Discussion of DOTM Prices and Scaling.

[Sky Shadow]

I'm certain that I'm not the only one who's noticed the lack of logic to the pricing of some of Dark Of The Moon's assortments. For example, I was at K-Mart yesterday and spent $19 on Human Alliance Icepick and Sergeant Chaos. This size class offers solid triple-changing old-school Basic toys plus a super-poseable human. For an extra dollar, I [I]could[I] have bought a Cyberverse Commander, which are basically either Legion (old-school Legends) toys with an accessory, or simplified Basics. What makes this even odder is that for that same $20 for a Cyberverse Commander, I could have bought two-and-a-half Cyberverse Legion toys. Thus, people are basically (no pun intended) paying $12 for Commander Megatron's fuel tank or Optimus's jetpack. Surely Cyberverse Commanders are overpriced (or, Allspark forbid, Legions and Human Alliance Basics are underpriced.)

That said, I love the idea being promoted by the Cyberverse toys – a consistently scaled playsize for Transformers is exactly what the line needs. And the playsets are brilliant – Prime and a transforming trailer... Starscream and an intergalactic aircraft carrier... the Ark – it's all fantastic. I'm just predicting a lot of shelfwarming Commanders in our future.

[GoktimusPrime]

The only Commander I have atm is Powerglide who I find to be an awesome figure, but I must admit that he was oversized. Should've been sold at a Scout price point IMO. (-_-)

[Paulbot]

The Commander toys seem to be the wrong price IMHO since ther size is rather disappointing. Activator price point would be a better fit perhaps.

The Human Alliance 'scouts' should be the same price as a PCC 2 pack. They look the same size, but instead of a minicon you get a human. No need to up the price.

And there's the whole strong Aussie dollar being ignored and the stores still selling the toys at double the cost of the US retail prices. (Except the Legion size.)

[SkyWarp91]

Voyager figures have shrunken apparently, and are basically just a bit larger than Deluxe figures, but cost double the price (Big W Deluxe ~$25, Big W Voyager $50).

I saw some of the Commander figures yesterday and they are small, doesn't help with the small packaging which gives it an even smaller feel to it. Why spend $20 on a Commander when you can get a Deluxe which is larger for an extra $4-$5?

I don't collect Legends figures but I do see how the Cyberverse playsets are a good idea. The sets provide a good base for imagination over their table-top, living room floor or garden bed

[Lord_Zed]

I saw some Commanders as well as the other DOTM toys bar Human Alliance at Target on the weekend, I just couldn't justify buying one at full price.

I don't really think "Commander size" is the new scout class. I think its a new size designed to interact with the playsets, they all seem to have the same size hands to hold playset weapons. I can't confirm this though as I have so far refused to buy a Commander for $19.

I'm really keen to see a Human Alliance toy, but so far all the local Kmarts got zip (lazy).

And I'm waiting for a sale to pick up a Poncho Megs.

[griffin]

Pricing between Commander and HA Basics in this country is indeed out, as the US retail for those is Commander US$8 Vs HA Basics at US$10. The Commanders should only be 80% of the price of HA basics... but here (at Kmart, who seem to be the only ones with the HA basics so far) they are more.

Size class. Legion - Commander - HA Basic - Deluxe
US price... $5 - $8 - $10 - $13
AU Kmart.. $8 - $20 - $19 - $29

Since just about every AU retailer is charging $18-20 for Commanders, it isnt Kmart pricing them wrong.
I think Hasbro AU must have priced the *new* size class based on the exchange rate of this year's Toyfair, while the pre-existing size classes were left unchanged (despite the 10-15% improvement in the exchange rate since the previous year's Toyfair).
As such, the difference in exchange rate between the last two Toyfairs is giving us cheaper bigger (new size class) toys, than the pre-existing size classes that the distributor left unchanged... shows how much we should have been saving this year if *all* size classes were adjusted to match the new one.

[kaiden]

wow the price differences for the last 3 sizes are ridiculous.

i've been to big w, kmart, target & toys r us and really hate the prices across all stores.

so as much as i've been tempted to buying DOTM i have to convince myself to wait until the june mid year sale for the best bang for buck.

sometimes i just think it'd be easier to online from someplace like RK rather than dealing with our stupid retail stores.

[Hursticon]

I've just seen the figures and pricing for the 1st time today at my local Big W and I've got to say that the current state of affairs is appalling.

It is very evident, IMO, by looking at the various DOTM figures that we are clearly receiving less for more.
Case in point with the DOTM Leader BBs that were side-by-side with the Battle Ops BBs:
DOTM = $80.68, which were noticeably smaller in mass compared to Battle Ops = $70.86!?!

The DOTM scouts look like scaled-up legends and the deluxes look like scaled-up scouts and yet, we continue to pay equal amounts?
The only real value I see out of any of the new figures are the Legends with base playsets, at least they seem to be value for money!

I think we clearly have a case where these items should've been at a lower price, but typically, the Australian retail chains have said "Bugger That!" and are charging premium prices for less substance.

Seriously guys, IMO, hit up your local Independents and TRU stores as they're pricing their stock far better than what the main chains are at the moment.
(Once again, money-mongering Coles and Woolworths to the rescue )

[kaiden]

Seriously guys, IMO, hit up your local Independents and TRU stores as they're pricing their stock far better than what the main chains are at the moment.

I was at TRU yesterday and they were the most expensive.

[Hursticon]

I was at TRU yesterday and they were the most expensive.

Really? - I may be wrong then, wouldn't be the first time , but still - I reckon we're getting jipped by AU-Retail once again.