The Energon Pub

I'm just trying to write a mini-series about the Transformers hobby. Kind of a guide to all the collectors out there.


To a Transformers collector, the word Patience is an irritating word, something that most of us can't really even comprehend. While I barely know any Transformers collectors in my real life, I do know many of you online, as well as a couple people on Ebay. And what I understand is that Patience and toys don't go to well for Transformers collectors, who are usually in their early 20's and late 30's. Would anyone like an example?

Let's start off with what I witnessed on Ebay the other day. I was just doing a wide spread search for "Transformers Movie", and was seeing what people had. To my dismay I saw a Nightwatch Optimus Prime. But I was more shocked about the price. Over $100 US? C'mon? That thing is regularly priced at around $40-$50 US and the seller was in Asia, thus resulting in the price range to be huge. I just can't comprehend how the price can be that high. Do the bidders realize that in 2-4 months, that thing will be on Ebay for cheap, let alone the fact that they can get it with their own hands? Another example too. '08 Bumblebee. G1 Redeco Jazz. All of those will be a load cheaper in the next few months, and accessable in your own town.

Don't believe me? Well look at Beast Wars. The demand is Movie toys right now. Those Beast Wars Deluxes may have been around $12 US, but I see them going on ebay for less than $2! Armada too. Energon is the same. Heck Cybertron is still on your TRU shelfs, and eventually they'll be in the sale bin. Usually all of those toys in said series are cheap on Ebay unless of course the figure has been in demand ever since it's existence(Armada and Energon TidalWave for example).

Once the Animated series comes out, those toys will be in demand. The movie ones will be shelf-warmers etc. 4 years down the road, heck, there might be a Movie Version 2, or another Animated season, or even a new cartoon show, and the demand for said Movie toys will drop increasingly.

So please people, hold your money in your wallets, and wait a bit too see Movie prices go down. Then spend, finish your collections, and get that stress off your back.

Cheers,
-Phil

Next up is... How to deal with Scalpers!

I completely agree. I have not bought a current line figure from ebay and have done fine since July.

The only times I've bought 'current line' stuff from E-bay is things like Alternators that I was sure weren't going to show up in Blighty, like Wheeljack.

Reading that long measage sure can be a first step in Patience-therapy. Hehe

I've stayed away form ordering anything online... I was always deathly afraid of paying extra on eBay and then finally seeing in the store that night.

As a result, this philosophy has forced me to be patient and I have nearly completed my movie collection to my heart's content.

Skyhigh wrote:I completely agree. I have not bought a current line figure from ebay and have done fine since July.

Seconded! I've managed just fine without having to buy any movie figures on-line as well. And I still managed to get an 08 Concept BB that way too.

It's more fun waiting, and buying them one by one as they become available. As opposed to grabbing everything you want in one go.

Auto Bot wrote:It's more fun waiting, and buying them one by one as they become available. As opposed to grabbing everything you want in one go.

But when there is a lot of competition, buying it all in one go is the only feasible thing to go. That is if you want it at retail price

olokin wrote:

Auto Bot wrote:It's more fun waiting, and buying them one by one as they become available. As opposed to grabbing everything you want in one go.

But when there is a lot of competition, buying it all in one go is the only feasible thing to go. That is if you want it at retail price

If you find them cheap, and your wallet is fat, it's a go!

But if these bots are scarce, just slow down, and pluck them out one by one. No need to rush to ebay and grab everything you see.

mineralblue wrote:I've stayed away form ordering anything online... I was always deathly afraid of paying extra on eBay and then finally seeing in the store that night.

Then buy the one off the shelf, and stick the one you got off of ebay back on ebay for sale.

As a result, this philosophy has forced me to be patient and I have nearly completed my movie collection to my heart's content.

Unless you get lucky and find a deal off of evilbay like a Dropkick for $6.00. I'm so happy.

Auto Bot wrote:

olokin wrote:

Auto Bot wrote:It's more fun waiting, and buying them one by one as they become available. As opposed to grabbing everything you want in one go.

But when there is a lot of competition, buying it all in one go is the only feasible thing to go. That is if you want it at retail price

If you find them cheap, and your wallet is fat, it's a go!

But if these bots are scarce, just slow down, and pluck them out one by one. No need to rush to ebay and grab everything you see.

My wallet ain't fat but that's what credit cards are for. And I don't do ebay

Yeah Patiences does pay off heck I have been waiting to get god ginari for years waiting him dip to a price that I considered worth it and he finally did. The secret is to check all over the internet don't just limit yourself to ebay because you never know were you will find great deals.

shortround wrote:Yeah Patiences does pay off heck I have been waiting to get god ginari for years waiting him dip to a price that I considered worth it and he finally did. The secret is to check all over the internet don't just limit yourself to ebay because you never know were you will find great deals.

How do you check all over?

Use google to check prices it accutally works because search engine have started to get into whole price checking thing use your favorite which ever it might be. Here is an example of a search I did for movie bumblebee's prices:
http://www.google.com/search?q=movie+bu ... arch&hl=en
It doesn't always work but most of the time it will.

Hmmm... interesting new method. I should try that.

Hold on to the wallet now...

Yep, I agree when it comes to the movie line. Any current line for the matter.

I did however use ebay for a lot of classics stuff back in july when I first started collecting. I wish I didn't because everything popped back up on the shelves a few months later. The rarer classics stuff I traded/purchased for right here on seibertron carbombya forum. Eh, live and learn.

Also, I'm still currently ebay buying Alt/BT's if I can find the ones I need for cheap w/ reasonable shipping.

In the beginning though ... I did not know what "good" prices were for these, so Alt. Optimus Prime pretty much ass raped me at $80 plus $12 shipping. I wish I could have that one back, but oh well. Now I know!

I've stayed caught up with the movie line. I have 2 each of everything available in the U.S. so far. I didn't search earlier than 12 noon except on the weekends either. It's not that tough, just gotta get out there ... make some calls, etc.

I doubt there will be many more newbs flooding in like I did a few months ago, so I may just be typing to the air right now. Oh well, hopefully 1 person can learn from my mistakes.

The Old G's said, be patient, there will be movie toys for all.

The noobs cried out in anger and protest. Turning to their false idols they demanded vengence upon scalpers and against Wal Mart.

The Old G's said, 'Fear not. Behold, we bring tidings of great joy and triumph, for we have walked the path of darkness previously and know the way and the truth."

Again, the noobs cried out in anger and protest. They sacrificed their wallets on the alter of eBay, rended their garments, and made many a sin with their mouths.

Then came the flood. The Wal-Marts again became prosperous with the fruit of Hasbro...and the noobs, proving themselves to have been nothing more than a race of ruthless scavengers, were verily left behind.

The Old G's had acended upon high to the mountain of "Itoldyoupricksthiswouldhappen". They looked down with distain at their unrepentent children and were displeased with their work.

As the Old G's began their ascention to BotCon, the noobs cried out again, "Leave us not! For we repent and are willing to join you at the BotCon!"

But alas, the Old G's could not hear their cries. Then there were flames...

and then...

nothing.

I bought most of my Classics and Movie thru Amazon. All at standard Hasbro retail prices.

Good post! But not on the fact that those people don't know, but the fact that they need to be reminded.

It's so true, I was so tempted to buy some movie ones online since June but I never did and eventually found them all in stores. It's just that sometimes you might have to wake up as the store opens to go in then just because there might be alot of scalpers depending on your area. There arn't really any figurse from the movie series I only saw once and never did again, except for Rescue Ratchet/Thundercracker Voyagers. (Which I think I will see again soon enough)

I would only buy them online if it's a series you can no longer find in stores, or are marked as retail prices and including low or even free shipping, which saves me some time and gas. I actually don't mind if the toys come out slow cause it's way easier on my wallet and gives me time to save up.

And most of all ... I go to buy toys at the store for the THRILL! Did people forget about that? Damn I mean I sure was excited when my mom took me to Toys R Us when I was little and on the ride there I was really anxious to see what they had. It's the thrill that makes up half of my collecting experience fun!

I concur... finding it at the store is like finding hidden treasure... buying it on eBay isn't as fun if it's still possibly in stores...

My rule of thumb: It will ALWAYS be available on eBay. It won't always be available in stores. Until that fateful day, when the pegs are filled with 2008 AllSpark toys, if I am still missing movie line toys, I would just wait it out...

in fact, today I picked up from Target an original Jazz and Barricade... items I haven't seen in stores until this week since June...

Counterpunch wrote:The Old G's said, be patient, there will be movie toys for all.

The noobs cried out in anger and protest. Turning to their false idols they demanded vengence upon scalpers and against Wal Mart.

The Old G's said, 'Fear not. Behold, we bring tidings of great joy and triumph, for we have walked the path of darkness previously and know the way and the truth."

Again, the noobs cried out in anger and protest. They sacrificed their wallets on the alter of eBay, rended their garments, and made many a sin with their mouths.

Then came the flood. The Wal-Marts again became prosperous with the fruit of Hasbro...and the noobs, proving themselves to have been nothing more than a race of ruthless scavengers, were verily left behind.

The Old G's had acended upon high to the mountain of "Itoldyoupricksthiswouldhappen". They looked down with distain at their unrepentent children and were displeased with their work.

As the Old G's began their ascention to BotCon, the noobs cried out again, "Leave us not! For we repent and are willing to join you at the BotCon!"

But alas, the Old G's could not hear their cries. Then there were flames...

and then...

nothing.

Ahh, classic Counterpunch. Always there to put it all in perspective.