Online TF shopping - where is the best place to spend your bucks?

[GoktimusPrime]

I've never seen it happen, but admittedly I very rarely shop online... what's RK's prices like? I saw their preorder price for MP19 Smokescreen and I thought it was pretty good -- only about $9 more expensive than Amazon JP. It's certainly below RRP so I think it's a good price. You'd want to avoid playing full RRP for TakaraTOMY MPs though... they're just not worth it.

[DELTAprime]

I've never seen it happen, but admittedly I very rarely shop online... what's RK's prices like? I saw their preorder price for MP19 Smokescreen and I thought it was pretty good -- only about $9 more expensive than Amazon JP. It's certainly below RRP so I think it's a good price. You'd want to avoid playing full RRP for TakaraTOMY MPs though... they're just not worth it.

$59US for each of them at RK vs $51AU at HLJ. I have every man line MP so I'll be picking up these two, but as they are my least favorite MP characters so far I'd prefer to pay HLJ's price.

[CBratron]

TFSource: Bit pricey but chances are they have it if it's transformers related. Royally screwed the pooch when I shipped my stack and they hadn't set aside an MP Soundwave for my preorder and would have to wait for a restock but by then the main reason for getting the Takara version (getting Soundwave early) would have disappeared and thus make the larger price tag unjustifiable.
I don't buy from them any more.

Big Bad Toystore: Much like TFSource except they haven't failed me spectacularly. And BBTS stocks more than just Transformers.

Hobbylink Japan: Not bad. I got most of my Play Arts Kai and Figmas from them.

Robot Kingdom: Their website looks so shonky it scares me. But they have proven a very quick and affordable option for single items.

Ebay: Good and bad. My last resort.

[Omega Metro]

I was comparing some items of interest yesterday with Big Bad Toy Store, Robot Kingdom and Ebay. And surprisingly, Ebay was cheaper than the other two.

[GoktimusPrime]

$59US for each of them at RK vs $51AU at HLJ.

US$59 ≈ AU$65. Amazon JP's price is 4963JPY (≈AU$56).
Either way the full RRP is 6825JPY (≈AU$76), so while $65 may be a more expensive preorder discounted price, it's better than paying the full $76.

[BigTransformerTrev]

I'm starting to think the best place online to spend your bucks is on Ozformers and with people you know. Got an awesome deal from Hursticon on Universe Drag Strip & Overkill, and got my MP Soundwave from emailing an old friend in the states.

Both instances have been a lot more reliable and enjoyable than the dealings I've had with TRUOnline, BBTS, TCC & HasbroToyShop over the past few months

[Jim_jim]

For Botcon, I joined Transformers club, so, nothing to loose.

And for others, I hooked up with a store in HK where he will he me to gather TFs and Japanese models that I want and then do my a bulk shipment monthly or bi-monthly depends on what is being release that month. the price here is a rip off.

[drifand]

I was comparing some items of interest yesterday with Big Bad Toy Store, Robot Kingdom and Ebay. And surprisingly, Ebay was cheaper than the other two.

but those aren't exactly the cheapest stores as well to begin with.

[drifand]

I have seen in the past HLJ items the are "Order Stop" status reopen for orders close to release. Does that happen all the time or only occasionally?

I'm trying to decide if I should keep hitting up HLJ in hopes of getting a cheap MP-17 and 18 from them or just give up and go with RK.

I read this late, but actually Hobby search restock more often than HLJ for the car masterpieces, but this is from my knowledge and experience. HLJ's order stop means you may have a chance to catch it closer to date.

I emphasise "May" as I have gotten to "discontinued" immediately.

[5FDP]

After experiencing my last couple of purchases through BBTS I've decided to stick with RK. It looks like everything they've sent me has been kicked around in their warehouse and as a MISB / MOSC collector, it's just not up to standard. Even stuff bought I've bought from Target or Kmart look better than what they've shipped to me. Online purchases should be easy - you want something they have, money exchanges hands, the item is shipped and received in an acceptable condition. I shouldn't have to follow up every purchase with an email to the seller asking for an explanation.