The Energon Pub

News Credits: 9 · by **Sowndwave76** » Fri Sep 29, 2023 7:06 pm

Thought this was worth mentioning;
as I said a while back, I know every store can be different in how sales and clearance items are handled, but my Target had 4 newly stocked Prowl and Ironhide 2 packs with an even further reduced price of $16.79.
Even if you initially weren’t interested, this is a crazy low price.
I wouldn’t expect to find a set like this marked so low at a Ross.

MyFigureCollection.net collection · by **Emerje** » Fri Sep 29, 2023 8:51 pm

Meanwhile the full price sticker still taunts me on the perpetually empty shelf at my local Target. Also checked all the tags including the endcaps and there's none for SS ROTB Optimus Prime. Looks like if I want one I'll be importing from Japan.

Emerje

News Credits: 1 · by **Hairball178** » Sat Sep 30, 2023 8:30 am

Target lost my trust with preordering mainline figures. Before a fugure would start showing uo at retail I'd get emails from target.com asking if I still want to keep my preorder (uh, yeah--duh), and if I didn't reply in time (normally within 24 hours...normally) they would cancel my preorder. They did this to me with Earthrise Thrust because I had't looked at my emails that day.
The window I would get these emails during was the standard time from the preorder goes up through the time they'd show up at retail, nothing like 3-6 months after release.

The worst offense was my Ark preorder. By this point I was used to Target sending me the "Oh hey, didn't know if you still wanted this, you better let us know or we'll cancel your preorder" & stay on top of things. One morning I woke up around 5AM & seen 2 emails: one sent at 4AM to let them know if I want to keep the preorder...and one not even an hour later that they had to cancel it because I hadn't given a reply. Now imagine this is you & you're locked in for a $150+ figure that you're getting free shipping & knocking another $7.50 off for their Target Circle card. You're already annoyed that you have to keep replying to emails every couple days to maintain your preorder, and you'been doing this for a couple months...then one day you wake up to go to work & see they snuck another email in & cancelled it within the span of an hour while you were sleeping. And even better, it's been sold out so I can't reorder it.

And of course customer service was no help--blah blah "sent an emai you didn't answer in time". So I preordered it from BBTS, lost the discount & free shipping I would've had through Target, but in the end I still got the Ark.

I did get a measure of payback though. I had a preorder for Studio Series Gnaw, and kept re-upping it for months even after I bought Gnaw in-store & Target's site still can't fulfil my preorder. Eventually they finally cancelled the Gnaw preorder & said they didn't know when the figure would be in stock.

Long story short, I think it's b.s. that you would still have to stay on top of something you ordered for fear of them cancelling it because "we weren't sure if you still wanted this or not"...especially when they don't even give you an hour to reply overnight. Never dealt with this from sites like TRU, BBTS, Gamestop, or even Walmart who doesn't regard your existence anyway & your preorders stay open.

MyFigureCollection.net collection · by **Emerje** » Sat Sep 30, 2023 9:11 am

Hairball178 wrote:Never dealt with this from sites like TRU, BBTS, Gamestop, or even Walmart who doesn't regard your existence anyway & your preorders stay open.

TRU had a very bad pre-order policy. If a figure didn't come in stock within three months of ordering they would cancel your order with no warning. They cancelled my two Titans Return Arcee orders despite still being available to order online (which made it just a minor inconvenience, but it could have just as easily been a loss for me). I forget what figure it was, but I remember there being a Transformer that BBTS cancelled many orders on. I had to cancel my own Gamestop pre-order because they hadn't fulfilled it months after release and I couldn't take a chance on them canceling order after everyone else was sold out. Walmart is as bad as Target, they'll regularly do one of two things, either "fulfill" your order but have it "stuck" at the warehouse at which point they'll tell you to cancel the order and reorder it (they did this to me with the first two Siege Netflix waves and the rep continued to tell me to just order it again when I would tell him it was out of stock) or they'll just outright cancel on you with no explanation. I'll also add that I had a non-Transformer canceled on me this year by Entertainment Earth.

To add to Target's shenanigans, they never fulfilled my Origins Jazz and never sent me emails asking if I wanted to keep the order. I ended up cancelling it myself when it hit clearance in stores.

Emerje

News Credits: 9 · by **Sowndwave76** » Sat Sep 30, 2023 11:20 am

I’d definitely recommend that anyone with a preorder with Target keep a close eye on the status…
I received an email right around the time my SS86 2-pk shipped that there was an issue with the payment method (which is always my RedCard). So somehow I was charged correctly for that 2-pk on my RedCard, but it suddenly “wasn’t working” for the Trooper 4-pk.
I didn’t see this in time because this is all through personal email (not work email).

Thankfully I was able to get in another preorder with a same deal of $10 off $60.
But seems a bit odd and almost scheme-ish that that happened.
There was nothing wrong with my RedCard, or the thousands of dollars in my checking account.

I ended up preordering two 4-packs, and they’re supposed to show up on the 9th.
Once I’ve received shipping notification, Target’s follow-through record is 100%.
It’s a matter of making sure preorders get to that stage.

News Credits: 331 · by **chuckdawg1999** » Sat Sep 30, 2023 5:09 pm

By the way, it looks like Takara is going to release BBSS 102 Prime so there's still hope.

News Credits: 100 · by **-Kanrabat-** » Sun Oct 01, 2023 7:54 am

Well, if Hasbro / Target / Toys R Us won't deliver on the SS ROTB voyager Optimus, we can just say "fokkit" and get the K.O from AliExpress:

https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/10050060 ... I4asUGaq3M

News Credits: 9 · by **Sowndwave76** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 5:38 pm

Target came through again, this time a week earlier than expected.
I’m taking a breather from work and haven’t compared the new seeker to ER Thundercracker yet (the photo shows how much opening I’ve done since these have arrived),
but from what I can tell right now, this new version is 100% going to be my Thundercracker.
This blue doesn’t look nearly as blue-violet as some have claimed. At least to my eyes.
In fact as soon as I had the inner packaging out of the box and saw this seeker trooper, it was like I was seeing Thundercracker.
Just from initial viewing, I’m pretty sure I’m going to keep the Allicons.
The other two troopers will be sold off sooner than later.

Another purchase that helps confirm online ordering is the way to go.
My days of stops to stores purely as “hunting trips” are over.

News Credits: 42 · by **TF-fan kev777** » Tue Oct 03, 2023 5:22 pm

I think Hasbro hit a really good shade for the Seeker troop builder. Blue enough to work as Thundercracker if you don't have the ER version and lavender enough to be generic Seekers. It can even work okay as a ER Hotlink. The lavender really comes out when compared to ER Thundercracker.

News Credits: 100 · by **-Kanrabat-** » Tue Oct 03, 2023 5:34 pm

TF-fan kev777 wrote:I think Hasbro hit a really good shade for the Seeker troop builder. Blue enough to work as Thundercracker if you don't have the ER version and lavender enough to be generic Seekers. It can even work okay as a ER Hotlink. The lavender really comes out when compared to ER Thundercracker.
20231003_170302.jpg

Oooohhh....

Now I want that set specifically to have "ER Hotlink".

News Credits: 9 · by **Sowndwave76** » Tue Oct 03, 2023 9:21 pm

This can happen with a lot of colors, but the blue of this new seeker trooper looks like it can vary greatly based on lighting…
The photo below was in my dining room with only natural lighting.
Of course my phone could be altering the white balance a bit, but how this photo looks is really how I saw these colors in person.
And the blue here is much less blue-violet than the one posted earlier. At least imo.

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Tue Oct 03, 2023 10:46 pm

To me, the color honestly looks closest to Ion Storm than any other blue or purple Seeker.

News Credits: 9 · by **triKlops** » Tue Oct 03, 2023 11:41 pm

I was hoping for some of those side by side color comparison pics of the tropbuilder seeker and Thundercracker.
I have 4 sets coming my way and was hoping that the colors weren't as close to TC or Ion Storm, as others have stated.

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Tue Oct 03, 2023 11:47 pm

triKlops wrote:I was hoping for some of those side by side color comparison pics of the tropbuilder seeker and Thundercracker.

Scroll up four posts above yours.

News Credits: 1 · by **Gauntlet101010** » Wed Oct 04, 2023 7:12 am

I was shocked to see the troop builder 4 pack in Mississauga, which I checked out on a whim. It kinda makes me TF budget out of whack since I didn't expect to find it.

In hand it's a lot less blue than what I'd want for Thundercracker and what I like for a generic Seeker. So I'm really happy with it. He's the primary reason I got the three pack. Glad to have another bailif too. He'll probably be the last entry into my Quintesson army. Can't wait to finally find a place for it.

The Autotrooper is my first real exposure to the Siege Ironhide mold. It's way more satisfying than ER Irondhide; maybe because it's not failing at being something it's not. It's just a serviceable little truck. Plus, good color scheme and a good headsculpt never steered anyone wrong.

For me the G2 trooper is the loser. My interest in G2 is a little on the thin side. But I gotta say, they are giving it their all with new G2 releases. Sure they trotted out Laser Prime for the upteeth time, but we got unreleased colors, Jiaxus, AND the possibility of troop building him an army. What does a G2 shelf look like for someone who's been collecting all the way since the Botcon set? Gotta look pretty nice by now.

by **evogrg** » Wed Oct 04, 2023 5:09 pm

My legacy Bombshell preorder was also just cancelled today (04 Oct 2023)

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Wed Oct 04, 2023 5:14 pm

evogrg wrote:My legacy Bombshell preorder was also just cancelled today (04 Oct 2023)

And this relates to Buzzworthy Bumblebee... how?

News Credits: 9 · by **Sowndwave76** » Wed Oct 04, 2023 8:42 pm

That other photo looks edited; both figures look lighter/brighter than they really are.
Which is making the trooper seeker look like a tint of blue-violet.

evogrg wrote:My legacy Bombshell preorder was also just cancelled today (04 Oct 2023)

That really sucks.
I hope you can get your copy; Even though I was most excited about Shrapnel, Bombshell is the best of the 3 imo.

News Credits: 42 · by **TF-fan kev777** » Thu Oct 05, 2023 7:51 am

Sowndwave76 wrote:That other photo looks edited; both figures look lighter/brighter than they really are.

Not edited at all, just taken with a crappy phone in a basement okay lighting.

News Credits: 9 · by **Sowndwave76** » Sat Oct 07, 2023 2:36 pm

TF-fan kev777 wrote:
Sowndwave76 wrote:That other photo looks edited; both figures look lighter/brighter than they really are.

Not edited at all, just taken with a crappy phone in a basement okay lighting.

Actually, Thundercracker looks pretty spot-on... Maybe a tiny bit light. But the seeker trooper looks very lightened in that shot.

Just a quick, partial (literally half) review of the Trooper 4-pack...

The Quintesson guard/Allicon is a really fun little figure.
I don't usually use "fun" as a descriptor for the figures I buy, but that's how I'm feeling about this one. It's probably the alt mode. But the two headsculpts are great, and the accessories are a nice touch. I also like the paint apps, especially the metallic silver teeth.
This more than makes up for not having found the ER figure back when I missed those two ER waves due to the pandemic.

A small request; can anyone who has both the trooper and the ER Allicon post a comparison shot or two?
I like this mold enough that I am considering trying to get the ER figure on the aftermarket.
I've looked up photos of the ER figure but want to see these side by side. Thanks in advance.

The Seeker Trooper is my new Thundercracker and has already been placed in my Seeker Mountain diorama. This figure's color is so much more Thundercracker for me than the ER version... It makes me wonder how anyone settled on the color as being "it" for that figure.

For both the Guard/Allicon and Seeker Trooper, the joints are surprisingly tight. Especially for the seeker. Zero issues with anything. This was a bit of a relief.
I'm more than happy I bought two sets, even though half of one and 3/4 of the other will most likely be sold-off.

And just fyi; I returned and re-bought one of the sets today with a couple promotions Target is running:
$10 off $50 on toys, and if you're a Target Circle member, the 20% off your purchase promotion (which today ends).
Even after $4+ in tax, $59 for the set is a pretty sweet deal considering that's basically the cost of just the Allicon and the Seeker.

Sure, these may go on sale/clearance at some point, but of course once that happens, actually getting it can be difficult.

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Mon Oct 09, 2023 3:15 pm

Sowndwave76 wrote:A small request; can anyone who has both the trooper and the ER Allicon post a comparison shot or two?
I like this mold enough that I am considering trying to get the ER figure on the aftermarket.
I've looked up photos of the ER figure but want to see these side by side. Thanks in advance.

I found some comparison pics here.

News Credits: 9 · by **Sowndwave76** » Mon Oct 09, 2023 9:05 pm

Thanks, Sabrblade.

Interesting; I like the center of the bot torso, the shoulders, and the all green feet better on the ER version.
But then I like everything about the alt mode better on this new trooper version.
For me the beast head looks so much better... The sculpt and the coloring. The ER version looks like it took color cues from a baboon.

I don't like the Pit of Judgement (or whatever) version at all. That green is alright, but all of that brown with it is just bad.

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Mon Oct 09, 2023 9:30 pm

Sowndwave76 wrote:I don't like the Pit of Judgement (or whatever) version at all. That green is alright, but all of that brown with it is just bad.

It was based on an old fan coloring of the Bailiff that was itself based on the old first DVD release of the movie, which had a much poorer picture quality than later releases of the movie. This new one is basically Hasbro's attempt at getting the colors right the second time.

The old fan coloring:

The correct colors:

News Credits: 1642 · by **D-Maximal_Primal** » Thu Oct 12, 2023 4:24 pm

I ended up getting 6 of the troopbuilder sets. I kept 1 seeker, 2 Allicons, and all of the Autotroopers and G2 Troops. I am so happy.

Speaking of troopbuilding, RotB Scorponoks were down to $7.49, so i bought all of them. I now have 7

by **Starseeker** » Sat Oct 14, 2023 10:53 pm

Is anyone else unable to switch out the heads on the troop builders? The instructions say they are supposed to pull off forward but mine at basically sealed on.