The Energon Pub

They mostly seemed plentiful when they were out and the show got off to a somewhat slow start. I bought more than a handful off the shelves when they were out but since haven't really checked too much on them. Then started thinking about maybe trying to pick up some of the ones i didn't buy that "seemed" plentiful at the time like Prowl for instance but noticed aftermarket prices have really taken off. I noticed plenty of the more common figs are still fairly cheap like Ratchet etc. too. But is it just the later waves when the show was getting canned that are like this? Are they really that rare or is there just a current high demand for them?

Supply and demand?

That's interesting. I hadn't really noticed that they were going for higher-than-retail prices. I will have to do some research when I get home. I've actually been considering selling off my Animated stuff...

Til this day I can't seem to find a decent price for Roadbuster Ultra Magnus. I don't even recall him being sold at my local TRU.

REMINATOR wrote:Til this day I can't seem to find a decent price for Roadbuster Ultra Magnus. I don't even recall him being sold at my local TRU.

They mostly ended up at discount stores like Ollies, TJ Max, etc.

If you missed something, go to HTS or some others and they still have some available and on sale. Somehow, I feel eBay are quite evil recently.

REMINATOR wrote:Til this day I can't seem to find a decent price for Roadbuster Ultra Magnus. I don't even recall him being sold at my local TRU.

I saw it few times back then.

I don't see a huge hike in any of the aftermarket prices except for Leader Roadbuster Ultra Magnus.

All TFs become more expensive/valuable once they are no longer available in stores. It's simply supply and demand. Supply goes down, price goes up.

paul053 wrote:Somehow, I feel eBay are quite evil recently.

eBay doesn't set prices. The prices on eBay are determined by the same laws of supply and demand. An item is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it.

But as a general rule, once a figure is no longer available at retail, you will no longer be able to buy it at the retail price.

GuyIncognito wrote:All TFs become more expensive/valuable once they are no longer available in stores. It's simply supply and demand. Supply goes down, price goes up.

paul053 wrote:Somehow, I feel eBay are quite evil recently.

eBay doesn't set prices. The prices on eBay are determined by the same laws of supply and demand. An item is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it.

But as a general rule, once a figure is no longer available at retail, you will no longer be able to buy it at the retail price.

I understand what you mean. It's not eBay who sets up that price but the sellers (and bidders) who raise it up. Just that sometimes some prices just don't do right for the things that we are getting. I've also seen some what-do-you-think-you-are-doing crazy prices on craiglist as well but at least sometimes they are negotiable. You know what I mean, if somebody raise their house value up high and somebody are willing to pay that high or even more to buy that house, then why not their neighbors do the same thing while putting their house on the market.

you don't get to see them around that much anymore. Well that's in my case. It might be different for yours.

Well, it's not that I don't understand supply and demand. My question really is, is it because the supply really was that low or is it maybe that season 3 was really good and people were just starting to really get into TFA right before it got canceled, creating that much more interest in fans that they really started wanting the figures at that point?

I mean, this line is so recent that you can still find them in stores at times. I just bought a few cool ones from TJ Maxx and not long ago Roadbuster Magnus was liquidated to stores like TJ Maxx and he was there to be seen yet now on ebay etc, He is selling for $100+ all of a sudden.

I guess what I'm wondering is why these shelfwarmed for so long but now so shortly after they quit making them the demand is really taking off.

I understand it with Classics/Generations etc. because the fan base is so broad. Those bring in new fans as well as cater to old school fans. But TFA is new and different and just didn't garner the interest until, seemingly, all of a sudden.

I have to disagree. There are a few figures out there that may garner a little punch, but with the exception of a few, trending is pretty cheap. Ultra Magnus seems to be the only one, but it's Ultra Magnus.

Even Arcee has dropped down to near retail price

The prices from the last auctions were very respectable. Just do a completed search.

One auction went for $1000, but it had 50pcs MIB from the series. And the profit margin based on prices was slim.

The only series pretty much winning is Classics/Universe, and probably Generations once it ends.