The Energon Pub

Wave 2 has been in Target and Walmart for a while in the States now. I think once we see them we just stop reporting where they are/aren't because we're been satisfied once they're in hand. Sorry! Though I haven't seen wave 2 Voyagers, or even wave 1 leaders yet so that's pretty weird.

I don't know how applicable this is, because both my jobs involving stock have been involving food, where expiration dates matter, but where I've worked there's always been a policy of First In, First Out. All incoming stock is dated and (should be) placed at the end of the pile so that the supply from the previous weeks can go out first. Occasionally, someone (usually someone new) will ignore the dates and grab the first case of ~~whatever~~ that they see, even if there's older stock that should go out first. (as the person who very carefully stocks things in order every week, this pisses me off) Again, it's less crucial for non-perishables like cups and bags and boxes (I work at a movie theater), but with toys I would not be surprised if there's a manufacturer interest AND a retailer interest in putting out the older stock first to get rid of it. So maybe an employee grabs a rogue wave 2 case by accident when there are still piles of wave 1 to get through and stocks that, and then the next employee who restocks the shelf knows to grab the wave 1 case instead until they're out of them. Or maybe they got a short order of only a couple wave 2 cases and put them out quickly, and then received more wave 1 from the warehouse, or something. I am not convinced that all the wave 2 stock is actually in the stores right now, most likely it's in the distribution centers still waiting to ship out when a store orders more Transformers.

King Kuuga wrote:I don't know how applicable this is, because both my jobs involving stock have been involving food, where expiration dates matter, but where I've worked there's always been a policy of First In, First Out. All incoming stock is dated and (should be) placed at the end of the pile so that the supply from the previous weeks can go out first. Occasionally, someone (usually someone new) will ignore the dates and grab the first case of ~~whatever~~ that they see, even if there's older stock that should go out first. (as the person who very carefully stocks things in order every week, this pisses me off) Again, it's less crucial for non-perishables like cups and bags and boxes (I work at a movie theater), but with toys I would not be surprised if there's a manufacturer interest AND a retailer interest in putting out the older stock first to get rid of it. So maybe an employee grabs a rogue wave 2 case by accident when there are still piles of wave 1 to get through and stocks that, and then the next employee who restocks the shelf knows to grab the wave 1 case instead until they're out of them. Or maybe they got a short order of only a couple wave 2 cases and put them out quickly, and then received more wave 1 from the warehouse, or something. I am not convinced that all the wave 2 stock is actually in the stores right now, most likely it's in the distribution centers still waiting to ship out when a store orders more Transformers.

When I bought Chromedome at the Entertainer, he was the only Titans Return thing on the shelves and the other TR stuff - admittedly, just the rest of the Wave 2 deluxes - only came about a month or two later. So I'm very inclined to believe the we-accidentally-put-this-on-the-shelf-early thing.

I too don't like Cerebros from rebirth. That's why I did a headswap with a friend who had the SDCC version. Cerebros looks like a pansy. Fortress (even in Cerebros colours) looks like a warrior.





Gen Metroplex did come out in the UK. I picked one up from TRU for a friend so that definately happened.

I had a chat once about this with some one who ran a toys department in a large store - they said their policy was to try to look what was on the shelf and if there was to much of one thing to pull some of it and add something else.

So lets say there was some cases out the back of DOTM Action Figures but all that was on the shelf was 12 Bumblebees the smart thing to do is to pull all but a couple off the Bumblebee's off he shelf and replace them with other stock (especially while it's still full price) then as the stock depletes put out more until you run out - then and only then do the Bee's go out.

Other stores might realise they have an over-stock issue and either mark them as an item to return to the manufacturer or to clear or to get sent to a clearance retailer.

I've also heard of one branch in a chain being used as a dumping ground for over-stock too.

It's an issue I've been very aware of as it can have disastrous consequences for the health of a toyline - It might be the "to many Bumblebees" issue (or to many Tuner Mudflap used to be a thing too).
But the prize example was Playmates being Bafoons and putting to many Troi Star Trek Figures in their lines and her causing a huge log jam in sell-through rates as a result.

It wasn't so much that they made Troi as it was that they made the same "Casual Troi" in multiple colours - when they finally made her in a Uniform I'm sure that one was pretty desirable to get. Heck I'd have been pretty interested in the Troi in a Mini Skirt figure if they'd done that as a the default. The shelf warming didn't infect Tasha Yar or Beverly as they were in Uniform and they fitted in.

I suppose the issue that cause problems with Transformers and may still do is the overstocking of less popular kids lines be it 3 step changers or the Power Attackers from AOE... Those things are a blight. I hope Hasbro realise they are more trouble than they are worth and tone it down a bit.
-------

P.s.

Yes Metroplex did come out in the UK - I wouldn't recommend buying a UK one for a premium price though as he has all his call voice work stripped out, I'd say if you are in the market for one pay a little more and get one of the limited versions that have grey landing pads, and painted or chromed features - I don't personally mind the white of the standard one It does sort of work in some of the modes - but I'm not feeling the black landing strips as much.

Anyway I recall he was listed on TRU.co.uk for about £130.00 and did drop to around £99.99 at one point. I didn't buy him as I wanted him to talk and didn't like the white face - as it turned out I ended up with the chromed one with two guns which I'm pretty happy with.

Even if I do wish some 3rd party had made some adaptors to allow mounting of his cannons on the deck like you can do with the G1 toy.

Insurgent wrote:I too don't like Cerebros from rebirth. That's why I did a headswap with a friend who had the SDCC version. Cerebros looks like a pansy. Fortress (even in Cerebros colours) looks like a warrior.





Gen Metroplex did come out in the UK. I picked one up from TRU for a friend so that definately happened.

Ah but Plex never came out everywhere in.the UK though? maybe just a few TRU's in england stocked it! coz it certainly never came out here in Scotland!

On the Walgreens/Brainstorm subject....i just found out that the company that owns Walgreens also owns Boots(yeah! the pharmacutical store here in the UK!)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walgree ... s_Alliance

now i remember many years ago Boots used to stock G1 Transformers.....so it's possible that they might get Walgreens Brainstorm in?(i doubt it though? as some Boots today don't have a toy section! but any that do might be worth a look in the run up to christmas).

I just realized there's a huge missed opportunity with TR Brainstorm. They should have put slots on the other end of his nosecone/Titanmaster sled so his gun barrels stick upwards when attached to his back. I mean it already almost has slots that would have worked.

I have the fins resting on the backpack holder thing atm and it looks pretty good, albeit a tad crooked. Really wish they could have added a second set of slots there.

That looks great Mr. Skram. Looks like you applied a little silver too. I may have to do that as well.

CaryLeRon wrote:That looks great Mr. Skram. Looks like you applied a little silver too. I may have to do that as well.

I did, I did. Loving my cheapo paint markers!

I can't stop looking at and picking up Brainstorm. Just something about him. Hell, this entire line really. I've been infatuated with pretty much every deluxe I've picked up.

Mr Skram wrote:

CaryLeRon wrote:That looks great Mr. Skram. Looks like you applied a little silver too. I may have to do that as well.

I did, I did. Loving my cheapo paint markers!

I can't stop looking at and picking up Brainstorm. Just something about him. Hell, this entire line really. I've been infatuated with pretty much every deluxe I've picked up.

Paint markers are a toy collector's best friend. Seriously, I can't praise those things enough. They've saved many a figure from sloppy or missed paint apps.

So there's some people who think Bumblebee is a Wheelie retool, which looking at them I can... kind of see where that comes from? Or if not that, shared engineering like Chromedome/Dead End or Highbrow/Scourge doesn't seem out of the question. What's everyone's thoughts?

Kurona wrote:So there's some people who think Bumblebee is a Wheelie retool, which looking at them I can... kind of see where that comes from? Or if not that, shared engineering like Chromedome/Dead End or Highbrow/Scourge doesn't seem out of the question. What's everyone's thoughts?

I'm saying straight up new mold. the whole crotch/leg section looks completely different, which to me says it is brand new

So you just studied their crotches...

Mr Skram wrote:I just realized there's a huge missed opportunity with TR Brainstorm. They should have put slots on the other end of his nosecone/Titanmaster sled so his gun barrels stick upwards when attached to his back. I mean it already almost has slots that would have worked.

I have the fins resting on the backpack holder thing atm and it looks pretty good, albeit a tad crooked. Really wish they could have added a second set of slots there.

Put his landing gear skid down and plug it through the hole in the back that will support the gun in the desired position.

Bumblebee21 wrote:So you just studied their crotches...

Did someone say... crotches?

SillySpringer wrote:

Bumblebee21 wrote:So you just studied their crotches...

Did someone say... crotches?

...yes i did.
i thought you would of had a stupid pic

Please don't.

I wanted so badly to make an Attack on Titan meme but couldn't find a suitable picture for it.

Mr Skram wrote:I just realized there's a huge missed opportunity with TR Brainstorm. They should have put slots on the other end of his nosecone/Titanmaster sled so his gun barrels stick upwards when attached to his back. I mean it already almost has slots that would have worked.

I have the fins resting on the backpack holder thing atm and it looks pretty good, albeit a tad crooked. Really wish they could have added a second set of slots there.

I was able to rest the shield/gun so that it sits evenly. It does take some balancing, but it works, and it stays in place fairly well. I do have the SDCC Titan Force version (which is my absolute favorite figure, and for me is easily the best of the two), so I don’t know if there are any mold differences. I do agree that they should have figured out a way to add slots so it could be pegged in, but alas, we have what we have. I still love him.

Has this been seen yet? Video review for Gnaw, just found it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsorSXtcvC0

I'm assuming you balanced it on the part that holds it in vehicle mode? If you angle that piece ever so slightly up, barely has to make an adjustment it's so small a movement, the gun shield will hold onto his back much better than if it was flush and you can't tell by looking at him it's not.

adamage1 wrote:

Mr Skram wrote:I just realized there's a huge missed opportunity with TR Brainstorm. They should have put slots on the other end of his nosecone/Titanmaster sled so his gun barrels stick upwards when attached to his back. I mean it already almost has slots that would have worked.

I have the fins resting on the backpack holder thing atm and it looks pretty good, albeit a tad crooked. Really wish they could have added a second set of slots there.

I was able to rest the shield/gun so that it sits evenly. It does take some balancing, but it works, and it stays in place fairly well. I do have the SDCC Titan Force version (which is my absolute favorite figure, and for me is easily the best of the two), so I don’t know if there are any mold differences. I do agree that they should have figured out a way to add slots so it could be pegged in, but alas, we have what we have. I still love him.

There's a more secure way if you turn the shield around and use the landing gear strut in the hole in the back:





(Photobucket is experiencing some occasional outages right now, so the pics may or may not show up at any given time...)

Agamemnon wrote:There's a more secure way if you turn the shield around and use the landing gear strut in the hole in the back:





(Photobucket is experiencing some occasional outages right now, so the pics may or may not show up at any given time...)

That's awesome!! I really can't wait to find this guy.

I stopped by my local Walgreens last night and ended up talking to the manager. They are ordering more of the Generations deluxe figures, took down my number, and will let me know when they get there! I let them know which one I was looking for and they confirmed that they just show up randomly unless they order them through their system (they were doing price changes at the time on the floor which is why I talked to them direct). Also, the deluxes are down to $17.99 from $19.99 so that's nice

SillySpringer wrote:

Bumblebee21 wrote:So you just studied their crotches...

Did someone say... crotches?

Checking in!

Guess what's finally available online:

https://www.walgreens.com/store/store/p ... &size=1.00