The Energon Pub

On eBay one night I noticed an autographed (by Gary Chalk) Optimus Primal ending, so I decided to bid, and won it for about $40 shipped. It arrives to me today and I open it to see everything in prime (he he) condition, except for one thing:

The inner plastic cup connecting his left arm into his body snapped; making his arm loose, unable to use the chest pounding gimmick, and the gorilla fur arm pad won't stay up.

I was about to email the guy asking to send it back, but then I thought, I mean come on, it was signed by Gary Chalk, one of my favorite voice actors.

I'd just like an opinion or two on what you'd do in my situation...

Keep it. I mean, for $40 it isn't worth the hassle of returning it.

I'd find a loose Primal in better condition, replace him, then sell off the damaged one to somebody else. Or recycle him for spare parts.

Yeah...but a new one wouldn't be signed...

Oh, sorry. I assumed it was a box that was signed.

In that case, I don't know. If he's easily fixed by cannibalizing another Primal that might be my next best choice.

Where was it signed? Maybe you can just get the parts needed to fix it.
I would keep it anyway. Is it certified authentic?

Actually the box wasn't signed, the gorilla chest was...

Well, if you're that interested in this figure as a piece of TF memorabilia rather than a "toy," forget about the hassle of sending it back. How often do you need to use the chest pounding gimmick, since it sounds like you bought it becuase it was signed?

Assuming nothing falls off when the figure is just sitting there, keep it as a display piece, throw it in its own little glass case, and find another one if you really want a toy to play with. Anyone who comes over and sees it won't know the difference anyway.

If it was mine i would probably see if i could fix it because it would bother the hell outta me! But if i could'nt manage to pull it off without seriously damaging the figure then screw it leave it be! It's not like you will play with it or anything being signed just display it! Just think of it as a battle wound!

Yeah, maybe I will see if I can fix it tomorrow...

Why would anyone ask Gary Chaulk to sign a loose figure and not a boxed Transformer? Are you sure the signature is authentic? I'm skeptical.

Hey sometimes people get strange things signed just look at those women who get there breast signed by there favorite artist.

shortround wrote:Hey sometimes people get strange things signed just look at those women who get there breast signed by there favorite artist.

Hey man, I'll sign anything you want . Any name you want.
I just need my $10.00

Keep it. Its a piece of TF memorabilia. IF you can fix it by using spare parts from another figure, all the better.

Maybe the person who got it signed didn't keep the box. Not everyone does.
Why would you want to play with a signed item like that and risk wearing off the autograph? I say put it on display and don't touch him much (and never let anyone else near it) and keep it out of direct sunlight to prevent fading. Buy another one to play with.

Not sure what "cup" piece your talking about. but im assuming our tlking about the original Primal. there is a switch on his uper arm to engage/disengage the gimick. is it on?

Did you snap it or did the ebay seller snap it. Im asking this because people from ebay can care less about how they pack there items. They dont care about anything then the money they are getting from you. One other thing, Are you sure its a real autograph?

Well, I manages to fix it, by opening him and replacing his arm with another Primal junker's I just happened to have...

It was actually kinda fun. Turns out the connector gray cup piece was cracked. One really weird thing though, there was like this goo in each Primal's metal hinge joints on the insides.

Well, who wants a completely trashed Primal?

Megatron-Ron wrote:Did you snap it or did the ebay seller snap it. Im asking this because people from ebay can care less about how they pack there items. They dont care about anything then the money they are getting from you. One other thing, Are you sure its a real autograph?

Such general (and negative) statements. Do you always talk with prejudice? I sell on eBay and I think I'm a pretty good, caring person.

Anyway, back on topic, you really have two choices: return it or keep it. if you can fix it - great! To be honest, a signed figure is more of a display piece anyway so like I said as the 2nd poster here - keep it!

People get some pretty weird things signed at Botcon.

My guess is the guy got him to sign a loose fig of his own he'd had for a while, hence the condition.

And anyway, it still isn't as good as my autographed ring-worn Macho Man Randy Savage tights with a slight hole in the cortch.

keep it... the toy being signed itself is worth more than a full working one.

DISCHARGE wrote:

shortround wrote:Hey sometimes people get strange things signed just look at those women who get there breast signed by there favorite artist.

Hey man, I'll sign anything you want . Any name you want.
I just need my $10.00

My brother use to do that for $50 at a local sports memorabilia shop. Don't ever buy anything from Balls Ink in East Rutherford.

Still, I'd see about fixing him, but if you can't, what pretty much everyone else said!

Come to think of it, I really don't see the point in buying something signed by somebody unless I was the one there getting it signed. That way I know the figure or memorabilia was legitimately signed and it ties into a personal experience.

Sorry to say, but for all you know someone just took an old Beast Wars Primal and signed it.