The Energon Pub

DeathReviews wrote:

"...Prices going up was not said in their notice, but if not then why warn fans?"

Why indeed? I'm not inclined to blame this wholly on the tariffs, though that's certainly part of it. But Hasbro has proved already that they are opportunistic and greedy, and will take any happenstance as an excuse to jack up their prices, jack up their profits, and 'pass it on to the consumers'. The tariffs were simply the excuse they were looking for.

This warning is only on the US site though. So if prices only increase in the US and no where else, then for this one time it will specifically be attributed to that external factor

The tariffs are stupid and Hasbro needs to quit dicking over the consumer.

DeathReviews wrote:Hasbro has proved already that they are opportunistic and greedy, and will take any happenstance as an excuse to jack up their prices, jack up their profits, and 'pass it on to the consumers'. The tariffs were simply the excuse they were looking for.

Exactly.

Well I was fortunate enough to find all the current items I wanted in store as of yesterday. I'd love to pre-order both CC Constructicons, and Silverbolt, but pre-orders are sold out on Pulse at the moment. Not Paying $100+ for a CC after the price hike. Other places like BBTS have them for pre-order, but they already have their price increases in effect. I guess if I don't find them on sale later, I'll be selling the combiner bots I have at a later date.

o.supreme wrote:Well I was fortunate enough to find all the current items I wanted in store as of yesterday. I'd love to pre-order both CC Constructicons, and Silverbolt, but pre-orders are sold out on Pulse at the moment. Not Paying $100+ for a CC after the price hike. Other places like BBTS have them for pre-order, but they already have their price increases in effect.

Are we seeing the same thing? The preorder for the CC Constructicons on BBTS is $89.99 and it specifically says that the price excludes a tariff surcharge.

https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/ ... 304651?o=4

william-james88 wrote:

o.supreme wrote:Well I was fortunate enough to find all the current items I wanted in store as of yesterday. I'd love to pre-order both CC Constructicons, and Silverbolt, but pre-orders are sold out on Pulse at the moment. Not Paying $100+ for a CC after the price hike. Other places like BBTS have them for pre-order, but they already have their price increases in effect.

Are we seeing the same thing? The preorder for the CC Constructicons on BBTS is $89.99 and it specifically says that the price excludes a tariff surcharge.

https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/ ... 304651?o=4

Correct. I could be misinterpreting that statement but I just assumed that meant the Tariff surcharge would be added at the time of payment.

I'm only mildy interested in the Combiners post-Legacy Menasor. Menasor is great, the frame system is fit for it and it's a much needed update to the CW version. But I'm fine with my CW Devastator, Superion, Bruticus and most of the others. With the general price increases in the past years and now the uncertainties of the 2nd Trump era - I see fans complanining about POs, especially the Commanders - I'm just not biting. However, I think Hasbro/TT will come up with gift sets with better/different decos once everything's more settled, and those I might want.

o.supreme wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

o.supreme wrote:Well I was fortunate enough to find all the current items I wanted in store as of yesterday. I'd love to pre-order both CC Constructicons, and Silverbolt, but pre-orders are sold out on Pulse at the moment. Not Paying $100+ for a CC after the price hike. Other places like BBTS have them for pre-order, but they already have their price increases in effect.

Are we seeing the same thing? The preorder for the CC Constructicons on BBTS is $89.99 and it specifically says that the price excludes a tariff surcharge.

https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/ ... 304651?o=4

Correct. I could be misinterpreting that statement but I just assumed that meant the Tariff surcharge would be added at the time of payment.

Yeah, exactly, that’s why I didn’t understand what you meant by the text I an now highlighting. BBTS does not have price increases yet, they also now have a notice about preorder prices only being good til may 9th

Not baked in the price, but the point I was making is that even if I pre-order now form BBTS I will end up paying more than just the 89.99 plus tax and & $4 flat rate shipping on that set. When BBTS decides charge me when the item comes in stock, they'll slap that extra surcharge on, so whether it shows up in the price or not, Id still end up paying it.

o.supreme wrote:Not baked in the price, but the point I was making is that even if I pre-order now form BBTS I will end up paying more than just the 89.99 plus tax and & $4 flat rate shipping on that set. When BBTS decides charge me when the item comes in stock, they'll slap that extra surcharge on, so whether it shows up in the price or not, Id still end up paying it.

Ah I see, yeah for sure.
Though honestly I don’t really understand it. BBTS is just a retailer, like Walmart, buying from an American supplier, Hasbro. For Hasbro products, they aren’t the ones importing right? Isn’t Hasbro the importer?

muddyjoe wrote:Maybe this is a good time for all you man-babies to grow up and stop playing with toys?

Whoa, watch out gang; we've got a tough guy here!

Counterpunch wrote:

muddyjoe wrote:Maybe this is a good time for all you man-babies to grow up and stop playing with toys?

Whoa, watch out gang; we've got a tough guy here!

Adult collectors don't 'play' with figures, they display them, and admire them - there's a difference . And certainly there are other hobbies that are much MORE expensive. Some mortals actually collect cars, or play golf, or ski - all of which have a MUCH bigger price tag in terms of overall expense as in the sum of money and time.

In any case, the price changes will not likely stop adult collectors. We'll just have to do what everybody else does when confronted with a tighter budget, and that's cut back. Unless of course, you're a government. Then you just print more money, raise taxes, and go right on spending...

william-james88 wrote:Though honestly I don’t really understand it. BBTS is just a retailer, like Walmart, buying from an American supplier, Hasbro. For Hasbro products, they aren’t the ones importing right? Isn’t Hasbro the importer?

I believe technically the receiving entity (person or business) once the package arrives in the US is considered the importer and responsible for the tariffs. So if a shipment is going directly from the factory to Amazon, then Amazon is the importer. If they are going directly to Walmart, Walmart is the importer. Everything depends on the first touch point within the US.

For BBTS, it may depend on whether they are going directly to BBTS, or going to Hasbro first then to be split to other smaller retailers. In the case Hasbro receives first, they would be subject to the tariffs, but could certainly pass that onto their retail customers directly.

I work for a product testing and certification company that receives test samples from all over the world. As test samples not for commercial use, they are not subject to any tariffs, but my company is considered the importer, even though we do not own the products, we are just receiving and testing them.

DeathReviews wrote:In any case, the price changes will not likely stop adult collectors. We'll just have to do what everybody else does when confronted with a tighter budget, and that's cut back. Unless of course, you're a government. Then you just print more money, raise taxes, and go right on spending...

Makes sense that Death would refer to the only other certainty other than themselves.

All jokes aside, thanks for the great reply Death

We had posted that Hasbro was warning fans that preorder prices on Pulse would only be offered through the 8th. Well as the date nears, retailers are raising their prices. Fans have gotten alerts from Amazon that upcoming Transformers toys have risen in prices.
Entertainment Earth has updated their prices on both in stock and preorder prices. Here is the list:

Deluxes 26.99
voyagers 37.99
leaders 59.99
Commanders 97.99
Titan Star Optimus Prime 163.99
Titan Trypticon 218.99

There are also reports about the MSRP for deluxes being 27.99 and voyagers 36.99, so we'll see what the correct prices are once Pulse updates their listings the 9th.

Titans would be $218.99

Wonder about the Canadian side of the increase.

cloudballoon wrote:Wonder about the Canadian side of the increase.

So far so good on Amazon.ca

william-james88 wrote:We had posted that Hasbro was warning fans that preorder prices on Pulse would only be offered through the 8th. Well as the date nears, retailers are raising their prices. Fans have gotten alerts from Amazon that upcoming Transformers toys have risen in prices.
Entertainment Earth has updated their prices on both in stock and preorder prices. Here is the list:

Deluxes 26.99
voyagers 37.99
leaders 59.99
Commanders 97.99
Titan Star Optimus Prime 163.99
Titan Trypticon 218.99

There are also reports about the MSRP for deluxes being 27.99 and voyagers 36.99, so we'll see what the correct prices are once Pulse updates their listings the 9th.

I wonder how accurate these numbers are or if they're just guessing since none of them are really a 10% increase nor are they reflecting the expected additional increase to cover the children's toys. Also weird that they're pricing Marvel Legends and Star Wars Black figures at the same rate ($26.99) when those are made in China and subject to the 145% rate making them $60+.

Emerje

"Whatever shall we DO?" many may be thinking. Well, Hasbro isn't going to lower their prices anytime soon, even if the tariffs are all lifted tomorrow. They've shown in the past that they are greedy and opportunistic, and will eagerly raise prices at the drop of a hat, and always pass the suffering on to the consumer.

We can rant, rave, huff, puff, and complain all we want. But in the end, all we can really DO about this is to adapt. We will all have to start cutting back, adjusting our budgets, and re-allocating how much we buy and when we buy it. What's the alternative? For unlike your foolish mortal governments, we individuals cannot simply print more money, raise taxes on other people, and go right on spending. At least not if we're responsible that is!

I have long known that a reckoning was inevitable. Cheap products made using slave labor in China and other countries without oversight was something that couldn't go on - not if mortals as a collective society wish to continue projecting the attitude that they've 'evolved beyond' human exploitation.

For the time being, I am willing to adapt to this rise in prices as a cost for ending modern-day slavery. I will simply direct the minions to no longer buy figures that I don't really want, and make a general reduction of intake. And if other mortals out there are wise, they'll do similarly.

So the reviews will NOT end! After all - Bruticus is still coming. But there may be a little more space between them, and I may start doing more "Retro-views" of legacy lines like Transformers Animated....

I was out at £33 for voyagers which now look to be £35 yet they can sell them still for profit at £18 on sale.

I am definitely missing the £/$45 pricing of commanders for sure.

Did they say prices would drop if the tariffs are dropped?

Dino-Snarl wrote:Did they say prices would drop if the tariffs are dropped?

Nope. And it would be wishful thinking to think they would. Once they get raised, Hasbro generally KEEPS them raised. I mean really - when was the last time they ever LOWERED the prices for their figures, even during prosperous circumstances?