The Energon Pub

[Qwan]

Fellow Seibertronian xRotorstormx has alerted us to the recent availability in Hobby Lobby stores of a large wooden sign, prominently featuring a Generation 1-style image of Optimus Prime! The sign measures in at roughly 1x2 feet in size ( 15 1/2" by 23 13/16" to be precise), and while the price in physical stores is currently unknown, it's also available online from Hobby Lobby's website for a rather thrifty $17.49.

Why is the price so low on that, you may well ask? The answer ties into our second piece of news - it appears that Hobby Lobby is currently running some form of sale on a couple of their Transformers-themed items. Both this sign, and an also-available metal sign featuring six iconic characters (Optimus, Bumblebee, Grimlock, Megatron, Starscream and Soundwave), are reduced to 50% of their usual price - that's why the usually-$35 wooden sign is down to a little over 17 dollars. The sale is described as "Select Group of Home Accents Always 50% off the Marked Price*" (there's no matching asterisk elsewhere on the page) so it's a little unclear when or if the sale will end, or even whether the same applies in actual stores.

Check out the sighting image below as well as images of the two currently-on-sale items from Hobby Lobby's website! If you were looking for more Transformers-themed items from them, the website is also still stocking the embossed tin Optimus Prime and Bumblebee signs, previously reported on here, and which can be found with a search for "Transformers" on their website. Share your thoughts below in the Energon Pub, and as always, stay tuned to Seibertron.com for any Transformers news, collectable or otherwise!

[Blackstreak]

I've had one of those for a couple months already. A friend of mine saw it and picked it up as a birthday gift for me (or was it Christmas?). Pretty cool I think.

[ScottyP]

Which ancient civilization used wooden carvings of Optimus Prime again?

[Kyleor]

It's $17.50 in store according to the price tag on it...

[Cyrano]

Why is the price so low on that, you may well ask? The answer ties into our second piece of news - it appears that Hobby Lobby is currently running some form of sale on a couple of their Transformers-themed items. Both this sign, and an also-available metal sign featuring six iconic characters (Optimus, Bumblebee, Grimlock, Megatron, Starscream and Soundwave), are reduced to 50% of their usual price - that's why the usually-$35 wooden sign is down to a little over 17 dollars. The sale is described as "Select Group of Home Accents Always 50% off the Marked Price*" (there's no matching asterisk elsewhere on the page) so it's a little unclear when or if the sale will end, or even whether the same applies in actual stores.

The item isn’t actually on sale and the price isn’t low.

“Always 50% off” means exactly that. The product is never actually sold at “full” price. It’s a scheme Hobby Lobby has been doing for years and been taken to court over more than once. It tricks the consumer into thinking they’re getting a sweet deal. A very dishonest business model.

A settled suit from New York in 2014:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hobby-lobby-false-advertising-settlement-20140612-story.html

A class action suit in California last year:
https://www.classaction.org/blog/new-class-action-claims-hobby-lobby-advertises-fictitious-discount-prices

Also, does it bug anyone else that the closeup of Prime’s left arm has a little dashed line leading to his right arm on the full body illustration? I can’t unsee it, gah.

[dragons]

Why is the price so low on that, you may well ask? The answer ties into our second piece of news - it appears that Hobby Lobby is currently running some form of sale on a couple of their Transformers-themed items. Both this sign, and an also-available metal sign featuring six iconic characters (Optimus, Bumblebee, Grimlock, Megatron, Starscream and Soundwave), are reduced to 50% of their usual price - that's why the usually-$35 wooden sign is down to a little over 17 dollars. The sale is described as "Select Group of Home Accents Always 50% off the Marked Price*" (there's no matching asterisk elsewhere on the page) so it's a little unclear when or if the sale will end, or even whether the same applies in actual stores.

The item isn’t actually on sale and the price isn’t low.

“Always 50% off” means exactly that. The product is never actually sold at “full” price. It’s a scheme Hobby Lobby has been doing for years and been taken to court over more than once. It tricks the consumer into thinking they’re getting a sweet deal. A very dishonest business model.

A settled suit from New York in 2014:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hobby-lobby-false-advertising-settlement-20140612-story.html

A class action suit in California last year:
https://www.classaction.org/blog/new-class-action-claims-hobby-lobby-advertises-fictitious-discount-prices

Also, does it bug anyone else that the closeup of Prime’s left arm has a little dashed line leading to his right arm on the full body illustration? I can’t unsee it, gah.

It's like that with his whole body

[Qwan]

Why is the price so low on that, you may well ask? The answer ties into our second piece of news - it appears that Hobby Lobby is currently running some form of sale on a couple of their Transformers-themed items. Both this sign, and an also-available metal sign featuring six iconic characters (Optimus, Bumblebee, Grimlock, Megatron, Starscream and Soundwave), are reduced to 50% of their usual price - that's why the usually-$35 wooden sign is down to a little over 17 dollars. The sale is described as "Select Group of Home Accents Always 50% off the Marked Price*" (there's no matching asterisk elsewhere on the page) so it's a little unclear when or if the sale will end, or even whether the same applies in actual stores.

The item isn’t actually on sale and the price isn’t low.

“Always 50% off” means exactly that. The product is never actually sold at “full” price. It’s a scheme Hobby Lobby has been doing for years and been taken to court over more than once. It tricks the consumer into thinking they’re getting a sweet deal. A very dishonest business model.

A settled suit from New York in 2014:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hobby-lobby-false-advertising-settlement-20140612-story.html

A class action suit in California last year:
https://www.classaction.org/blog/new-class-action-claims-hobby-lobby-advertises-fictitious-discount-prices

Also, does it bug anyone else that the closeup of Prime’s left arm has a little dashed line leading to his right arm on the full body illustration? I can’t unsee it, gah.

Well, dang. Interesting to know! It's definitely hard to tell what they mean from the site alone; I guess their meaning is that obtuse on purpose after all.

[Jeddostotle7]

Eh, I'd rather not give my money to the place that was, no joke, funding ISIS by purchasing illegally smuggled artifacts for their Bible Museum, even if the item is Transformers-themed.