China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise

Tuesday, April 15th, 2025 7:12AM CDT

Category: Movie News
Posted by: william-james88 Views: 102,621

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It's been bad news after bad news for the Transformers Live Action film franchise. While Paramount was working on a Transformers GI Joe film, they lost their director and the only news we had regarding a script was that it was not done yet. Fans waited to see if there would be any news at Cinemacon, since that's where the project was officially announced in 2024, and there was 0 news on it.

Adding to that is the fact that with Hasbro losing money on their film investments, they pulled the plug on any financial backing of their film projects, meaning that Paramount would have to find other investors for Transformers films to happen. And remember, Hasbro's money was the only reason we got more films since The Last Knight.

With all this bad news, how about some more? As a response to Trump's escalading trade war against China, China has released an official statement where they state the following:

“The wrong action of the U.S. government to abuse tariffs on China will inevitably further reduce the domestic audience’s favorability towards American films.”
“We will follow the market rules, respect the audience’s choice, and moderately reduce the number of American films imported.”

While this won't make or break the majority of US films, the Live Action Transformers franchise has made a big bulk of its business in China. For the latest film in the franchise, Rise of the Beasts, the Chinese Box Office accounted for $91M out of the film's total $441M gross, so 20%. With so many factors working against getting financing for that franchise right now, this is another to add to the list. Not showing this film in China reduce the return on investment and it could potentially limit Chinese investment as well.

Of course, the statement did also say that the Chinese government will also respect audience's choices so if they notice a high demand for a Transformers film to be distributed, it still could. But these choices come after a film is made, and the uncertainty in China's added revenue would come into play at the financing stages.

You'll let us know what you think and if you see a path forward for the live action Transformers film franchise to continue.

Transformers News: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Franchise

Transformers News: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Franchise

Credit(s): Deadline

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Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2189995)
Posted by william-james88 on April 15th, 2025 @ 7:19am CDT

Overcracker wrote:The tariff thing is now super confusing. China is up to 145% is it? but other things from other places only 10%?

I am honestly very, very confused at this point.

You got it right. The 10% is for the next 90 days, then we’ll see.
Also, a majority of tech products are exempt from the tariffs against Chinese imports.

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2189996)
Posted by Dr. Caelus on April 15th, 2025 @ 7:41am CDT

william-james88 wrote:Also, a majority of tech products are exempt from the tariffs against Chinese imports.

Which is infuriating. All the bluster about 'bringing back' manufacturing jobs by using tariffs to inflate the cost of imports, and tbe one thing that's exempt ia products for which overseas manufacture presents a national security concern,

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2189997)
Posted by william-james88 on April 15th, 2025 @ 9:35am CDT

Dr. Caelus wrote:
william-james88 wrote:Also, a majority of tech products are exempt from the tariffs against Chinese imports.

Which is infuriating. All the bluster about 'bringing back' manufacturing jobs by using tariffs to inflate the cost of imports, and tbe one thing that's exempt ia products for which overseas manufacture presents a national security concern,

I never really thought it was about manufacturing jobs since US unemployment is low and most americans preffer working in the service sector. The initial narrative coming from Trump was that tariffs would help fund and enrich the US government.

What's sad here is that we can see how this isn't well thought out at all. With the current policy in place, a US company assembling electronics (like Laptops) in the US will be taxed on imported parts while a US company assembling electronics in China will be exempt. So the current incentives make it more worthwhile for a US company to move their production of electronics to China. So you don't get any extra money for the government and you potentially lose more manufacturing jobs.

But it's a fluid situation. Tariffs should be for finished products (like Chinese made EVs), not parts or resources that go into local manufacturing, and we are seeing that the administration is tweaking things so that it makes more sense. Like them no longer having tariffs on car parts/components that go into US car assembly.

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190000)
Posted by cloudballoon on April 15th, 2025 @ 10:49am CDT

I'll reserve comments on Trump's tariffs because I'm Canadian except one: the WH sure know how to wreck the economy of the world in the short term at least, and I bet very likely for the full term of his presidency and then some.

With that obvious, pointless rant out of the way. Back to the future of the TF movie franchise.

I way I see it. China will probably not let another Bay movie in, with his general "Rah rah America F***k Yeah" and love for American military hardware use in his live-action films.

TF:One CGI animation sequels though? I still think it's likely there's still an "in" to Chinese theatres. Considering the "Internal Market Demands" of TF goods inside China. Things like licensed Yolopark AMKs, Blokees, 3P, 4P are all the rage these days. Chinese love their "deformating" robots.

IMO it's about the financial health of Paramount and how confident is the product first, then Paramount betting on the chances of whether the film have a spot in the Foreign film quota. But as we all know, Paramount has been fumbling left & right for years in its multiple projects/franchises, and its future is already bleak without the tariff war coming into play. So I honestly hold no anticipation of another TF/Joe movie unless the license is passed to another studio.

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190001)
Posted by Emerje on April 15th, 2025 @ 10:52am CDT

william-james88 wrote:
Overcracker wrote:The tariff thing is now super confusing. China is up to 145% is it? but other things from other places only 10%?

I am honestly very, very confused at this point.

You got it right. The 10% is for the next 90 days, then we’ll see.
Also, a majority of tech products are exempt from the tariffs against Chinese imports.

Nope, he already reversed that.

Business Insider (because I'm not visiting Truth Social) wrote:"There was no Tariff 'exception' announced on Friday," Trump wrote. "These products are subject to the existing 20% Fentanyl Tariffs, and they are just moving to a different Tariff 'bucket.'"

As usual his dementia causes him to say one popular thing and then turn around and double down on the opposite. And what does that even mean? They're currently at 20% (instead of 10%) and will be moving to their own bracket at a higher rate? A lower rate? The same rate plus another rate? I'm sure ChatGPT will figure it out for him later.

Emerje

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190002)
Posted by DISCHARGE on April 15th, 2025 @ 10:55am CDT

Transformers is loved the world over.
They could just pander more to the Chinese govt as done in the past.
Painting China as heroic, brave and steadfast there should be no problem with views, and money, coming from China.. but can you put a tariff on a movie tix? Hmmmm

images.jpeg

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190003)
Posted by william-james88 on April 15th, 2025 @ 11:18am CDT

Emerje wrote:
william-james88 wrote:
Overcracker wrote:The tariff thing is now super confusing. China is up to 145% is it? but other things from other places only 10%?

I am honestly very, very confused at this point.

You got it right. The 10% is for the next 90 days, then we’ll see.
Also, a majority of tech products are exempt from the tariffs against Chinese imports.

Nope, he already reversed that.

Business Insider (because I'm not visiting Truth Social) wrote:"There was no Tariff 'exception' announced on Friday," Trump wrote. "These products are subject to the existing 20% Fentanyl Tariffs, and they are just moving to a different Tariff 'bucket.'"

As usual his dementia causes him to say one popular thing and then turn around and double down on the opposite. And what does that even mean? They're currently at 20% (instead of 10%) and will be moving to their own bracket at a higher rate? A lower rate? The same rate plus another rate? I'm sure ChatGPT will figure it out for him later.

Emerje

Man this is confusing. But it does mean that the electronics are spared the really high 145% tariff on chinese imports.

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190004)
Posted by Overcracker on April 15th, 2025 @ 11:26am CDT

Emerje wrote:
william-james88 wrote:
Overcracker wrote:The tariff thing is now super confusing. China is up to 145% is it? but other things from other places only 10%?

I am honestly very, very confused at this point.

You got it right. The 10% is for the next 90 days, then we’ll see.
Also, a majority of tech products are exempt from the tariffs against Chinese imports.

Nope, he already reversed that.

Business Insider (because I'm not visiting Truth Social) wrote:"There was no Tariff 'exception' announced on Friday," Trump wrote. "These products are subject to the existing 20% Fentanyl Tariffs, and they are just moving to a different Tariff 'bucket.'"

As usual his dementia causes him to say one popular thing and then turn around and double down on the opposite. And what does that even mean? They're currently at 20% (instead of 10%) and will be moving to their own bracket at a higher rate? A lower rate? The same rate plus another rate? I'm sure ChatGPT will figure it out for him later.

Emerje

Ohh dear Primus!.

:HEADHURTS:

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190005)
Posted by Dr. Caelus on April 15th, 2025 @ 12:10pm CDT

william-james88 wrote:I never really thought it was about manufacturing jobs since US unemployment is low and most americans preffer working in the service sector. The initial narrative coming from Trump was that tariffs would help fund and enrich the US government.

The right seems convinced that there are American citizens clamoring to work in U.S. factories, while no one on the right actually seems to want one of those jobs. I incessantly hear, "Bring those jobs back to America," but I don't know if I've ever heard it from someone actually unemployed.

Largely, I'd say the argument is either made in bad faith, or it's made with the implied evaluation that many jobs Americans currently hold should be eliminated, so that the bodies can be reallocated to factory work.

Either way, it's still one of the talking points coughed up anytime tariffs are discussed:

REPRIORITIZING U.S. MANUFACTURING: President Trump recognizes that increasing domestic manufacturing is critical to U.S. national security.

If the U.S. wishes to maintain an effective security umbrella to defend its citizens and homeland, as well as allies and partners, it needs to have a large upstream manufacturing and goods-producing ecosystem.

This includes developing new manufacturing technologies in critical sectors like bio-manufacturing, batteries, and microelectronics to support defense needs.

From 1997 to 2024, the U.S. lost around 5 million manufacturing jobs and experienced one of the largest drops in manufacturing employment in history.

Source: https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/ ... -security/

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190008)
Posted by Emerje on April 15th, 2025 @ 6:38pm CDT

Dr. Caelus wrote:
william-james88 wrote:I never really thought it was about manufacturing jobs since US unemployment is low and most americans preffer working in the service sector. The initial narrative coming from Trump was that tariffs would help fund and enrich the US government.

The right seems convinced that there are American citizens clamoring to work in U.S. factories, while no one on the right actually seems to want one of those jobs. I incessantly hear, "Bring those jobs back to America," but I don't know if I've ever heard it from someone actually unemployed.

Largely, I'd say the argument is either made in bad faith, or it's made with the implied evaluation that many jobs Americans currently hold should be eliminated, so that the bodies can be reallocated to factory work.

What got a good laugh out of me was when a Republican pundit proudly exclaimed on TV that they're going to (paraphrasing, can't find the clip I saw on YouTube) "bring manufacturing jobs back to America and we're going to automate them!" Oops! Said the quite part out loud. It was never about jobs, it's about control and not understanding that a lot of manufacturing is very specialized and can't be automated. Action figures are essentially hand made, they can't make a specialized machine for every single figure ever made. The molding can be automated to a point, but the assembly, painting and packaging is all done by hand.

They also don't understand that even if we move electronics production to the US we don't have the natural resources to do it to scale. China owns the majority the resources, quality silicon especially. By comparison the US produced 310 thousand metric tons of silicon in 2022, which sounds like a lot, that's 310,000 elephants or 6 Titanics. But that's only enough to make us the 5th highest producer behind Norway, Brazil, Russia and China. On the other hand China produced 6 million metric tons in 2022. But that's not all, China bought up the mining rights in a bunch of other countries, too, including Brazil, it's virtually impossible for us to produce more silicon than we already have. And that's just the one resource. For example the vast majority of the world's lithium comes from Australia. And yet we'd rather alienate countries than work with them because the people in power don't understand that we're at our limits. However, there is one virtually untapped country that's full of resources used in chip manufacturing that I'm sure the Trump administration is frothing at the mouth for the chance to strip mine.

Emerje

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190013)
Posted by DISCHARGE on April 15th, 2025 @ 9:46pm CDT

Emerje wrote:
Dr. Caelus wrote:
william-james88 wrote:I never really thought it was about manufacturing jobs since US unemployment is low and most americans preffer working in the service sector. The initial narrative coming from Trump was that tariffs would help fund and enrich the US government.

The right seems convinced that there are American citizens clamoring to work in U.S. factories, while no one on the right actually seems to want one of those jobs. I incessantly hear, "Bring those jobs back to America," but I don't know if I've ever heard it from someone actually unemployed.

Largely, I'd say the argument is either made in bad faith, or it's made with the implied evaluation that many jobs Americans currently hold should be eliminated, so that the bodies can be reallocated to factory work.

What got a good laugh out of me was when a Republican pundit proudly exclaimed on TV that they're going to (paraphrasing, can't find the clip I saw on YouTube) "bring manufacturing jobs back to America and we're going to automate them!" Oops! Said the quite part out loud. It was never about jobs, it's about control and not understanding that a lot of manufacturing is very specialized and can't be automated. Action figures are essentially hand made, they can't make a specialized machine for every single figure ever made. The molding can be automated to a point, but the assembly, painting and packaging is all done by hand.

They also don't understand that even if we move electronics production to the US we don't have the natural resources to do it to scale. China owns the majority the resources, quality silicon especially. By comparison the US produced 310 thousand metric tons of silicon in 2022, which sounds like a lot, that's 310,000 elephants or 6 Titanics. But that's only enough to make us the 5th highest producer behind Norway, Brazil, Russia and China. On the other hand China produced 6 million metric tons in 2022. But that's not all, China bought up the mining rights in a bunch of other countries, too, including Brazil, it's virtually impossible for us to produce more silicon than we already have. And that's just the one resource. For example the vast majority of the world's lithium comes from Australia. And yet we'd rather alienate countries than work with them because the people in power don't understand that we're at our limits. However, there is one virtually untapped country that's full of resources used in chip manufacturing that I'm sure the Trump administration is frothing at the mouth for the chance to strip mine.

Emerje

Europe won't even import U.S.meat, https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/04/15/nx-s1-5364940/chlorinated-chicken-trump-tariffs-uk-eu
Not a new revelation.

It will be an uphill battle to import any U.S. manufactured good.
Now, I have capitulated this for along time, but the effort taken to try to advance this optic is mind blowing.

I didn't quote you to scathe, but to iterate the U.S.is not an exporter,but an importer..
"I believe" the U.S. is planning to isolate like WW2 Germany and industrialize and wage economical and physical war against the rest of the world, unfortunately. Our aggression towards Iran(weakest and equally the strongest, of adversaries) is a result of current administrative desires to flex a power move.(I'm not afraid of nuclear weapons)

Current attempts to strengthen relations with nations like North Korea, Russia and other authoritarian govts is not unwarranted, but is misguided since the U.S.is supposed to advance Democracy and not Autocracy.

I could go on, but I want to say it seems current U.S.policy is less about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and more about one individuals view of existence.
The toys that we love as adults, I'm confident 99% on this site are, are endangered regardless of any tariff imposed

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190015)
Posted by Dr. Caelus on April 15th, 2025 @ 10:29pm CDT

DISCHARGE wrote:The toys that we love as adults, I'm confident 99% on this site are, are endangered regardless of any tariff imposed

I don't think you're wrong.

Looking at social media response to mainstream media coverage of this specific topic is jarring. Some people are saying there are bigger problems right now, and that's fair. But other people are suddenly villifying the toy industry and its consumers. The same people that have diatribed about the evils of communism are scolding American consumers for indulging in materialistic pursuits. The same people who say kids are too young to learn about gender, are now saying it's about time that parents stopped buying their kids such childish things and kicked them out of the house.

Condemning children's imaginative play and adult's hobby collecting in favor of committing to a focus on sports and fitness goals might seem like a simple agree-to-disagree thing, but if it becomes tied into the American nationalist identity that you see them trying to manufacture, then the 30s are going to look really familiar.

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190016)
Posted by Emerje on April 16th, 2025 @ 12:01am CDT

DISCHARGE wrote:I didn't quote you to scathe, but to iterate the U.S.is not an exporter,but an importer..

No worries. I get it, you get it, Trump does not get it. He calls it a trade deficit when the developing African country of Lethoso exports one thing to the US (jeans) and they import nothing from the US so Trump calls that a 99% tariff on US exports and counters with a 50% tariff on imports (at the time the largest tariff imposed until China refused to fold). He also imposed tariffs on penguins in Antarctica, it's all nonsense.

Emerje

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190018)
Posted by cloudballoon on April 16th, 2025 @ 1:02am CDT

Emerje wrote:What got a good laugh out of me was when a Republican pundit proudly exclaimed on TV that they're going to (paraphrasing, can't find the clip I saw on YouTube) "bring manufacturing jobs back to America and we're going to automate them!" Oops! Said the quite part out loud.

It was no random Republican. It was the Secretary of Commerce Lutnick himself that said the factory will be automated, and American labor will be used to fixed the robots. LOL. Right, and all the MAGA crowd wanted was to bring back laborious jobs that need hammers & pickaxes so that they can get lung cancers. These are people that dream of the good old days working at simple, monotonous and mono-skilled production lines... the same people who resist changes at all costs (mostly to their own detriment and dragging the world world with them)... and you expect them to repair robots!? LMAO.

Here's the clip from WP (starts around the 1min mark) : https://youtu.be/38R81esuNEs?feature=shared&t=60

Being a Canadian, honestly, I was hoping in 2024 that Americans won't re-elect Trump. Since that didn't materialised, I switched to wanting to see America burn their own economy to the ground after the barrage of Executive Orders, DOGE, illegal ICE kidnappings and the Tariff Wars on Canada, Mexico and then to rest of the world. But it's not out of hate or revenge that I say this, it's that I honestly believe the USA is at that precipice where it need a baptism by hellfire to shake off Trump-style "democracy" for decades.

Will China overtake the US and strengthen BRICS in a decade? Will NATO and Western alliances ever be the same? This Tariff War fiasco - the critical blow is less the % of the tariffs, but the DAILY "will they or won't they, back & forth" inconsistencies - that really burn bridges and eroding trusts amongst US allies.

Makes it really, really hard to find sympathies to my country's Southern neighbour even though I KNOW over half of Americans didn't ask for this and are suffering. But hey, that's American gerrymandered democracy! FIX IT!

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190019)
Posted by Dr. Caelus on April 16th, 2025 @ 5:36am CDT

cloudballoon wrote:Being a Canadian, honestly, I was hoping in 2024 that Americans won't re-elect Trump.

Republucans' relentless messaging that the previous election was stolen pressured the middle and left to publicly commit to the stance that overall our electoral process is totally secure - beyond suspicion. Then the Republ8can candidate openly threatened the owner of one of our largest media platforms, and the world's (publicly) richest man, with direct control over another massive media platform as well as a small army of computer experts, swooped in and made a mind bogglingly large investment in the Republican candidate.

If January 6th and the subsequent four years of Republicans' lies and Democrats' reassurances hadn't happened, we would have raised more questions.

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190024)
Posted by Hero Alpha on April 16th, 2025 @ 4:04pm CDT

I can imagine this will only be a good thing for the quality of movies in the future. The Chinese Communist government has been ruining movies for years with all the racist and communist propaganda they have forced(with Hollywood gladly relenting cause they love that red money). Disney and others have edited movies at the behest of the communist Chinese party, covering Black Panthers face on movie posters in China, making Finn smaller in the new Star Wars trilogy posters, removing things they didn't like that painted China in a bad light, etc. Everyone has watched a few South Park episodes right? :lol:

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190027)
Posted by BW Megatron on April 16th, 2025 @ 4:31pm CDT

I for one hope we don't get anymore live action movies for one very big reason. Too many damn crappy movie toys taking up space on shelves and pegs that would otherwise go to stuff people want like Studio Series and Age of the Primes. Bad enough collectors have to look at junk like Earthspark or whatever else that's supposed to cater to kids, but just ends up sitting around collecting dust. Besides which, we've had 7 live action movies already, plus One. That's enough movies. More space for collector oriented figures.

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190046)
Posted by JusticePrime120$ on April 18th, 2025 @ 1:12pm CDT

The more Trump does things the more angry I get. Cant wait for him to be fired in 2028.

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190059)
Posted by Emerje on April 19th, 2025 @ 12:54pm CDT

BW Megatron wrote:I for one hope we don't get anymore live action movies for one very big reason. Too many damn crappy movie toys taking up space on shelves and pegs that would otherwise go to stuff people want like Studio Series and Age of the Primes. Bad enough collectors have to look at junk like Earthspark or whatever else that's supposed to cater to kids, but just ends up sitting around collecting dust. Besides which, we've had 7 live action movies already, plus One. That's enough movies. More space for collector oriented figures.

Hate to say it, but if that stuff wasn't on the shelves they'd fill the space with something totally different and unrelated. Only time retailers care about stocking multiple pegs of the same line is when there's something new to promote. Those lines don't take resources from the collectors lines nor do they take retail space, if anything they're a draw, they make the "better" lines more noticeable. If not for them Transformers would be nothing more than four Deluxe pegs and two wide on the shelves (two rows of Voyagers and two rows of Leaders).

Emerje

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190063)
Posted by cloudballoon on April 19th, 2025 @ 4:17pm CDT

JusticePrime120$ wrote:The more Trump does things the more angry I get. Cant wait for him to be fired in 2028.

Man you're patient. I look forward to the mid-term when he'll become a lame-duck. But I'm probably hoping against hope as enough of the US government officials have already lost their minds & already too gutless to fight against Agent Orange, he can still rule like the Mad King with nothing but Executive Orders, and DOGE & every branch of "law Enforcement" and the milatary will abide by him. I dont' know...

It's probably too morbid to discuss, but it's America we're talking about here, I'll not be surprised worse news would come to Trump before 2028 since his Tariff Wars & DOGE messed up so many lives.

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190338)
Posted by william-james88 on May 5th, 2025 @ 11:35am CDT

Hasbro's CEO Chris Cocks warned early on that Hasbro would pass on any extra expenses they may incur from tariffs to consumers, and that it would disproportionally affect toys bought by fans so that toys targeting only kids and families would rise less in price. And it looks like that will be happening very soon. A message has been popping up on Hasbro Pulse that preorder prices can be locked in for the next few days but that will end May 9th at 12:01. So you have until May 8th to place preorders on the items you want, as prices will probably be higher on those same items going forward. Now prices going up was not said in their notice, but if not then why warn fans?

The message is now at the top of the website and comes up when searching Hasbro Pulse.

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190341)
Posted by Cheetron on May 5th, 2025 @ 2:07pm CDT

My buying has already ended. This news made it permanent
I know the tariffs are out of their control but with every thing going up aside from my pay, I'm done.

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190346)
Posted by DeathReviews on May 5th, 2025 @ 4:27pm CDT

"...Prices going up was not said in their notice, but if not then why warn fans?"

Why indeed? I'm not inclined to blame this wholly on the tariffs, though that's certainly part of it. But Hasbro has proved already that they are opportunistic and greedy, and will take any happenstance as an excuse to jack up their prices, jack up their profits, and 'pass it on to the consumers'. The tariffs were simply the excuse they were looking for.

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190349)
Posted by william-james88 on May 5th, 2025 @ 4:47pm CDT

DeathReviews wrote:
"...Prices going up was not said in their notice, but if not then why warn fans?"

Why indeed? I'm not inclined to blame this wholly on the tariffs, though that's certainly part of it. But Hasbro has proved already that they are opportunistic and greedy, and will take any happenstance as an excuse to jack up their prices, jack up their profits, and 'pass it on to the consumers'. The tariffs were simply the excuse they were looking for.

This warning is only on the US site though. So if prices only increase in the US and no where else, then for this one time it will specifically be attributed to that external factor

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190352)
Posted by JusticePrime120$ on May 5th, 2025 @ 6:59pm CDT

The tariffs are stupid and Hasbro needs to quit dicking over the consumer.

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190359)
Posted by Rodimus Prime on May 6th, 2025 @ 9:19am CDT

DeathReviews wrote:Hasbro has proved already that they are opportunistic and greedy, and will take any happenstance as an excuse to jack up their prices, jack up their profits, and 'pass it on to the consumers'. The tariffs were simply the excuse they were looking for.

Exactly.

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190362)
Posted by o.supreme on May 6th, 2025 @ 10:01am CDT

Well I was fortunate enough to find all the current items I wanted in store as of yesterday. I'd love to pre-order both CC Constructicons, and Silverbolt, but pre-orders are sold out on Pulse at the moment. Not Paying $100+ for a CC after the price hike. Other places like BBTS have them for pre-order, but they already have their price increases in effect. I guess if I don't find them on sale later, I'll be selling the combiner bots I have at a later date.

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190364)
Posted by william-james88 on May 6th, 2025 @ 10:58am CDT

o.supreme wrote:Well I was fortunate enough to find all the current items I wanted in store as of yesterday. I'd love to pre-order both CC Constructicons, and Silverbolt, but pre-orders are sold out on Pulse at the moment. Not Paying $100+ for a CC after the price hike. Other places like BBTS have them for pre-order, but they already have their price increases in effect.

Are we seeing the same thing? The preorder for the CC Constructicons on BBTS is $89.99 and it specifically says that the price excludes a tariff surcharge.

https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/ ... 304651?o=4

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190366)
Posted by o.supreme on May 6th, 2025 @ 11:29am CDT

william-james88 wrote:
o.supreme wrote:Well I was fortunate enough to find all the current items I wanted in store as of yesterday. I'd love to pre-order both CC Constructicons, and Silverbolt, but pre-orders are sold out on Pulse at the moment. Not Paying $100+ for a CC after the price hike. Other places like BBTS have them for pre-order, but they already have their price increases in effect.

Are we seeing the same thing? The preorder for the CC Constructicons on BBTS is $89.99 and it specifically says that the price excludes a tariff surcharge.

https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/ ... 304651?o=4

Correct. I could be misinterpreting that statement but I just assumed that meant the Tariff surcharge would be added at the time of payment.

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190367)
Posted by cloudballoon on May 6th, 2025 @ 11:48am CDT

I'm only mildy interested in the Combiners post-Legacy Menasor. Menasor is great, the frame system is fit for it and it's a much needed update to the CW version. But I'm fine with my CW Devastator, Superion, Bruticus and most of the others. With the general price increases in the past years and now the uncertainties of the 2nd Trump era - I see fans complanining about POs, especially the Commanders - I'm just not biting. However, I think Hasbro/TT will come up with gift sets with better/different decos once everything's more settled, and those I might want.

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190369)
Posted by william-james88 on May 6th, 2025 @ 12:16pm CDT

o.supreme wrote:
william-james88 wrote:
o.supreme wrote:Well I was fortunate enough to find all the current items I wanted in store as of yesterday. I'd love to pre-order both CC Constructicons, and Silverbolt, but pre-orders are sold out on Pulse at the moment. Not Paying $100+ for a CC after the price hike. Other places like BBTS have them for pre-order, but they already have their price increases in effect.

Are we seeing the same thing? The preorder for the CC Constructicons on BBTS is $89.99 and it specifically says that the price excludes a tariff surcharge.

https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/ ... 304651?o=4

Correct. I could be misinterpreting that statement but I just assumed that meant the Tariff surcharge would be added at the time of payment.

Yeah, exactly, that’s why I didn’t understand what you meant by the text I an now highlighting. BBTS does not have price increases yet, they also now have a notice about preorder prices only being good til may 9th

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190371)
Posted by o.supreme on May 6th, 2025 @ 1:27pm CDT

Not baked in the price, but the point I was making is that even if I pre-order now form BBTS I will end up paying more than just the 89.99 plus tax and & $4 flat rate shipping on that set. When BBTS decides charge me when the item comes in stock, they'll slap that extra surcharge on, so whether it shows up in the price or not, Id still end up paying it.

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190372)
Posted by william-james88 on May 6th, 2025 @ 1:31pm CDT

o.supreme wrote:Not baked in the price, but the point I was making is that even if I pre-order now form BBTS I will end up paying more than just the 89.99 plus tax and & $4 flat rate shipping on that set. When BBTS decides charge me when the item comes in stock, they'll slap that extra surcharge on, so whether it shows up in the price or not, Id still end up paying it.

Ah I see, yeah for sure.
Though honestly I don’t really understand it. BBTS is just a retailer, like Walmart, buying from an American supplier, Hasbro. For Hasbro products, they aren’t the ones importing right? Isn’t Hasbro the importer?

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190373)
Posted by Counterpunch on May 6th, 2025 @ 1:54pm CDT

muddyjoe wrote:Maybe this is a good time for all you man-babies to grow up and stop playing with toys?

Whoa, watch out gang; we've got a tough guy here!

>:oP

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190377)
Posted by DeathReviews on May 6th, 2025 @ 3:13pm CDT

Counterpunch wrote:
muddyjoe wrote:Maybe this is a good time for all you man-babies to grow up and stop playing with toys?

Whoa, watch out gang; we've got a tough guy here!

Adult collectors don't 'play' with figures, they display them, and admire them - there's a difference

. And certainly there are other hobbies that are much MORE expensive. Some mortals actually collect cars, or play golf, or ski - all of which have a MUCH bigger price tag in terms of overall expense as in the sum of money and time.

In any case, the price changes will not likely stop adult collectors. We'll just have to do what everybody else does when confronted with a tighter budget, and that's cut back. Unless of course, you're a government. Then you just print more money, raise taxes, and go right on spending...

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190379)
Posted by TF-fan kev777 on May 6th, 2025 @ 3:39pm CDT

william-james88 wrote:Though honestly I don’t really understand it. BBTS is just a retailer, like Walmart, buying from an American supplier, Hasbro. For Hasbro products, they aren’t the ones importing right? Isn’t Hasbro the importer?

I believe technically the receiving entity (person or business) once the package arrives in the US is considered the importer and responsible for the tariffs. So if a shipment is going directly from the factory to Amazon, then Amazon is the importer. If they are going directly to Walmart, Walmart is the importer. Everything depends on the first touch point within the US.

For BBTS, it may depend on whether they are going directly to BBTS, or going to Hasbro first then to be split to other smaller retailers. In the case Hasbro receives first, they would be subject to the tariffs, but could certainly pass that onto their retail customers directly.

I work for a product testing and certification company that receives test samples from all over the world. As test samples not for commercial use, they are not subject to any tariffs, but my company is considered the importer, even though we do not own the products, we are just receiving and testing them.

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190380)
Posted by Glyph on May 6th, 2025 @ 4:29pm CDT

^ Yeah, tariffs are based on the country of origin and are paid 'at the border' - that is, by the domestic entity who bought it from an overseas supplier. Whether they're the end point retailer or just somewhere in the chain, they're going to pass that increased cost on to whoever buys from them, who will then pass that increase on to their customer, and so on.

And as you say, companies will take the excuse to increase prices generally if they can get away with it. Even domestic manufacturers who aren't importing goods will tend to increase prices when tariffs go up, since their imported competition has to.

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190383)
Posted by william-james88 on May 6th, 2025 @ 5:43pm CDT

DeathReviews wrote:In any case, the price changes will not likely stop adult collectors. We'll just have to do what everybody else does when confronted with a tighter budget, and that's cut back. Unless of course, you're a government. Then you just print more money, raise taxes, and go right on spending...

Makes sense that Death would refer to the only other certainty other than themselves.

All jokes aside, thanks for the great reply Death

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190391)
Posted by william-james88 on May 6th, 2025 @ 10:49pm CDT

We had posted that Hasbro was warning fans that preorder prices on Pulse would only be offered through the 8th. Well as the date nears, retailers are raising their prices. Fans have gotten alerts from Amazon that upcoming Transformers toys have risen in prices.
Entertainment Earth has updated their prices on both in stock and preorder prices. Here is the list:

Deluxes 26.99
voyagers 37.99
leaders 59.99
Commanders 97.99
Titan Star Optimus Prime 163.99
Titan Trypticon 218.99

There are also reports about the MSRP for deluxes being 27.99 and voyagers 36.99, so we'll see what the correct prices are once Pulse updates their listings the 9th.

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190393)
Posted by Rodimus Prime on May 7th, 2025 @ 1:43am CDT

Titans would be $218.99

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190394)
Posted by cloudballoon on May 7th, 2025 @ 1:46am CDT

Wonder about the Canadian side of the increase.

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190398)
Posted by Glyph on May 7th, 2025 @ 5:22am CDT

Likewise waiting to see whether UK prices are affected (ours are basically the same number as the US price but with a different currency symbol, exchange rates be damned).

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190401)
Posted by william-james88 on May 7th, 2025 @ 8:58am CDT

cloudballoon wrote:Wonder about the Canadian side of the increase.

So far so good on Amazon.ca

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190404)
Posted by Emerje on May 7th, 2025 @ 9:45am CDT

william-james88 wrote:We had posted that Hasbro was warning fans that preorder prices on Pulse would only be offered through the 8th. Well as the date nears, retailers are raising their prices. Fans have gotten alerts from Amazon that upcoming Transformers toys have risen in prices.
Entertainment Earth has updated their prices on both in stock and preorder prices. Here is the list:

Deluxes 26.99
voyagers 37.99
leaders 59.99
Commanders 97.99
Titan Star Optimus Prime 163.99
Titan Trypticon 218.99

There are also reports about the MSRP for deluxes being 27.99 and voyagers 36.99, so we'll see what the correct prices are once Pulse updates their listings the 9th.

I wonder how accurate these numbers are or if they're just guessing since none of them are really a 10% increase nor are they reflecting the expected additional increase to cover the children's toys. Also weird that they're pricing Marvel Legends and Star Wars Black figures at the same rate ($26.99) when those are made in China and subject to the 145% rate making them $60+.

Emerje

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190407)
Posted by DeathReviews on May 7th, 2025 @ 10:15am CDT

"Whatever shall we DO?" many may be thinking. Well, Hasbro isn't going to lower their prices anytime soon, even if the tariffs are all lifted tomorrow. They've shown in the past that they are greedy and opportunistic, and will eagerly raise prices at the drop of a hat, and always pass the suffering on to the consumer.

We can rant, rave, huff, puff, and complain all we want. But in the end, all we can really DO about this is to adapt. We will all have to start cutting back, adjusting our budgets, and re-allocating how much we buy and when we buy it. What's the alternative? For unlike your foolish mortal governments, we individuals cannot simply print more money, raise taxes on other people, and go right on spending. At least not if we're responsible that is!

I have long known that a reckoning was inevitable. Cheap products made using slave labor in China and other countries without oversight was something that couldn't go on - not if mortals as a collective society wish to continue projecting the attitude that they've 'evolved beyond' human exploitation.

For the time being, I am willing to adapt to this rise in prices as a cost for ending modern-day slavery. I will simply direct the minions to no longer buy figures that I don't really want, and make a general reduction of intake. And if other mortals out there are wise, they'll do similarly.

So the reviews will NOT end! After all - Bruticus is still coming. But there may be a little more space between them, and I may start doing more "Retro-views" of legacy lines like Transformers Animated....

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190409)
Posted by blackeyedprime on May 7th, 2025 @ 12:53pm CDT

I was out at £33 for voyagers which now look to be £35 yet they can sell them still for profit at £18 on sale.

I am definitely missing the £/$45 pricing of commanders for sure.

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190411)
Posted by Dino-Snarl on May 7th, 2025 @ 3:35pm CDT

Did they say prices would drop if the tariffs are dropped?

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190412)
Posted by DeathReviews on May 7th, 2025 @ 3:53pm CDT

Dino-Snarl wrote:Did they say prices would drop if the tariffs are dropped?

Nope. And it would be wishful thinking to think they would. Once they get raised, Hasbro generally KEEPS them raised. I mean really - when was the last time they ever LOWERED the prices for their figures, even during prosperous circumstances?

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190414)
Posted by -Kanrabat- on May 7th, 2025 @ 6:40pm CDT

Oh oh oh! For once, the TF in the USA are a few bucks more expensive than Canada!
Come on, just a little push and Americans will feel the European / Australian pain! :lol:

Still, in all seriousness, this mean that my BBTS and Amazon.com shopping will be way, way more limited than what it used to be. Seriously, you Americans were very privileged with your TF prices. So much so that EVEN WITH SHIPPING AND TAXES, buying Transformers form Amazon.com was barely 2 or 3$ more expensive than if I'd bought them at Amazon.ca, factoring the total costs.
I guess those days are over, unless it is a better alternative than eBay.

Speaking of eBay, do you Americans have to pay some extra tariffs when buying from a foreigner eBayer? :-?

Re: China's Response to Trump Tariffs Spells Potential Bad News for Live Action Transformers Film Franchise (2190421)
Posted by Emerje on May 7th, 2025 @ 9:00pm CDT

DeathReviews wrote:
Dino-Snarl wrote:Did they say prices would drop if the tariffs are dropped?

Nope. And it would be wishful thinking to think they would. Once they get raised, Hasbro generally KEEPS them raised. I mean really - when was the last time they ever LOWERED the prices for their figures, even during prosperous circumstances?

At best we've seen them make better figures instead of lowering prices like we saw When we had a high point with Universe and then a very low point with the initial Generations lines, and then a very noticeable uptick in quality with Thrilling 30 (especially Voyagers) without much of a price change. Maybe we could hope for that again, but it's pretty clear that the tariffs aren't going away, even if all countries agree on deals. There's also potential for those initial tariff numbers going back up from before we saw 10% across the board.

Emerje

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