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Those of you that have been waiting patiently for a deal on Generations Metroplex will soon pay off. An anonymous source dropped by to let us know that Costco will be stocking Metroplex for $79.99. The SKU for this item is #999294. If you have a Costco in your neck of the woods keep an eye out for this great deal and let us know by sending an email to news@seibertron.com. You can also let people know by posting your find in the Toy Sighting Forum.

Shut the front door!! I have a Costco 5 min from me (East Peoria, IL)and this is the first year it has been here. What a treat to be able to pick up Metroplex for $79.99. I bought one already from BBTS, but for that price I will glady pick up another to keep him in the box...heck in the long run it is worth it just to get another gun and not pay the hefty premium for SDCC or Import version .
I will definitely post if I see one...my old man works for Costco so I will have him keep an eye out.

~reluctantyouth~

Wait.... Costco sells Transformers??? There is one finally opening down here soon...

Cyber Bishop wrote:Wait.... Costco sells Transformers??? There is one finally opening down here soon...

You didn't know this, even with the various Costco exclusives over the years?

OH. MY. GOD.

I feel really bad seeing this, because I just bought him for $114.99, but the nearest Costco is 42 miles away, so let me do the math...

Assumptions:
1) It would not take multiple trips to find him.
2) It'd require long detours to get anything else of value out of the trip.
3) Gas prices won't change between now and then.
4) We'll disregard environmental implications of everyone driving around individually.

First, have to add sales tax to the figure, if I weren't buying him online. State sales tax is 2.9%, but where the Costco is it's apparently over 3.75%. So, $2.9996 on a $79.99 purchase, so that brings Metroplex to $82.9896, or $83.

The Costco is 42.6 miles away, so we'll say 85.2 miles of driving round trip. The way my wife drives I-25, that'd take just over an hour, but our car has aged poorly and the wind wouldn't be at our backs either way, so our gas mileage would probably be a lousy 22 miles per gallon. So, we'll say 3.87 gallons of gas. Gas prices are around $3.55 for 87 octane gas here. 3.87 gallons at $3.55/gal would cost me $13.74. So that brings Metroplex to $96.74 for me.

So I'm shorted $18.25. Hilariously, that's right on what I'm supposedly paid per hour at my job, so the difference between ordering him online and driving one hour to Costco is approximately equal to one hour of my life.

For those who want to quickly run through that for themselves, but prefer algebra over word problems:

a = Cost of Toy at Store
b = Sales Tax at Store's location (% of $1; This can be found through a site like this)
c = Cost of Gas ($$/1gal; This can be found through a site like this)
d = Distance to Store (miles)
e = Mileage of your Car (miles/gal)

Final Cost = a + (ab/100) + 2(cd/e)

[Now watch me have made some really embarrassing mistake writing that down.]

You know what'd be cool? To have a calculator in the Toy Sightings section that would reference sites that provide gas prices and tax rates at stores, and let you plug in your location, gas mileage, and such, to quickly calculate and compare shopping at different stores.

Ouch. Good for Costco but bad for everyone else. I'm speculating that Target and/or Walmart passed on Metroplex which would really suck for the success of Metroplex. Kind of screws Toys R Us over as well when they're selling it for about $50 more.

Valandar wrote:

Cyber Bishop wrote:Wait.... Costco sells Transformers??? There is one finally opening down here soon...

You didn't know this, even with the various Costco exclusives over the years?

They sell them occasionally and only during the months lead up to the Holidays. The last time Costco sold mainline Transformers was when they had the DOTM Leader Class Ironhide and Bumblebee toys which seems like they had them earlier than the Christmas season 2 years ago. No Transformers other than Kre-O 2 packs last year.

C*cksucker!!!! I just bought #2 @ HTS, for the "good deal" of 106! Dammit... who the hell can predict this?!?!? That said, there are consequences to this retail phenomenon...

Seibertron wrote:Ouch. Good for Costco but bad for everyone else. I'm speculating that Target and/or Walmart passed on Metroplex which would really suck for the success of Metroplex. Kind of screws Toys R Us over as well when they're selling it for about $50 more.

Target IS selling Metroplex. I can swear it's listed on the website, even though the stores do not carry it yet (they may be waiting for the Xmas season).

BUT, how many people are aware of Cost-Co toys? Maybe not enough to necessarily screw over TRU or Target?

AND, if TRU or Target DOES get screwed over (assuming Cost-Co gets enough to fulfill whatever demand), that just means we'll see Metro over at TJ Maxx/Marshalls/Ross that much sooner. The bigger question is what these stores will charge. Lower than $80???

Well, I'm interested in a 3rd copy, for painting, IF I can get him on clearance. Dammit. Just wish I had the time to stop by and keep an eye on the prices, but hopefully someone will mention the Metro clearance when it inevitably arrives (probably after Xmas, in January).

This won't hurt TRU or anyone. Costco is a membership club, and has far fewer locations than TRU or Target or Walmart. Anyone can walk into TRU and buy Metroplex, but only Costco members will be able to buy it as Costco.

Really curious if it will have any differences from the normal release. Holding off for sure until we know that part.

There's a Costco right across from our work, and work pays for the membership. Yay perks! That place is dangerous though, I always walk out with things I don't need like giant pickle jars and enough trash bags to last me a year.

Seeing that they will being selling Metroplex for that price was kind of a smack in the face. But collectors shouldn't worry. Galaxy metroplex and Air attack Optimal prime which are great figures that are big in size as well went on sale years back when they were in retail stores now they are 100$ plus hard to find figures.

I called 3 Costco's in Illinois (Naperville, Bolingbrook and Orland Park). The Naperville store found it in their system and said the sku is 994 (not sure if she meant the beginning or end numbers) but they didn't have it yet. The other 2 stores didn't have it listed and a lady at the Orland Park store said the only Transformers they had were an 8 pack of cars but they were small and for younger (2 yr old) kids.

The Naperville store said it might be something they may get in October. Hopefully the "anonymous" source could verify the SKU to be sure it's right.

What a sweet deal indeed. Still my sights are set on the more impressive (IMO) Takara version!

GuyIncognito wrote:but only Costco members will be able to buy it as Costco.

Bingo. For me, even if I had waited, it'd cost more as I'd be buying a Costco membership as well just to buy a single item. I've no need for a Costco membership otherwise, I shop on base.

HOLY CRAP, gotta get this!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wonder if Canadian Costco's will have them. I've never seen toys in Costco's around my hood.

Looks like I'll be breaking my TF collecting rules so I can get this!

Wow, I'd almost be tempted by that deal.

Almost.

I can't seem to find info on what STATES have Costcos. Guessing none in Arkansas, or I'd be able to find info.

gothsaurus wrote:I can't seem to find info on what STATES have Costcos. Guessing none in Arkansas, or I'd be able to find info.

Just go to their warehouse location search link and type the name of your state.
But you're right, doesn't look like there are any in Arkansas. The closest ones are in St Louis, Memphis, and Dallas.

http://www.costco.com/WarehouseLocatorV ... ogId=10701

Vegitron wrote:

gothsaurus wrote:I can't seem to find info on what STATES have Costcos. Guessing none in Arkansas, or I'd be able to find info.

Just go to their warehouse location search link and type the name of your state.
But you're right, doesn't look like there are any in Arkansas. The closest ones are in St Louis, Memphis, and Dallas.

http://www.costco.com/WarehouseLocatorV ... ogId=10701

What would be the point? If you're not a Costco member, you'll have to pay $50 to join, so you'll end up paying $130 anyway. Then add in the cost of driving to another state to find a store. This deal only benefits current Costco members and those who were planning on joining anyway.

OH! I didn't know that was the case. Guess it's like Sam's Club here. Thanks for the heads-up.

Quick update to our previous news regarding Transformers Generations Titan Class Metroplex's availability at Costco, he's starting to arrive! If you have a local Costco you might want to start checking for Metroplex. Seibertron.com staff member robofreak dropped by with the images below from a store in Phoenix, AZ. Metroplex can be yours for the low price of $79.99, provided you're a Costco member that is.

I called two stores in IL the other day. One told me October 2 and the other October 3. Guess I have to send the wife out on a hunt tomorrow. =)