Plush Transformers found in Australia

[griffin]

We rarely get plush figures for Transformers, as the action-figure demographic doesn't often buy them, but some new ones have been found in a Melbourne shopping centre (http://news.tfw2005.com/2018/12/30/transformers-evergreen-plush-toys-spotted-in-the-us-379900) (Victoria Gardens at Richmond)... in a claw-machine.
There are six different ones - Optimus, Bumblebee and Megatron, each in both modes (truck, car, tank).
Unfortunately, they might not show up in stores... but fingers crossed that they do.



http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2018/123101.jpg

[CHILENO20]

Very obscure place to have it, Vic Gardens is barely a shopping center.

[Galvatran]

^ There is one at Keilor Downs plaza near Kmart.

[CHILENO20]

^ There is one at Keilor Downs plaza near Kmart.

That's barely a shopping center as well :D

[KELPIE]

Speaking of TF Plush, did these ever get released here?

Bumblebee (https://www.hasbrotoyshop.com/en/htsusa/-e1856as01)
Starscream (https://www.hasbrotoyshop.com/en/htsusa/-e1857as01)
Soundwave (https://www.hasbrotoyshop.com/en/htsusa/-e1859as01)
Hot Rod (https://www.hasbrotoyshop.com/en/htsusa/-e1858as01)

[griffin]

Tinyjazz sent me a link to an ebay listing (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/183598698351?ul_noapp=true) that has/had dozens of the six plushies, for about $10 each... so either they found them for sale somewhere, or spent a lot of time at one of those claw-grabber machines (or raided one).


Speaking of TF Plush, did these ever get released here?

Bumblebee (https://www.hasbrotoyshop.com/en/htsusa/-e1856as01)
Starscream (https://www.hasbrotoyshop.com/en/htsusa/-e1857as01)
Soundwave (https://www.hasbrotoyshop.com/en/htsusa/-e1859as01)
Hot Rod (https://www.hasbrotoyshop.com/en/htsusa/-e1858as01)

I haven't heard of them being released here. Since they are made by Hasbro, they'd have to sell them to retailers themselves... and since I didn't expect them to come here, I had a friend send me a set from America (including the fifth one - Optimus).

[KELPIE]

I haven't heard of them being released here. Since they are made by Hasbro, they'd have to sell them to retailers themselves... and since I didn't expect them to come here, I had a friend send me a set from America (including the fifth one - Optimus).

Thanks mate.

Guess I'll start looking online/ebay for em.

[Bladestorm]

Tinyjazz sent me a link to an ebay listing (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/183598698351?ul_noapp=true) that has/had dozens of the six plushies, for about $10 each... so either they found them for sale somewhere, or spent a lot of time at one of those claw-grabber machines (or raided one).


I've ordered a set...
I'm a bit skeptical of eBay these days as I was burned a couple of times by supposedly Au sellers end of last year so hopefully it turns up.
I didn't really want the Bumblebee's but it was the only way I could get the Optimus'. Let's see what happens.

[tinyJazz]

I didn't really want the Bumblebee's but it was the only way I could get the Optimus'. Let's see what happens.

How could anyone say no to... this

http://i.imgur.com/7oX0POmm.jpg

:I

[Autocon]

Looks like he has his hands on his face going what is this

[tinyJazz]

Looks like he has his hands on his face going what is this

Haha even better!

[Ravagecat]

Saw these in a claw machine at Zone Bowling in MacGregor a few weeks ago. Had a few punts but wasn't lucky enough to win one :rolleyes:

[griffin]

Saw these in a claw machine at Zone Bowling in MacGregor a few weeks ago. Had a few punts but wasn't lucky enough to win one :rolleyes:


I went and had a look today (tinyjazz reminded me)... and they are HUGE... a lot bigger than I was expecting.


I was thinking that they would be about the size of the small movie plushies at the bottom of this photo, or at the most, the previous converting plushies in the middle of the photo below the Bumblebee face pillow... when in fact, they are the size of the Bumblebee face pillow, at about 30-40cm in size.


http://toycollectors.com.au/collections/griffinofoz/c34s8.jpg


These are the ones at the Zone bowling alley that Ravagecat sighted...


http://toycollectors.com.au/2019oth02.jpg

.

http://toycollectors.com.au/2019oth03.jpg
.
http://toycollectors.com.au/2019oth04.jpg


I was able to find out their source as well (they are licensed plushies by Hunter Leisure (https://www.hunterleisure.com.au/plush/), not produced by Hasbro), so that I can try to track down other retail sources by contacting them.
From the product catalogue (https://www.flipgorilla.com/p/25693471184524652/show#/25693471184524652/2) (page 28), the pre-production samples of the robot modes look a little different to the finished products in the claw machines.

[Bladestorm]

My set arrived.
The bot modes are cute. The vehicle mode for Optimus is ok. Megatron's canon is a bit *cough* limp but my son loves him. I've not taken Bee out of the bag so no pics of him (If anyone wants to purchase the Bee plushies from me at cost let me know - sold).
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4828/31881477477_988db73b07.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/QzfUwa)
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4820/31881474797_de37d88a4d.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/QzfTHX)
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4844/46097642424_1bfc900613.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2deut5m)

Size comparison:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7889/45907951775_235d465a40.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2cWJfDV)
Not huge, but not as small as I expected. 18 cm in sitting position for the bots, just over 20 if their legs are "straight". Vehicles just under 18 cm length.

[Ravagecat]

My set arrived.
The bot modes are cute. The vehicle mode for Optimus is ok. Megatron's canon is a bit *cough* limp but my son loves him. I've not taken Bee out of the bag so no pics of him (If anyone wants to purchase the Bee plushies from me at cost let me know)SNIP...

PM sent about BB Plushies :cool:

[ampoldj]

How could anyone say no to... this

http://i.imgur.com/7oX0POmm.jpg

:I

Lucky i got Bumblebee at Vinnies today for 2bucks ;)

[griffin]

Bad news and bad news.... :(


The first bad news is that Hunter Leisure don't respond to queries made through their website's contact page (or just ignore questions that aren't important enough too them). So I called them up today after waiting 2 weeks.
And that's where we get the other bad news - their license for these plush limits them to prize machines (and from what was described, probably at those annual city shows like with those games in sideshow alley). They will not be released in retail stores or anywhere else that allows you to buy them... so if you want a set, or a particular one, you have to spend some time at the claw grabber, or find a listing on ebay (like the one that people here were buying from). I was also recommended to ask the management of the places that have the claw grabber machines (arcades, shopping centres, bowling alleys) to see if they would be willing to sell you a set - I was told that they aren't supposed to (and they'd probably make more money from people using the claw machine), but it can't hurt to ask.

[Bladestorm]

Hope this image works...

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Kyzlpx5sEzPdc1R5MPYraOuKhyClVyCK2YvjquMzMMhW3_kTZu dlICUUlMBQyfu-XxcIBNiXYhmVyGBdczB3EFSHoX6eSfS4oAcvEv7FLg_BVwH1Ph kVG6G80P6L8iU5ke7ATr-Psyr67dUalKRjlen1IbB_L8MY7FZe27q9wuN4GBDOiBLRQsCqw VlHf0BYqZxMP_p1EyD-D528e4gQH5KYjl9WuqPBRM-emax2uKNREX0KO0-ktkSQKL1KRdBnQiMezeJ0j58VNEmHERw_lFPTVBfppCmVly76x dqsFbHJcrAuPKcNp_zWEIVHfrL9bJPtO_TUOHXSUy7Ohaf6lxb doEWBrt0i6aNT7aNHIF9MM3ljdA8PnZI-BXELE3sqFY4RZ2Ub9dyNE_agUQJMMhqNTM_RzyUBhcnm7XtTFU 3KP6FEpxpqupH812BoVUfzeNmNXdZL6-BAupgW3mmvt7vL4t1n8hbCb76SIvPeCe9wyCvrUCBtafhu5KVa GzUx1EHWKV4oKF8WfgWxocF5TebhhwgR4pRjET7foaDkUQwqlo SBQxPVyk-4NYD_CfsdeQaYNmkhCwgwuP8gV_wTCqo3xiGMwsFHfTCoNpYLB Ymx1bzTC7TNjw_Dfc6okw9BwTDK-ntaB9DdrhhRTE12RTiY3Kye-B8=w599-h798-no

Here is a size comparison between the plush Optimus I got from eBay (on the right) and the larger sized plush Optimus I found at Luna Park (on the left).
The plushies Griffin saw must have been the larger sized ones.

For anyone looking to get them, you can purchase them from one of the clown games at Luna Park but they are 3x the price of the smaller ones from eBay. The day I went they had several Optimus and Megatron in both modes and a few Bumblebee's too.

[Autocon]

Theres a claw machine with other plushies besides the tfs at coventry village if anyone is interested.

*Cricket chirp*

[griffin]

America just got some claw machine plushies too (https://news.tfw2005.com/2019/03/11/transformers-plushes-found-at-dave-and-busters-384803), but different to ours, with them having just four characters (Optimus, Bumblebee, Megatron and Grimlock in dino mode).