The Energon Pub

[Cobotron]

I was content to pass on Lio Kaiser ... but seeing him posed like that has me thinking otherwise.

Dammit.

It's that dang head sculpt that gets me every time.

[Bumblebee21]

why them they always seem to raise the prices on them

They have a contract wth Hasbro for platinums, as we all discovered with the RID platinum set. They are now on the list of stores that can house an exclusive, along with BBTS, Amazon, TRU, Walmart, Target and Kmart.

really i hadnt heard about them until a couple months ago.you think they would do more to get the word out

Thats what sites like ours are for.

true but for parents that hear about it and dont know where to look and then end up paying almost $200

[william-james88]

why them they always seem to raise the prices on them

They have a contract wth Hasbro for platinums, as we all discovered with the RID platinum set. They are now on the list of stores that can house an exclusive, along with BBTS, Amazon, TRU, Walmart, Target and Kmart.

really i hadnt heard about them until a couple months ago.you think they would do more to get the word out

Thats what sites like ours are for.

true but for parents that hear about it and dont know where to look and then end up paying almost $200

But this toy isnt marketed to kids anyway (its in the collector line) so why would a parent buy it? And plus, kids are savy. Since any developmet on this toy has been repored online, only someone who knows of this toy would buy it and if someone knows of this toy, they know how to use a computer to order it. The market that knows about it is the market that would buy it. This wouldnt sell well in stores, that has been proven.

[o.supreme]

This wouldnt sell well in stores, that has been proven.

How so? The only platinum I've ever seen at retail was the Insecticon one, and at $80, of course it wouldn't sell, that is just insane. Additionally, I have yet to see any CW set at retail. If this was sold in stores for anywhere between $80-90 (which is what it should be priced at), I would think they would sell fairly well...

[william-james88]

This wouldnt sell well in stores, that has been proven.

How so? The only platinum I've ever seen at retail was the Insecticon one, and at $80, of course it wouldn't sell, that is just insane. Additionally, I have yet to see any CW set at retail. If this was sold in stores for anywhere between $80-90 (which is what it should be priced at), I would think they would sell fairly well...

Firstly, I wsa saying that them at their current prices wouldnt sell well in stores. You are bringing up the fact that they are priced wrong, but that cant be changed right now and thats another issue all together. The initial idea was whether or not these sets would sell well in stores ceterus parabus and they wouldnt. Transformers items aimed at collectors always sold piss poorly in the US. All the way back to those G1 reissues at toysrus which just stayed there forever. For some reason, the only thing that sold well were movie items, but that's attributed to newer fans who got onboard this new era of toys rather than older fans who like the older stuff. While expensive box sets are not found in the US, they are found across the world wherever there is enough space to place them and never perform well. Every single boxset or high end toy ever released at every toysrus in canada that wasnt linked to a movie has shelfwarmed. As is the case with all the combiner wars box sets right now. They are just taking space that could be used for other toys that sell better.

So now you have the American stores, specifically TRU (which have less TF space for some reason) see how their foreign franchises have crappy sales numbers and are thus convinced that the precious shelf space should not go to these collector aimed toys that dont sell well but to others instead. The collectors can buy them online, and they do.

TL DR: The results in international markets show that having these expensive box sets in stores dont sell, at least not better than having them online. Some are even sold out online but still available in stores haha

[o.supreme]

Transformers items aimed at collectors always sold piss poorly in the US. All the way back to those G1 reissues at toysrus which just stayed there forever.

I loved those, they couldn't stay in stock in my area. A friend begged me for years to buy my PM Prime w/apex armor, until he eventually moved away.

For some reason, the only thing that sold well were movie items, but that's attributed to newer fans who got onboard this new era of toys rather than older fans who like the older stuff.

Man I must live in some "bizarro" world...so many ROTF & DotM Bumblebees that never went anywhere...AoE toys are still on the shelves 2+ years after the movies release...way overproduced on those.

While expensive box sets are not found in the US, they are found across the world wherever there is enough space to place them and never perform well. Every single boxset or high end toy ever released at every toysrus in canada that wasnt linked to a movie has shelfwarmed. As is the case with all the combiner wars box sets right now. They are just taking space that could be used for other toys that sell better.

and how many times have not just me, but other fans, lamented your pics of awesome layouts of toys that we can only access via online retailers. Of course this is nothing new, Hasbro has some terrible strategies, putting toys in every market, EXCEPT the US, where they would sell the best...makes no sense. TRU looking at data from foreign markets is clearly not a good strategy, and it is costing them more in poor customer service than even they realize.

Sure I guess I'm not being deprived as I do know how to obtain any of these toys...but you know...for people like me, there is still something to be said about actually walking in a store, seeing what you want, and purchasing it. You should have seen me when I found TR FortMax at TRU, you'd think I found the flippin' Holy Grail... ...only to find out, its really not that hard to find I guess...

[Burn]

I was content to pass on Lio Kaiser ... but seeing him posed like that has me thinking otherwise.

Dammit.

It's that dang head sculpt that gets me every time.

Yeah but I think we have enough evidence now to say you're pretty weak willed when it comes to plastic.

[Cobotron]

I was content to pass on Lio Kaiser ... but seeing him posed like that has me thinking otherwise.

Dammit.

It's that dang head sculpt that gets me every time.

Yeah but I think we have enough evidence now to say you're pretty weak willed when it comes to plastic.

Evidence?! you got nothin' on me Coper! I'm clean as a whistle.

No. you couldn't be more right, but hey, it takes one to know one.

[RAR]

That is odd it looks Toyhax was trying to make an Exhaust deco and instead made a Fracture one. I really dislike the "Smoking Kills" part though that is a distasteful thing to write on a kids toy.

HOWEVER another Decepticon is always useful even if it's only to swap out with Roller on Galvatron's combination. But then that is kinda what Off Road is for too I guess.

There really needs to be some Combiner Wars vs packs sometime - as I keep saying. as then it opens up combinations for all those lonely torsos.

[Bumblebee21]

That is odd it looks Toyhax was trying to make an Exhaust deco and instead made a Fracture one. I really dislike the "Smoking Kills" part though that is a distasteful thing to write on a kids toy.

it is meant for adult collectors

[o.supreme]

combinations for all those lonely torsos.

Actually I've figured out a way so that no Torso is "lonely"...there are just enough limbs out there to cover them all.

[Cobotron]

I dunno. I think It's a pretty good message to send to kids. Morbid, but true.

Ex-smoker here.

[Burn]

No. you couldn't be more right, but hey, it takes one to know one.

I don't need my own thread though to brag about my addiction.

[Cobotron]

No. you couldn't be more right, but hey, it takes one to know one.

I don't need my own thread though to brag about my addiction.

Ouch!

[D-Maximal_Primal]

I was content to pass on Lio Kaiser ... but seeing him posed like that has me thinking otherwise.

Dammit.

It's that dang head sculpt that gets me every time.

Yeah but I think we have enough evidence now to say you're pretty weak willed when it comes to plastic.

Evidence?! you got nothin' on me Coper! I'm clean as a whistle.

No. you couldn't be more right, but hey, it takes one to know one.

No. you couldn't be more right, but hey, it takes one to know one.

I don't need my own thread though to brag about my addiction.

Ouch!

Considering Sky Lynx is not combined in my collection, the combined mode will be entirely unique. and it is a great looking combiner to me, and I have a girlfriend willing to hunt it down for Christmas, so it is well worth it. Besides, I really really want it

[william-james88]

For some reason, the only thing that sold well were movie items, but that's attributed to newer fans who got onboard this new era of toys rather than older fans who like the older stuff.

Man I must live in some "bizarro" world...so many ROTF & DotM Bumblebees that never went anywhere...AoE toys are still on the shelves 2+ years after the movies release...way overproduced on those.

You dont live in Bizarro world, you just assumed I wasnt talking about box sets anymore for some reason. But no, I was still talking about box sets, saying that the only expensive box sets that did sell well were the ones linked to the movie, like the Autobot Unite box set, the farmageddon box set and the Evolution prime box set. Those sold well, but the other box sets like the combiner wars ones and the platinum boxes and the chinese lunar new year box sets shelf warm real bad.

While expensive box sets are not found in the US, they are found across the world wherever there is enough space to place them and never perform well. Every single boxset or high end toy ever released at every toysrus in canada that wasnt linked to a movie has shelfwarmed. As is the case with all the combiner wars box sets right now. They are just taking space that could be used for other toys that sell better.

and how many times have not just me, but other fans, lamented your pics of awesome layouts of toys that we can only access via online retailers. Of course this is nothing new, Hasbro has some terrible strategies, putting toys in every market, EXCEPT the US, where they would sell the best...makes no sense. TRU looking at data from foreign markets is clearly not a good strategy, and it is costing them more in poor customer service than even they realize.

Sure, they lament, but they wouldnt purchase them. like I told Bumblebee 21:

Its pointless because they sell them for 150$ which is even higher than the US price they go for when converted. They do go on sale, but nothing spectacular. So while they make look nice there, nobody buys them. Instead, we go to Amazon or Walmart where we can buy them for 100$ or so. At 150$, them being physically seen in the store, doesnt really trigger any impulse purchases.

Nobody buys the box sets that we find in stores at my TRU (and every other TRU) because they are cheaper online and way too expensive.

I really feel that price is the issue and no matter if they are in stores or not, if the price is wrong they wont be sold. Them being in a store at these prices is totally useless.

[fenrir72]

For some reason, the only thing that sold well were movie items, but that's attributed to newer fans who got onboard this new era of toys rather than older fans who like the older stuff.

Man I must live in some "bizarro" world...so many ROTF & DotM Bumblebees that never went anywhere...AoE toys are still on the shelves 2+ years after the movies release...way overproduced on those.

You dont live in Bizarro world, you just assumed I wasnt talking about box sets anymore for some reason. But no, I was still talking about box sets, saying that the only expensive box sets that did sell well were the ones linked to the movie, like the Autobot Unite box set, the farmageddon box set and the Evolution prime box set. Those sold well, but the other box sets like the combiner wars ones and the platinum boxes and the chinese lunar new year box sets shelf warm real bad.

While expensive box sets are not found in the US, they are found across the world wherever there is enough space to place them and never perform well. Every single boxset or high end toy ever released at every toysrus in canada that wasnt linked to a movie has shelfwarmed. As is the case with all the combiner wars box sets right now. They are just taking space that could be used for other toys that sell better.

and how many times have not just me, but other fans, lamented your pics of awesome layouts of toys that we can only access via online retailers. Of course this is nothing new, Hasbro has some terrible strategies, putting toys in every market, EXCEPT the US, where they would sell the best...makes no sense. TRU looking at data from foreign markets is clearly not a good strategy, and it is costing them more in poor customer service than even they realize.

Sure, they lament, but they wouldnt purchase them. like I told Bumblebee 21:

Its pointless because they sell them for 150$ which is even higher than the US price they go for when converted. They do go on sale, but nothing spectacular. So while they make look nice there, nobody buys them. Instead, we go to Amazon or Walmart where we can buy them for 100$ or so. At 150$, them being physically seen in the store, doesnt really trigger any impulse purchases.

Nobody buys the box sets that we find in stores at my TRU (and every other TRU) because they are cheaper online and way too expensive.

I really feel that price is the issue and no matter if they are in stores or not, if the price is wrong they wont be sold. Them being in a store at these prices is totally useless.

No argument or assumptions just a query

CW box sets (didn't see a single on in TRU SEA) shelf warmed in Canadian TRU(?) Or is it those other weird TF products like that Laser Convey colored gold or that 3 changer colored in wtf pastels?

Some of them I found(G2 color Superion and Menasor) in a non TRU store and it does seem to shelfwarm (okay not even a year I got it ) but they are slow moving.

Point is, Hasbro or their local country distributors have sucky distribution paradigms. Not to mention the market/economy is a bit tight on the budgets now.

And they seriously need to get their act together to promote the toys in Cable or Television.

[william-james88]

CW box sets (didn't see a single on in TRU SEA) shelf warmed in Canadian TRU(?) Or is it those other weird TF products like that Laser Convey colored gold or that 3 changer colored in wtf pastels?

Some of them I found(G2 color Superion and Menasor) in a non TRU store and it does seem to shelfwarm (okay not even a year I got it ) but they are slow moving.

The CW box sets are very slow moving in Canada, they are the only Generations item (along with Fort Max) that never sells out temporarily online and I never see any change in quantity at my local store unless there is a 33% off sale, and even then its just a few boxes that go away.

[fenrir72]

CW box sets (didn't see a single on in TRU SEA) shelf warmed in Canadian TRU(?) Or is it those other weird TF products like that Laser Convey colored gold or that 3 changer colored in wtf pastels?

Some of them I found(G2 color Superion and Menasor) in a non TRU store and it does seem to shelfwarm (okay not even a year I got it ) but they are slow moving.

The CW box sets are very slow moving in Canada, they are the only Generations item (along with Fort Max) that never sells out temporarily online and I never see any change in quantity at my local store unless there is a 33% off sale, and even then its just a few boxes that go away.

Same old same old eh?

[RAR]

I wonder how many customers in TRU see Bumblebee for like £80.00 in toysRus think it's a pricing error then soon after switch on their computer or smart phone and see ones that look the same (Ko') that cost under £25.00 shipped. even a legit Takara one can be chased up for around £45.00 or less.

[Stuartmaximus]

The Entertainer(UK) have Wave 6 Deluxes in
http://www.thetoyshop.com/action-toys-f ... 1517_B5607

& Sky Lynx can be found at TK Maxx(basically a hit & miss affair)

[william-james88]

O Supreme and Fenrir, here is the latest pic from my TRU, nothing is moving (and a sale is on):



All the fans who wanted these got them in the last sale, and probably online since its free shipping at that price and you dont have to do any effort to get to the store: http://www.toysrus.ca/search/index.jsp? ... ner%20wars

[o.supreme]

You just like making me sad don't you... That would not be the case if these were on TRU shelves in the US...awful, awful distribution.

Anyway..two can play this game...

[william-james88]

You just like making me sad don't you... That would not be the case if these were on TRU shelves in the US...awful, awful distribution.

But how do we know that? Are there really that many collectors ready to pay 100$ for G2 box sets? Every store in canada has at least 20-50 of each box set, would all those sell out in the US?

And how is it that Canadian fans are different than US fans when both have the exact same exposure to the Brand. It was released at the same time in both countries (shows, comics, toys) and Canada even had more toys that the US in G1 since the turbo masters and predators also made it here. Both are english speaking countries and Hasbro even has such a big presence in Canada that, as you will see in the packaging of any toy, the biggest legal adress is actually Longeuil Quebec Canada.


Transformers Generations Arcee Gallery

And thats for a toy that didnt even get a canadian release.

So I really dont see how the US is any different than Canada in terms of fandom. Even if you look back historically, we are the same people afterall (the english speaking community of Canada were Americans which moved to Canada after the war against the British) and both economies are dependent on one another. So Canada sounds like an ideal place to test something since there are less stores and thus its easier to monitor and control.

[o.supreme]

And how is it that Canadian fans are different

I'm not saying they are any different. It's simply a matter of population. The current population of the U.S. is 9X that of Canada. You take all the same toys, distribute them in the US, where I'm sure there is probably at least 9X as many fans in terms of population, yes those toys are going to sell way more.

Its simple math. You put 100 toys in a market of only 10 fans, only 10 will sell.

You put the same 100 toys in a market that has 90 fans, 90 will sell.

Canada's market is obviously oversaturated, while the U.S. market is ignored? makes no sense to me...