The Energon Pub

News Credits: 1 · Wed Sep 07, 2011 11:09 am

Here are the last 10 auctions for the TRU version of MP Grimlock (MISB, including shipping that ended with a winning buyer):

127.50
108
103.94
109
187.19
110.69
106.95
201.14
146.77
111.12

These all ended within 7 days of each other.

Any idea why the price is fluctuating so much?

P.S. How much was he originally? $60?

P.P.S. Why is MP Skywarp so cheap? He's selling MISB for less then he did brand new.

Wed Sep 07, 2011 11:22 am

Some people get into a bidding war and that could account for Grimlock's prices. As for Skywarp, many places clearenced him for around $20 and people bought multiples.

News Credits: 1 · Wed Sep 07, 2011 11:23 am

Grahf wrote:Some people get into a bidding war and that could account for Grimlock's prices. As for Skywarp, many places clearenced him for around $20 and people bought multiples.

Wasn't he a WM exclusive?

Wed Sep 07, 2011 11:26 am

Yeah, he was. I meant multiple Wal Marts had clearenced him due to poor sales. Sometimes places like TJ Max were selling him too.

News Credits: 6 · Wed Sep 07, 2011 11:27 am

FellintoOblivion wrote:
Grahf wrote:Some people get into a bidding war and that could account for Grimlock's prices. As for Skywarp, many places clearenced him for around $20 and people bought multiples.

Wasn't he a WM exclusive?

I believe so, so how could many places clear him out? |:|

Wed Sep 07, 2011 11:33 am

BeastProwl wrote:I believe so, so how could many places clear him out?

Both Wal Marts around where I live (north east WI) had full end cap displays when it was first released. Most of those didn't sell, because I believe that parents didn't want to spend that much when there were $10 and $20 Transformers right around the corner.

News Credits: 3 · Wed Sep 07, 2011 12:16 pm

What really doesn't make sense are the ones selling for more than the Takara version. Sure, the crown is probably a cooler accessory than most, if not all, that came with the Takara version, but it's not cool enough to make me want to pay more for it than the better version of the actual figure, especially when there's a 3rd Party crown available for relatively cheap.

Skywarp was just grossly over produced. Starscream was a large improvement over the original Takara version so he sold well. It's debatable if Skywarp was any better than the Takara version at all and they had to have made at least 3 or 4 times more. So it was less desirable and the quantity was much greater, so the market is flooded...especially when, like Grahf mentioned, SW saw clearance prices at most the Walmarts around the country. I picked one up for myself at $30 and another as a gift for a friend for $15. And I've heard of them selling for less than half that! So yeah, that's why Skywarp sells for so little on eBay...

Wed Sep 07, 2011 2:12 pm

How could so many places clearance him?

Simple.

WalMart is fricking EVERYWHERE. There's at least five just within a twenty minute drive of me.

Wed Sep 07, 2011 2:30 pm

Optimus was produced before the movie when popularity was lower (Walmart)

Starscream was produced right when the movie came out and it was the first time he'd gotten his G1 deco worldwide. So he was underproduced (Walmart)

Skywarp was overproduced (Walmart). They also jacked up his price.

Grimlock was produced for TRU but which by default is a smaller scale then Walmart. Because of TRU's distribution system it's harder to predict how much was produced.

Seacons were average produced but people knew that over 5,000 were made so they didn't rush out to snap it up.

Hot Rod's production is unknown. It also suffers from TRU's distribution.

Amazon Unicron's production is unknown. He's been out of stock and doubled in price but his original release date was not until October so we don't know if we are getting anymore.

News Credits: 60 · Wed Sep 07, 2011 10:28 pm

Skywarp is basically Hasbro Starscream in Skywarp colors. The Takara version of MP Skywarp is actually different from the former.

As for Grimlock, the Takara version is much better(imho) aside from the additional paint apps and crown in the Hasbro version. So in the end, to each his own taste(for the bidder that is)

Thu Sep 08, 2011 12:36 am

fenrir72 wrote:Skywarp is basically Hasbro Starscream in Skywarp colors. The Takara version of MP Skywarp is actually different from the former.

I own both the Takara and Hasbro versions and the only real differences are the paint apps and stickers. They are both the same identical mold.

News Credits: 60 · Thu Sep 08, 2011 5:57 am

Hey Grahf, are you sure with your statement?

Takara Skywarp has an angry face while Hasbro Skywarp is basically a recolored Hasbro Starscream down to the smirk.

If this was a Marvel Comic, I think I'd get myself a No-Prize >:oP

News Credits: 3 · Thu Sep 08, 2011 11:21 am

They all have two changeable faces. I haven't looked at them in a long time, but I thought they all had the same two available faces.

*apparently they do differ between the different seekers...I think the 'expression faces' look awkward, though, so I just leave them all with the standard face which is pretty similar, though apparently those have slight differences as well.

Not sure if Hasbro and Takaras differ, though it's probably likely.

News Credits: 1 · Thu Sep 08, 2011 11:22 am

The Takara version of Skywarp has a different face then the Starscream. The Hasbro version used the same smirking face on both.

Thu Sep 08, 2011 1:45 pm

One different face doesn't qualify it as a seperate mold though. A retool yes, seperate mold no.

News Credits: 1 · Thu Sep 08, 2011 2:41 pm

Grahf wrote:One different face doesn't qualify it as a seperate mold though. A retool yes, seperate mold no.

Well let's see.

Did they use the SAME mold for the faces on both toys? No.

Different molds.

Thu Sep 08, 2011 3:54 pm

FellintoOblivion wrote:Well let's see.

Did they use the SAME mold for the faces on both toys? No.

Different molds.

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Retool

News Credits: 60 · Thu Sep 08, 2011 7:15 pm

A little bit of humble pie please.

So Hasbro Grimlock is a "re-tool" of the Takara version then?

Less sharp teeth and additional paint apps. A "re-tool" then........

But if you want to be @nal, my statement stated the Hasbro Skywarp IS simply put, Starcream in Skywarp colors. Takara Skywarp ain't..... >:oP

No where in my statement about being different molds, but since you mentioned that, unless you do a microscopic analysis and access HasTak's internal memos.........

Thu Sep 08, 2011 11:29 pm

It's sad that Grimlock went out of my price range so quickly, but I'm glad for the collector's that got the chance to grab him, i'm still checking ebay for a skywarp but all the buy-it-now prices are 60 and up plus shipping, anyone looking to part with one check out what I have for trade, pm me

News Credits: 1 · Fri Sep 09, 2011 5:55 am

Grahf wrote:
FellintoOblivion wrote:Well let's see.

Did they use the SAME mold for the faces on both toys? No.

Different molds.

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Retool

You can call it whatever you want but there's no disputing a different mold was used.

News Credits: 1 · Fri Sep 09, 2011 5:56 am

Starwave Prime wrote:It's sad that Grimlock went out of my price range so quickly, but I'm glad for the collector's that got the chance to grab him, i'm still checking ebay for a skywarp but all the buy-it-now prices are 60 and up plus shipping, anyone looking to part with one check out what I have for trade, pm me

Ignore the BIN, the ones that are up for auction routinely end ~$40 + shipping.