The Energon Pub

Executive Summary:
I'm looking for links on where to order transformers that don't cost an arm and a leg. New age is fine; I'm aware of the Encores of my favorites and drool over those, but as a father of four kids spending $200 on that is halfway to a computer I can build.

I'm Confused:
I'm confused about the different classes, who they include and what they cost and where they can be found.

Trouble is I'm not made of money, but found a $5 "Classic" Mirage (Formula 1 car) that has a crazy amount of articulation, and I love him. But I can't find more of this (smaller) series.

I found a Pre-Order (that was over) for six movie figures (Starscream [jet not proto], Bumblebee, Ironside, etc., is that Voyager Class?) for $35. These are the figures I see at Wally World for $10 a piece, but lately can't find.

My Collection History:
Mind you - I stopped collecting after they killed Prime and almost everyone I knew and moved into futuristic crap and later - beasts! Ick. Of course, my mom gave them all away, including my TWO JETFIRES, one of which was still in his box because I had the foresight even at that age that he'd be valuable. All I have now are Grimlock, the three Mail Orders (Overdrive, Camshaft & Downshift) and two busted Decepticons from a thrift store, made in the mid 90's I'm assuming. Mine are in better condition and they're much older (mid to late 80's).

PS - Optimus Prime
I found the $65-99 Optimus Prime, first at Books-A-Million by chance, and he looks really cool but is hyper expensive and includes no trailer. I'm sorry, but I miss that trailer. I was always hiding Autobots in there. Are there any versions of Prime with a closed trailer? Or just the Encore version?

I was so happy when teh interwebs finally explained the insanity to me -

The story consultant on the original cartoon, Flint Dille on Transformers The Movie: “We had this one scene where the Autobots had to run through a gauntlet of Decepticons, and that basically wiped out the entire ’84 product line in one massive ‘charge of the light brigade’. The scene didn’t make it into the finished movie, but if you think kids were locking themselves in the bedroom over the death of Optimus Prime, in that scene they would’ve seen their entire toy collection wiped out.”

Stupid. I saw a graph that showed, Stateside, sales suffered and stagnated for 17 years until around 2004. Serves them right. Not that I'm bitter I just think companies fail to realize when they've created something bigger than they originally had in mind, and fail to do anything with it other than trash it for something new, rather than capitalize on it and make it grow.

But I digress.

Edit:
Starscream not Starfire. Freudian slip.
Mirage, not Jazz. I'm dumb. Thanks for the correction.

I'll try to help you out the best way I can.

First the toys, you have the following series:
G1 (originals)
G2 (some originals and some new)
Beasts Era (Beast Wars, Machine Wars, Beast Machines)
RID (Robots in Disguise, back to vehicles)
The Trilogy (Armada, Energon, and Cybertron)
Toys R Us G1 Reissues, Universe, Classics, and Alternators.
Movie Figures

It sounds like you prefer vehicle toys, so in terms of price, what I would do is go for the trilogy line as that will be the best price. Your best bet is to go to a "Tuesday Mornng" store where sometimes you can scoop up a TRU G1 Reissue (just like you had as a kid) for 9 bucks. Then go to a Dollar General where you can pick up some Energon figures in Universe packing real cheap.

Classics (like the Jazz or Mirage you got) are probably sold out or not clearanced. Your best bet is to go on ebay and search for Cybertron or Energon lots as people might be duping them on e-bay. G1 reissues, once in a while you can get for under 20 bucks on ebay if it is a less popular one like Silverstreak. The jets are expensive now and the Optimusis really expenisive, so the Encore way would be the cheapest route.

Oh yea, Welcome to Seibertron!

Welcome back to the fandom.

Ebay, BBTS, Action HQ, Entertainment Earth, hasbotoyshop.com and TFSource are all good sources to look to for buying newer (and some older TF toys).

The new TF you got is actually Mirage, a cool figure nonetheless though.

If you want a Prime with a trailer, you are probably looking for a vintage version. They can be found in varying degrees of completeness and quality on Ebay, and some of the other mentioned stores that sell vintage stuff.

The most recent Prime with a trailer was Energon Prime. He is not remarked by many to be a fabulous figure. If you go back one more year there is Armada Optimus Prime which did come with a trailer, but as for stowing buddies, it's not great unless they are small, but it has some incredible features.

Probably the best Prime recently has been Cybertron Optimus Prime. He is more of a fire truck than a semi though, but he has fantastic modes all around.

However, you may also enjoy a 20th DVD Prime which can be found at some places still for less than $60. Then you can usually find a trailer for him that is either just a trailer good for hiding others in, or transformable versions, that include the battle platform components.

Try looking at the galleries here for Optimus Prime. Ryan, the site owner, is very passionate about his transformers galleries. http://www.seibertron.com/toys/index.php?f_series=&f_name=Optimus+Prime&f_type=exact&Submit=Search

BBTS (bigbadtoystore--highly recommend!) has Encore Prime for $60, trailer included. So it would be like yours from childhood!

http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=TAK10707&mode=retail

Good luck, PM me if you have any questions!

welcome back.

on a side note, don't you have any malls near your area with TRUs or whathavenot? because in my experience the malls and toy retail outlets almost always sell at face market value of the toy. online toy sellers have higher prices compared to retail chains. also, you have to pay for shipping and handling when you order online.

you should try and check on Ebay from time to time because some good folks actually sell some TFs at a much lower price compared to others. just a thought.

Executive Summary:
You guys are awesome.

I'm going to hit Big Lots and Walgreens for Knock-Offs, eBay for Armada and Cybertron Prime. I'll also swing by Toys R Us; finally I understand what a TRU Transformer is, I think.

Question: Where is the 20th Anniversary DVD Prime available for $65?

No really, You Guys are Awesome:
I'm always cautious about forums because (*cough* PSP homebrew *cough*) some scenes will kill you, even if you are the expert.

Just for Dad:

• Armada Optimus Prime - I'll try to find him on eBay.
• Cybertron Optimus Prime - Fire-engine? New to me but I trust the recommendation so I'll try to find him on eBay.
• 20th Anniversary DVD Optimus Prime - that's the one I saw at Books-A-Billion for $99. It was like finding out the price of the PS3 when I had them price-check it, because there was no sticker. And yes, he looks awesome.
• Encore - how soon will I have to buy these before they are gone? They are a bit of a pipe-dream; the other options are more realistic.

"It's a Knock-Off"
Other than Grimlock, all of my Dinobots were KO's; I'm promiscuous with toys - if it's cheap and flimsy well I understand why. It's when I see the new $20 Ironside which I've seen on YouTube looks like a nightmare to transform and could break easily that I get anxious; 5 such figures are over $100, who wants to break that?

Some things I will get for me but, just like my childhood, some I will have to open and play carefully with my son; KO's are especially suited for that.

TMTDNR (Too much text do not read)
The movie played a large role in re-awakening things, but it was getting that Mirage and finally sitting down with my little son and letting him play with his (already busted) thrift store Decepticons against my Mirage that "did it." Like smelling horses (I grew up on a Ranch), I remembered "Hey, this was good."

Like me, he has a mind good at 3d spatial relation, so there are other toys of his he gets to use only when I'm playing with him. That makes sure Dad is special, that he won't swallow something (long past that age but still), isn't bored with the truly lame 2-4yo toys, and doesn't break things.

Like most boys he loves cars. I buy any Matchbox-like car I can find that works out to be $.50-$1 a piece. I found a 2 for $1 box at Dollar General and bought almost 20 cars for him; he's still getting them one at a time at dinners when he's extra good. Cause a fuss? No car that day. He's figured it out, but no one is perfect, he just knows he gets a reward for when he eats well.

So on the one hand, I want to find some fun Transformers that are useful, and on the other, work on that Encore set just for me.

If you read all of that, you can't complain 'cause I warned you

Edit:
Added in TRU from Zemper's recommendation

DavidBeoulve wrote:Executive Summary:

Question: Where is the 20th Anniversary DVD Prime available for $65?

Try Hasbro's shop http://www.hasbrotoyshop.com/ProductsBy ... 6&ID=18039

List price $69.99 use SPTIER07 as promo code to get $10 off $50 or more (it's valid until 7/31).

Cheers,
Coolpop

I thought I saw DVD Prime at hasbrotoyshop...



http://www.hasbrotoyshop.com/ProductsByBrand.htm?BR=496&SBR=56&ID=18039

$69.99 +shipping.

I also recommend Robots in Disguise: Optimus Prime. He's an earth firetruck, but super cool, super poseable, and able to combine with Ultra Magnus from that same toy line.

EDIT: FYI-- f-i-r-e-t-r-u-c-k was the edited word.



http://www.seibertron.com/toys/fullsize.php?id=496&size=1&image=57

Amazon.com also has the 20th Anniversary DVD Prime for $64.99 w/ free shipping:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000H4 ... 28-4360807

I've actually been able to hunt down most of the Classics Line (non-exclusive) at list price from Amazon.com, Hasbrotoyshop.com and local stores (Atlanta) over the past 3 weeks. Good luck on your hunt!

You may want to try grocery stores in your area that sell toys because usually they have old stock just sitting there. I would also suggest KMart for the same reason.

I hit Big Lots and came away with Big Loot!

Knock-Offs
First let me say, these guys are poorly made. Some of them are recognizably KO's of G1 Autobots and Decepticons I recognize, such as Streetwise.

I Bought:

• A set of 3 "Ultrabots" that combine for $3 each.
• 2 sets of 2 construction "Quick-Change" robots for $1.50 a set.
• 2 sets of 2 jet "Quick-Change" robots for $1.50 a set.
• 2 sets of 2 police/rescue "Quick-Change" robots for $1.50 a set.

My son's collection has gone from 2 to 11 in $18 plus tax. Plus I won't cry if they break. My wife and I both had the idea that he'd only play with them when I'm around, otherwise he'll want mine because he always has access to his - plus that keeps down on the breaking.

My Collection: (Links go to my photographs)
I haven't bought anything new for me - I still have Classics Mirage, G1 Grimlock, Classics Grimlock, and the G1 Mail Order crew, Overdrive, Camshaft and Downshift.

Some of the Classics line looks good so I suppose I'll have to nab what I can before the Animated line comes out. The movie line is good but expensive; still, the ingenious transformations are impressive.

I want:
Thank God Almighty I am not a completist, just a favoritist. I want:

• Classics Optimus Prime $20
• DVD Optimus Prime $65-80
• Encore Optimus Prime $50+
• Encore Soundwave $50+
• Encore Megatron $50+ - never had him as a kid, he was always on Cybertron in my alternate stories; Soundwave and Shockwave, later Galvatron commanded the forces on Earth.
• Classics Starscream or any latest version that turns into a jet, not some Protoform.
• Anyone who is cool and less than $15

Blasphemy of Blasphemies, I don't want Encore Starscream because, well, he's so stiff and immobile compared to the latest versions.

Obviously, these guys are overly expensive for a father of four - so in a pinch Classics Optimus Prime and Encore Optimus Prime are all I need. After that I'd go for either DVD Optimus Prime or Encore Soundwave... not sure.

Hasbro's website has a few remaining Classics they seem to want to push off the shelves. Lesser figures are desirable because they also cost less.

As an owner of TWO original Jetfires (I called him Starfire), I can't really get myself to like the Classics Jetfire. Perhaps someone who owns one can educate me better.