Overseas Sightings: China

[GoktimusPrime]

This thread is for posting sightings of licensed Transformers in China, including Taiwan (not sure if I'll find any there, but here's hoping...) for anyone who may be there or may be visiting there in future.

The following sightings are all from Shantou, Guangzhou China.

* Wal-Mart has movieverse and Generations TFs. Deluxe movieverse figures currently discounted down to AU$8 each.

* I found a small collectable toy store today which had quite a lot of Transformer toys including...

(Sealed)
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/China/2011%20Shantou/collectablestore1.jpg
* Transformer Go-Bots.
* Titanium Series Thrust
* Robot Replica Megatron
* Universe Sunstreaker
* Some FABs
* Power Up VT6
* Beast Wars Tigerhawk
* Various movie/ROTF figures

(Sealed)
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/China/2011%20Shantou/collectablestore2.jpg
* Some Universe Mini-Con set.
* Movieverse and RtS Voyagers: Battle Hooks OP, Sea Spray, Strafe, Payload, Grappel, Banzai-Tron and Lugnut.
* Classics Bumblebee and Astrotrain

(Loose)
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/China/2011%20Shantou/collectablestore3.jpg
...a lot! See the pic for more details, but some that stood out to me included:
* DOTM Deluxe figures
* ALT Ricochet

Don't know the name or address of this shop off hand, but I'm thinking about going back there, so I'll get the details then. :)

---------------------------------------
If I find anymore legit TFs in China or Taiwan, I'll post details here.

[liegeprime]

Oooh I see a loose Animated Blackout in those glass display cabinets.!! Wonder how much is that one? :):)

[jazzcomp]

Gok, Is there Alt Rumble? kiss players?

[GoktimusPrime]

liege: I'll enquire about Blackout when I'm there next.

jazzcomp: didn't see any there, sorry. The owner reckons he's getting more TFs in this weekend though.

Anyway, here's the store's details in case anyone happens to come across this part of the world in the future:

Store Name: 自由國度
じゆうこくど
Address: 汕頭市嵩山路２８号
せんとうしすせみち２８ごう
Telephone: +86-754-88834897

Email: zyf0754@163.com (Chinese only)

[liegeprime]

Thanks Gok.

[fatbot]

Hey Gok, when (if) you go back can you check and see if they have Go-bots buzzer-bot for me please. There's a pic below.

cheers dude

http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo146/fatbot/buzzer-bot.jpg

[GoktimusPrime]

Okie dokie :)

[Mechbiter]

Hey Gok, I think I'm not alone here in wanting more pics of the toy stores (if you get half a chance and it's not too much of a hassle). It's just cool to see how they do things in other places and I imagine most of us will never set foot in China, so don't be scared to get snap-happy. ;) :) ;)

[GoktimusPrime]

I'll see what I can do, but it's hard to take photos in shops here... it's hard to even take your time to BROWSE here because Chinese shopkeepers hover over your shoulder like a freakin' hawk when you shop! It's like the whole idea is to walk in, buy, get out.

Yesterday I was going for a walk and bumped into a Canadian fellow who's been living in China for 8 years (runs a local business and started a family with a local woman) who described Chinese customer service quite adequately as "non-existent." It certainly is most unwelcoming. It's like the extreme opposite of Japan where customers are treated as Gods, even if you don't buy anything.

fatbot: I don't recall seeing Buzzer-bot there (if I did I would've grabbed one for myself as I don't have one either!) But if I do see him, I'll grab a pair. :) Some of their Go-Bots are Japanese versions. I take it you're not fussed.

[fatbot]

fatbot: I don't recall seeing Buzzer-bot there (if I did I would've grabbed one for myself as I don't have one either!) But if I do see him, I'll grab a pair. :) Some of their Go-Bots are Japanese versions. I take it you're not fussed.

You, sir are 100% correct, couldn't give a stuff. I just want all the motorbike - formers I can get my grubby hands on. :D

[GoktimusPrime]

Okay, here's the thing -- they have a Japanese Buzzer-Bot (Billy), but it's the Wasp, not the motorbike.

So let me get this straight, you want 2003 Buzzer-Bot, the motorcycle (http://www.tfu.info/2003/Gobots/Buzzer-Bot/buzzer-bot.htm) and not 2002 Buzzer-Bot, the wasp (http://www.tfu.info/2002/Autobot/Buzzer-Bot/buzzer-bot.htm) (and known as Billy in Japan). Cos today I saw Billy the wasp for 100 Chinese Yuan ($14.50). So I won't bother getting that for you then.

Didn't see the motorcycle Buzzer-Bot... but I'll check again next time I'm there.

[liegeprime]

PMd Gok re: payments:D:D Thanks Again!:)

[jazzcomp]

Gok, Any activators and animated TFs?

[GoktimusPrime]

A few...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/China/2011%20Shantou/collectablestore3.jpg

I already purchased Blackout for liegeprime - but they also have Animated Voyager Megatron (Cybertron mode), Voyager Starscream, Activator Megatron (he's on the shelf below the other Animated TFs, left of all those Mini-Cons), Deluxe Jazz, Voyager Bulkhead... maybe Activator Ratchet too (though can't remember if that one was legit or KO).

[fatbot]

Okay, here's the thing -- they have a Japanese Buzzer-Bot (Billy), but it's the Wasp, not the motorbike.

So let me get this straight, you want 2003 Buzzer-Bot, the motorcycle (http://www.tfu.info/2003/Gobots/Buzzer-Bot/buzzer-bot.htm) and not 2002 Buzzer-Bot, the wasp (http://www.tfu.info/2002/Autobot/Buzzer-Bot/buzzer-bot.htm) (and known as Billy in Japan). Cos today I saw Billy the wasp for 100 Chinese Yuan ($14.50). So I won't bother getting that for you then.

Didn't see the motorcycle Buzzer-Bot... but I'll check again next time I'm there.

Thanks champ, it is the Motorcycle please, if you find the damn thing of course!

[jazzcomp]

A few...
I already purchased Blackout for liegeprime - but they also have Animated Voyager Megatron (Cybertron mode), Voyager Starscream, Activator Megatron (he's on the shelf below the other Animated TFs, left of all those Mini-Cons), Deluxe Jazz, Voyager Bulkhead... maybe Activator Ratchet too (though can't remember if that one was legit or KO).
Interest in these: Activator Starscream, freeway jazz, samurai prowl, Voyager Skywarp, Voyager Thundercracker, KO Activator Ramjet would be ok :)

[GoktimusPrime]

I didn't see any of those Animated figures there. And the KO Ramjet was a KO G1 Ramjet -- undersized. And don't ask me to buy counterfeit toys for you, as you'll be disappointed in my answer.

[jazzcomp]

I didn't see any of those Animated figures there. And the KO Ramjet was a KO G1 Ramjet -- undersized. And don't ask me to buy counterfeit toys for you, as you'll be disappointed in my answer.
Thanks, Gok. If you find any of those I listed in your toy hunting trip, please buy for me. Just interested in that particular KO since it's hard to find.

Any WSTs?

[jaydisc]

Hey Guys,

Userguide rule #18 states that "Members are discouraged from advertising, promoting or condoning illegal activity that specifically relates to Transformers." as well as "If you intend to acquire illegal items, search for them off-site (like through google), or privately from a known source."

Gok, please try to avoid informing folks about KO availability.

Jazzcomp, please don't ask Gok, or anyone else on the board to publicly help you obtain KOs.

Thank you.

[jazzcomp]

Apologies..... I assume 3rd party products are still ok. That's what I meant when I said KO and not the cheap kind.

Hey Gok, Any WSTs/HOCs?

[GoktimusPrime]

I didn't see any WSTs, HOCs or 3rd Party Items.

Personal aside: I personally don't buy unlicensed toys, so you'll need to ask someone else if you need assistance in acquiring toys not manufactured under licence from Hasbro or Takara/TOMY.

[jazzcomp]

Thanks anyway, Gok!

[GoktimusPrime]

I went to a place called Chaozhou yesterday and found one tiny collectable store that had... wait for it...

ROTF Voyager Optimus Prime
ROTF Voyager Starscream
ROTF Bludgeon

...yeah... didn't bother noting the name or location of the store. *sigh*

[GoktimusPrime]

Hey fatbot, I picked up motorcycle Buzzer-Bot for you today. Will PM you for payment details. :)

[GoktimusPrime]

found my first legit TFs in my current Beijing trip!! :D

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/sighting_beijing_20110423.jpg
Items of note:
+ New PCC 5 packs. Didn't get any cos while they're cheap, I'm serious running out of luggage space... and they're just PCCs so I didn't get that excited.
+ Autobot Blaster Hasbro reissue. Looks nice I must say.
+ Sergeant Kup!
+ Hasbro reissue Piranacon!

[GoktimusPrime]

Holy cow, I hit the mother load of finds today (well, considering that my findings of legit TFs have been so far and few between) -- I went to a department store called "New World" in Beijing and they just had similar to what I found at the department store near Renmin Uni station, although they also had Sons of Cybertron and Alternity Ultra Magnus, but they were like $66AUD -- bit rich for me. I saw Sergeant Kup there and asked if the had Scourge in, she said no. I asked if he was just sold out or whether or not they'd ever gotten him in, cos I'd expect them to be in the same assortment since the bottom of Kup's blister shows Scourge. She said that they NEVER got Scourge. This seriously disheartened me.

So then I went across the road to a smaller shopping centre called SoShow that a student at Renmin Uni recommended to me... though I was skeptical as she wasn't so sure herself. So I checked out one level labelled "toys" and couldn't find anything legit there. I was about to leave until I noticed that the next level up was labelled "cartoons" or "animation" or something like that, so I went up to have a peek. Holy cow - an entire floor full of collectable stores! :o

Interesting finds (not from the same store) include:
+ DOTM Voyager Optimus Prime (looks very meh)
+ DOTM Voyager Megatron (looks nice, though not hard considering how ordinary the first 2 movie Megs look :p)
+ DOTM Voyager Sentinel Prime - I tried to play with the "Try Me" gimmick to see if he sounds like Leonard Nimoy, but nothing happened. Maybe I wasn't doing it right... didn't want to break anything :p
+ DOTM Deluxe Bumblebee
+ Raiden - loose and boxed; don't remember how much
+ Metalhawk - boxed (approx AU$300)
+ Black Zarak - loose; didn't see a price tag
+ Loose G1 Star Sabre - loose, couldn't see his sword - approx AU$100-something
+ MOSC United Wheeljack and Scourge -- AU$43 each! Ouch.
+ Various boxed G1s, some even looked legit!

Like a kid in a candy store, but with only AU$29 on me! (cos I was hunting for any of the Deluxes I was needing, which usually cost AU$18 here - but of course, these are specialist stores). I'll post what I actually bought on the acquisitions thread. :)

[Hursticon]

By the sounds of things dude you've stumbled upon a proverbial Gold Mine! :D
Good on ya man, glad your luck has turned around, might I suggest purchasing a couple more suitcases though? :p

[Sam]

Just a thought - have you considered shipping them back separately via registered airmail ?

[swoop]

Hi Gok,
have you seen any of the exclusive energon weapons that were released during super link during your travels?

[GoktimusPrime]

Hursticon: funny that you should say that cos we're going shopping for more luggage tomorrow! But not for my toys... the wife just has a lot of stuff she wants to bring back d:

Sam: I've been told that even regular post via China Mail is expensive -- and we're thinking about sending a big box (maybe two) back home cos we got lots of things to send back for my wife and daughter - so I might chuck Wasp Buzzerbot and the reissue Seacons (minus Piranacon's parts which I'll bring back personally) into the package(s). Because it's gonna be a large parcel, we're looking at using the cheapest and slowest option... probably unregistered cos we've already spent a considerable amount on this trip as it is. :p :p

Unfortunately yesterday was my last real day in Beijing -- I left Beijing today and just arrived in another city called Xiamen*. So I won't be able to go back to SoShow until next time I'm in Beijing... although that's probably a good thing in the long run because I would be spending way too much money there and struggle even more than I am now with how to bring my toys home! :D

But anyway, my main focus now is to try to find Wheeljack and Frenzy/Rumble. I found United Wheeljack yesterday at SoShow but at $43 I passed and got Generations Scourge instead. :)

Swoop: sorry, haven't seen any Super Link weapons. Because I'm now struggling with space, if I get anymore Transformers for other people then they'll need to pay for postage. You can either piggy back on our big SAL parcels to save on costs, or send it directly which will cost more.

[Sam]

Sam: I've been told that even regular post via China Mail is expensive -- and we're thinking about sending a big box (maybe two) back home cos we got lots of things to send back for my wife and daughter - so I might chuck Wasp Buzzerbot and the reissue Seacons (minus Piranacon's parts which I'll bring back personally) into the package(s). Because it's gonna be a large parcel, we're looking at using the cheapest and slowest option... probably unregistered cos we've already spent a considerable amount on this trip as it is. :p :p

But unregistered mail is a bit of a risk if the items you are sending is precious to you...

What about the option of sending it first to Hong Kong (have you any relatives or friends that could hold it temporarily there?), and then sending it from Hong Kong to Australia? I think mail from Hong Kong is more reliable (and perhaps cheaper) ?

[swoop]

Swoop: sorry, haven't seen any Super Link weapons. Because I'm now struggling with space, if I get anymore Transformers for other people then they'll need to pay for postage. You can either piggy back on our big SAL parcels to save on costs, or send it directly which will cost more.

Its ok Gok I didin't want you to pick anything up for me I was just curious if you had seen them.

[liegeprime]

Metalhawk for $300!!! WOW!!!!:eek::eek: ouch on those prices for scourge and wheeljack, jeebus and here I thought we are getting screwed in pricing here. Good luck finding Frenzy/Rumble they've run out everywhere :(:(:(

[GoktimusPrime]

Did a search in Xiamen today... lots and lots of KOs. Found a few legit TFs, but most are old ROTF stock (although Animated Lugnut was seriously shelfwarming at one store and they were flogging them off for 30% off... didn't bother to find out what the price was). So I felt totally exasperated after searching this big shopping centre called SM... so I walked out feeling rather low and turned left to catch a taxi back to my hotel - then I had the sudden compunction to turn right and look straight ahead across the road -- and there I saw it... a TOYS R US!! The first TRU I've ever seen in China! It shone like a radiant beacon of hope amid the darkness. So like a moth to the flame, I was drawn.

Nothing there that I wanted. Some interesting items included TRU exclusive The Voyager repaint (the orange one - looks silly, though not as silly as in pictures... didn't buy it but :p) and the repainted Scout Class 2-packs, e.g. Beachcomber Vs Deadlift. But I passed. Walked away empty handed which felt even more deflating after beholding TRU had totally worked me up! <sigh>

This feels like toy hunting back home now! Grr! :p
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/avatars/toyhunt_nosuccess.jpg

[sanbot]

Does anyone know how easy it is to go TF shopping in Shanghai? As in, can I use the metro system to get to locations that sell the stuff? Also, anyone have the lowdown on what locations?

[GoktimusPrime]

I went to Toys R Us at Fuzhou in Fujian Province on Thursday and sighted the following:
+ Generations Cliffjumper (retool of FE Cliffjumper w/ G1 style head)
+ Generations Wildrider (redeco of ROTF Breakdown)
+ MP Acid Storm & Soundwave (albeit at above AU RRP)
+ FE Vehicon
+ FE Bulkhead
+ TFPRiD Arcee, Hot Shot
+ TFPRiD Cyberverse figures, including some new redecos I haven't seen in AU
+ G1 reissues (Hasbro ver.): Ultra Magnus, Astrotrain, Soundwave, Optimus Prime (it's "Pinkimus Prime" but in the same style box as the first Hasbro reissue OP)
+ Arms Micron Unicron armour x Optimus Prime
+ YotS Optimus Prime
+ YotS Omega Supreme
+ Generations Metroplex

P.S.: They also had the Generations Scouts which seemed pricey for what they were, so I passed. They only had Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, neither of which interest me.

[Bidoofdude]

I went to Toys R Us at Fuzhou in Fujian Province on Thursday and sighted the following:
+ Generations Cliffjumper (retool of FE Cliffjumper w/ G1 style head)
+ Generations Wildrider (redeco of ROTF Breakdown)
+ MP Acid Storm & Soundwave (albeit at above AU RRP)
+ FE Vehicon
+ FE Bulkhead
+ TFPRiD Arcee, Hot Shot
+ TFPRiD Cyberverse figures, including some new redecos I haven't seen in AU
+ G1 reissues (Hasbro ver.): Ultra Magnus, Astrotrain, Soundwave, Optimus Prime (it's "Pinkimus Prime" but in the same style box as the first Hasbro reissue OP)
+ Arms Micron Unicron armour x Optimus Prime
+ YotS Optimus Prime
+ YotS Omega Supreme
+ Generations Metroplex

P.S.: They also had the Generations Scouts which seemed pricey for what they were, so I passed. They only had Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, neither of which interest me.


They had UM and Astrotrain in HK as well, also Rodimus and Sideswipe. They were really cool-looking. Wish I found an Op though in HK, not too fussed on my colours.

[pw_sd]

中国人？

I went to Toys R Us at Fuzhou in Fujian Province on Thursday and sighted the following:
+ Generations Cliffjumper (retool of FE Cliffjumper w/ G1 style head)
+ Generations Wildrider (redeco of ROTF Breakdown)
+ MP Acid Storm & Soundwave (albeit at above AU RRP)
+ FE Vehicon
+ FE Bulkhead
+ TFPRiD Arcee, Hot Shot
+ TFPRiD Cyberverse figures, including some new redecos I haven't seen in AU
+ G1 reissues (Hasbro ver.): Ultra Magnus, Astrotrain, Soundwave, Optimus Prime (it's "Pinkimus Prime" but in the same style box as the first Hasbro reissue OP)
+ Arms Micron Unicron armour x Optimus Prime
+ YotS Optimus Prime
+ YotS Omega Supreme
+ Generations Metroplex

P.S.: They also had the Generations Scouts which seemed pricey for what they were, so I passed. They only had Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, neither of which interest me.

[KELPIE]

The usual spot I go to in Shanghai has cleared out all the older stuff, platinum Trypticon, Insecticons, PoP, etc.

They now have the gold Soundwave, Big Powered ($150 Aussie, tempted), waves 1 & 2 of Siege a whole heap of Studio Series and a bunch of those evergreen figures that you never see anywhere.