What do you pay for New JP MPs?

For the current price of Ultra Magnus does make me question about the actual toy quality.

Here's my take on things:

I collect a lot of robots. Similar stuff I can compare to a Takara mp release:

Gundam Metal build > Gundam Destiny $RRP 180 > don't you even think about HLJ, they released 6 pieces only and so is the rest and I hardly could order it at RRP, ended up $210 delivered. Quality wise? I would say beats an mp hands down.

Macross Frontier chogokin: RRP $150 now $250 >$500 and I am thinking most people are scalpers causing this serious issue. So I ended up admiring and not buying most of it. For its size and quality? Good if you pay RRP, bad if you pay at current. And even then those who know, there is renewal and 1st version which made you went on an expensive ride if you collected since day one.

Now looking back at mp Sideswipe and if you ask me to pay $90 now for it, I say go get stuffed. Why? because soundwave is so much bigger and only at $130 shipped or so.

This makes me questioned about Ultra Magnus, if it reaches $300 mark, I may give it a pass. Have to see it to see whether this is worth the money, I cannot just click the "pre-order" button for this guy. I could for Soundwave, and that's the difference here.

I don't collect other toylines, so I'm not qualified to comment on those.

Do we know what the official RRP for Ultra Magnus will be yet? I'm personally waiting for Amazon JP to list it, as they'll also list the RRP as set by TakaraTOMY. I'll see what Amazon JP's preorder price is like... still undecided.

Since there's no licensing issues with Ultra Magnus, there's no reason why Hasbro can't release this toy. And if so, there's a good chance that even local AU RRP will be even cheaper than preorder Japanese prices anyway. :) I'd like to wait for a local Hasbro release... but my impatience might get the better of me. :p

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Originally Posted by GoktimusPrime

I don't collect other toylines, so I'm not qualified to comment on those.

Do we know what the official RRP for Ultra Magnus will be yet? I'm personally waiting for Amazon JP to list it, as they'll also list the RRP as set by TakaraTOMY. I'll see what Amazon JP's preorder price is like... still undecided.

Since there's no licensing issues with Ultra Magnus, there's no reason why Hasbro can't release this toy. And if so, there's a good chance that even local AU RRP will be even cheaper than preorder Japanese prices anyway. :) I'd like to wait for a local Hasbro release... but my impatience might get the better of me. :p

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Hence, why I put on my brakes on the "pre-order" button. There is no reason why this should be priced so high if I am going to pre-judge the current quality of the mp series it would not be any far more metal otherwise.

Are we allowed to order from Amazon jp and do they ship here or you have your own contacts that does it?

Replied here :)

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Originally Posted by GoktimusPrime

Replied here :)

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Yeah guessed it and thus won't apply to most of us here. Options are again limited.

My purchases tend to be all over the place so I voted for Full RRP. Some I get at, some I get below. And when I buy from BBTS, then I pay above. It all comes down to availability when I decide I want it. I ended up paying above for Sideswipe and Red Alert because at first I didn't want them. So by the time I bought, BBTS was one of the last places to have them in stock so I paid above RRP. However I managed to secure Prowl, Bluestreak and Smokescreen for below RRP. MP-11 I got for slightly below, while MP-08 for above.

Sometimes I wait for Hasbro, like with MP-10 and MP-13, because I didn't think they were worth the RRP (now I'm starting to sound like Gok :p:))

I think I'm to a stage now that with the direction that the MP line is moving in, I'll just preorder each item and get the discount. I'm a huge fan of the new releases. The figures are great, and while I may lose out on a Hasbro release, TT usually have the better colour scheme anyway.

However, it is also a challenge nowadays even to buy at RRP. Prowl was off Pre-order like in 30 minutes on HLJ. You are basically battling with the bunch of EvilBay scalpers who basically chop up everything.

The other thing is I tend to feel Takara doesn't mind reissuing stuff and thus why I can be okay to miss it.

There isn't anything wrong with Gok's method, it is by far the best bang for buck if you have budget for all of them. You can pre-order HLJ and cancel it when you feel you don't need it.

the options in this poll are a fairly inaccurate representation of prices paid, as you'd have to assume that each voter paid the same amount for each toy, for example i got red alert fairly cheaply , but i had to pay scalper prices for soundwave and sideswipe, and full retail for the cassetes and then i havn't bought some of them so which option do i vote for? :S

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Originally Posted by Kapryiath

the options in this poll are a fairly inaccurate representation of prices paid, as you'd have to assume that each voter paid the same amount for each toy, for example i got red alert fairly cheaply , but i had to pay scalper prices for soundwave and sideswipe, and full retail for the cassetes and then i havn't bought some of them so which option do i vote for? :S

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I am in same situation as you, I probably am "I want to pay RRP' but I have to end up scalper's prices for some.

The situation WILL be different, if K-mart, Target and every other Australian joint brings it in and sells at RRP, I wouldn't need to go online at all.

* MP-10 Convoy = 23100JPY / AU$251, Above cause I got it from BBTS. (stupid me)
* MP-10B Black Convoy = 13440JPY / AU$146, Don't have but am thinking about getting one cheap.
* MP-11 Starscream = 13000JPY / AU$141, about what I paid which included "free" UPS delivery.
* MP-12 Lambor = 6000JPY / AU$65, slightly under retail.
* MP-13 Soundwave (w/ Condor) = 16000JPY / AU$174, slightly under retail.
* MP-14 Alert = 6000JPY / AU$65, slightly under retail.
* MP-15 Rumble & Jaguar = 4410JPY / AU$48, slightly under retail.
* MP-16 Frenzy & Buzzsaw = 4410JPY / AU$48, slightly under retail.
* MP-17 Prowl = 6090JPY / AU$66, well under retail now that I'm using HLJ.

I know that Gok thinks MP's are not worth paying retail for, I disagree and think they are worth it. But it would have been nice if Takara didn't put up their prices a couple of years ago.

EDIT: BTW, what was the retail price of Sunstorm? I'm thinking about getting him also.