JP MP-34S Shadow Panther at TRU Australia (pre-order by FEB 25th)

[griffin]

The Japanese TakaraTomyMall exclusive Masterpiece Shadowpanther (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=25118) (redeco of Cheetor with some new parts), is now up for preorder at ToysRUs Australia (https://www.toysrus.com.au/transformers-takara-tomy-mp-34s-shadow-panther/), for just AU$110 (plus shipping - which for most people will be about $10).
That compares to the Japanese retail price of 8000yen, which is about AU$100... before shipping. (some HK sites have it for just under AU$90, but that's also before international shipping)
The only real drawback here, is that this stock is to be released in October, compared to August in Japan and Asia... but if you are willing to wait, this is one of the rare occasions that the price here is on par, or better, than in Asia.

Pre-orders close February 25th though, so you only have two weeks to think about it.

It is online only too, so this item is not expected to show up in their stores, and it is not known if they will cut off pre-orders after a set amount, as they note that there is a limit of 2 per customer.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2018/021201.jpg
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http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2018/021202.jpg
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http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2018/021203.jpg

[Omega Metro]

Thanks. Just preordered one with Afterpay and free shipping. Just hope TRU will still be around by October.:o

[Jetfire in the sky]

I hope this does well, although once again we are offered a more obscure piece rather than the regular releases.
I wasn't going to get this but now I will be having a serious think about it, especially if our local translator is involved, but we won't know that until later :(

I really hope that collectors can forgo the impatience tax and wait for the later release of this figure.

[griffin]

I pre-ordered one, and shipping was $10, which in total would be slightly cheaper than getting it from an Asian source.

Since it is just a redeco (mostly) of Cheetor, which I wasn't too excited about in the first place, I can wait the extra two months for this limited edition TakaraTomyMall exclusive.

[Seraphim Prime]

It's really pretty, and I want the communicator piece, but I cant justify Shadow Panther in my collection at this time.

I hope though there's a good enough response to this that they consider it for the mainline releases and/or other TTM Legends releases, because I would be very interested in those.

[griffin]

I hope though there's a good enough response to this that they consider it for the mainline releases and/or other TTM Legends releases, because I would be very interested in those.

Yes... I really hope this is just in time for Hasbro Australia to get us hooked up with the future TTM Legends exclusives. If the prices are close to JP Retail like this one, I'd be happy to keep pre-ordering them through TRU.

[Deonasis]

Yes... I really hope this is just in time for Hasbro Australia to get us hooked up with the future TTM Legends exclusives. If the prices are close to JP Retail like this one, I'd be happy to keep pre-ordering them through TRU.

^^THIS^^

[hYpNoS]

Normally I'd go "rah rah I can get it cheaper elsewhere" but since all other local (reputable) dealers are technically third party and this is the one BIG seller I'm willing to throw my support especially if it makes LTD releases like this easier to come by.

I hope eventually this extends to the upcoming POTP blastoff figure release and just mp's in general

[i_amtrunks]

Sounds like either Hasbro or TrU listened to you and the community Griffin and got the price right for the first time in a very long time. That is a properly good price for what looks like an amazing toy (I’ve purposefully been avoiding reading about the MPs and other figures I would otherwise want and it has saved me a lot of money!).

This is the kind of thing TrU, toyworld and other more dedicated retailers should be doing across the board (ie larger or more collector focussed lines) to re engage the Australian public. The prices Zing and other places want to charge is ridiculous and untenable with the global market.

Might have to convince myself not to get this, it is a lovely combo of fantastic looking toy, exceptional price and interesting item.

[GoktimusPrime]

At the POTP Hasbro event I did ask the Hasbro reps if they were planning on importing any more Transformers from Japan and the response I got was, "We're thinking about it." I only found out about this today and haven't been approached for any translation work, so no idea if the bio/instructions will be in English or only Japanese.

[hYpNoS]

At the POTP Hasbro event I did ask the Hasbro reps if they were planning on importing any more Transformers from Japan and the response I got was, "We're thinking about it." I only found out about this today and haven't been approached for any translation work, so no idea if the bio/instructions will be in English or only Japanese.

While it would be nice to get a translated bio I'd be fine with how it appears natively, considering the delay between asia it wouldn't surprise me if they do something special unless that's just how fast tru is dispatching them ha!

[DaptoDog]

What a very surprising but pleasant development. A well priced import from TRU of an obscure figure.

Just a word of caution for those people concerned about box condition. In my experience TRU doesn't take any care in packaging online orders so I'll be passing on this one but it's great there is another trustworthy local source.

[DELTAprime]

I don't care about Shadow Panther, but it's good to see Australian retail pick up a Takara exclusive without taking on too much to the price tag.

[ampoldj]

Is this part of the Marvel Black Panther Movie promotion :D

[reillyd]

I missed the deadline (didn't realise it was yesterday). If there is anyone who would be willing to sell their instruction booklet if it comes in English, I'd be happy to swing you some bucks to pay your shipping

[1orion2many]

I missed this by a day as well :eek:, I rang TRU Cannington here in Perth and they have it listed in their system as going to be stocked but I was also told this wouldn't be 100% until August rolled around. :rolleyes:
So if anyone doesn't want their pre-order I'm happy to take it off their hands :p

[Deonasis]

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAA...

Missed it. Dang.

I was hoping to put my support behind this preorder initiative.

[UltraMarginal]

for those still looking there is another option (https://www.toybotimportz.com.au/collections/frontpage/products/takara-tomy-mall-exclusive-mp-34s-shadow-panther):

[shockNwave]

Is this part of the Marvel Black Panther Movie promotion :D

I was thinking the same thing. It's no coincidence that the timing is such, so let's hope some of the success of the movie rubs off on this MP release.

P.S. I definitely agree with those who find Shadow Panther an improvement over Cheetor.

[griffin]

for those still looking there is another option (https://www.toybotimportz.com.au/collections/frontpage/products/takara-tomy-mall-exclusive-mp-34s-shadow-panther):

Also here from Singapore (http://ohmyprimus.com/takara-mp34s-shadowpanther.html), which should be about the same with postage to Australia.

[MEEEGGGAAATTTRRROOONNN!!!]

Can still be added to cart:

https://www.toysrus.com.au/transformers-takara-tomy-mp-34s-shadow-panther/

And it looks like they removed the deadline.

[GoktimusPrime]

I missed the deadline (didn't realise it was yesterday). If there is anyone who would be willing to sell their instruction booklet if it comes in English, I'd be happy to swing you some bucks to pay your shipping
Not sure if this will have English instructions. I certainly haven't done any work on it, so the instructions will either:
* Only be available in Japanese
* Be available in English as translated by someone else. Hopefully not the clowns that Hasbro HK hired to translate MP Bumblebee and Wheeljack's instructions. :rolleyes: I don't mind if they want to give the translation gig to someone else, but it should be in, you know, English. ;)

[reillyd]

Can still be added to cart:

https://www.toysrus.com.au/transformers-takara-tomy-mp-34s-shadow-panther/

And it looks like they removed the deadline.

Aww, crap. When the link went down I panicked and ordered RK. They don't let you cancel and I don't think I want to be stuck with two now just for the chance of an English bio. It's TTmall exclusive though right? Anyone know how these fare being exclusive? Think I'd be able to shift it on eBay?

[Galvatran]

Ah, good 'ol TRU Oz. Whack on a pre-order cut-off date to generate a sense of urgency. Wait, wait ... not enough takers? Just remove the cut-off date.

[hYpNoS]

Ah, good 'ol TRU Oz. Whack on a pre-order cut-off date to generate a sense of urgency. Wait, wait ... not enough takers? Just remove the cut-off date.

This can't be a good thing, I thought the attention the page had meant it had alot of attention but it must be a set allocation, a large one if they're still taking orders.

If they do this again I'll be very surprised :(