The Energon Pub

Man it's awesome. I don't think I've ever been this exited for Bumblebee.

Just one thing, did they put in the whole face-plate swapping gimmick, exclusively for the amazon battle-mask? That's a little excessive. Or will there be a different face with the toy to swap out, cos from the picks it doesn't look like that.

User897 wrote:I still don't understand why Bumblebee is so much more expensive at BBTS than HLJ and the others. Can someone explain it to me? I usually get Hasbro releases and don't get Takara stuff until it's already here in the USA. Are the taxes and tariffs really that high for a retailer like BBTS?

Because, GREED.

Dead Metal wrote:Man it's awesome. I don't think I've ever been this exited for Bumblebee.

Just one thing, did they put in the whole face-plate swapping gimmick, exclusively for the amazon battle-mask? That's a little excessive. Or will there be a different face with the toy to swap out, cos from the picks it doesn't look like that.

I just relooked at the pics, there's two faces with the toy. One mouth closed/serious, one smiling/mouth open

User897 wrote:I still don't understand why Bumblebee is so much more expensive at BBTS than HLJ and the others. Can someone explain it to me? I usually get Hasbro releases and don't get Takara stuff until it's already here in the USA. Are the taxes and tariffs really that high for a retailer like BBTS?

Is shipping cost being taken into consideration?

Stormrider wrote:

User897 wrote:I still don't understand why Bumblebee is so much more expensive at BBTS than HLJ and the others. Can someone explain it to me? I usually get Hasbro releases and don't get Takara stuff until it's already here in the USA. Are the taxes and tariffs really that high for a retailer like BBTS?

Is shipping cost being taken into consideration?

i can understand why their prices are higher, even though i think they're expensive. they have to buy the thing, ship it over to the US, pay import taxes, and on top of that they have to make a profit too.

Changing faces is kinda interesting, though it's not something I look for on TF toys. That battle mask looks stupid though. I don't care how much of a throwback that is, at least put a pair of eyes on it.

Beeeeeeeeeee! I neeeed you!

Never thought I'd hear myself say that. These pictures make me happy. His face looks a little chubby though? I guess that's kind of accurate. Anyway, this is probably as close to the perfect G1 Bumblebee they could do, so I'm perfectly content with it.

Siger wrote:Changing faces is kinda interesting, though it's not something I look for on TF toys. That battle mask looks stupid though. I don't care how much of a throwback that is, at least put a pair of eyes on it.

It has a blue visor, you just can't tell because it's not painted.

Let's see who can find the pettiest, most minor detail to complain about.

GuyIncognito wrote:Let's see who can find the pettiest, most minor detail to complain about.

I hate the particular shade of gray they used for this prototype's left knee joint!

wilcosu35 wrote:

Stormrider wrote:

User897 wrote:I still don't understand why Bumblebee is so much more expensive at BBTS than HLJ and the others. Can someone explain it to me? I usually get Hasbro releases and don't get Takara stuff until it's already here in the USA. Are the taxes and tariffs really that high for a retailer like BBTS?

Is shipping cost being taken into consideration?

i can understand why their prices are higher, even though i think they're expensive. they have to buy the thing, ship it over to the US, pay import taxes, and on top of that they have to make a profit too.

Last I heard, the US doesn't pay import taxes. At least, that's what a lot of people claim.

durroth wrote:

Siger wrote:Changing faces is kinda interesting, though it's not something I look for on TF toys. That battle mask looks stupid though. I don't care how much of a throwback that is, at least put a pair of eyes on it.

It has a blue visor, you just can't tell because it's not painted.

Ok, thanks for the info. I hope it looks good cause I still don't like the design of that mask. Very pointless to have if it doesn't look good, no?

Meh.

just. meh.

it was Meh when they announced the figure, it is stille meh with the pictures, it is still meh with the gimmick face changing thingy and the character in exo-suit (spike would be more logic since he was bee's partner and not Daniel) and it is still meh with the g1 face thing.


but now that we are certain that yellow bug will be released, can someone give us a masterpiece on G1 JAZZ for crying out loud!!!

Deathscythetransform wrote:it is still meh with the gimmick face changing thingy and the character in exo-suit (spike would be more logic since he was bee's partner and not Daniel)

Who said that it isn't Spike?

Lucky for those who ordered the Amazon exclusive. I wish I could.............only managed to get a hold of one via another Japan store and now this "bug" is all sold out.

durroth wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:Man it's awesome. I don't think I've ever been this exited for Bumblebee.

Just one thing, did they put in the whole face-plate swapping gimmick, exclusively for the amazon battle-mask? That's a little excessive. Or will there be a different face with the toy to swap out, cos from the picks it doesn't look like that.

I just relooked at the pics, there's two faces with the toy. One mouth closed/serious, one smiling/mouth open

Oh wow, you're right, now that I look at them again I can totally see the difference. I think I'll go with the smiling face, unless the final version doesn't look as good as the serious one.

the changing face and facemask will probably come in handy when they do the Goldbug repaint too. Although I'd like Goldbug's face to have a bit more of a defined mouthguard, more like Prime or Soundwave than the toy accurate G1 Bee's quite flat face.

edit: wonder if it will be Goldbug, or if they'll got for a similar G2 style Bee?

craggy wrote:the changing face and facemask will probably come in handy when they do the Goldbug repaint too. Although I'd like Goldbug's face to have a bit more of a defined mouthguard, more like Prime or Soundwave than the toy accurate G1 Bee's quite flat face.

edit: wonder if it will be Goldbug, or if they'll got for a similar G2 style Bee?

Thoguh he's also a VW Bug, Goldbug has a whole different body-type from Bumblebee that mere headsculpt change simply wouldn't cut it.

Sabrblade wrote:

Deathscythetransform wrote:it is still meh with the gimmick face changing thingy and the character in exo-suit (spike would be more logic since he was bee's partner and not Daniel)

Who said that it isn't Spike?

I read it was not confirmed that the character was either Daniel or Spike.
Hope that's spike.

At first I was going to cancel my preorder and cut my losses with this line as I have literally NO desire to get the exo-suit. But the more I see of the bee, the more I want it. Can someone tell me how to preorder this item and get the additional faceplate?

Sideshow Sideswipe wrote:Can someone tell me how to preorder this item and get the additional faceplate?

The faceplate is an Amazon Japan exclusive, so unless you know someone in Japan or you have some means of ordering from Amazon Japan, you'll have to settle for the version without the faceplate or wait for scalpers to put the Amazon version on eBay.

GuyIncognito wrote:

Sideshow Sideswipe wrote:Can someone tell me how to preorder this item and get the additional faceplate?

The faceplate is an Amazon Japan exclusive, so unless you know someone in Japan or you have some means of ordering from Amazon Japan, you'll have to settle for the version without the faceplate or wait for scalpers to put the Amazon version on eBay.

I find that all the Asian retailers have "amazon Japan" exclusives. and Japanese retailers does not. strange. RK would have them but HLJ would not.

Also BBTS and US retailers sells them too. at a price increase.

I'm sure that at least one 3rd party company will make a kit with a diverse selection of alternative face designs and expressions. I'm interested only in the two cartoon ones though.

Cyberpath wrote:I'm sure that at least one 3rd party company will make a kit with a diverse selection of alternative face designs and expressions. I'm interested only in the two cartoon ones though.

Like bumblebee O face? No thanks!

Looks absolutely fantastic, I can imagine it in color.