Takara Reveals Two Transformers TAV EZ Sets: TAV 34 and TAV 35

Wow, that Bee looks so much better!

And I already ordered him! Joygasm!!

Takara Tomy's Transformes Adventure TAV-29, Bumblebee Supreme Mode, has made its way to me through site sponsor Hobbylink Japan. I've taken some photos of this redeco and retool of Warrior Class Bumblebee, including comparisons of this new toy to previous versions of the mold.

Bumblebee Supreme Mode comes with the same sword as previous iterations, but also includes a new spear like weapon. Along with an all new face sculpt, the chest and legs get some retooling as well along with clear blue plastic. While the vehicle mode comes out looking the same, molding wise, added paint apps make this one of the most detailed Bumblebees out of this line yet!























This toy is in stock now or will be shortly at many of our awesome site sponsors, so if these images swayed you into a purchase be sure to click on one of the site's links to purchase this Bumblebee today for your swarm! Keep it here to Seibertron for all the latest, and don't forget to chat about this new toy with your fellow Seibertronians in the Energon Pub by simply replying to this news topic.

It's pics like this that make feel like saying "Eat you heart out, Hasbro."

That head sculpt is sick!


This silver is very slick looking. I kinda wish they did all the yellow in it.

Sabrblade wrote:It's pics like this that make feel like saying "Eat you heart out, Hasbro."

Yeah, they clearly did not/were not allowed to invest much effort into the figures' re-uses. Just look at all the dumb, lackluster repaints, the clash figures - not even including strongarm , the 'artic' bs - don't get me wrong, they look much nicer, but they were probably 'shopped;

The least they could do - since they are doing unimaginative repaints - is release a 'nemesis' line. Could you imagine Nemesis o/p with Nemesis Drift

That Bee is so beautiful in hand. I wish the little side pieces to the head armor actually stuck out instead of being stuck to the figures head, but it still looks amazing. Can't Wait for mine!!! (RK still hasn't shipped!!! )

Sabrblade wrote:It's pics like this that make feel like saying "Eat you heart out, Hasbro."

I stand by what Ive been saying for years. Hasbro versions only exist to justify Takaras overpriced existance. They all come from the same mold in china anyways. Thats about 50 cents worth of extra paint and and additional 10 cents to pay the poor Chinese factory worker to apply it. That "Asian market" excuse is the biggest fraud of all time.

Rated X wrote:
I stand by what Ive been saying for years. Hasbro versions only exist to justify Takaras overpriced existance. They all come from the same mold in china anyways. Thats about 50 cents worth of extra paint and and additional 10 cents to pay the poor Chinese factory worker to apply it. That "Asian market" excuse is the biggest fraud of all time.

X, we had this discussion before and it was proven that TFs in Japan are the SAME PRICE as their American's counterparts.

So, shoo, shoo!

Rated X wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:It's pics like this that make feel like saying "Eat you heart out, Hasbro."

I stand by what Ive been saying for years. Hasbro versions only exist to justify Takaras overpriced existance. They all come from the same mold in china anyways. Thats about 50 cents worth of extra paint and and additional 10 cents to pay the poor Chinese factory worker to apply it. That "Asian market" excuse is the biggest fraud of all time.

This isn't a difference in paint, though. There's a whole bunch of new-molded plastic parts on the Takara version. Hasbro's is just a repaint of the original, while Takara's has a new head, a new chest, new arms, new leg armor, and a new weapon.

Ironically, though, Takara's looks almost identical to the original figure in car mode, as all the new parts and new colors only show up in robot mode, whereas Hasbro's version does have new paint in vehicle mode:

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Rated X wrote:
I stand by what Ive been saying for years. Hasbro versions only exist to justify Takaras overpriced existance. They all come from the same mold in china anyways. Thats about 50 cents worth of extra paint and and additional 10 cents to pay the poor Chinese factory worker to apply it. That "Asian market" excuse is the biggest fraud of all time.

X, we had this discussion before and it was proven that TFs in Japan are the SAME PRICE as their American's counterparts.

So, shoo, shoo!

I remember that. But the bottom line is SOMEBODY is still profiting off Takaras existence.

Rated X wrote:I remember that. But the bottom line is SOMEBODY is still profiting off Takaras existence.

Jesus faux-king Christ, X, are you doing this on purpose?

Rated X wrote:I remember that. But the bottom line is SOMEBODY is still profiting off Takaras existence.

The fans in Japan who buy things domestically?

Sabrblade wrote:

Rated X wrote:I remember that. But the bottom line is SOMEBODY is still profiting off Takaras existence.

The fans in Japan who buy things domestically?

Let's not bother anymore. At that point, he's either a lost cause or he's trolling hard.

Rated X wrote:I stand by what Ive been saying for years. Hasbro versions only exist to justify Takaras overpriced existance. They all come from the same mold in china anyways. Thats about 50 cents worth of extra paint and and additional 10 cents to pay the poor Chinese factory worker to apply it. That "Asian market" excuse is the biggest fraud of all time.

Less this, more hasbro wanting to maximize profits on a bunch of effortless (literally, no effort was put into the clash figures) repaints.

They could have released a clash strongarm.

They could have given them better paint jobs.

They could have remolded a couple of parts to make them look more the part.

They didn't, and I'm not surprised, just disappointed

Hellscream9999 wrote:

Rated X wrote:I stand by what Ive been saying for years. Hasbro versions only exist to justify Takaras overpriced existance. They all come from the same mold in china anyways. Thats about 50 cents worth of extra paint and and additional 10 cents to pay the poor Chinese factory worker to apply it. That "Asian market" excuse is the biggest fraud of all time.

Less this, more hasbro wanting to maximize profits on a bunch of effortless (literally, no effort was put into the clash figures) repaints.

They could have released a clash strongarm.

They could have given them better paint jobs.

They could have remolded a couple of parts to make them look more the part.

They didn't, and I'm not surprised, just disappointed

They did do some remolding look at the chest and the arms... wait can someone post a picture of what bumblebees upgraded form looked like in the cartoon and how show accurate is it because I wanna see uf it needs reprolabels

Sabrblade wrote:

Rated X wrote:I remember that. But the bottom line is SOMEBODY is still profiting off Takaras existence.

The fans in Japan who buy things domestically?

More like resellers who pass the expense of actually acquiring stock (including extra fees like import and storage) on to their customers. And X, beating that dead horse over and over won't make it any more alive (read as: the more you keep putting the same argument forward the less people will listen to you). Now, let's call it a night and move on.

Those images have me thinking about the new parts actually being pre-tooled, as in built-in by standard. Then again, Takara-Tomy's Optimus Prime has me think otherwise, having no Hasbro involvement whatsoever.

Starsaber468 wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:

Rated X wrote:I stand by what Ive been saying for years. Hasbro versions only exist to justify Takaras overpriced existance. They all come from the same mold in china anyways. Thats about 50 cents worth of extra paint and and additional 10 cents to pay the poor Chinese factory worker to apply it. That "Asian market" excuse is the biggest fraud of all time.

Less this, more hasbro wanting to maximize profits on a bunch of effortless (literally, no effort was put into the clash figures) repaints.

They could have released a clash strongarm.

They could have given them better paint jobs.

They could have remolded a couple of parts to make them look more the part.

They didn't, and I'm not surprised, just disappointed

They did do some remolding look at the chest and the arms... wait can someone post a picture of what bumblebees upgraded form looked like in the cartoon and how show accurate is it because I wanna see uf it needs reprolabels

There was no remolding for the clash figures. TAV 29 is a takara exclusive remold to look like bumblebee's upgraded form. Takara and hasbro both put out basic repaints of Prime, Bee and Swipe for the line based on the season finale. Swipe's and Prime's actually looks good, but Bee looks far better in his retail non-clash self. the TAV version is soooooo much better though.

again with 100 versions of bumble bee

Ultra Markus wrote:again with 100 versions of bumble bee

Not sure what you mean? Hasbro has their 2 actual tf's (warrior and legend), now TT need their own versions for their audience - so they don't have to import them (but, being so unpainted, why would they); that they are willing to got the extra mile and give us a heavily re-molded show accurate version, is just TT being nice

Hellscream9999 wrote:

Ultra Markus wrote:again with 100 versions of bumble bee

Not sure what you mean? Hasbro has their 2 actual tf's (warrior and legend), now TT need their own versions for their audience - so they don't have to import them (but, being so unpainted, why would they); that they are willing to got the extra mile and give us a heavily re-molded show accurate version, is just TT being nice

And we appreciate the extra effort that have put in. They have given us great looking figures and even gone ahead and remolded some and even made entirely new sculpts. They really have spoiled us

Hellscream9999 wrote:

Ultra Markus wrote:again with 100 versions of bumble bee

Not sure what you mean? Hasbro has their 2 actual tf's (warrior and legend), now TT need their own versions for their audience - so they don't have to import them (but, being so unpainted, why would they); that they are willing to got the extra mile and give us a heavily re-molded show accurate version, is just TT being nice

He's referring to all the redecos plus retools we've had so far:

1) Bumblebee
2) Night Ops Bumblebee
3) Clash of the Transformers Bumblebee
4) Night Strike Bumblebee
5) TAV29 Bumblebee Supreme Mode

This is heading towards DotM Bumblebee all over again.

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:

Ultra Markus wrote:again with 100 versions of bumble bee

Not sure what you mean? Hasbro has their 2 actual tf's (warrior and legend), now TT need their own versions for their audience - so they don't have to import them (but, being so unpainted, why would they); that they are willing to got the extra mile and give us a heavily re-molded show accurate version, is just TT being nice

And we appreciate the extra effort that have put in. They have given us great looking figures and even gone ahead and remolded some and even made entirely new sculpts. They really have spoiled us

Speaking of spoiling their audience - hasbro did the exact opposite with the inverted color bumblebee repaint, yellow wheels, honestly, talk about lazy, not only is it indefensible, but it also cannot be rivaled in sheer laziness/corporate greed.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:

Ultra Markus wrote:again with 100 versions of bumble bee

Not sure what you mean? Hasbro has their 2 actual tf's (warrior and legend), now TT need their own versions for their audience - so they don't have to import them (but, being so unpainted, why would they); that they are willing to got the extra mile and give us a heavily re-molded show accurate version, is just TT being nice

He's referring to all the redecos plus retools we've had so far:

1) Bumblebee
2) Night Ops Bumblebee
3) Clash of the Transformers Bumblebee
4) Night Strike Bumblebee
5) TAV29 Bumblebee Supreme Mode

This is heading towards DotM Bumblebee all over again.

Oh, sorry, I don't qualify the dumb-brick series as actual transformers; so for me, it's just the stupid inverted plastic bumblebee that I'm against

But you can't throw the 'bee figs from a seperate company into that list, that isn't fair, TT is making it for their audience, we just import them, b/c they're better than hasbro's offering.

Hellscream9999 wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:

Ultra Markus wrote:again with 100 versions of bumble bee

Not sure what you mean? Hasbro has their 2 actual tf's (warrior and legend), now TT need their own versions for their audience - so they don't have to import them (but, being so unpainted, why would they); that they are willing to got the extra mile and give us a heavily re-molded show accurate version, is just TT being nice

And we appreciate the extra effort that have put in. They have given us great looking figures and even gone ahead and remolded some and even made entirely new sculpts. They really have spoiled us

Speaking of spoiling their audience - hasbro did the exact opposite with the inverted color bumblebee repaint, yellow wheels, honestly, talk about lazy, not only is it indefensible, but it also cannot be rivaled in sheer laziness/corporate greed.

The black looks very nice, it's just the wheels. Those yellow wheels are just so funky. And then we get an animated homage Bee to go with regular and stealth bee and clash bee. Really a lot. If Bee used a stealth scheme (like IDW comics stealth paint) I would feel better about it

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:

Ultra Markus wrote:again with 100 versions of bumble bee

Not sure what you mean? Hasbro has their 2 actual tf's (warrior and legend), now TT need their own versions for their audience - so they don't have to import them (but, being so unpainted, why would they); that they are willing to got the extra mile and give us a heavily re-molded show accurate version, is just TT being nice

And we appreciate the extra effort that have put in. They have given us great looking figures and even gone ahead and remolded some and even made entirely new sculpts. They really have spoiled us

Speaking of spoiling their audience - hasbro did the exact opposite with the inverted color bumblebee repaint, yellow wheels, honestly, talk about lazy, not only is it indefensible, but it also cannot be rivaled in sheer laziness/corporate greed.

The black looks very nice, it's just the wheels. Those yellow wheels are just so funky. And then we get an animated homage Bee to go with regular and stealth bee and clash bee. Really a lot. If Bee used a stealth scheme (like IDW comics stealth paint) I would feel better about it

What was the animated homage?

Hellscream9999 wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:

Ultra Markus wrote:again with 100 versions of bumble bee

Not sure what you mean? Hasbro has their 2 actual tf's (warrior and legend), now TT need their own versions for their audience - so they don't have to import them (but, being so unpainted, why would they); that they are willing to got the extra mile and give us a heavily re-molded show accurate version, is just TT being nice

And we appreciate the extra effort that have put in. They have given us great looking figures and even gone ahead and remolded some and even made entirely new sculpts. They really have spoiled us

Speaking of spoiling their audience - hasbro did the exact opposite with the inverted color bumblebee repaint, yellow wheels, honestly, talk about lazy, not only is it indefensible, but it also cannot be rivaled in sheer laziness/corporate greed.

The black looks very nice, it's just the wheels. Those yellow wheels are just so funky. And then we get an animated homage Bee to go with regular and stealth bee and clash bee. Really a lot. If Bee used a stealth scheme (like IDW comics stealth paint) I would feel better about it

What was the animated homage?

That new Bee coming out next year, night strike I believe. The paint work and stripe are an homage to animated bee

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:What was the animated homage?

That new Bee coming out next year, night strike I believe. The paint work and stripe are an homage to animated bee

Huh, if you say so, I can't find a pic on google, too many versions of 'bee. Either way, I don't care for it, nor will I pay attention to it when it is released

Hellscream9999 wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:

Ultra Markus wrote:again with 100 versions of bumble bee

Not sure what you mean? Hasbro has their 2 actual tf's (warrior and legend), now TT need their own versions for their audience - so they don't have to import them (but, being so unpainted, why would they); that they are willing to got the extra mile and give us a heavily re-molded show accurate version, is just TT being nice

He's referring to all the redecos plus retools we've had so far:

1) Bumblebee
2) Night Ops Bumblebee
3) Clash of the Transformers Bumblebee
4) Night Strike Bumblebee
5) TAV29 Bumblebee Supreme Mode

This is heading towards DotM Bumblebee all over again.

Oh, sorry, I don't qualify the dumb-brick series as actual transformers; so for me, it's just the stupid inverted plastic bumblebee that I'm against

Both Jelze and Markus were referring to all the releases of the Warrior mold.

Hellscream9999 wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:What was the animated homage?

That new Bee coming out next year, night strike I believe. The paint work and stripe are an homage to animated bee

Huh, if you say so, I can't find a pic on google, too many versions of 'bee. Either way, I don't care for it, nor will I pay attention to it when it is released

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/File:2015RIDWarr ... lebee.jpeg

I don't want it either. The only one I want is TAV 29 (if HE WOULD SHIP)

Sabrblade wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:

Ultra Markus wrote:again with 100 versions of bumble bee

Not sure what you mean? Hasbro has their 2 actual tf's (warrior and legend), now TT need their own versions for their audience - so they don't have to import them (but, being so unpainted, why would they); that they are willing to got the extra mile and give us a heavily re-molded show accurate version, is just TT being nice

He's referring to all the redecos plus retools we've had so far:

1) Bumblebee
2) Night Ops Bumblebee
3) Clash of the Transformers Bumblebee
4) Night Strike Bumblebee
5) TAV29 Bumblebee Supreme Mode

This is heading towards DotM Bumblebee all over again.

Oh, sorry, I don't qualify the dumb-brick series as actual transformers; so for me, it's just the stupid inverted plastic bumblebee that I'm against

Both Jelze and Markus were referring to all the releases of the Warrior mold.

Indeed, never could remember all the monikers they use for all their repaints, but my edited post about TT figures stands, that's not fair to include TT's versions on the list.

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:What was the animated homage?

That new Bee coming out next year, night strike I believe. The paint work and stripe are an homage to animated bee

Huh, if you say so, I can't find a pic on google, too many versions of 'bee. Either way, I don't care for it, nor will I pay attention to it when it is released

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/File:2015RIDWarr ... lebee.jpeg

I don't want it either. The only one I want is TAV 29 (if HE WOULD SHIP)

Wow, that is weak

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Rated X wrote:
I stand by what Ive been saying for years. Hasbro versions only exist to justify Takaras overpriced existance. They all come from the same mold in china anyways. Thats about 50 cents worth of extra paint and and additional 10 cents to pay the poor Chinese factory worker to apply it. That "Asian market" excuse is the biggest fraud of all time.

X, we had this discussion before and it was proven that TFs in Japan are the SAME PRICE as their American's counterparts.

So, shoo, shoo!

haha, yeah, I just saved the link to the last time I wrote about prices being the same: http://www.seibertron.com/energonpub/takara-transformers-unite-warriors-discussion-thread-p1717902.php#p1717920

The issue is not that hasbro's lack makes us pay more for takara (since they get the same aount of money as hasbro from us), it's that Hasbro sells us lackluster deco when takara decos cost the same. The rip off here if there is one is not takara, but the lackluster Hasbro product instead.

Rated X wrote:
I remember that. But the bottom line is SOMEBODY is still profiting off Takaras existence.

I have to admit, X is right here and I did mention it last time. The people profitting off Takara's existence is the Japan post office which sends out packages to the west they wouldnt ship if Hasbro had better deco and the demand was lessened.

Starsaber468 wrote:They did do some remolding look at the chest and the arms... wait can someone post a picture of what bumblebees upgraded form looked like in the cartoon and how show accurate is it because I wanna see uf it needs reprolabels

No, hasbro did No remolding on their warrior clash figures. They did however do extensive remolding on the 3 step clash figures which still boggles my mind since I doubt little timmy would care (or own both).

http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/retool-comparisons-for-robots-in-disguise-clash-of-the-transformers-exclusives/33468/

Hellscream9999 wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:What was the animated homage?

That new Bee coming out next year, night strike I believe. The paint work and stripe are an homage to animated bee

Huh, if you say so, I can't find a pic on google, too many versions of 'bee. Either way, I don't care for it, nor will I pay attention to it when it is released

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/File:2015RIDWarr ... lebee.jpeg

I don't want it either. The only one I want is TAV 29 (if HE WOULD SHIP)

Wow, that is weak

Reasons why Takara is better for collectors (mostly) and hasbro works for kids (and the less mature myself included mostly)

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:What was the animated homage?

That new Bee coming out next year, night strike I believe. The paint work and stripe are an homage to animated bee

Huh, if you say so, I can't find a pic on google, too many versions of 'bee. Either way, I don't care for it, nor will I pay attention to it when it is released

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/File:2015RIDWarr ... lebee.jpeg

I don't want it either. The only one I want is TAV 29 (if HE WOULD SHIP)

Wow, that is weak

Reasons why Takara is better for collectors (mostly) and hasbro works for kids (and the less mature myself included mostly)

Well, outside of the pricepoint, I suppose you're right...

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:What was the animated homage?

That new Bee coming out next year, night strike I believe. The paint work and stripe are an homage to animated bee

Huh, if you say so, I can't find a pic on google, too many versions of 'bee. Either way, I don't care for it, nor will I pay attention to it when it is released

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/File:2015RIDWarr ... lebee.jpeg

I don't want it either. The only one I want is TAV 29 (if HE WOULD SHIP)

I think they are talking about him:

william-james88 wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:What was the animated homage?

That new Bee coming out next year, night strike I believe. The paint work and stripe are an homage to animated bee

Huh, if you say so, I can't find a pic on google, too many versions of 'bee. Either way, I don't care for it, nor will I pay attention to it when it is released

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/File:2015RIDWarr ... lebee.jpeg

I don't want it either. The only one I want is TAV 29 (if HE WOULD SHIP)

I think they are talking about him:

Which is pictured in D-Max's link.

william-james88 wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:What was the animated homage?

That new Bee coming out next year, night strike I believe. The paint work and stripe are an homage to animated bee

Huh, if you say so, I can't find a pic on google, too many versions of 'bee. Either way, I don't care for it, nor will I pay attention to it when it is released

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/File:2015RIDWarr ... lebee.jpeg

I don't want it either. The only one I want is TAV 29 (if HE WOULD SHIP)

I think they are talking about him:

Yup, they are, and it is a weak repaint

Hellscream9999 wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:What was the animated homage?

That new Bee coming out next year, night strike I believe. The paint work and stripe are an homage to animated bee

Huh, if you say so, I can't find a pic on google, too many versions of 'bee. Either way, I don't care for it, nor will I pay attention to it when it is released

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/File:2015RIDWarr ... lebee.jpeg

I don't want it either. The only one I want is TAV 29 (if HE WOULD SHIP)

Wow, that is weak

Reasons why Takara is better for collectors (mostly) and hasbro works for kids (and the less mature myself included mostly)

Well, outside of the pricepoint, I suppose you're right...

Unfortunately, until money is of no use to us, price will always be an issue.

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:What was the animated homage?

That new Bee coming out next year, night strike I believe. The paint work and stripe are an homage to animated bee

Huh, if you say so, I can't find a pic on google, too many versions of 'bee. Either way, I don't care for it, nor will I pay attention to it when it is released

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/File:2015RIDWarr ... lebee.jpeg

I don't want it either. The only one I want is TAV 29 (if HE WOULD SHIP)

Wow, that is weak

Reasons why Takara is better for collectors (mostly) and hasbro works for kids (and the less mature myself included mostly)

Well, outside of the pricepoint, I suppose you're right...

Unfortunately, until money is of no use to us, price will always be an issue.

Well, yeah, but something tells me that hasbro skimped so much on the line, that they really didn't have to be $15

With all that Bee talk, I'm just glad Hasbro learned their lesson from Prime and DOTM's times.

Remember The Swarm?



Now at least, the ammount of Bees is pretty reasonable.

I have a suspicion the reason FE Bumblebee was so over-available was not just the wave assortment character mix - but that they didn't release First Edition toys in any meaningful way in Europe. it reminds me of how for many people not in North America Tuner Mudflap was a rare and desirable piece - for people in America it was an annoyance.

They really need to spread that love around. I even heard some people in Canada complaining that they couldn't get the Protectobots due to an excess of Stunticons - yet Europe didn't get any Stunticons (except Dragstrip) - not even the chest Minion as far as I saw.

That Hasbro UK would prevent European consumers from being able to complete 2 combiners is frankly just irritating.

I'm none to happy with TRU either they release the Store Exclusive RID-15 toys in Japan for crying out loud - something that hardly ever happens and only bother with the Legions in the UK.... (no idea if they showed up in the rest of Europe or not so if the lack is down to TRU-UK being useless of TRU-USA being forgetful about those warrior toys.

I like Takara's new Been he's not a huge change but you sort of get the idea of what he's supposed to be - and at least they tried.

I don't dislike a Bee with Allspark blue on it or weird decos like flames or lightning as some of those things are common enough to be considered a tradition now.

william-james88 wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Rated X wrote:
I stand by what Ive been saying for years. Hasbro versions only exist to justify Takaras overpriced existance. They all come from the same mold in china anyways. Thats about 50 cents worth of extra paint and and additional 10 cents to pay the poor Chinese factory worker to apply it. That "Asian market" excuse is the biggest fraud of all time.

X, we had this discussion before and it was proven that TFs in Japan are the SAME PRICE as their American's counterparts.

So, shoo, shoo!

haha, yeah, I just saved the link to the last time I wrote about prices being the same: http://www.seibertron.com/energonpub/takara-transformers-unite-warriors-discussion-thread-p1717902.php#p1717920

The issue is not that hasbro's lack makes us pay more for takara (since they get the same aount of money as hasbro from us), it's that Hasbro sells us lackluster deco when takara decos cost the same. The rip off here if there is one is not takara, but the lackluster Hasbro product instead.

Rated X wrote:
I remember that. But the bottom line is SOMEBODY is still profiting off Takaras existence.

I have to admit, X is right here and I did mention it last time. The people profitting off Takara's existence is the Japan post office which sends out packages to the west they wouldnt ship if Hasbro had better deco and the demand was lessened.

This issue could be debated from so many fronts…

Hasbro is selling an inferior product which costs virtually the same to produce as the Takara version. Remember Hasbro pretty much owns Takara legally. They just let them do their own thing out of respect. So in essence, A “Takara” figure is really just a premium Hasbro figure. Its not like they are assembled in different parts of the world by different people. They all come from the same s**t hole. So once again, the Hasbro version is needed to justify the Takara versions existence. It’s an illusion of raising the bar, making one product look like two different products by adding a little glitter and gloss.

Which middle man profits the most from Takara’s existence is debatable. Based on the prices I saw them selling for in retail in my very brief transit through Tokyo Airport, I would say Takara themselves. However other’s here have documented Takara versions being sold at the equivalent of American prices in more recent times. I think it is safe to say that it may vary depending on where you buy them in Japan. (Department stores vs. specialty hobby shops) Another middle man who exploits Takara as being a “premium” is the online retailers. BBTS, TFSource and others will continue to push them as being premium versions and Im sure Hasbro loves this since they own Takara and their design team creates half of the molds anyways. And of course Robotkingdom and Chimungmung are going to charge more even though they use their Chinese factory connections to get them at virtually the same price as Hasbro versions by buying in bulk. Chimungmung recently unloaded a bunch of Cloud Roadbusters and Hellwarps for $35 bucks a pop plus shipping before BBTS even had them. He also had Botcon General G2 Optimus, Diaclone Skids, and Packrat on sale a month before Botcon. So the people in China are getting figures just as cheap as Japan is. Its just the rest of the world that’s being screwed with BS excuses about an imaginary Asian market that wouldn’t buy Hasbro’s non cartoon accurate decos. Im inclined to believe if they like the figure enough, they will buy it in whatever deco it is available in if they didn’t have a choice between 2 decos. Sure in Japan Hasbro has to compete with Bandai and others. But Transformer fans are going to be fans regardless. So that Asian market excuse is a load of BS, straight up. Believe it if you want. Anime-Export is the first company who has decided to wipe their ass with the Asian market excuse and dare to sell Takara products at Hasbro US prices. Its only a matter of time before others copy their business model and try to compete, forcing the more well known retailers to lower their prices and abandon the “premium” concept of Takara figures. That’s my opinion. It’s coming. Maybe atr a snails pace, but its coming.

On a side note, its really not accurate to say that mail carriers world wide are profiting off imported Transformers, because they don’t know or care what’s in the box. Those are the prices. Smaller Chinese retailers might charge more than they’re actually paying to ship it to you because they know you can’t read Chinese or Japanese. But that has nothing to do with EMS, USPS, Japan post office, or any other mail carrier. The people who are really getting screwed are the European people who complain about all these “Customs” or “Import” fees. Maybe your people as a whole should petition your government, parliament, or what ever you call it to eliminate blatant gouging of taxes. If its an issue that effects everybody, its definitely something you guys should bring up to your government officials the next time election year comes around.

Rated X wrote:Remember Hasbro pretty much owns Takara legally.

No. They don't. The two are separate companies involved in a partnership that has then share some of the same toy brands, Transformers being one of them.

Rated X wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Rated X wrote:
I stand by what Ive been saying for years. Hasbro versions only exist to justify Takaras overpriced existance. They all come from the same mold in china anyways. Thats about 50 cents worth of extra paint and and additional 10 cents to pay the poor Chinese factory worker to apply it. That "Asian market" excuse is the biggest fraud of all time.

X, we had this discussion before and it was proven that TFs in Japan are the SAME PRICE as their American's counterparts.

So, shoo, shoo!

haha, yeah, I just saved the link to the last time I wrote about prices being the same: http://www.seibertron.com/energonpub/takara-transformers-unite-warriors-discussion-thread-p1717902.php#p1717920

The issue is not that hasbro's lack makes us pay more for takara (since they get the same aount of money as hasbro from us), it's that Hasbro sells us lackluster deco when takara decos cost the same. The rip off here if there is one is not takara, but the lackluster Hasbro product instead.

Rated X wrote:
I remember that. But the bottom line is SOMEBODY is still profiting off Takaras existence.

I have to admit, X is right here and I did mention it last time. The people profitting off Takara's existence is the Japan post office which sends out packages to the west they wouldnt ship if Hasbro had better deco and the demand was lessened.

This issue could be debated from so many fronts…

Hasbro is selling an inferior product which costs virtually the same to produce as the Takara version. Remember Hasbro pretty much owns Takara legally. They just let them do their own thing out of respect. So in essence, A “Takara” figure is really just a premium Hasbro figure. Its not like they are assembled in different parts of the world by different people. They all come from the same s**t hole. So once again, the Hasbro version is needed to justify the Takara versions existence. It’s an illusion of raising the bar, making one product look like two different products by adding a little glitter and gloss.

Which middle man profits the most from Takara’s existence is debatable. Based on the prices I saw them selling for in retail in my very brief transit through Tokyo Airport, I would say Takara themselves. However other’s here have documented Takara versions being sold at the equivalent of American prices in more recent times. I think it is safe to say that it may vary depending on where you buy them in Japan. (Department stores vs. specialty hobby shops) Another middle man who exploits Takara as being a “premium” is the online retailers. BBTS, TFSource and others will continue to push them as being premium versions and Im sure Hasbro loves this since they own Takara and their design team creates half of the molds anyways. And of course Robotkingdom and Chimungmung are going to charge more even though they use their Chinese factory connections to get them at virtually the same price as Hasbro versions by buying in bulk. Chimungmung recently unloaded a bunch of Cloud Roadbusters and Hellwarps for $35 bucks a pop plus shipping before BBTS even had them. He also had Botcon General G2 Optimus, Diaclone Skids, and Packrat on sale a month before Botcon. So the people in China are getting figures just as cheap as Japan is. Its just the rest of the world that’s being screwed with BS excuses about an imaginary Asian market that wouldn’t buy Hasbro’s non cartoon accurate decos. Im inclined to believe if they like the figure enough, they will buy it in whatever deco it is available in if they didn’t have a choice between 2 decos. Sure in Japan Hasbro has to compete with Bandai and others. But Transformer fans are going to be fans regardless. So that Asian market excuse is a load of BS, straight up. Believe it if you want. Anime-Export is the first company who has decided to wipe their ass with the Asian market excuse and dare to sell Takara products at Hasbro US prices. Its only a matter of time before others copy their business model and try to compete, forcing the more well known retailers to lower their prices and abandon the “premium” concept of Takara figures. That’s my opinion. It’s coming. Maybe atr a snails pace, but its coming.

On a side note, its really not accurate to say that mail carriers world wide are profiting off imported Transformers, because they don’t know or care what’s in the box. Those are the prices. Smaller Chinese retailers might charge more than they’re actually paying to ship it to you because they know you can’t read Chinese or Japanese. But that has nothing to do with EMS, USPS, Japan post office, or any other mail carrier. The people who are really getting screwed are the European people who complain about all these “Customs” or “Import” fees. Maybe your people as a whole should petition your government, parliament, or what ever you call it to eliminate blatant gouging of taxes. If its an issue that effects everybody, its definitely something you guys should bring up to your government officials the next time election year comes around.

＼（´Ｏ｀）／ ........just like clock work.

And I thought Tomy Takara were like joint in the hip or something.

Rated X wrote: Remember Hasbro pretty much owns Takara legally.

No, not at all, while I welcome your arguments, writing stuff like that really lessens any points you make after that sentence.

Rated X wrote:On a side note, its really not accurate to say that mail carriers world wide are profiting off imported Transformers, because they don’t know or care what’s in the box.

Oh I am aware, but thats the only thing I could come up with because there is really no other people to profit off takara making better products, aside from what Sabr said: Takara customers.

The one that REALLY gouging up the prices is not Hasbro USA/Europe. It's not Takara. It's Hasbro ASIA.

Just look at the prices of Hasbro Asia exclusives, including the Platinum Editions available for the rest of the world.

Now THOSES are worth bitching about. Whining about anything else is chasing windmills.

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Starsaber468 wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:

Rated X wrote:I stand by what Ive been saying for years. Hasbro versions only exist to justify Takaras overpriced existance. They all come from the same mold in china anyways. Thats about 50 cents worth of extra paint and and additional 10 cents to pay the poor Chinese factory worker to apply it. That "Asian market" excuse is the biggest fraud of all time.

Less this, more hasbro wanting to maximize profits on a bunch of effortless (literally, no effort was put into the clash figures) repaints.

They could have released a clash strongarm.

They could have given them better paint jobs.

They could have remolded a couple of parts to make them look more the part.

They didn't, and I'm not surprised, just disappointed

They did do some remolding look at the chest and the arms... wait can someone post a picture of what bumblebees upgraded form looked like in the cartoon and how show accurate is it because I wanna see uf it needs reprolabels

There was no remolding for the clash figures. TAV 29 is a takara exclusive remold to look like bumblebee's upgraded form. Takara and hasbro both put out basic repaints of Prime, Bee and Swipe for the line based on the season finale. Swipe's and Prime's actually looks good, but Bee looks far better in his retail non-clash self. the TAV version is soooooo much better though.

Sorr6 I thought you were refering to the takara verison and the takara does look better but is it show accurate....

-Kanrabat- wrote:The one that REALLY gouging up the prices is not Hasbro USA/Europe. It's not Takara. It's Hasbro ASIA.

Just look at the prices of Hasbro Asia exclusives, including the Platinum Editions available for the rest of the world.

Now THOSES are worth bitching about. Whining about anything else is chasing windmills.

Remenber how deluxes used to 3$ and voyagers were 20$ in the US now deluxes are 12$-18$ and voyagers are 22$-25$ but in some places deluxes are 25$ ,voyagers 60$ ,and peader classes 90$ a)and I am talking about the Hasbro one I find that a little silly for hasbro to charge stuff for that price like seriously some countries its cheaper to buy the takara than hasbro which is just so shocking ,and I feel like that hasbro needs to go down with the prices of deluxes, voyagers, and leaders in those countries because their not 2orth that much if they had more paint apps and better plastic they would be but their not so yeah...