Hasbro wrote:
As we greatly value our TRANSFORMERS fans and consumers, we appreciate the opportunity to clarify and explain the current situation with TRANSFORMERS PRIME First Edition figure availability in the U.S.
We very much apologize for the miscommunication with our great retailers in the U.S. Regrettably, as a result, the TRANSFORMERS PRIME First Edition Wave 2 Deluxe, Wave 1 Voyager and Entertainment Pack figures were posted for pre-sale in error. Final product was not produced for these figures to ship within the U.S. As such, any consumer who placed a pre-sale order with Big Bad Toy Store or Entertainment Earth in the U.S. received a note that their order had been cancelled and these orders will not be fulfilled. While it is common for Hasbro to cancel production and/or shipment of collectible figures prior to being listed for pre-sale, this particular situation was unique. We deeply regret this circumstance and understand your frustration.
We would also like to express that we hear the fan community in the U.S. loud and clear – you want these specific TRANSFORMERS PRIME First Edition figures. While we can’t confirm anything at this time, and the format in which these figures are packaged and distributed may change, the team is looking into ways to make these available at a later date in the U.S. and will keep the fan community and our retailers posted as opportunities develop. We want to make this right, and making these figures available to the U.S. fans is a top priority for the team. We greatly appreciate your understanding and ongoing enthusiasm for the brand and hope in the mean time, you enjoy the TRANSFORMERS PRIME figures that are hitting shelves now and in the coming weeks.
Hasbro Addresses Transformers Prime First Editions
			
			Posted by GetRightRobot
			
			Feb 7, 2012 at 2:41pm CST
			
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							Re: Hasbro Addresses Transformers Prime First Editions
						
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							 Comment by DrLegend
							 Feb 7, 2012						
						
						Hasbro! I love you again.
Wait... That was for FoC Bruticus. This? Well, I'll believe it when I see it.
Like FoC Bruticus.
					Wait... That was for FoC Bruticus. This? Well, I'll believe it when I see it.
Like FoC Bruticus.
						
							Re: Hasbro Addresses Transformers Prime First Editions
						
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							 Comment by Autobot_Benz
							 Feb 7, 2012						
						
						good to see Hasbro is trying to find away to bring the first edition figures back for those who missed out on them.
					
						
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							 Comment by BeastProwl
							 Feb 7, 2012						
						
						HASBRO.
Your listening. More availability? A Combiner? Am I Dreaming? Come on guys, pinch me please!
					Your listening. More availability? A Combiner? Am I Dreaming? Come on guys, pinch me please!
						
							Re: Hasbro Addresses Transformers Prime First Editions
						
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							 Comment by funeralthirst7
							 Feb 7, 2012						
						
						What would make them not produce these toys for America?
					
						
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That was my thought. Kind of strange.
					
				
							 Comment by DISCHARGE
							 Feb 7, 2012						
						
						funeralthirst7 wrote:What would make them not produce these toys for America?
That was my thought. Kind of strange.
						
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							 Comment by Omnicron2200
							 Feb 7, 2012						
						
						Although this is good news, I have still lost a lot of respect for Hasbro through all of this.  I don't understand why there was no intention of releasing this line in the US.  As far as the possibility of a future US release, I'll believe it when I see it.
					
						
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							 Comment by NicholasPrime
							 Feb 7, 2012						
						
						Not produced for sale? In that case, why did they ship to Canada? 
So what Hasbro really said was, "WalMart told us to stick our collector friendly toyline up our exhaust pipe, in favor of a more gimicky, kid friendly toyline (Robots in Disguise) that will sell to soccer moms and minivan dads throughout America. And we had to listen because if you want to sell toys in the US you have to blow WalMart's crankshaft pretty hard."
And that is the sad reality of toy retail. All of the other toy outlets don't even come close to Walmart's purchasing power, and it's only made worse in this economy. They will continue to dictate what makes it to production as long as there is no serious competition. And there may never be again. Toys R Us did it for a long time in the late 80's and 90's, until the government stepped in and broke up some of their shadier dealings. Not that that should/could happen in this case, but...
It kills me that larger toy manufacturers only see that bigger picture, and don't work with smaller retailers on some level to produce content and projects through alternative channels. Not putting all their eggs in one basket, as it were. Something more along the lines of DC Direct in partnership with comic/specialty shops. Somehow, the collector market is able to support itself in Japan so much that they get an endless array of repaints, variants, and all around better paint jobs at higher price points. Things like eHobby seemingly flourish.
Why is it that these things sell in foreign markets but not here?
					So what Hasbro really said was, "WalMart told us to stick our collector friendly toyline up our exhaust pipe, in favor of a more gimicky, kid friendly toyline (Robots in Disguise) that will sell to soccer moms and minivan dads throughout America. And we had to listen because if you want to sell toys in the US you have to blow WalMart's crankshaft pretty hard."
And that is the sad reality of toy retail. All of the other toy outlets don't even come close to Walmart's purchasing power, and it's only made worse in this economy. They will continue to dictate what makes it to production as long as there is no serious competition. And there may never be again. Toys R Us did it for a long time in the late 80's and 90's, until the government stepped in and broke up some of their shadier dealings. Not that that should/could happen in this case, but...
It kills me that larger toy manufacturers only see that bigger picture, and don't work with smaller retailers on some level to produce content and projects through alternative channels. Not putting all their eggs in one basket, as it were. Something more along the lines of DC Direct in partnership with comic/specialty shops. Somehow, the collector market is able to support itself in Japan so much that they get an endless array of repaints, variants, and all around better paint jobs at higher price points. Things like eHobby seemingly flourish.
Why is it that these things sell in foreign markets but not here?
						
							Re: Hasbro Addresses Transformers Prime First Editions
						
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							 Comment by Xephon0930
							 Feb 7, 2012						
						
						Okay Hasbro,you win for now. But pull this shite again within 6 months,you're back on THE list.
					
						
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							 Comment by 1111111222233333
							 Feb 7, 2012						
						
						So basically Hasbro is saying: "Oh hey sorry about that first edition mix up, you actually weren't supposed to get ANY of them. Those were for Canada silly! Enjoy your light-up happy meal toys because that's all you're getting. We know you're butthurt though  "
"
					 "
"
						
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							 Comment by Ominous Prime-Evil
							 Feb 7, 2012						
						
						And the Fans rejoice!
					
						
							Re: Hasbro Addresses Transformers Prime First Editions
						
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							 Comment by AutobotTrainer
							 Feb 7, 2012						
						
						Color me impressed.
Now, you want to color me satisfied? I need dates and locations. Thanks.
					Now, you want to color me satisfied? I need dates and locations. Thanks.
						
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							 Comment by AutobotCliffjumper
							 Feb 7, 2012						
						
						Hmm...I see, well I am glad that they have heard us LOUD and CLEAR. Good job for those of us who spammed them with tons of "Why no Prime FE?" emails.   
  
Edit: Still lame though because I already paid for a FE CJ.
					 
  
Edit: Still lame though because I already paid for a FE CJ.

						
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							 Comment by necr0blivion
							 Feb 7, 2012						
						
						To paraphrase a great bot:
Hasbro, the United States fans are here, and we are waiting... to buy these 1st edition figures!
Arcee, Bumblebee, and Starscream flew off the shelves at my TRU. Well, both TRUs in my area. I'm sure the rest of these figures would do the same if you keep the volume lower than DOTM volumes. Otherwise, fill those preorders from Entertainment Earth and Big Bad, sell the rest on the HTS site.
					Hasbro, the United States fans are here, and we are waiting... to buy these 1st edition figures!
Arcee, Bumblebee, and Starscream flew off the shelves at my TRU. Well, both TRUs in my area. I'm sure the rest of these figures would do the same if you keep the volume lower than DOTM volumes. Otherwise, fill those preorders from Entertainment Earth and Big Bad, sell the rest on the HTS site.
						
							Re: Hasbro Addresses Transformers Prime First Editions
						
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							 Comment by Doubledealer93
							 Feb 7, 2012						
						
						i swear to god they better fix this. but i doubt they will.
					
						
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							 Comment by craggy
							 Feb 7, 2012						
						
						I eagerly await news of the FE molds being repainted into g2 colours.
					
						
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That was a good one...
					
				
							 Comment by Rodimus Prime
							 Feb 7, 2012						
						
						Hasbro wrote:We would also like to express that we hear the fan community in the U.S. loud and clear
 
  
  
 
That was a good one...
						
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I'd kill a man for a bright purple TFP Megatron, seriously. 
					
				
							 Comment by cannonfodder4000
							 Feb 7, 2012						
						
						craggy wrote:I eagerly await news of the FE molds being repainted into g2 colours.
I'd kill a man for a bright purple TFP Megatron, seriously.

						
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							 Comment by Sideswipe501
							 Feb 7, 2012						
						
						Oh, I see how it is Hasbro, you bring back first editions and DOTM toys such as Soundwave havent even hit shelves yet! OK, Oh, and BTW, wer still waiting for mirage and Shockwave..................
  
					
						
							Re: Hasbro Addresses Transformers Prime First Editions
						
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							 Comment by Sideswipe501
							 Feb 7, 2012						
						
						Oh, I see how it is Hasbro, you bring back first editions and DOTM toys such as Soundwave havent even hit shelves yet! OK, Oh, and BTW, wer still waiting for mirage and Shockwave..................
  
					
						
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							 Comment by hpfabe
							 Feb 7, 2012						
						
						I would still love to hear an official explanation for why they discontinued the Prime figures that WERE released in the USA (but, apparently, nowhere near me)and are replacing them with the new ones. Doesn't make sense to me. The molds for the other ones were already made and paid for, why not continue using them?
					 
					 
			 
								 
								 
								 
								 
								 
								