Prospects for obtaining last year's exclusives

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9th January 2021, 04:25 PM
JJJ

Prospects for obtaining last year's exclusives

What are our prospects, being Australians, for obtaining last year's WFC exclusives?

The ones I care about are:
Runabout
Thrust
Dirge
Ramjet

So far as I know, them being released as US store exclusives means they are never going to hit retail shelves here. If they see Japanese release (such as is rumoured for Siege Skywarp), well, that doesn't seem to be much better.

I can see some Thrusts and Runabouts on ebay from US sellers, but I'd rather not buy from them if I can help it (the "import fees" that go to Pitney Bowes are nothing but a rip-off, and don't even show up until you click through the buy it now section), and as for Dirge and Ramjet... for some reason they appear to be strangely uncommon (I see only two items on all of e-bay today), and of course they are stupidly priced (over $400 in both cases).

Are there better options? Are there even other options?
9th January 2021, 06:27 PM
nalops

Runabout and Thrust are highly unlikely unless you know someone who can get it from Asia or Target in the US and forward it to you.

Dirge and Ramjet is an Amazon exclusive so you'll only really see it there. Note that it sells out within minutes whenever there's stock.

I've been able to get Dirge and Ramjet through Amazon, Thrust thanks to TCCA forwarding from Asia and Runabout from RobotKingdom which unfortunately means I've spent quite a lot more than I would've liked.
9th January 2021, 07:37 PM
Flukey

Thrust and Runabout might end up on Amazon at some stage but will still be at overs..

SS Leadfoot and ER Bluestreak, both Exclusives have ended up there for purchase so you never know
9th January 2021, 07:45 PM
graza78

Bit too late to the game to get any at a 'decent' price now.

Gonna have to pay that ebay pitney bowles scalper shipping (which is super slow to boot).

Hasbro love screwing its fans; they always make crucial members (tetrajet skywarp, both earthrise seekers, and the entire earthrise coneheads) exclusive. You can't have runamuck without runabout!

Sick of it to be honest, and got out of the exclusive game after the earthrise seeker 2 pack. These sorts of practices shouldn't be supported.
9th January 2021, 08:16 PM
DELTAprime

Yeah, at this point you are going to have to hit up ebay and pay a scalper for them. I am going to have to hit up ebay for one more exclusive myself.

I normally really hate G1 Ironhide/Ratchet toys because hate the animation model as well as the G1 toy. But I got the Ratchet and Lifeline 2 pack, and I actually really love this Ratchet so I'm going to get Ironhide also.

It is the first slavish G1 Ratchet/Ironhide mould I like.
11th January 2021, 11:00 AM
Seraphim Prime

Dirge and Ramjet apparently got hit by COVID and a reduction in production numbers ordered by Hasbro, so a lack of supply meant that they got scooped up incredibly quickly. Amazon is probably the best bet. A few come available every so oftern, but they get bought up very quickly with more than a few people watching for their release.

Thrust and Runabout are unfortunately ones that you will have to pay above retail for. I think I poaid ~60 for Runabout from RobotKingdom. Ebay will be one of the few spaces for Thrust right now, and now is probably the right time to look - with a large number on offer people might be willing to take a deal that might save you some money, but you're still probably looking at ~90.
11th January 2021, 11:19 AM
Flukey

Its such a shame for collectors worldwide that exclusives to the American market are not made available to general retailers outside of this region since those retailers have zero presence outside of the states!
11th January 2021, 02:58 PM
kovert

If only Hasbro made it easier for collectors to actually complete their collections. Would a local Hasbro Pulse work in Australia?
11th January 2021, 03:42 PM
DELTAprime

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovert

If only Hasbro made it easier for collectors to actually complete their collections. Would a local Hasbro Pulse work in Australia?

They would still be at the mercy of what Hasbro America is willing to allocate to Australia, which is jack all.
11th January 2021, 04:42 PM
JJJ

So I grabbed Runabout and Thrust from some Americans on e-bay. Around $100 each. Stings a little, but that's only 60% over retail for Thrust (at anywhere that's not Kmart), and includes postage, so not too bad. 150% over retail for Runabout is nasty, but that's US postage and Pitney Bowes rip-off for you...

Basically there is no way for Australians to get Dirge and Ramjet. On the rare occasions they come back into stock on Amazon, it occurs in the middle of the night here. Guess I need to sit back and wait a few years for someone in the US to toss out their collection and not realise what they could ask for it. Yippee.

Just happy that this is not my "real" collection...
11th January 2021, 05:19 PM
Seraphim Prime

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJJ

So I grabbed Runabout and Thrust from some Americans on e-bay. Around $100 each. Stings a little, but that's only 40% over retail for Thrust (at anywhere that's not Kmart), and includes postage, so not too bad. 150% over retail for Runabout is nasty, but that's US postage and Pitney Bowes rip-off for you...

Yeah - I made an accepted offer for US $49. Including shipping and GSP charges it was about $95 all up, which fits in a little above what I paid for Thundercracker & Skywarp.
11th January 2021, 05:23 PM
Paulbot

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJJ

So I grabbed Runabout and Thrust from some Americans on e-bay. Around $100 each. Stings a little, but that's only 40% over retail for Thrust (at anywhere that's not Kmart), and includes postage, so not too bad. 150% over retail for Runabout is nasty, but that's US postage and Pitney Bowes rip-off for you...

Basically there is no way for Australians to get Dirge and Ramjet. On the rare occasions they come back into stock on Amazon, it occurs in the middle of the night here. Guess I need to sit back and wait a few years for someone in the US to toss out their collection and not realise what they could ask for it. Yippee.

Just happy that this is not my "real" collection...

I've given up collecting MP in favour of the newer Generations toys, so even though I spent far too much on the Seekers - other than Starscream - I justified it to myself as knowing it was still far cheaper than buying the six of them as Masterpiece toys would be.

I take some comfort in not wanting 95% of the things rumoured/leaked to be exclusives in Kingdom.
11th January 2021, 06:26 PM
DELTAprime

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paulbot

I've given up collecting MP in favour of the newer Generations toys, so even though I spent far too much on the Seekers - other than Starscream - I justified it to myself as knowing it was still far cheaper than buying the six of them as Masterpiece toys would be.

I take some comfort in not wanting 95% of the things rumoured/leaked to be exclusives in Kingdom.

I also gave up on MP in favour of CHUG. A few super expensive figures is more bearable than every figure being super expensive. Also, I'm going to be avoiding a lot of Kingdom. There are only 5 official announced figures I'll be buying.