Matty Collector

[GoktimusPrime]

What about Matty's model? They only charge $10 a figure for international shipping and you save more when you combine. One of the good things about Matty collector is that they are very fair when it comes to international shipping unlike the FunPub store which barely acknowledges that people live outside the US. Selling it to local collector retailers is not much of an option as it would only result in massively inflated prices . It is far too often that it's much cheaper to import something than to buy it at a local collector store and too unworkable as they only deal in tiny numbers per store. An online shop can have as many figures in stock as they deem fit for the market, all from a single source.

The Official Transformers Club seems to barely acknowledge the existence of collector outside North America too... so I'm not eager to trust that if Hasbro did set up a collector's store that they'd change this outlook. Given their track record, odds are Hasbro will charge rip off prices for collectors outside the USA. I'm not saying it's not possible (from what you've told me about Matty Collector it definitely seems possible)... but I wouldn't hold my breath for Hasbro to make the effort to cater for international fans.

As you mentioned, a collector toy does not have to be deprived of play value. MOTUC have a lot of it, arguably more than several Hasbro retail toys despite a lack of 'Action gimmicks' yet it's a collector exclusive line.

Yeah, I had a fiddle with Hursticon's Skeletor at the Parra Fair, and I must say I was quite impressed.

Regarding the toy designers, didn't one of the Takara designers say that some of the great obstacles to making a good toy was Hasbro always trying to cost cut or forcing a stupid gimmick onto it? In a collector only line, those things would not be as much of a factor as Walmart and their silly 'sale gimmick' demands would not factor in and prices can be reasonably higher than US retail (still cheaper by our local standards) with the difference that you get more bang for your buck.

Well yeah, Transformers are often crap when their engineering is compromised for sales gimmicks to appeal to retailers. But again, that's the problem when they make toys to appeal to retailers instead of children. Kids don't like toys that are compromised by their gimmick (e.g. G1 Battlechargers, Firecons etc.)