The Energon Pub

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 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!

Awesome! Thanks!

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

thanks for replying.

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.

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.

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

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!

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.

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

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.

Crossblades was £7.99 if that's any help.

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

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

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?

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.

I remember my original Prowl was $9.99 from Kmart.

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...

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

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

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

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"

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.

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

Optimus was around $20.

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.

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

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.

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.