Seibertron.com Energon Pub Forums

It's really great that you are commenting on the fan sites. It really shows your club's commitment to the fans and the desire to make these exclusives accessible to all club members.


I have never been a member of your club, but these two figures are really luring me to become one. Your club has done a great job selecting these figures. I am sold on everything except for one thing - the ability to get Runabout. The idea that I have to stay in front my computer and be vigilant with a chance of not getting it is a big downer. To be truthful - I won't become a member if I feel that there is a possibility that I cannot get this figure.

I know that you are upping your orders, but how are you equating for folks like me who have not joined yet and are not in your sight?

Pete@BotCon wrote:The difference from many other online retailers is they are ordering from a wholesaler or from another shop, then doing a slight mark up. We are ordering directly from the manufacturer. We are ordering in relatively high quantities. There is always a risk.

Ramjet is the first toy that we had that sold out in crazy time, and that was still 24 hours, not the 5 minute horror stories that have plagued other companies.

But again, we ARE upping numbers but at the same time, we do NOT want these in stock for weeks on end. We want these gone pretty quick and everyone that wants one to get one.

Feedback is fine btw. No worries...

Toy Hobby
e-Hobby
Million Publishing
Ganbo

Four Japanese entities that produce Transformer exclusives and order directly from Takara. They all have pre-orders, Japanese fans pay these companies up front and in full. No complaints.

Pete@BotCon wrote:And actually, I forgot the BIGGEST issue...

We have to call the numbers in probably a month. No way to know final price by then. No packaging. No price from Tomy-Takara.

So again, just not possible at this time.

The Japanese companies above also have the same issue and they handle it by starting their pre-orders earlier.

Seibertron wrote:While I agree that it would be nice to have the club exclusive products not sell out in 24 to 48 hours, I think it's important that we keep in mind that the Club did get burned, not once, but twice on ordering too many figures. They've still got 2007 Airrazor in stock and, if I remember correctly, they only recently sold out of the 2007 Astrotrain. Even in that situation though, I'm surprised that the product wasn't liquidated via connections with Hasbro to stores like TJ Maxx, Ross, or Marshalls. Perhaps they don't do that in order to maintain the exclusivity of their products and are standing by their decisions so as not to devalue the sale of future product releases.

All the more reason to do pre-orders.

Pete - I am sure that it is too late to set up pre-orders this year, but you really should figure out a better ordering process for Runabout. People are feeling a lot of doubt. The best thing you could do is guarantee folks that they will get Runabout if they become a member; even if it means setting up a deadline for membership in order to get the guarantee.

oops, double post.

Stormrider wrote:oops, double post.

Welcome back buddy. We missed having you around!

The more and more I think about this, the more and more I think a pre-order system would be the best solution. It would solve a lot of problems for both the Club and for people wanting to get this figure. Pete, could let us know what obstacles or challenges you guys foresee or are facing regarding a pre-order system?

I'm not a member but I've been following this topic... it makes the most sense to me to give members first dibs, and limit it to ONE figure per member, until every member who wants to order one has. After that, the remainders should be placed on the club store at a pre-determined time, and the hyenas can scrap over them. No one 'needs' 2-3 of the same figure. IMO if you're an MISB collector, you leave it in the package, if you open your toys, you open it. You don't need one to open and one to keep in box. If that's what you want, you should have to wait until everyone has gotten their single toy first.

kirbenvost wrote:I'm not a member but I've been following this topic... it makes the most sense to me to give members first dibs, and limit it to ONE figure per member, until every member who wants to order one has. After that, the remainders should be placed on the club store at a pre-determined time, and the hyenas can scrap over them. No one 'needs' 2-3 of the same figure. IMO if you're an MISB collector, you leave it in the package, if you open your toys, you open it. You don't need one to open and one to keep in box. If that's what you want, you should have to wait until everyone has gotten their single toy first.

Borderin on Communism ain't ya? Look, I know it's a pain. I'm a member, I pay for the year, I risk not getting a figure do to scalpers, distribution websites and other fans competing for the a limited supply of goods. BUT, I determine what I want. No one "needs" Transformers. If we were talking about life saving medicine, ok fine you gotta a point. But we're not. That's capitalism. That's life. It's cutthroat out in the real world, and it's getting cutthroat in the collecting world too. Now I am a fan of offering current members first dibs. Would certainly help out getting new subscribers too. I think a pre-order system is the way to go, without appointing a Transformers Czar.

Seibertron wrote:

Stormrider wrote:oops, double post.

Welcome back buddy. We missed having you around!

Stormrider 2.0 plugged in.

I think they should, at least with Runabout, try to match the production numbers with Runamucks. The way I would try that would be to take the number of members that have joined since March 16th to now, and multiply that number by three and add thirty. I would then match production numbers for both figures. People arent going to want one more than the other, but I do think people will panic, with the mindset that Runamuck is a sure bet, but Runabout is a gamble, and might try to pick up a couple for trade fodder over other fans. Once you send the numbers over to TakTomy, you set up your preorders. You dont set the whole pond up for fishing, though. You divide the stock amongst three days, and you make the announcement as to what days the preorders will go up. Wanna sell them in a week? Monday goes the first third of the stock. First wave is a one per customer kind of deal. Wednesday is wave two, Second wave goes two per customer. Friday is wave three, and wave three is the same as wave two, but you dont have a limit on how many times a customer runs a checkout in a day. Hang onto the extra thirty for exchanges, mail errors, broken figures, etc. I think more people would have a shot at getting what they wanted, and you can still have the online retailers buy into it without wiping everyone out. I think whats going on with twitter feeds is great, and gives everyone a good chance to get their hands on things. I think the problem with Ramjet, was that people either weren't on a computer that day, or thought they could hold out to the next paycheck. Thats not the clubs fault by any means, but for those two groups, I think spreading the stock over a week would ease a lot of strain.

SG Drift? I think its a great idea, but I think its more of a niche character, much like Animated Cheetor, and you wont have the same frenzy as you would with trying to own the Yang, when you are already guaranteed the Yin.

So I thought I spoke up about these already, guess not. I really dig this guy. I'm really looking forward to this year of club figures probably more than any other year yet and I've been a member since the beginning. SG Drift, still does nothing for me though. I get the concept and it's clever. I'll even buy him since I get all the SG stuff. Unless the deco really pops or something really fun is done in the fiction though... Sell me guys.

Seibertron wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

Seibertron wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:But if they can only order 2 figures and that's it they can't do a bulk order. They don't save on shipping from the club it's the re-shipping where the savings are had. On another note

I understand what you're saying. I'm just saying that the cost of shipping is just part of the cost of the figure in the end. Limiting the number of figures that can be ordered would also help boost membership numbers for the Club whereas allowing people to order as many as they want with a bulk order actually discourages membership signup. Now that I think about this, this should just be standard procedure since allowing multiple figures to be ordered initially would only hurt potential memberships.

The thing is it isn't worth while for the people who are part of these bulk orders to become members. They live in area's where the membership cost is to high or they never attend Bot-Con. I understand the thought of club members only getting the toys but I'd like to see whoever wants one, really wants one, gets one. I'm not a member of the Joe Club so does that mean I shouldn't have the mail-away Cobra Commander my friend got for me? I wanted the figure and appreciate it for what it is but not at $40 for the membership and another $15 for the figure; and as we all know the TF exclusives are much more money.

That's not for the Club to worry about. To answer your question, as far as the Clubs are concerned, the figures should only be sold initially to club members and if bulk orders are being placed so that non-members can get the figures then they should put a stop to it. The whole point of them being Club exclusives is that they're for the club members. If you don't want to be a member to get the Club exclusives, then you'll have to pick them up in the aftermarket and that's a choice you'll have to make. And yes, that's 100% fair. The Club is called a "club" for a reason. There's supposed to be perks and benefits to being a "club" member. If you don't think getting first dibs on the "club" exclusive figures is worth having a membership, then that's your prerogative and those are your choices. But the point you are arguing is non-beneficial to the Club. Club memberships, selling their exclusives, and their conventions are the only way they make money. If you're skimping on the club membership then I don't know what to tell you. I'm sure if there was a limit of 2 per member, many of you who don't have memberships would rethink getting a membership so that you could get these exclusive figures.

Are you a member of the Transformers Club?

Yes I am a member of the club although I don't go to Bot-Con. After the combiner set, the horrible Dion figure, the removal of membership cards, and other small issues I was going to let my membership lapse; but P/CP, Sideburn, G2 Ramjet, and next years figures convinced me to stay through next year. I completely see your point and normally would agree as I detest scalping especially when it forces people to pay $200 for a figure but I can also understand the fact that some people can't justify $40 plus the cost of a figure let alone $200.

By the way I would join the Joe Club to get the exclusives but I think there should be a deal in place that I (and whoever else is in this situation) should get a discount on the second membership.

kirbenvost wrote:I'm not a member but I've been following this topic... it makes the most sense to me to give members first dibs, and limit it to ONE figure per member, until every member who wants to order one has. After that, the remainders should be placed on the club store at a pre-determined time, and the hyenas can scrap over them. No one 'needs' 2-3 of the same figure. IMO if you're an MISB collector, you leave it in the package, if you open your toys, you open it. You don't need one to open and one to keep in box. If that's what you want, you should have to wait until everyone has gotten their single toy first.

This is especially more true when you factor in there is no way to tell with a Club figure if someone opened it first.

I am going to join the club again this year because of these TWO figures. I know I will get the free figure. I am going to be really disappointed if I can't get the other one. I feel that the collector value on these guys is as a set. If I am only going to be able to get half of the set, I would rather not spend the money at all.
I spend a lot of time on Seibertron and, chances are, I will have enough heads up to order Runabout. But I would like to not have to worry about it.

Rated X wrote:Played with the Wheeljack figure. If you fold in the wings and missles, and raise the backpack end of the car over his head, it gives a more G1 appearance. Thats how ill display mine to give the feel of a different mold.

I've had my Tracks posed very similar since I got him except I obviously leave the wings out for Tracks.