The Energon Pub

Is there any resource you know of that has the original prices of Transformers, going back to G1? It doesn't have to be specific by figure, just by class: like how much were Minibots, regular cars, triple-changers, etc. I'm trying to estimate the value of my collection, based on original price - not current prices.

It might take a bit of trawling through, but I think this link might help;

http://pleasesavemerobots.com/vstp/vstptf85.html#aumi85

Valandar wrote:Somewhere around the Internet is a few pages from the JCPenny Christmas Catalogue from 1984, when they came out. IIRC the typical Autobot Car was about $10, and the typical Decepticon Jet was about $15.

Quote found here

Scans of that catalog here, not just TF's tho and keep in mind it's only the '84 stuff.

Pretender Skywarp wrote:Scans of that catalog here, not just TF's tho and keep in mind it's only the '84 stuff.

Thanks for the link to the scans. I have been trying to think of the name of those Traxxon toys for a looong time.

DISCHARGE wrote:

Pretender Skywarp wrote:Scans of that catalog here, not just TF's tho and keep in mind it's only the '84 stuff.

Thanks for the link to the scans. I have been trying to think of the name of those Traxxon toys for a looong time.

Well that certainly brought back memories, a part of me still wishes it was 1984!

I'm glad it's not just me feeling my age!!

Pretender Skywarp wrote:I'm glad it's not just me feeling my age!!

Yeah, tell me about it. When I was six, I couldn't wait to grow up, now I've grown up, I often wish I could be six again.

Gyrotron wrote:

Valandar wrote:Somewhere around the Internet is a few pages from the JCPenny Christmas Catalogue from 1984, when they came out. IIRC the typical Autobot Car was about $10, and the typical Decepticon Jet was about $15.

Quote found here

As much as people complain about the prices nowadays - it is amazing that Hasbro has kept the price of modern day Transformers in the same price range.

Optimus Prime G1 was sold as Convoy at a price of Y 3,600. That would be roughly US$ 46.00+ based on todays exchange rate. I'm at a loss on what the exchange rate was back in 1985

But back then in 1985, adjusting for inflation, that amount could buy lots of stuff.

I reference this with one of my old Takara catalogs.

In 1984, the typical Autobot Car was $10.99 at J.C.Penny's.

In 2011 (27 years later), the typical Deluxe Transformer is about $12.99 depending on where you go.

Assuming they're roughly equivalent in purpose (though not size), that's an increase of about 19%.

Now consider:

A 12 oz box of corn flakes in 1984 averaged 89 cents. Nowadays, that's $3.79 on average, for an increase of 326%

A gallon of gas in 1984 averaged around $1.30, whereas today it is around $3.50 or so, an increase of 170%.

A brand new 1984 Lincoln Town Car cost $19,000 (depending on extras), compared with $44,000 today, an increase of 132%

And the median household income from 1984 was $22,415, compared to $50,229 in 2009 (no data on 2011 yet), an increase of 124%.


So, for all intents and purposes, that means the average cost of a Transformer has gone DOWN, from 0.05% of a typical household income, to half that, or 0.026 %.

... One main reason I don't complain about toy prices anymore. Imagine paying an average of $22 or more for a typical Deluxe...

Valandar wrote:... One main reason I don't complain about toy prices anymore. Imagine paying an average of $22 or more for a typical Deluxe...

At the risk of playing devils advocate and I fully appreciate it's a slightly different issue than the one being discussed here, we do.

The RRP for a deluxe on my side of the pond is £13, roughly $20.50. What I don't know off the top of my head is what the G1 toys originally retailed at. What I can tell you is that they were only £10 to the end of the Unicron Trilogy and the first round of Classics. It's still only a small price rise in comparison to everything else given the global economic scenario.

Your post is really interesting tho', and I still think they represent good value for money in the greater scheme of things.

Pretender Skywarp wrote:It might take a bit of trawling through, but I think this link might help;

http://pleasesavemerobots.com/vstp/vstptf85.html#aumi85

Thank you, that was very helpful for the G1 figures! Now if only there was something similar for all the later series.

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Size_class

Any help?

I found the 1985 UK Argos catalog scan for those interested;

http://www.flickr.com/photos/38301877@N05/3592674735/

UK prices seem to have changed a lot!!

Pretender Skywarp wrote:http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Size_class

Any help?

Yes, that looks like it will be very helpful! Thank you!!