The Energon Pub

[griftimus prime]

no shipping
no tax
deal

[MrBlack]

Preordered. Hell, I even kicked in the $6 to get one day shipping.

The Takara one looks better, period. Better joints, better detailing, guns, the whole package. But, I'm almost always going to have Devastator in his combined form, so whether or not Scrapper has elbows is largely irrelevant (if anything, it will keep Devy's heel more stable). Same for guns. More detailing would be nice, but not worth what I'm sure will be a decent markup.

[ScottyP]

no shipping
no tax
deal

What state are you in? Because my Amazon orders are definitely subjected to NC sales tax these days.

[reluctantyouth]

no shipping
no tax
deal

What state are you in? Because my Amazon orders are definitely subjected to NC sales tax these days.

I enjoyed no tax here in Illinois for years. But since we are most undoubtedly the worst/corrupt/broke ass State in the Union...the greedy Illinois schmucks running State government bitched and moaned and got their way. Now Amazon charges us sales tax. The tax on this guy was almost $10 bucks. This is still cheaper than shipping and most likely Amazon will package better than Hasblow or anyone else for that matter. Been paying tax on Amazon since February 2015.

~reluctantyouth~

[william-james88]

Preordered. Hell, I even kicked in the $6 to get one day shipping.

The Takara one looks better, period. Better joints, better detailing, guns, the whole package. But, I'm almost always going to have Devastator in his combined form, so whether or not Scrapper has elbows is largely irrelevant (if anything, it will keep Devy's heel more stable). Same for guns. More detailing would be nice, but not worth what I'm sure will be a decent markup.

What about the retractable visor? And the purple hands? So far, the markup on the UW toys was pretty low with the exception of Defensor who is an exclusive figure.

Here is the example with Menasor:

On TF Source, 4 deluxes come to 66$ and while they dont sell the voyager alone, his individual cost would be 25$ so alltogether before shipping and taxes it comes to 91$ US.

You can preorder Takara's Menasor right now for 11,240 JPY, which is 90.95$ US, so the exact same price.

So currently, the markup on the Unite Warriors version for the non exclusive combiners is 0%. Any extra fee comes through the way of shipping but that varies depending on location. For example, in Canada, it costs the same shipping from the US as Japan (sometimes cheaper from japan even since they have options we dont have).

If that markup is the same with Devastator then you can bet your sweet mother's cooking that I will jump on Takara's version since there is no point me paying the same price for Hasbro's when it comes with subpar articulation and paint apps as well as not getting any extra accessories or the retractable visor. It's not even about which is version I like better at this point, I am simply getting literally more with Takara by spending the same amount of money. Of course, there are 2 assumptions for this to happen. That the markup is the same as the previous UW releases and that the shipping is the same price if I were to choose Hasbro or Takara (which it has been thus far in my case).

[reluctantyouth]

no shipping
no tax
deal

What state are you in? Because my Amazon orders are definitely subjected to NC sales tax these days.

I enjoyed no tax here in Illinois for years. But since we are most undoubtedly the worst/corrupt/broke ass State in the Union...the greedy Illinois schmucks running State government bitched and moaned and got their way. Now Amazon charges us sales tax. The tax on this guy was almost $10 bucks. This is still cheaper than shipping and most likely Amazon will package better than Hasblow or anyone else for that matter. Been paying tax on Amazon since February 2015.

~reluctantyouth~

[jay5]

They already killed it. Only goes to a page that forwards you back to Amazons home page now.

Bad link choice in the article. Here's the correct link: http://www.amazon.com/Transformers-Gene ... ql_qh_dp_t
You can get to it by clicking on the item's title on the Q&A page.

[william-james88]

I clicked on the pic and it worked fine

[superchook6909]

I called alot of Big W stores, and apparently they haven't had any arrived yet.
One store was kind enough to put my name and number down and will call me when they come in. And put one aside for me, unlike the other stores, who keep saying to call or come in to see if they arrive.

[MrBlack]

Preordered. Hell, I even kicked in the $6 to get one day shipping.

The Takara one looks better, period. Better joints, better detailing, guns, the whole package. But, I'm almost always going to have Devastator in his combined form, so whether or not Scrapper has elbows is largely irrelevant (if anything, it will keep Devy's heel more stable). Same for guns. More detailing would be nice, but not worth what I'm sure will be a decent markup.

What about the retractable visor? And the purple hands? So far, the markup on the UW toys was pretty low with the exception of Defensor who is an exclusive figure.

Here is the example with Menasor:

On TF Source, 4 deluxes come to 66$ and while they dont sell the voyager alone, his individual cost would be 25$ so alltogether before shipping and taxes it comes to 91$ US.

You can preorder Takara's Menasor right now for 11,240 JPY, which is 90.95$ US, so the exact same price.

So currently, the markup on the Unite Warriors version for the non exclusive combiners is 0%. Any extra fee comes through the way of shipping but that varies depending on location. For example, in Canada, it costs the same shipping from the US as Japan (sometimes cheaper from japan even since they have options we dont have).

If that markup is the same with Devastator then you can bet your sweet mother's cooking that I will jump on Takara's version since there is no point me paying the same price for Hasbro's when it comes with subpar articulation and paint apps as well as not getting any extra accessories or the retractable visor. It's not even about which is version I like better at this point, I am simply getting literally more with Takara by spending the same amount of money. Of course, there are 2 assumptions for this to happen. That the markup is the same as the previous UW releases and that the shipping is the same price if I were to choose Hasbro or Takara (which it has been thus far in my case).

I'm in the US, so shipping on Devy is free from Amazon, although I paid a whopping $6 for next day delivery. Shipping from Amiami for something as big as Devy won't be cheap. Add to that the fact that we don't know what, if any, markup Devy will have (the visor gimmick, extra articulation, and weapons on Devy vs. different paint apps on the other combiners), and it was a pretty easy choice for me.

In Canada? Yeah, it might be worth waiting.

[D-BagTron]

Can anyone share their experience ordering SDCC Metroplex online?
Was the it only available through Hasbro Toy Shop like SDCC Devastator will be?
It seems to be more convenient to preorder him now than to gamble on HTS.
I love the paint apps on SDCC's Dev but I could without the headache of ordering him...unless some of you out there have a different opinion. Please share!
SDCC Dev is $179 right? $149 + $6 shipped looks pretty good rt now.
Takara Dev is beautiful but y'all know he is going break the bank extra hard.
Them guns, them elbows, and those purple hands tho...Takara wins the comparision but I can't see paying $200 for him at retail...unless any of you can sway me.
Please share!

[william-james88]

Can anyone share their experience ordering SDCC Metroplex online?
Was the it only available through Hasbro Toy Shop like SDCC Devastator will be?
It seems to be more convenient to preorder him now than to gamble on HTS.
I love the paint apps on SDCC's Dev but I could without the headache of ordering him...unless some of you out there have a different opinion. Please share!
SDCC Dev is $179 right? $149 + $6 shipped looks pretty good rt now.
Takara Dev is beautiful but y'all know he is going break the bank extra hard.
Them guns, them elbows, and those purple hands tho...Takara wins the comparision but I can't see paying $200 for him at retail...unless any of you can sway me.
Please share!

We dont know how much Takara's will be and I would be really surprised if he would cost more than the SDCC version when released at amiami or HLJ (especially considering that Superion and Menasor sell for the same MSRP price as Hasbro's versions). He also wont be as big a headache to get. Also, just in case you dont know, the SDCC version doesnt have the same face sculpt as the regular retail hasbro one. So consider that as part of your choice too.

From last years SDCC experience (not mine but I was witness) with the exclusive dinobot redecos, they went up on HTS twice and sold out pretty quickly. You'd have to be on your computer refreshing the page all the time, kinda like the recent Majora's mask DS bundle or the Mundo posters. It's usually been less of a headache just acquiring them off e-bay from people who bought them at the show. You will be paying a premium of course, which might get it closer to the Takara price (if it indeed proves to be more expensive).

[mooncake623]

Thanks to tfnd we get some new in-hand images of the highly anticipated San Diego Comic Con Devastator! In these images you get clear looks of all 6 individual robot modes as well as some Alt mode size comparisons!
Check out the images we've embedded below and remember keep your optics tuned to Seibertron.com for the latest in news and updates!

[Spanbauer]

Man, those look great. It's a shame we have to choose between the additional decals and paint apps of the SDCC version (available this summer), or waiting another 5-6 months for the Takara Tomy version with better engineering/articulation and additional accessories/features but less decals and paints (yet still more than the U.S. Retail version).

[fenrir72]

The individual 'cons have melee weapons. But can those extra accessories be used ala their original incarnation's "supervehicle modes"? Hopefully we could see them done (if done already I might have missed them).

[D-BagTron]

Williams-james88 thank you so much for the info.
I believe I will go for both Hasbro's and Takara's Dev. I'm having a hard time fighting the devil on my shoulder on this one. I'm just going to bite the bullet and spend the cash. Cop Hasbro now, recover, then get Takara. Takara releases later anyway right?
Sorry for all the ignorance fam. 37 yr G1 fan but only jumped in the game at Combiner Wars.
Deep down, I knew I was going to get 2 of this guy. So much for budgeting...

[Nemesis Maximo]

There's a little pee coming out of me right now.

[MenaceRX]

Pre-ordered. Free 2 day shipping with prime, just have to add the $10 tax, thanks VA. Anyway its good to know I will have one, if Takara puts their out at the same price then I would consider a switch but I am good with the Hasbro one. I am not planning to have him out of Combined monster mode towering over the other CW figures.

still at $158 with 2 day shipping, I can live with that. 6 Voyagers at $25 a pop comes out right there, and tax on each would have been a lot more.

[Flux Convoy]

There's a little pee coming out of me right now.

Go see a doctor.

[Wheeljack808]

There's a little pee coming out of me right now.

Go see Ratchet

Fix'd

[shajaki]

With elbows, this woulda been my Devastator.

[Shuttershock]

There's a little pee coming out of me right now.

Go see Ratchet

Fix'd

Check in with Hoist iin two mega-cycles for a follow-up.

[william-james88]

Williams-james88 thank you so much for the info.
I believe I will go for both Hasbro's and Takara's Dev. I'm having a hard time fighting the devil on my shoulder on this one. I'm just going to bite the bullet and spend the cash. Cop Hasbro now, recover, then get Takara. Takara releases later anyway right?
Sorry for all the ignorance fam. 37 yr G1 fan but only jumped in the game at Combiner Wars.
Deep down, I knew I was going to get 2 of this guy. So much for budgeting...

Welcome And we dont know the date for Takara's Devy yet. It is assumed end of year but there is no confirmation. By the way, I think you made the right choice in the Devys you are getting.

[Emerje]

We dont know how much Takara's will be and I would be really surprised if he would cost more than the SDCC version when released at amiami or HLJ (especially considering that Superion and Menasor sell for the same MSRP price as Hasbro's versions).

Whoa, wait a minute, they don't sell for the same MSRP price. The price you've been quoting comes from a 30% discount, something Japanese retailers are willing to do for figures they know will sell well while American retailers are more likely to be greedy and raise the price.

Here's the actual MSRP comparison:

Takara Menasor (four Deluxe @ US$16.99 x4, one Voyager @ US$24.99) - US$92.95
Takara Tomy Menasor - ¥15,000 / US$121.39

That's nearly a US$30 difference between MSRP. Granted, you won't be paying that on AmiAmi, HLJ, or Hobby Search, but there's no guarantee on how deep the discount will be on Devastator. Could be 15%, could be 20%. (BTW, AmiAmi's MSRP is the taxed MSRP while HLJ and HS use the untaxed MSRP since we aren't charged sales tax. The old Tokyo sales tax was 5% so AmiAmi is accustomed to adding that to the real discount so it's really 25% off which is still a lot.)

Maybe a better comparison would be Metroplex as I assume Takara will be selling Devastator as the same price class like Hasbro.

Hasbro Metroplex - US$124.99
Takara Tomy Metroplex - ¥19,000 / US$153.98 (today) / US$192.25 (Sept 2013).

There's that US$30~ difference again. With that we might be able to predict the Japanese MSRP on Devastator at US$179.99 or around ¥22,300, but with 25% off it's ¥16,725 or US$135. Factor in 3 day shipping and you're still paying less that the SDCC price (which to be totally honest I find to be super ugly).

Yeah, that was a long way of saying we might actually be paying less for Takara Tomy's upgraded Devatator, but I hope we all learned something about Japanese pricing.

Emerje

[Cobotron]

Thanks for that comprehensive break down E!