The Energon Pub

[stringfellow]

Well for the first time ever I can say that I am going to Botcon. Since it is only an hour drive for me I have to go. Here is my question, can I purchase a one day pass and pre order the exclusive figures or do I have to get the $375 package that includes things I can't use? I am only able to go on Saturday due to work which mean the other days of admission are worthless. I tried to find an email address on the botcon site with no luck. Any help will be appreciated.

[videriant]

If you want the boxset you'll want to get the Primus package. But don't pay $375+$10. Join the club for $40 then pay $305. This will be cheaper by $30 AND you'll be a club member which you get you the club magazine and next year's toy. Also, if you get the Primus package you can just walk up on Saturday, collect your badge and toys and avoid the long lines for walk-ins.

If you're only showing up on Saturday you'll miss out on the popular souvenir sets though. If you need me to explain more I can.

[stringfellow]

If you want the boxset you'll want to get the Primus package. But don't pay $375+$10. Join the club for $40 then pay $305. This will be cheaper by $30 AND you'll be a club member which you get you the club magazine and next year's toy. Also, if you get the Primus package you can just walk up on Saturday, collect your badge and toys and avoid the long lines for walk-ins.

If you're only showing up on Saturday you'll miss out on the popular souvenir sets though. If you need me to explain more I can.

Any information you can give will be helpful since it will be my first botcon.

[videriant]

There's waaaaaaaaaaaay too much so I'll start with just the toys and how to get them through normal non-ebay/online store means. These are the toys that are produced exclusively for Botcon. I'll use last year as an example since we don't what the toys are this year yet.

1) Boxset
2009 - Kup/Flak/Landshark/Scourge/Thunderclash
2010 - Pyro/Streetstar/Clench/Sky-byte/Breakdown
Boxset includes the toys, pins, comic, certificate of authenticity.
a) Iacon package - all the above will be mailed to you after the convention
b) Primus package - you have to pick up the boxset at the convetion. You also get a badge which allows you entrance into the dealer room, panels, autography lines. If you order 100 primus packs you will still only get one badge. In previous years if for some reason you ordered a Primus package but were not able to make the convention the club would allow you to switch to an Iacon package depending on the condition or charge you extra for shipping if you don't show up to the convention. They won't allow that this year because of various reasons.

2) Looseset - same as the boxset but you only get the figures and tech specs, no box, no pin. For every boxset you order you can order one looseset until they run out. The reason for ordering this is that it's $95 cheaper then the boxset in case you want to leave the boxset toys mint and display these. Some people order the looseset to resell to make back cost on the boxset

3) Attendee freebie - in 2010 this was Leozack. For every Primus pack/boxset you order you get one when you pick up your boxset at the convention. If you buy/rent a dealer's table you also get some and also if you volunteer to work at the convention. Last year the club also included these if you bought the 2005 boxsets they still had.

4) Souvenir sets - You can purchase these at the convention. From Thursday night until the dealer room closes Friday (5PM) their is a limit to how many you can buy. This is to give everyone a fair chance to get them. These were last year's sets.
a) Sweeps 3-pack $49, 1000 produced. Limited to one until Friday. I was one of the 1st people in line on Saturday so I managed to snag a second one but they sold out fast. The line started forming two-three hours before the dealer room open so if you didn't already have your badge your chances of getting one was slim.
b) Banzai-tron/Skyquake $69, 1500 produced. Limited to 2 until Friday. The convention had a handful of these leftover which they sold in the club store so there's a good chance you would have been able to get one after picking up your boxset and badge Saturday morning.
c) Razorclaw/Elita-One $79, 2000 produced. Previous years only had two sets and this set was called "Anniversary Pack" so we don't know if we'll get a third set this year. Plenty of these were made and the original limit was 3. There were plenty of leftovers after the convention so there was no problem getting this after picking up a badge Saturday. The leftovers were sold in the club store after Botcon.

[videriant]

I'm not sure where Seibertron's Botcon FAQ section is but here is TFW's.

http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transform ... ost4718219

I put a lot of information in posts 102-106 but you can also read through the entire thead for info.

[stringfellow]

thanks for all the info. Man my bank account is going to hate me.

[MandySeven]

thanx for all the info! my first time as well