The Energon Pub

Before people get all ballyhooed about their Botcon TCs depreciating in value, I suggest comparing the images of the Botcon and Henkei TC figures

Henkei Thundercracker:


Botcon Thundercracker:



Henkei TC has a darker blue paint than Botcon TC (provided the Henkei image hasn't been photoshopped). There are also some subtle detail differences between the two.

Tekka:
[Force mind control]
You WILL share the details of this scheme.
[/Force mind control]


And yeah, I've thought all along they could do slightly different colour scheme and it would all be good. Hell, the Botcon set is still exclusive. It'll be pretty easy to tell the difference between the two.

GetterDragun wrote:

Tekka wrote:That's a bit of an extreme reaction. It's not like the people behind Botcon are responsible for the actions of Takara.

Tough. They put the word "Exclusive" on it. It's like not honoring a warrantee.

Being appreciative of another chance to get a Classics Thundercracker as I am, I have to say that Getter has a real good point. This was always going to be a touchy issue, and while I'd rather have a Botcon 'cracker than a Henkei one, if Dirge and/or Thrust are on the way or even in the pipeline, I think the bottom just fell out of the resale value of the 07 set. I think that sucks. That really is a shame, and like I said I'm glad for another opportunity to get TC. I think this was a bad idea on Taktomys part.

oh yeah baby! finally! looks good! now we only have to wait for dirge and thrust!

Hmmm, I'm really loving the G1-esque look of Skywarp. I think I'll have to find that one. As for TC, the Botcon TC is good enough for me and I know everyone else out there that didn't get a BC TC will want that guy more then me anyway.

I also do not think anyone can blame this on FP. It's not their fault that Tomy/Tak went and did this. Brian at FP even said that they can't really control what Tomy/Tak does, but at least they kept these figures as exclusives themselves. I mean, look, we did the same thing to their Excellion.

I can't see how it's a bad idea on TakTomy's part. They apparently had nothing to do with the Hasbro/Fun Publications deal, and they saw a demand for something. Just good business to meet that demand.

Sledge wrote:Tekka:
[Force mind control]
You WILL share the details of this scheme.
[/Force mind control]

This is the company I use for my Yahoo Japan dealings. You'll need to register though, and it requires a credit card for activation.

http://www.rinkya.com/storesrus.php

I can vouch for their reliability as they have always done well by me.

Also, I'm not really interested in the Thundercracker, all I want is the Skywarp for my collection. As long as they don't come in the same box I'd be willing to sell on the one I get at cost should anybody else in the UK want one. If they do come in the same box though, that'll be a different matter as he'll probably stay in there and never come out.

Guys...er, I don't know how to break this in a way that won't seem bitter, but I'm going to do my best to be honest here...

3000 Yen is close to $30.

Unless you are getting this directly from a friend in Japan, you're getting it from an online retailer. The price gets doubled essentially to @ $60. Then add on for shipping costs...

Already the figure costs more than BotCon Thundercracker when the box set was released (TCracker was $55 if you split the box five ways).

Now, what many here don't realize is that this is a store exclusive figure. Does anyone else besides myself understand what this means in Japan?

Look, free, zero cost, unpopular MiniCons sell for about $30 a piece in the US. How much do you think the very popular Thundercracker is going to be marked up?

Not only all of this, but store exclusives either run in production runs of 1200 or 6000...

This thing is going to be harder to get than BotCon Thundercracker...

Mark it down.

thundercracker looks great, I might get him

Not liking these ones. The purple is sort of pinkish on Skywarp. Gay.

And I'm sure BotConers are going to be really annoyed, their money's not comming back. I know I would be. If I had him.

To quote Starscream during his conversation with Rumble from the very first episode of Transformers, "I'll find a way!!!"

Even if TC is $60, to $70...I can get him, and get another Classics Skywarp.

The point is, Takara could make one. Now if the price is too high, then moot, but we have a shot at a cheaper price. So if you want a more G1 accurate TC, then go for it.

Dagon wrote:
Being appreciative of another chance to get a Classics Thundercracker as I am, I have to say that Getter has a real good point. This was always going to be a touchy issue, and while I'd rather have a Botcon 'cracker than a Henkei one, if Dirge and/or Thrust are on the way or even in the pipeline, I think the bottom just fell out of the resale value of the 07 set. I think that sucks. That really is a shame, and like I said I'm glad for another opportunity to get TC. I think this was a bad idea on Taktomys part.

I wouldn't say that it is bad on Takara's part. They are offering figures that were not available to the Japanese market and to other fans as well. This is not the first time that similiar exclusives have been done by Hasbro & Takara. Take a look at SDCC Alternator Hotrod/KISS Hotrodimus. SDCC Nemesis Prime (Classics & Alternator)/Binaltech & Henkei Nemesis Prime.

I have no problem when the figures offer some differences so that collector's can distinguish them.

A lot of you who own a Botcon boxset may feel like you are getting cheated, but I don't think that is going to happen. These Takara figures will still be hard to get and probably not affect the value of the Botcon seekers that much.

JESUS WHY DIDN'T I LOOK AT THIS SOONER!!!

now bring on the preordering so I may secure 2

Counterpunch wrote:Guys...er, I don't know how to break this in a way that won't seem bitter, but I'm going to do my best to be honest here...

3000 Yen is close to $30.

Unless you are getting this directly from a friend in Japan, you're getting it from an online retailer. The price gets doubled essentially to @ $60. Then add on for shipping costs...

Already the figure costs more than BotCon Thundercracker when the box set was released (TCracker was $55 if you split the box five ways).

Now, what many here don't realize is that this is a store exclusive figure. Does anyone else besides myself understand what this means in Japan?

Look, free, zero cost, unpopular MiniCons sell for about $30 a piece in the US. How much do you think the very popular Thundercracker is going to be marked up?

Not only all of this, but store exclusives either run in production runs of 1200 or 6000...

This thing is going to be harder to get than BotCon Thundercracker...

Mark it down.

I wouldn't be suprised to see Henkei Thundercracker end up costing more in the US than the entire 2007 set did back when you could buy it from TFCC.

JTKranix wrote:I wouldn't be suprised to see Henkei Thundercracker end up costing more in the US than the entire 2007 set did back when you could buy it from TFCC.

Exactly.

But seriously, what the hell do I know?

Counterpunch wrote:Guys...er, I don't know how to break this in a way that won't seem bitter, but I'm going to do my best to be honest here...

3000 Yen is close to $30.

Unless you are getting this directly from a friend in Japan, you're getting it from an online retailer. The price gets doubled essentially to @ $60. Then add on for shipping costs...

Already the figure costs more than BotCon Thundercracker when the box set was released (TCracker was $55 if you split the box five ways).

Now, what many here don't realize is that this is a store exclusive figure. Does anyone else besides myself understand what this means in Japan?

Look, free, zero cost, unpopular MiniCons sell for about $30 a piece in the US. How much do you think the very popular Thundercracker is going to be marked up?

Not only all of this, but store exclusives either run in production runs of 1200 or 6000...

This thing is going to be harder to get than BotCon Thundercracker...

Mark it down.

I agree completely. Marked. Also, you forgot to mention the 'scalpers' will be all over this as well, tying up preorders, driving demand up. I can easily see BBTS charging in upwards of $100+, if they could even get some. eBay will likely get into the $300 range.

It's funny how people will bitch and moan about how much TC cost when he was going to be a BC exclusive. Now we see this, and everyone is willing, nay, desiring to pay potentially twice what the original Botcon price was.

Incredible.

Counterpunch wrote:

JTKranix wrote:I wouldn't be suprised to see Henkei Thundercracker end up costing more in the US than the entire 2007 set did back when you could buy it from TFCC.

Exactly.

But seriously, what the hell do I know?

I can't wait to see all the people who ignored your post to start crying when BBTS or tfsource puts up pre-orders starting at $285

You know what really gets my blood to boil ?
the fact that some of you can't stop complaining.. "i went to botcon and payed this amount of money and now i'm feeling cheated, bla bla bla..."

well you know what ?
not all of us live in the states or japana so we can't go to conventions and get these figures or even buy them at the stores.

my point is stop being so self centered and stop complaining.
you are lucky that you are able to get these figures so let others enjoy them too.

robotrik wrote:You know what really gets my blood to boil ?
the fact that some of you can't stop complaining.. "i went to botcon and payed this amount of money and now i'm feeling cheated, bla bla bla..."

well you know what ?
not all of us live in the states or japana so we can't go to conventions and get these figures or even buy them at the stores.

my point is stop being so self centered and stop complaining.
you are lucky that you are able to get these figures so let others enjoy them too.

How about we say the same thing to the gloaters out there too. Let's try to keep this civil...

robotrik wrote:You know what really gets my blood to boil ?
the fact that some of you can't stop complaining.. "i went to botcon and payed this amount of money and now i'm feeling cheated, bla bla bla..."

well you know what ?
not all of us live in the states or japana so we can't go to conventions and get these figures or even buy them at the stores.

my point is stop being so self centered and stop complaining.
you are lucky that you are able to get these figures so let others enjoy them too.

I'm just curious as to how many 'lucky' people are going to be able to enjoy it this time around.

These are still going to be very expensive, so I wouldn't be so quick with the "I told you so.'s".

And, I honestly doubt that it is going to "highly affect" the value of the BC '07 set. They are still exclusives, not mass release.

That clear Prime is sweet. I'll be looking to pick him up as well as the TC and SW.

robotrik wrote:You know what really gets my blood to boil ?
the fact that some of you can't stop complaining.. "i went to botcon and payed this amount of money and now i'm feeling cheated, bla bla bla..."

well you know what ?
not all of us live in the states or japana so we can't go to conventions and get these figures or even buy them at the stores.

my point is stop being so self centered and stop complaining.
you are lucky that you are able to get these figures so let others enjoy them too.

You really haven't bothered to read the things I put down in this thread, have you?

Counterpunch wrote:

robotrik wrote:You know what really gets my blood to boil ?
the fact that some of you can't stop complaining.. "i went to botcon and payed this amount of money and now i'm feeling cheated, bla bla bla..."

well you know what ?
not all of us live in the states or japana so we can't go to conventions and get these figures or even buy them at the stores.

my point is stop being so self centered and stop complaining.
you are lucky that you are able to get these figures so let others enjoy them too.

You really haven't bothered to read the things I put down in this thread, have you?

Not many have. No one likes a buzzkill

Was just going through the website and neither figures will not be ready to ship until late September. =(

And it would seem the figures do indeed come separately, so I won't even have to bother with Thundercracker at all.

Tekka wrote:Was just going through the website and neither figures will not be ready to ship until late September. =(

And it would seem the figures do indeed come separately, so I won't even have to bother with Thundercracker at all.

Thanks for posting the link to Rinkya.com,I'm also in the UK and I've just signed up so I'll be able to order Skywarp and TC (x2)
Bring on Thrust and Dirge!