The Energon Pub

Like most people I've been looking for Camaro Concept Bumblebee like mad. I've had no success in this and additionally the family car I typically use just had its transition go out, so my ability to hit the stores is diminished. I'm wondering if it's time to throw in the towel, breakdown, and buy it from eBay or something.

Thing is, I'm new to collecting actual toys ( I collect star wars miniatures but that a another beast) so I'm not up on just how the production cycles on these things go. Is there going to be another influx of these in August, or is the flow ebbing down till it's repaint season or something? Will there ever be a time when Concept Bumblebee won't be a ridiculously rares sight on shelves?

Transition? lol, you mean "transmission"?

Just being patient is the way to go. I'm still making the rounds everyday, but really, at this point I don't expect to see anything; it's more out of OCD than anything.

Everyone here says stores will be inundated in a week or so, and I trust all these dudes, so chill out for a week. I'm sure one of them will come running into here with an urgent thread that reads something like "OMGZORZ THE 08 BB IS LIEK EVRYWARE!!!"

twee wrote:Transition? lol, you mean "transmission"?

Shows how much I knew about actual cars . Yeah I meant transmission but Firefox spell checked it to transition.

I for one, don't think that there will be tons of it on shelves. You'll have to be at the right place, at the right time. I got lucky, saw one, grabbed it, and now enjoy it. But I haven't seen any since. Alot were saying that we would see plenty now. Yeah right. I don't think you'll ever see more than 1-2 of him on pegs.

Don't hit ebay yet, wait and see. You'll just need to be at the right store at the right time. You don't need to hit the stores more than once or twice max. Try to call the stores instead of driving there. If you talk to a lady who doesn't know what a transformer is, just describe the figure in details. Its how I got mine, I called, got an old lady, and described what I wanted. She went to see and told me that they had one.

Just don't be shy to ask, you never know... We will have him in august for sure, but he will remain extremely rare thanks to the scalpers and collectors. The right store at the right time...

The display at comic-con had 09 BB coming out in August. Check your targets starting this weekend. They're supposed to be getting a whole lot of Tformers stock in. It's scheduled in the Target toy departments everywhere, including an endcap display for Ultimate Bumblebee. I read someone else putting this out a while back. The date is supposed to be Aug 03. My wife also works at Target, and said they've been getting a bunch in lately, but haven't floored them yet because they have to have enough for their floor sales (Target already got fined a gangload of cash for screwing up the whole June 2nd thing, plus overpricing the Movie Leader class initially) Just be patient.

I am not picking when I say this, I am just trying to help you out, but many of you need to calm down a bit because stress can kill. I have notice this sence of panic with '08 Bumblebee when the first sighting are reported and you cannot find the figure right away. Things you need to understand are there are no official release dates when stores releasing toys. Sadly, toys are not treated the same way as DVD's, CD's, and video games. You get toys based on what is in the warehouse when a store makes its order. Just because something is out in one place does not mean it is out everywhere, it takes time. You guys need to understand that the evil scalpers are not buying every figure that hits shelves. I have no fears about getting one at all. Remember if by chance you miss out on a single pack 08 BB is coming in a 2 pack with Voyager Prime. Now I am not mean to sound mean if I am. I now it is fustrating when you see a figure is out in some places and you look and cannot find it, yet it is selling for big money on ebay. I was the same way when I started collecting then I learned what I am telling you guys from others. Lets not panic. Enjoy the hobby to do not stress because it takes the fun out of it. And abouve everything else this hobby should be fun.

Hotrod wrote:I am not picking when I say this, I am just trying to help you out, but many of you need to calm down a bit because stress can kill. I have notice this sence of panic with '08 Bumblebee when the first sighting are reported and you cannot find the figure right away.

Yea!

I don't know what everyone is so concerned about. I found mine two weeks ago and isn't that what's really important?

Everyone can chill out some, I'm covered.

Really, I can't understand what is the panick about. I thought it should be the kids who should be panicking.

I would not give up till he shows up on Hasbrotoyshop.com...if after that you still cant find him...PANIC!

You know that the TF franchise will last forever when so many people are searching the ends of the Earth for an action figure. Only a few toylines can say that.

twee wrote:I'm sure one of them will come running into here with an urgent thread that reads something like "OMGZORZ THE 08 BB IS LIEK EVRYWARE!!!"

ahaha I hope

Everyone is searching now, but in a month or two, the shelves will be so full of those guys, that they probably won't be able to give em away. Patience young one. Patience.

Remember that some stores don't know or care about when they put Transformers out(to bad for them, they lose out on sales).

Also, some stores don't even get certain waves, but, luckly in this day and age, everyone will get their chance to get the toy, you just have to be patient. If we can readily get G1 figs from ebay, there's no stoping anyone from getting an 08 bumblebee!

Just wait!

This has gotten way out of hand. Hasbro really dropped the ball on this one. Supply didn't reach demand. When I went out on June 2nd and found everything I was very happy. But now no store within a 75 mile radius and Myrtle Beach didn't have a single deluxe, leader, or even voyager with the exception of Ratchet. I haven't been this worried about finding a Transformer since Energon Magnus. Still haven't been able to find one of those. I seriously hope that I find the Bumblebee but I am not going to get my hopes up.

Counterpunch wrote:Everyone can chill out some, I'm covered.

whuahahahahhahaha

Counterpunch wrote:

Hotrod wrote:I am not picking when I say this, I am just trying to help you out, but many of you need to calm down a bit because stress can kill. I have notice this sence of panic with '08 Bumblebee when the first sighting are reported and you cannot find the figure right away.

Yea!

I don't know what everyone is so concerned about. I found mine two weeks ago and isn't that what's really important?

Everyone can chill out some, I'm covered.

hahahaahhahahaaaha! Love it!

I found both of mine a few weeks ago, but the severe lack of 08 Bee's seems to be a global issue. 08 Bee got scalped like no other transformers figure before him.

Even if Hasbro truly have dropped the ball on this figure, and dont have multitudes of him lying around on their docks across the country, everyone can relax, for their is a red Cliffjumper version to be released. Same toy, but with the chances of actually being painted decently!

Counterpunch wrote:

Hotrod wrote:I am not picking when I say this, I am just trying to help you out, but many of you need to calm down a bit because stress can kill. I have notice this sence of panic with '08 Bumblebee when the first sighting are reported and you cannot find the figure right away.

Yea!

I don't know what everyone is so concerned about. I found mine two weeks ago and isn't that what's really important?

Everyone can chill out some, I'm covered.

People should learn pateince a bit, it's a good quality to have. If you need the figure now, then pay the inflated prices on eBay, if you don't want to, then wait.

I mean, holy crap, I'M STILL WAITING FOR WAVE 2 STUFF, like Bonecrusher and Swindle!!!

I give up. I'm going ebay for 08 Camaro BB. I can NOT find him anywhere. Today, two Targets had BARE pegs/shelves escept for a ton of Optimash Primes. I spoke to both Target employees, and both gave me the run around. "We don't know if we will be getting any of the figures now. If we do, we don't know when." A couple minutes later, I hear two of them talking to each other about how well TF's will sell on ebay!!!

This is also Hasbro's fault. They simply did not produce enough of them. And, BB is NOT available on Hasbro's own online store! The *^#@ing scalpers swalled up every single last one of them, and they seem to have nothing better to do in their miserable so-called existance but to camp out and wait until the doors open to snatch them all up. Rediculous.

Today, there was a little boy with his dad looking for BB. The disappointment on his face made me mad. I enjoy collecting these things, but I don't really need them. To a kid, toys are their world. Their perception of importance is different than our own. They're kids. And they should be able to get these things without this much hassle. Scalpers SUCK, and I hope they choke on the money they make from all those TF's they sold on ebay. I really dread shelling out $40 for him plus shipping. But he is nowhere else to be found. Nowhere. And Target is playing games with their own customers. Believe me, a letter is being written just for them, and they have lost a LONG time customer. And they will lose more customers since I plan to tell EVERYONE I know how much Target sucks. Poor selection, poor planning, poor job at ordering enough stuff for people. Poor service. The only thing worse than them would be Kmart and Wal-Mart.

Erroneous wrote:The display at comic-con had 09 BB coming out in August. Check your targets starting this weekend. They're supposed to be getting a whole lot of Tformers stock in. It's scheduled in the Target toy departments everywhere, including an endcap display for Ultimate Bumblebee. I read someone else putting this out a while back. The date is supposed to be Aug 03. My wife also works at Target, and said they've been getting a bunch in lately, but haven't floored them yet because they have to have enough for their floor sales (Target already got fined a gangload of cash for screwing up the whole June 2nd thing, plus overpricing the Movie Leader class initially) Just be patient.

I think I'm going to Target this weekend. Maybe I can get one!

I still have not seen any of these new guys yet. Hell I barely found leader megatron last week. I still need Wave 2 of the Target Exclsuives and the Wave 2 deluxes.

As for my preferences... I have a rule of thumb when it comes to domestic released Transformers: I only buy them in the stores. Part of the fun of collecting Transformers to me is the thrill of the hunt.

I waited 4 months to finally found C Wingsaber and about the same amount to find Alt Mirage and Optimus prime. That was a bad wait and I almost gave in on that one, but I still hanged on (though now I wish I baught Alt Swerve and Camshaft off BBTS when I had the chance cause I never saw them one! ).

So hang in there! There will be more, and they will hit shelves.

Thanks for all the responses. At least I can more piece of mind judging by what some of you more experienced collectors say. It's just that my Autobot (appeared in) movie squad looks so incomplete without concept Bumblebee. Though Classic Bumblebee also seems rather hard to find around here so I guess I should be greatful I got him when I did (dorky feet and all).

Sportimus Prime wrote:

This is also Hasbro's fault. They simply did not produce enough of them. And, BB is NOT available on Hasbro's own online store! The *^#@ing scalpers swalled up every single last one of them, and they seem to have nothing better to do in their miserable so-called existance but to camp out and wait until the doors open to snatch them all up. Rediculous.

Today, there was a little boy with his dad looking for BB. The disappointment on his face made me mad. I enjoy collecting these things, but I don't really need them. To a kid, toys are their world. Their perception of importance is different than our own. They're kids. And they should be able to get these things without this much hassle. Scalpers SUCK, and I hope they choke on the money they make from all those TF's they sold on ebay. I really dread shelling out $40 for him plus shipping. But he is nowhere else to be found. Nowhere. And Target is playing games with their own customers. Believe me, a letter is being written just for them, and they have lost a LONG time customer. And they will lose more customers since I plan to tell EVERYONE I know how much Target sucks. Poor selection, poor planning, poor job at ordering enough stuff for people. Poor service. The only thing worse than them would be Kmart and Wal-Mart.

These two paragraphs make me mad. Who are we older people to take away what is in the end, a children's product.

You tell them, Sportimus. I highly dislike Target as well, although I have to admit I bought a whopping 8 figures from the movie line there. I am just glad I bought Prime from Toyworld - even Toyworld is a bit better than Target.

And scalpers, I wonder how you can sleep at night.

You guys need to follow which waves we're currently on. BigBadToyStore.com and Entertainment Earth are great for figuring out what's out now and what's coming out in the near future.

http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/menu ... egory=3761

Wave 4 (July / August 2007) has 2 Concept Camaro Bumblebees in it and is also the 1st wave to contain Concept Camaro Bumblebee:
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/prod ... ode=retail
http://www.entertainmentearth.com/prodi ... =HT81057D1

Wave 5 (August 2007) has 1 Concept Camaro Bumblebee:
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/prod ... ode=retail
http://www.entertainmentearth.com/prodi ... r=HT81057E

Wave 6 (August 2007) has 0 Concept but 1 Classic:
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/prod ... ode=retail
http://www.entertainmentearth.com/prodi ... r=HT81057F

Wave 7 (August 2007) has 1 Concept:
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/prod ... ode=retail

Plus there's at least two gift sets that will have Concept Camaro Bumblebee: 1) The Target 2 pack with Classic Camaro Bumblebee and 2) the set with Voyager Optimus Prime.

Please note that many stores will get multiple cases of each wave. August is the next big restocking ... Target stores across the country are suppose to have a shelf refresh for toys sometime during the week of August 5th (through the 11th). I think retailers and Hasbro under-estimated the success of the movie toys which I think is rather humorous because if they hadn't, the movie haters would be making fun of all of the typical movie toy line pegsitters. I'd much rather see the success of the line like this ... they'll make more toys. This isn't like the hard to find figures at the end of the line ... these are hard to find figures at the beginning of the line which means they can always change case structures later down the road for future waves. Notice how Wave 6 has all early wave figures in it.

Never throw in the towel! I have been collecting and buying toys at retail for about 14 years. When the initial shipments come out it can be near impossible to find some figures. Why? Because every one is looking for the new figures including local dealers or ebay scalpers. So if a store gets 3 cases of the new deluxe TFs and say there are 3 bumblebees in each case that means there are only 9 Bumblebees. Now with a new figure everyone is looking for, 9 is not that much. Don't forget that Transformers is a very popular franchise, with a long history and loyal fan base, and the movie has only been in theaters for about a month now. Do you think the shipments have stopped? They may have slowed and the stores are trying to recover, but this happens with every new line based on a major motion picture. Next time you go to the toy aisle at Wal Mart look at the Spiderman figures. I think you may find they are fully stocked, but if you had been looking within a few weeks of the movies release you would have had a hard time finding the regular black suit Spider Man. How long has it been since Spidermaan 3's release, 3 months? I can practically guarantee you will still find TF movie figures, even Concept bumblebee, well into next year. Like I said I have been searching for and buying action figures at retail for about 14 years. I've seen many lines come and go. Even before ebay and the internet, dealers would grab the latest star wars figures as soon as possible so they could sell the figures for a quick mark up at their shop, before most people even knew the figures were out. Collectors would have to rely on magazines to find out about new and upcoming releases and only then could you begin looking for the figures. The way to stay on top of the collecting game, and beat the scalpers, or snakes as I call them, is to look for figures as often as possible and never stop. Most assuredly you will find even the most difficult figures to track down if you keep looking. Also remember it never hurts to ask an associate for help even though often you may get no help, there are people who WILL make an extra effort to help you. Don't forget there are many retail outlets including drug stores, that may stock the new movie figures. If you want the figure bad enough you may want to check as many different locations as possible. Trust me I know. So...Just keep looking and avoid the snakes at all costs!

saintsfan1983 wrote:This has gotten way out of hand. Hasbro really dropped the ball on this one. Supply didn't reach demand.

how do we know this? how much is real demand and how much just bought by scalpers, opportunists, or people who simply want multiples for themselves? There is simply no way for a company to know what is the saturation point in terms of quantity beyond which scalpers stop buying and free up the toys for normal human beings.

This topic has gone on and on ad nauseum. If people are really worried, go online and preorder! It's a bit more expensive, but at least you don't have to go to the toystores eveyday. That's so hit and miss. Buy online and you don't have to worry about travelling time, stress, etc.