Botcon 2008 Loose Convention Sets Already Sold Out!

Those loose sets sold out alot quicker than last year...

Is it because everyone is hoping for a high resale value like the '07 set?

Guess I better register soon.

Even accounting for speculators...that was fast.

Didn't even know they were for sale.

Probably should start paying more attention. Or I may not have been paying attention because we only know about one figure and my interest hasn't been piqued yet.

I expected this, they only made 200 loose sets.

GetterDragun wrote:I expected this, they only made 200 loose sets.

Wow. That's nothing. If you ask me, that doesn't show alot of faith that the set will sell well. Makes it sound like this set is gonna be crap.

Suprizing cause that Prime wasn't all that great.

UltraPrimal wrote:

GetterDragun wrote:I expected this, they only made 200 loose sets.

Wow. That's nothing. If you ask me, that doesn't show alot of faith that the set will sell well. Makes it sound like this set is gonna be crap.

That's what I thought when I saw the quantity available.

I think it's speculation on resale values, given the rather high prices for 2007 pieces. Last year's set, though, presented an opportunity to finish off the set of Decepticon Jets (something that wasn't available outside of ebay since the mid eighties). That fact alone, IMHO, is what drove last year's prices through the roof... and that is what is going to make this year's set sell out very, very quickly.

The problem (or good thing, depending on your perspective) is, if this year's figures aren't as well-received, then all of the speculators will find themselves eventually selling for a loss... although the bargain hunters might get the set for far less than usual.

ehh. i'm not going to loose sleep this evening.

You guys didn’t think some silly little convention would stop Scalper legions did you? They’ll be there, in they’re big black suits, taking your toys.

emeraldbeacon wrote:I think it's speculation on resale values, given the rather high prices for 2007 pieces. Last year's set, though, presented an opportunity to finish off the set of Decepticon Jets (something that wasn't available outside of ebay since the mid eighties). That fact alone, IMHO, is what drove last year's prices through the roof... and that is what is going to make this year's set sell out very, very quickly.

The problem (or good thing, depending on your perspective) is, if this year's figures aren't as well-received, then all of the speculators will find themselves eventually selling for a loss... although the bargain hunters might get the set for far less than usual.

good point. and i dearly hope that's true - serves those speculators right for trying to cash in on last year's BotCon success. ehhh, if speculators are what made tis year's set sell out, i guess that's almost akin to scalping IMHO.

I was going to buy a loose set next week but I guess that won’t be happening. Now I am going to need to see the Jazz and Grimlock figures before I am willing to spend $300 on this set. Prime looks ok….but not worth $300

Just proves: For every serving of repainted plastic diarrhea that is produced, there are fans ready to eat it up.

I really wasn't sure about this years set theme. I mean I don't get where the Shattered Universe insperation came from (sounds to me like it was pulled out of... you know). The deco for the evil voyager Prime looks less appealing than regurgitated Gerber's peas and carrots.

Nekoman wrote:You guys didn’t think some silly little convention would stop Scalper legions did you? They’ll be there, in they’re big black suits, taking your toys.

Yes and while they're distracted on these crappy repaints, the rest of us will use the moment to distribute elusive Smurf Villages to orphans in West Haverstraw

All I have heard and seen was the Purple Prime in this set. What is the rest supposed to be? 2007 had one of the best sets ever, and I am sorry I didn't have the money to get one.

I'm not going to the botcon convention this year bat i still want to order a boxed set.

I don’t fined where to place the order for the pre-order for the boxed set.

Anyone can give me a direct link please? (i'm not a member, i don’t need to be to pre-order correct?)

Autobot Optimus Prime wrote:Just proves: For every serving of repainted plastic diarrhea that is produced, there are fans ready to eat it up.

QFT, and this is so sig-worthy.

zemper wrote:

Autobot Optimus Prime wrote:Just proves: For every serving of repainted plastic diarrhea that is produced, there are fans ready to eat it up.

QFT, and this is so sig-worthy.

Thanks!

They only offered 200 loose sets last year too. Although I think they raised that eventually. Still I did not expect to see this years set sell out so fast, especially with the so farm luke-warm reactions from people.

Why does everyone assume its scalpers when something like this happens?

They had over 400 registrations the first 24 hours. Chances are those are committed folks trying to get in a class, etc. I picked up an extra set to have an extra set. If 199 of the other first 400 applicants did the same, then what's wrong with that?

I'm not expecting high resale value or to even resell mine. And for those calling this 'plastic diarrhea', you may be eating your words if the rest of the repaints/remolds look good.

I am not a fan of scalpers either, but to assume they are the reason these were bought so quickly seems a bit rash. Scaplers are not dumb, they know that this set is not a set that everyone will want to complete their G1 CLASSICs set--so it will not be selling for 3 to 4 times its normal price like last years set.

Geekee1 wrote:They only offered 200 loose sets last year too. Although I think they raised that eventually. Still I did not expect to see this years set sell out so fast, especially with the so farm luke-warm reactions from people.

Yeah, I think the limit is BS. Last year was 200 as well. I didn't fax my order in till the end of May and I still got the bagged set. I'm sure I wasn't one of the first 200...

emeraldbeacon wrote:I think it's speculation on resale values, given the rather high prices for 2007 pieces. Last year's set, though, presented an opportunity to finish off the set of Decepticon Jets (something that wasn't available outside of ebay since the mid eighties). That fact alone, IMHO, is what drove last year's prices through the roof... and that is what is going to make this year's set sell out very, very quickly.

The problem (or good thing, depending on your perspective) is, if this year's figures aren't as well-received, then all of the speculators will find themselves eventually selling for a loss... although the bargain hunters might get the set for far less than usual.

Dude, nothing with the words 'Transformers', 'BotCon', and 'Exclusive' all together, EVER sells for a loss.

zemper wrote:

Autobot Optimus Prime wrote:Just proves: For every serving of repainted plastic diarrhea that is produced, there are fans ready to eat it up.

QFT, and this is so sig-worthy.

No, it's not.

What I dislike in large amounts is the fact that people are free to go about saying shit like that, essentially insulting people who enjoy collecting all that Transformers has to offer while giving off an attitude of misdirected superiority.

What if I went around spouting off about how people who hate on repaints were probably too poor to afford them? Would it be cool if I went about hating on those who have to carefully choose which paint deco of a toy they were going to spend their money on?

No. It wouldn't. I don’t intend to, nor do I think like that, but if the discussion is going to go that direction, be ready for the likely response.

So unless someone can point to a way in which the repaints and retools offered up in later runs of Transformer lines are inferior, try to keep your slack-jawed, uninformed ignorance on the cuff.

Counterpunch wrote:

emeraldbeacon wrote:I think it's speculation on resale values, given the rather high prices for 2007 pieces. Last year's set, though, presented an opportunity to finish off the set of Decepticon Jets (something that wasn't available outside of ebay since the mid eighties). That fact alone, IMHO, is what drove last year's prices through the roof... and that is what is going to make this year's set sell out very, very quickly.

The problem (or good thing, depending on your perspective) is, if this year's figures aren't as well-received, then all of the speculators will find themselves eventually selling for a loss... although the bargain hunters might get the set for far less than usual.

Dude, nothing with the words 'Transformers', 'BotCon', and 'Exclusive' all together, EVER sells for a loss.

zemper wrote:

Autobot Optimus Prime wrote:Just proves: For every serving of repainted plastic diarrhea that is produced, there are fans ready to eat it up.

QFT, and this is so sig-worthy.

No, it's not.

What I dislike in large amounts is the fact that people are free to go about saying shit like that, essentially insulting people who enjoy collecting all that Transformers has to offer while giving off an attitude of misdirected superiority.

What if I went around spouting off about how people who hate on repaints were probably too poor to afford them? Would it be cool if I went about hating on those who have to carefully choose which paint deco of a toy they were going to spend their money on?

No. It wouldn't. I don’t intend to, nor do I think like that, but if the discussion is going to go that direction, be ready for the likely response.

So unless someone can point to a way in which the repaints and retools offered up in later runs of Transformer lines are inferior, try to keep your slack-jawed, uninformed ignorance on the cuff.

I will be right next to him saying it in a little more PC way, but yeah, I agree with CP's thoughts here.

Stop degrading people for buying a loose set too.

i really hate the fact that they ask you to commit to paying $300 for a set of toys we havent seen yet. They really should show us the set BEFORE putting up the registration forms. (not that they should put up the registration forms later). $300 is alot of money to put out on blind faith for figures i may not actually want. I mean i could buy 4-5 video games or 1-2 months of groceries, actually you could probably buy most of the movie line of figures for that price! last year was the only year i bought a set and i jumped when i heard it because we all knew what each figure was going to look like. It just seems like alot to ask of the fandom.

*edit - don't get me wrong, i dont mind the high price tag, i get that this is a specially made set for the fans. i just want to be able to see all the figures in the set before i have to commit to buying it.

King Henrik wrote:i really hate the fact that they ask you to commit to paying $300 for a set of toys we havent seen yet. They really should show us the set BEFORE putting up the registration forms. (not that they should put up the registration forms later). $300 is alot of money to put out on blind faith for figures i may not actually want.

I'm with you here bro. FP is asking for a LOT of faith on our part.

I'm with Counterpunch. Sometimes it seems that we don't even like Transformers around here because all we seem to do is complain about everything. I'm not a fan of the movie line. People don't like Animated. Fine, really. Didn't like the A/E/C line ups? Great. Say what you will about quality and characters and appearance and whatever else you please. But gee whiz (yeah, I said it...), Botcon and its offerings are the top of the line as far as collectibles are concerned for Transformers. There isn't a single movie 'premium' figure or hard to find repaint or Allspark Power figure that can hold a candle to the exclusive and collectible nature of Botcon figures.
This seems to be a continuation of last years convention set argument. If you don't like them don't buy them. If you don't want them don't buy them. If they cost too much or the Club membership is a scam or whatever, fine dudes, but do we always need to devolve into always complaining against each other?

All I know is that my sponsor child is sad. Now
he won't be able to get the set.

DISCHARGE wrote:All I know is that my sponsor child is sad. Now
he won't be able to get the set.

That is absolutely brilliant. That made my day!

DISCHARGE wrote:All I know is that my sponsor child is sad. Now
he won't be able to get the set.

That's pretty evil right there.

Counterpunch wrote:

zemper wrote:

Autobot Optimus Prime wrote:Just proves: For every serving of repainted plastic diarrhea that is produced, there are fans ready to eat it up.

QFT, and this is so sig-worthy.

No, it's not.

What I dislike in large amounts is the fact that people are free to go about saying shit like that, essentially insulting people who enjoy collecting all that Transformers has to offer while giving off an attitude of misdirected superiority.

What if I went around spouting off about how people who hate on repaints were probably too poor to afford them? Would it be cool if I went about hating on those who have to carefully choose which paint deco of a toy they were going to spend their money on?

No. It wouldn't. I don’t intend to, nor do I think like that, but if the discussion is going to go that direction, be ready for the likely response.

So unless someone can point to a way in which the repaints and retools offered up in later runs of Transformer lines are inferior, try to keep your slack-jawed, uninformed ignorance on the cuff.

Hey, if you're gonna blow $300 on toys that are obvious throwaway ideas that are only being used to rape the true fans out of money but don't have any true relevance to any line of Transformers, and think that's ok, suit yourself. I personally would rather spend my $300 on Transformer items that are more original and interesting than just repaints.

But maybe you shouldn't be calling other people ignorant. Because you're just coming off looking like a hypocrite.

Autobot Optimus Prime wrote:Hey, if you're gonna blow $300 on toys that are obvious throwaway ideas that are only being used to rape the true fans out of money but don't have any true relevance to any line of Transformers, and think that's ok, suit yourself. I personally would rather spend my $300 on Transformer items that are more original and interesting than just repaints.

But maybe you shouldn't be calling other people ignorant. Because you're just coming off looking like a hypocrite.

Been called worse. I'm obviously not worried about it.

"True fan"

You must not know who I am.

Stop eating popcorn with chopsticks for 5 minutes and articulate exactly why repaints are bad, why BotCon sets are bad, and for the sake of life, liberty, and the pursuit of not stabbing myself in the hand everytime I read one of these posts, just exactly what a true fan is.

If you start insulting people based on how they feel about the set, good or bad, you will receive warnings.

Personal attacks are not allowed. You need to distance yourself enough from the people to stick to facts, and not insults.

Well for one I hate the people out there selling the figures for both arms and legs and are not true fans! Secondly we've all seen the botcon site and now know about purple prime. I know this must be old news, but anyway. You can plainly see an outline of crosswise in the back, but I can't make out the other mold? Can anyone tell who it is?

You can see it here at the registration link
http://botcon.com/08registration.cfm

That was nearly headache fast. I guess that I will see some of you at BOTCON!!!

Autobot Optimus Prime wrote:

Counterpunch wrote:

No, it's not.

What I dislike in large amounts is the fact that people are free to go about saying shit like that, essentially insulting people who enjoy collecting all that Transformers has to offer while giving off an attitude of misdirected superiority.

What if I went around spouting off about how people who hate on repaints were probably too poor to afford them? Would it be cool if I went about hating on those who have to carefully choose which paint deco of a toy they were going to spend their money on?

No. It wouldn't. I don’t intend to, nor do I think like that, but if the discussion is going to go that direction, be ready for the likely response.

So unless someone can point to a way in which the repaints and retools offered up in later runs of Transformer lines are inferior, try to keep your slack-jawed, uninformed ignorance on the cuff.

Hey, if you're gonna blow $300 on toys that are obvious throwaway ideas that are only being used to rape the true fans out of money but don't have any true relevance to any line of Transformers, and think that's ok, suit yourself. I personally would rather spend my $300 on Transformer items that are more original and interesting than just repaints.

But maybe you shouldn't be calling other people ignorant. Because you're just coming off looking like a hypocrite.

While I respect your opinion and the fact that you are against the repaint idea, I must wonder what kind of fans you think attend Botcon or would be interested in exclusive figures such as these besides "true" fans.
For the most part, people who would have casually began collecting after the release of the movie this summer are probably not interested in either convention or exclusives. Why would someone who just started collecting spend all that money for an exclusive Botcon figure when their idea of a worthwhile exclusive is the Best Buy Ratchet that you can get for $50 via eBay? Why would you spend $100+ for a Botcon scout class repaint when you could get a crummy movie toy for $20 at retail? Botcon, and it's offerings, are intended for and marketed to and purchased by "true" fans, however you want to define "true".
CP isn't being a hypocrite, he's stating his opinion on the matter, and disagreeing with your opinion.


Thank goodness we get the opportunity to get exclusives. We are nothing if not unhappy.

gee willikers, i only state my agreement on an opinionated statement and i get a permadoucheing for voicing an opinion that doesn't even begin measure to the massive whining these boards usually get.

you don't have to agree with my opinion but that doesn't give you free reign to call out my opinion and thrash it around because i don't agree with what you think.

Counterpunch wrote:No, it's not.

What I dislike in large amounts is the fact that people are free to go about saying shit like that, essentially insulting people who enjoy collecting all that Transformers has to offer

i never said that. that's your perceived implication. just because you are implying that that's what the statement meant doesn't give you the right to brand your perception as truth and advertise it to other people.

Counterpunch wrote:while giving off an attitude of misdirected superiority.

last time i checked i wasn't the one acting with misdirected superiority here, nor were my opinions the law and forced them down on other people, nor was i the one who delights in some exclusive stuff i own and calling others "whiners" just because they were unlucky or too poor (per you own words) to have one. if that isn't perceived superiority then i don't know what is.

Counterpunch wrote:What if I went around spouting off about how people who hate on repaints were probably too poor to afford them?

Counterpunch wrote:Stop whining or I'm going to break out in song with the old gospel hit ShaNaNaNa NaNa Getajob. Sung by the BBBW of the East Street Gospel Choir.

well it seems you already did, and that's just one prime example.

Counterpunch wrote:No. It wouldn't. I don’t intend to, nor do I think like that, but if the discussion is going to go that direction, be ready for the likely response.

uh, ok. i write a "QFT" and the discussion immediately heads down "that" direction? what direction are we even talking about here?

Counterpunch wrote:So unless someone can point to a way in which the repaints and retools offered up in later runs of Transformer lines are inferior,

oh okay, lemme see. howsabout Armada Cheetor having the loosest ankles of all the TM Cheetor molds?

or how about the 10th Anniversary Rattrap, after only a few poses, begins to loses ankle tightness much more faster than the original version (which i have if you want evidence in case i relied on comparative data assumption).

i don't have to state all examples here, but most if not all TF fans agree that later products from the same mold usually suffer from some degradation in quality, which makes them INFERIOR per your statement.


no offense to ya, CP and i truly enjoy your maddeningly humorous and euphemistic musings most times, but your opinions aren't the law here - and calling me a slack-jawed uninformed ignoramus just doesn't cut it. just because people here look highly to your posts and will eagerly agree and side with you at the first bit of your opinion doesn't give you the right to call me anything at all. i didn't call you nothin' so i don't see where that particular phrase came from. lemme state my opinions (which wasn't aimed at any particular person in the first place) and i'll let you state yours.

I would have already ordered this set if every Autobot figure had a goatee painted on. But alas, golden repaint opportunities pass us by.

zemper wrote:snip

It wasn't directed at you. I didn't intend to draw you into it. My comments weren't directed towards you.

I apologize if you felt that way.

You weren't the one who made the blanket statement and I only quoted yours because it was the last to mention what the other thing was.

No offense to you was intended.

Reading the brochure, I see that ther is a "How to Draw Transformers" class. I think the Animated people need to take that class.

King Henrik wrote:i really hate the fact that they ask you to commit to paying $300 for a set of toys we havent seen yet. They really should show us the set BEFORE putting up the registration forms. (not that they should put up the registration forms later). $300 is alot of money to put out on blind faith for figures i may not actually want. I mean i could buy 4-5 video games or 1-2 months of groceries, actually you could probably buy most of the movie line of figures for that price! last year was the only year i bought a set and i jumped when i heard it because we all knew what each figure was going to look like. It just seems like alot to ask of the fandom.

*edit - don't get me wrong, i dont mind the high price tag, i get that this is a specially made set for the fans. i just want to be able to see all the figures in the set before i have to commit to buying it.

I disagree, $300 is nt just for figures, it's for entrance fees, seminars, awards dinners, and more.

GetterDragun wrote:

King Henrik wrote:i really hate the fact that they ask you to commit to paying $300 for a set of toys we havent seen yet. They really should show us the set BEFORE putting up the registration forms. (not that they should put up the registration forms later). $300 is alot of money to put out on blind faith for figures i may not actually want. I mean i could buy 4-5 video games or 1-2 months of groceries, actually you could probably buy most of the movie line of figures for that price! last year was the only year i bought a set and i jumped when i heard it because we all knew what each figure was going to look like. It just seems like alot to ask of the fandom.

*edit - don't get me wrong, i dont mind the high price tag, i get that this is a specially made set for the fans. i just want to be able to see all the figures in the set before i have to commit to buying it.

I disagree, $300 is nt just for figures, it's for entrance fees, seminars, awards dinners, and more.

That's very true and needs to be mentioned.

All the same though, I doubt I'd go if the toys weren't 8 shades of awesome...

Counterpunch wrote:"True fan"

You must not know who I am.

Who cares? I wasn't referring to just you. When I said "True Fans", I was referring to anyone who spends the money to go to Botcon. As Dagon said in his post, most new or non-"true" fans wouldn't go to Botcon. So if the figures that they issue at Botcon are marketed towards anyone, wouldn't that be those "true" fans?

Counterpunch wrote:Stop eating popcorn with chopsticks for 5 minutes and articulate exactly why repaints are bad, why BotCon sets are bad, and for the sake of life, liberty, and the pursuit of not stabbing myself in the hand everytime I read one of these posts, just exactly what a true fan is.

Repaints and Botcon sets aren't bad necessarily. Last years set I thought was great. I am sad I didn't get one! But that's because it had characters and new molds the fandom actually cared about and desired-that you couldn't get other places. Not just a lame made up storyline that they created so they could use the same toy molds a few more times. To me it's the same as comic companies when they put out 5 covers for the same issue. Sure the completists have to buy each version, but I'd much rather see the time and money they spent on making another cover to go towards making something NEW.

But if that's what you want, then by all means buy it! Heck buy two! I know I won't be buying one, so maybe that will help you out!

Dagon wrote:CP isn't being a hypocrite, he's stating his opinion on the matter, and disagreeing with your opinion.

I didn't call him a hypocrite for disagreeing, I said he was being a hypocrite for calling other people "slack-jawed, uninformed and ignorant" .

For the people here that are saying that the 300 dollars is not just for the figure set I am going to have to agree with you to a certain extent. Part of the money is for all the activities at the convention, but someone explain to me how the Iacon Package(non-attending) with the 5 figure box set, the same price as the for the ones attending. Shouldn't they get the 5 figure box set cheaper since they will not be attending the convetion.

LastBloom wrote:For the people here that are saying that the 300 dollars is not just for the figure set I am going to have to agree with you to a certain extent. Part of the money is for all the activities at the convention, but someone explain to me how the Iacon Package(non-attending) with the 5 figure box set, the same price as the for the ones attending. Shouldn't they get the 5 figure box set cheaper since they will not be attending the convetion.

You're only supposed to get the toys by going to the convention. Non-attendees pay extra for the privilage of having sets available despite not going.

and it is a privilage. Prior to FP taking over, getting the BotCon toys for non-attendees was a (more) costly and difficult endevour

Counterpunch wrote:

zemper wrote:

Autobot Optimus Prime wrote:Just proves: For every serving of repainted plastic diarrhea that is produced, there are fans ready to eat it up.

QFT, and this is so sig-worthy.

No, it's not.

What I dislike in large amounts is the fact that people are free to go about saying shit like that, essentially insulting people who enjoy collecting all that Transformers has to offer while giving off an attitude of misdirected superiority.

And just for the record, I think you saying my post about diarrhea is "shit", is just... well.. pretty crappy.

Autobot Optimus Prime wrote:And just for the record, I think you saying my post about diarrhea is "shit", is just... well.. pretty crappy.

So you're backing down from my challenge?

Running away in the face of criticism?

Ignoring the productive conversation directed towards your original post since your initial anger over what I said?

Zemper addressed some of the things you should have been saying in your own defense. You should follow his example.

and don't think I'm not aware of some of the problems and failings of repaints and remolds. I know them full well.

I'm betting that you however, do not know enough of them to support your outlandish original claim.

Come on now, I mean let's have some talk about this. If you feel strongly about your side, either argue for it and support that argument or admit you were wrong to begin with.

Otherwise, there's no point to the discussion.

GetterDragun wrote:

King Henrik wrote:i really hate the fact that they ask you to commit to paying $300 for a set of toys we havent seen yet. They really should show us the set BEFORE putting up the registration forms. (not that they should put up the registration forms later). $300 is alot of money to put out on blind faith for figures i may not actually want. I mean i could buy 4-5 video games or 1-2 months of groceries, actually you could probably buy most of the movie line of figures for that price! last year was the only year i bought a set and i jumped when i heard it because we all knew what each figure was going to look like. It just seems like alot to ask of the fandom.

*edit - don't get me wrong, i dont mind the high price tag, i get that this is a specially made set for the fans. i just want to be able to see all the figures in the set before i have to commit to buying it.

I disagree, $300 is nt just for figures, it's for entrance fees, seminars, awards dinners, and more.

that wasn't my point though... my point is that i want to see the figures before i even have a chance to buy them... i dont mind paying that much money if its something i really want, and i dont even have a problem paying the price being the same for both attendees and non-attendees. i just want to know what im paying for before i buy it and before it gets sold out.

Counterpunch wrote:

Autobot Optimus Prime wrote:And just for the record, I think you saying my post about diarrhea is "shit", is just... well.. pretty crappy.

So you're backing down from my challenge?

Running away in the face of criticism?

Ignoring the productive conversation directed towards your original post since your initial anger over what I said?

Zemper addressed some of the things you should have been saying in your own defense. You should follow his example.

and don't think I'm not aware of some of the problems and failings of repaints and remolds. I know them full well.

I'm betting that you however, do not know enough of them to support your outlandish original claim.

Come on now, I mean let's have some talk about this. If you feel strongly about your side, either argue for it and support that argument or admit you were wrong to begin with.

Otherwise, there's no point to the discussion.

I already responded in the last post at the bottom of the last page. But let's face it. What is the point of arguing really? I think the repaints are lame, and you don't. And I'm sure there are people that agree with both sides for different reasons. It's just a matter of opinion. But I have a right to my opinion as much as you do. Arguing over it isn't going to change anyone's mind. What else is there beyond that? I don't feel that I'm wrong but at the same time I honestly I don't care enough to argue about it because the fact that the set is sold out proves people will buy lame(in my opinion)repaints or any other crap that Hasbro makes and slaps the Transformers name on. And that's essentially what my original statement said.