The Energon Pub

So last week my mother dragged me to that store that advertises purses and women's shoes for cheap. Yep, TJ Maxx. I had never been there before. When I walked in, right at the entrance was a HUGE amount of ROTF deluxe class, Human Alliance, and Animated voyagers. I walked around some more and discovered many more ROTF deluxes and scouts. I bought six ROTF deluxes, one scout, and two Human Alliance figures. So I went back today to get ROTF Wheelie and to see what they had left/had in. There was much less, and the displays were moved to another part of the store. I found some different ROTF deluxes, and also Universe Hardhead, Skyfall, and Powerglide. But...something behind all the voyager Atomic Lugnuts caught my eye. I fished for it and brought it out to see what it was. Amazingly to me at least, it was Masterpiece Skywarp...with a price sticker slapped over the "only at Walmart" sticker that read $29.99. I couldn't believe I found him there. I really wanted him, but I didn't get him. But now I have discovered a great place to get caught up on figures you've skipped and regretted. Any of you guys ever found really surprising things at TJ Maxx or Marshall's?

a friend of mine always commented on the marvel legends figures he would acquire from marshall's.... i've also seen previous posts commenting on transformers finds there before.. this is the 1st i've heard of tj maxx... looks like i need to start expanding my shopping routes

I'll add Burlington Coat Factory to this list. Last year, I found almost all the of the 10th anniversary Beast Wars figures and a bunch of Alternators there. I haven't checked back there in a while though.

WolfDawg wrote:I'll add Burlington Coat Factory to this list. Last year, I found almost all the of the 10th anniversary Beast Wars figures and a bunch of Alternators there. I haven't checked back there in a while though.

I had no idea Burlington Coat Factory had toys.

LOST Cybertronian wrote:

WolfDawg wrote:I'll add Burlington Coat Factory to this list. Last year, I found almost all the of the 10th anniversary Beast Wars figures and a bunch of Alternators there. I haven't checked back there in a while though.

I had no idea Burlington Coat Factory had toys.

same here

WolfDawg wrote:I'll add Burlington Coat Factory to this list. Last year, I found almost all the of the 10th anniversary Beast Wars figures and a bunch of Alternators there. I haven't checked back there in a while though.

Wow. I went there last year but passed on the toys. I'm in the hunt for older stuff since I kept leaving TF and coming back. It would be really sweet if some Classics, Universe, and Movie 1 would show up.

I've found several great TF buys recently at TJ Max, as well as Marshall's and A.J. Wright. They all are owned by the same parent company, and generally have similar prices and products, which makes them ideal for me. I've found several Animated voyagers (Wreck-Gar, Blitzwing, Lugnut, and Grimlock) for like $13. I also got ROTF Brawn and Lockdown for around $8. I check these stores almost as much as I do Meijer, Target, Wal-Mart and Toys R Us.

You can find some diamonds in the rough there for cheap, especially around Christmas time.

Amelie wrote:I've seen stuff I'm sure didn't get released in the UK in UK TK Maxxx before. Reissue Skids.

Although mostly in my local, its all Hot Wheels crap.

I didn't realise TJ Maxx and TK Maxx are the same. There's one in my town but a long way away. I'm not going till the snow's gone!

I went to North Carolina for Thanksgiving and headed to Concorde mall area and the TJM there had 7 HA Mudflaps in stock!! thats right 7!! and dont forget your local Marshall stores too!!

Seven, huh? If I hadn't just got HA Mudflap for my birthday I would be simmering right now. See, TJ Maxx and Marshall's have all been constant busts for me. I have access to 4 TJs and at least 5 Marshalls in my general area, but its like desirable merchandise is stopped and destroyed at the Michigan border. I constantly hear about stuff being sighted at those stores, but mine are quite empty of any of those items. It's not worth the long walk through all those clothing racks and women with strollers full of screaming kids to get to the back wall.

Anyway, the only time those stores were actually useful to me was when I was collecting the GI Joe Sigma 6 line. The had a lot of stuff that by that time was getting pretty hard to find, so I was able to cash in despite having started late on the series.

Joker'sRequiem wrote:I've found several great TF buys recently at TJ Max, as well as Marshall's and A.J. Wright. They all are owned by the same parent company, and generally have similar prices and products, which makes them ideal for me.

I also got ROTF Brawn and Lockdown for around $8.

Oh yeah I forgot to mention that. You definitely want to check all of those stores, since they are under the same company and tend to carry the same products for the same prices. I believe they own Home Goods stores too.

And man you're lucky! I kind of forgot about Transformers again this year and skipped the NEST Alliance line. The NEST figures are rather difficult to find at retail price online, and it's already hard enough just to find them in stock. I'm in the hunt for Ratchet, Brawn, and Lockdown myself. But maybe...since the ROTF deluxes, scouts, and HAs are being put out almost perfectly in order of release, my TJ Maxx may get some NEST alliance figures and new HAs in. It would be cool if some Universe and a wider variety of Animated showed up too.

Stockade wrote:I went to North Carolina for Thanksgiving and headed to Concorde mall area and the TJM there had 7 HA Mudflaps in stock!! thats right 7!! and dont forget your local Marshall stores too!!

That's the area I live and that's the TJ Maxx I got my HA Mudflap, small world huh?

Evil_the_Nub wrote:

Stockade wrote:I went to North Carolina for Thanksgiving and headed to Concorde mall area and the TJM there had 7 HA Mudflaps in stock!! thats right 7!! and dont forget your local Marshall stores too!!

That's the area I live and that's the TJ Maxx I got my HA Mudflap, small world huh?

Yeah! I went on vacation this year to the Charlotte/Concord area and shopped at the Concord mall area. That's an awesome area to shop. I can't wait to move down there in a few years. Better than any NE Ohio dinky plaza.

Mykltron wrote:

Amelie wrote:I've seen stuff I'm sure didn't get released in the UK in UK TK Maxxx before. Reissue Skids.

Although mostly in my local, its all Hot Wheels crap.

I didn't realise TJ Maxx and TK Maxx are the same. There's one in my town but a long way away. I'm not going till the snow's gone!

Likewise, back in the day I remember reading about Alt-Decepticharge being spotted in one of them, I've never had any joy in one of thier branches TF wise tho'

Pretender Skywarp wrote:

Mykltron wrote:

Amelie wrote:I've seen stuff I'm sure didn't get released in the UK in UK TK Maxxx before. Reissue Skids.

Although mostly in my local, its all Hot Wheels crap.

I didn't realise TJ Maxx and TK Maxx are the same. There's one in my town but a long way away. I'm not going till the snow's gone!

Likewise, back in the day I remember reading about Alt-Decepticharge being spotted in one of them, I've never had any joy in one of thier branches TF wise tho'

After posting i realised there's no point looking as I've bought the old releases I want and ordered the new ones online!

OptiMagnus10 wrote:

Joker'sRequiem wrote:I've found several great TF buys recently at TJ Max, as well as Marshall's and A.J. Wright. They all are owned by the same parent company, and generally have similar prices and products, which makes them ideal for me.

I also got ROTF Brawn and Lockdown for around $8.

Oh yeah I forgot to mention that. You definitely want to check all of those stores, since they are under the same company and tend to carry the same products for the same prices. I believe they own Home Goods stores too.

And man you're lucky! I kind of forgot about Transformers again this year and skipped the NEST Alliance line. The NEST figures are rather difficult to find at retail price online, and it's already hard enough just to find them in stock. I'm in the hunt for Ratchet, Brawn, and Lockdown myself. But maybe...since the ROTF deluxes, scouts, and HAs are being put out almost perfectly in order of release, my TJ Maxx may get some NEST alliance figures and new HAs in. It would be cool if some Universe and a wider variety of Animated showed up too.

I just recently had an AJ Wright move within walking distance of where I live, so I check there quite frequently. Add to that at least 1 local Marshall's and 1 local TJ Max, and I've got plenty of stores to check. I also visit family frequently near the Midland, MI area and check all of there local TJ Max/Marshall's stores.

I'm just now starting to watch Animated, and so far I'm enjoying it. Being able to get some of, in my opinion, the best voyagers they made after the show ended is just amazing.

Cobalt Prime wrote:Seven, huh? If I hadn't just got HA Mudflap for my birthday I would be simmering right now. See, TJ Maxx and Marshall's have all been constant busts for me. I have access to 4 TJs and at least 5 Marshalls in my general area, but its like desirable merchandise is stopped and destroyed at the Michigan border. I constantly hear about stuff being sighted at those stores, but mine are quite empty of any of those items. It's not worth the long walk through all those clothing racks and women with strollers full of screaming kids to get to the back wall.

Where abouts in MI do you live, Cobalt? I'm in the Lansing area and can attest to what often seems to be poor distribution versus states like NY and CA. I still haven't seen a Blurr or a Soundwave from Generations. In some cases it's so bad I've stopped collecting certain toys, like the DC Universe Classics series. I was on wave 9, then suddenly all the local stores skipped Wave 10 and 11, only stocked 3/4 of Wave 12, and now have skipped ahead to Wave 14. The $14.99 price for something that, to me, isn't worth more than a $9.99-$11.99 TF doesn't help. I just wish I had the luck others have here in MI. I mean we're already hearing about RTS being in stores, and I'm still waiting on Generations!

I'm in the Novi area. My area is still as yet uncontaminated by RTS, but Gen Soundwave and Red Alert are becoming more common now. Blurr is a hard one-only saw him once and bought him on sight. Same with Dirge. Our distribution is so bad in this cold, economy-forsaken state that the only reason I stay current is because I am in a CONSTANT state of toy-hunting. I pretty much check stores on the way TO work, on the way FROM work, and even on off days, cycling constantly through stores. I probably waste more in gas money than I would lose paying overblown on-line prices, but then again since I'm so picky when it comes to paint apps it pays to be able to choose between at least two of an item, rather than being stuck with what online sends you.

I miss Kay Bee. Now THAT was the store to find rare old stuff in!

TJ Maxx/Marshalls/Ross has also had Univerze Hardhead, Skyfall, and MP Skywarp in stock in the last few weeks... so keep checkin 'em out if you want some pieces that are no longer available in stores..

I also saw an universe powerglide at a TJ Maxx the other week.

beanman wrote:TJ Maxx/Marshalls/Ross has also had Univerze Hardhead, Skyfall, and MP Skywarp in stock in the last few weeks... so keep checkin 'em out if you want some pieces that are no longer available in stores..

I checked this out for the first time and would have picked up the Skyfall. They did have Animated Voy: Shockwave, Blitzwing, Wreck-Gar and Skywarp though. For $10 each they are a steal.

for all of you in the west MI area most of the stores around the Muskegon area just restocked their transformers i just picked up Red alert and Blurr at a Meijer the other day. Also check kohls, you never know what you will find.

found a mudflap finally at my tjmaxx

Cobalt Prime wrote:I'm in the Novi area. My area is still as yet uncontaminated by RTS, but Gen Soundwave and Red Alert are becoming more common now. Blurr is a hard one-only saw him once and bought him on sight. Same with Dirge. Our distribution is so bad in this cold, economy-forsaken state that the only reason I stay current is because I am in a CONSTANT state of toy-hunting. I pretty much check stores on the way TO work, on the way FROM work, and even on off days, cycling constantly through stores. I probably waste more in gas money than I would lose paying overblown on-line prices, but then again since I'm so picky when it comes to paint apps it pays to be able to choose between at least two of an item, rather than being stuck with what online sends you.

I miss Kay Bee. Now THAT was the store to find rare old stuff in!

You're not too far from me in the Southfield area. I posted some finds at AJ Wright on Greenfield and Lincoln a little while ago in the Michigan thread. First time I ever went into the store.

In my situation I do most of my hunting after doctor checkups. I also tend to hit the shopping area by Coolidge and Maple at least once a month because Walmart sells 13 oz Friskies canned cat food for 70 cents and I can fill the car up at Meijer for less than most stations plus get some points on the card.

And I voted for Optibotimus' Epic Burger Kitty Commander video thing because that kitten is almost as cute as our most recent adopted stray (I can't believe she's already 5 and still acts like a 6 month old blur of a furball).

By the way, cats (and in some cases dogs too) are really great at making you feel better when you're sick. They're also really good at driving you bonkers while they circle on your belly 50 times before finally curling up and going to sleep.