The Energon Pub

Wed Jul 01, 2009 8:32 am

Call me old fashioned, but I actually enjoy going through all the bots on the shelves. The fun is in the hunt.

News Credits: 46 · Sat Jul 11, 2009 10:32 am

Anyone have the DCPI for Target Bruticus Maximus?

Mon Jul 20, 2009 1:39 am

Thanks Dkaris, those are some good tips espically the one about stock being put out on wed/thurs. The target toy sale coming up is a good time to get stuff because with these high prices you need to save money. ($50 for a voyager? Come on!)

Mon Sep 14, 2009 8:59 pm

Scout around before you buy! Sometimes you should know whats popular and unpopular at certain stores.

News Credits: 3645 · Mon Feb 08, 2010 10:34 pm

Does anyone have the numbers for TRU exclusive Cybertron Mode Ratchet and Arcee yet?

News Credits: 2 · Mon Mar 01, 2010 10:46 pm

Talked with a TRU associate today. They've over stocked Freeway Jazz and Soundwave for 5 to 6 each and he told me they are not ordering anything new of the animated line if they cannot get rid of at least half of the current animated line figures. Guess just keep waiting. :sad:

News Credits: 9 · Wed Jun 30, 2010 12:51 pm

AAA discounts

use your AAA membership to receive discounts on online puchases through AAA.com

KMart.com 5% off

Kohls.com 15% discount on purchases of $100 or more (including sale items)

Target.com 10% off

follow link if you are member and enjoy savings
http://www.aaa.com

Sat Aug 07, 2010 1:54 pm

I picked up Animated Rodimus Minor and Ironhide today - don't know how it is with the other TRU stores, but mine had them mixed in with the Generations and HFTD deluxes, not on the Animated endcap.

Tue Sep 28, 2010 7:26 pm

Vapes wrote:Call me old fashioned, but I actually enjoy going through all the bots on the shelves. The fun is in the hunt.

I agree, after all, that IS how I found generations drift! (Topleftmost shelf at the VEEEEERRRRRY back.)

News Credits: 1 · Fri Dec 03, 2010 11:49 pm

I think that HasbroToyShop updates there site for new transformers around the begining of each month. They added RTS a few days back and Axor was at the begining of last month, along with other new HFTD.

Sat Mar 26, 2011 1:55 pm

I have many great Transformer auctions going on right now, including, Botcon redux and more to come!

Huge lot of 27 ROTF figures:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :MESELX:IT

Botcon Redux 2 box set:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :MESELX:IT

Botcon Giveaway Slicer:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :MESELX:IT

SDCC Soundwave:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :MESELX:IT

Mighty Mugg lot with Comic-con Prowl:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :MESELX:IT

Target Excluse Bruticus Maximus:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :MESELX:IT

News Credits: 1 · Tue May 10, 2011 12:41 pm

My advice would to do or have the following.

Work at, or know someone who works at a large retail chain store. This will help in finding those hard to get items before they come out.

Ask an employee to check current stock on hand in the back to see if there are any items you wish to purchase. Speaking to a store manager and advising him that you would like to make a large purchase of specific item will usually get their attention and cooperation.

Be there early and late. Some retailers will put out stock early in the morning but in some cases will pull out pallets of items the night before just before closing hours. You can check pallets if the employees dont mind, but keep in mind to clean up after yourself and dont leave items strewn about or in a jumble or you may not be welcome to look through those pallets again at a later date.

Keep in mind as well, those employees are people to. Dont demand anything from them, simple ask them if they arent busy at the moment to aid you in your search.

Above all else. Dont get discouraged if you dont find the items you are looking for. Time will eventually be on your side and it never hurts to wait a few extra days to get that special item.

News Credits: 3645 · Tue May 17, 2011 12:42 am

DOTM Target DCPI numbers posted here: http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/target-dark-of-the-moon-dpci-list/21647/. Thanks to Deceptigar for the info.

087-06-0794 Walkie Talkie Transformers 3 $14.99
087-06-1059 Transformers MV3 Ark Set $24.99
087-06-1530 Robo Power Battle Mask $9.99
087-06-1531 Mech Tech Optimus Prime $79.99
087-06-1559 Star Wars Transformers Class I $39.99
087-06-1630 Transformers Optimus Prime Helmet $29.99
087-06-2287 Transformers MV3 Activators $8.99
087-06-2288 Transformers MV3 Go Bots $9.99
087-06-2289 Transformers MV3 Revving Robot $19.99
087-06-2290 Transformers MV3 Megaverse Basic $4.99
087-06-2291 Transformers MV3 Megaverse Pl $7.99
087-06-2292 Transformers MV3 Cybertech Voyager $19.99
087-06-2293 Transformers MV3 Cybertech Deluxe $11.99
087-06-2294 Transformers MV3 Cybertech Leader $44.99
087-06-2309 Transformers MV3 Robo Fighters $9.99
087-06-2310 Transformers MV3 Bashbots Set $14.99
087-06-2311 Transformers MV3 Cyberverse Ac $14.99
087-06-2312 Transformers MV3 Human Alliance $29.99
087-06-2313 Transformers MV3 Basic Human Alliance $9.99
087-06-2314 Transformers MV3 Energon Shock $14.99
087-06-2321 Star Wars Transformers Class I $7.99

Wed Jul 27, 2011 2:04 pm

I go to targets, walmarts and a tru in really bad neighborhoods in Oakland and Richmond California. Most of the stock is on the floor or mixed up and don't expect any help, but not many people shop there for tf figures so I always find what I'm looking for.

Tue Sep 06, 2011 2:09 am

Go to Garage sales.

I see older people selling boxes of their grown childrens old toys for next to nothing all the time. I got a whole box full of G1's (and other 80's toys) for free. I even told the guy that they were worth money and he just said (Oh, well take'em! I was just gonna throw them all out haha...). I wish I'd had a bigger backseet.

I also just got a red Takara G1 Bumblee (see post) for a buck at the Goodwill.

I don't pay full price for NOTHIN.

News Credits: 3645 · Tue Sep 06, 2011 2:35 am

RustyRobotOil wrote:Go to Garage sales.

I see older people selling boxes of their grown childrens old toys for next to nothing all the time. I got a whole box full of G1's (and other 80's toys) for free. I even told the guy that they were worth money and he just said (Oh, well take'em! I was just gonna throw them all out haha...). I wish I'd had a bigger backseet.

I also just got a red Takara G1 Bumblee (see post) for a buck at the Goodwill.

I don't pay full price for NOTHIN.

This is great advice, especially your last sentence.

Out of curiosity, what area do you live near? I've never had luck doing garage sales. Do you have any advice on types of areas to hit? Long established neighborhoods? Do you often get lucky or do you go to a few dozen garage sales before finding something of interest?

Tue Sep 06, 2011 3:00 am

Seibertron wrote:
This is great advice, especially your last sentence.

Out of curiosity, what area do you live near? I've never had luck doing garage sales. Do you have any advice on types of areas to hit? Long established neighborhoods? Do you often get lucky or do you go to a few dozen garage sales before finding something of interest?

I live in the North West (US) and yes, it can be many, many sales before you find anything good. I've found the best places to usually be upscale neighborhoods with older residence. They spoiled their kids, they have storage space, they take good care of stuff, and they're usually too old to realize how collectable some of these old toys are. I never try to take advantage of people (like I said, I told an old guy that they were worth money before I let him give me a box of freebee’s, INCLUDING a complete Go-lion/Voltron) but if they’re selling, I’m buying!

Second hand stores like the Goodwill can be great places to look. They clear out whole estates and donation boxes without anyone having ever sorted through what was inside. I’ll find G1’s in various states of repair fairly regularly. They’re usually rough but they add up.

Thu Sep 22, 2011 7:19 am

Unfortunatly in the UK your better off going via EBay

I'll usually look for bulk lots on ebay( 20-50 Transformers), and drop £50-£100 on them for the 1-5 figures i want, then resell the rest.

It may be because i'm picky about the ones i want, but i only ever keep complete ones (ie all parts/accessories etc), and ones that i like (in the hope of making them complete if they are not already)

With the rest being resold on ebay as individual lots, it doesn't make alot of profit, if any at all, but does mean that i get to collect the ones i want, for quite cheap, yes non of them (or very few) will still be packaged, but its a far more cost effective (maybe not time effective) way of collecting, and i quite like the thrill fo the auction as well.

If your lucky enough to find good carboot/garage sales in the UK you might be in luck, but otherwise places like ebay are your best bet.

just my 2 pence

News Credits: 2 · Fri Nov 11, 2011 1:04 am

in addition to garage sales flea markets are great too. I got a powermaster prime for $5, a optimal optimus for $3, and an alternators sideswipe for $1!

Mon Jan 30, 2012 12:56 am

There are some great tips here, especially for a n00b like me! (I only recently realized that now that I'm an adult, I can buy my own toys!)

I see a lot of clothing stores mentioned though, and honestly, I'm a bit skeptical. What's everyone's opinion on stores like Kohls, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and Big Lots? I've found next to nothing at all but Kohls, which I never even thought to try. I will say that I recently had a surprising amount of success at Ross, so that will definitely be a store I check frequently. Are these stores to check only because they get such a random collection of stuff?

News Credits: 1 · Mon Feb 06, 2012 11:25 am

15 years of chasing mainline Hasbro Transformers has only taught me a few things. I've never had a friend in this hobby, so a lot of this has been hard learned, andmaybe seen as a bit underhanded. Some of it may have already been posted.

1. If you see something you want, buy it. You may never see it again.

2. If you see something you want, but can't afford it, hide it.

3. Kickplates are your friends. If you find something at a Toys R Us, or Target, almost all of them have kickplates that can fairly easily lift up and accomidate almost everything. Sometimes you lose, sometimes you win. part of the hunt.

4. If you're doing this, keep detailed notes with stores and locations. Come back when you have money.

5. Target exclusives nearly always go on clearance. Resets are done nearly quarterly, so keep an eye out. Those ROTF Bruticus and Superion both went on clearance, as did Ultra Magnus/Skywarp. Wish I would have picked up more.

6. Hide clearance items at Target. Everything in clearance will eventually be marked down to 75%. If you wait until the item is no longer out of their system, it isn't a problem, their Sapphires can bring up last price sold for.

7. Never pay full price, unless it is your last resort. Don't snap up RID Wheeljack or Soundwave at $15 just because they have them at TRU first. Both TRU and Target have sales frequently, take advantage of it.

8. If you don't have a ton of time to hunt, and don't want to waste a ton of gas, plan your route home from work that day as close to stores as possible. I'm lucky enough to have tons of stores on my route home, living off the 95/695 expanse in Maryland.

9. Use Previews. Internets pre-orders are great, but Previews also works. They only solicit in case assortments, in most cases, but if you've got friends you can always work out a split. I've never experienced any trouble with getting things filled.
And you know, I'm sure theres other stuff.

Fri Sep 14, 2012 9:32 am

I always try to wait and do my hunting at TJ Maxx, Marshalls and Ross, you always find nice figures for half the price of regular stores like TRU, Wal, and Target..., but unless it's a very nice figure that I know it probably will not make it to the TMR's stores I'll snatch it! hehe

maybe I should start hitting up some garage/yard sales and see what pops up, I'm lucky enough to have buddy here in VA that's a toy hunter as well, so sometimes we team up! haha

Thu Oct 11, 2012 9:39 am

Just a quick question I had about collecting.

I'm trying to get the whole fall of cybertron toyline (minus sdcc Bruticus... 300$ I'll pass haha) and I've been browsing and it seems like Hasbrotoyshop has the combaticons priced lower than anywhere else.

Should I order them through Hasbrotoyshop? Or is there a chance that I could get them cheaper when they hit the shelves?

Just kind of worried because this is the first time I'm trying to collect the whole set of figures from a toyline.

thanks

News Credits: 1 · Tue Oct 16, 2012 10:56 am

bonesy91 wrote:Just a quick question I had about collecting.

I'm trying to get the whole fall of cybertron toyline (minus sdcc Bruticus... 300$ I'll pass haha) and I've been browsing and it seems like Hasbrotoyshop has the combaticons priced lower than anywhere else.

Should I order them through Hasbrotoyshop? Or is there a chance that I could get them cheaper when they hit the shelves?

Just kind of worried because this is the first time I'm trying to collect the whole set of figures from a toyline.

thanks

I'll give you my opinion. If you really want these, then I would go ahead and buy them all off of HTS now. HTS is offering free shipping on orders over $50 for the time being. You'll still be charged tax but no shipping.

Pros to buying off HTS:
-No driving/gas for the hunt
-If they are all available, you can complete your Bruticus set (save gas $ again)
-HTS prices are the lowest you will see retail wise given the recent price increase ($14.99 compared with $15.89 or even $17 plus...see this thread http://www.seibertron.com/energonpub/wal-mart-price-hike-more-than-target-now-t88802.php

Cons:
-Possibility of finding them cheaper at a later date (how much later, who knows)
-Waiting (patience usually pays off, but you never know)

However, if you check BBTS or TFSource right now you can get FOC Optimus and Jazz for less than HTS ($8.99 on BBTS).

As an earlier post stated, if you see something you really want and can afford it, go ahead and buy it because you may not have the chance again. This is very true and has happened to me too many times. So, I would just ask yourself if you want these or if you really want these and go from there. Hope that helps.