The Energon Pub

News Credits: 2024 · by **Hotrod** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 6:02 pm

Counterpunch wrote:
Hotrod wrote:This was so good and informative, I posted it in the news.

Holy Crap! Something other than obscenities got me on the front page of the news!

Thanks boss!

I hope to do more articles like this if people can stand to read it.

Very cool

by **soundwave13c** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 6:17 pm

greatest artical ive read so far. very intertaning cp

by **Pierrimus** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 6:45 pm

What irks me the most is the fact that Wal Mart doesn't seem to think our store is important enough. I have yet to see any of the 2nd or 3rd wave Alternators and the eBay prices/competition for these figures is off the scale!

Back when Armada was around I thought, oh I'll wait for Starscream to go to clearance, bad move. Ended up spending about $40 just to get a Japanese version of him.

Did not get and am still hoping at some point to pick up an Energon Swoop/Grimlock pack. They never were at my Wal Mart/Kmart and I kept looking for them at Target during that time...nada.

I was able to pick up the Classics Ultra Magnus vs. Skywarp package off eBay after checking 4 different Sacramento, CA (this is the state capitol) area Targets for almost twice a week when the toy was supposed to be in stores. Yes, I was perhaps lucky to have only paid $10 more than the retail price.

The market's fickle. I definitely agree on the whole pay now or pay later mantra. The only exception is that sometimes you want to wait to see if the repaints will be more to your liking. I did this with several of the Cybertron toys. I preferred Galvatron over Megatron, liked Skyshadow over Jetfire, this time I decided more Decepticon character repaints were better than some of the original Autobot toys.

Of course, I then broke that rule entirely with the Movie toys. I probably bought every single one as soon as I saw them, especially if they were on sale. Now I wish I'd waited for the repaints. Those G1 styled Ratchet, Jazz and Starscream toys are much more interesting. And I'm out of free cash to play with...

Great article and topic.

Thanks.

Like Prowl76 on Facebook · by **Prowl76** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 7:33 pm

Very good and very agreeable. i buy from ebay as well as stores and have noticed these price jumps but never thought about it much other than that the movie was coming/out.

News Credits: 3 · by **Collector Maximus** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 7:43 pm

Counterpunch wrote:
Xgamer wrote:"why would I live and die in WM?"

It's a reference to the absurd amount of time we spend in and the crazy hours at which time we visit Wal Mart.

I mean, going into WalMart at 1 am because you know that's when they take break and the pallets are otherwise unguarded...

that's not right.

Good read. A lot of truth in there. I would like to point out that deals, or at least lower prices, CAN be had if you research sources and are VERY persistent. Or at least this had been the case before the movie came out. I do expect there to be a period when prices start decreasing as interest and popularity subside between or after the release of subsequent movies.

on another note...

At Wal Mart They start bringing the pallets out at 10:00 pm, and around here they go on break at 12 am, thus leaving the pallets ungaurded.
Yes,
I've known that for years and I lhad a good laugh when read it in your post.

News Credits: 1 · by **Relic Dinobot** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 7:45 pm

Very nice article and a good read at that. And so true from start to finish, too. And it's people like fan-boy#7 that've made me start to collect less and less TFs, up to the point of a few figures per line.

Well, 'cept for Classics. Just need to find a good-priced Devastator somewhere on eBay now (like that'll happen anytime soon. :roll:

)

Website · by **Flux Convoy** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 8:03 pm

Hey, great article bud. I'd love to read more. I'm with you on all those points and sometimes wish I had the violence in me to knock sweaty fan boy #7's teeth out. Maybe my split persona will do it for me. No wait, that's your schtick!

News Credits: 5 · by **--B--** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 8:14 pm

Do you pay a group rate at your psychiatrist?

Just kidding. Great read, so refreshing to see a little smarts on the boards.

News Credits: 127 · by **Counterpunch** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 8:15 pm

Flux Convoy wrote:Hey, great article bud. I'd love to read more. I'm with you on all those points and sometimes wish I had the violence in me to knock sweaty fan boy #7's teeth out. Maybe my split persona will do it for me. No wait, that's your schtick!

Actually, that's his schtick..

(I hate him so much...)

:grin:

by **Dclone Soundwave** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 8:39 pm

Good read. I noticed a lot of the stuff you put in there is what I've seen happen. That's why I always try to buy everything when it first comes out, or else some of it will sky rocket. Again, good read.

News Credits: 9 · by **Zeds** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 8:53 pm

I have never read such a well thought out post on a fanbased website before. Puts my 'completist' inclinations into perspective and the fact that I choose TF collecting as a form of investment and enjoyment instead of those damn Mutual Funds that are screwed from yet another Corporate scandal of white collar crime more often than not! Can't really display Mutual Funds so well in one's space as welll as one's G1 TFs (see attached pic for proof).

Well done Counterpunch! Look forward to more of these from you. In fact you should be applauded and in fact I will :APPLAUSE:

News Credits: 70 · by **Sideshow Sideswipe** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 9:07 pm

Great article! I'm kicking myself for not replacing my broken G1 prowl BEFORE the movie.

News Credits: 7 · by **Geekee1** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 9:18 pm

I've been anticipating this article ever since you mentioned it to Ryan last month. I am not disappointed.

It seems that I have already been following Rule #1 since I got back into collecting. And so far it hasn't gone wrong for me. In fact I practiced it today when I saw Voyager Megatron at Wal Mart. Although it seems that I haven't had near the difficulty that a lot of people on this board have had getting the movie toys.

Keep it up CP, I'll be looking forward to more of these!

by **Cliff Jumper** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 9:45 pm

awesome cp. Very true.

by **YouFearGalvatron** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 9:49 pm

g1transformers wrote:I have never read such a well thought out post on a fanbased website before. Puts my 'completist' inclinations into perspective and the fact that I choose TF collecting as a form of investment and enjoyment instead of those damn Mutual Funds that are screwed from yet another Corporate scandal of white collar crime more often than not! Can't really display Mutual Funds so well in one's space as welll as one's G1 TFs (see attached pic for proof).

Well done Counterpunch! Look forward to more of these from you. In fact you should be applauded and in fact I will

Oh my...noe THAT is a collection! If those are all originals, and MISB...if you sold those individually...you would have WELL OVER $10,000 US.

I am going to be sick...of jealousy.

Great article, CP. Keep them coming, we need more discussion within the fandom regarding the collector's market. It is something I often think about but never hear enough of.

by **SnipeShade** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 9:50 pm

this made me smile. this made me cry.

Good day, sir.

:sad:

(nother words, good read for me)

by **Nemesis_Apoc** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 10:47 pm

Dudes, you rock.

by **Satanatron** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 11:55 pm

Tell me about it. Looking for Alternators like Camshaft or even Binaltech has been a pain in the ass. I was lucky enough to find Alternators Swerve.

Don't get me started on Decepticharge or Rumble and Ravage.

by **Shin Optimus Prime** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 12:16 am

g1transformers wrote:I have never read such a well thought out post on a fanbased website before. Puts my 'completist' inclinations into perspective and the fact that I choose TF collecting as a form of investment and enjoyment instead of those damn Mutual Funds that are screwed from yet another Corporate scandal of white collar crime more often than not! Can't really display Mutual Funds so well in one's space as welll as one's G1 TFs (see attached pic for proof).

Well done Counterpunch! Look forward to more of these from you. In fact you should be applauded and in fact I will

Wow, G1Transformers!! I don't know how you did it (going bankrupt maybe?), but that my friend is one SWEET boxed collection. I feel like I'm in Toys R Us in 1984-1988 all over again! I miss the days when the shelves looked like your picture. And I agree with you on G1 Snarl, although I never had him (still wish I did and DO), just had G1 Grimlock, but yes, bring back the glory days of die-cast! At least we still have Takara to count on for that. By the way, if you know of a good place to get a G1 Snarl, let me know.

Anyway, I know that was a bit long and slightly off-topic, but as far as stock goes, I really think some places are just a bit later than others. I live in New Port Richey, FL (yeah, I'm sure very few of you have even ever heard of it). I don't know exactly when Alternators Ravage and Rumble were first released, but I JUST found them in a nearby Wal-mart about a week or so ago. And not just one or two... there were about 5 or 6 EACH. Naturally, since I was afraid I would never see them again, I got one of each. Also, if anyone wants those, I can swing by again and try to grab some if they're still there. Just let me know...

News Credits: 668 · by **Autobot032** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 12:32 am

I have to agree with another poster...what if your store never gets them to begin with?

I've looked and looked and looked. '08 Bumblebee is nowhere to be found and I won't pay scalper prices. I'm willing to wait a little bit longer, but past a certain point I will give up.

This is ridiculous. I realize Hasbro wasn't expecting this kind of demand, but once it kicked in, they should've upped production overall.

I've yet to see any real change in that.

by **Cyber-Kun** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 1:20 am

very good read.

by **Toyotus Superion** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 3:27 am

Sniping us on ebay eh? Getting up early in the morning eh? Well! That just means I have to play the "employee card" and start hoarding stuff in our store room till I can buy it! Rule 4: Do what you have to!

by **Homer** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 10:00 am

Thanks for the effort into that one CP, mighty enjoyable read that was.

...and look at all the groupies you're getting as a result!

by **noctorro** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 12:11 pm

Nice column!

Indeed I do buy all the lines except Alternators, Masterpiece and Titanium (had a lot of 'm but I like the other lines better). Sometimes deals on ebay are good, a lot for a good price with some shipping costs.

But for a guy like me in The Netherlands, we cannot live without ebay/paypal! We always get 2/3 of the line and never see the really good figures.
But we Europeans make more money 240 euro's a week = 330 USD and that's 40 hours of work. Still the transport costs minimize any advantage

My only hope is more reissue's, I hate to buy an old Headmaster Chromedome with loose joints incomplete for 60 usd. Hell, I hate to buy an old Chromedome, give me a reissue any day, I'm not a vintage-collector I just like the toys and designs etc.

News Credits: 8 · by **Liege Evilmus** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 6:22 pm

I bet this got real good, but I couldn't sit through you debate with yourself!?!

If I'm wrong and you had someone with you in writing this, I'm sorry for that. I know sometimes saying things outload can help you mull them over, but JEEZ, that was way to detailed and I didn't get past line 4!