The Energon Pub

News Credits: 21 · by **dragons** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 9:44 pm

bad title but instead having slaes going on once or twice a year do you think bbts should match or beat competotrs prices with there figures & statures?

they wouldnt be doing the work if you find a figure $40 at one store & $120 at bbts that seller would send bbts the link of the store that they found it cheaper and bbts would either match the price or beat it they would sell more items that way ebay wouldnt count.

i wouldnt expect them to do this but you think its a ggod idea for them or just a waste of time?

bbts skywarp price 104.99
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=TAK10712&mode=retail

amazon price for skywarp 84.95- & up
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000PGTPI2/ref=olp_tab_all?ie=UTF8&shipPromoFilter=0&sort=price&me=&seller=&condition=all

News Credits: 5749 · by **El Duque** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:06 pm

In theory sure, it would save me money. To be honest though I don't mind paying a little more at BBTS. They are a pleasure to deal with, any questions I have ever had in general or about an order have been promptly answered. Any problem I have ever had has been resolved quickly and to my satisfaction. A great example is the City Commander I just got from them, it was missing a piece. I emailed them, within a day the part was in the mail on it's way to me. Don't get me wrong I like saving money as much as the next guy, but I feel the extra I pay at BBTS is worth it. Just my two cents.

News Credits: 226 · by **Burn** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:08 pm

So what you're asking is if a major retailer store (that buys in bulk and has a buying power of a nation wide network of stores) has a figure for $40, then BBTS, (an independant business that would only buy what could be considered small orders, and thus having to pay more than a major network) should match that price instead of charging $120?

Sure. Great idea. I'm sure Joel will do it when he wants to go bankrupt.

by **diosoth** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:11 pm

Service aside, I don't care for their pricing setup. Most things are priced so high, they only go ON SALE because no one will buy them.

Things I've purchased, most on sale-

Music Label Soundblaster $55 ($40 off)
MP-5 Masterpiece Megatron $75 ($25 off)
movie Starscream and Thundercracker $14 each(about $14 or more off each one)

City Commander $76, had no choice but to buy it while they had it.

When they had Soundblaster on sale, they actually listed an OPENED one for $80... while they were selling it new for $55.

Sure. Great idea. I'm sure Joel will do it when he wants to go bankrupt.

He won't make a cent if no one buys the expensive version from him anyway.

News Credits: 11 · by **Overcracker** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:14 pm

Well none of the Skywarps in your link are actually being sold by Amazon. They are private sellers who probably bought them from somewhere else, and are offering them through Amazon.

But I see what you mean. And though I find it very difficult for BBTS I of course would be very happy if they did it.

I would also be content if they lowered their profit margin on each figure a little. I mean some times they are making almost 50% over the SRP of a figure.

Still they are a good store, and some times you can find some good deals. 10 bucks for a Voyager Movie Prime is a steal. and 20 for a Leader class prime even more so.

News Credits: 88 · by **DavidT** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:36 pm

.

I think they have about half a dozen sales every year but the sales aren't that impressive. They are usually 10 to 15% off. The 25% off they have going now is descent, but I would like to see better deals. I noticed that some of the figures that they've had for a while were changed to "New" status so the sale wouldn't apply to them. That sucks.

I think we need to come up with some helpful ideas for BBTS. One that I thought of the other night was that if your order is more than lets say $300, you would get a free upgrade to Priority Shipping (should you choose that method). They would give you that option. I use USPS but I know not everyone prefers them.

Or if you purchase "X" amount of dollars worth, you would get "X" amount of free store credit. So like if I bought $200 worth of figures, they would give me $10 credit towards my next purchase.

What else??????

.

News Credits: 127 · by **Counterpunch** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 7:27 am

Did not do the research...

One or two of the Skywarps on Amazon were below the BBTS price, the rest were above it.

Here's is why you buy big ticket items from BBTS: no hassle returns.

I've gotten 3-4 items from them in 5 years or so that have been factory broken/destroyed. Everytime, BBTS replaces them with no problem.

by **Bonger** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 8:37 am

Short answer, its called market segmentation. Most retailers operate on a discount model, i.e. provide good at the cheapest price. BBTS is targeting the higher end market. Those willing and able to pay for higher quality service and reliability.

Basically, they are the Lexus to Target's Toyota.

News Credits: 127 · by **Counterpunch** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 8:46 am

Bonger wrote:Short answer, its called market segmentation. Most retailers operate on a discount model, i.e. provide good at the cheapest price. BBTS is targeting the higher end market. Those willing and able to pay for higher quality service and reliability.

Basically, they are the Lexus to Target's Toyota.

I drove alexis once.

She was really pretty, but entirely lacking in class.

News Credits: 1 · by **Optimist_Prime** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 8:53 am

Counterpunch wrote:
Bonger wrote:Short answer, its called market segmentation. Most retailers operate on a discount model, i.e. provide good at the cheapest price. BBTS is targeting the higher end market. Those willing and able to pay for higher quality service and reliability.

Basically, they are the Lexus to Target's Toyota.

I drove alexis once.

She was really pretty, but entirely lacking in class.

News Credits: 38 · by **TheMuffin** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 10:13 am

Counterpunch wrote:
Bonger wrote:Short answer, its called market segmentation. Most retailers operate on a discount model, i.e. provide good at the cheapest price. BBTS is targeting the higher end market. Those willing and able to pay for higher quality service and reliability.

Basically, they are the Lexus to Target's Toyota.

I drove alexis once.

She was really pretty, but entirely lacking in class.

DING DING DING! We have a winner!

News Credits: 194 · by **RodimusConvoy13** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 11:32 am

Wow, today is apparently bash BBTS day. Their preorders on items are nearly always the same as TFSource. maybe a dollar or two off. Most of the time, when someone says, hey, I can get this Takara figure way cheaper than BBTS at this site.. they fail to notice the site is in Hong Kong or somewhere overseas and shipping is going to cost you $25. Same with ebay.

Here's what I don't get: If you don't like BBTS prices, don't buy from BBTS. Buy it somewhere else.

News Credits: 38 · by **TheMuffin** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 1:28 pm

AUGH! LOGIC! IT BURNS!

by **ChronosWar** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 5:04 pm

I'm relatively new to getting transformers from online sources other than ebay, so i don't have a lot of experience upon which to draw, but bbts has already, in the course of buying one fig, given me better service than most any retailer i've ever dealt with. That said, I recently bought Nemmy from HTS because the price difference was so glaring that I could next-day ship it for less than cost+shipping at bbts. But that was the same for tfsource, maybe a couple of others. I guess maybe the small toy shops never expected hts to sell Nem, since he was a con exclusive. And I felt kinda dirty for it because I like to give my business to places like bbts that respond to complaints/questions with an email that's actually been sent by a person, not an automated response.
So after all that, my short answer is, it'd be nice if bbts could do price matching sometimes, but others have already pointed out the fiscal irresponsibility of doing it continually/recklessly. now if they gave a % of the difference in store credit or something, that would be pretty awesome