot Wheels, Matchbox, or even those dirt cheap licensed cars you find at places like Family Dollar or Big Lots. I'm sure the toy companies are paying something to use the likenesses, but it doesn't seem like it's enough to really impact the price of the products, especially if it's for something old from Nissan or Volkswagen that otherwise wouldn't be worth much to those companies.

Emerje

[LegendaryAntiHero]

I hope the price will be cheaper than importing the Takara version and it won't cost as much as Prowl did. When Prowl came out, the Hasbro version didn't cost any less than Takara's.

[Ironhidensh]

If people are wondering why he costs as much as starscream, its pretty easy: Starscream doesnt require a vehicle license. This bumblebee does. Not saying this is all there is to it, but its definitely part of it.

I don't think vehicle licenses impact prices nearly as much as one would expect. Alternators were, what, US$20 while unlicensed Deluxe figures were US$10? Licensed movie figures cost roughly the same as non-movie figures, and in some situations less. That sort of logic would also say that the Japanese are overpaying for the larger, non-licensed MPs like Starscream, but realistically the Japanese prices are simply better balanced based on scale rather than pesky licenses. Then there's non-Transformers like Hot Wheels, Matchbox, or even those dirt cheap licensed cars you find at places like Family Dollar or Big Lots. I'm sure the toy companies are paying something to use the likenesses, but it doesn't seem like it's enough to really impact the price of the products, especially if it's for something old from Nissan or Volkswagen that otherwise wouldn't be worth much to those companies.

Emerje

Alternators were $30, and this is also why I question this release. Volkswagen wouldn't give out the license for Bumblebee during that era. Then again, Tamara got it, so maybe it is legit.

[Emerje]

Alternators were $30, and this is also why I question this release. Volkswagen wouldn't give out the license for Bumblebee during that era. Then again, Tamara got it, so maybe it is legit.

No, I actually looked it up to be sure. In 2004 Smokescreen was US$19.99, while in 2007 Ravage and Rumble were US$19.96. For that mater SDCC Nemesis Prime and Rodimus were only US$24.99.

As for the whole story about VW not allowing "war toys" as an excuse, I don't buy it. Japan has always sold toys and models based on actual VW WWII military vehicles used by actual Nazis (this military Beetle is from 2006). We're supposed to believe they're fine with that, but they draw the line at robots that rarely die with laser guns? Nope, I don't believe it at all. More likely at the time they were asking for a ridiculous amount for the New Beetle likeness (it was their new iconic flagship car at the time) that Takara and Hasbro couldn't justify it at the going price of Alternators and BT. Rather than sound cheap they made up the story about military toys to save face.

Emerje

[william-james88]

Alternators were $30, and this is also why I question this release. Volkswagen wouldn't give out the license for Bumblebee during that era. Then again, Tamara got it, so maybe it is legit.

No joke, I used to date a girl called Tamara, she was nice.

No, I actually looked it up to be sure. In 2004 Smokescreen was US$19.99, while in 2007 Ravage and Rumble were US$19.96. For that mater SDCC Nemesis Prime and Rodimus were only US$24.99.

As for the whole story about VW not allowing "war toys" as an excuse, I don't buy it.

Thanks for your astute comments Emerje, and that price for SDCC Rodimus is bonkers.

One thing I would like to add though is that licenses are aquired at the national and not global level. So what might work in Japan, might not work in the US, or at least both cases may not be the same. We know this with the alternators line. Honda Japan had no problem having Overdrive have this nice gun. But Honda US didnt like it, forcing Hasbro to turn it into a scanner or tazer or whatever non gun thing it is.

So while car licenses might not be expensive, it isnt all that simple either and I am still baffled that Hasbro hasnt done the Sideswipe mold yet.



Also, I take it a lot has changed with Hasbro since 2006, now they are no longer afraid of sounding cheap.

[Ironhidensh]

Alternators were $30, and this is also why I question this release. Volkswagen wouldn't give out the license for Bumblebee during that era. Then again, Tamara got it, so maybe it is legit.

No, I actually looked it up to be sure. In 2004 Smokescreen was US$19.99, while in 2007 Ravage and Rumble were US$19.96. For that mater SDCC Nemesis Prime and Rodimus were only US$24.99.

As for the whole story about VW not allowing "war toys" as an excuse, I don't buy it. Japan has always sold toys and models based on actual VW WWII military vehicles used by actual Nazis (this military Beetle is from 2006). We're supposed to believe they're fine with that, but they draw the line at robots that rarely die with laser guns? Nope, I don't believe it at all. More likely at the time they were asking for a ridiculous amount for the New Beetle likeness (it was their new iconic flagship car at the time) that Takara and Hasbro couldn't justify it at the going price of Alternators and BT. Rather than sound cheap they made up the story about military toys to save face.

Emerje

Yeah buddy? You looked it up? Well, guess what? I looked it up as well.......

And discovered that you are correct, good sir. I was confusing/remembering the price of human alliance figures.

[Emerje]

Thanks for your astute comments Emerje, and that price for SDCC Rodimus is bonkers.

And you are always welcome. As for Rodimus, yeah, that was pre-Platinum back when Hasbro didn't massively inflate the prices of the exclusive collectibles.

One thing I would like to add though is that licenses are aquired at the national and not global level. So what might work in Japan, might not work in the US, or at least both cases may not be the same. We know this with the alternators line. Honda Japan had no problem having Overdrive have this nice gun. But Honda US didnt like it, forcing Hasbro to turn it into a scanner or tazer or whatever non gun thing it is.

Heh, yeah, I have that Alternator (I'm actually only missing five for a complete set). Keep in mind that Honda is a Japanese company so it makes sense that they would negotiate the figure differently than the Hasbro version. But with VW being German and Alternators/Binaltech being a joint venture between the two it should have been negotiated together. And doesn't the idea of wanting a clean image in North America seem a little strange? Most people in NA probably aren't aware of VW's involvement in WWII and wouldn't make the connection, but with Germany and Japan being allies in WWII you'd think THAT would be the country they'd want to clean their image with. It feels totally backwards from normal logic.

Also, I take it a lot has changed with Hasbro since 2006, now they are no longer afraid of sounding cheap.

No kidding. Even your beloved Nemesis Prime mammoth was only US$20 in 2004. Can't even imagine what he'd cost today. Probably US$60 or maybe even US$80 like Ultra Mammoth.

Emerje

[william-james88]

No kidding. Even your beloved Nemesis Prime mammoth was only US$20 in 2004. Can't even imagine what he'd cost today. Probably US$60 or maybe even US$80 like Ultra Mammoth.

And yes, I do love that mammoth though I think I have exhausted the lists he will show up in (aside from best of Beast Wars Neo).

I am glad you brought up how Japan doesnt care much about being politically correct while looking at their past allegiances. That comes up a lot in video games. Like Valkyria Chronicles where it's a WWII stylized game, where the characters definitely seem to come right out of an anime. And in that game, you are playing as the resistance, against the germans (though they call them the imperial forces in the game). It just seemed so odd. But a friend of mine explained that the Japan culture sees WWII very differently than North America. For them, it was the war their father and grandfathers fought, not them, and they have moved past it. So WWII becomes a source of inspiration for storytelling and design just like any other moment in time regardless of their involvement "long ago".

That also explains why they didnt care that both G1 Megatron and MP Megatron are Nazi guns as well as being the gun from Man from U.N.C.L.E. (the later is what they were going for).

[Emerje]

No kidding. Even your beloved Nemesis Prime mammoth was only US$20 in 2004. Can't even imagine what he'd cost today. Probably US$60 or maybe even US$80 like Ultra Mammoth.

And yes, I do love that mammoth though I think I have exhausted the lists he will show up in (aside from best of Beast Wars Neo).

I am glad you brought up how Japan doesnt care much about being politically correct while looking at their past allegiances. That comes up a lot in video games. Like Valkyria Chronicles where it's a WWII stylized game, where the characters definitely seem to come right out of an anime. And in that game, you are playing as the resistance, against the germans (though they call them the imperial forces in the game). It just seemed so odd. But a friend of mine explained that the Japan culture sees WWII very differently than North America. For them, it was the war their father and grandfathers fought, not them, and they have moved past it. So WWII becomes a source of inspiration for storytelling and design just like any other moment in time regardless of their involvement "long ago".

This is true, the Japanese tend to look at historical events as just that, history, and then they move on. I don't think America is all that different. It certainly helped in making us close post-war allies.

Also, Valkyria Chronicals did have an anime and it was pretty good.

That also explains why they didnt care that both G1 Megatron and MP Megatron are Nazi guns as well as being the gun from Man from U.N.C.L.E. (the later is what they were going for).

And likewise that same gun being picked up by Hasbro. Nazi sidearm? Who cares!? It's a gun that turns into a robot, that's all that matters!

Emerje

[Ironhidensh]

You know what else cost $65? Masterpiece Starscream at more than twice the size. I really don't understand Hasbro's rational for pricing MPs. For larger ones they're roughly half the price of their Japanese counterparts, but for the cars they've been just about the same. When it comes to the big MPs it makes sense to take a chance and wait for Hasbro (this is the year we should see Ultra Magnus if ever), but for the cars the best bet is to import. My MP BB only cost US$35 plus another US$5 for shipping by importing.

Me right now: I don't have the MP bumblebee mold and now their is possibly going be release I might get it. Now lets see the price.....
65$ well screw that now.....

It's worth it. I consider MP Bumblebee the single most perfect Transformer ever made.

That's a pretty bold statement. Personally, the forearm kibble bothers me way too much.

Emerje

I stand by it. For me, the Bee represents everything I want in a transformer.

We here at the Wheeljack committee would like a word with you.

Wheeljack is a sexy beast, there can be no doubt, but he just doesn't have the same magic as Bumblebee for me. I think it's because the original Wheeljack figure was pretty dope even back in the day, but Bumblebee always sucked.

[william-james88]

Yours truly, fellow Seibertron staffer William-James88, went to Toysrus today to confirm a rumour involving Hasbro's release of Masterpiece Bumblebee. Sure enough, I was shown the locations where this toy is now available in Canada, along with the SKU# and price.

As of today, Hasbro's Masterpiece Bumblebee is in the stockrooms of Canadian Toysrus stores in:

British Columbia
Saskatchewan
Alberta
Manitoba

The SKU# is 819867 and is priced at $119.99 CAD. Just to give a perspective, Masterpiece Bluestreak sold for $89.99 CAD last year and Takara's MP Bumblebee was sold for a range of ¥4,500 - ¥6,000 from Japanese retailers when it was first issued.

[Bumblebee21]

How much in usd

[william-james88]

How much in usd

We already knew it would be 64.99$ in the US. That was revealed in January:

http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/ ... ase/34600/

We didnt know how much it would sell in Canadian. But this price, 120, is 92$ USD, which is nonsensical.

[Wolfman Jake]

How much in usd

We already knew it would be 64.99$ in the US. That was revealed in January:

http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/ ... ase/34600/

We didnt know how much it would sell in Canadian. But this price, 120, is 92$ USD, which is nonsensical.

Yep. Still glad I got Takara's Bumblebee last year. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if TRU jacked up the price in the US as well.

[Bumblebee21]

How much in usd

We already knew it would be 64.99$ in the US. That was revealed in January:

http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/ ... ase/34600/

We didnt know how much it would sell in Canadian. But this price, 120, is 92$ USD, which is nonsensical.

Wow that is expensive for an mp car in Canada

[Ultra Mad]

Yep, 120 $ for this figure is expensive. I bought the Takara import from a local store when it came out and I paid around 105$ with taxes.

[shajaki]

Y'know, I defend these MP/Platinum prices quite a bit. But 120 CAD for Bee, is goddam highway robbery

[Bumblebee21]

Bad photography strikes again


Brighter windows a better Autobot symbol on the chest and a new crotch

[Wolfman Jake]

You know, I wonder if that mistransformation is on purpose. It does show off the Volkswagen symbol when that part of the hood isn't properly tucked away, and Volkswagen isn't called out anywhere else on the front of the box. Might this be part of the licensing deal between Hasbro and VW?