The Energon Pub

News Credits: 241 · Tue Jul 20, 2010 9:17 am

Counterpunch wrote:
JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Counterpunch, about the Seacon giftsets:

For the US market, Nautilator was left out of the gift set, not Overbite even though he is the main weapon for Piranacon. The Japanese release, King Poseidon had all six Seacons. Overbite did have a plastic color that was unique to him: purple. That may have been changed to make him fit better.

Right, you're right.

I still think that there's some kind of issue with the grouping of the molds. They may have decided originally to include Overbite instead of Nautilator, but that doesn't preclude Overbite from being a separate production piece.

I'm not sure if I'm making sense...

As in, Overbite not being gang-molded with the rest of the Seacons? Unlikely, all combiner limbs have their own plastic colors as far as I know. Overbite's original intention was probably to stand out as he was the designated gun. Then again, sharing colors between the limbs is one sign of gang-molding...

News Credits: 129 · Tue Jul 20, 2010 9:25 am

Stixx wrote:crap

Contribute...or don't.

News Credits: 5 · Tue Jul 20, 2010 10:07 am

I like to shop at BBTS. Originally, I was eager and can't wait to order one. But after Diem pictures, Snap Trap with green head and Overbite pink color, I just decided not to order one. I would've canceled my order to any retail not just BBTS.

News Credits: 767 · Tue Jul 20, 2010 10:13 am

Sid Burn wrote:
Dead Metal wrote:You keep forgetting that this is not just exclusive to BBTS, but also to Robotkingdom and Kapow toys, the later literally just a guy who started not too long ago, the quality will not only affect BBTS but these guys too.

not sure why that would inspire me to lay down my cash for a botched reissue. impossible toys is a small operation too, but I am not going to buy their botched arcee either, looks like a dollar store TF knockoff.

the quality is hasbro's issue, in terms of the online stores supplying this thing...buyer beware.

Wasn't directed at you or meant to make people buy this thing, it was just meant to break up the whole notion of this only effecting BBTS.

News Credits: 7 · Tue Jul 20, 2010 10:35 am

Counterpunch wrote:
Stixx wrote:crap

Contribute...or don't.

OK, here is my rant.

Yay, they reissue the Seacons. It does not affect me, I do not collect G1s. Now, Hasbro releases them with QC issues. This s a disrespect to all TF fans. A third Party company is releasing something of their, that they stopped and reworked the mold to fix QC issues and Hasbro says, "Ok, Whatever. They don't make up much of our Buying percentage anyway." Most likely this will never become a big or recognized because it is marketed directly to the fans. We cannot get something big, and so what, it really doesn't matter that much to them. Out of the total revenue that they make a year, we have to represent probably 0.5% of the total revenue, and that is generous. Now, These Issues are easily fixed. Yes, you may have to Buy old parts to do so, or just get your retailer to send you a new one. Big Whoop. Alright, now to you who whine about bad stickers. I have read that there are very easy ways to remove all sorts of stickers. Most decals can be removed to. So shut up, it ain't that hard. Most likely we will be seeing a set of Stickers on Reprolabels that will solve it. Also, I don't know how accurate these are to the G1s, but they seem pretty spot on, except for minor paint apps and plastic innacuracies. OK, like seriously, You wanted them reissued and you think Hasbro is just going to give you them back. No. They are going to change it slightly so you can differentiate between the original and this one and the TFCC one. You can guy old pieces to replace them. If you want to have it just like G1, which is an obsession that is not going to be filled, then go ahead. Spend 20 bucks more, it ain't gonna kill ya. If you want to have him MISB, then why the heck are you complaining. Are you going to tell me that you can tel if your Seacons are missing stuff while they are in their box. So seriously people, be happy they were reissued...again. This is your third chance to pick it up. If you are going to complain when you missed out on this, then so be it, I know there will be many that do. And CP, I put that because yo were not making any sense, confusing everyone else, sorry if it mad you angry.

An Angry Stixx

News Credits: 129 · Tue Jul 20, 2010 10:40 am

Stixx wrote:And CP, I put that because yo were not making any sense, confusing everyone else, sorry if it mad you angry.

An Angry Stixx

JelZe GoldRabbit got what I was getting at.

...and I can't get mad. I'm too pretty to get mad.

Tue Jul 20, 2010 11:38 am

Just read through the whole thread.

I'm on the fence now. All those "but the originals cost $200+" arguments aside, I still think that $60 plus shipping is a lot of money. I've pre-ordered from BBTS, at least in part because I want this reissue to do well. If it does well, it increases the changes of getting OTHER reissues in the future (to say nothing about the potential for such oddball items as Action Master Thundercracker).

But I do already have the TCC version. To hear that the existing mold-issues with that version have not only NOT been corrected, but may indeed even be worse, is disheartening. To learn that missing and mis-assembled parts are increasingly commonplace is annoying. Even if BBTS is able to make it right (and my understanding is that they'll even handle return postage, whereas Fun Publications never even offered to reimburse me for mailing back Shattered Glass Cyclonus to them so I could get a correctly-assembled specimen), that takes additional time and effort that, frankly, I'm not sure I want to bother with.

Add to all this the upcoming MP Grimlock and Predaking sets, both of which I look to drop a lot of money on, too.

So, I haven't canceled the pre-order yet, but I'm getting close to doing so.

News Credits: 2 · Tue Jul 20, 2010 12:26 pm

Counterpunch wrote:Technically, the quality issue is a Takara-Tomy problem.

Hasbro can be blamed for deco choices, but TakTomy manages the daily interaction and QC for asian factory production.

not sure why I wrote hasbro, meant takara, my mistake.

News Credits: 2 · Tue Jul 20, 2010 12:29 pm

Dead Metal wrote:Wasn't directed at you or meant to make people buy this thing, it was just meant to break up the whole notion of this only effecting BBTS.

no worries, my response wasnt meant to be a comeback, just the idea that corporate loyalty doesnt make any sense. No reason for anyone to order something they wont be happy with just to support a corporation.

in the end, if someone doesnt mind the work involved, and cannot or does not want to spring for a vintage piranacon I can see the appeal of the set.

Its not ideal though, I personally take a lot of joy in applying stickers, not sure why they had to be pre applied. I certainly do NOT take any joy in searching ebay for parts to something I just bought.

News Credits: 609 · Tue Jul 20, 2010 12:48 pm

Counterpunch wrote:I'm too pretty to get mad.

And I'm too mad to get pretty.

Anyway, I'm still going to buy this. I love the chrome on it, and I actually like the pink Overbite.

Wed Jul 21, 2010 1:18 pm

So, just to satisfy my own curiosity, it seems that the complaints are coming from people who have opened the Seacons, the way god intended toys to be enjoyed.

My question is for those who are MISB-ing this reissue. Does the lack of parts or mold problems bug you if you're not opening this? I ask because, rightfully so, people are upset that they've opened the set and it's hard problems, but I guess that might not be the biggest of problems to MISB collectors. So, I really am just curious.

By the by, not to sound like an elitist or anything, because I'm not, but I've got an original, a God Neptune and a TFCC set of Seacons and I can't say I've ever noticed any/all/most of these mold issues. Maybe I should go home and examine them a bit more closely, or maybe I just got lucky three times over.

Wed Jul 21, 2010 3:16 pm

Has anybody else who has received their Seacons had problems with missing parts? I pre-ordered from BBTS (something I don't do very often due to postage costs to the UK) and don't want to cancel if these missing parts are rare.

Molding issues (given the age of the molds) and wonky decals I can live with, but missing parts is a worry. :-(

News Credits: 36 · Thu Jul 22, 2010 11:45 am

harrogatebantam31 wrote:Has anybody else who has received their Seacons had problems with missing parts? I pre-ordered from BBTS (something I don't do very often due to postage costs to the UK) and don't want to cancel if these missing parts are rare.

Molding issues (given the age of the molds) and wonky decals I can live with, but missing parts is a worry.

Mate, may I recommend either Kapow Toys or Toyz and Gamez?

I've used both with no issues, they are UK based so you won't get stung for customs and the price works out pretty comaparable to BBTS by the time you factor in the postage...

Thu Jul 22, 2010 12:37 pm

RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:These QC issues are unacceptable for such a high-priced item.

You think $60 is a high-priced item? That is price for a new copy of Transformers: War For Cybertron. :shock:

Thu Jul 22, 2010 12:44 pm

Cyberstrike wrote:
RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:These QC issues are unacceptable for such a high-priced item.

You think $60 is a high-priced item? That is price for a new copy of Transformers: War For Cybertron.

I'm not sure how the price of a video game is relevant....

For TF toys, $60 is high-priced. Whether or not the Seacons are worth it aside, $60 puts them squarely in the "high-priced" category.

News Credits: 3 · Thu Jul 22, 2010 12:48 pm

G.B. Blackrock wrote:For TF toys, $60 is high-priced. Whether or not the Seacons are worth it aside, $60 puts them squarely in the "high-priced" category.

I prefer to think of it as 6 $10 toys conveniently packaged together.

News Credits: 11 · Thu Jul 22, 2010 1:09 pm

^ Exactly, if you think of it that way, it's not that bad at all.

G.B. Blackrock wrote:
Cyberstrike wrote:
RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:These QC issues are unacceptable for such a high-priced item.

You think $60 is a high-priced item? That is price for a new copy of Transformers: War For Cybertron.

I'm not sure how the price of a video game is relevant....

For TF toys, $60 is high-priced. Whether or not the Seacons are worth it aside, $60 puts them squarely in the "high-priced" category.

Compared to the cost of Takara-reissued combiners, $60 is a steal.

News Credits: 129 · Thu Jul 22, 2010 1:14 pm

G.B. Blackrock wrote:
Cyberstrike wrote:
RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:These QC issues are unacceptable for such a high-priced item.

You think $60 is a high-priced item? That is price for a new copy of Transformers: War For Cybertron.

I'm not sure how the price of a video game is relevant....

For TF toys, $60 is high-priced. Whether or not the Seacons are worth it aside, $60 puts them squarely in the "high-priced" category.

It's a death by degrees kind of issue, but GB has a point.

Even Hasbro considers figures above $40 to be the start of their "high" price point.

When it comes to collectors, those collectors who would care about this, $60 probably isn't the high water line. I think that's really around $100 where people start pulling back.

Thu Jul 22, 2010 2:09 pm

Pretender Skywarp wrote:
harrogatebantam31 wrote:Has anybody else who has received their Seacons had problems with missing parts? I pre-ordered from BBTS (something I don't do very often due to postage costs to the UK) and don't want to cancel if these missing parts are rare.

Molding issues (given the age of the molds) and wonky decals I can live with, but missing parts is a worry.

Mate, may I recommend either Kapow Toys or Toyz and Gamez?

I've used both with no issues, they are UK based so you won't get stung for customs and the price works out pretty comaparable to BBTS by the time you factor in the postage...

Starman! I have just ordered the Seacons, free postage is excellent from Toyz and Gamez!

Cheers

News Credits: 14 · Thu Jul 22, 2010 2:57 pm

60 for Hasbro seems to be their high end Collectible price.

Last figure that had this price was 25th Anniversary G1 Optimus Prime, and he sure as hell was not worth it.

I think 60 bucks for 6 figures and a ton of accessories, including guns, stands, swords, gestalt pieces etc. is pretty good and not high at all. I really don't see how it could be any cheaper without sacrificing any more quality or accessories or Nautilator

.

Hell Predaking is going for 180 or so bucks. Yes its diecast, and the figures are larger than these guys, but its still triple this guy with one figure less. I'm sure a Takara release would be over 100 dollars.

I'm keeping the pre-order in hopes this is a one off QC issue that will not plague the rest of the sets. Hopefully the rest of the Nautilators will have a properly secured combiner peg.

Not too concerned about the stickers.

If enough of these guys sell as Online exclusives, it my nudge Hasbro to release more figures like this that they wouldn't otherwise release through Toys R' Us. And for us international customers without Toys R' Us anywhere, it avoids having to pay a markup to get the exclusive figure from another source.

Thu Jul 22, 2010 5:43 pm

Ok, I just read through this whole discussion and frankly, I think a lot of you guys are totally over-reacting.

So many people canceling their pre-orders just because 1 guy had couple problems? Give me a break! Man, can collectors blow things out of proportion.

Ok, so the problems Diem's first Piranacon had were: the same mold degradation visible on the TFCC version, loose Overbite beast arm & gun, sprue plastic on Tentakill, stickers sloppily applied, right Seawing gun missing, missing connector rod for Nautilator's combining peg.
To be fair, that's a lot of QC issues.

He got another one and the only problem with it, other than the stickers and mold degradation, is that one of Skalor's fists was assembled upside-down. Easily fixable, and it seems a very common problem with a lot of modern TF's.

So, because of that people are freaking like the sky is falling! Labelling it a "botched reissue" and so on.

The best part of this discussion is the people who were going to leave it MISB complaining about the above issues and cancelling orders because of it.
You're not even going to open it! What the hell do you care?! How could you even tell if anything was wrong with it?!

BBTS is a great company. If there is a problem with your Piranacon they will fix it.

Am I a little concerned that mine may be missing things or have other as yet un-discovered problems? Sure. But I've dealt with BBTS in the past and I'm confident that they will do all that they can to solve any issues that may arise.

My advice to any and all of you who are working yourselves into a lather over this: Calm. The Hell. Down!

News Credits: 3 · Thu Jul 22, 2010 7:49 pm

Shockwave 75 wrote:Ok, I just read through this whole discussion and frankly, I think a lot of you guys are totally over-reacting.

So many people canceling their pre-orders just because 1 guy had couple problems? Give me a break! Man, can collectors blow things out of proportion.

Ok, so the problems Diem's first Piranacon had were: the same mold degradation visible on the TFCC version, loose Overbite beast arm & gun, sprue plastic on Tentakill, stickers sloppily applied, right Seawing gun missing, missing connector rod for Nautilator's combining peg.
To be fair, that's a lot of QC issues.

He got another one and the only problem with it, other than the stickers and mold degradation, is that one of Skalor's fists was assembled upside-down. Easily fixable, and it seems a very common problem with a lot of modern TF's.

So, because of that people are freaking like the sky is falling! Labelling it a "botched reissue" and so on.

The best part of this discussion is the people who were going to leave it MISB complaining about the above issues and cancelling orders because of it.
You're not even going to open it! What the hell do you care?! How could you even tell if anything was wrong with it?!

BBTS is a great company. If there is a problem with your Piranacon they will fix it.

Am I a little concerned that mine may be missing things or have other as yet un-discovered problems? Sure. But I've dealt with BBTS in the past and I'm confident that they will do all that they can to solve any issues that may arise.

My advice to any and all of you who are working yourselves into a lather over this: Calm. The Hell. Down!

Given HasTak's record since the first batch of '08 Universe toys, and the first batch of Animated toys in the same year, you bet there will be concern about QC issues.

Seeing how the paint apps...obvous paint apps are missing, the QC will probably suck for a percentage of the stock. If you are familiar with what has been going on, there has been a big decline in QC for a while, but it picked up agin and has been pretty steady.

The problem is the collector. And not so much the problem but weighing how the QC issues have been, everyone wants to be sure they get a decent reissue of what I think is a great gestault. Now given the TFCC version has issues, this one falls in the same category.

A few questions buyes should ask before they buy:
Why spend $60 to take a chance on mold and paint issues?
Why go through packing up an item, sending it back, waiting, getting it, and it has the same or similar issues?
If you think there may be a problem, why spend your hard earn money.

If anyone has second thoughts about a purchase, then they have the right not to buy.

So how about You calm down, and let people make their own choice.

News Credits: 60 · Thu Jul 22, 2010 10:43 pm

@shockwave75. Welcome for your first post. Nice initial splash no? And you calm down to bro'......everyone is calm. :lol:

Btw, I agree 100% with bvxza, a bit of a scratch here, some degraded molding there is acceptable, but missing parts or mis assembled one, is a BIG pain to have replaced unless your source is local and the owner ain't a douche bag about product returns.

News Credits: 36 · Fri Jul 23, 2010 2:37 am

I posted a couple of pages back about how much the original Predacon re-issue cost, to put things in perspective.

To perspectivise (yes, I made that up) things a little more price wise, Encore-16: Bruticus was ¥8,000.

Thats about $92.00.

Yes there are some concerns, but the Seacons are a proper bargain IMO.

News Credits: 60 · Fri Jul 23, 2010 2:46 am

Our friend diem must have the serious case of bad luck. Mind you as I mentioned previously, been a victim of henkei Starscream two left leg syndrome too (x2) (like diem that's strike two) but thank Primus, just got my piranacon chrome version, aside from some mold degradation and loose connections, all are complete and no mis-assembled parts.