The Energon Pub

[william-james88]

All loose G1 toy prices dropped heavily once reissues were available (best example being Fort Max).

I'm not really seeing any price drops in original Fort Max...the least expensive loose/complete ones from 1987 are still selling for as much or more than MISB encore ones.

That exactly what i am talking about. G1 Fort Max was close to 1000$ once but ever since the reissue came out the market value dropped heavily where you can get a vintage one for the same price as the reissue, proving that a toy being vintage does not give it that much added value if used. Thats incredibly different than what we see in orher hobbies, like comics where nomatter how many reissues of Amazing Fantasy 15 they do, the first edition in whatever condition will always retain its value.

[Rodimus Prime]

I wonder if the new release of Optimus Prime without a trailer will drive up prices for the trailer by itself on eBay and other places due to people wanting to complete the figure to what it was 35 years ago.

[william-james88]

I understand the resistance to the price. In fact, I'd say it's more the incompleteness of the product & price combination.

Yeah, I get all this. Makes sense. When releasing the whole thing, we dont really distribute the cost among accesories in our heads, we just see a complete package. And now Hasbro has told us that the cab is priced at $50 and while its less than what a complete package would cost, its not less enough for something considered incomplete.
I feel Hasbro was trying to release a more affordable version of G1 Prime but it bit them in the behind. Especially when the market they are aiming is fans who have money to spend on this.

[Wolfman Jake]

A couple of stores I buy TFs from admit, and will label with a reduced price, that if they have an authentic G1 that they picked up in pieces they have used reissue parts to reassemble the original.

Do they make potential buyers aware of that?

Because if I'm going for an original, I'd want original parts.

I find it really weird that anyone would cannibalize a perfectly good reissue figure just to restore a vintage figure with missing or broken parts that's probably got a lot more wear and weathering on it to begin with. It devalues the idea of an "authentic" vintage item, and it ruins a perfectly good official reproduction as well. Where's the sense in any of that?

[leokearon]

Getting back to individual cassette releases, all I really want to see right now is Rumble and Frenzy. I've got the SDCC 2009 "25th Anniversary" G1 Soundwave giftset, which game with Laserbeak, Buzzsaw, Ravage, and Ratbat. All that's missing is "Red Tape Guy" and "Blue Tape Guy" in my collection. (Yes, I'll probably be passing on this new Soundwave reissue with Buzzsaw. It's redundant for me.) My fear, though, is that we won't get individual releases of Rumble and Frenzy, or even a two pack of them. Soundwave was packaged with Buzzsaw originally in G1, and I bet Hasbro will follow suit with the rest of the tape buddies, meaning we'll get original styled 2-packs like Rumble & Ravage and Frenzy & Laserbeak.

While a Frenzy/Laerbeak two pack would suit me, since I have Rumble and Rabage. I think indivual releases would be better, that way we would need to get two Frenzy's

[leokearon]

I understand the resistance to the price. In fact, I'd say it's more the incompleteness of the product & price combination.

Yeah, I get all this. Makes sense. When releasing the whole thing, we dont really distribute the cost among accesories in our heads, we just see a complete package. And now Hasbro has told us that the cab is priced at $50 and while its less than what a complete package would cost, its not less enough for something considered incomplete.
I feel Hasbro was trying to release a more affordable version of G1 Prime but it bit them in the behind. Especially when the market they are aiming is fans who have money to spend on this.

That's for me is the biggest problem. When I think Original G1 Optimus Prime toy , I think Robot, Trailer and Roller, not just the Robot. If everyone else is being released complete why not Optimus? I would hate for Hasbro to do something similar with Rodiums Prime

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

Getting back to individual cassette releases, all I really want to see right now is Rumble and Frenzy. I've got the SDCC 2009 "25th Anniversary" G1 Soundwave giftset, which game with Laserbeak, Buzzsaw, Ravage, and Ratbat. All that's missing is "Red Tape Guy" and "Blue Tape Guy" in my collection. (Yes, I'll probably be passing on this new Soundwave reissue with Buzzsaw. It's redundant for me.) My fear, though, is that we won't get individual releases of Rumble and Frenzy, or even a two pack of them. Soundwave was packaged with Buzzsaw originally in G1, and I bet Hasbro will follow suit with the rest of the tape buddies, meaning we'll get original styled 2-packs like Rumble & Ravage and Frenzy & Laserbeak.

Well, you could buy the two-packs and then pawn the redundant tapes off on fellow collectors who are missing them if it comes to it. Or buy Frenzy and Rumble off of eBay individually if you're willing to shell out the dough, they're not too horrendous right now.

I understand the resistance to the price. In fact, I'd say it's more the incompleteness of the product & price combination.

Yeah, I get all this. Makes sense. When releasing the whole thing, we dont really distribute the cost among accesories in our heads, we just see a complete package. And now Hasbro has told us that the cab is priced at $50 and while its less than what a complete package would cost, its not less enough for something considered incomplete.
I feel Hasbro was trying to release a more affordable version of G1 Prime but it bit them in the behind. Especially when the market they are aiming is fans who have money to spend on this.

That's for me is the biggest problem. When I think Original G1 Optimus Prime toy , I think Robot, Trailer and Roller, not just the Robot. If everyone else is being released complete why not Optimus? I would hate for Hasbro to do something similar with Rodiums Prime

If they did that with Rodimus Prime that would be inexcusable. I mean, he's not even a complete vehicle without the camper shell!

I don't think they would with him though, his trailer parts are likely on the same sprues as his main body.

[Amelie]

Because if I'm going for an original, I'd want original parts.

This is why I'm anal and ask for the id numbers inside Seeker fists and check the length of the wing rods....

Which reminds me. Who has the Starscream reissue and what (if there is one) is the fists number?

[leokearon]

I understand the resistance to the price. In fact, I'd say it's more the incompleteness of the product & price combination.

Yeah, I get all this. Makes sense. When releasing the whole thing, we dont really distribute the cost among accesories in our heads, we just see a complete package. And now Hasbro has told us that the cab is priced at $50 and while its less than what a complete package would cost, its not less enough for something considered incomplete.
I feel Hasbro was trying to release a more affordable version of G1 Prime but it bit them in the behind. Especially when the market they are aiming is fans who have money to spend on this.

That's for me is the biggest problem. When I think Original G1 Optimus Prime toy , I think Robot, Trailer and Roller, not just the Robot. If everyone else is being released complete why not Optimus? I would hate for Hasbro to do something similar with Rodiums Prime

If they did that with Rodimus Prime that would be inexcusable. I mean, he's not even a complete vehicle without the camper shell!

I don't think they would with him though, his trailer parts are likely on the same sprues as his main body.

Rodimus does have wheels on his legs, so they could class it as a complete vehicle

[Amelie]

Rodimus does have wheels on his legs, so they could class it as a complete vehicle

Unlike Optimus, however - he is barely recognizable as anything without his trailer and it would be a severe stretch to try and argue it is a "complete vehicle". Optimus has the benefit of being a complete vehicle in his own right, without the trailer. They actually sell trucks without trailers.

[reluctantyouth]

He is about the same size as Starscream which was $35, yet he is $50. Why? I think it's just because of the name. He is the ultimate Transformer.

He's also a lost art.

And don't forget, he has rubber tires too. Pretty sure Hot Rod didn't have those. That second gun might also be a factor

I totally agree. I am not happy with this price point. I finally caved this morning and picked up Hot Rod at my Walmart in Central Illinois for $12.53 plus tax. I'll hold out to see if this comes down. Crap...I remember getting the G2 Optimus with black trailer and attachable soundbox for $49.99 back in the day. I wish I still had that. Max I'd pay for this Prime is $20.

[Amelie]

getting the G2 Optimus with black trailer and attachable soundbox for $49.99 back in the day.

Inflation, the state of the toy market, increased costs in China and extras in raw materials over a 25 year period...

and all it cost was the trailer and a rather gratuitous sound box to maintain the price.

[william-james88]

getting the G2 Optimus with black trailer and attachable soundbox for $49.99 back in the day.

Inflation, the state of the toy market, increased costs in China and extras in raw materials over a 25 year period...

and all it cost was the trailer and a rather gratuitous sound box to maintain the price.

If anybody cares, with inflation alone that G2 Prime would cost $90 in today's money. I didnt realize how expensive Transformers toys were back in the day, $50 in the early 90s was a lot of money.

[no-one]

Which reminds me. Who has the Starscream reissue and what (if there is one) is the fists number?

None, there is a R1 and L1 inside of the fist cuff. Well it sorta looks like a 1, could also just be a | .


With the stellar sales of Hot Rod (currently warming shelves in my area at $15), I doubt we'll see a Rodimus Prime.

[leokearon]

Which reminds me. Who has the Starscream reissue and what (if there is one) is the fists number?

None, there is a R1 and L1 inside of the fist cuff. Well it sorta looks like a 1, could also just be a | .


With the stellar sales of Hot Rod (currently warming shelves in my area at $15), I doubt we'll see a Rodimus Prime.

Well Hot Rodhas been reissued more often, so there might not be as much a demand

[-Kanrabat-]

getting the G2 Optimus with black trailer and attachable soundbox for $49.99 back in the day.

Inflation, the state of the toy market, increased costs in China and extras in raw materials over a 25 year period...

and all it cost was the trailer and a rather gratuitous sound box to maintain the price.

If anybody cares, with inflation alone that G2 Prime would cost $90 in today's money. I didnt realize how expensive Transformers toys were back in the day, $50 in the early 90s was a lot of money.

And some things do lower un price as time go by. Video games being a prime example. The Atari 2600 was 300$US when it came out in 1977. RPG games on Super Nintendo were 90$ un 1994. Compared to today, games are damn cheap. In fact, it's the only thing that come to mind regarding reverse-inflarion.

[no-one]

getting the G2 Optimus with black trailer and attachable soundbox for $49.99 back in the day.

Inflation, the state of the toy market, increased costs in China and extras in raw materials over a 25 year period...

and all it cost was the trailer and a rather gratuitous sound box to maintain the price.

If anybody cares, with inflation alone that G2 Prime would cost $90 in today's money. I didnt realize how expensive Transformers toys were back in the day, $50 in the early 90s was a lot of money.

And some things do lower un price as time go by. Video games being a prime example. The Atari 2600 was 300$US when it came out in 1977. RPG games on Super Nintendo were 90$ un 1994. Compared to today, games are damn cheap. In fact, it's the only thing that come to mind regarding reverse-inflarion.

Some of the prices of those older games (at the time) were due to parts and manufacturing cost of the cartridges. IIRC higher cost of some RPGS (which were my bread and butter) had something to do with the ROM chips used. I remember one of the big selling points of some games during the 16bit generation was the amount of "megs" used. It was even printed on the boxes.



Again if I have my facts straight regarding parts that drove up the cost of carts, Nintendo even ate the cost of the of SuperFX chip selling those games at the same price as other games.

The followup to the Super FX was a double-speed version that could also access more RAM and ROM. It is not two chips in one. That would cost alot more because the chip would have twice as many parts. The Super FX costed alot as it is. The initial cost to developers was reported to be $10 at the time, which is probably why so many third party games had such small memory sizes (4 megabits)--they wanted to reduce cost in other ways.

And to end this off topic rant - cartridges were more expensive to make then CD/DVD/Blu-Ray discs.

One could make an argument that TFs and games cost more then, than they do now for similar reasons.

[-Kanrabat-]

and to end this off topic rant - cartridges were more expensive to make then CD/DVD/Blu-Ray discs.

One could make an argument that TFs and games cost more then, than they do now for similar reasons.

The difference from back then is the R&D plus marketing. Costing millions.
But technology do improve and get cheaper over time. Remember the 10000$ HDTVs of the 2000s?

Unfortunately, toy manifacturing is not really the same.

[Emerje]

Unfortunately, toy manifacturing is not really the same.

It is in a sense. Despite having more moving parts they've found new ways to streamline the production process thanks to moving the design process largely to computers rather than time consuming and costly wood, clay, and resin prototyping allowing them to jump right into mold testing. Then there's the elimination of die cast metal, rubber, electronics and spring loaded weapons, inclusion of hollow parts and increased mold and transformation sharing.

Thinking about it Hasbro probably also had to refresh Prime's mold a bit considering how much it was used and it's probably cheaper to do that to just the figure and not the trailer, too.

Emerje

[Wolfman Jake]

I'm all caught up now with my Siege and Studio Series collecting, but I'm still hoping to find a G1 Devestator giftset at Walmart. I heard some areas were still seeing them trickle onto shelves, but I haven't seen any in a couple of months, and even at that, the tags on the selves seem to indicate the set is already being clearanced. I've seen the set maybe once or twice in the wild, but didn't get it at the time, figuring I could pick it up later. Now, I'm worried I've missed my chance and will have to resort to the secondary market.

[no-one]

I'm all caught up now with my Siege and Studio Series collecting, but I'm still hoping to find a G1 Devestator giftset at Walmart. I heard some areas were still seeing them trickle onto shelves, but I haven't seen any in a couple of months, and even at that, the tags on the selves seem to indicate the set is already being clearanced. I've seen the set maybe once or twice in the wild, but didn't get it at the time, figuring I could pick it up later. Now, I'm worried I've missed my chance and will have to resort to the secondary market.

If you can find a set they're down to $30. Good luck!

[Rodimus Prime]

I'm all caught up now with my Siege and Studio Series collecting, but I'm still hoping to find a G1 Devestator giftset at Walmart. I heard some areas were still seeing them trickle onto shelves, but I haven't seen any in a couple of months, and even at that, the tags on the selves seem to indicate the set is already being clearanced. I've seen the set maybe once or twice in the wild, but didn't get it at the time, figuring I could pick it up later. Now, I'm worried I've missed my chance and will have to resort to the secondary market.

If you can find a set they're down to $30. Good luck!

Yeah, good luck. The Walmart I work at got them in when they were released and I haven't seen them since. They got bought up in a few days and that was it. I checked if more were coming in, but there weren't. Same with Starscream and Hot Rod. Once they're ordered, that's it. There's no restocking them, at least not where I work.

[Wolfman Jake]

I'm all caught up now with my Siege and Studio Series collecting, but I'm still hoping to find a G1 Devestator giftset at Walmart. I heard some areas were still seeing them trickle onto shelves, but I haven't seen any in a couple of months, and even at that, the tags on the selves seem to indicate the set is already being clearanced. I've seen the set maybe once or twice in the wild, but didn't get it at the time, figuring I could pick it up later. Now, I'm worried I've missed my chance and will have to resort to the secondary market.

If you can find a set they're down to $30. Good luck!

Yeah, good luck. The Walmart I work at got them in when they were released and I haven't seen them since. They got bought up in a few days and that was it. I checked if more were coming in, but there weren't. Same with Starscream and Hot Rod. Once they're ordered, that's it. There's no restocking them, at least not where I work.

How many unsold Hot Rods is your store still stuck with?

[no-one]

I'm all caught up now with my Siege and Studio Series collecting, but I'm still hoping to find a G1 Devestator giftset at Walmart. I heard some areas were still seeing them trickle onto shelves, but I haven't seen any in a couple of months, and even at that, the tags on the selves seem to indicate the set is already being clearanced. I've seen the set maybe once or twice in the wild, but didn't get it at the time, figuring I could pick it up later. Now, I'm worried I've missed my chance and will have to resort to the secondary market.

If you can find a set they're down to $30. Good luck!

Yeah, good luck. The Walmart I work at got them in when they were released and I haven't seen them since. They got bought up in a few days and that was it. I checked if more were coming in, but there weren't. Same with Starscream and Hot Rod. Once they're ordered, that's it. There's no restocking them, at least not where I work.

How many unsold Hot Rods is your store still stuck with?

Yesterday I spotted 1 SS, 2 Devy and 10ish HRs. Some of the other stores have been out since Xmas, but I've rarely seen Devastator since they first hit shelves and those two have been the first in a long time. I'm kinda curious where they came from.

[Amelie]

Its a shame these reissues never came UK side officially. I'd have snagged the Starscream and Hotrod up, but with the discounts in the US - the reseller prices in the UK feel very unfair.