The Energon Pub

[Susha]

Dear Seibertron

I consider myself to be a loyal customer of yours (if the term applies on the internet) for some time now. I use your forums, read your news and have used your database always free and I am incredibly grateful for this (more so to the 'internet socialist-god', but also to you).

I say this because I in no way would want to tell you how to do your job
BUT...

in the light of recent events (see ebay links below...)
I think it would be incredibly appropriate, pertinent and within the jurisdiction of your specific mansions if you:

Got out there and did everything in your power to find out if Hasbro (or Takara) is going to sell a cassette only version on MP ratbat and at what price BECAUSE..

... it is nonsensical how people are paying <$70 for just ratbat without soundblaster...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Transformers- ... 3ce01fd757

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Transformers- ... 3ce01fbf4f

etc

[Autobot032]

Sadly, we are not privy to such information, at least not at this time. We're quite good at getting the news out, but if there's something we don't know, we simply don't know it. When we find out, you will, that's a promise.

Keep your optics tuned to our Botcon and SDCC coverage. If there is any info on his US release, it'll be provided at one of those events. Possibly even NYCC. Until then, we don't have any more information, but we'll get it out asap once we do, and that's if there is any info to be had.

[Susha]

cheers much appreciated

oh well.

what about establishing the existence or plausibility of a ratbat sold separately from from soundblaster. Im sure hasbro does not ignore the "market" of customers who already have soundwave and want ratbat but not soundblaster?

ciao

[Jelze Bunnycat]

cheers much appreciated

oh well.

what about establishing the existence or plausibility of a ratbat sold separately from from soundblaster. Im sure hasbro does not ignore the "market" of customers who already have soundwave and want ratbat but not soundblaster?

ciao

It would be rather bad business if the site spreads untruths as rumor. We may look like a news authority, but in actual fact we're nothing more than messengers. We only post confirmed news and founded rumors, meaning it has to have tell-tale signs leading to it possibly being legit. Examples include insider information ("a friend heard from a friend" does not count, but an employee does. Even then we're weary.) and prototypes and test shots.

[Susha]

cheers again

[Cyber Bishop]

It would be rather bad business if the site spreads untruths as rumor.

Yet it has happened recently...

[Bed Bugs]

A KO company is coming out with a MP Ratbat in the near future. Can't say anymore on it.

[Susha]

A KO company is coming out with a MP Ratbat in the near future. Can't say anymore on it.

great! thx a heap .
fingers crossed

[Susha]

it happened:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161501216346? ... EBIDX%3AIT

and i suppose I owe seibertron.com a big TY, as i would have spent an additional 50$ on this if I hadn't known.

[Susha]

and if anyone wants to speculate;

I'm surprised how hasbro has totally ignored the possibility of capitalizing on this mold. Did they really expect us to bite for this at 70$? I'm not only referring to those who already owned the toys r us soundwave and cassettes, but also for those who might not be willing to spend <70$ but would spend >20$. Well, even if they do now, now they won't be able to sell this also to those who bought the KO version.
It took me 4-5 seconds to decide for this buy at 11£, it was a no brainer.
Don't get me wrong, I've revised my judgement on hasbro figures with the recent legend class figures, (also because they are much more competitive at that price) but I just can't understand hasbro's marketing logic sometimes. this to my eyes is clearly a lost opportunity. Am I missing something?

[Jelze Bunnycat]

Kids (easy money!) versus Collectors (way too risky). 'Nuff said

[Susha]

this ko has been around for a month already? not much of a scoop i suppose .. sorry

so your saying it was planned like this? as they planned skids? what happened to skids by the way, is there a thread explaining what happened?

so what your saying is;
-they made more money by selling less at 70$ than by selling more at, for example 15$?
i'd need to sell 5 ratbats to equal the amount gained by selling 1 soundblaster, and there isnt enough plastic in 5 ratbats to make 1 soundwave.. At this point the only explanation would be is they 'sacrificed' the ratbat mold to sell a couple more soundwave molds? If u check the toys r us tf page, there are a lot more generations molds than where being sold in the past (where tf prime or tf movie usually are more common)and almost all of the new generation molds being sold at toys r us are the legends (with a price tag of 11£). Long story short. They are interested in selling more at lower prices, hence, whats wrong with the MP ratbat mold?

[Jelze Bunnycat]

The Masterpiece line and everything collector-oriented is considered a good risk by Hasbro. The fandom as a whole represents a small portion of the total market (estimates range from 5% to to an optimistic 25%), but large enough for Hasbro to take notice and throw us some bones so to speak.

TakaraTomy has the collector's market nailed in Japan, but that's only because of market differences between the two regions (Japan has more avid collectors). In short, what would sell in Japan will probably not sell in the US. The fact Hasbro tries to aim them to kids as well doesn't necessarily help.

[Susha]

mhhh,

ok but, ...

ok ill go with it actually.