The Energon Pub

News Credits: 7 · Mon Aug 27, 2007 5:16 am

Aargh! Sorry :-(

Aargh! Keeping it on topic now though, if ye be looking fer a certain figure and don't mind if ye have the box and stuff, then car boot and garage sales be a good place to pick up a figure fer a good price Aargh!

Tue Aug 28, 2007 4:29 am

Wal-Mart UPC#:

Deluxe Dreadwing

71563075993227608638

Tue Aug 28, 2007 5:35 am

For those in the UK, Argos have a website that lets you check stock in and around any area you want, also if you spot a TF instock you can reserve it at that store for 24 hours

Tue Aug 28, 2007 9:25 am

dammit - check the spiderman isle, the star wars isle, the TMNT isle, in fact, check all the isles that are NOT supposed to be holding transformers. in hard times, thats where the gold is!

Thu Aug 30, 2007 4:45 pm

What is Dropkick's DCPI/UPC/WMN?

News Credits: 3 · Fri Aug 31, 2007 1:40 am

Obvious Prime wrote:What is Dropkick's DCPI/UPC/WMN?

Here is Dropkick's UPC:
65356924885

Fri Aug 31, 2007 10:50 am

How about G1 Magnus's?

Sat Sep 01, 2007 1:19 pm

I personally like to drive to the "small town" wal-marts and what not to check for TF's lower population, usually , greater finds.... Also check wal mart late at night they usually have thier pallettes out and the employess are usually very good about helping u search them!! one more thing tell ur situation to the employee that u are talking to that usually makes them want to help u more!! Happy hunting!

Sun Sep 02, 2007 10:44 pm

For one, I can attest that the sightings board is a huge help. Let your fellow Seibertronians help you - when you start to see a number of posts show up, start hitting every store you can.

Also, don't just stick to the obvious stores. Everyone goes to TRU - parents, kids, scalpers. Check out places like Value City (they had two or three cases of movie figs after everyone else ran out), Big Lots (good for Universe figs), outlet mall toy stores (KB Toys in particular), and anything else that comes to mind. How many of us thought about Kohl's when hunting for the wave 2 figures? Some of us came across gold there on more than one occasion.

Use Ebay effectively - its easy to pay through the nose, but getting a good deal on Ebay can be done. It just requires dicipline, patience, and a willingness to play amateur psychologist. Focus on the two ends of the spectrum - items just listed that may have an attractive "Buy it Now" price. Sellers who need money quickly are likely to try to get someone to buy the item outright. Pounce on these by either buying the item or putting in a minimum bid before someone else buys it. Then watch the item and move on to strategy two - winning auctions. Your best bet here is to wait until multiples of the same item are going to end within a short amount of time (1 hour). Watch all of them, but pick a single auction to try to win. Going for the first one rarely works, b/c most people focus on that one. Aim for the next best one and don't bid until the auction is within its last minute. I usually don't start until about 35 seconds to go. That gives you time to make a counter bid or two before time expires. Now is when the dicipline comes in. Only bid what you are really willing to pay. It's easy to get caught up in the moment and keep bidding so "they don't beat me." Keep your emotions out of it and you will eventually get the item you want for the price you want.

I hope this helps...

Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:16 am

I'm new to transformers but I've been collecting other stuff for a while. I agree with a lot of what was said. You gotta keep visiting your local stores and find any excuse to visit other ones. My wife loves traveling and visiting friends, but I hate it, so to compromise we visit her friends but only after I've visited every store on the way there.

Try to find out from an employee or two when they stock and when they recieve shipments. It'll save you checking some stores every day when you know they haven't got anything new in. If you ask a few employees and be honest about what your doing they'll be a big help. Check the wrong isles too like someone else said. I can't tell you how many times I've found a treasure sitting there amongst a group of barbies or in a pile of socks or something.

If you have long distance, or better yet, unlimited long distance, you can call all the stores within an hour or two (or whatever your personal driving distance is) that can save spending hours driving and searching for something that hasn't arrived yet. Some stores will even hold things for you if your nice about it. Be smart about calling though, don't call around lunch time. No ones there or if they are they'll be annoyed with getting disturbed and they'll not be as helpfull.

News Credits: 2 · Tue Sep 11, 2007 5:19 pm

Titaniums G1 Ultra Magnus

Targets DCPI

087060413

just got it today!

blkbitcloud1

Fri Sep 14, 2007 2:09 pm

Does anyone have the UPC's for Cybertron series? I live in the middle of nowhere and work at walmart so I know there has to be some backwater towns with a walmart that may carry some older toys.. If I could get some UPC's for them I could check to see if any walmart has them instock still. Thanks in advance!

Sun Sep 16, 2007 9:14 pm

so what exactly do I do with these numbers?

News Credits: 1082 · Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:03 am

stankit wrote:so what exactly do I do with these numbers?

Use them to play the lottery.

Seriously, though, you take them to a store and ask an employee to enter them in the computer database to see if they have stock, or when they have it coming.

Target is kind and if you have a number they have a place you can enter it yourself and check, without having to wait to bother an employee.

News Credits: 8 · Sat Sep 29, 2007 6:41 pm

These are my tips, first find out when Hasbro delivers to your area. My stores get shipment Tuesday and Thursday night, so I know Wensday and Friday are my best bet.

Also, make nice with long term staffers.

Case in point...

Many years ago I went to the TRU in Totowa NJ, the customer service clerk was tired and confessed she needed some coffee. I went and got it for her. To this day I never waited on line there. To further that, anytime I need to return something, I walk in, drop it off, pick up what I want. Holding it over my head so she can see it's the same thing, I walk right out.

More recently I met a guy Jerry at my local Target, he told me I was out of luck on the G1 Jazz redeco that I wanted. I then told him how much I just paid onlone for the TIT Fallen he was unpacking.

He put it aside for himself

Next time I went in, he had 2 Jazz's waiting for me and rang me up with his employee discount cause he made a fortune off that figure.

Also, no name department stores, closeout stores, and unassuming shops are often gold mines, don't be afraid to turn some rocks every now and then.

In local department store called Valley Fair, I found like a million Classic StarScreams long after everyone else sold out of them. I got 2 extra for me(one's on its way to becoming ThunderCracker) then I hooked up some members here.

Side shops and isles are great places to look :-?

These are my tips, I never wait long, if at all for retail bots, so I hope this helps :lol:

News Credits: 8 · Sat Sep 29, 2007 7:11 pm

Cyber Bishop wrote:Make friends, the more friends you have all working for the common good of finding the toys the better.

Form a group with local collectors and inform each other of what you find (since you can't always hunt, someone from the group may be able to hunt a bit more than you).

Wal Marts get trucks every day except Sunday. Now they may not shelf every day they get trucks all the time.

Maybe you can help me on this, I can always make small talk with Moms, and Grandparents who don't realy know what they're looking at. For me it's a fun way to share what I know, and I like opening conversations with "You know they'll hate you if you get that one!"

These people are always looking for whatever advice they can get, and again, I love sharing it.

But as for local collectors, unless they're with a supportive girlfriend, they are very untalkative, you can tell even somewhat afraid of the interpersonal contact, and they run off :???:

Maybe they feel embarased about being grown and collecting toys for a hobby, but I'm doing the same thing.

The guys that are taken are the exact opposite, they wanna talk, get coffee next door, and all that jazz, which in itself is kinda weird.

So I guess I'm asking, with out slapping them in the back of the head or sharing any of my women, how do I make the shy guys like the taken guys?

I wouldn't mind meeting some other collectors in my area. I know tons of sci-fi people, and I have fun with them. But outside of this, I could care less about most sci-fi. TFs are something very specific, and I wouldn't mind meeting some locals with that same particular intrest.

Tue Oct 02, 2007 11:32 pm

KoH4711 wrote:A few things I've picked up that might be of help...

o If you've got a 24 hour Wal-Mart Supercenter, check them out after 11:00 PM or so. This is usually when they put their stock out. This is one of the nice things about working a graveyard shift. This is actually where I've found most of my stuff.

o Target.com has a nifty feature that lets you check store availability for items, but there are a few catches. One, it seems to be based on SCU, and not DCPI. Also, this may show things like cases that are missing/stolen or just hanging around in the back room. Our nearest Target showed that Deluxe figures were Available for a week or so, and these turned out to be wasted trips.

o Don't go first thing in the morning to Target, Toys R Us or KB Toys. It's possible that these stores will stock things overnight, but more often than not, it's done during the day.

o In my experience, Tuesdays and Thursdays are good days to go looking, especially Thursdays. I'm not sure if this is because they're trying to get product out for the weekend rush or just a quirk of scheduling, but I've found most of my stuff on those days.

o For the love of Primus, don't just cut open boxes or go rifling through ones that are already open. At the very least, it's rude. At worst, I've known of vindictive managers who'll kick people out of stores. However, looking at boxes loaded on a palette isn't quite as bad.

o If you ask an employee to help you, don't be pushy, and don't be offended if they turn you down.

o KB Toys gets a shipping manifest. Toys R Us can look up item codes and see approximate arrival dates. They tend to do this for people who are regular, reliable customers who are nice people. This is why the previous list is so important.

And this is my personal rule... if I ever hear a kid in a store who is looking for something I have in my hands, I always give it up. This past Christmas, I snuck a Cybertron Soundwave to a mom after her son was upset they couldn't find it. She said it probably just made her son's Christmas, and that was worth more to me than having him on the shelf ever could be. (*end warm fuzzy moment*)

News Credits: 17 · Mon Oct 08, 2007 9:34 am

http://www.schumanfamily.com/fatwallet/targetasin.php

I found this, it will let you look up a Target DPCI or ASIN number. It doesn't work with every DPCI number (such as 087-06-0905 - Evolution of a Hero) but it works with lots of others.

Might be useful for someone at some point.

News Credits: 3 · Tue Oct 09, 2007 5:40 pm

Does someone know the DCPI for Voyager Blackout?

News Credits: 17 · Wed Oct 10, 2007 2:33 pm

Highbeam wrote:Does someone know the DCPI for Voyager Blackout?

Sadly it's going to be the same DPCI as every other Voyager except the G1 Starscream. 087-06-1021.

If your looking for Blackout though, you might want to try Toys R Us. I have seen quite a few of the "Desert Sneak Attack" sets showing up again here in Lansing.

News Credits: 1082 · Wed Oct 10, 2007 6:36 pm

JTKranix wrote:
Highbeam wrote:Does someone know the DCPI for Voyager Blackout?

Sadly it's going to be the same DPCI as every other Voyager except the G1 Starscream. 087-06-1021.

If your looking for Blackout though, you might want to try Toys R Us. I have seen quite a few of the "Desert Sneak Attack" sets showing up again here in Lansing.

Actually I was just at the Westland TRu and they had Blackout, and also the Westland Target and Ford Rd. Walmart had him, I believe.

News Credits: 3 · Wed Oct 10, 2007 7:15 pm

tigertracks 24 wrote:Actually I was just at the Westland TRu and they had Blackout, and also the Westland Target and Ford Rd. Walmart had him, I believe.

I'm going out there tomorrow now! I hope one of them still has him! *fingers crossed*

News Credits: 3 · Thu Oct 11, 2007 10:12 pm

tigertracks 24 wrote:Actually I was just at the Westland TRU and they had Blackout, and also the Westland Target and Ford Rd. Walmart had him, I believe.

I found him!!! Thank you so much! He was at the Westland TRU (the Walmart and Target didn't have any). Thankyouthankyouthankyou!!!

He is now guarding my computer while mini Scorpy bothers deluxe Scorponok :b

News Credits: 1082 · Fri Oct 12, 2007 5:29 am

Highbeam wrote:
tigertracks 24 wrote:Actually I was just at the Westland TRU and they had Blackout, and also the Westland Target and Ford Rd. Walmart had him, I believe.

I found him!!! Thank you so much! He was at the Westland TRU (the Walmart and Target didn't have any). Thankyouthankyouthankyou!!! He is now guarding my computer while mini Scorpy bothers deluxe Scorponok :b

Again, you are quite welcome.

Sat Oct 13, 2007 9:05 pm

Hey guys, you can get UPC numbers and product and assortment numbers for most of the movie toys (as well as a fairly complete, interactive checklist) here:

http://www.shmax.com/Database/422?tab=0

Here's Cybertron:
http://www.shmax.com/Database/238?tab=0

You can register with the site if you like, and not only "tag" the toys you own (and get a sig like mine), but also add missing items to the database yourself. The site's still in "beta", but I'm always ready for more brave tester types.

- shmax

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Hunting Hints--For Collectors, By Collectors--

UPCs for Movie Toys, Cybertron

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