Seibertron.com Energon Pub Forums

[Emerje]

There is a difference between price increase and price hike. The hike comes from Hasbro picking a random number out of the air IE MP-44 and the fanbase enabling them by throwing money at them. Which leads Hasbro to grow bolder with prices in the future. While selling people on the party line about more moving parts and detailed designs being the actual pricing factor. Which it isn't. Because retail price never even nears that of manufacture. The difference between the two is just gross profit.

I don't think Hasbro is picking random numbers. The price is based on what it would cost to produce and ship 10K plus profits since they are in the business of making money. The price is as "made up" as any from any company for anything anywhere. By your logic the cost of food, cars, houses and anything else is "made up". Even if Hasbro sells 30,000 of these they're probably still selling less world wide including Japan than any Commander Class figure, therefore the price increase of $125 each/$250 for the pair makes sense.

Also should be pointed out that Hasbro didn't price MP-44, Takara Tomy did for their market like every other MP release (outside of MPM releases which are Hasbro's to begin with). When Hasbro stopped doing their own versions of MPs and started "importing" them from Japan they had to go with the Japanese prices to prevent Japanese fans from reverse importing from the US.

Emerje

[Emerje]

I say reserve Haslab's for old Transformers or just reissue Fortress Maximuss again or something. Not update a leader that was already a good action figure.

The Encore release of Fort Max wasn't a great seller, those things lingered on sale for a long time, it's never coming back. They sell for high prices on eBay, but that doesn't mean demand is high, it just means $500~ is what the people looking for them are willing to pay now. Either way that would never happen as a HasLab.

Emerje

This tends to be the flipside of Titan Class. They do seem to shelfwarm or become dramatically reduced in sale bins more often than their smaller counterparts. Some are popular enough to always sell out. Others like Guardian Robot or Cybertron Metroplex, don't.

I think when it comes to Titans Hasbro has a VERY hard time judging demand and how many to make. The Nemesis seemed to avoid massive price cuts for the most part and I think Tidal Wave is going to sell particularly well as well based on the immediate reaction.

Emerje

[AllNewSuperRobot]

By your logic the cost of food, cars, houses and anything else is "made up".

The Masterpiece line is my primary focus for TF collecting. I make distinctions based on what I am informed on. Not baffling trains of thought outside of the example given. Much like "companies are in the business of making money" is a redundant, somewhat patronising concept to present to adults.

Also should be pointed out that Hasbro didn't price MP-44, Takara Tomy did
Emerje

Let's nip that in the bud as well. Takara doesn't dictate price adjustment through exchange rates. Hasbro does. Again, passing the buck and giving them a pass/excuses to keep charging whatever they want.

I think when it comes to Titans Hasbro has a VERY hard time judging demand and how many to make. The Nemesis seemed to avoid massive price cuts for the most part and I think Tidal Wave is going to sell particularly well as well based on the immediate reaction.

Emerje

Yeah, while I'd love to see the Quintesson Corkscrew Cruiser, the Revenge or the Autobot Shuttle made into bots ala the Nemesis and Ark. To HasTak, Titan Class is likely a really apprehensive line to add to.

[-Kanrabat-]

Snip beccause screw overquoting

The Optimus Prime trailer is still part of the overall toy. Even if you don'T think so, that does not change the fact.

Also, why ER Optimus and MP-44 are "false equivalency?" The ER Optimus alone is a voyager and would sell for a voyager price if it weren't for the trailer. With the trailer, you end up paying almost double the price. And that trailer was bare-bone and incomplete.
MP-44 is around double the price of MP-49, but his trailer is COMPLETE and come with even more accessories. If you count the price ratios, you get much, much more bang for your bucks with MP-44 than you'll ever get with ER "leader" Optimus. This not an "opinion", this is a fact.

As for Omega Prime, PEOPLE PAY FOR WHAT THEY WANT. Despite the ludicrous price, the Takara Omega Prime reissue sold like hot cakes. So people really, REALLY wanted that Omega Prime. So it's no surprise that this Omega Prime is one of the fastest HASLAB to be funded. If you think they are "suckers" for doing so, that's just your opinion, not a fact.

And speaking of facts, all of these failed HASLABS like the Reva Saber, Ghost Rider, and even the Rancor are proof that no matter the price, if people WANT the thing, they will pay the price. And if they do NOT want it, the thing will simply be ignored and fail. THAT IS "voting with your wallet." Literally.

[Emerje]

By your logic the cost of food, cars, houses and anything else is "made up".

The Masterpiece line is my primary focus for TF collecting. I make distinctions based on what I am informed on. Not baffling trains of thought outside of the example given. Much like "companies are in the business of making money" is a redundant, somewhat patronising concept to present to adults.

How is that baffling? The rules apply to everything you buy. It isn't patronizing to talk about profits when you seem to be actively ignoring the need for them to be included. You say this is what you're informed on, but it really just comes down to that you don't like the price and could care less about the actual reason things are priced the way they are. You don't have any basis to say the prices aren't right, it's really just your feelings, and when people give you a reasonable and accurate answer with examples it isn't good enough.

Also should be pointed out that Hasbro didn't price MP-44, Takara Tomy did
Emerje

Let's nip that in the bud as well. Takara doesn't dictate price adjustment through exchange rates. Hasbro does. Again, passing the buck and giving them a pass/excuses to keep charging whatever they want.

Choosing to create your own narrative over facts doesn't make you right. I told you why Hasbro prices MPs like they do. Hasbro isn't making the figures, they're importing them from Takara Tomy and therefore have to price them accordingly because, again, they need to make a profit so whatever discount they get from Takara Tomy gets lost in that profit markup. This is a fact. Japan takes reverse importing very seriously, the anime industry is even more draconian about it since North America and Japan are in the same Blu-Ray region. Imagine if Hasbro was able to release MPs at half the price, it would cause chaos for their relationship with Takara Tomy, nobody in Japan would buy MPs from them again, they'd just import from HK or Korea. Exchange rates are constantly changing, they may be in Hasbro's favor now, but when these are released some nine or so months later it could be an entirely different story, they can't predict that so it's better them to find a standard and hope they don't take a hit later.

Emerje

[First-Aid]

I'm honestly surprised and pleased at this. I think this SHOULD tell Hasbro that fans are in to more than just G1 Redux over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over. Maybe we can see some new stuff in the near future. Earthspark isn't doing well at all (pretty much all Earthspark molds are in "Outlet" on Pulse right now, meaning they are having difficulty getting rid of them).

I am worried. Transformers are seeing a fall off. Unless something new and fresh comes along soon (see "Beast Wars" and the live action movies), the brand is going to suffer loss of a generation of potential fans.

[o.supreme]

another *slight* bump this afternoon added about 1000. Its just passed 12,650 (only 350 from the 1st tier goal).

[D-Maximal_Primal]

I gotta say, I have some new respect and opinions on this haslab after getting the OGs.

I got them for $200 combined, with boxes, though Prime was missing 1 missile. Still, the pair was well priced compared to the market right now.

Also, having played with them, they are really awesome figures, and are really cool. But, the leg joints mean that while the 2 bigger Primes can pose, they are very difficult to pose. Omega especially is difficult thanks to no heels. and the tires hurt me physically to see cracked.

I can definitely see the improvements done in the new Haslab. They confronted those issues/shortcomings head on, and they really do appear to have perfected the figures. And you know what, I am really excited to have both.

[Whifflefire]

Finally got around to backing Omega Prime. I am backer #12,728.

[Emerje]

another *slight* bump this afternoon added about 1000. Its just passed 12,650 (only 350 from the 1st tier goal).

Jumped again, now at 13,757. So that's the first tier crossed.

Emerje

[-Kanrabat-]

The more this is going on, the more I want to back the thing.

[o.supreme]

The more this is going on, the more I want to back the thing.

I feel ya. Actually, my mind told me I just couldn't back this for practical reasons from the beginning. But I might actually be trying to negotiate with my wife for more shelf space . There is one spot in our room where I could build another shelf, and that would make me good for the foreseeable future...But I'm not sure she'll go for it.

[-Kanrabat-]

The more this is going on, the more I want to back the thing.

I feel ya. Actually, my mind told me I just couldn't back this for practical reasons from the beginning. But I might actually be trying to negotiate with my wife for more shelf space . There is one spot in our room where I could build another shelf, and that would make me good for the foreseeable future...But I'm not sure she'll go for it.

I have bills to pay and I recently got a PS5. My mind say I don't have 400$CAN+ for this, but my heart is YOLOing harder and harder.

I once owned the original. It was great looking, but NOT FUN due to how unstable the thing was. So I sold it. The HASLAB have all the bells and whistles plus the presence of the original, is bigger, have more features, and should logically be like the Legacy Armada Optimus Prime in terms of stability and solidity.

I'm really tempted.

[Nemesis Destron]

The more this is going on, the more I want to back the thing.

I feel ya. Actually, my mind told me I just couldn't back this for practical reasons from the beginning. But I might actually be trying to negotiate with my wife for more shelf space . There is one spot in our room where I could build another shelf, and that would make me good for the foreseeable future...But I'm not sure she'll go for it.

I have bills to pay and I recently got a PS5. My mind say I don't have 400$CAN+ for this, but my heart is YOLOing harder and harder.

I once owned the original. It was great looking, but NOT FUN due to how unstable the thing was. So I sold it. The HASLAB have all the bells and whistles plus the presence of the original, is bigger, have more features, and should logically be like the Legacy Armada Optimus Prime in terms of stability and solidity.

I'm really tempted.

Testify!!!! I remember how cool it was when I got Fire Convoy! I got it at a local collector store and sad to say it closed many years ago. When I saw God Magnus in the inserts included I was so thrilled. But I when saw UM on retail shelves I bought it on impulse and for me it was awesome combining the 2.

Damnation I feel the need to pull them ol'boys out and give them a go with all this talk! So I too will need to back this very amazing modern set.

As I end my 2 cents I think back to all the Sonokong counterparts that came out and I wonder if the quality of those figure were good or was it a hit and miss type of thing....'nuff said!

[Omegatron.]

There's a new video up on Youtube showing handpainted models and answering a few questions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqvJx2CNWP0

[Emerje]

Hasbro Pulse on YouTube has released a video showing off HasLab Omega Prime completely hand painted today. It should be mentioned that this is purely representative of the final figure which will be molded in colored plastic with painted details and not fully painted. The video also shows off some of the features that were skipped or glossed over in the initial reveal like the storage for Blue Bolts in Ultra Magnus, his compatibility with carrying Deluxe cars and Prime's extending ladder. The video also features several comparisons to the original figure.

The Omega Prime set campaign runs until March 14 at 11:59 EDT for $249.99. As for this writing it's only about 1,200 units away from reaching the second tier with 23 days remaining. As of yet a bonus 3rd tier has not been mentioned, but they did surprise us with one at the end of the Deathsaurus campaign so anything is possible, just not promised.

[blackeyedprime]

The wheels still look pretty bad, especially on ultra magnus truck mode and his fake windows on the cab are eeew.
Too many raised parts to have autobot symbols on magnus truck sides and primes symbols look dissapointingly small. But some bonus points for prime being titan master compatible in truck mode.

[Emerje]

The wheels still look pretty bad, especially on ultra magnus truck mode and his fake windows on the cab are eeew.
Too many raised parts to have autobot symbols on magnus truck sides and primes symbols look dissapointingly small. But some bonus points for prime being titan master compatible in truck mode.

My issue with the tires is that the hubs are too big for the tires, they should be a little beefier.

The Autobot symbols are a compromise, the cartoon and original Japanese toy didn't have them on either character, Hasbro put huge ones on theirs so this figure is meeting us half way and giving us smaller ones for just Prime since UM has one on his bumper.

I'm not sure why they felt the need to over detail certain parts, they're not accurate to the show or the original toy. Makes me wonder if there's some extra detailed concept art out there from early in production.

Emerje

[Cheetron]

Prime looked alright to me. Didn't like the sloped chest, especially when he was next to the original.

Magnus... just looks worse. The originals legs were bad, these look wrong sideways. And the neck, looks like he has tiny head. Just doesn't look right.

I wanted to hope they'd be better. Enough to justify the amount. Not for me.

[Stormshot_Prime]

These guys look great, all minor gripes aside. I don’t think it’s any accident though, that they’re using that Shadow Striker mold who resembles a certain Autobot Brother…

[D-Maximal_Primal]

They are stunning looking with the paint!

[Sabrblade]

Less than 1000 to go before the second tier is unlocked.

[o.supreme]

+350 in the last 12 hours.... not sure if that is a "baby bump", or if FOMO is starting to get to North American backers, and they just want the 2nd tier out of the way

[Omegatron.]

The second tier has now been unlocked.

[Sabrblade]

This is the fastest a Transformers HasLab has ever reached its final bonus tier. Victory Saber and Deathsaurus both took all the way up to the end of their funding windows to unlock theirs, but Omega Prime reached his with 15 days (over two weeks) left to go.