Transformers Venting thread!

[Bidoofdude]

From BBTS' FB page regarding Blitzwing/Springer:
We received an initial shipment however are still awaiting the rest of our order. We anticipate them to be arriving later this month.
...so it may very well be June before I see 'em. :mad: :(
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/bbtswaiting_zps1bc61159.jpg

D'oh! Should've got in earlier. :(

[5FDP]

This one’s probably going to sound like such a noob effort but I am having all sorts of trouble transforming my moofie Bumblebee (Camaro concept) back into car mode. The bonnet panels are basically not budging to allow me to line it up and therefore I cannot get his shoulders / tires pushed back in. Someone... PLEASE HELP! I spent about an hour and a half on this last night and it's frustrating the crap outta me :mad: :mad:

[Omega Metro]

This one’s probably going to sound like such a noob effort but I am having all sorts of trouble transforming my moofie Bumblebee (Camaro concept) back into car mode. The bonnet panels are basically not budging to allow me to line it up and therefore I cannot get his shoulders / tires pushed back in. Someone... PLEASE HELP! I spent about an hour and a half on this last night and it's frustrating the crap outta me :mad: :mad:

You are not the only one. WFC Bumblebee frustrates me to no end as to how it transforms.:)

[BigTransformerTrev]

unfortunately the average retail wage at a store like myer or anywhere else for that matter, isn't often any more than minimum award, not much incentive for people to care too hard. the electronics stores do have commision incentives but I'll be surprised if myer or david jones staff do, they certainly didn't used to.

Yeah, I used to find the people at Bunnings were like that. Just didn't give two shits about being remotely helpful because they were working for a chain that didn't pay much and didn't give a crap about them. But they could at least put in a modicum of effort. Same with if you buy a Maccas burger (which we only do in a food emergency), my wife got a Fillet'o'fish the other day - there are only 3 things in the burger - a piece of fish, a piece of cheese and some sauce and do you think they managed to get any of it between the buns? Hells no they didn't! Now Maccas pays crap, but goddamn it, you can still at least put the food on the damn bun! :mad:



P.S.: The manager at the Myer I went to called me today and offered an unreserved apology for the way I was treated. He said that the person in question will be spoken to about the way she should be speaking with customers, and he offered to give me a 'better deal' on my next purchase. :cool:

So that's Myers where the manager had to give you an apology, Toys'R'Us where the head office had to give you an apology - out of interest how many stores have you brought to task Gok? ;)

[Sinnertwin]

Not really a vent, but ive been cautioned on my TF spending by the other half. it's not like i'm buying AFA graded stuff every second day.

[GoktimusPrime]

So that's Myers where the manager had to give you an apology, Toys'R'Us where the head office had to give you an apology - out of interest how many stores have you brought to task Gok? ;)
Just those two. I don't necessarily expect staff to grovel on their knees and treat me as some lofty superior, but I do expect to be treated with the same level of courtesy that I show to them. I spoke to the Myer staff politely and she replied with in a contemptuous and apathetic manner. The TRU manager spoke to me in an aggressive and attacking manner, even though I never spoke to him that way. I don't go about being rude or abusive to staff, so I certainly don't expect staff to be impolite to me... and if they are, then I'll report it.

[5FDP]

This one’s probably going to sound like such a noob effort but I am having all sorts of trouble transforming my moofie Bumblebee (Camaro concept) back into car mode. The bonnet panels are basically not budging to allow me to line it up and therefore I cannot get his shoulders / tires pushed back in. Someone... PLEASE HELP! I spent about an hour and a half on this last night and it's frustrating the crap outta me :mad: :mad:

All sorted. Just had to use a fair bit of force to get everything to line up. I hadn't transformed this figure in years but surely that would not be a reason why it was so stiff :confused: Anyway, he's remaining in car mode now.

[BigTransformerTrev]

Just those two. I don't necessarily expect staff to grovel on their knees and treat me as some lofty superior, but I do expect to be treated with the same level of courtesy that I show to them. I spoke to the Myer staff politely and she replied with in a contemptuous and apathetic manner. The TRU manager spoke to me in an aggressive and attacking manner, even though I never spoke to him that way. I don't go about being rude or abusive to staff, so I certainly don't expect staff to be impolite to me... and if they are, then I'll report it.

On Friday after I went to the doctors I nicked into Target to see if they had gotten the new Predaking in and was witness to a very lackluster sales assistant bring an old lady into the ilse and say "Here's the Transformers, we don't have many. I don't think we've got any big Optimus Primes" and walk off. Distinctly unimpressed by him I went up to her, started a conversation and offered my services. Turned out she was buying for a 3 year old who loved Transformers because his older cousins were into them. Since they didn't have any of the Rescue Bots I was able to sell her on 2 3-packs of Bot Shots because they didn't have any tiny parts, he could crash them into each other and there were no difficult transformations. She left happy and I left there thinking how much more helpful than the actual employee I was. I should have asked for a gratuity but the fact that a young child out there will be enjoying TF's is enough for me ;)

[UltraMarginal]

On Friday after I went to the doctors I nicked into Target to see if they had gotten the new Predaking in and was witness to a very lackluster sales assistant bring an old lady into the ilse and say "Here's the Transformers, we don't have many. I don't think we've got any big Optimus Primes" and walk off. Distinctly unimpressed by him I went up to her, started a conversation and offered my services. Turned out she was buying for a 3 year old who loved Transformers because his older cousins were into them. Since they didn't have any of the Rescue Bots I was able to sell her on 2 3-packs of Bot Shots because they didn't have any tiny parts, he could crash them into each other and there were no difficult transformations. She left happy and I left there thinking how much more helpful than the actual employee I was. I should have asked for a gratuity but the fact that a young child out there will be enjoying TF's is enough for me ;)

Yea, I've done similar things like that in the past.

[GoktimusPrime]

Yup, I've done that more times than I can count. ;) Hasbro should give us a discount for helping them sell their toys. :p

[BigTransformerTrev]

Yea, I've done similar things like that in the past.


Yup, I've done that more times than I can count. ;) Hasbro should give us a discount for helping them sell their toys. :p

I remember about 6 years ago looking at the Transformers in K-Mart in Northland Shopping Centre, Melb and some furtive, awkward guy (not an employee) came up unsolicited, trying to give me advice on what to buy. I politely told him that I had over 600 at home and I knew what I was doing thanks.

I wonder if it was someone from here :rolleyes::p

[GoktimusPrime]

Wasn't me. When I see other possible collectors looking at TFs in store start off with, "Do you collect Transformers?" or "Are you a fan of Transformers?" -- sometimes I accidentally meet OTCA members for the first time IRL by doing so! (e.g. Suspectimus Prime, Starscream77 :))

[5FDP]

What I want to know is, are there any board members that met their partners in a toy aisle?

[GoktimusPrime]

Nope... but I did used to go out with a girl whom I would bring toy hunting as part of our dates (she was a TF collector too ;)).

[doublespy]

#TFPrime spoiler#






Just did a Primathon with couple of episodes in a row and finally I finished Prime season 2(I know, 1:30 on a Monday morning..won't be prodcutive on Mondays anyways:p)

The CGI is very very awesome. Most of the characters are interesting and this alone gets me to buy toys. But personally I feel that there are just too many things that don't make any sense throughout the show (Fowler fights off an armada of Vehicons and Insecticons alone, in a human chopper which is not even a gunship, and he got out effortlessly with only Wheeljack's help and even had time to save the lady..meanwhile the Autobots just returned to base to do whatever and didn't even wish him good luck..So I guess Fowler's life is nothing compare to the kids'. Come on!) , so bad to the point that I wanted to turn my computer off a couple of times. I understand this is a kid's show but kids have common sense too. I bet older kids will sometimes feel the same way as I do.. I'm not complaining about the big plot line, just the small details that really turn me off. I feel like they're wasting good animation with this medicocre writing.

G1 was goofy and all but it was 30 years ago..To me Beast Wars has the best writing and very good attention to detail. Even now when I'm re-watching BW I don't think I can find anything that completely dosn't make sense.

Maybe I'm just too critical of movies/tv shows in general. But I don't find Prime has any re-watching value at all.

[SkyWarp91]

Yo Alternators Smokescreen, why you so hard to panel-line up?

[GoktimusPrime]

BTs/ALTs are much like MPs in that you have to ensure that everything is transformed absolutely correctly. If you have even a single part not aligned perfectly then it can affect the entire transformation. So if your Smokescreen's parts aren't lining up right, I recommend going back several steps and trying again. Hasbro's crappy instructions also don't help. :rolleyes: #BinaltechFTW

[kup]

BTs/ALTs are much like MPs in that you have to ensure that everything is transformed absolutely correctly. If you have even a single part not aligned perfectly then it can affect the entire transformation. So if your Smokescreen's parts aren't lining up right, I recommend going back several steps and trying again. Hasbro's crappy instructions also don't help. :rolleyes: #BinaltechFTW

Masterpiece Rodimus is the king of that.

[BigTransformerTrev]

FRICKEN IDIOT SALES ASSISTANTS!!!


Rang the Target in Swan Hill last night. Here is the discussion between me and a 19yo sales assistant:


Me: Hi, I know your toy sale starts next Tuesday night. I wanted to find out if you will be getting in a Transformer I'm after. It's called "Platinum Edition: Ultra Magnus" It's a Target Exlusive.

Them: Oh um, I can't see it on the shelves. I don't think we have it.

Me: Yes I know you don't have it yet, I wanted to know if you are getting it in for your toy sale next week.

Them: What size is it?

Me: It's fairly big in a stylized box.

Them: No, I can't see it. The only big Transformers we have I can see are Optimus Primes.

Me: No, I know you don't have it yet. I want to know if you are getting it in for your toy sale.

Them: Whats it called again?

Me: "Platnium Edition Ultra Magnus". It's a Target Exclusive.

Them: An Ultra Magnet

Me: No (gritting teeth), Ultra Magnus

Them: No, well if it excludes Target we woudln't be getting it anyway.

Me: No, it's exclusive TO Target!

Them: Oh, then yes we should be getting it in.

Me: So you are getting it in?

Them: Where did you see it?

Me: Your online Toy Catalog

Them: Well, then we should be getting it in

Me: So are you getting it in?

Them: Well I don't know. No-one here would know

Me: (with a mixture of disbelief & exasperation) You don't know what toys you are getting in for your toy sale?!

Them: No, we just take what we are given

Me: Click



So I am going to trek down there today, catalog printed out in hand and hit them up in person. Our Target is that small that there is a good chance they wont get it in so hopefully if I can get someone to understand they can order it in for me.

P.S: I posted this in the Target Toy Sale thread but I am that irritated I had to post it again in the vent section :mad:

[BigTransformerTrev]

FRICKEN IDIOT SALES ASSISTANTS!!!


Rang the Target in Swan Hill last night. Here is the discussion between me and a 19yo sales assistant:


Me: Hi, I know your toy sale starts next Tuesday night. I wanted to find out if you will be getting in a Transformer I'm after. It's called "Platinum Edition: Ultra Magnus" It's a Target Exlusive.

Them: Oh um, I can't see it on the shelves. I don't think we have it.

Me: Yes I know you don't have it yet, I wanted to know if you are getting it in for your toy sale next week.

Them: What size is it?

Me: It's fairly big in a stylized box.

Them: No, I can't see it. The only big Transformers we have I can see are Optimus Primes.

Me: No, I know you don't have it yet. I want to know if you are getting it in for your toy sale.

Them: Whats it called again?

Me: "Platnium Edition Ultra Magnus". It's a Target Exclusive.

Them: An Ultra Magnet

Me: No (gritting teeth), Ultra Magnus

Them: No, well if it excludes Target we woudln't be getting it anyway.

Me: No, it's exclusive TO Target!

Them: Oh, then yes we should be getting it in.

Me: So you are getting it in?

Them: Where did you see it?

Me: Your online Toy Catalog

Them: Well, then we should be getting it in

Me: So are you getting it in?

Them: Well I don't know. No-one here would know

Me: (with a mixture of disbelief & exasperation) You don't know what toys you are getting in for your toy sale?!

Them: No, we just take what we are given

Me: Click



So I am going to trek down there today, catalog printed out in hand and hit them up in person. Our Target is that small that there is a good chance they wont get it in so hopefully if I can get someone to understand they can order it in for me.

P.S: I posted this in the Target Toy Sale thread but I am that irritated I had to post it again in the vent section :mad:



I just went down there and they had 16 sitting on the shelves! :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

The woman could not have done a cursory check when I rang yesterday? :confused::confused: Of course not, that would have required some semblence of competence on her part.

[Hursticon]

I just went down there and they had 16 sitting on the shelves! :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

The woman could not have done a cursory check when I rang yesterday? :confused::confused: Of course not, that would have required some semblence of competence on her part.

Wow! - That's just absolutely appalling :eek::rolleyes:, yet another reason why Online Retail is growing in this country everyday; sorry to hear of your dealings with inept-ability dude. :o

[griffin]

Report it their customer service website. If they don't know about it, they will be less likely to do anything about it.

[Bidoofdude]

FRICKEN IDIOT SALES ASSISTANTS!!!


Rang the Target in Swan Hill last night. Here is the discussion between me and a 19yo sales assistant:


Me: Hi, I know your toy sale starts next Tuesday night. I wanted to find out if you will be getting in a Transformer I'm after. It's called "Platinum Edition: Ultra Magnus" It's a Target Exlusive.

Them: Oh um, I can't see it on the shelves. I don't think we have it.

Me: Yes I know you don't have it yet, I wanted to know if you are getting it in for your toy sale next week.

Them: What size is it?

Me: It's fairly big in a stylized box.

Them: No, I can't see it. The only big Transformers we have I can see are Optimus Primes.

Me: No, I know you don't have it yet. I want to know if you are getting it in for your toy sale.

Them: Whats it called again?

Me: "Platnium Edition Ultra Magnus". It's a Target Exclusive.

Them: An Ultra Magnet

Me: No (gritting teeth), Ultra Magnus

Them: No, well if it excludes Target we woudln't be getting it anyway.

Me: No, it's exclusive TO Target!

Them: Oh, then yes we should be getting it in.

Me: So you are getting it in?

Them: Where did you see it?

Me: Your online Toy Catalog

Them: Well, then we should be getting it in

Me: So are you getting it in?

Them: Well I don't know. No-one here would know

Me: (with a mixture of disbelief & exasperation) You don't know what toys you are getting in for your toy sale?!

Them: No, we just take what we are given

Me: Click



So I am going to trek down there today, catalog printed out in hand and hit them up in person. Our Target is that small that there is a good chance they wont get it in so hopefully if I can get someone to understand they can order it in for me.

P.S: I posted this in the Target Toy Sale thread but I am that irritated I had to post it again in the vent section :mad:

That's really stupid dude. :p What mystifies me is how he says he can't see it on the shelf and doesn't even know what it looks like or what it was called. :mad::p

[BigTransformerTrev]

Report it their customer service website. If they don't know about it, they will be less likely to do anything about it.

Already done, though considering the small town and me being the only Transformer nut in it, I hope it doesn't come back to bite me on the arse

[Sinnertwin]

Already done, though considering the small town and me being the only Transformer nut in it, I hope it doesn't come back to bite me on the arse

i wouldn't worry considering they missed 16 boxes of toys staring right at them :rolleyes: They'd be lucky to remember their way back home.

[BigTransformerTrev]

Second Transformer venting topic from me in two days. Big Angry Trev indeed!


The other day one of my students and her mother said they were headed to Bendigo. I said jokingly that they could pick up my Transformer comics for me. When I saw they were taking me seriously I stressed most vhemnently that I was joking and that I really did not require or wish them to pick up my comics.

In the middle of my drama class yesterday I got paged for a call. Turned out that against my wishes the mum and student had gone to my comic shop (owned and run by Ozformer member Mechbiter - as fine a fellow as you ever will meet! Ever going through Bendigo I heartily recomend you drop in to Good vs Evil for a shop) and were trying to obtain my comics for me :eek::mad:.

Now these are two worlds I don't like to overlap. As far as I'm concerned my relationship with parents and students should be strictly profesional and never extend beyond the school boundaries. But as they passed the phone to Mechbiter so I could tell him my comic needs (which he pretty much knew anyway) I realized I couldn't tell him to refuse to pass them over.

So kinda irritated that even though my student and her mum were trying to do me a good turn that they went against my wishes :mad:. And also irritated I told Mechbiter the wrong thing so missed out on issue 17 of MTMTE (he's putting it aside for me) so I will prob read 18 first :(.

Mechbiter said he had heard that apparently the box set of Season 1 of TF: Prime out in town but I urged him to not let the parent and mum get it for me as that boundry had been crossed enough. And in typical fashion he not only complied with my wishes but said if he saw it he would grab one for me and keep it in his shop until my next visit :).

So yeah, a TF vent about boundries and missing an issue, but this inadvertently turned into a Mechbiter fanboy letter :p :D

[Ae-Evolution]

Just went to Target, went to ask them would they match price, and before I could even tell them who to match the guy there went "Nope" and moved on. A bit of a douche move right there.

[Seraphim Prime]

Just went to Target, went to ask them would they match price, and before I could even tell them who to match the guy there went "Nope" and moved on. A bit of a douche move right there.

You should have grabbed the guy and pointed to the "Toy price guarantee" signs I've seen in almost all the Target toy sections.

The dude was just being a lazy ar****le.

[Sinnertwin]

Just went to Target, went to ask them would they match price, and before I could even tell them who to match the guy there went "Nope" and moved on. A bit of a douche move right there.

Nope and moved on? Looks like their customers are doing the same.

[Bidoofdude]

Nope and moved on? Looks like their customers are doing the same.

Lead by example... :rolleyes:

[BigTransformerTrev]

GAH! FRICKEN BBTS AND THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!

Clicked on 'Ship my Loot' on August 1st, then on August 6th get this letter:

Hello,

Thanks so much for ordering from BigBadToyStore! We truly appreciate your patronage and we wanted to let you know there may be a shipping delay on your order. The delay is due to an all-time record amount of new product arriving at the same time last week (Metroplex, Star Wars Black, Marvel Legends, DC Direct, TF Generations, TMNT, Play Arts & much, much more). We apologize for the delay and we are working feverishly to get as many orders out the door as possible each day. We have pulled people from other departments to work in the warehouse, added new employees, and will be working overtime until we are current on orders. Your patience is greatly appreciated, and we are very sorry for the delay.

Sincerely,
Joel Boblit
President
www.bigbadtoystore.com



Then on August 8th I get this letter:


Good Morning Trevor,

Please accept our apologies but we have experienced a product shortage and unfortunately do not have the following item available for your order #.

TAK11427 AM-19 Gaia Unicron

Once again I apologize for this matter. The item(s) have been removed from your order, and a full refund was issued back to your card on file. I have also added an additional $5.00 BBTS Store Credit for this inconvenience. This credit will automatically apply towards your next purchase or preorder arrival.

Please contact me within 2 business days if you would like to make any additions to your order, otherwise we will ship out the rest of your order as is.

I look forward to your reply and have a wonderful day!

--
Sincerely,

Mike
Customer Relations Manager
www.Bigbadtoystore.com
321 SMC Dr. | Somerset, WI 54025



FRICKEN USELESS SODS! Second order in a row they have lost a TF that's been in my POL for months, and the second time delay with this order so it will ship a minimum of 10 days AFTER I clicked for them to ship it! And this is after multiple delays with many of the items like the new Triple Changers.

Seriously considering moving my business over to Robot Kingdom.

[serialmonkey]

Not what I wanted to hear, I just pressed ship on my first PoL ever yesterday and have been pressing 'refresh' on the 'in warehouse' status once every 5 seconds since !

Think I'll go find a dark corner to rock back and forward in for a few days .....

[BigTransformerTrev]

Not what I wanted to hear, I just pressed ship on my first PoL ever yesterday and have been pressing 'refresh' on the 'in warehouse' status once every 5 seconds since !

Think I'll go find a dark corner to rock back and forward in for a few days .....

Usually the warehouse takes 1 to 2 days so don't stress just yet - you may have better luck than me ;)

[Trent]

Not what I wanted to hear, I just pressed ship on my first PoL ever yesterday and have been pressing 'refresh' on the 'in warehouse' status once every 5 seconds since !

Think I'll go find a dark corner to rock back and forward in for a few days .....

As Trev said, odds are very good that it'll be fine. Apart from my last PoL taking 5 days to actually ship from the time I hit the 'Ship My Loot' button, I have never had a problem with BBTS. They are one of the best companies out there for customer service.

I once broke a part off a TF after just opening it. I contacted them to see about getting a replacement and they couldn't source one as the product was out of stock, so offeredme a full refund or 35% refund as store credit. As I could fix it myself I took the store credit. :D

[kaiden]

yeah my order has been stuck in warehouse for a week now :/

[BigTransformerTrev]

yeah my order has been stuck in warehouse for a week now :/

Mine has FINALLY shipped today. According to the tracking records though, my POL got that big they are sending it in 3 seperate huge boxes :p

Now to see how long shipping takes, and if everything is in it when it gets here.

[serialmonkey]

Awesome news :-)

Mine is still in the warehouse, but I'm expecting the same might happen. I think I have 19 separate items.

[BigTransformerTrev]

Awesome news :-)

Mine is still in the warehouse, but I'm expecting the same might happen. I think I have 19 separate items.

Cheers man :) I just counted and I've got 34 seperate items (and 1 of them is Metroplex) :eek:

[Sinnertwin]

Cheers man :) I just counted and I've got 34 seperate items (and 1 of them is Metroplex) :eek:

Have you got enough? :p :p That's one epic haul :D

[serialmonkey]

Cheers man :) I just counted and I've got 34 seperate items (and 1 of them is Metroplex) :eek:

EXCELLENT ! That has helped relieve my guilt immensely :-D

[Deonasis]

Rookie mistake. 5 minutes to go and I missed my chance to bid on a variant Soundwave poster at eBay.com because it redirected me to eBay.com.au to log on before bidding. Then i struggled to find the auction again (eBay sometimes only shows a subset of available auctions). Then as more seconds pass and I bid eBay tells me it cannot ship to my location.. NO SH!T eBay, I was going to use a mail forwarder!! Auction is now over and it sold for $30 less than I was willing to pay before postage.

Sore points
1) I can log in to eBay.com so I did not need to be redirected to .com.au
2) If eBay won't let me bid from .com.au then hide/disable the bid button and display a message instead.
3) If I win a no international auction and try to get shipping to Australia afterwards then I am a dumb eBay user and accept the possibility of forfeiting the item and receiving negative feedback from the seller. eBay does not know where I want to ship the item. Don't nanny me!
4) I am sooo entitled.

[Jetfire in the sky]

I wonder if that is new, Pretty much 98% of the auctions that I do are no international postage, but about four months ago I had some clown from Italy win one of my auctions that were "does not post internationally". Bloody e-bay.
I just noticed you are from Charters Towers :)

P.S. Said clown had no intention of paying :mad:

[Deonasis]

...I just noticed you are from Charters Towers :) I am in TSV most weekends, if i see a meet i'll try attend.

Bad luck about your auction too. Poor Italians, nobody wants to ship to them due to what i've heard is a dodgy postal service. Can you leave accurate feedback on them as a non-buyer or will they give you poor feedback if you do that?

[Jetfire in the sky]

I've noticed a lot of UK sellers specifically stating they won't post to Italy. I didn't bother with negative feedback.

[BigTransformerTrev]

Fricken online shopping! Sorry to keep venting on the same topic but it always seems to go wrong! For the first time ever I bought a comic on ebay (Transformers vs Mars Attacks) as Mechbiter couldn't track it down for me (and he is usually awesome at that stuff!). The seller is some husband & wife that run a comic shop in NSW somewhere.

2 days later the item is marked as 'sent'

2 days after that I get an email from them 'We are sorry, it appears we had sold out of that comic so have had to order one. We will post it to you when it arrives'. So why the slag did they mark it as sent?!



WHAT IS WITH ALL THESE IDIOTS ONLINE (BBTS, EBAY etc) ADVERTISING PRODUCTS ONLINE AND THEN TELL YOU "WE ARE OUT OF STOCK" AFTER YOU HAVE PURCHASED IT?!?! IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT, DON'T ADVERTISE IT AS FOR SALE!!! IT'S COMMON BUSINESS SENSE!

[theshape]

Yeah whata joke, imagine buying food at the supermarket and them saying "oh sorry thats a display box, we will have more in tomorrow"

[GoktimusPrime]

This is why real life shopping is so much better. You walk in a store - physically see the product there, hold it, buy it, take it home. I know in you're situation it's a lot harder due to you're remoteness BTT... :(

[serialmonkey]

My PoL shipped this morning. Took just under a week to get out of the warehouse. Perhaps BBTS are getting back on top of things

[kaiden]

This is why real life shopping is so much better. You walk in a store - physically see the product there, hold it, buy it, take it home. I know in you're situation it's a lot harder due to you're remoteness BTT... :(

except that situation isn't always the experience.

-old waves shelf warming
-exclusives all sold out (i missed out on MP11-Thundercracker. never saw it on shelf) or hard to obtain (MP10, missed the 1st batch but managed the 2nd.)
-overpriced
-cost of petrol, parking, other shoppers, cigarette smoke, uninterested or no product knowledge employees. there's probably more that i can't think of now.

they both have their ups and downs but i would hardly say real life shopping is better. at least not in australia :P

my BBTS POL took 11 days to leave the warehouse :mad: hopefully it gets here by friday so i have the weekend to play with them.

[SuspectimusPrime]

except that situation isn't always the experience.

-cost of petrol, parking, other shoppers, cigarette smoke, uninterested or no product knowledge employees. there's probably more that i can't think of now.


Called the other day out of whim (my partner needed a few mins to get ready, so had 20-30mins to kill) to inquire about BH Sharticon Megatron at a local unnamed chain that I know has at least two shelves of shelf-warming TFs. The response I got was that all TFs were sold out, and there is one left, but it is a helmet that is already on hold for another customer. Could feel several blood vessels in my eyes dying of heat stroke. Did not bother to call another store after that. Not the end-all reason, but it is a good reminder why my pattern of spend in the past 9 months has been online.

[kaiden]

Called the other day out of whim (my partner needed a few mins to get ready, so had 20-30mins to kill) to inquire about BH Sharticon Megatron at a local unnamed chain that I know has at least two shelves of shelf-warming TFs. The response I got was that all TFs were sold out, and there is one left, but it is a helmet that is already on hold for another customer. Could feel several blood vessels in my eyes dying of heat stroke. Did not bother to call another store after that. Not the end-all reason, but it is a good reminder why my pattern of spend in the past 9 months has been online.

you should get him on amazon. (http://www.amazon.com/Transformers-Hunters-Voyager-Sharkticon-Megatron/dp/B00B2F9YY0/ref=sr_1_125?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1374929851&sr=1-125&keywords=transformers)

at current exchange rates, its $28AU plus $13 shipping and if you buy it with a few other things like voyager springer, blitzwing, sandstorm or some kreons the overall postage is lower.

http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=15048&page=10

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

they both have their ups and downs but i would hardly say real life shopping is better. at least not in australia :P

Oh my I agree here, I get so depressed after coming back from a holiday to do some shopping here.

My vent, the new generations toys that I have been eagerly awaiting are lookig less exciting. I red two fair reviews from a blog I like and both Megatron and Trailbreaker/cutter were a bit kind of disappointing.

Not that I am not going to get them, but I am not looking forward to them as much now.

I guess on the plus side, if I think they are crap, I am less likely to be disappointed with them once in hand...?

[SuspectimusPrime]

you should get him on amazon. (http://www.amazon.com/Transformers-Hunters-Voyager-Sharkticon-Megatron/dp/B00B2F9YY0/ref=sr_1_125?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1374929851&sr=1-125&keywords=transformers)

at current exchange rates, its $28AU plus $13 shipping and if you buy it with a few other things like voyager springer, blitzwing, sandstorm or some kreons the overall postage is lower.

http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=15048&page=10

Thanks for the tip :) I'll probably take your advice if I can't a local one in another week or so.

[Sinnertwin]

Thanks for the tip :) I'll probably take your advice if I can't a local one in another week or so.

I'll keep an eye out if we get another at work

[SuspectimusPrime]

I'll keep an eye out if we get another at work

Thanks Sinner! :)

[Deonasis]

I bought a Takara FoC Grimlock off eBay but a Hasbro Grimlock arrived. Have to sort it out now.. *sigh*

[GoktimusPrime]

I bought a Takara FoC Grimlock off eBay but a Hasbro Grimlock arrived. Have to sort it out now.. *sigh*
:eek: That's five flavours of crap! :eek:
I bought a TakTOM FoC Grimlock from Amazon JP several months ago, so I'm pretty sure it's a TakTOM version. It's still sitting in Japan -- I intend to ship it w/ the MP Nissans to save on postage. :o

[Sky Shadow]

I almost never buy 21st century Transformers any more because when I do, there almost always is something wrong with them or they're a piece of $#!*. I bought Sharkticon Megatron and he's missing a knee guard. Fricking heck HasTakTom, is it really so hard to get a toy right?

[nofacej]

Got my BBTS order today, and overall I'm very pleased, but holy balls is Blitzwing ever terrible. I've applied some of the mods to fix him, but that head sculpt is all kinds of terrible, and none of his modes are very appealing. Also my Springer has some very dodgy paint apps either side of the bonnet, and PP05P came without his gun (I think BBTS will sort that out for me though).

[BigTransformerTrev]

Argh! King idiot here just gouged a few holes in his Hasbro Exclusive comic cover when opening his Generations Megatron with a pair of scissors! :(

[GoktimusPrime]

I find box cutters and hobby knives to be much more precise at opening toys.

[lancalot]

Argh! King idiot here just gouged a few holes in his Hasbro Exclusive comic cover when opening his Generations Megatron with a pair of scissors! :(

I hate blister packs ! remembering first time trying to open spawn figure and not to wreck the art background ! Always seem to get it ripped:mad:

[BigTransformerTrev]

I hate blister packs ! remembering first time trying to open spawn figure and not to wreck the art background ! Always seem to get it ripped:mad:

Yeah, in the end I've sticky-taped it up on the inside of the cover so you can only tell if you really look, and put it in a comic book plastic pocket to live forever. Still annoying though as it's an exclusive cover (there are probably only a few million in the whole world :p ) and it's actually one of my fav IDW issues - the portrayal of the SScream & Megs relationship is awesome! So I would have liked another version of the issue sitting raound to read. Ah well, my own damn fault

[GoktimusPrime]

This video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yYEuw-8JA4) shows how to open a carded toy. Although he cuts toward himself - which is what I used to do when I was collecting Beast Wars... and cut myself once or twice, since then I always cut away from myself. ;)

As most Sydney fans know, I have a Toy Liberation/Emancipation Kit, which is a small Transformers tin pencil box which consists of:
+ A box cutter: for cutting blisters
+ A hobby knife: also for cutting blisters
+ A pair of tin snips: for cutting twist ties

;)

[griffin]

Argh! King idiot here just gouged a few holes in his Hasbro Exclusive comic cover when opening his Generations Megatron with a pair of scissors! :(

I damaged my Orion Pax comic... and that was with a box cutter and "quite a bit of experience opening TFs toys". :o:(:rolleyes:

The way those comic deluxes are so tightly packed, it is difficult to cut off the bubble without hitting the comic or damaging the backing card (which I'm trying to keep).

[Firestorm]

Damaged my trailcutter comic opening the generations toy >.<
having the comic so tightly packed against the blister makes it hard to get it out

[Sinnertwin]

I'll keep this in mind when i pick up Trailbreaker & Orion next Saturday

[DELTAprime]

I just rip open the card/bubble as it's going in the bin, I had no problem with the comics getting damaged. Maybe don't cut them out, or cut the bottom open and side them out.

[GoktimusPrime]

Damaged my trailcutter comic opening the generations toy >.<
having the comic so tightly packed against the blister makes it hard to get it out
When it comes to toys w/ comics, I always turn the toy so that it's blister down, card up. That way gravity draws the comic away from the card, and then I cut the blade in the space between. I haven't gotten any of the Generations toys w/ comics yet, but I've done it w/ some Star Wars and Marvel Legends toys that came packed w/ comics.

[Trent]

This video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yYEuw-8JA4) shows how to open a carded toy. Although he cuts toward himself - which is what I used to do when I was collecting Beast Wars... and cut myself once or twice, since then I always cut away from myself. ;)

Place I used to work at, if they caught you cutting toward yourself with a stanley knife once you got a warning. Second time was your job. I've seen some VERY serious injuries from doing that.

[kaiden]

My cat knocked my ROTF Armorhide off of it's shelf and its gun snapped off.
now I have 2 broken armorhides :(
don't think I'll be buying a third

haha i had to ban my cat from coming near my desk, after i caught her chewing on some of my lego -_-


Place I used to work at, if they caught you cutting toward yourself with a stanley knife once you got a warning. Second time was your job. I've seen some VERY serious injuries from doing that.

yeah i don't understand the reasoning behind cutting towards yourself... i even tell my wife off for using a peeler in that way

[SuspectimusPrime]

My cat knocked my ROTF Armorhide off of it's shelf and its gun snapped off.
now I have 2 broken armorhides :(
don't think I'll be buying a third


haha i had to ban my cat from coming near my desk, after i caught her chewing on some of my lego -_-


One of my cats once jumped onto my highest shelf and nibbled on the tip of Animated Sentinel Prime's lance :( There was hardly any room to sit up there...

Another time, more recently, my other cat knocked Generations Thundercracker down from my bedside table, and then stole one of his blue missiles. It took a day, but I finally realised that he hid it under our massage chair (one of his fav hiding spots). Thankfully there was no bite marks.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

This video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yYEuw-8JA4) shows how to open a carded toy. Although he cuts toward himself - which is what I used to do when I was collecting Beast Wars... and cut myself once or twice, since then I always cut away from myself. ;)


I dont believe that I just watched a video on how to open a toy.

Man youtube is full of rubbish:p

[GoktimusPrime]

I dont believe that I just watched a video on how to open a toy.

Man youtube is full of rubbish:p
Beats watching a Senator throw kangaroo poo at people.

[Trent]

Beats watching a Senator throw kangaroo poo at people.

Lol. That remeinds me of the episode of the Simpsons where they go to Australia.

The bit where the farmer goes, "This is a bloody outrage it is! I'm gonna take this to my member of parliament!" And walks out to the pig pen to Guss. :D



That is one of the best Simpsons episodes ever :)

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Just noticed that my IDW Gens Bumblebee has stress marks on the upper arms where the car parts are attached via a pin. Man the annoys me, it can only be moved one way which indicates the stress mark is from poor design or clumsy assembly.

[lancalot]

I just hate it when people post major spoilers ...its every where on the NET this morning about the up coming transformer prime movie!! you have been warned ! ... and you cant help looking at it cause it every F**Ken where !! :mad::mad::mad::mad:

[Hursticon]

I just hate it when people post major spoilers ...its every where on the NET this morning about the up coming transformer prime movie!! you have been warned ! ... and you cant help looking at it cause it every F**Ken where !! :mad::mad::mad::mad:

One really does have to venture carefully huh? - When "Frontpage News Items" are posted everywhere with spoilerific headlines, it really does start to get on your nerves if you're trying to save the surprise for the actual film. :(

[griffin]

I totally forgot that it was on this weekend. I didn't see any reminders anywhere on the major fansites either.
I might have to avoid them until I can see the movie.

[iamirondude]

a friends little turd has taken off with my ultra magnus head/helmet and now they can't find it. then he tries to blame it on me with the old line" well you shouldn't have them out if you don't want them touched by kids" my answer was my kids have never touched them and they know not to touch other people stuff.

[Hursticon]

a friends little turd has taken off with my ultra magnus head/helmet and now they can't find it. then he tries to blame it on me with the old line" well you shouldn't have them out if you don't want them touched by kids" my answer was my kids have never touched them and they know not to touch other people stuff.

Sounds like this kid needs a good dose of discipline. :mad:

[iamirondude]

i think most kids today need a kick in the arse. the bad 1's are dragging the good 1's down.

[GoktimusPrime]

How did your friend's kid get anywhere near your collection without your supervision?

I won't even let my own daughter into my TF room without my express permission (it's actually locked whenever I'm not home; even if my wife is... it's also a legal requirement (as per my TF replica weapon permit; noone is allowed to be in my TF room w/o me)). The most that happens when I'm not home is that my wife will use her spare key to open the room and chuck in my clothes from the laundry into my TF room (since all my clothes are TF apparel; they're stored in there :D); but then she closes it up again. If my daughter wants to access one of her Transformers, my wife will let her in to take the toy and play w/ it in another room. She won't let her actually hang out in that room while I'm not home.

Our TF collections are something that we've spent 29 years of our lives and a lot of money building. I don't think it's unreasonable to impose and enforce boundaries in terms of who can access them and when.

[iamirondude]

because i spend so much time in there(it's the mancave. it has a bar, a fridge tv computer, xbox blu ray player well everything a man cave needs) that people walk in there first to see if i'm home(it's under the house) so they went in there first and i was up stairs at the time so i don't know how he was able to grab it so fast. and if i lock it people say that i'm being unsocialable but it's only that i don't trust them.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

a friends little turd has taken off with my ultra magnus head/helmet and now they can't find it. then he tries to blame it on me with the old line" well you shouldn't have them out if you don't want them touched by kids" my answer was my kids have never touched them and they know not to touch other people stuff.

That's a pretty disgusting attitude from the kid's parent... I'd be tempted to go over there and take his TV or something and lose that. Well, you shouldn't have left it out....:p

What about making the kid take responsibility for losing something that wasn't theirs. I am sure you'd have been fine had the helmet come back. It could be akin to stealing depending on whether or not you knew...

Oooh, talk about blowing things outta proportion Tets

[iamirondude]

i'm not to worried about the helmet but more of the "you shouldn't have stuff out" bit. i never go to anyone's house and start touching their stuff and the same for my kids, who are taught from an early age that they are not to touch something that is not theirs.

[Hursticon]

i'm not to worried about the helmet but more of the "you shouldn't have stuff out" bit. i never go to anyone's house and start touching their stuff and the same for my kids, who are taught from an early age that they are not to touch something that is not theirs.

Well, at least you can rest assured dude that, like their Father, your kids will grow up being respected for their levels of respect - Clearly this other parent is void of the notion & hence so too their child/ren. ;)

[iamirondude]

that's 1 of the things that i've drilled into the kids. you don't touch others stuff and if they let you, you look after it, like you would look after your own stuff(i've always told them to look after their toys and books) and always use your manners.

[GoktimusPrime]

because i spend so much time in there(it's the mancave. it has a bar, a fridge tv computer, xbox blu ray player well everything a man cave needs) that people walk in there first to see if i'm home(it's under the house) so they went in there first and i was up stairs at the time so i don't know how he was able to grab it so fast. and if i lock it people say that i'm being unsocialable but it's only that i don't trust them.
I don't lock the room when I'm in there. I sometimes close it if my daughter's already asleep and I don't want to wake her up with all the voices and sound effects I make while playing w/ my TFs. ;) But under most circumstances the door is open when I'm in there. Locking an unoccupied room isn't being antisocial. And considering the history that's happened to your collection, I'd say you'd have more of an excuse than most others to keep that room locked when you're not in there. Besides... access to your room is a privilege, not a right. It's your private room. If people don't like it, they can take a long walk off a short space bridge. :rolleyes:

[BigTransformerTrev]

Whinge 1
All my TF comics have disappeared from my mobile phone! Since I let my 9 month old play with it I'm assuming he deleted the app. I've put the app back on but every time I go to log into my account it says 'user name or password not recognized'. It's a massive pain as I've now changed the password twice, am certain I am putting it and the user name in correctly yet the app on my phone does not want to recognize it. :mad:

Whinge 2
Took Generations BBee out of the packet tonight. Was uber-careful after what happened to the backing Megatron comic, and yet even with the kiddiest of kid gloves, the plastic that I had sheared ripped into the comic cover, thus saving my scissors the hassle. They made them too damn hard to get out! :mad:

[Paulbot]

I've lost downloaded comics a couple of times when I've had to reset my phone, but try the Comixology website (I assume it's that app) and you might find it easier reseting your password there? At least since you have an account they aren't gone for good.

[BigTransformerTrev]

try the Comixology website (I assume it's that app) and you might find it easier reseting your password there?

That's what I've been doing, which is why it's so confusing it isnt working :confused:

[GoktimusPrime]

Transformed my Voyager Generations Hot Spot that I bought last night and the right side shoulder kibble panel wouldn't stay attached. :( Upon closer inspection I saw that the hole that holds the peg is a separate piece that had been incorrectly assembled. I opened the shoulder up and saw that the hole panel had been warped due to having been incorrectly assembled however long ago this toy was made. It took a bit of excessive force, but I managed to get that sucker into place and now it's fine. <sigh.of.relief> :o

[GoktimusPrime]

China have KO DOTM toys in TFPRiD style packaging! :rolleyes:

[Trent]

China have KO DOTM toys in TFPRiD style packaging! :rolleyes:

At least it's easily identifiable ;)

[Bidoofdude]

China have KO DOTM toys in TFPRiD style packaging! :rolleyes:

Spot any Traer Formations? Plenty in the HK markets. :p;)

[Hursticon]

My TakTom Metroplex's sticker sheet came slightly warped, having to try & flatten them back out by having them sandwiched under a 3kg stack of Marvel G1 TPBs. :p

Sadly, it would seem that my Metroplex also suffers from a dodgy contact with the button that activates his light & sounds gimmick; this COULD be just down to questionable functioning rechargeable batteries, but I find the gimmick just wants to cut out before actually commencing & to get it to work one has to fight to find a "sweet" spot. :o

It's slightly annoying, but at the end of the day I'm not going to be using said gimmick really at all and I wont be displaying him with batteries inserted anyway. ;):)

[BigTransformerTrev]

In my last POL from BBTS, when it came time to ship they cancelled my Gaia Unicron which had been sitting in the POL for nearly 6 months due to lack of stock. To be fair they emailed me an apology, refunded my money, and then gave me $5 credit towards my next purchase.

They have now finally restocked him 2 months later, and he is $5 more expensive than he was previously - so no real $5 credit for Big Angry Trev :mad:

But then I suppose (if I get him this time :rolleyes:) the status quo has been preserved :) I just hope they remember my $5 credit!

[Megatran]

In my last POL from BBTS, when it came time to ship they cancelled my Gaia Unicron which had been sitting in the POL for nearly 6 months due to lack of stock.

I hope you weren't sitting on your PoL all this time just for the Gaia Unicron. That would have been agony.

[Trent]

In my last POL from BBTS, when it came time to ship they cancelled my Gaia Unicron which had been sitting in the POL for nearly 6 months due to lack of stock. To be fair they emailed me an apology, refunded my money, and then gave me $5 credit towards my next purchase.

They have now finally restocked him 2 months later, and he is $5 more expensive than he was previously - so no real $5 credit for Big Angry Trev :mad:

But then I suppose (if I get him this time :rolleyes:) the status quo has been preserved :) I just hope they remember my $5 credit!

Email them and point this out. Their customer service is pretty good.

[Golden Phoenix]

In my last POL from BBTS, when it came time to ship they cancelled my Gaia Unicron which had been sitting in the POL for nearly 6 months due to lack of stock. To be fair they emailed me an apology, refunded my money, and then gave me $5 credit towards my next purchase.

They have now finally restocked him 2 months later, and he is $5 more expensive than he was previously - so no real $5 credit for Big Angry Trev :mad:

But then I suppose (if I get him this time :rolleyes:) the status quo has been preserved :) I just hope they remember my $5 credit!

Check your BBTS account.
Last time they gave me credit an extra box appeared under the Pile of Loot and Credit Card on File boxes on the right.

[Jetfire in the sky]

WANKERS WHO CALL THE G1 KO's COLLECTORS EDITION!!!:mad::mad::mad:

Makes me angry :mad:

[DELTAprime]

BBTS is really slipping. I clicked on the button to ship me POL last Thursday our time, they said it had shipped Saturday, but it only was given to the USPS today. :mad:

[GoktimusPrime]

Is anyone else having problems accessing TakaraTomy's online survey (http://www.takaratomyfans.com) for more recent toys? The site accepted the ID No. and JAN code for Generations Grimlock, but not for TF Go! Hunter Smokescreen, Generations Magnificus or MP Prowl. :( Also... my Magnificus came with the same ID number as MP17 Prowl! :eek: If anyone else is experiencing this problem, then I might give TakaraTOMY a call. Reminds me of when Encore Ironhide came out, but after I called TakTOM the site was fixed within 24h.

[Lint]

Urg bought a beast hunters shockwave today. Unboxed it and noticed it's missing the translucent red piece in the hyperwave cannon. Good going Hasbro/person who nicked off with it. Way to ruin a perfectly good figures.

[GoktimusPrime]

Urg bought a beast hunters shockwave today. Unboxed it and noticed it's missing the translucent red piece in the hyperwave cannon. Good going Hasbro/person who nicked off with it. Way to ruin a perfectly good figures.
;) http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/avatars/meme_custserv_zps60a89afd.jpg :D

[VERT]

I hate it when I order a set of four bots and I only get two x 2

[doublespy]

The Hasbro MP Soundwave instructions are a new low, even for Hasbro.

Why is Hasblow never able to produce a decent set of instructions!?? The designers put in a lot of thoughts and effort and half of it go unnoticed and unappreciated.:mad:

[Hursticon]

This comment made my afternoon mate :D

:D:cool:


The Hasbro MP Soundwave instructions are a new low, even for Hasbro.

Got caught at collapsing his thighs/legs?

[Trent]

Got caught at collapsing his thighs/legs?

Or at how to correctly attach Frenzy/Rumble's piledrivers??

[doublespy]

:D:cool:



Got caught at collapsing his thighs/legs?


Or at how to correctly attach Frenzy/Rumble's piledrivers??

Nah I figured these out all by myself!:p

No it's the fact that they left all the accessory and interaction bits out.

[Hursticon]

Nah I figured these out all by myself!:p

Oh good! - As they're often parts that people seem to get stuck at, because they're crazy! am I right? :p


No it's the fact that they left all the accessory and interaction bits out.

Really? - I've not seen the Hasbro instructions (I've the TakTom version ;):cool:) but am somewhat not too surprised by this :o, in saying that though it's by no means excusable and really needs further passes in the QC department. :rolleyes:;)

[Darksaber]

it time for a vent hey

1. the majority of the thrilling thirty are the same damn figure and some are just convention exclusives that unless you own your own private jet to just duck off and pick them up then us aussie's get stuck trying to purchase extremely inflated priced products to try and complete collections and where are the Australian exclusive Transformers.

2. Why don't madman have an Australian release on their site I went to supernova for two reasons 1. meet gary chalk 2. purchase Season 2 of transformers Prime which was released 2 months ago in the US. and all of the energon, cybertron, and RID Series are nowhere to be found in R4 GRRRRRR.

3. Generations and timelines/classics seem to sell well so why can't we get a TV Series or something based on the past characters us older fans deserve something to justify Masterpiece and generations maybe some bonus DVD's with MP Figures or something I need a new g1 fix

[GoktimusPrime]

3. Generations and timelines/classics seem to sell well so why can't we get a TV Series or something based on the past characters us older fans deserve something to justify Masterpiece and generations maybe some bonus DVD's with MP Figures or something I need a new g1 fix
^Fully agree.
Although some Classicsverse toys (and the MP Seekers) appear in the IDW comics. And in Japan there was a Henkei! Henkei! manga series (though written for a young audience).

[Darksaber]

^Fully agree.
Although some Classicsverse toys (and the MP Seekers) appear in the IDW comics. And in Japan there was a Henkei! Henkei! manga series (though written for a young audience).

I think Hasbro underestimate the selling power of G1 just look at w4c and FOC largely based on G1 massive selling power why not create a TV Series based on the Generations toyline around these games?

[GoktimusPrime]

why not create a TV Series based on the Generations toyline around these games?
That is what Transformers Prime is supposed to be. War For Cybertron, Fall of Cybertron and TF Prime are all part of the Aligned Continuity Family.

[kup]

That is what Transformers Prime is supposed to be. War For Cybertron, Fall of Cybertron and TF Prime are all part of the Aligned Continuity Family.

Transformers Prime is shoehorned into WFC and FOC which clearly were meant to be G1. If one uses common sense rather than what hasbro says, it can clearly be seen.

Why couldn't those games just be 'G1' as they were meant to be? Who knows but I bet it's not a very good reason.

I personally don't recognize 'The Aligned' continuity. To me is utter BS.

[GoktimusPrime]

Oh, I don't deny that - but officially they're meant to be part of the Aligned Continuity Family. :o I would have no objection if they wanted to make a Classicsverse cartoon and include WFC/FOC figures into it. Heck, IDW have pretty much done that w/ their Ongoing G1 series which has seen FOC and Classicsverse toys appear in it. :D

[Firestorm]

Heck, IDW have pretty much done that w/ their Ongoing G1 series which has seen FOC and Classicsverse toys appear in it. :D

And Prime (Bulkhead, Vehicons) and Animated (BlitzVing) and Beast Wars (Wapinator, Rattrap) and their own made up characters (Rung, Pharma, etc) and even Kamen Rider (V3 and Den-O)

I do however agree that Hasbro should think about doing some kind of series solely for the fans, based around the G1 universe

[Darksaber]

for me the IDWverse works why not expand on that simple

[Kapryiath]

but it'd have to have a new toy line to go with it, after all the cartoons are made to sell toys, most of the classics verse has already been n gone

[SuspectimusPrime]

for me the IDWverse works why not expand on that simple

Agreed.

Consistency is toy sales ;):p

[BigTransformerTrev]

My ROTF Hoist came sans missile when he was described as 'complete' :(

Was only $11 but have still contacted the seller. They have a decent track record but not perfect so will be interesting to see what happens

[Deonasis]

A very first world problem but all through classics I have refrained from buying the Takara versions despite loving the richer colours.

Now, after buying the more accurate shiny Takara FoC figures I am having a bloody hard time going back to the Hasbro Generations (lack-of) paint schemes.

[Trent]

us older fans deserve something to justify Masterpiece and generations maybe some bonus DVD's with MP Figures or something I need a new g1 fix


^Fully agree.


I'm curious to know why you feel that you "deserve" something from Hasbro. The fact that you are an older fan doesn't entitle you to anything more than any 5 year old out there. You buy TFs because you like them, not because you are doing Hasbro a favour. Conversely, Hasbro are making toys because peopleare buying them, not becuse they want to show you their appreciation for all your years of loyal service.

Adding a DVD in with a MP is a wasted expense. Yeah sure, it would be good for us but you are not going to buy/not buy that MP based off the inclusion of a DVD. So what's the point. Remeber that the goal of Hasbro is not to make you happy. It's to make their shareholders happy.

[GoktimusPrime]

I don't think Darksabre meant it in a literal sense, but it would be profitable for HasTak to exploit G1 fans (i.e. adult collectors w/ disposable incomes) by tapping into the popularity of G1 characters through MPs and Generations. It would sure make a lot more business sense than more endless shelfwarming repaints. ;) I don't really care about bonus DVD stuff though.

Toys like MP Soundwave are flying off shelves, and yet...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/meme_bumblebeeeverywhere_zpsc18fac77.jpg :p

[griffin]

It's also worth noting that despite the underlying purpose of Hasbro needing to make money from selling "stuff", Transformers wouldn't be what it is today if it weren't for the support and interaction of the long-term fans... particularly since Gen2, which is when Hasbro designers, marketing managers and various creative bodies, started interacting with the fandom (BotCon, fansites, fan-votes, consultants like Ben Yee and Jim Sorenson, fans who now work for Hasbro and IDW, etc). If it weren't for the long-term fans who "deserve" some recognition from Hasbro, we wouldn't have Classic characters that are fan-favourites being produced as toys or being incorporated into the current Movies and MP line. Hasbro and TakaraTomy would just be like any other toy company and create something new and unique every few years that doesn't borrow or homage anything previously existed.

It's not a selfish entitlement being claimed by long-term fans (as noted in the posts above)... it is a noting that in the last 20 years we have a rather symbiotic relationship with Hasbro/TT, and that they shouldn't dismiss it too quickly when weighing up (or compromising) the profit potential with the fan-focus elements of future products.
After all, they've been profiting off what interests us long-time fans (in mainstream lines that use characters of old that the new fans won't know or would need to know, to enjoy the same toy mould in different colours & name, or even a cartoon/comic that has all new character names and character types for the same story), so why is it deemed selfish to remind Hasbro to keep including our "old fan" interests from time to time... as the new fans and old fans both benefit. (how many people bought MP Soundwave who were NOT around for Gen1? Same with Generations Metroplex, which was inspired by a character from almost 30 years ago, but reborn for the newer generation of fans AS WELL AS the long-term fans who were first interested in that character. That's the sort of thing I'm talking about - Hasbro occasionally looking to what would appeal to the long-term fans, with items that also interests/benefits the newer fans)
Selfish would be older fans demanding product that would not interest the newer generations of fans... and that's not what was being suggested here, as the original poster was asking for something added on.

[Trent]

All good points Griff. But the point I was trying to get across is that no matter what relationship we claim to have with Hasbro, the fact is that they only produce toys for the older fan market because its profitable. They aren't doing it out of the goodness of their hearts.

Thrilling 30, Classics/G1 updates, MPs, IDW character homages, etc are all done to make money. Acknowledging G1/older fans and making them feel all warm and fuzzy inside is just an added bonus.

The second that catering to G1 fans stops being profitable, or they see some other area to invest their resources that will make them more profit, they will drop us so fast our heads will spin. It's not them being mean, it's being responsible to their stakeholders and I wouldn't expect them to operate any other way (not in a modern capitalist society anyway ;)).

So that sense of entitlement that that fans feel is only an illusion that we have ourselves constructed and perpetuate. It may even be reciprocated in the lower levels of Hasbro, say at the marketing and design management level. But get up to the executive and board level and its all money, money, money.

[griffin]

Considering some of the decisions made within Hasbro (that they tell us at BotCon each year and the Hasbro staff & designers that I know personally), you might be surprised that there's more thought (and compromise) put into fans than you think. So from my own personal interactions with the people involved in Transformers, it's not that much of an illusion. (BUT, it is an illusion if any fan thinks it is ALL being done for them... or should be done just for them)

The over-all budget and focus of the Brand is corporate driven and budget-restrained, but the individual figures, designs, character concepts, story elements... all the minor, individual stuff.... is done by the people who are either fans themselves, or are friends with fans. As such, their first thoughts are, how can I make this something I like as a fan, but make sure it fits within budget and be approved by the higher-ups.

From the designers I've spoken to, they are very passionate about the products because they work on them with the intention of having it appeal as much as possible to the existing fans (new or long-term), but, also know to include "padding" (gimmicks & repetitive characters) to the toyline that appeals to the Retailers and new consumers.
At least half the toys in the last year had some sort of fan-focused element to them. Not exclusively for the long-term fans, but because it can sell to them and their target audience (the new fans and regular consumers who aren't fans).
That's the balance, or compromise, I was referring to in my previous posting.


(It's the same thing I have to do here all the time, for 16 years, which is why I'm familiar with it - I have to balance what interests existing fans/members, with what will capture new members/fans.... both of which are different, but share certain key elements)

[Trent]

Considering some of the decisions made within Hasbro (that they tell us at BotCon each year and the Hasbro staff & designers that I know personally), you might be surprised that there's more thought (and compromise) put into fans than you think. So from my own personal interactions with the people involved in Transformers, it's not that much of an illusion. (BUT, it is an illusion if any fan thinks it is ALL being done for them... or should be done just for them)

The over-all budget and focus of the Brand is corporate driven and budget-restrained, but the individual figures, designs, character concepts, story elements... all the minor, individual stuff.... is done by the people who are either fans themselves, or are friends with fans. As such, their first thoughts are, how can I make this something I like as a fan, but make sure it fits within budget and be approved by the higher-ups.

From the designers I've spoken to, they are very passionate about the products because they work on them with the intention of having it appeal as much as possible to the existing fans (new or long-term), but, also know to include "padding" (gimmicks & repetitive characters) to the toyline that appeals to the Retailers and new consumers.
At least half the toys in the last year had some sort of fan-focused element to them. Not exclusively for the long-term fans, but because it can sell to them and their target audience (the new fans and regular consumers who aren't fans).
That's the balance, or compromise, I was referring to in my previous posting.


(It's the same thing I have to do here all the time, for 16 years, which is why I'm familiar with it - I have to balance what interests existing fans/members, with what will capture new members/fans.... both of which are different, but share certain key elements)

What I highlighted above is where I'm coming from. Darksaber's earlier comment that us older fans deserve something is exactly the type of entitlement we're talking about. Gok may be right in that Darksaber wasn't being literal with that comment but regardless it is an attitude that is quite prevalent in the fandom and I can but only shake my head in wonder at how little these people understand about how it all works.

[griffin]

Oh, I agree. I've seen a lot of people on the global fansites that have a tantrum or mouth off about how Hasbro "should" have done something... just for them. It's disappointing and laughable, but also embarrassing to have that vocal minority try to represent the views of the more common, sensible fans.

[millhouse]

If they make it, and I like it, I try to buy it. Simple as that. Buy what I dig, ignore the crap I don't. Botshots and Kreo aren't something I give a damn about, but whatever floats your boat.

That being said, I don't own Hasbro shares. I have no vested interests in the company, and can only buy what I want to succeed and hope others do the same. I personally think that what we're getting (as G1 fans) of late, with the efforts on the Masterpiece line is far better than any DVD that they could throw in, admittedly with a licensing cost tacked on from the rights holders.

Me? I'm just happy with an MP Bee, Wheeljack, and Ultra Magnus on the cards. God bless Takara sometimes.

[GoktimusPrime]

The majority of fans don't want/expect Hasbro to make toys that won't sell. As griffin said, the ideal are toys that simultaneously appeal to both children of the 80s and children of today. Classicsverse are a great example of this.


Me? I'm just happy with an MP Bee, Wheeljack, and Ultra Magnus on the cards.
Bring on MP Time Warrior! ;) :p

One really cool thing that Takara has done for over 15 years now is elicit direct feedback from customers. From the mid 90s, Takara TFs came with a self-addressed survey card that allowed customers to tell them what they thought about the toy they bought, and where relevant even nominate which characters they wanted to see produced in the future (e.g. G1 reissues, Binaltechs, MPs etc.). After the TOMY take over they ditched the cards and set up the online survey. Initially they removed the character nomination option (which sucked), but they've since reinstated it. :) I don't see why Hasbro can't set up something like this. Let customers vote and/or nominate which characters they'd like to see done for future Generations toys.

[Darksaber]

my point is some top shelf fan orientated items do make business sense have a look at MP Soundwave fans have wanted and waited and Hasbro were justly rewarded when they delivered this item.

I do hear what your saying why do this when you can sell new toys to kids holla holla get dollar but there is clearly a market in the g1 fan community just have a look at the comics largely g1 based and they sell well.

and my biggest frustration was that the thrilling 30 a lot of the items repeat and were convention exclusives instead of a worldwide release items like that which are a tribute to transformers over the last 30 years should be marketed world wide.

[Hursticon]

my point is some top shelf fan orientated items do make business sense have a look at MP Soundwave fans have wanted and waited and Hasbro were justly rewarded when they delivered this item.

I do hear what your saying why do this when you can sell new toys to kids holla holla get dollar but there is clearly a market in the g1 fan community just have a look at the comics largely g1 based and they sell well.

and my biggest frustration was that the thrilling 30 a lot of the items repeat and were convention exclusives instead of a worldwide release items like that which are a tribute to transformers over the last 30 years should be marketed world wide.

http://i1032.photobucket.com/albums/a409/Darkone666au/Webpics/cdc_zps7688f56f.png

[techx]

I didn't this series existed till I got into Quickflix and boy was it a mistake watching the series.

I literally fell asleep watching it and not the animation or action was bad but the damn dubbing. Man I could tear out my hair out. Voice dub, the names and mostly Grimlock dubbed voice is not what i expected... arghhhhhh. Skipping out just after the 1st DVD.

[Paulbot]

The dubs are famously bad (and weren't made for a USA/AUS audience). You have to watch it subtitled.

[Sinnertwin]

The dubs are famously bad (and weren't made for a USA/AUS audience). You have to watch it subtitled.

Yeah, they're really bad. Sometimes i watch the dubbed version just for laughs :D

[kup]

FOC toys are as poor as Pharmacy or $2 store toys. While transforming FOC Swindle to leg mode, it 'folded' off (plastic too soft to even snap) a tap that is critical for alt/leg mode stability. The plastic in these things are so bad that I can even see that a KO Onslaught I've had for some years as a kitbash project has superior plastic.

It's a shame that stuff like this is given the 'official seal of approval'.

[Darksaber]

Yeah, they're really bad. Sometimes i watch the dubbed version just for laughs :D

The funniest thing to do is have English subtitles on and the English Dub and watch all of the translation differences they say one thing and write something else pure Gold.

Hasbro should use these and dub them properly and bring the 3 extra series into the overall fold the general storylines aren't too bad

[GoktimusPrime]

Hasbro should use these and dub them properly and bring the 3 extra series into the overall fold the general storylines aren't too bad
There's a rumour that the original intention of Transformers: Generations 2 was to do exactly this -- take the Japanese G1 series and dub them over with US series voice actors, e.g. Peter Cullen would play Optimus Prime in the early episodes of The Headmasters etc. The story goes that some genius decided to 'reintroduce' audiences to the cartoon universe by rejigging earlier US episodes with a CGI opening theme sequence and Cybernet Space Cube, then apply the same thing w/ the Japanese series (so they would all have a common theme), but of course the G2 series didn't rate well enough for that to have ever happened.
...again, this is pretty much an urban myth... I'm not aware of any actual evidence that shows that there's any truth to this, but it's a fun story anyway. ;)

Could they do it now 20 years after G1 ended? Is the demand there to justify the expense? But then again the expense is relatively low since the animation is all done, it's just a dub job. It also means that the cast don't have to be all together at the same time -- usually dub actors record their lines separately (which is why dubs typically lacks that "interactive performance" that you normally get from proper voice acting where actors can feed off each other's energy). And unfortunately some G1 voice actors are no longer with us, e.g. in the Victory episode where Wheeljack, Perceptor and Minerva rebuild Ginrai as Victory Leo, Wheeljack will need to be voiced by a different actor since the original voice actor for G1 Wheeljack (Chris Latta) is deceased.

Aw heck, let's face it... DrSmoov could pretty much dub the entire series himself. ;) :D

[griffin]

Quite a few are now gone... :(

d Roger C. Carmel - Bruticus, Cyclonus, Motormaster, Unicron (post movie)
d Phillip Clark - Dead End, Tantrum, Abdul Fakkadi, Auggie Cahnay
d Rege Cordic - Menasor, Quintesson Judge (movie)
d Scatman Crothers - Jazz
d Walker Edmiston - Inferno
d Ron Feinberg - Headstrong
d Ron Gans - Dragstrip
d Linda Gary - Chromia
d Ed Gilbert - Blitzwing, Thrust, Shawn Berger
d Jim Gosa - Abominus
d Johnny Haymer - Highbrow, Swindle, Vortex
d Stan Jones - Scourge, Pounce, Weirdwolf, Lord Zarak
d Aron Kincaid - Sky Lynx
d Bert Kramer - Computron
d Chris Latta - Starscream, Defensor, Reflector, Skullcruncher, Wheeljack, Sparkplug, Snake
d Don Messick - Gears, Ratchet, Scavenger
d Jeff McKay - Fireflight
d Tony Pope - Wreck-Gar (post movie)
d Ken Sansom - Hound
d Tony St James - Blot, Brawl, Cutthroat
d Robert Stack - Ultra Magnus (movie)
d Lionel Stander - Kup (movie)
d Orson Welles - Unicron (movie)

I guess it has been about 30 years now, but damn that's a fair chunk of the original cast gone now.
At least all the JP characters can get all new VAs, and very few of the US cartoon characters show up to even worry about.

(from my page here (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/botcon.html#7))

A redubbing of the JP series could be a good (and cheap) way to sell some future Generations toys - the Generations line could feature a heap of JP Gen1 characters that were never released by Hasbro to begin with.

[Darksaber]

I wonder if they could use some of the original g1 dub

but lets be honest with the tech these days anyone could voice them

how bout a new dub to go with the MP Star Saber release?

[DELTAprime]

Quite a few are now gone... :(

d Roger C. Carmel - Bruticus, Cyclonus, Motormaster, Unicron (post movie)
d Phillip Clark - Dead End, Tantrum, Abdul Fakkadi, Auggie Cahnay
d Rege Cordic - Menasor, Quintesson Judge (movie)
d Scatman Crothers - Jazz
d Walker Edmiston - Inferno
d Ron Feinberg - Headstrong
d Ron Gans - Dragstrip
d Linda Gary - Chromia
d Ed Gilbert - Blitzwing, Thrust, Shawn Berger
d Jim Gosa - Abominus
d Johnny Haymer - Highbrow, Swindle, Vortex
d Stan Jones - Scourge, Pounce, Weirdwolf, Lord Zarak
d Aron Kincaid - Sky Lynx
d Bert Kramer - Computron
d Chris Latta - Starscream, Defensor, Reflector, Skullcruncher, Wheeljack, Sparkplug, Snake
d Don Messick - Gears, Ratchet, Scavenger
d Jeff McKay - Fireflight
d Tony Pope - Wreck-Gar (post movie)
d Ken Sansom - Hound
d Tony St James - Blot, Brawl, Cutthroat
d Robert Stack - Ultra Magnus (movie)
d Lionel Stander - Kup (movie)
d Orson Welles - Unicron (movie)

I guess it has been about 30 years now, but damn that's a fair chunk of the original cast gone now.
At least all the JP characters can get all new VAs, and very few of the US cartoon characters show up to even worry about.

(from my page here (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/botcon.html#7))

A redubbing of the JP series could be a good (and cheap) way to sell some future Generations toys - the Generations line could feature a heap of JP Gen1 characters that were never released by Hasbro to begin with.

There is no smily on this bbs that expresses my sadness at seeing that list.

[GoktimusPrime]

but lets be honest with the tech these days anyone could voice them
Forget tech dude... DrSmoov and Dan Didsbury are master Transformers voice emulators! :D It'd be a great way to get fans involved at an official level too. :)

Note: Links contain coarse language, parental discretion is advised for children.
SOS Wheeljack (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-aTbHsZJ9g)
Heavy Metal Fight (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tpbp9GXOGU)
Autobot Alert (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NntV5hLnVM0)
Shockwave's Burden (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-ItfWY3xMQ)
The Rude Awakening of Optimus Prime (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq1_6D9QS9Y)

[SuspectimusPrime]

Could they do it now 20 years after G1 ended? Is the demand there to justify the expense? But then again the expense is relatively low since the animation is all done, it's just a dub job. It also means that the cast don't have to be all together at the same time -- usually dub actors record their lines separately (which is why dubs typically lacks that "interactive performance" that you normally get from proper voice acting where actors can feed off each other's energy). And unfortunately some G1 voice actors are no longer with us, e.g. in the Victory episode where Wheeljack, Perceptor and Minerva rebuild Ginrai as Victory Leo, Wheeljack will need to be voiced by a different actor since the original voice actor for G1 Wheeljack (Chris Latta) is deceased.

Aw heck, let's face it... DrSmoov could pretty much dub the entire series himself. ;) :D

I would love to rewatch all of the Japanese episodes re-done with talent similar to the original English series (sans the guy they used for Sixshot in Rebirth) and using the same sound effects and background music. One of the nostalgic sounds that really hook me in is the 'sound of Cybertron' - love that robotic alien void.

[BigTransformerTrev]

So far I have had no less than 7 people either PM or share on my FB wall the Gingerbread Movie Optimus pic that is doing the rounds. I thought it was cool the first time I saw it, but damn! Cant these people see what has come before! The worst part is that they are covering my FB wall with the same pic over and over again :mad:, I have a Transformatorium group page, why do they not think to put it there? :confused:

Heh - talk about your first-world problems :p

[Dangermot]

Walking into the shops for Boxing Day sales and seeing 50% off handbags, 50% off shoes, 30% off bath towels etc but then seeing Transformers toys still at full price. :mad:

[Seraphim Prime]

Walking into the shops for Boxing Day sales and seeing 50% off handbags, 50% off shoes, 30% off bath towels etc but then seeing Transformers toys still at full price. :mad:

What that shows you is two things:

1. What the mark-up on those other items are
2. Where our hobby sits in the grand scheme of things

[Dangermot]

What that shows you is two things:

1. What the mark-up on those other items are
2. Where our hobby sits in the grand scheme of things


Maybe I used some bad examples. A better comparison would have been Transformers at full price whilst other toy lines are heavily discounted (e.g. Octonauts 30% off, Iron Man & TMNT 1/2 price).

[DELTAprime]

Maybe I used some bad examples. A better comparison would have been Transformers at full price whilst other toy lines are heavily discounted (e.g. Octonauts 30% off, Iron Man & TMNT 1/2 price).

The IM3 stuff has been clogging shelves badly at my work. TMNT sells really well so I wonder why that would be half price.

[BigTransformerTrev]

I got this email from The Transformers Collectors Club:




This is not something that I have ever done before but I know that many of you are involved in crowd sourcing/crowd funding needs and projects.

So here's the story:

As a family, each year we vist a small town in Colorado: Pagosa Springs. You have probably never heard of it is it is in the southwest corner of Colorado near Durango.

I just found out that the movie studios are discontinuing all distribution of films and are going totally digital in the near future. I have always loved historic theaters and there is a small one in this town that is running a crowd sourcing drive to replace the theatre's old 35MM projector with new digital equipment.

So, if these guys can't meet their crowd sourcing goal in the next week, it looks like this almost 100 year old theater will shut down. So far, doesn't look like they are going to make it... if you are interested in this type of thing please vist this link.

http://communityfunded.com/projects/digitalconversion/save-the-liberty-theatre-2/

If not, please pardon the email.

Thanks!

Brian


Sadly, this does not speak to me of a person caring about theater, it speaks to me of unprofessionalism and the fact that the few people that actually run TCC just use it any way they see fit, to the point they will use it to further their own agendas.

"I know a lot of you are involved in crowd sourcing" - HOW does he know that? Has he surveyed their subscribers? I had never even heard of crowd sourcing. Also it speaks to how little they regard their international clientele, as I doubt many Aussie collectors are worried about some little theater in the USA.

Very tempted to write them an email, saying that I did not appreciate receiving this communique, and that they should stick to the actual topic of TF's. But lets face it, it will accomplish naught - maybe I should write Hasbro instead.

[Hursticon]

Sadly, this does not speak to me of a person caring about theater, it speaks to me of unprofessionalism and the fact that the few people that actually run TCC just use it any way they see fit, to the point they will use it to further their own agendas.

"I know a lot of you are interested in crowd sourcing" - HOW does he know that? Has he surveyed their subscribers? I had never even heard of crowd sourcing. Also it speaks to how little they regard their international clientele, as I doubt many Aussie collectors are worried about some little theater in the USA.

Very tempted to write them an email, saying that I did not appreciate receiving this communique, and that they should stick to the actual topic of TF's. But lets face it, it will accomplish naught - maybe I should write Hasbro instead.

Do it dude! :mad:

The levels of contempt shown towards its membership is ridiculous and trust me, if Twitter is anything to go by (https://twitter.com/JarodimusPrime/status/422190477299822592), you're not alone in your feelings of having your "Supposedly Secure" details being abused like this.

Wouldn't be at all surprised if the Theatre is owned by one of Savage's relatives... :rolleyes:

[Sky Shadow]

But lets face it, it will accomplish naught - maybe I should write Hasbro instead.

Definitely. What a #$(*ing joke. They've been 'crowdsourcing' tens of thousands of dollars from us for years by overcharging on postage. Why don't they just give that to the theatre and shove their irrelevant and unprofessional emails where Sunstreaker doesn't shine. :mad:

[griffin]

That's very unprofessional, and I doubt Hasbro would actually be too impressed, since they are using their Hasbro license (representing Hasbro and it's Brands, to be the face of Hasbro in a public environment)... to be abusing their access to people like that.

That's nothing more than spamming people with unrelated information. All they should be authorised to "spam" us with is news and information directly pertaining to their club and conventions.... and their frequent screwups. :p

Hopefully this prompts Hasbro to revoke their license, as they were already on their radar for bringing the brand negative publicity (from their handling of the Transformers Brand). Chasing up FunPub (a GIJoe club) for the TFs license should only have ever been a temporary measure to keep BotCon going... Hasbro should have kept looking for a worthy, respectful organisation or business to sign up later.

[BigTransformerTrev]

Do it dude! :mad:

The levels of contempt shown towards its membership is ridiculous and trust me, if Twitter is anything to go by (https://twitter.com/JarodimusPrime/status/422190477299822592), you're not alone in your feelings of having your "Supposedly Secure" details being abused like this.

Wouldn't be at all surprised if the Theatre is owned by one of Savage's relatives... :rolleyes:


Definitely. What a #$(*ing joke. They've been 'crowdsourcing' tens of thousands of dollars from us for years by overcharging on postage. Why don't they just give that to the theatre and shove their irrelevant and unprofessional emails where Sunstreaker doesn't shine. :mad:


That's very unprofessional, and I doubt Hasbro would actually be too impressed, since they are using their Hasbro license (representing Hasbro and it's Brands, to be the face of Hasbro in a public environment)... to be abusing their access to people like that.

That's nothing more than spamming people with unrelated information. All they should be authorised to "spam" us with is news and information directly pertaining to their club and conventions.... and their frequent screwups. :p

Hopefully this prompts Hasbro to revoke their license, as they were already on their radar for bringing the brand negative publicity (from their handling of the Transformers Brand). Chasing up FunPub (a GIJoe club) for the TFs license should only have ever been a temporary measure to keep BotCon going... Hasbro should have kept looking for a worthy, respectful organisation or business to sign up later.

I've yet to find the relevant department of Hasbro online to complain too. All I can find is something on the Hasbro Online Shop, and even then you have to have an account and log in before you can send a message. If anyone knows where to write an email to let me know, or otherwise you can of course send one yourself :)

[griffin]

I was thinking - how many of you would complain if I went and used the email database on here to send out a message about saving a burger store from closing down near me by encouraging patronage... even to those who aren't even local enough to do it? That would be such an unethical abuse of my resources and power, for mere personal gain on my part (so that I could keep getting burgers from that HYPOTHETICAL store).


I was hoping that this was a fake email done fraudulently by someone else, leading to a scam address, which would get them sympathy instead of condemnation... but it seems that it is indeed from Brian.

This is indeed a new low for FunPub. After all the credit card issues (that they refused to take responsibility for), the outdated procedures they use for registering to the club and registering to the convention, and the focus on selling toys... why is he so oblivious to what he is doing to his own image?


(and worst case scenario - what happens if Hasbro do take away the license before this year's convention, and the event is cancelled... after people have paid for non-refundable airfares and accommodation)

[griffin]

I've yet to find the relevant department of Hasbro online to complain too. All I can find is something on the Hasbro Online Shop, and even then you have to have an account and log in before you can send a message. If anyone knows where to write an email to let me know, or otherwise you can of course send one yourself :)

Even if you can send a message to Hasbro America, it automatically gets forwarded to the local office.

So, email the local office, clearly stating that you are a member of the INTERNATIONAL Transformers fanclub, and that you want it forwarded to the applicable people in America.

At least, that's what I'll be doing.

[BigTransformerTrev]

Even if you can send a message to Hasbro America, it automatically gets forwarded to the local office.

So, email the local office, clearly stating that you are a member of the INTERNATIONAL Transformers fanclub, and that you want it forwarded to the applicable people in America.

At least, that's what I'll be doing.

Got an address? The most I can find is complaints about 'toys purchased in Australia' :( . That's if I don't want to make an account with their American branch

And in the meantime I will complain on the TFCC Facebook page ;)
(Ah, it says on their page they do not monitor it - what a surprise :rolleyes:)

[griffin]

This one should still work - custservau@Hasbro.com

[BigTransformerTrev]

This one should still work - custservau@Hasbro.com

Cheers mate, my energy is lacking tonight but my indignant ire will no doubt resurface tomorrow :)



I was thinking - how many of you would complain if I went and used the email database on here to send out a message about saving a burger store from closing down near me by encouraging patronage... even to those who aren't even local enough to do it? That would be such an unethical abuse of my resources and power, for mere personal gain on my part (so that I could keep getting burgers from that HYPOTHETICAL store).




Years ago I came back from overseas and went to an accountant in Reservior - Melb, to get my taxes done. I stressed to the girl behind the counter that I wanted my 'UK Earnings' tax return done, NOT my Australian ones. She said she understood, despite her very poor english. When I came back she had done my AUSSIE tax with my UK earnings and I suddenly owed $700!

Anyway (and we are getting to how this relates to the TFCC thing), I complained to the head accountant about it, who proceeded to tell me they didn't do UK tax returns. I got quite irate and told them they better bloody learn because thats what I had come in for and thats what the girl said they would do and subsequently stuffed up to my financial detriment. So they did them, though I still ended up paying more tax then I should of.

3 weeks later I get a phone call from a financial consulting firm. They informed me that they would like to set up a meeting with me. When I asked why and how they knew who I was they informed me that my accountant had given (in other words SOLD) them my details. :mad::mad::mad:

It's a complete breach of trust and a completely unethical when companies and businesses use your personal information for their own unrelated agendas or financial gain :mad: And needless to say never give your email to any company these days in the hopes of winning something (like I did when I went with my wife to a bridal expo) because they will flog it and your junkmail will be bursting by the following week :mad:

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

They monitor their twitter account. Well enough to be smart arses about their toys to me ;)

Gawd, my hatred for the club right now is still high, just sent them a tweet, although their account has been relatively quiet for a while.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

And needless to say never give your email to any company these days in the hopes of winning something (like I did when I went with my wife to a bridal expo) because they will flog it and your junkmail will be bursting by the following week :mad:
That's why i have a spam attracting fake email for that sorta stuff. Rarely check it though, so um, what's the point I think sometimes:o:p;)

[GoktimusPrime]

Bugger the club... bring back robot points! ;)

[Hursticon]

Bugger the club... bring back robot points! ;)

Oh god, the logistics of that whole process these days would have SO many people at Hasbro scratching their heads! :p:D
(That said, it'd be pretty cool though ;):cool:)

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Bugger the club... bring back robot points! ;)

I'd support that.

My vent (related to the above), why do Takara boxes have robot points, but there is nothing tto do with them?

[kup]

Do it dude! :mad:

The levels of contempt shown towards its membership is ridiculous and trust me, if Twitter is anything to go by (https://twitter.com/JarodimusPrime/status/422190477299822592), you're not alone in your feelings of having your "Supposedly Secure" details being abused like this.

Wouldn't be at all surprised if the Theatre is owned by one of Savage's relatives... :rolleyes:

I had my CC details stolen twice within a couple of months when I was a member! Their knee jerk reaction when dozens of members begun complaining was to blame us, their customers!

Then they finally acknowledged it after more and more people fell victim to their poor security.

The Club is one of the worse crapfests ever. The fact that it's "official" further makes me think that the 'official seal' has no value whatsoever when it comes to quality or service.

[griffin]

Reading over their Privacy Statement (http://www.mastercollector.com/privacy.cfm) can create a few loopholes in their favour (the bit about relevant announcements), but when you join an organisation or mailing list, it should be mailouts that are relevant to the reason for joining (in this case, Transformers or the Club itself), not relevant to the owner (a theatre near him).

But it looks like he's done this before, in 2006 with a "chain letter" email supporting American troops (http://www.shortpacked.com/index.php?id=363). Either I didn't notice it, forgot about it, or it was only sent out to American members. If the latter, this theatre email should also have only been sent out to people in the nearby area of the theatre... not everyone in the world.

[GoktimusPrime]

Gah! I just got exposed to a possible AoE spoiler by someone on FB who's new to Transformers collecting... but still... surely not simply throwing spoilers at people (unless you know they don't mind) is just common courtesy. :confused: :rolleyes: :mad:

Can't... unread... I'm gonna have to try to keep my mind off it...

[DELTAprime]

Gah! I just got exposed to a possible AoE spoiler by someone on FB who's new to Transformers collecting... but still... surely not simply throwing spoilers at people (unless you know they don't mind) is just common courtesy. :confused: :rolleyes: :mad:

Can't... unread... I'm gonna have to try to keep my mind off it...

How big of a spoiler was it? I think people are getting over sensitive to "spoilers", I mean is knowing that The Dinobots are major characters really something to get upset over especially when they are all over the AOE packaging? I couldn't care less and I'm sick of having to tiptoe around it.

[GoktimusPrime]

It's a lot more major than that. I'd rather not think about it because I'm trying to forget about it... :( *sigh*

[Sharky]

Gah! I just got exposed to a possible AoE spoiler by someone on FB who's new to Transformers collecting... but still... surely not simply throwing spoilers at people (unless you know they don't mind) is just common courtesy. :confused: :rolleyes: :mad:

Can't... unread... I'm gonna have to try to keep my mind off it...

meh, one of the pitfalls of social media, if you want to interact you bound to cop spoilers

[GoktimusPrime]

...it wasn't even on a discussion about the movies at all. We were discussing Binaltechs and Alternators, and suddenly the other person's like, "Oh yeah, and apparently blah blah blah is gonna happen in the next movie." Dafffffrrrrraaaaggg?!? So I replied with this...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/avatars/meme_spoilers_zpscd1cbd62.jpg

[i_amtrunks]

Not sure it is worth it's own topic so in here it goes:

The tie in comics that come with the Generations figures are a double edged sword.

They are well made (feel sturdier than normal issues due to the glued spine), and perfect imitations/copies of the normal issues. Lets face it, who doesn't love a freebie?

The hope that it increases IDW sales is there of course, but I think that by adding them as freebies with figures may do more damage than good to sales. I say this because there is no documentation within the comics themselves to readily identify what series each comic is from, or even what issue # it is. While this is fine for older collectors who can Wiki it or otherwise do some research, it does not work as well for the target audience of 6-10 year olds or whatever it is.

This was not an issue with the first wave of Spotlights, however with the more recent waves, the comics are spread far and wide from the filler RiD stories to Dark Cybertron to some nice MtMtE issues with mild changes/editing. Sure there may be some collectors who are not comic readers who may want to bridge the gaps in their toy comics (especially the weaker comics that barely have their toy in them: Skywarp or have their toy barely in them but also in a weird spot: Scoop) but how will they know where to go to get a continuation/previous/next comic without decent amounts of effort?

You cannot tell me many people will go through all the effort and not feel jaded or annoyed and thus not bother with the trades/digital back catalogues?

All for the comics being an add in, but it needs to be done better for the casual to non comic reader to track what they have read. Most of the issues are poorly written/dependant on a bunch of other issues to make sense of what is going on, barely any of the Wave 2 or 3 Generations figures comics are good enough to truly promote or indicate the quality of comics we have gotten in the last 2 years.

It would almost be better to have an Amarda/Energon style mini comic pack in.

[griffin]

It looks like they are picking issues that have, or feature, the character toy it is packed with... but they should at least say where the issue is from, or at the very least, "to be continued in Issue XX of (series)"
That way, they get people new to the comics, hunting down the rest of the story arc... or even decide to collect the entire series.

Maybe IDW doesn't care, as they are likely to be getting millions from Hasbro - even if it is as little as half a dollar per copy they provide to Hasbro to pack into every toy pack, there are probably more copies of their comics in Hasbro toys than in comic shops.
(they are struggling to get 10,000 units per issue in comic stores (http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2013/2013-10.html) (at #236 & #237 for the month of October 2013, which is far from IDW's best sellers for that month)... compared to hundreds of thousands of units of each toy by Hasbro).

[GoktimusPrime]

I think the concept works better when the toy is packed with a reprint of the character's Spotlight issue, since that story focuses on that actual character. It gets trickier with characters who don't have a Spotlight issue, and so that character ends up being just part of an ensemble cast. Having said that, they probably could've chosen some better issues for some of those character - e.g. I personally would've chosen to include MTMTE #20 w/ Skids instead of #22.

[DELTAprime]

On the subject of the free comics, I hope they really are free and they are not taking budget from the figure (plastics, paint apps, ect.) to pay for the comic. I buy all the Transformers comics on the Comixology app, so why would I want them to take budget from my toy to pay for a paper comic I've read already in digital.

BTW: Anyone know why the Transformers/Avengers crossover is not on Comixology? Both Transformers and The Avengers are on Comixology individually, just not together. :(

[DELTAprime]

Damit, I've lost my MP Streak box. I have no idea where I put it. As someone that has kept all my Takara boxes, card and bubble it's a big deal.

[millhouse]

Dang. Chimungmung is sold out of Red Alert. I knew I should have ordered him when I had the chance.

[DELTAprime]

Sigh... Just started watching G1 again, this time with the Remastered DVDs.

It's just depressing how many animation, audio and continuity errors there are on just disk one. :(:(:(

Can't believe I loved this as a kid.

[GoktimusPrime]

That's why I prefer the G1 comics over the cartoon. They were typically written at a "higher" level than the cartoon and aren't nearly quite as campy/cheesy as the cartoon. Not to mention that the comics sustained us long after the cartoon was cancelled too. ;) Having said that, by 1980s standards the G1 cartoon was pretty nifty and there are some pretty cool moments in the cartoon series ('The God Gambit" explores some rather serious issues).

[Sinnertwin]

Sigh... Just started watching G1 again, this time with the Remastered DVDs.

It's just depressing how many animation, audio and continuity errors there are on just disk one. :(:(:(

Can't believe I loved this as a kid.

I still rate it over Prime.
At least G1 Prime doesn't turn every sentence into an epic statement & spout "one shall stand & blah blah blah" every time he comes face to face with Megatron. And Bumblebee... i loathe that R2D2 beep beep boop boop yellow bellend

[Hursticon]

That's why I prefer the G1 comics over the cartoon. They were typically written at a "higher" level than the cartoon and aren't nearly quite as campy/cheesy as the cartoon. Not to mention that the comics sustained us long after the cartoon was cancelled too. ;) Having said that, by 1980s standards the G1 cartoon was pretty nifty and there are some pretty cool moments in the cartoon series ('The God Gambit" explores some rather serious issues).


I still rate it over Prime.
At least G1 Prime doesn't turn every sentence into an epic statement & spout "one shall stand & blah blah blah" every time he comes face to face with Megatron. And Bumblebee... i loathe that R2D2 beep beep boop boop yellow bellend

Then, of course, you've got brilliant G1 series like "Super God Masterforce". ;):cool:
(At least I think so, being 10-11 eps in & after seeing "Headmasters" :D)

[Sinnertwin]

Then, of course, you've got brilliant G1 series like "Super God Masterforce". ;):cool:
(At least I think so, being 10-11 eps in & after seeing "Headmasters" :D)

Now those i could watch all day :D

[DELTAprime]

Having said that, by 1980s standards the G1 cartoon was pretty nifty and there are some pretty cool moments in the cartoon series ('The God Gambit" explores some rather serious issues).

I haven't seen the other series I'm about to list since I was a kid, so how does Mask, GI Joe or the 80's version of TMNT hold up compared to G1?

[VERT]

I haven't seen the other series I'm about to list since I was a kid, so how does Mask, GI Joe or the 80's version of TMNT hold up compared to G1?

G1 has never bothered me to watch. I never stopped watching it. I know it has problems but its part of me now. As for the other shows. I can watch Mask. But its a bit painful. 80s TMNT I never liked. When it was on I was reading the real TMNT Mirage comics. Joe toon I can watch but have trouble getting in to it. Still think G1 was the best for its time.

[GoktimusPrime]

I still rate it over Prime.
At least G1 Prime doesn't turn every sentence into an epic statement & spout "one shall stand & blah blah blah" every time he comes face to face with Megatron. And Bumblebee... i loathe that R2D2 beep beep boop boop yellow bellend
^True. :) In the G1 cartoon Optimus Prime actually has proper dialogue and displays emotions... TFP Optimus Prime is like a walking Quotes Engine where everything he says has to be ponderous and deep. And by deep, I mean quoting stuff from G1 like "One shall stand..." :p G1 Optimus Prime seldomly bothered to try and sound so pompous. "Stick it in neutral, Megatron!" <---his way of saying go shove it where the AllSpark don't shine. ;) Also, G1 Bumblebee spent the entire series speaking normally, not in 'digital farts.' ;)

Then, of course, you've got brilliant G1 series like "Super God Masterforce". ;):cool:
(At least I think so, being 10-11 eps in & after seeing "Headmasters" :D)
^Agreed. :cool: Masterforce has a somewhat 'unorthodox' premise, but once you accept that it's a pretty good story. :)

But hey, if you want to see really good story writing in a Transformers cartoon, go watch Beast Wars. :D

[Trent]

But hey, if you want to see really good story writing in a Transformers cartoon, go watch Beast Wars. :D

And Animated ;)

[Hursticon]

But hey, if you want to see really good story writing in a Transformers cartoon, go watch Beast Wars. :D


And Animated ;)

Hear-hear! ;):cool:

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

I just wanted to say that I really, really dislike Transformers GO! right now.

It's the main line here atm, so most stores aren't stocking the Generations stuff, and those that are only have a tiny amount of stock. So, when I go looking for that nice new voyager Rhinox I've been waiting for for like 3+ years now, what I find instead is this (http://www.cooksux.com/2014/02/27/tfgo_optimusexprime/).

[griffin]

Now you know how we feel, with the Major Retailers here all preferring to stock those crappy Beast Hunters toys and clog the shelves with it, than invest in Generations, which hasn't been known to have long-term shelfwarming anywhere... even the FOC waves that did get released here (with Air Raid and Kickback, or VOY Soundwave, or the Legends data-discs), moved faster than the Beast Hunters stuff.

That review is not surprising.... and mine should arrive in about a week. (I wasn't excited enough to get it when it was released, so left it a month until MP Gen2 Lambor was released, just to save on shipping on that terrible looking toy - I didn't have to worry about it selling out either :p )

[DELTAprime]

It's funny how the collectors market is big enough for the Hasbro CEO to mention it in an earnings call and to call it out in the Toy Fair presentations. Yet Hasbro Australia and retailers are ignoring it meaning all the sales they could be bringing in are instead going to Hasbro US, Hasbro HK and Takara.

[Sky Shadow]

It's funny how the collectors market is big enough for the Hasbro CEO to mention it in an earnings call and to call it out in the Toy Fair presentations. Yet Hasbro Australia and retailers are ignoring it meaning all the sales they could be bringing in are instead going to Hasbro US, Hasbro HK and Takara.

The problem is the continued ignorance of the buyers from the retailers. One would have thought that by now they would have had the sense to employ adults who have a clue about toys - there are clearly no shortage of us. And yet their idea of throwing a bone to the "collector" market is occasionally purchasing expensive toys that we can get cheaper from overseas (e.g. Masterpiece Ghost or Year of the Horse Starscream) and then being shocked when we don't buy them at retail.

[Bidoofdude]

Now you know how we feel, with the Major Retailers here all preferring to stock those crappy Beast Hunters toys and clog the shelves with it, than invest in Generations, which hasn't been known to have long-term shelfwarming anywhere... even the FOC waves that did get released here (with Air Raid and Kickback, or VOY Soundwave, or the Legends data-discs), moved faster than the Beast Hunters stuff.

That review is not surprising.... and mine should arrive in about a week. (I wasn't excited enough to get it when it was released, so left it a month until MP Gen2 Lambor was released, just to save on shipping on that terrible looking toy - I didn't have to worry about it selling out either :p )

FOC toys flew off the shelves, I had trouble locating Wave 1 at first for a solid month or two, didn't even see Wave 2 and Wave 3 had some figures that were always bought up.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

Now you know how we feel, with the Major Retailers here all preferring to stock those crappy Beast Hunters toys and clog the shelves with it, than invest in Generations, which hasn't been known to have long-term shelfwarming anywhere... even the FOC waves that did get released here (with Air Raid and Kickback, or VOY Soundwave, or the Legends data-discs), moved faster than the Beast Hunters stuff.

That review is not surprising.... and mine should arrive in about a week. (I wasn't excited enough to get it when it was released, so left it a month until MP Gen2 Lambor was released, just to save on shipping on that terrible looking toy - I didn't have to worry about it selling out either :p )Oh, I'm aware of it:(...it was partially your essay that reminded me (haven't had much time for toy-shopping lately), but as far as mass-retail goes it's pretty much the same deal here, and I well remember the even-more-dismal Australian scene.
Coincidentally, Beast Hunters is released under the GO! label in Japan. Better colours, but that's about it.

I tried the Yamada Denki 2 cities over today - no Rhinox or Waspinators, but a handful of old FoC stock (Soundblaster isn't moving much for some reason), and...surprise, surprise, heaps of GO! crap including the Beast Hunters stuff.

Seriously, I teach at half the schools around my local Yamada Denki, and I know that for a fact that most of them weren't even born yet when Beast Wars came out, and that none of them are reading the latest IDW stuff...yet somehow Rhinox and Waspinator sell out in a day, while the current-media-supported stuff is still clogging the shelves?

[griffin]

Maybe Osaka is full of closet Transformers fans. :p

When I was there in November, it was indeed wall-to-wall blue packaging (GO!) at the Retailers (ToysRUs (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/b557.jpg) & KidsLand (http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/b575.jpg)). It was actually easier to buy one-off items and exclusives (in those photos).
At least you got some Generations toys... even if it is a challenge to find them.

[GoktimusPrime]

...or could be scalpers. I remember Shadow Panther being sold out in Higashimatsuyama Saitama, which is like freakin' semi-rural. Not sure if the average kid at the time was taking a massive interest in a non-show repaint of Cheetor, but that toy would be sold out within just hours of being shelved! :eek: I personally had to trek out to Tokyo to get a Rhinox Vs Shadow Panther set for myself.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

Hard to say on either of the above, by Osakan standards the town I work for is pretty small and quite far out from the City proper, but we have an international university here so there is a sizeable uni student population, including a lot of foreign students.
That wouldn't totally account for the Izumiotsu Yamada being all out though.

Either way, I'll totally pay that it's better here than back in Oz - though that's very much damning with faint praise.

[griffin]

If you don't end up finding them locally and get desperate, some HK online stores (http://www.ehobbybaseshop.com/) still have both.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

Cheers Griff, but I'm pretty sure one will show up at one of the Den Den Town hobby shops sooner or later. I'm just a little too caught up with work stuff atm to make it into the city and have a decent look around.:(

That and it's freaking annoying to see shelves full of that god-awful GO! crap when there could be Rhinoxes and Waspinators there instead.

I suppose it's good practice for the upcoming TF4 and all those nice Generations toys that the retailers will pass on.:rolleyes:

[Jinto]

Hasbro please bring out a new Astrotrain mould! The Decepticon Specialists pack is a load of garbage!

[AJ_Prime]

Hasbro please bring out a new Astrotrain mould! The Decepticon Specialists pack is a load of garbage!

Yes to this!! If they do half as good a job of him as they did with Springer I would be very happy! Blitzwing kinda looks a bit lonely without his Decepticon brother...

[Bidoofdude]

Hasbro please bring out a new Astrotrain mould! The Decepticon Specialists pack is a load of garbage!

I love how Astotrain looks, though I can understand the need for him to fit with Blitzwing.

[GoktimusPrime]

Astrotrain has its flaws, but it's LOADS better a toy than Blitzwing! I'd rather have a mediocre Deluxe than a crappy Voyager.

[Sky Shadow]

I'd rather have a mediocre Deluxe than a crappy Voyager.

I feel as if there's a 'your mum' joke somewhere in there... ;)

[DELTAprime]

I'd love a modern Astrotrain toy with a steam locomotive alt mode. None of this bullet train crap.

[GoktimusPrime]

I'd honestly just like to see a regular modern electric train. Bullet trains and steam locomotives are exotic attention-drawing trains. I'd love to see just a regular train that doesn't draw any attention to itself - a true robot in disguise. Some of my favourite train-moded TFs are Getsuei (freight locomotive), Kaen (heavy shunting locomotive), Seizan (non-bullet train high speed express locomotive), Suiken (express locomotive), Joe (express) etc., but I'd really just like to see a plain (http://www.mellowmonk.com/uploaded_images/japan_train-707805.jpg) regular (http://www.redoveryellow.com/nyc/43964_bronx_train.jpg) passenger (http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2010/12/08/1225967/544612-aus-bus-pix-waratah-train-downer-edi.jpg) train (http://i4.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article1756765.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/London%20Midland%20train-1756765.jpg). Hasbro reckons that trains don't sell as well in their markets, but come on... as if kids don't love trains! And they would love buses and taxis too... if only Hasbro would just make them. :rolleyes: They'd certainly sell better than stuff like this (http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/transformers-prime-39/transformers-prime-beast-hunters-titan-guardians-images-179482/) IMHO. ;)

[Megatran]

I'd honestly just like to see a regular modern electric train. Bullet trains and steam locomotives are exotic attention-drawing trains. I'd love to see just a regular train that doesn't draw any attention to itself - a true robot in disguise.

For a regular TF electric train in Melbourne that blends in with all the other trains, it'll have to have graffiti all over its shell (idiotic kids). Expect to be train surfed on a regular basis (more idiotic kids). Aircon doesn't work during summer. The lingering smell of BO. Spends a fair amount of time in the maintenance yard. And the big one: never runs on time. :rolleyes: I'm sure I've missed some points as I don't use public transport all that often. Have guess why.

[GoktimusPrime]

^lolol. :D Sydney trains would be almost the same, although without as much graffiti (but if there were interior sculpted seats, every third one would need to be cut up :p).
TakaraTOMY would likely base it on a Japanese commuter train, so it'd be the complete opposite of everything you just said. ;)

[Bidoofdude]

For a regular TF electric train in Melbourne that blends in with all the other trains, it'll have to have graffiti all over its shell (idiotic kids). Expect to be train surfed on a regular basis (more idiotic kids). Aircon doesn't work during summer. The lingering smell of BO. Spends a fair amount of time in the maintenance yard. And the big one: never runs on time. :rolleyes: I'm sure I've missed some points as I don't use public transport all that often. Have guess why.

Sounds about right.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

For a regular TF electric train in Melbourne that blends in with all the other trains, it'll have to have graffiti all over its shell (idiotic kids). Expect to be train surfed on a regular basis (more idiotic kids). Aircon doesn't work during summer. The lingering smell of BO. Spends a fair amount of time in the maintenance yard. And the big one: never runs on time. :rolleyes: I'm sure I've missed some points as I don't use public transport all that often. Have guess why.Welp, that's the redeco sorted then.:D

[GoktimusPrime]

Actually ya know, if they made it look like a really generic and common commuter train, there would be such massive potential for regional variants! :D

[Trailer Park Ninja]

This made me laugh :D

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Transformers-Metroplex-30th-Anniversary-2ft-Tall-BNISB-/301132432862?pt=AU_Action_Figures&hash=item461ce445de

Just this weekend saw a stack of them at Big W with clearance price of $88

[Kapryiath]

i must have a look around here to see if anyone still has one i didnt pick it up and am starting to regret it :P

[DELTAprime]

Sigh, just had another Predator missile launcher break. Dam things are so fragile. Well thats another childhood toy that needs replacing if I want to display it.

[Sky Shadow]

As I've always pointed out: "Go-Bots beat Transformers to market, arriving five months before the robots in disguise." (http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/generation-1-1/30-years-of-transformers-in-30-days-1984-179577/)

Can everyone who's ever said GoBots/Machine Men were a rip-off of Transformers please keep their mouths shut for the next thirty years?

[Megatran]

So which toy line did GoBots / Machine Men rip off then?

[GoktimusPrime]

Popy/Bandai's Machine Robo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7_sgcprD-0).

Although I wouldn't say "rip off." Machine Robo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXLa75e8nCI) is to Go-Bots what Diaclone and Microman is to Transformers.

[griffin]

As I've always pointed out: "Go-Bots beat Transformers to market, arriving five months before the robots in disguise." (http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/generation-1-1/30-years-of-transformers-in-30-days-1984-179577/)

Can everyone who's ever said GoBots/Machine Men were a rip-off of Transformers please keep their mouths shut for the next thirty years?

I didn't realise that there were people adamantly stating that Transformers came out first, and GoBots came out later to cash in on the craze?
I thought most people just knew that they came out sometime in 1984, roughly at the same time to compete with each other, but since we never really had something significant or official documented source be a headline news item... it never became mainstream, common knowledge either way.
I mean, I was never sure either way, as I'm not even sure where to look for an official document of when each series was officially released to American stores. (and when you count global markets, it gets even more blurred as which came first)

I DO know that Hasbro and Tonka were signing up their various JP toy designs and licenses during 1983, but which one made it to stores first in America and worldwide, was never something I was ever bothered about... because they were BOTH in conception, production and retail release at the same time (1983-1984)... to me personally, whichever one "won" the race doesn't matter as much as who "won" the war (which Transformers did :D ). But it would be nice having a document/proof of GoBots losing from a 5 month head start.


"Although Transformers appeared five months after GoBots, Hasbro came from behind and outsold GoBots almost 2-1," according to the book "Toyland: The High Stakes Game of the Toy Industry."

I wonder if that book has that detail sourced (http://web.archive.org/web/20081029064506/http://www.electric-escape.net/node/585), or if it is just another recollected memory, because it was written in 1991 (https://www.google.com.au/#q=Toyland%3A+The+High+Stakes+Game+of+the+Toy+Indu stry&safe=active). After reading the reviews, I'm rather intrigued about this book, and will look at getting one, just to see what else is written about the 80s global toy industry.

[GoktimusPrime]

I most definitely remember Machine Men coming out here in 1983, because in that year I was in hospital for several days from food poisoning, and during that time I received Helicopter Man (Cop-Tur) as a gift. And I distinctly remember purchasing Brawn (and Huffer for my brother) in late 1984 from a toy store (either HobbyCo. or Uncle Pete's) in Sydney CBD on the way to a piano concerto which neither my brother or I were remotely interested in watching. So those toys placated us during the performance that we were being dragged along to watch. ;)

[Sky Shadow]

I most definitely remember Machine Men coming out here in 1983,

Correct! People may (or may) not remember the first "now you see it, now you don't" commercials that accompanied the first line of Machine Men in 1983, (Cycle Man, Tank Man, Aero Man, Copter Man, Train Man and Racer Man.) Which is - yes - why it's always pissed me off when people call GoBots/Machine Men knockoff or rip-offs of Transformers. 1. Transformers came out second. 2. G. I. Joe was a rip-off of Barbie, which was in turn a rip-off of Bild Lilli, but nobody feels the need to bring that up all the time. And that one's actually true. Toys have evolved organically through the years and nobody needs to call one a rip-off of the other. If we didn't have the toys of the past, we wouldn't have the toys of today. Without Bild Lilli we wouldn't have Barbie, without Barbie we wouldn't have G.I. Joe, without G.I. Joe we wouldn't have Henshin Cyborg, without Henshin Cybrog we wouldn't have Microman, without Microman we wouldn't have Micro Change and Diaclone, and without Micro Change and Diaclone we wouldn't have Transformers.

[CBratron]

I didn't realise that there were people adamantly stating that Transformers came out first, and GoBots came out later to cash in on the craze?

That's the problem with common sense. It's all gut instinct and unconfirmed reasoning. "I remember them most and they were a bigger success. Therefore Transformers came first".

Ask a child (or anyone who hasn't already had eyes explained to them) "How do your eyes work?" and answer will be "beams coming out of your eyes" or some similar variant of that explanation.

People are stupider than you think and only education changes that.

[GoktimusPrime]

I feel similarly frustrated when people assume that the G1 cartoon came out before the toys. Like on the official TF FB page when they uploaded an image of the upcoming Jetfire toy, there were heaps of posts about people saying things like:

>Err, dont you mean skyfire!
>That is not jetfire that is skyfire
>The figure shown in that picture is Skyfire from G1 Transformers
>SKYFIRE!!
>HIS NAME IS SKYFIRE!!!! sorry just had to say it. :/
>is Jetfire the new name for Skyfire?
>Skyfire...ITS SKYFIRE!!! Please use his original name!!! >~<
>This is Skyfire

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/avatars/facepalm_primeratchet.jpg
...thankfully there were also plenty of other people who promptly pointed out the truth. :rolleyes:

[Sinnertwin]

GoBots, Transformers. Who cares? :rolleyes:

[DELTAprime]

According to Jordan on Toy Hunter when the people at Tonka found out that Hasbro had acquired the rights to Microman and Diaclone and was working on Transformers, Tonka acquired the rights to Machine Robo and then moved quickly to beat Hasbro to market.

So Go Bots was a reaction to Transformers, but Go Bots ended up hitting the market first.

[Hursticon]

GoBots, Transformers. Who cares? :rolleyes:

Pfft!... I know right? - We all know where "transforming" is REALLY (http://youtu.be/UlSOE-6EdgA?t=18s) at. ;):cool:

[griffin]

Hmmm... Frank Welker did a voice in Gobots.
Traitor, or double-agent? :p

[GoktimusPrime]

GoBots, Transformers. Who cares? :rolleyes:
Blasphemy!

So Go Bots was a reaction to Transformers, but Go Bots ended up hitting the market first.
Yeah, but the end result is that GoBots came first. ;)

Hmmm... Frank Welker did a voice in Gobots.
Traitor, or double-agent? :p
Playah. :p

[Hursticon]

Hmmm... Frank Welker did a voice in Gobots.
Traitor, or double-agent? :p

Well, this just confuses everything (http://youtu.be/9zvRNKs9Z2M) in that case (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robotix#Voice_cast). :p:D

[griffin]

Well, this just confuses everything (http://youtu.be/9zvRNKs9Z2M) in that case (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robotix#Voice_cast). :p:D

Wow, I didn't even know about that cartoon. The moment the narrator started speaking and the sound effects, it was like listening to a Transformers episode.

[liegeprime]

Well, this just confuses everything (http://youtu.be/9zvRNKs9Z2M) in that case (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robotix#Voice_cast). :p:D

uuughh, those are some UUUUGLY robots... Did this series ever get shown here? or had any toyline? I bet it would've been a major loss:p... hmmm so many familiar voices there - Ironhide, Arcee, Turbo etc hahahahaha. I found it funny that the guy was so calm in saying - we've lost power and prepare for a crashlanding... really? you're ships about to crash and he states it a matter of fact? :rolleyes::rolleyes:

[kup]

I finally have time to unpack my toys after painters came to do the unit some weeks ago. I unpacked the 1984-85 Autobots but Prime's left fist is missing! I hope it re-appears as with all the KOs and endless variants, it would be tough to get a legit matching fist on ebay.

[5FDP]

Well, this just confuses everything (http://youtu.be/9zvRNKs9Z2M) in that case (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robotix#Voice_cast). :p:D

HAHAHA... around the 18 min mark (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zvRNKs9Z2M&feature=player_detailpage#t=1070) they even use music lifted straight from Transformers. Classic!

[Sky Shadow]

Since GoBots and Robotix have both been retconned into Transformers, I'd like to see a scene where Scooter and Nemesis pull off their masks to reveal that they're respectively Megatron and Optimus Prime undercover.

[griffin]

Robotix was retconned into Transformers?


Does anyone watching that get the feeling that Rebirth (done a year later) is very similar in idea and story? Humanoids meet up with a robotic race, who prove that they are better fighters with them as pilots.
I couldn't find out who wrote the Robotix cartoon, but I have a feeling it was one of the Transformers writers by the way it flows.

[griffin]

Robotix was retconned into Transformers?


Never mind... it looks like a very background, blink and you miss it type reference (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Robotix), just used during Animated because Hasbro owns both properties, and has no use for Robotix concepts in their own use.

[Zommael]

I'm bored today, so I decide to browse the Toys'r'us website. Why, I have no idea. I spot the Beast Hunters Weaponiser toys. After having some chance to think it through, I've decided yeah, I kinda want the Green Optimus. I like alternate colour schemes and that big sword is a big plus. Given that TRU are now selling them for $30 online it might actually be worth it.

Click on the item, and what do I find? "This item comes from an assortment with different characters. Unfortunately, it is not possible to request a specific character online." *$@&*&*$!!!!!!! What is this, the 19th bloody century? Do the products get delivered in a horse-drawn cart? This is the kind of crap I used to put up with 20 years ago buying toys as a kid in the UK!

ONLINE RETAIL IS NOT DIFFICULT, JUST SEND ME THE PRODUCT I WANT, NOT A RANDOM PRODUCT YOU CHOOSE!!!!!!!!! I don't want to download a catalogue, I don't want the number to ring my "local" store (about 700k away), I just want the full product range, on the website, to buy.

What a joke. So do I buy two in the hopes I get the one I want and can offload the other one... or is it just not worth supporting this level of crappy customer service? I'm thinking the latter.

[Sinnertwin]

or is it just not worth supporting this level of crappy customer service? I'm thinking the latter.

Yep.
I had the same issue with Mr. Toystoyworld when i wanted to order a HA Dragstrip. Haven't bought a thing from them since

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

What a joke. So do I buy two in the hopes I get the one I want and can offload the other one... or is it just not worth supporting this level of crappy customer service? I'm thinking the latter.
And people wonder why we buy overseas on-line. So many times I have been disappointed with an australian shop's on-line presence. Once I wanted to know if a certina place even stocked what I was after, they didn't even have a catalogue or product list for me to look through. Lame.

Oh, and I'd just leave it. ;)

On to my vent. Every time I go through my toys to cut them back, pretty much every one I come across has some little thing that reminds me why I got it and that makes it cool. DOTM Deluxe Ironhide. I dislike the toy, but messing about with it and it reminds me that his weapon drone thing is from te game and fits all nicely in the vehicle.

Every toy I have all seem to have one aspect that I really like in them, making it hard to cut them down:)

[GoktimusPrime]

I don't buy a toy unless I want to keep it for keeps. Hence I rarely sell anything. ;) I usually sell stuff if I happen to come across a spare, or if I get an "updated" version of a toy that makes the previous version obsolete to me. Usually it's because I end up with a spare.

[GoktimusPrime]

Gawd I am such a NOOB at online shopping!!! I went and preordered MP Magnus about a month ago... then earlier this evening I went and checked on my order and noticed that it wasn't listed on my orders thing. I then noticed that it was among the orders that I'd cancelled! A lot of panicking later, I went and preordered it again!

So... hoping that I'll only end up w/ at least one Ultra Magnus toy. Gah... unchartered territory... and this is a toy that will probably end up seeing a local release here too. :o

hate online shopping hate online shopping hate online shopping hate online shopping hate online shopping

[kup]

Gawd I am such a NOOB at online shopping!!! I went and preordered MP Magnus about a month ago... then earlier this evening I went and checked on my order and noticed that it wasn't listed on my orders thing. I then noticed that it was among the orders that I'd cancelled! A lot of panicking later, I went and preordered it again!

So... hoping that I'll only end up w/ at least one Ultra Magnus toy. Gah... unchartered territory... and this is a toy that will probably end up seeing a local release here too. :o

hate online shopping hate online shopping hate online shopping hate online shopping hate online shopping

I don't understand your problem with online shopping. To me it's a saviour as the options for us are very limited in this country.

[Omega Metro]

I don't understand your problem with online shopping. To me it's a saviour as the options for us are very limited in this country.

So true. My collection would only be 10% of what I currently have if it wasn't for online shopping.

[Golden Phoenix]

So true. My collection would only be 10% of what I currently have if it wasn't for online shopping.

Second. And my wallet would be.....well pretty much the same size as I would have spent my money on other things, probably Lego.

[Mythirax]

I don't understand your problem with online shopping. To me it's a saviour as the options for us are very limited in this country.


So true. My collection would only be 10% of what I currently have if it wasn't for online shopping.


Second. And my wallet would be.....well pretty much the same size as I would have spent my money on other things, probably Lego.

Haha, this, this and this!

[GoktimusPrime]

What I dislike about online shopping:

* It feels anti-social. I much prefer dealing with people than machines as my first point of contact. It's one reason why I prefer TakaraTOMY's customer service over Hasbro's... when I call Hasbro, I usually get their answering machine where I leave a message and typically never get a call back. When I call TakaraTOMY's call centre, my call is always answered by an operator and my issue is promptly dealt with. Real life shopping is a social experience, and online shopping, to me, removes that social element of direct interpersonal contact.

* I'm not a patient person. When I purchase a toy, I want to play with it straight away. Sometimes I carry my Toy Emancipation Kit(TM) with me if I'm anticipating to make a purchase at a store (if not, I open the toy as soon as I get home). The idea of purchasing a toy, and then having to freakin' wait for the toy to get delivered drives me bonkers. Whenever I order a toy from Amazon I find myself constantly checking the shipping status wondering, "Is it here yet? Is it here yet? Is it here yet? Is it here yet? Is it here yet? Is it here yet? Is it here yet?!?" :p

* I can inspect the condition of the toy and its packaging first hand when purchasing from an actual store. I also find it a lot easier and faster to do an exchange/refund with a faulty toy that's store bought, whereas I'm more reluctant if it's online bought. For example, my AoE Slug had a dodgy elbow, so within 24 hours I'd brought it back to the store where I bought it from and exchanged it for another. My online bought Generations Springer doesn't lock in flush in car mode -- a relatively minor flaw, but if it were store-bought I'd most likely exchange it. But being online bought, I'm ceebs to jump through the hoops to send the toy back and then wait again for a replacement to be sent! (waiting for the toy the first time was excruciating enough! :eek:)

* And yeah, I'll admit it, it's habitual. I've been collecting Transformers since 1984, and almost all of my collection is store-bought.


To me it's a saviour as the options for us are very limited in this country.
The deteriorating retail options here is driving me bonkers, and even forcing die-hard store shoppers like me to ever increase my online shopping. Which I just hate. Online shopping for me is something I do out of "necessity" rather than choice (i.e. when the toy is unavailable locally). I do appreciate your point -- and it's true that online shopping gives us an alternative option when local retail fails us... but it's not an option that I prefer, and only one that I take if I feel that I "have" to. If Hasbro Australia were able to release more stuff here, I'd most gladly buy it all locally.

[Mythirax]

What I dislike about online shopping:

* It feels anti-social.

* I'm not a patient person.

* I can inspect the condition of the toy and its packaging first hand when purchasing from an actual store.

Your first point, I'm not to phased myself. As I'm always pushed to go to a self serve checkout now which makes going out to stores anti-social in general. Which I absolutely hate, but hey, it's faster than the manned checkouts half the time. Except for when I'm grocery shopping. I can't stand putting all my food through myself :p

Your're second point I agree. I hate the waiting period. Especially when something becomes overdue and you feel like somethings gone wrong. But I've been buying online now on a regular basis for a good 10~ years.

And your third point is a major one. I always like to see what I'm buying. But I've found with online products so far, if something has been bad or a figure is a dud. I've never had an issue getting my money back hassle free.

All in all I do love online shopping though. Especially for things for my sister. She collects Harry Potter related things at the moment. And so far I've yet to find anywhere in Australia that stocks anything she's looking for. So online shopping has been a big savior in this case.

[BigTransformerTrev]

In regards to the current online shopping discussion, I had made the decision before the AoE toys came out that I would buy them all locally, since I usually by 80 to 90% of my toys online. Thought that for once we would pretty much get all the toys here and it would save me the usual few hundred I end up paying simply for shipping costs each year.


Then, in the review I wrote for AoE Leader Class Grimlock I read the following:


I've decided on a Takara Black Knight Leader Grimlock.




Having seen the preview pics, I'm inclined to do the same.



I went and looked up the figure online - wow :eek: - I LOVE his colour scheme compared to the Grimmy I bought! Starting to think I should have stuck with my usual habit of checking out places like BBTS each week, as I do think it is a superior toy. Perhaps I should of stuck with my online shopping habit after all :rolleyes:

Then maybe one day I will find this figure cheaply (though this is unlikely) and purchase it on top of the Hasbro one I already have :D

[Sinnertwin]

Gawd I am such a NOOB at online shopping!!! I went and preordered MP Magnus about a month ago... then earlier this evening I went and checked on my order and noticed that it wasn't listed on my orders thing. I then noticed that it was among the orders that I'd cancelled! A lot of panicking later, I went and preordered it again!

So... hoping that I'll only end up w/ at least one Ultra Magnus toy. Gah... unchartered territory... and this is a toy that will probably end up seeing a local release here too. :o

hate online shopping hate online shopping hate online shopping hate online shopping hate online shopping

I wasn't paying too much attention to it at the time & i've accidentally cancelled an order myself. You shouldn't let it deter you too much from using online sources

[Megatran]

On-line shopping has it's definite advantages as pointed out in several of the previous posts.

Buying on-line allows for discreet purchases. Not many of us these days walk into an adult toy shop to buy adult toys.