USA Sightings

[jaydisc]

I've always enjoyed seeing pics of walls of TFs in stores, so when I saw this at TRU in Times Square, I had to snap some pics. They had virtually everything current, and while the prices were slightly inflated due to being located in the center of Manhattan, they had a grated sale on deluxes (USD 8).

http://lindalane.com/temporary/tf/DSC05083.jpghttp://lindalane.com/temporary/tf/DSC05082.jpg

[SentinelPrime]

look at all those universe unicrons!!!

awesome pics Jaydisc, do you live in melb or ny?

[Wheel-J]

Such abundance! and not to say cheaper as well..

[Trailer Park Ninja]

Nice!!! I would love to have insignias and logo on the wall there.

[jaydisc]

awesome pics Jaydisc, do you live in melb or ny?

Thanks. I was born & raised in NY (and currently visiting), but Melbourne is home.

[Golden Phoenix]

I'd be like a kid in a candy store
"I want that one, and that one, and that one....."

[Paulbot]

I see some Atomic Lugnuts (I think) but do they have Animated Wreck-Gar?

[jaydisc]

Here's another pair of pics (without flash, so brighter, but more blurry). I've circled the one Wreck-Gar visible. If memory serves, there was quite a few more, but Atomic Lugnut was definitely dominating the display. In hindsight, the one thing they did NOT seem to have any of here, and something I've had a generally difficult time finding any where, is Universe Voyagers, especially recent ones.

http://lindalane.com/temporary/tf/DSC05084.jpg
http://lindalane.com/temporary/tf/DSC05085.jpg

[i_amtrunks]

$60 Unicorns?

Damn...

[jaydisc]

That's high actually. Standard price is $49.99. You do mean Unicron right?

[i_amtrunks]

That's high actually. Standard price is $49.99. You do mean Unicron right?

them too! :D

[Paulbot]

Unicron's only $US 50 on the shelf?

Torn between "the toy is too big to fit in my luggage" and "darn that's cheap I should get some for people".

[JuzMel]

I'd be like a kid in a candy store
"I want that one, and that one, and that one....."

+1 :eek: :D Or to make it better, can we just walk right into the picture? :p You should send a copy of this photos to Kmart, Target and Big W here. heehee...

[jaydisc]

Unicron's only $US 50 on the shelf?

Torn between "the toy is too big to fit in my luggage" and "darn that's cheap I should get some for people".

During both of my recent trips it's called to me (I don't have one), but the size/value proposition never cut it. Hmmm... maybe I should get a loose one.

[Stompy]

Impressive display. If only it was stocked that well locally. No more need to hide the one or two sought after figures behind the toddler toys.

Those rows of Unicrons are making me dizzy. The prices are even more drool worthy.

[jaydisc]

OK. I caved and got a Unicron to fit into the spare space in my two boxes. Thanks for the gentle nudge Paul and Trunks. ;)

[Paulbot]

I have come at the wrong time. Like back home the stores here are emptying out of Transformers toys. I've not seen any wonderful walls full of TFs yet. Mostly I'm just seeing the same unwanted rejects (Universe Dinobot I'm looking at you) and empty racks as back home.

It really pays to have a car if you want to do your TF toy shopping in America. It seems that none of the "malls" have the stores that stock TFs (like WalMart, Target, TRU, Kmart) but instead those stores are standalone and require much deciphering of the public transport system to get to. (Oh how I wish there was a Chadstone or Highpoint equivalent!)

I came with a list of toys I can't find at home that I hope to find here and I'm not getting through the list very quickly.

In LA: I've seen four of Wreck-Gar (2 in 2 TRU stores) and bought the sole good one in the first store.

I've seen Darkwind (1 in 1 TRU store, 3 in another TRU) and Countdown (3 in one TRU)

Lots of Waspinators at the two TRU stores, but only one Samurai Prowl (at the second store).

No sign of Longarm, Skywarp, Shockwave, Sunstrom. No Universe Ratchet or Hotshot.

Now in Orlando, I visited a Walmart and Kmart today. Tried to visit Target too but after waiting 30 minutes gave up on the bus.

Kmart had four of the exclusive 12 pack Minicons (but for $3 AUD + per repainted minicon I passed). The store also had a Desert Leader Brawl from the first movie which was the first time I'd seen it instore ever!

Walmart had ROTF Robot Heroes. At least 2 x six different pairs. They also had some of the Universe Robot Heroes I was missing. They let me buy Snarl & Sharkticon and Cheetor & Tankor, but the computer said no to letting me buy the two ROTF packs I took to the counter as well :(

I've also picked up the Crossovers Green & Grey Hulks and Human Torch from Kmart. I bought the green thinking I might never find the grey one... only to find the grey one in the next store! :rolleyes: Anyone in Melbourne want the green Hulk (out of packaging but unplayed with) for $20? Let me know.

I don't think I've got any more time to do toy shopping until I hit New York and look forward to popping into that Times Square TRU. (Although my luck it will be like the last time I was there in May 2007 and just have a wall of the two Preview figures!)

[Paulbot]

Disappointed with the TF findings in New York City.

The Times Square TRU has similar stock to Jay's pictures at the start of this thread, except the Mudflaps/Infernos are gone, replaced by Countdown and Darkwind ($5 more expensive than at the LA stores). All those Universe Deluxes are gone too replaced by Animated Deluxes - mainly Oilslick, Soundwave, Jazz and Waspinator. And only one Unicron survives.

The KB toys store I got the Micromaster Aerialbots from last time is gone.

The KMart store has the 12 pack Minicons (for $6 more than the Orlando store) and the same Animated deluxes as TRU but for $15 each.

I found one comic store that has Universe Ratchet and Hot Shot but they are like $20 each. It was the first time I saw them but not at that price!

[GoktimusPrime]

Just out of interest, are you arranging any meetups with US fans while you're there? If I were around New York/Jersey I'd be trying to meet up with Ben Yee. <shrug>

Of course, last time I went to Hong Kong I emailed Remy and tried to meet up with him but it didn't work out as our schedules conflicted. :(

[Paulbot]

I dont know any one here. im not active on any international board ands its been a decade since I posted on ATT, so no one to meet.:o

today i went to the nearest Target (in Brooklyn) and they had no Transformers at all! Not even empty space where they should have been!

What's worse I then went to the TRU a few blocks away... And the whole store had been demolished! Talk about a strike out! But i've been to Brooklyn now.

[Golden Phoenix]

today i went to the nearest Target (in Brooklyn) and they had no Transformers at all! Not even empty space where they should have been!

What's worse I then went to the TRU a few blocks away... And the whole store had been demolished! Talk about a strike out! But i've been to Brooklyn now.
2 simple explanations:
1) Target had to clear their shelves for ROTF stuff, and just waiting to put it out.

2)The TRU sold some ROTF toys and Hasbro punished them....

[Paulbot]

2 simple explanations:
1) Target had to clear their shelves for ROTF stuff, and just waiting to put it out.

Yeah but strange for nothing, no unsold activators or anything, and for there to be no clear space for them.


2)The TRU sold some ROTF toys and Hasbro punished them....

LOL

Another sighting, in the NY kinokuniya store they had USA Edition Silverbolt for about $70 USD. OMG it's so white! I've seen pictures but I still didn't expect it to be so white! It looks a lot better than Hasbro's grey.

[Paulbot]

Saw a ROTF FAB today at a Manhattan Kmart (two of the same figure) for $14. Don't know if they'd sell it because I wasn't interested enough to try (and since their deluxes were $15 I think FABs could probably be bought cheaper elsewhere anyway).

[jaydisc]

Which FAB?

[Paulbot]

M*******

[Ironhide63]

ITS HEAVEN!!!!!!

[Paulbot]

No ROTF toys at Kmart Manhattan today but they do have price tags. Realgear for 10.69. Legends for $6.39. Deluxes for the same price as their ani deluxes $14.99.

And I was shocked that the Gravity Bots (those are those stand up non-Transforming things right?) were tagged at $17.49, $2.50 USD more than deluxes!? i thought they were spychanger sized?

[griffin]

Yeah, I saw someone quote a high price for those Gravity bots on another forum. If I remember correctly, they are a little smaller than Deluxe (I think about G1 Battlecharger size), but I think the high price is because they felt heavy, so maybe the diecast and more expensive shipping (like the Titaniums), makes them more expensive than deluxes. But at that US$ price, those are gonna be like AU$40 here, and I can't see that as being considered good value here, for that size (which is what consumers will see, size not weight, as a determining factor for value).

[Paulbot]

An update to Jaydisc's photos of TRU New York. Here's how it looked last week. Still mainly Animated stuff with some Universe stuff.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2434/3565556790_9689429e6a.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3569/3564738815_80f5e878a5.jpg

And above it a ROTF-inspired movie banner:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3415/3564721799_f458300ef1.jpg

The Preview toys are not out in the US because apparently (according to the US boards) the Preview toys boxes have the same embargo date as the rest of the ROTF toys :rolleyes:

[griffin]

Found in the US is the Devastator RPMs trackset, and the Deluxe wave with Jolt, Dead End, Blazemaster and Skids/Mudflap Icecream truck, so should be here soon as well.

[Sleeve]

Found in the US is the Devastator RPMs trackset, and the Deluxe wave with Jolt, Dead End, Blazemaster and Skids/Mudflap Icecream truck, so should be here soon as well.

Wave 5 Voyagers (Long Haul and Grindor) and Deluxes (Arcee, Swerve and Stalker Scorponok) have also been sighted, along with Ahsoka Tano Magnaguard Droid from the Star Wars Crossovers line.


Source: www.tfw2005.com

[Paulbot]

As has been reported elsewhere, the US is currently in a drought as toy stores wait for DOTM toys (that are slowly leaking out). So the shops I've visited in LA and New York tend to either have empty shelves or are filled with the same shelfwarmers as back home. (Terradive, Hailstorm, Skullgrin, PCC Aerialbots and Combaticons etc).

Target have started clearing PCC 2 packs but prices differ per store and I've only seen early waves. Toys R Us are clearing out the ROTF robot heroes multi-packs for $10 (plus tax)

The only DOTM toy I've seen so far has been the preview Prime. If this is the size the new Scouts are going to be then it's a real shame. It's only slightly larger than the legend toys on the racks next to it. $10 at TRU (plus tax)

Culver City TRU had a Generations Kup however the back of the card was awfully misprinted. It looked like someone had photocopied the back, scanned the photocopy, printed the scan out and stuck it to the back! It made it look like a KO but is still the first time I've seen Kup in a store.

Big Lou's in Culver City ( http://www.bigloustoys.com/) did not have many Transformers but lots of other action figures if you're into other toylines.

Puzzle Zoo in Santa Monica ( http://www.puzzlezoo.com/ ) had a good range of Generations Deluxes, including Kup and Scourge, but at high (for Americans) prices of $18 to $20 (plus tax). No Warpath though. They also had the Speed Stars Leadfoot (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Leadfoot_%28Speed_Stars%29) which I'd never seen before, sure looks like Fracture!

Toys R Us in Times Square is the home of shelfwarmers. They've still got heaps of Countdown and Darkwing (which were there two years ago when I last visited and took the picture a few posts back!). For some reason ROTF Bludgeon is not selling either. They had over 25 of them plus some Recon Ironhides and for only $15 (plus tax) each I can't imagine why they are not moving. They also had lots of the unwanted Generations Deluxes (at least 40 Skullgrins, plenty of Thunderwing, Cliffjumper, Dirge, and a few each of Cyb Megatron, Cyb Soundwave, Blurr and Red Alert) for $16 (plus tax). There's also still a good number of Animated Oilslick and Snarl for $10 (plus tax) each.

The Toys R Us 'clearance' store in NY's Manhattan Mall had first wave Animated Deluxes for $10 (plus tax) and a couple of Animated Ironhide and Rodimus for $18 (plus tax)

When I get back from Canada the DOTM street date will have passed so hopefully I'll see some of the new stuff. Always happens that I'm in the States where the embargo is enforced while back home people are finding the movie toys. This is the third time it's happened now!

[Paulbot]

I visited a Target in Boston this afternoon. No DOTM figures but the shelves were cleared for them and price tags up. I'm not sure if prices are the same nationwide for US chains, but if they are the prices at Target are

MV3 Cyberverse Deluxe $11.99
MV3 Cyberverse Voyager $19.99
MV3 Cyberverse Leader $44.99
MV3 Mechtech Basic $4.99
MV3 Mechtech Plus $7.99
MV3 Basic Human Alliance $9.99
MV3 Human Alliance $29.99

(The shelf tags in this store actually say Megaverse instead of Mechtech and Cybertech instead of Cyberverse)

[STL]

Goddamn. If only, if only they were our prices. I'd so buy straight off the shelf.

[griffin]

I just gotta hold out for another 2 weeks...


The temptation is just killing me, seeing all these new toys on shelves here.

[iceburn]

I just gotta hold out for another 2 weeks...


The temptation is just killing me, seeing all these new toys on shelves here.

haha, i know the feeling! i'm on pretty low budget and will be selective buying the DOTM toys. feel like just grabbing the lot

[Paulbot]

I just gotta hold out for another 2 weeks...


The temptation is just killing me, seeing all these new toys on shelves here.
From what I've read on US boards, and what I've seen so far in Canada, the US might stick to the waves more rigidly than Australia does. Wave 2 (and beyond) figures might not be on sale there until after BotCon despite being on sale back home.

[iceburn]

From what I've read on US boards, and what I've seen so far in Canada, the US might stick to the waves more rigidly than Australia does. Wave 2 (and beyond) figures might not be on sale there until after BotCon despite being on sale back home.

likewise here in Singapore.. only Wave 1 seen so far

[Golden Phoenix]

From what I've read on US boards, and what I've seen so far in Canada, the US might stick to the waves more rigidly than Australia does. Wave 2 (and beyond) figures might not be on sale there until after BotCon despite being on sale back home.

Maybe we should send you some Wave 2 stuff to flog at Botcon :P

[Paulbot]

The others who are coming should think about it! Although I did spot a Blackout in Canada today, so maybe some more wave 2+ toys might appear. But so far pretty much just wave 1 (and in big numbers)

[Demonac]

The price we buy toys here pretty much makes it nonviable.
For a deluxe, we'd have to sell it at $30US just to break even.
That's more than double what they normally pay.

[griffin]

That's the sad fact now... even the desperate wont pay our 'break even' prices, let alone trying to make a profit. I didn't get any interest last year, and at the prices I had to offload them at I still made a loss even at the US80/85c rate it was at last year.

I was thinking of buying some to take with me to show off (like last year), but I'm thinking by the time BotCon starts and FunPub are likely to have the latest Hasbro toys in stock (like previous years), it might be a waste of money on my part (it'd be less toys I buy at the cheaper US retail rate) and a waste of space in the luggage (for toys that other people could end up buying at the Con anyway).

It was good last year because we had such a lead on the Americans, so there was no chance the toys I took over were going to be there.

[nyerk]

Youtube reviewer Peaugh has found Human Alliance Jazz on clearance for $8.24 in Target!

http://twitpic.com/4zc735

Any aussie fans in the US want to do me a favour? :p

[tinyJazz]

Youtube reviewer Peaugh has found Human Alliance Jazz on clearance for $8.24 in Target!

http://twitpic.com/4zc735

Any aussie fans in the US want to do me a favour? :p

Ditto? ;):o pretty please?

[Paulbot]

I've seen very few stores with ROTF Human Alliance figures, and the ones that did only had the Black repaint of Sideswipe. (And one had a single battered Barricade which I purchased for myself :o).

[Paulbot]

Toys R Us in NY have the third wave of Deluxes now (Laserbeak, Thundercracker, Nitro BB, Mudflap). Kmart had wave 2 Legions (BB and Mudflap, but not the others) and the Daredevil team (Deluxe BB repaint with Spike and Backfire repaint and Human/Autobot alliance patch for $20).

New York TRU prices
$13 Deluxes
$23 Voyagers
$52 leader (on sale)

New York Kmart prices
$13.50 Deluxes
$22 Voyagers
$8.80 Cyberverse plus
$11 Human Alliance basics

[Paulbot]

Well Thundercracker and Laserbeak didn't last long. Went to get them today and they are gone. In their place wave 2 deluxes and beside them, the wave 2 Voyagers.

At TRU when I swiped my credit card it gave me a message saying in AUD that charge would be $X and did I want to be charged in AUD? Since the AUD price was less than the US price I pressed Yes!

[jaydisc]

Crazy. I've never seen that. Although I have to assume your bank would have given you a more favorable exchange rate than TRU.

[Skullcruncher]

Found this guys at a Wal Mart I went into today. No idea who any of them are. If there are some US exclusives out at the moment that any board members want please post a pic of it and I keep a look out. (I know nothing about anything G1 remember) :)

http://thumbnails111.imagebam.com/31913/00f577319128476.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/00f577319128476)

[Skullcruncher]

Ah also went into this shop in Utah and they had a few G1's for sale and plenty of other 80's toys. Note the Jetfire army! I made one purchase - posted in the appropriate thread :D

http://thumbnails112.imagebam.com/31913/366dd9319128634.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/366dd9319128634)

http://thumbnails109.imagebam.com/31913/a71ffa319128530.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/a71ffa319128530)

http://thumbnails109.imagebam.com/31913/3768e6319128577.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/3768e6319128577)

[jazzcomp]

Ah also went into this shop in Utah and they had a few G1's for sale and plenty of other 80's toys. Note the Jetfire army! I made one purchase - posted in the appropriate thread :D

http://thumbnails109.imagebam.com/31913/a71ffa319128530.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/a71ffa319128530)
Nice jetfire army. Any variants? I see a WST wave 2 box. Are the toys open or sealed (blind packed)?
Would be interested in a WST silverstreak.

If they have some more WSTs from other waves, I'm also interested such as cliffjumper, skywarp and thundercracker.

What's the condition of the G1s?

[Skullcruncher]

Nice jetfire army. Any variants? I see a WST wave 2 box. Are the toys open or sealed (blind packed)?
Would be interested in a WST silverstreak.

If they have some more WSTs from other waves, I'm also interested such as cliffjumper, skywarp and thundercracker.

What's the condition of the G1s? I didn't notice the price of the jetfires (or any variants) but a G1 Optimus complete was $89. Most didn't have prices so I guess they would tell you when asked. Odd thing was they didn't seem to have an WST's apart from that box. They had three mini spys at $16 each, unfortunately I don't know which ones I need so I left them :o

[griffin]

How's this for the bargain of the millennium for Transformers - fans in America have found at the Discount Store Ollies, Titans Return Trypticon for (http://news.tfw2005.com/2018/04/15/titans-return-trypticon-found-discount-store-ollies-362408).... US$13.
That's a little over AU$15 for a toy that was AU$300-400.

If this is true and not a prank, that price is pretty much giving them away, as the shipping from Hasbro to that retailer would have been about what the store is charging for it.

[Galvatran]

US$13... Endless frustrated hours applying stickers... Priceless.

[Other]

Everyone I know in the states is saying it's super fake, which is pretty obvious, but apparently some people are freaking out anyway and making trips to Ollies in multiple states(not exactly hard to do in the US) searching for them. Some people...

[shockNwave]

Everyone I know in the states is saying it's super fake, which is pretty obvious, but apparently some people are freaking out anyway and making trips to Ollies in multiple states(not exactly hard to do in the US) searching for them. Some people...

Maybe there's fine print involved such as signing a contract in your own blood to a guy in a red suit with a pointy beard after you've paid the $13.;)

[griffin]

200gm box of Transformers boxed chocolate chip cookies at TJ Maxx in America for US$3 (https://news.tfw2005.com/2020/02/16/transformers-chocolate-chip-cookies-found-at-tj-maxx-405276). It doesn't look like there is anything unique about the cookies... just a Transformers box.