The Energon Pub

I checked the Elgin Target and Wal-Mart as well as the Carpentersville Wal-Mart, Target and TRU and came up empty.

A friend was able to rummage through some rotf boxes ( I wont say which store)And I was able to get demolishor, starscream, sideways and rampage. The disturbing news was that while going through they're whole shipment, not ONE SOUNDWAVE! Doesnt seem like he made it into the first shipment! I hope I am wrong!

I visited the Wal-Mart, Target, TRU and Meijer in Bloomingdale and came up empty in terms of ROTF toys. Saw costumes at the TRU, but that was it.

One thing I am starting to notice is that some stores, especially TRU's, seem to be restocking toys from the first movie recently. I just saw some Real Gears at the Bloomingdale TRU and Deluxes at the Carpentersville TRU.

Why do I have this feeling that Hasbro screwed up and put the preview Soundwave and BB figs in regular boxes marked "Do not shelve until May 30"?

The following is my weekly Rockford report for all Wal-Marts, Targets, TRU, and KMart.

























Thank you.

On the other hand, if folks haven't picked up the KMart minicon exclusive 12 pack, the KMart on State St had four sets. They also had ROTF coloring books and junior novels out.

First-Aid wrote:Why do I have this feeling that Hasbro screwed up and put the preview Soundwave and BB figs in regular boxes marked "Do not shelve until May 30"?

The following is my weekly Rockford report for all Wal-Marts, Targets, TRU, and KMart.

























Thank you.

On the other hand, if folks haven't picked up the KMart minicon exclusive 12 pack, the KMart on State St had four sets. They also had ROTF coloring books and junior novels out.

Any sightings of the Movie novelization, yet?

JACKPOT!

Well guys, I bought just about everything last night at the Elgin Meijer, much to my surprise, after following a tip from diablien. The only items they didn't have out were the Gravity Bots and the Leader Class figs. I think I got there right at the right time. One of the employees had brought out a bunch of the ROTF cases, but they already had a bunch out in the actual aisle where TFs are plus on the endcap for the action figure aisle. Altogether, I bought 24 Transformers last night:

Bumblespud
8 Legends class figures
3 Voyager class figs (already owned Demolishor)
4 Robot Replicas
4 Fast Action Battlers
4 Scout Class figs

When I left, there was a Sideways there plus at least 3 cases of Deluxe figures sitting on the palette. Tons of movie helmets, bee's blaster, Bumblebspuds, Scout class figs, etc. I didn't see another case of Legends figures but maybe more got brought out after I left. They had a few cases of Robot Heroes (some of which were out already) as well as Robot Replicas, which hadn't been opened yet. There was also at least 2 Voyager cases on the palette, plus a few additional ones on the shelf.

I opened up a case of the deluxes ... there're only 5 unique figures in a case ... and no Soundwave! Hopefully there are loads of cases of him around with Bee that will get released at some point. Fortunately, I got Soundwave at the Activision event earlier this week in Vegas so you guys will get a gallery of him sooner than later.

It was pretty cool buying that many figs at once. I don't think I've bought that many at once since the release of Cybertron.

I also drove around to 4 other Meijers last night with little success. The Rolling Meadows Meijer had nothing ... I talked to the guy who was stocking the products and he said that that store was being extremely strict about the release date so we probably won't see the figures out early there. The St. Charles Meijer had nada. The Meijer off Boughton in Bollingbrook had squat except for a few cases that had just been put out of the Bee Helmets. I inquired about other TFs and the guy said "nope, not until the 30th" and started carrying the cases back. I then drove over to the other Meijer in Bollingbrook off Weber ... they had the TF endcap, but it had been picked through thoroughly. Some fabs, Robot Replicas, couple of Prime Voyagers, etc. No Scouts or Legends there.

I didn't see any Leader class figs or the Gravity Bots at the Elgin Meijer. Perhaps they got put out after I left? I was bummed not to have Prime and Jetfire, but overall I'd say my hunt last night was a great success, though I wish I had stopped after driving to the Elgin Meijer.

Had an interesting conversation with the toy dept manager at Wal-Mart today. He said he hasn't ordered the preview figures at all and, in addition, his VENDOR hadn't ordered any. Their reasoning was that they were "available online" and hence didn't want to take up shelf space with them. He did say he was coming in Friday night to set up the ROTF mods. I am very curious if this is the reason why we haven't seen the preview figs in this region at all.

First-Aid wrote:Had an interesting conversation with the toy dept manager at Wal-Mart today. He said he hasn't ordered the preview figures at all and, in addition, his VENDOR hadn't ordered any. Their reasoning was that they were "available online" and hence didn't want to take up shelf space with them. He did say he was coming in Friday night to set up the ROTF mods. I am very curious if this is the reason why we haven't seen the preview figs in this region at all.

When I talked to Hasbro this past week, my contact said that the May 15th release date had been discarded and I think he said that the preview figs would be released with the regular figs.

Hit the same Meijer as Ryan did today and found they had pulled everything off the shelves. Asked an employee and they said it had apparently been put out by mistake and a vendor had asked them to remove it. There was nothing ROTF related on the shelves except for the product tags....looks like you got lucky Seibs...

I was in K-Mart down here in Pontiac today and saw Optimus Prime (Voyager class), Ironhide, Demolishor, and Starscream. They were $24.99. That seemed awfully high though. I'm already looking at Devistator carving out a nice chunk from my wallet....the more I can save, the better. How much have you guys seen these Voyager class ROTFs for?

Des Plaines' KMart had one ROTF toy today, Voy Starscream. No price on the shelf, so I took him to the checkout and the scanner said "Before Sell Date". I didn't feel like arguing, since, knowing KMart, it was probably $30. I can wait, but I will be getting him.

My target recieved about 8 cases of deluxes yesterday. I took alook at sideswipe and he looks alot better in person I'll be getting him for sure on Saturday.

Agent 007 wrote:My target recieved about 8 cases of deluxes yesterday. I took alook at sideswipe and he looks alot better in person I'll be getting him for sure on Saturday.

Can't you just sneak a case out for your buddies at Seibertron.com?

Agent 007 wrote:My target recieved about 8 cases of deluxes yesterday. I took alook at sideswipe and he looks alot better in person I'll be getting him for sure on Saturday.

So it is Saturday then? There seems to have been some confusion. Has your store gotten everything in already for Wave 1? Can you tell what cases other stores have gotten, like Rosemont? Thx!

I can see if they have anything in the backroom. All that we have rightnow is about 8 cases of wave one deluxes. and to First- Aid, I would but I want to keep my job sorry!

Walgreens in Elk Grove Village had RotF Scouts, Dirt Boss and Depth Charge. I bought one of each, and they are very very cool! Pricey at $10.99, but I am still pissed about not seeing the Preview figs, so these are it for me. Bring on Saturday!

Talked to a vendor today. Got the same as I'd heard before at Wal-Mart- about how they weren't going to carry the preview figs as Hasbro had said they were going to be "online exclusives". Obviously someone got their communications crossed somewhere. Now the question is: will we EVER see the preview figs in this region or are we going to get screwed out of it?

Well I almost struck out today. The Carpentersville Target has eliminated all the Universe toys and has a good section of the aisle setup for ROTF toys. They had about a dozen gravity bots (which I passed on). the Carpentersville TRU, Meijer, and Wal-Mart had nothing interesting. I checked the Carpentersville Walgreens after remembering the thread that was posted yesterday in the toys forum and found ROTF Depthcharge, Knock Out (x2), and Ransack (x2). I bought the Depthcharge and one Knock Out.

First-Aid wrote:Talked to a vendor today. Got the same as I'd heard before at Wal-Mart- about how they weren't going to carry the preview figs as Hasbro had said they were going to be "online exclusives". Obviously someone got their communications crossed somewhere. Now the question is: will we EVER see the preview figs in this region or are we going to get screwed out of it?

as far as i know the preview figures got mixed in with the regular street dated figures look for them on the 30th. I'll be pissed if I can't get Bumbles

Bumblebee wont be a problem finding, he has been spotted at a lot of places. Its Soundwave thats iffy!

I better find Soundwave this weekend, or... I'll find him some other time. I love his satellite mode, looking forward to him.

On a related note, I got the OK from my wife to drop my first ROTF purchases on a credit card. Can't go crazy, but I'll have a nice lttle haul to enjoy. Yay!

Just got back from Meijer in Elgin with my Prime! BADASS figure, but a bitch to transform!! They had just about everything out except Soundwave and everything can be bought!! 2-3 each of the voyagers and deluxes and alot of the scouts except ransack and the boat guy!! Happy Hunting!!

gonzo23 wrote:Just got back from Meijer in Elgin with my Prime! BADASS figure, but a bitch to transform!! They had just about everything out except Soundwave and everything can be bought!! 2-3 each of the voyagers and deluxes and alot of the scouts except ransack and the boat guy!! Happy Hunting!!

Thanks for the tip!! I picked up a Bumblebee and a Sideswipe,

muswp1 wrote:

gonzo23 wrote:Just got back from Meijer in Elgin with my Prime! BADASS figure, but a bitch to transform!! They had just about everything out except Soundwave and everything can be bought!! 2-3 each of the voyagers and deluxes and alot of the scouts except ransack and the boat guy!! Happy Hunting!!

Thanks for the tip!! I picked up a Bumblebee and a Sideswipe,

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! WHY DID THEY HIDE THEM WHEN I WAS THERE?!?!?!?!

First-Aid wrote:

muswp1 wrote:

gonzo23 wrote:Just got back from Meijer in Elgin with my Prime! BADASS figure, but a bitch to transform!! They had just about everything out except Soundwave and everything can be bought!! 2-3 each of the voyagers and deluxes and alot of the scouts except ransack and the boat guy!! Happy Hunting!!

Thanks for the tip!! I picked up a Bumblebee and a Sideswipe,

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! WHY DID THEY HIDE THEM WHEN I WAS THERE?!?!?!?!

Which one did you go to? It was the one on Randall and College Green! Sorry, I should've mentioned it earlier! Did you guys hear that some Walmarts are selling ROTF figs at midnight tonight? Its on TFW! I would probably call ahead, not sure if all store are participating!