The Energon Pub

[Optimizzy]

Meanwhile at Walmart, wave two came in and within the month was marked down for clearance by %50. Makes me doubt that I'll see wave 3.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

I do not know if it has been said yet, but I found the wave 1 combiner wars deluxes with comics in my Punxsutawney Walmart over the weekend. No pictures as I cannot upload anything to hear mobily, but I did see them, so they are in the US.

[Agamemnon]

Soooooo.....has anyone yet seen Wave 1 with comics? Just curious....

[megatronus]

Soooooo.....has anyone yet seen Wave 1 with comics? Just curious....

Yes! I saw Drag Strip with his comic today at a TRU. I asked the folks in the Action Figures department, and they said they were getting more stock in tomorrow. Hopefully I'll be able to get all 4 wave 1 figures with the comic pack in on my way to work tomorrow.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Soooooo.....has anyone yet seen Wave 1 with comics? Just curious....

I did yes. sorry in my original post I forgot to say "Comics" lol. But yes, they are at walmarts now

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Quickslinger and Brake-neck are back in stock on Amazon

[william-james88]

Hey wait a sec. Does this mean that the wave 2 deluxe cards are now Canada exclusive? And is Canada the only one to get the international versions now? Who else could have had them, Russia? South Africa? Because I know HongKong gets the comics

Not quite: here in Brazil we've already gotten the Wave 2 of deluxes with the cards (Air Raid and the stuntucons, sans Dragstrip obviously) about two months ago, along with Wave 1 of voyagers (Optimus and Silverbolt; already have my "Superion" with three stunticon limbs ), legends (Bombshell, Powerglide, Thundercracker and Windcharger) and leaders (Both megatrons). Damn, even Platinum inseticons and Blitzwing/Astrotrain and YOTG Optimus and Soundwave are here, but no comics for us...

Ah, thanks! So I that means the south west of the world gets the international packages too. And while you may preffer the comics, a lot preffer the cards. People who bought wave 1 were stuck getting the cards at first, but now that wave 2 has comics, their wave 1 card set wont be complete. And plus, the comics are just reprints that arent always in perfect relation to the toy. And plus, every other class (legends, voyager and leader) come with cards, so there is an obvious gap for anyone who might care about them. From what I have read, more would have preferred just getting the cards.

[albnok]

For the same price, I'd prefer the comics. Same reason why I'd prefer the Hasbro Generations versions over the Takara TG series. Though I do feel gypped that I bought all of Wave 1 with cards without any idea that Wave 1 was supposed to have comics. And now it seems only Dragstrip gets reissued with a comic.

[Wolfman Jake]

I think the real question for European fans, and any in other underserved markets, is how to teach retailers NOT to over order the first wave of a toy line and pace themselves to make sure they can offer the full variety of products over the course of a year. Likewise, Hasbro probably needs a better distribution strategy. Maybe have at LEAST two assortments ready to launch at any one time and allocate them accordingly when stores make their initial orders, since the stores don't seem to care to do that themselves. Think of how much more impressive it would be to see a display of a new line of Transformers products with EIGHT different characters in a size class instead of just four (or FOUR vs. two for Voyagers and Leaders). After the initial shipments, see what characters sell and which linger and plan out the end of the year accordingly for revision waves.

[Carnivius_Prime]

My sympathies for you UK CW collectors. I'm still hurting from the ONE chain that actually did PROPER AoE Deluxes/Voyagers in the UK, Toys R Us, not getting Hound or Galvatron in.

[CrankyOldTruck]

it's not hasbro's fault that stores didn't order wave 2

This... right here!

It's also the reason why so many of us on this side of the pond are being screwed out of various waves here as well. The stores don't give a damn, they are just ordering bits and pieces to fill shelf space and those of us hoping to fill in gaps in the collection are forced to drive miles/kilometers out of our way on a mad gamble that MAYBE the one store out in the boondocks that we called up on the phone actually knew what the hell they were talking about and had the figures we were looking for. 9 times out of 10 that gamble doesn't pan out and we've wasted time and gas in the attempt and that too is not Hasbros fault but the fault of the stores.
It is rare that I will defend Hasbro on anything, and what has happened to the fans in the UK sucks on every level, but this is one of the few times where Hasbro isn't to blame.
I know it is no consolation to you folks but many of us here in the states are in a similar situation with locating figures but I'm sure there are many on this site that would be willing to help you guys and gals out and snag what you need and ship it along, probably for a cheaper rate than what the online stores can do it for. This is one instance where the fan community can band together and help each other out.

[Allenspurs]

No real big deal, all of wave 2 is available online at less than UK retailers sold wave 1. A bit annoying but that's all

[Oddimus Prime]

No real big deal, all of wave 2 is available online at less than UK retailers sold wave 1. A bit annoying but that's all

Really?!?!

And which of these online retailers actually has any stock of any of the figures?

I hate when I am right, but I called this a couple of months back when the pre release listings on The Entertainers website for wave 2 vanished.

I've picked up a MotorMaster so far but paid £36 (about $55) for him. I grabbed Brake Neck and Quickslinger off of Kapow as soon as they were available, but completing Menasor and Superion is now at best going to be irritating and at worse, expensive.

I have seen the wave 2 figs on eBay for about £75 ($115) for the 4, if I want to risk importing from China. Blackjack on the other hand... Cheapest I have seen him for it about £17 ($27).

I don't blame Hasbro. But I do think they need to adjust their rationale with some of this. If sales don't justify releasing a wave immediately, then hold it off, don't skip it. I gave up with AoE because nothing appeared over here that I actually wanted - I really wanted Hound but now I just don't care.

So yeah, if anyone fancies picking me up a complete set of Wave 2 Deluxes and Legends and send them UK way...

[Allenspurs]

No real big deal, all of wave 2 is available online at less than UK retailers sold wave 1. A bit annoying but that's all

Really?!?!

And which of these online retailers actually has any stock of any of the figures?

I hate when I am right, but I called this a couple of months back when the pre release listings on The Entertainers website for wave 2 vanished.

I've picked up a MotorMaster so far but paid £36 (about $55) for him. I grabbed Brake Neck and Quickslinger off of Kapow as soon as they were available, but completing Menasor and Superion is now at best going to be irritating and at worse, expensive.

I have seen the wave 2 figs on eBay for about £75 ($115) for the 4, if I want to risk importing from China. Blackjack on the other hand... Cheapest I have seen him for it about £17 ($27).

I don't blame Hasbro. But I do think they need to adjust their rationale with some of this. If sales don't justify releasing a wave immediately, then hold it off, don't skip it. I gave up with AoE because nothing appeared over here that I actually wanted - I really wanted Hound but now I just don't care.

So yeah, if anyone fancies picking me up a complete set of Wave 2 Deluxes and Legends and send them UK way...

http://masterforce.co.uk/index.php/cPath/1_72

There's one for a start.

Tey typing "Transformers combiner wars wave 2" in Google you will be amazed

[Oddimus Prime]

http://masterforce.co.uk/index.php/cPath/1_72

There's one for a start.

Tey typing "Transformers combiner wars wave 2" in Google you will be amazed

You'll forgive me if my faith in anyone getting a pre order in of Wave 2 has been somewhat shake! Also no Air Raid on Masterforce

But cheers dude. I had checked them out before, perhaps the lack of ability to have any instant purchase is putting me off. Like many others I use online retail mostly for exclusives as part of my addiction is actually going to shops to find figures.

[King Kuuga]

To the best of my understanding, here's what happened with the European stores.

They ordered a bunch of CW at the beginning. At that time, wave 1 was shipping out.
That stuck around for a long time.
Hasbro switched to offering wave 2 cases for order, but no orders came in from european markets because the retailers were still dredging through their wave 1 stuff.
When the retailers finally got rid of enough wave 1 stuff to order more CW toys, they put in an order, and by this point Hasbro was selling wave 3 cases.

I don't think Hasbro offers specifically wave 1, 2, 3, etc cases as a choice, they just switch periodically and if a store misses it, oh well. I may be wrong.

[MemphisR56]

This now leaves me with a Dilemma.


In order for my purchases to count towards UK/EU stock triggers, I need to buy in store.

That means I should stop pre-ordering online at Kapow or TFExpress, and start going out on the hunt.

But then if I don't preorder a wave, I end up potentially missing out OR having to pay scalper prices to catch up.

It's a bit of a catch 22.






Anyway. So begins the great Air Raid shortage of 2015.

This is already happening. Scalpers are rubbing their hands.

ohboyherewego.PNG

[primarch1]

I'm glad I could bring this to everyone's attention, (yup davepolwarth is me, I just don't sign in here too often) my friend has suggested that we all get pitchforks and torches and march on hasbro UK. I'm reasonably sure he was kidding.....i think!

[MarkNL]

There we go again.

I knew it. I just knew it.

[RhA]

There we go again.

I knew it. I just knew it.

When is this even different? This is common since... DOTM? A while anyway. I'm still amazed wave 1 showed up at all. But if you missed out on wave 2, you should have pre ordered at Archonia. I got all I wanted at retail price.

[Va'al]

I'm glad I could bring this to everyone's attention, (yup davepolwarth is me, I just don't sign in here too often) my friend has suggested that we all get pitchforks and torches and march on hasbro UK. I'm reasonably sure he was kidding.....i think!

Thank you, indeed, for forwarding the information! It's a shame this happens often enough, but at least we have confirmation it is, I suppose.

[robotmel]

Anyway. So begins the great Air Raid shortage of 2015.

This is already happening. Scalpers are rubbing their hands.

I wonder if its worth throwing some cash at Forbidden Planet or would I just be wasting my time?

Forbidden Fruit.jpg

[Va'al]

I'm just going to wait for Auto Assembly, to be honest.
Had several bad experience with Forbidden Planet, and would rather give my money to an actual retailer or a comic book shop, rather than them.

[robotmel]

Had several bad experience with Forbidden Planet, and would rather give my money to an actual retailer or a comic book shop, rather than them.

How so? Delays or cancelations or just rubbish customer service?

[MemphisR56]

Actually, I'd say go for it.


I've had a few bad customer service experiences with them, but this was how I got my skids, gears, cosmos and brainstorm.

Their stock is imports, so it's not in any danger of really vanishing like the euro versions. Their prices are generally fairly reasonable too.

Just be wary that the wave might be delayed without them letting you know.