The Energon Pub

[Emerje]

Let's all complain to Hasbro about Amazon being a bad vendor, and demand a real release* of the figures. And anyone who says "It's just smart business" or "It's just supply and demand" or other bullshit like that can go jump in a smelting pool.


*Between the lack of anti-scalper measures, their dodgy search engine, and other bad practices... "Amazon Exclusive" no longer counts as a real release in my book.

So far I've ordered every single one of Amazon's exclusives since Prime Wars and have had a 100% success rate (my Autobot Alliance set continues to be delayed as well, but it isn't canceled). In 2020 nobody can be expected to predict every issue that comes along, not even Amazon. They're doing a better job of fulfilling online orders than Walmart and Target combined. Just because Amazon is having some issues this year doesn't mean they're doing a bad job, some things are completely out of their hands. Sometimes the problem is Hasbro being unable to fill supply as planned when their production line is running under reduced staff. And it's not like Amazon can just ask Hasbro to make more, Hasbro's factory is busy doing Kingdom, those Earthrise molds are already in storage or being used by Takara Tomy and the machines are busy doing other things to stay on schedule for next year.

I don't know if anybody did the math but 30 items at 40 bucks a piece is 1,200 dollars. I mean, you have to have the money to do that. Even if I wanted to resell one, I might be able to swing one extra. I certainly couldn't buy 30. Or even 3. Or most days, 2. Sometimes...even one.

I'm sure the scalpers that do this do it for a living. Take out a credit card, max it out, sell the items at triple the price, pay the card off, bask in the profit. Rinse and repeat.

It's not like the only scalpers are individuals on eBay, TFSource and other retailers also order Amazon's exclusives to sell at a hefty markup. And I bet they're ordering more than 30.

Emerje

[Emerje]

Orders are open again for the Quint Judge on Amazon. In stock December 17.

Emerje

[Hero Alpha]

I feel bad for everyone that hasnt gotten their Prowl & Ironhide set. Especially when pre-ordered same day it went up. Ive been lucky and had mine for a little over a week and they are awesome. First Ironhide Ive owned since the original in 84' and Im glad I waited. None of the others over the last couple decades were very good, so I skipped them. Same with Prowl, except for Siege, and now Ima sell it cause ER Prowl is perfect after I switched heads with Siege.

[King Kuuga]

After some evaluation, I've decided that Earthrise Ironhide and Ratchet simply are not right for me or my collection, so I will be selling them off. More power to anyone who likes them.

[sol magnus]

Not too different from last year, but in a week I got Ratchet, Lifeline, Runamuck, Runabout, Trailbreaker, Fasttrack and Netflix Soundwave with Sunstreaker on the way from BBTS. I also snagged a Netflix Magnus today after seeing a youtube video with a custom painted Delta Magnus.

[-Kanrabat-]

Just openned and played with Arcee. Overall, she's a pretty decent figure and like the Cyberverse, she's actually a G1 Pretender with her pretender shell folded on her back. Even more so than Cyberverse because absolutely NO parts of the robot is on the vehicle. She's also a wee bit less intuitive to transform than the Cyberverse.

The biggest beef for her backpack come from her impossible animation model. But still, she's pretty great for what she is. Cyberverse Arcee is the superior one however, because she's more interesting to handle and she's more adorable.

[william-james88]

Just openned and played with Arcee. Overall, she's a pretty decent figure and like the Cyberverse, she's actually a G1 Pretender with her pretender shell folded on her back. Even more so than Cyberverse because absolutely NO parts of the robot is on the vehicle. She's also a wee bit less intuitive to transform than the Cyberverse.

The biggest beef for her backpack come from her impossible animation model. But still, she's pretty great for what she is. Cyberverse Arcee is the superior one however, because she's more interesting to handle and she's more adorable.

Cyberverse Arcee's backpack is animation accurate.

[-Kanrabat-]

Cyberverse Arcee's backpack is animation accurate.

This make her even more perfect!

[Stargrave]

Does anyone know Airwave’s armor configuration? I read it’s listed in Hot House’s instructions but I can’t find images anywhere.

[william-james88]

Cyberverse Arcee's backpack is animation accurate.

This make her even more perfect!

Yup, in a year where we have an arcee for each of main lines, the best turns out to be cyberverse.

[-Kanrabat-]

Yup, in a year where we have an arcee for each of main lines, the best turns out to be cyberverse.

I'm still amazed of all the gems the Cyberverse line hold. It's supposed to be the "kid's" line. Some Cyberverse figures being superior to their Generations counterpart was clearly unexpected. Especially when the superiority is because of genuine goodness instead of being the lesser of two evil.

[adamage1]

Finished my custom paint applications for my Earthrise Smokescreen, and I think it turned out quite nice for my first custom attempt. I may also try to paint in the tail lights, but that’s a bit more involved, so I don’t know.

[o.supreme]

Yup, in a year where we have an arcee for each of main lines, the best turns out to be cyberverse.

I'm still amazed of all the gems the Cyberverse line hold. It's supposed to be the "kid's" line. Some Cyberverse figures being superior to their Generations counterpart was clearly unexpected. Especially when the superiority is because of genuine goodness instead of being the lesser of two evil.

Everyone has their opinions. I have yet to see a Cyberverse toy worth purchasing, and I've seen them all in person, they are not exactly scarce, like many ER toys have been.

[sol magnus]

Yup, in a year where we have an arcee for each of main lines, the best turns out to be cyberverse.

I'm still amazed of all the gems the Cyberverse line hold. It's supposed to be the "kid's" line. Some Cyberverse figures being superior to their Generations counterpart was clearly unexpected. Especially when the superiority is because of genuine goodness instead of being the lesser of two evil.

Everyone has their opinions. I have yet to see a Cyberverse toy worth purchasing, and I've seen them all in person, they are not exactly scarce, like many ER toys have been.

The shelves in my area are overflowing with Cyberverse Arcees. No Earthrise to be found.

[o.supreme]

Yup, in a year where we have an arcee for each of main lines, the best turns out to be cyberverse.

I'm still amazed of all the gems the Cyberverse line hold. It's supposed to be the "kid's" line. Some Cyberverse figures being superior to their Generations counterpart was clearly unexpected. Especially when the superiority is because of genuine goodness instead of being the lesser of two evil.

Everyone has their opinions. I have yet to see a Cyberverse toy worth purchasing, and I've seen them all in person, they are not exactly scarce, like many ER toys have been.

The shelves in my area are overflowing with Cyberverse Arcees. No Earthrise to be found.

Same here. I found one Walmart with a couple ER Deluxes, 3 others had none. (and none had any Netflix)Plenty of Cyberverse and SS shelf warming. The only ER they had plenty of were voyagers (admittedly shelf warming as well)

[-Kanrabat-]

I saw Cyberverse Arcee but only at Amazon.CA. Never live in store.
As for ER Arcee and the rest of that wave, the only place I saw them live in store was at my local independent Geek Store. Nothing at Toys R Us, nothing at Walmart.
Ever.

[Rodimus Prime]

Does anyone know if the Target exclusive Thrust comes packed with another voyager in the case or by himself?

[william-james88]

Does anyone know if the Target exclusive Thrust comes packed with another voyager in the case or by himself?

Solid case same as runabout and all other exclusives

[Rodimus Prime]

Does anyone know if the Target exclusive Thrust comes packed with another voyager in the case or by himself?

Solid case same as runabout and all other exclusives

Okay, I suspected that, but wanted to make sure. My Target recently got a fresh batch of Grapples, and I thought maybe he was packed in with Thrust and all the Thrusts were gone by the time I got there since only Grapple and shelfwarmer Thundercracker were present.

[william-james88]

I saw Cyberverse Arcee but only at Amazon.CA. Never live in store.
As for ER Arcee and the rest of that wave, the only place I saw them live in store was at my local independent Geek Store. Nothing at Toys R Us, nothing at Walmart.
Ever.

Since people are throwing their anecdotal sightings, here is mine. Here was a look at my local Walmart today. Both Arcees were readily available. Cyberverse was $30 ($23 USD), Earthrise was $9.00 ($7 USD). There were quite a few grown men looking at these toys (was more crowded than usual), but none were bought... by them. At $7 USD, you bet your buns I came home with that Earthrise Arcee.

[Rodimus Prime]

Why the discount?

[sol magnus]

I saw Cyberverse Arcee but only at Amazon.CA. Never live in store.
As for ER Arcee and the rest of that wave, the only place I saw them live in store was at my local independent Geek Store. Nothing at Toys R Us, nothing at Walmart.
Ever.

Since people are throwing their anecdotal sightings, here is mine. Here was a look at my local Walmart today. Both Arcees were readily available. Cyberverse was $30 ($23 USD), Earthrise was $9.00 ($7 USD). There were quite a few grown men looking at these toys (was more crowded than usual), but none were bought... by them. At $7 USD, you bet your buns I came home with that Earthrise Arcee.

I need to move where you live, 'cause this ain't it.

[Sabrblade]

Why the discount?

My Target is similar. Its discounts are because it's been having a month-long Black Friday discount sale that's now spilled over into December as a holiday discount sale.

[william-james88]

Why the discount?

No clue, it looks super random, especially when their Siege figures are back to full price. Maybe (just maybe), they meant to put the Siege toys on clearance and messed up.

Anyways, this is not nation wide. It's a mileage will vary type of thing since discounts like these (liquidations) are handled at the store level.

[-Kanrabat-]

Why the discount?

No clue, it looks super random, especially when their Siege figures are back to full price. Maybe (just maybe), they meant to put the Siege toys on clearance and messed up.

Anyways, this is not nation wide. It's a mileage will vary type of thing since discounts like these (liquidations) are handled at the store level.

You are blessed with your local Walmart.
Because mine rarely ever have any sales, the TF section is tiny, and it's tumbleweed city 90% of the time.