The Energon Pub

After seeing items I pay full price for, time and time again, on the discount racks a few month slater, I want to try and be smart about buying these, if I do.

Which figures do you reckon will sit on shelves, and which do you think will sell out?

Would love any insights you may have.

It's hard to tell considering until we see how the various stores display them. Target stores are going to rearrange their entire toy sections to accomodate the TF line. Then looking at every other movie toy line (ie. Spiderman, Pirates, Superman, etc.) They will be way overproduced and ultimately end up on clearance anyway. However, the best way to go, I believe is to go with the store exclusives. You'll get virtually the same products at a less expensive price, and in some cases such as Prime's metallic paint in the Target exclusive, you'll get a better quality of product.

going by what I have seen so far...the preview figures will be around awhile if you ask me. Prime, Ironhide, Rachet, Screamer, blackout and Barricade are going to be pretty popular, some due to name and some due to the pure awsomeness of them.

Scorpy is up in the air...I think he will be around a while as most are saing that he is the last they will get, they dont like his bot mode(it is true crap), or that they are coming around on him.

Megaton...well he is megaton and I think the completest and the megaton fans will pick him up. I for one plan to get one...but only one.

BB I think he is like mirage of the classics line...he will be around.

Jazz and Brawl I think will be fan favs but I would expect a good amount of them...thats a guess

well those are my thoughts...

SUPPOSEDLY, Jazz and Bumblebee are going to have two in each case, as opposed to one of the others. Bumblebee is a major character, so all the kids will want him. So my money is on Jazz being a shelfwarmer.

Valandar wrote: Bumblebee is a major character, so all the kids will want him.

I don't know, Bumblebee seems to be like the posterboy for the movie to me, all kind's of products associated with him. Therefore, stores like Wal-Mart will overorder, and we might end up with another Fantastic Four Movie deal with the aisle stocked with TONS of Bumblebee's. I'm guessing he'll be the shelf warmer, but I will probably pick one up at full price anyway cause he's one of my favorite characters and I don't wanna risk it.

Speaking of the Fantastic Four Movie stuff, that stands out to me as the one line that stuck around on the shelves for the longest time. Anyone think it'll happen to Transformers
merchendise?

Duke of Luns wrote:

Valandar wrote: Bumblebee is a major character, so all the kids will want him.

I don't know, Bumblebee seems to be like the posterboy for the movie to me, all kind's of products associated with him. Therefore, stores like Wal-Mart will overorder, and we might end up with another Fantastic Four Movie deal with the aisle stocked with TONS of Bumblebee's. I'm guessing he'll be the shelf warmer, but I will probably pick one up at full price anyway cause he's one of my favorite characters and I don't wanna risk it.

Speaking of the Fantastic Four Movie stuff, that stands out to me as the one line that stuck around on the shelves for the longest time. Anyone think it'll happen to Transformers
merchendise?

I bloddy well hope so! I have wet dreams about the day Irish stores over stck on tf products-unless it is overstocking of just one character or one wave, they do that nad it suck! There is no rythme or reason to it-it just happens! We still ahve hundreds of Shortround/Repugnas/Giant Minicons plus Cybertron Defence hotshot, we have seen very little of the classic deleuxes yet.

its enough to make a grown man cry

Honestly, I think a lot of product will set on the shelf. They're uuuugly.
Leader-class Megatron especially, due to the cost.

The movie line strikes as a TF line you really want to be picky about what you get (there seems to be planty of room for disappointment). At this stage of the game I will be getting Prime, Bumblebee, Wreckage & Barricade for the deluxe class. I will be getting Blackout, Ironhide & Ratchet for the Voyager/Ultra Class and Prime for the leader class. I can't say I'm really interested in any other figures so far. As for the relentless branding and merchandising of TF products, I'll pass. Just give me the figures thank you very much.

My personal take on the movie line is that it will be generally good seller like most movie toy lines. (the fanbase is too good for it to be like fantastic four toys) As far as shelf warmers go it all depends on case assortment basically. Prime example will be cybertron Defense Red Alert. So as long as certain figures continue to show up in 2 or more waves it will be a shelf warmer.

-Store Exclusives will always sell out.(especially target)

And if I had to pick the main shelf warmer i would be Bumblebee and his 300 versions.

Exodiatron wrote:-Store Exclusives will always sell out.(especially target)

The last Target TF exclusive was Classics UM/Skywarp, and I bought two of those on clearance for $4.98 each. They don't always sell out. Even Universe Nemesis Prime, the repainted Big Convoy mold, went on clearance.

I think the movie toys are going sell well, especially the voyager and leader class. Me personally I plan on getting Ironhide (I need an Ironhide in my collection), Blackout, Barricade, Ratchet, Brawl, Bonecrusher, Jazz (need a Jazz too), and Starscream!

Okay, two types of toys become shelfwarmers:

1 ) Characters that are overpacked and in every single wave (i.e., Classics Mirage - awesome figure, but longpacked (?) in every single Classics wave)

2 ) Unusual figures that nobody seems to care much for. As an example, I see a LOT of "Butt for a hand" (Cyb Backstop) not only at Wal-Marts and TRU and Targets and K-Marts. but even at Walgreens Pharmacies and such.


So, not knowing the composition of all cases for all waves, but knowing a RUMORED composition of one kind of case, I still say Jazz and Bumblebee will end up shelfwarmers.

I'm going to have to start monitoring the shelves at the local stores. I really don't feel like paying full price.

Normally, I don't bitch about prices. I'm just not sure I like this line. Hence I am hoping to procrastinate on buyign these as long as I can.

sector 7 repaints, those are gonna have one mighty layer of dust

The obvious shelfwarmers will be the Voice changer helmet and the larger figures, in the supreme and Leader classes.
The only Leader Class figure that was shipped in decent numbers, and still managed to sell well before getting reduced in Australia was the original Cybertron Optimus Prime. Other than that all other Leader Class figures have been either extremely Rare or shelf warmers.

I can also see some of the Secot 7 figures being shelf warmers as Gutsman said, as collectors already have a heap of the moulds, but they should be popular with parents who buy their kids toys to shut them up because they are cheap-ish.

Some other figures especially in the Voyager class will be shelf warmers as their price (AU$45) is too much for how little toy you normally get, while Ultra's wont be as bad because not as many are stocked.
Can also see Frenzy of all sizes lining the shelves.

The Autobots, Blackout, Barricade and Real Gear Stuff will be the standout sellers though.

I have a feeling that preview Starscream will sit a while, as no kids will want him, and parents will only pick up Optimus because he is Optimus.

Trunks, I absolutely agree. I think the Primes, Bumblebees, Megs, Screamer, Barricade, and Blackout are the ones to pick up asap. I really think we will be seeing everything else at 50% off at the end of the summer.

By the sheer number of protoforms I've seen at stores leads the to believe that they will warm shelves the longest. It doesn't seem that anyone is buying them, even though so many people seem to have them. I like the protos, but they are functionally useless, so I don't even know what kitbashers or the skillful could do with them to turn them into something different.
Deluxe Scorpanok. I like him, his scorpian mode is pretty neat, but his total afterthought robot mode is very crappy, and not likely to encourage many purchases.

Well, Leader Class Optimus and Megatron are going to sell I don't doubt that. Bumblebee will probably do good as well since he's got such a big part.

I have deluxe Brawl, Jazz and Barricade, Voyager class Ratchet and Blackout.

I'll be buying Deluxe Bonecrusher, and new camaro Bumblebee,
Voyager IronHide and Starscream and Leader Prime and Megatron.

If Leader Brawl and Voyager Bonecrusher come out I'll get them and then pawn off the deluxe versions.

I'll wait until scorponok is on sale months from now.

I dont plan on getting old Bumblebee, Wreckage, any FAB's or Stompers or Real Gear or any of the other lines.

[Edit]

Does any one know when I can expect to find Bonecrusher and new Bumblebee?

I want them now.

Valandar wrote:
Speaking of the Fantastic Four Movie stuff, that stands out to me as the one line that stuck around on the shelves for the longest time. Anyone think it'll happen to Transformers
merchendise?

I don't know about Transformers being shelf warmers. So far all I have seen in stores is the protoform stuff and even those are really warming the shelves. They only have a couple of peg hooks with them. Once the movie toys start coming in I think it will be easier to tell.

So far my money is on Spider-Man 3 being the years biggest shelf warmer. The toys really didn't take off, even after the movie released. Maybe once school lets out and more kids are exposed to the movie, the toy sales might pick up. Walmart has the toys all over the store and it looks like no one is buying them. I think they expected the movie to be bigger than it was and there would be a bigger demand for the toys.

I think the other problem is that Hasbro made too many similar figures. I know everyone was saying that with Transformers, the Botcon Classics exclusive would have not sold as well at retail because parents won't buy repaints but with the Spider-Man toys, they really aren't repaints. One Spider-Man has web action, another kicks, then there are the repeats of Venom. I just don't understand how the logic applies that parent's won't buy multiples of a character in the Transformers line but they will in the Spider-Man 3 line.

initially, ythey'll all sell...especially proper movie figures. The game only figures, like wreckage won't sell that well..but will shift enough units to compensate for a few losses.

Taking collectors and children in mind, parents will only buy one of each for their kids, not wanting to spend excess money on several figures with one name..ie: FAB barricade, deluxe barricade, slammer barricade etc...

Collectors however will justify the fact they need to have several of each figure, just so they have a complete line, that way they can compensate on the losses made by parents and children.

Scalpers are also a factor to consider...since they'll buy any amounts of figures sat on shelves.

Howver, i reckon by september, the coolness factor of the movie will all be over and the movie toys will find a new home in the bargain bins of stores across the world

i_amtrunks wrote:The obvious shelfwarmers will be the Voice changer helmet and the larger figures, in the supreme and Leader classes.
The only Leader Class figure that was shipped in decent numbers, and still managed to sell well before getting reduced in Australia was the original Cybertron Optimus Prime. Other than that all other Leader Class figures have been either extremely Rare or shelf warmers.

I can also see some of the Secot 7 figures being shelf warmers as Gutsman said, as collectors already have a heap of the moulds, but they should be popular with parents who buy their kids toys to shut them up because they are cheap-ish.

Some other figures especially in the Voyager class will be shelf warmers as their price (AU$45) is too much for how little toy you normally get, while Ultra's wont be as bad because not as many are stocked.
Can also see Frenzy of all sizes lining the shelves.

The Autobots, Blackout, Barricade and Real Gear Stuff will be the standout sellers though.

The larger figures usually always sell well. it just depends on price point. With the classics line Megatron and Jetfire both sold out really fast. Prime is still on the shelves but they produced too many of them. If I remember correctly, the first wave was Megatron/Prime and the second was Jetfire/Prime. The only reason he is a shelf warmer was because they produced too many of them.

As for the voicechanger helmet, from what I have heard they are having a tough time keeping that one in stock. I don't know if it is due to it not being released in large enough quantities to keep up with demand or if it is really that popular. Just basing my opinion on what I have seen of the helmet, it looks pretty impressive. It's pretty accurate looking and I'm also anxious to see what kitbashers are going to do to make this look even better/more accurate. I think it would even be cool to see a distressed or battledamaged version. Once the movie hits, it will do very well. I remember the Vader voice changing helmet doing pretty well after Episode III came out. I'm considering getting one to put on a shelf and I have heard a lot of positive feedback from people that have seen them.

First, what I think will sell and will not sell:

I think all variations of Starscream, the large Blackout & Scorponok 2-pack, and the large $40 versions of Prime and Megatron will sell out. I also think that "Ultimate Bumblebee" will be the black lotus of the movie line: expensive, extremely popular--impossible to find. Mark my words, that figure will be hot. I have a feeling online may be the only option for many when it comes to that one...and we had better prepare to pay. I predict this film will have many, many children identifying with BB more than dare I even say it, Prime, and they will nag their parents for the giant yellow guy as a result.

Just my prediction.

I think what will sit the most will be the Protoforms. I made the mistake of buying both about two weeks ago, and let me say...blah. Their alt modes are about as appealng as a toilet full of cold soup to a person who is well fed.

I get sick just looking at them, and they sit full on every shelf at WM, Target, etc. They get less exercise than Rosie O'Donnell. Hell, she might move more often!

What will I get? Well, I am not a completist, so I will only get what I like.

Voyager Prime (Target) and Megatron
Ultimate Bumblebee (If I can get a good deal)
Leader/Voyager (?) Starscream, Blackout/Scorponok

Everything else...blah.

I still can't find my damned Titanium G1 Ultra Magnus!

MEGATROOOOONNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have also noticed the small allotment of peg space for Transformers toys, and all of that currently being taken up by Protoforms, I think it begs the question of whether or not there is a recall or do not display date on the protos. If they take them off display at some point in time I think it will open more space for actual movie toys. But the discrepency between shelf space for TFs and Pirates of the Caribeen and Spiderman 3 is amazing. Those Spiderman toys all look like crap. I didn't think Pirates was really all that hot with the kids. MAybe it's just my pro-Transformers bias.