The Energon Pub

Wolfman Jake wrote:I really wonder what the hold up is, unless Hasbro has been waiting on some possible retooling from Takara to incorporate into the SDCC release. It's getting pretty late in the game for that kind of stuff, though. I'd imagine production has to be nearly finished by now if they are going to release a Fort Max in time for SDCC next month.

It would be unusual for them to only have the Titans Return Set and G.I.Joe crossover this year. There should also be one other transforming exclusive and maybe a Kreon Class of '86 set (if they keep doing them). Take a look at this:

2015- CW Devastator, CW Combiner Hunters set, and Kreon Class of '85
2014- Knights of Unicron set, Movie Dinobots G1 set, and Kreon Class of '84
2013- Generations Metroplex, Prime Shockwave's Lab, and crossover Jetfire
2012- FOC Bruticus set, Prime Terrorcon Cliffjumper, and crossover H.I.S.S. Tank Shockwave
2011- Prime Matrix of Leadership Optimus Prime, Movie Ultimate Optimus Prime, and crossover Skystriker Starscream
2010- Reissue Blaster set and Mighty Muggs Prowl
2009- Reissue Soundwave set and Mighty Muggs Optimus Prime
2008- Classics Nemesis Prime and Titanium Skywarp
2007- Alternators Hot Rod and Titanium Menasor
2006- Alternators Nemesis Prime
2005- Legends Skywarp

Only years they didn't have more than one transforming exclusive are '05, '06, '09, and '10. I can't see them suddenly deciding this year they're going back to doing just one exclusive.

Emerje

Folks, Titans Return has definitely hit European retail - we have received a notification from the people over at Starblight.de, letting us know that not only has the first wave of Legends class appeared in Germany after Italy, too, but we also get the first sighting of the Titan Masters packs!

Check out photo proof below, and raise your eyebrows at the €17.99 (20$ USD) and €8.99 (10$ USD) price points. And remember, if you come across any toys anywhere, make sure to flag them up in our Sightings database and forums!

Yep, unfortunately, the prices for Transformers toys in Europe have become insane lately, Austrian Toysrus has increased their prices for Combiner Wars deluxes to 29.99€ recently.

So whenever you guys in America feel bad because of a price increase, think of us, European Transformers fans, and just be glad you can get those at much cheaper prices

I'm really thinking about not supporting Hasbro anymore, I'm fed up with those insane prices for less and less plastic.


/rant

To be fair... the photo looks like its taken in the warehouse store Muller.
that store is extreme expensive for some figures while other stores (like toysrus) are cheaper..

for example Muller sells Combiner Wars deluxe for 30 euro and Voyager for 33 euro.
while Toysrus sells both for 25 and 33 euro.

with these prices you can just as easily import the stuff... 60% needs to be imported anyway because the stores only get like 1,5 waves or so

At those prices, I'm glad I'm almost done collecting the new guys. Still, Rewind soon!

g2jazz wrote:To be fair... the photo looks like its taken in the warehouse store Muller.
that store is extreme expensive for some figures while other stores (like toysrus) are cheaper..

for example Muller sells Combiner Wars deluxe for 30 euro and Voyager for 33 euro.
while Toysrus sells both for 25 and 33 euro.

Print screen from toysrus.at

Not only did we see the new Titans Return Titan Masters at retail, fellow Seibertronian StarblightSkylynx has also provided a video review for the purple t-rex monster thing Crashbash, in English, for all to view! Ranging from paint applications, multiple modes, size comparisons and comments, it adds to the images we had seen already, and you can check it out embedded below.

A photo gallery for Crashbash will come up later today.

If there are any questions regarding Crashbash, feel free to ask

Autobotssuck wrote:Yep, unfortunately, the prices for Transformers toys in Europe have become insane lately, Austrian Toysrus has increased their prices for Combiner Wars deluxes to 29.99€ recently.
So whenever you guys in America feel bad because of a price increase, think of us, European Transformers fans, and just be glad you can get those at much cheaper prices
I'm really thinking about not supporting Hasbro anymore, I'm fed up with those insane prices for less and less plastic.
/rant

I have a question for all you europeans with these expensive retail toys.At those prices, why not just import the takara toys? And if you are worried about import fees, just stick to Anime Export who know how to deal with that well. Thats what I do when a toy isnt distributed in canada and i am stuck paying stupid prices from people who import Hasbro toys from the states.

Most of my Transformers figures, I buy at a german online shop, which receives them most of the times earlier and cheaper than our local stores.
For example, I preordered TR Optimus and Blaster for around 50€ each. Thats more than 20€ less than at Toysrus in Germany.

william-james88 wrote:

Autobotssuck wrote:Yep, unfortunately, the prices for Transformers toys in Europe have become insane lately, Austrian Toysrus has increased their prices for Combiner Wars deluxes to 29.99€ recently.
So whenever you guys in America feel bad because of a price increase, think of us, European Transformers fans, and just be glad you can get those at much cheaper prices
I'm really thinking about not supporting Hasbro anymore, I'm fed up with those insane prices for less and less plastic.
/rant

I have a question for all you europeans with these expensive retail toys.At those prices, why not just import the takara toys? And if you are worried about import fees, just stick to Anime Export who know how to deal with that well. Thats what I do when a toy isnt distributed in canada and i am stuck paying stupid prices from people who import Hasbro toys from the states.

At least for me, the import prices are still higher on the import websites I've visited. For instance, a normal deluxe here costs around £16-18; but importing Takara Super Mode Armada Starscream set me back £23. Only reason I bought Takara Arcee - which I still regret because I really can't bring myself to enjoy the paintjob - was because she was on sale down to normal retail price. So it still works out more expensive; unless you're a huge stickler for Takara loyalty or whatever and you have money to burn, it's not worth doing regularly.

Because although the price was getting closer, it was still cheaper (and easier) to go Hasbro.


But at these prices, the gap is almost non existent, given what Kapow is selling them for, so I might actually go Takara for them now. Except Lavendertron. And Brainstorm because he needs his faceplate.

william-james88 wrote:

Autobotssuck wrote:Yep, unfortunately, the prices for Transformers toys in Europe have become insane lately, Austrian Toysrus has increased their prices for Combiner Wars deluxes to 29.99€ recently.
So whenever you guys in America feel bad because of a price increase, think of us, European Transformers fans, and just be glad you can get those at much cheaper prices
I'm really thinking about not supporting Hasbro anymore, I'm fed up with those insane prices for less and less plastic.
/rant

I have a question for all you europeans with these expensive retail toys.At those prices, why not just import the takara toys? And if you are worried about import fees, just stick to Anime Export who know how to deal with that well. Thats what I do when a toy isnt distributed in canada and i am stuck paying stupid prices from people who import Hasbro toys from the states.

Because (for me anyways)importing stuff would be more expensive when shipping is included, also given the exchange rates, even excluding shipping, I would probably save about €3. Also those prices are ridiculous and so much for Ireland being one of the most expensive EU countries to live in.

leokearon wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

Autobotssuck wrote:Yep, unfortunately, the prices for Transformers toys in Europe have become insane lately, Austrian Toysrus has increased their prices for Combiner Wars deluxes to 29.99€ recently.
So whenever you guys in America feel bad because of a price increase, think of us, European Transformers fans, and just be glad you can get those at much cheaper prices
I'm really thinking about not supporting Hasbro anymore, I'm fed up with those insane prices for less and less plastic.
/rant

I have a question for all you europeans with these expensive retail toys.At those prices, why not just import the takara toys? And if you are worried about import fees, just stick to Anime Export who know how to deal with that well. Thats what I do when a toy isnt distributed in canada and i am stuck paying stupid prices from people who import Hasbro toys from the states.

Because (for me anyways)importing stuff would be more expensive when shipping is included, also given the exchange rates, even excluding shipping, I would probably save about €3. Also those prices are ridiculous and so much for Ireland being one of the most expensive EU countries to live in.

The prices and distribution in Ireland is a complete piss take. Not great either with scalpers about I've never seen vortex.

Prowl4 wrote:

leokearon wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

Autobotssuck wrote:Yep, unfortunately, the prices for Transformers toys in Europe have become insane lately, Austrian Toysrus has increased their prices for Combiner Wars deluxes to 29.99€ recently.
So whenever you guys in America feel bad because of a price increase, think of us, European Transformers fans, and just be glad you can get those at much cheaper prices
I'm really thinking about not supporting Hasbro anymore, I'm fed up with those insane prices for less and less plastic.
/rant

I have a question for all you europeans with these expensive retail toys.At those prices, why not just import the takara toys? And if you are worried about import fees, just stick to Anime Export who know how to deal with that well. Thats what I do when a toy isnt distributed in canada and i am stuck paying stupid prices from people who import Hasbro toys from the states.

Because (for me anyways)importing stuff would be more expensive when shipping is included, also given the exchange rates, even excluding shipping, I would probably save about €3. Also those prices are ridiculous and so much for Ireland being one of the most expensive EU countries to live in.

The prices and distribution in Ireland is a complete piss take. Not great either with scalpers about I've never seen vortex.

I've seen him in SMYTHS in Waterford, Also at least the sale on makes buying Combiner Wars Toys easier.

So this is where I am coming from guys, here is what it costs to ship a Unite warrior set to america or europe:

Transformers Unite Warriors UW02 Menasor
Unit price 11,240 JPY x 1 unit(s) = 11,240 JPY


Subtotal: 11,240 JPY
Shipping: 4,195 JPY
Grand total: 15,435 JPY

Shipping method: SAL Parcel

15,435 JPY is the same as 104,29£ and 131,87 €, for 4 deluxes and a voyager. Isnt that a better deal then what you guys fnd locally? This is faaaaaaaar from the 29.99 I was reading about so I really wonder why people who only have the 29.99€ fo deluxe option dont just go with japan. And as I said, anime export is very good at helping you deal with customs. Have any of you euopeans used that site?

leokearon wrote:

Prowl4 wrote:

leokearon wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

Autobotssuck wrote:Yep, unfortunately, the prices for Transformers toys in Europe have become insane lately, Austrian Toysrus has increased their prices for Combiner Wars deluxes to 29.99€ recently.
So whenever you guys in America feel bad because of a price increase, think of us, European Transformers fans, and just be glad you can get those at much cheaper prices
I'm really thinking about not supporting Hasbro anymore, I'm fed up with those insane prices for less and less plastic.
/rant

I have a question for all you europeans with these expensive retail toys.At those prices, why not just import the takara toys? And if you are worried about import fees, just stick to Anime Export who know how to deal with that well. Thats what I do when a toy isnt distributed in canada and i am stuck paying stupid prices from people who import Hasbro toys from the states.

Because (for me anyways)importing stuff would be more expensive when shipping is included, also given the exchange rates, even excluding shipping, I would probably save about €3. Also those prices are ridiculous and so much for Ireland being one of the most expensive EU countries to live in.

The prices and distribution in Ireland is a complete piss take. Not great either with scalpers about I've never seen vortex.

I've seen him in SMYTHS in Waterford, Also at least the sale on makes buying Combiner Wars Toys easier.

Are vortex and brawl still available? I'm based in Dublin myself.

william-james88 wrote:So this is where I am coming from guys, here is what it costs to ship a Unite warrior set to america or europe:

Transformers Unite Warriors UW02 Menasor
Unit price 11,240 JPY x 1 unit(s) = 11,240 JPY


Subtotal: 11,240 JPY
Shipping: 4,195 JPY
Grand total: 15,435 JPY

Shipping method: SAL Parcel

15,435 JPY is the same as 104,29£ and 131,87 €, for 4 deluxes and a voyager. Isnt that a better deal then what you guys fnd locally? This is faaaaaaaar from the 29.99 I was reading about so I really wonder why people who only have the 29.99€ fo deluxe option dont just go with japan. And as I said, anime export is very good at helping you deal with customs. Have any of you euopeans used that site?

You remembering to factor in the 30-50 quid import tax we get stung with as well?

Also I'm very hesitant about buying from Japan. I bought an MP Wheeljack preorder from HLJ and it never turned up. They never responded to any of my emails. I decided I would only ever buy from UK shops from then on.


Saying that, I did recently buy the Sentinel Re:edit War Machine from Anime Export via their ebay shop. So I'd possibly do so rarely, but generally I'd prefer to get it from a domestic shop for the reason stated above. Money isn't always the sole factor in a decision.

Insurgent wrote:
You remembering to factor in the 30-50 quid import tax we get stung with as well?

But isnt that tax dependent on the declared value? As I said, Anime Export will help with that if you contact them. Canada has those same importing fees but you can work with the dealers to make the best of it I did. Unite Warriors Devastator cost me nothing in terms of import fees. However, I dealt with Amiami for Shockwave and that was pricey in terms of importing, so I am sticking with anime export now.

That's why I gave a price range. It does vary, but I've found it's generally between 30 and 50 quid. And I was wrong, I used Amiami, and they clearly state they have to mark the full price of the item on the form by law.

And as I said, I'm hesitant to buy from Japan direct regularly, due to being screwed over before. You asked why not, that's why not.


Although I do have a mate who sometimes orders in from one of the japanese stores, as he's a bit of a private trader, so if I'm early enough, he lets me in on his order and we share import fees. That's how I got Takara Dev for £145 total. It's also what I'm doing with UW Computron, Bruticus, MP Primal and have done with a couple others in the past. Ends up being a few pounds cheaper than hasbro. But like I say, I have to be early enough to say I want it for when he puts the pre-order in.

Insurgent wrote:That's why I gave a price range. It does vary, but I've found it's generally between 30 and 50 quid. And I was wrong, I used Amiami, and they clearly state they have to mark the full price of the item on the form by law.
And as I said, I'm hesitant to buy from Japan direct regularly, due to being screwed over before. You asked why not, that's why not.
Although I do have a mate who sometimes orders in from one of the japanese stores, as he's a bit of a private trader, so if I'm early enough, he lets me in on his order and we share import fees. That's how I got Takara Dev for £145 total. It's also what I'm doing with UW Computron, Bruticus, MP Primal and have done with a couple others in the past. Ends up being a few pounds cheaper than hasbro. But like I say, I have to be early enough to say I want it for when he puts the pre-order in.

Oh for sure. Same thing with anime export. You have to be early and you have to pay in advance for something that may take months to come out.So tis a trade off. But the way I see it, since I would be paying that price eventually anyway, might as well pay it now and save.

Thanks for humouring me with this. I really feel that anyone who doesnt want to pay those insane Hasbro prices doesnt have to inorder to get the toys and I was just proposing options. And yes, Amiami will always declare everything so thats why I was recomending someone else.

To be honest, the only reason I'm getting UW Bruticus and Computron is because they are the same price as the hasbro ones going through me mate, otherwise I'd have skipped them. Well, maybe not Computron, but certainly Bruticus would have been skipped. But that Onslought just looks soo mmmmmmmm in that blue. Or purple. I'm not sure, the curse of being colourblind, but whatever it is, it's deep, it's rich, and I wish the Galvatron/Cycllonus/Scourge always used that shade instead of the lavender.


But yeah, if you can afford the pre-order, and you know you want it, and you can find someone who ends up being roughly the same price as Hasbro once all the shipping/import fees etc are factored in, which tbh is getting to be close to Hasbro's price these days, then it's a lot easier to simply choose the one with the deco you like more, rather than hasbro for the sake of it being cheaper.

william-james88 wrote:So this is where I am coming from guys, here is what it costs to ship a Unite warrior set to america or europe:

Transformers Unite Warriors UW02 Menasor
Unit price 11,240 JPY x 1 unit(s) = 11,240 JPY


Subtotal: 11,240 JPY
Shipping: 4,195 JPY
Grand total: 15,435 JPY

Shipping method: SAL Parcel

15,435 JPY is the same as 104,29£ and 131,87 €, for 4 deluxes and a voyager. Isnt that a better deal then what you guys fnd locally? This is faaaaaaaar from the 29.99 I was reading about so I really wonder why people who only have the 29.99€ fo deluxe option dont just go with japan. And as I said, anime export is very good at helping you deal with customs. Have any of you euopeans used that site?

Thankfully here in Ireland we don't have €30 deluxes (unless you are mad enough to go to Argos), generally deluxes are roughly €22/23 so importing is actually more expensive. The only time I import is if it is for something I know I can't get like G2 Menasor and Unite Computron.

I can now peacefully sleep tonight, Fortress Maximus is in my reach. He is currently in laybuy on a $100 sale and will soon be in my possession.

william-james88 wrote:

Insurgent wrote:
You remembering to factor in the 30-50 quid import tax we get stung with as well?

But isnt that tax dependent on the declared value? As I said, Anime Export will help with that if you contact them. Canada has those same importing fees but you can work with the dealers to make the best of it I did. Unite Warriors Devastator cost me nothing in terms of import fees. However, I dealt with Amiami for Shockwave and that was pricey in terms of importing, so I am sticking with anime export now.

I've imported before, and I'll be doing that in the future, too. Not going to pay those insane prices, I've had enough.
But the problem with our customs is that they are highly suspicious of packages arriving from Asia. They caught wind that the packages are often marked as a gift and are declared a lower price, so they open the package and request a bill from buyers anyway. That's why it won't get through the customs most of the time without import taxes, which sucks big-time.