The Energon Pub

[Ultra Prime]

I don't know about other TF collectors but I'm tired of seeing repeated numbers of obvious low quality KO listing in ebay when I try to find some Generation 1 stuff to add to my collection. It makes it far more cumbersome to find the real TF's when you have to sift through KO's as well.

And more importantly why can't Hasbro or Takara remake their own stuff? I've heard the explanations of it not being very cost effective and all but it doesn't appear to be a problem for KO manufactures.

I grew up with G1 and my G1 collection is the most prized part of my collection. I really would like to even at least get a legit reissue Devastator, reissue Dinobots, reissue Mirage and Wheeljack. It's a shame that Takara/Tomy and Hasbro are enabling the KO manufactures to make a killing on items that we'd all gladly pay them for to get the real deal.

That's my rant. But I'm really interested in what my fellow collectors have to say about this. Thoughts anyone?

[decepticonjon]

encore series? the hasbro reissues from a few years back. the japanaese re-releases...
i think if they've still got the mold, their going to try to make money off of it at this point

[First Gen]

I got KO's still in package cuz they kinda suck out of it. It is frustrating, I agree, but you should try Tfieds.com or some other collectors site for true TF's.

[Death-Shed]

It's the same for ebay in the uk. In the G1 catagory the KO's outnumber the origonals two to one.

[Collector Maximus]

I think the KO's are a tad bothersome but only if people try to pass them off as Originals. Sorry but I would never waste money on a KO. I believe in collecting quality.

[Ultra Prime]

I agree and would prefer to collect quality as well. With all of the KO's out there that companies try to pass off as originals on ebay maybe ebay should make a seperate KO TF category. Although, I doubt the KO companies would like that since it would go against them trying to pass KO's as real TF's.

I just don't see why it is such a problem for Hasbro and Takara to reverse engineer when KO companies are constantly doing it all of the time to make their products. Hasbro & Takara are missing opportunities by not looking into it not to mention lots of money.

[FellintoOblivion]

obvious low quality KO

I've heard the explanations of it not being very cost effective

Kind of answered your own question. Its cost effective to KO them because they are poor quality.

[thedistinctroom]

I agree, those crappy knock offs are quite annoying to look at on ebay. Especially the Gestalts and the mini Fort Max. All of those knock offs are junk. Seriously.

I almost want to tell the people that sell them to quit it because it's just making ebay look bad, but then I step back and realize I can't tell other people what to do. Ebay is ebay.

[Stormrider]

I agree and would prefer to collect quality as well. With all of the KO's out there that companies try to pass off as originals on ebay maybe ebay should make a seperate KO TF category. Although, I doubt the KO companies would like that since it would go against them trying to pass KO's as real TF's.

I just don't see why it is such a problem for Hasbro and Takara to reverse engineer when KO companies are constantly doing it all of the time to make their products. Hasbro & Takara are missing opportunities by not looking into it not to mention lots of money.

I agree, that it is starting to become a problem with eBay sellers trying to pass KO as originals. The box art and lettering makes it very tricky to even decipher the boxes.

One thing to keep in mind with KO is that the companies could be using a variety of crappy and inexpensive mediums- including alloys with lead in them.

[The Chaos Bringer]

I agree, those crappy knock offs are quite annoying to look at on ebay. Especially the Gestalts and the mini Fort Max. All of those knock offs are junk. Seriously.

I almost want to tell the people that sell them to quit it because it's just making ebay look bad, but then I step back and realize I can't tell other people what to do. Ebay is ebay.

There's where I stop agreeing with you. I'd like to see Hasbro reissue the gestalts but I don't think they have the molds or they would have done it already. And if they had to reverse engineer them then they would no doubt raise the prices to unaffordable levels. Also the mini combiners look great with any WST collection, including mine. So I find your desire to see the end of mini combiners highly inconsiderate to those, like me, that like them and are still looking for some of them.

O and Hasbro can't reissue Fortress Maximus and Takara just won't, so the mini seems to be the only option. And even if they did reissue Fort Max, do you really think most of us could afford it? I can't, so again, the mini seems to be my only option. Plus the mini Fort Max is actually pretty good quality so I don't see what the problem is.

[thedistinctroom]

That's cool. It's my opinion and that's all. I've owned the small Devastator KO and mini Fort Max before and I don't think they share the same quality as the originals. That's all I meant by that and I do not wish to see an end to mini combiners at all as they are indeed fun and are great for kitbashing.

I just get sick of the endless stream of similer KO's listed on ebay for huge prices. That's my problem.

[The Chaos Bringer]

Maybe if you could provide a link to an eBay auction for a KO for a rediculous price then I'll understand your point of view better. I've personally never seen a KO go for more than I'd be willing to pay. Of course, that might be because I'm willing to pay any price for something I really want. And oftentimes I'd be willing to take the KO over the real deal. Classics Megatron anyone?

[El Duque]

This may be a stupid question, but why is it so exspensive to reverse engineer a mold?

[Ultra Prime]

This may be a stupid question, but why is it so exspensive to reverse engineer a mold?

I don't think that is a stupid question at all. It's as simple direct question and I'd be curious about the answer too.

[Windsweeper]

Personally I love KO's.

My oversized G1 Bruticus is amazing and towers nicely over Prowl and co, not like the annoyingly small original.

Same with oversized Robotmasters Wrecker Hook and Wingstun whose larger size blends them in with G1 Starscream and Prowl very nicely.

The WST combiners and Dinobots are amazing and look great around Metroplex.

I love my grey Quake and both KO Blitzwings, each with different heads and sharing the Overcharge colour scheme giving Blitzwing his own little gang.

Dying to get oversized RM Air Hunter and Classics Astrotrain.

Don't knock the KO's, they're not all bad.