Submissions, corrections, suggestions

[griffin]

This will be the only open topic in this section, as none of the reference listings are open for discussion.

If you have a submission (to an existing reference topic), a correction to something here, or a suggested review/change to existing content - post here WITH a link to the topic or its exact title name.

If you have a suggestion for a new resource/reference topic, or want to submit a new one, post here with details/description, and I'll see if it is suitable - If it is worth adding, I would then go through the content with you, or ask for you to post up what you've got and would create a new topic from your post.
This goes for any staff or members who are currently or later assigned to this project - discussion needs to be kept off the reference topics (like on a wiki site). This is just to keep the postings 'clean' and concise as possible, so that people don't need to wade through stuff that isn't archival information (like comments or signature files).

If one of your reference topics is used here, you can edit/update it if you want - it can be your responsibility if you choose. Otherwise, the staff of this section can update it whenever necessary (from this submissions topic).

[Paulbot]

Beast Wars toy prices seem too high. Early Deluxes were under $20 at Big W (I'll dig up that scan from the first catalogue when I can). Basics were more like $10 weren't they.

[Sky Shadow]

Beast Wars toy prices seem too high. Early Deluxes were under $20 at Big W (I'll dig up that scan from the first catalogue when I can). Basics were more like $10 weren't they.

Yeah, that's right. And Megas were $30ish and Ultras about $50.

[griffin]

Prices were from a recorded range, which included expensive stores... so could be skewed to the high side.
I have some catalogues as well from that era, plus some archived sightings, which I will go through after I've done up the toy lists and re-edit those sorts of minor details.
If you have something that is easily accessible, I can change the listings now from your numbers.


BTW, this section hasn't yet been officially launched, but each new post shows up on the daily listings, so it's not going to be a surprise when it is added to the main table.
It's a work in progress though, which will take a while before enough is posted to make it worth unveiling.

[Paulbot]

Oops. The lists are looking good though. I've enjoyed reading through them. I'd hold off other suggestions for now.

Could you unapprove the thread once you've published it? It should hide them (including this one) from all but the moderators and you could "approve" them when you want to launch.

[griffin]

Oops.
Don't be sorry. You haven't spoiled anything.
It's okay if people see these topics/posts - I could have hidden the entire section from the search engine and daily listings... but I figured that some of the first items I've posted up are needed quite often, so I want to have people use them if possible (which I've already been linking to them in some public topics).
You're free to use or refer to these topics as well, now that you know the link to access this section.

[griffin]

And just to be clear - corrections or additions to topics already here CAN be posted. I don't want to knock back anyone already keen to have something fixed.
I'm only not revealing/unveiling this section until such time that I think the format will work (after I've set up a number of topics to see if this concept is worth the effort).

[Sky Shadow]

Prices were from a recorded range, which included expensive stores... so could be skewed to the high side.
I have some catalogues as well from that era, plus some archived sightings, which I will go through after I've done up the toy lists and re-edit those sorts of minor details.

Cool. When you do, the prices do currently seem to be inflated. Is it excluding any sort of sale prices? Even if you look at your own fantastic resource here (http://www.otca.com.au/archive1.html), it says that Beast Machines prices were:

Beast Machines Retail Prices in Australia.
Supreme - $99.00-$109.00
Ultra - $37.28-$59.99
Mega - $15-$44.99
Deployer - $8.99-$13.51
Deluxe - $9.95-$32.49
Beast Rider - $13.51-$24.74
Basic - $5.47-$16.99

And yet in the new Beast Machines guide it says:

(SPM) Supreme - $99-$109
(SUP) Super - $80-100
(U) Ultra - $50-60
(M) Mega - $40-45
(D) Deluxe - $25-33
(BR) Beast Rider - $20-24
(DEP) Deployer - $10-13
(B) Basic - $15-17

And the Beast Wars prices are:

(SUP) Super - $80-100
(U) Ultra - $55-60
(M) Mega - $40-45
(D) Deluxe - $25-33
(B) Basic - $15-17

which is the same as you have for Beast Machines prices (and even more expensive for Ultras.) 1997 Beast Wars prices were definitely cheaper than this.

[Golden Phoenix]

In the Crossovers thread (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=11625) there is one error.
It is the class 1 SW figures. It is really minor, but you have the 2 Jedi Starfighters listed as the wrong versions around.
Should be:
Obi Wan/Clone Wars Jedi Starfighter
Anakin/Ep3 Jedi Starfighter

There is a small difference between the Ep2 Jedi Starfighter and the one in the Clone Wars tv show. The give away is the location of the droid dome. If it is in the centre, it is Clone Wars.

[griffin]

SWTFs - I'll fix that up. I haven't got any images or had a close look at those figures yet, so was likely to get something wrong from my guesses at their vehicle modes (as a not-so-much-a-SW-fan).


As for the prices - I actually used the ones from that archive listing you linked to, but those need to be fixed to remove the discounted/clearance prices I included (to make it more comparable throughout the years between the regular prices we've had to pay here). Basically I took the highest prices from that page, and made an approximate range from there by noting that stores are usually within $5-10 of the store that was the most expensive.

Anyway, spent most of today going through my box of old catalogues (that go back to the early 90s - it was a trippy flashback going through all of them :p )... and these are prices I found. From these I can extrapolate other prices, based on the set price points/gaps we have here.
Later I'll go through the early Ozformers newsletters to see if I posted any prices in there as well.

Basic
1997 - $10 (TRU, Myer)
1998 - $12-15 (W4K, TRU, TW)
1999 - $12-13 (TW, TRU)
2000 - $12 (TW)
2002 - $13-15 (KM, BW)
(currently (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=10934) at $16-20)

Deluxe
1997 - $17-18 (TRU, BW, Myer)
1998 - $19-26 (TRU, W4K)
1999 - $25 (TW)
2002 - $25 (KM, TW, BW, TRU)
(currently at $24-35)

BW Deluxe w/ Video
1998 - $20-25 (BW, TRU)

Mega/Voyager
1998 - $30 (TW)
2002 - $40 (KM, TRU)
(currently at $49-55)

Ultra
1998 - $40-48 (TW, W4K)
2000 - $50 (TW)
2002 - $55-58 (KM, BW
2003 - $60 (TW)
(not a current size class)

RiD Leader
2003 - $80 (TW)
(currently at $88-100)

TFA Super
2002/2003 - $90-99 (KM, BW)

Exchange rates during that time, which Hasbro used as justification to raise prices (but ignores the exchange rate when it goes back up).
1996 (http://www.x-rates.com/d/USD/AUD/hist1996.html) - US$0.74 up to US$0.80 (peak just at the end of the year as BW was just about to be released here)
1997 (http://www.x-rates.com/d/USD/AUD/hist1997.html) - US$0.78 down to US$0.66 (weaker rate = higher AU retail prices, as in the price rise next year)
1998 (http://www.x-rates.com/d/USD/AUD/hist1998.html) - US$0.66 to US$0.59 to US0.62 (still dropping)
1999 (http://www.x-rates.com/d/USD/AUD/hist1999.html) - US$0.63 to US$0.66 to US0.64 (minimal movement this year)
2000 (http://www.x-rates.com/d/USD/AUD/hist2000.html) - US$0.65 down to US$0.52 to end on US$0.55 (big drop this year)
2001 (http://www.x-rates.com/d/USD/AUD/hist2001.html) - US$0.55 down to US$0.50 to end on US$0.51 (the lowest point)
2002 (http://www.x-rates.com/d/USD/AUD/hist2001.html) - US$0.51 up to US$0.57 to US$0.56 (on the way back up from this point on, with a trough in 2009)

The exchange rate has been offsetting inflation and any US retail price rises since 2001... but we've still seen price rises in the last 10 years (no passing on of the Hasbro AUS's savings).


If I can't find actual documented prices for certain size classes during a particular series, I will include an estimate in brackets, based on prices of other size classes known or an adjacent series.

[Sky Shadow]

Those prices look much better, Griffin. Great work.

[griffin]

Saw some toy pics of the SWTFs Class 1 Wave 1, and it is quite obvious that I got the two mixed up. It's been fixed now.
I'll edit the prices later.

[Autocon]

only just saw this section:o would you like me to see if i have the reciepts for my bws??

also you said generations wheeljack is not here but i saw it at kmart along with scourge and kup in the generations section

[griffin]

Have another look. Each toy you mentioned is noted as being released here with wave 8, but their original waves (6 & 7) were noted as not being released here.

[bowspearer]

With Beast Machines, I actually recall deluxe prices going as high as $37 in Kmart at one point. Can't exactly remember the year, but I remember getting a shock and a half, and not in a good way.

[1AZRAEL1]

At the top of where it says Sightings/Sales, can we maybe have the different things broken up?

Like maybe

MP Rodimus at TRU - SWTFs Quad-changer - Exclusives at BigW, Kmart, Target, TRU - RescueBots w1 Target - DotM Activator W2 - SWTFs Class1 W1 Tworld - New JayJays clothing

Or maybe

MP Rodimus at TRU - SWTFs Quad-changer - Exclusives at BigW, Kmart, Target, TRU - RescueBots w1 Target - DotM Activator W2 - SWTFs Class1 W1 Tworld - New JayJays clothing

Or some other way? Or a different symbol between instead of a dash. Dunno if it's just me, but I find it hard to read as it is now.

[griffin]

I'll have a look at it. There's not a lot I can do with that, while trying to keep it as small as possible... When it blows out due to a heap of product being release in close succession, I try to condense as much as possible, hoping that it doesn't get too confusing.
I'd prefer to have it spaced out more, but that would just pad out the header too much.
I was thinking of reducing the amount of time each new sighting is listed, but we just get too many people asking if something is out instead of just looking themselves in the checklist or the sightings section.

[1orion2many]

Loving the lists Griffin, already using it to jog my memory of BW figures I have so I can make up a want list.:)

[griffin]

I'm hoping they are useful. I think tfwiki would have most of this info anyway, but this "on site" archive might make it easier for members here to use and refer to in topics. And I want to be sure that if anything happens to me or my own copies, this info isn't lost/wasted.

[Hursticon]

Just wanted to say top work with the resource lists Griffin, especially with the Beast Wars (A mad trip down memory lane :D) and the online stores lists. ;):cool:

[griffin]

I'm aiming to generate lists of the more Frequently Asked Questions, like stores and guides... so that members and guests don't have to waste time searching topics and sections of the board.
And it should make it easier for members to answer those questions when asked, by just pointing to a single topic or this section.

[Paulbot]

Regarding the Rescue Bots (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=11772) listing...

I saw the "Bumblebee's Rescue Garage" at Target a few weeks ago (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?p=256633#post256633) so that's definitely out here.

Target has the Basics for $14 if you wanted to list AU prices.

[griffin]

Regarding the Rescue Bots (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=11772) listing...

I saw the "Bumblebee's Rescue Garage" at Target a few weeks ago (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?p=256633#post256633) so that's definitely out here.

Target has the Basics for $14 if you wanted to list AU prices.

Oops, I put the 'HERE' next to the wrong playset.
Fixed it now.
I'll add in AU$ prices eventually, probably when I update it with all the remaining product pics.

[Hursticon]

Hey Griff,

I was wondering if we'd be able to add this online store to the relevant list?

Site:www.bigislandtoys.com (http://www.bigislandtoys.com/)
Contact:dmamer4442@aol.com

I found that he has a lot of G1 paperwork (Some quite unique and/or rare) amongst a hell of a lot of other things; The prices were great, communication was good and postage was very swift. :cool:

I'm not sure of what the criteria is so I thought I'd put it by you. ;):)

[griffin]

Added.

[Hursticon]

Added.

Cheers dude, I'll be making a more obvious reference when I post what I've received from them; but I'm just waiting on receiving a couple more things from 1AZRAEL1 before I do. ;):)

[lj7369]

Is there a resource for literature?
Mainly interested in the books such as exiles, exodus.
Just a thought....

[Darksaber]

Independent retailers - SA addition

Shin Toyko - Masterpiece Import Figures
Rundle Mall Plaza, 50 Rundle Mall, Adelaide SA 5000

Toys R Go - Various Transformers Figures including G1
544 Goodwood Rd, Daw Park SA 5041

[griffin]

Independent retailers - SA addition

Shin Toyko - Masterpiece Import Figures
Rundle Mall Plaza, 50 Rundle Mall, Adelaide SA 5000

Toys R Go - Various Transformers Figures including G1
544 Goodwood Rd, Daw Park SA 5041


Added, thankyou. :)