The Energon Pub

Fri Jan 02, 2009 1:34 pm

OK, so I have tried searching Google, and forums but I cannot seem to find what I want.

When transformers first hit the shelfs back in the mid 80's how much were they?

I am especially curious about Optimus Prime and Megatron, but in general, I think this would be good info to include into knowledge bases dealing with transformer history.

Thanks to anyone who can provide prices, or a site that has such a listing already.

Fri Jan 02, 2009 1:40 pm

I remember back in 1984, when I bought my first G1s, which were Optimus Prime and Skywarp....Prime was $11.49....Skywarp was $4.99 (I think)......I remember Prime because I wanted it earlier, but my dad was not willing to spend that kind of money on a toy, so I had to save up for it.

My, how times have changed! :grin:

Fri Jan 02, 2009 1:45 pm

Awesome! Thanks!

Wow I thought it was more expensive than that, but I was six years old.

thanks for replying.

News Credits: 2 · Fri Jan 02, 2009 1:45 pm

I bought a boxed G1 Skywarp not too long ago. I paid $250 for it.

When it arrived there was an ancient price tag on it for $7.95.

It's at times like that I wonder, how on earth did I ever justify spending that much money.

News Credits: 3646 · Fri Jan 02, 2009 2:03 pm

Pyrostrata wrote:I remember back in 1984, when I bought my first G1s, which were Optimus Prime and Skywarp....Prime was $11.49....Skywarp was $4.99 (I think)......I remember Prime because I wanted it earlier, but my dad was not willing to spend that kind of money on a toy, so I had to save up for it.

My, how times have changed!

The figures were a lot more than that originally. Hasbro has done a pretty good job of keeping similar sized figures around the same price range for the past 25 years.

News Credits: 3646 · Fri Jan 02, 2009 2:18 pm

powertower wrote:OK, so I have tried searching Google, and forums but I cannot seem to find what I want.

When transformers first hit the shelfs back in the mid 80's how much were they?

I am especially curious about Optimus Prime and Megatron, but in general, I think this would be good info to include into knowledge bases dealing with transformer history.

Thanks to anyone who can provide prices, or a site that has such a listing already.

I'm not sure if a project like this has been completed for any of the TF sites out there. I've wanted to put this information together for quite a long time. If you look back through some of my galleries of G1 figures, you can see price tags on some of the original boxes. Here are a few to give you an idea ...

Insecticon Kickback

Triplechanger Astrotrain

Monsterbot Doublecross

Powermaster Optimus Prime

Beast Wars Deluxe Cheetor

Kmart Legends Jazz

Fri Jan 02, 2009 2:33 pm

Thanks everyone!

I do hope a new "original cost" category could be added to the database of TF info.

Thanks Again for all of your inputs!, but feel free to keep them comming!

News Credits: 1 · Fri Jan 02, 2009 2:45 pm

The limbs to the Combiners (Menasor, Superion, Bruticus etc.) were $3.99. I still have some of the cards from the ones I bought from way back when. I think the team leaders of those guys were around $11.99.

News Credits: 3646 · Fri Jan 02, 2009 3:01 pm

Here are a few more pictures that I took for you for reference:

Dinobot Grimock
$12.99 @ Sav-On

Deluxe Insecticon Venom
$13.88 @ Ace Hardware

Skywarp
$12.99 @ Target

Ramjet
$13.99 @ Sears

Micromaster Combiner Anti-Aircraft Base
$17.99 @ KB Toys (on sale for $7.99)

Micromaster Base Groundshaker
$14.99 - Unknown Store

Blurr
$8.97 (on sale) @ Kmart (original price unknown)

Sixchanger Quickswitch
$17.99 @ Toys R Us

Deluxe Targetmaster Quake
$6.99 - Unknown Store

Deluge
$7.97 @ Kmart

News Credits: 3646 · Fri Jan 02, 2009 3:24 pm

powertower wrote:OK, so I have tried searching Google, and forums but I cannot seem to find what I want.

When transformers first hit the shelfs back in the mid 80's how much were they?

I am especially curious about Optimus Prime and Megatron, but in general, I think this would be good info to include into knowledge bases dealing with transformer history.

Thanks to anyone who can provide prices, or a site that has such a listing already.

If I recall correctly, Optimus Prime and Megatron were around $22 to $25. Soundwave was around $18 to $20. Jetfire and Metroplex were around $30. I believe Trypticon was around $50. Fortress Maximus was between $80 and $100 (I can't remember). The original G1 Pretenders were around the $10 to $13 I think. Mini-bots were around $2 to $3 a piece. The combiner limbs were originally around $4 or $5. The Cassette two packs were also around $5.

News Credits: 5 · Fri Jan 02, 2009 3:51 pm

Crossblades was £7.99 if that's any help.

News Credits: 4 · Fri Jan 02, 2009 4:39 pm

I recall Optimus Prime being somewhere around $30...

I definately recall Powermaster Prime being more than $26 though...

News Credits: 3646 · Fri Jan 02, 2009 6:58 pm

typh0id wrote:I recall Optimus Prime being somewhere around $30...

I definately recall Powermaster Prime being more than $26 though...

He wasn't. Did you see the picture above?

News Credits: 12 · Fri Jan 02, 2009 7:04 pm

Seibertron wrote:
powertower wrote:OK, so I have tried searching Google, and forums but I cannot seem to find what I want.

When transformers first hit the shelfs back in the mid 80's how much were they?

I am especially curious about Optimus Prime and Megatron, but in general, I think this would be good info to include into knowledge bases dealing with transformer history.

Thanks to anyone who can provide prices, or a site that has such a listing already.

I'm not sure if a project like this has been completed for any of the TF sites out there. I've wanted to put this information together for quite a long time. If you look back through some of my galleries of G1 figures, you can see price tags on some of the original boxes. Here are a few to give you an idea ...

Insecticon Kickback

Triplechanger Astrotrain

Monsterbot Doublecross

Powermaster Optimus Prime

Beast Wars Deluxe Cheetor

Kmart Legends Jazz

LOL I rember ben franklin we had one in st louis got all my G1 there. My mom and I would walk there and if I was good I'd get one. :mrgreen:

News Credits: 104 · Fri Jan 02, 2009 8:49 pm

I remember my original Prowl was $9.99 from Kmart.

News Credits: 4 · Fri Jan 02, 2009 9:56 pm

Seibertron wrote:
typh0id wrote:I recall Optimus Prime being somewhere around $30...

I definately recall Powermaster Prime being more than $26 though...

He wasn't. Did you see the picture above?

Yes, certainly I did, in fact my comment was in direct response to that pic...Just saying that either that one was on sale or discounted or where mine was purchased from was way overcharging...

News Credits: 5 · Sat Jan 03, 2009 3:42 am

Well I decided to dig out a few boxes (have a couple matresses blocking them, and will try to dig out more and take a couple pictures in the next couple days).

Battletrap- TRU- $6.95
Jetfire- Jafco?- $29.95 (on sale for $25.97)
Gnaw- TRU- $13.97
Soundwave- Jafco- $14.95
Motormaster- KMart- $11.97
Wreck-Gar- Fred Meyer- $13.87 (not sure if that was the original price, there is another sticker under it)
Metroplex- TRU- $32.97

News Credits: 7 · Sat Jan 03, 2009 3:53 am

Jetfire - 28.88$ at Bradlees (got it last year for 144$)

News Credits: 1 · Sat Jan 03, 2009 10:18 am

I am almost certian that Fortress Maximus was $99.99. Funny how he's worth 15 to 20 times that now.

News Credits: 104 · Sat Jan 03, 2009 10:38 am

Ok I found these cards from the Monsterbots.
They were regular $4.97 from Kmart.

To view the whole pix (if it is cut off) right click on the image and then click "view image"

News Credits: 3646 · Sat Jan 03, 2009 11:15 am

typh0id wrote:
Seibertron wrote:
typh0id wrote:I recall Optimus Prime being somewhere around $30...

I definately recall Powermaster Prime being more than $26 though...

He wasn't. Did you see the picture above?

Yes, certainly I did, in fact my comment was in direct response to that pic...Just saying that either that one was on sale or discounted or where mine was purchased from was way overcharging...

He was definitely under $30 ... Metroplex was around $30. The TRU reissue with Godbomber was $50 so it would make sense that the toy was originally under $30 given the markups on the reissue toys.

News Credits: 104 · Sat Jan 03, 2009 11:29 am

I remember picking up Omega Supreme for around $30 as well.

Optimus was around $20.

Sat Jan 03, 2009 11:44 am

I remember buying G1 Swoop at ShopKo for $15.00 with birthday money I got from my uncle. It's days like that one never forgets. :grin:

The price tag on my G1 Scorponok says $38 from Children's Palace. He was a Christmas present in 1987.

News Credits: 104 · Sat Jan 03, 2009 11:48 am

Another price I remember, Fort Max from 1988 was $89.99 from TRU. I had exactly $100 and was able to snag him right before Christmas that year.

News Credits: 12 · Sat Jan 03, 2009 12:29 pm

Does anybody have a bumblebee or cliff jumper minibot moc or a price. I kinda thought they were 3.99 and my mom said it was too expensive so i never got any. :sad: