Botcon 2015 - Chicago June 18-21

[fatbot]

Fatbot has a reservation at a nearby hotel, so maybe he can put your name on the registration, and if he ends up sharing with me you'd have it all to yourself... and if he doesn't share with me (or if something prevents me from going), he still has a room to fall back on that he could share with you.
That way he doesn't need to cancel the registration - having your name added to it means you both could use it if you need to, or just one of you without needing the other to check-in under their name.

But that's up to him, so maybe talk to him about it.

I have no problems with that scenario.

Also, you may want to get prices for going to LA first, when I got my flights, it worked out to be over $400 cheaper to fly out of Sydney on the 11th & stay visit LA for 4 nights before going to Chicago

[griffin]

Also, you may want to get prices for going to LA first, when I got my flights, it worked out to be over $400 cheaper to fly out of Sydney on the 11th & stay visit LA for 4 nights before going to Chicago

YES... be aware that the peak/off-peak season starts on or near the 12th of June, so if you are looking to spend 4-5 days in LA, do it before Chicago, as you can save $400-800 on your flights by sneaking in before the peak season starts.

Ask your travel agent when the peak season cut-off is, and if you can adjust your travel plans around it.
Also, always do a bit of reconnaissance on one or two major airlines website first before you go into a travel agent... so that you know what to expect, and if they are giving you a good deal.
I usually check QANTAS and V-Australia websites and write down the different pricing options for different date scenarios, and work out my travel plans around any date/price options are significantly cheaper.
Then when I go to the travel agent, I already have preferred dates and expected prices ready, and see if they can do better.

Think of it being like going to buy a second hand car for a couple thousand dollars from a car yard - don't just walk in and tell them some rough ideas of what you want and they give you the options that work best for their commissions... do your homework first so that you don't get shafted, and you get the best/cheapest deal possible for your required dates.

The first one is always the scariest, and nerve-wracking, but at least you are old enough to be aware of what you need, and what options are best for you if presented with several options. I was only a few years past 20 when I went on my first International trip to Botcon, which I organised all myself without any help or tips from others... but the trips (and international travel in general) gets easier and easier to do.

[fatbot]

I asked them last night if/when they will post prices for at show toys, they reckon some time this week


Box picture

[reillyd]

I've been fortunate to find accommodation at a Best Western on Main Street, only five minute taxi from the Pheasant Run Resort. But thanks for the suggestions, and it would be nice to meet up at Botcon. I think it's going to be a blast

[griffin]

The title on the box bugs me for being bad grammar.
I thought it was "Cybertron's Most Wanted", but now it sounds wrong in my head when I say "Cybertron: Most Wanted".
It doesn't even make sense to me. It's almost like it is copying a TV show title, but I don't recognise it.

[jazzcomp]

TV show is America's Most Wanted

[Paulbot]

Logo looks closer to the Muppets Most Wanted logo...

[fatbot]

I've been fortunate to find accommodation at a Best Western on Main Street, only five minute taxi from the Pheasant Run Resort. But thanks for the suggestions, and it would be nice to meet up at Botcon. I think it's going to be a blast

Sweet!

When you getting into Chicago?

[griffin]

An update on the Hartman's collection sale...

They expect to have 4 tables, to sell at least 1200 toys, from the following lines...

123 Transformers
20th Anniversary
Alternators
Animorphs
Armada
Beast Machines
Beast Wars (1998-2001)
Beast Wars 10th Anniversary
Big Adventures (Gobots)
Built to Rule
Commemoratives (Series 1-9)
Cybertron
Cybertron Micro
Energon
Go-Bots (2003)
Heroes of Cybertron
Robots in Disguise (2001-2003)
Universe (2003-2005)
Generation 2 UK (4 items)
Beast Wars UK (8 items)


And just like in 2006 (which was the year I missed), they won't be taking anything home, so they will be priced to clear, and to come by at the end of the Sunday, which should mean another auction of all unsold items (like in 2006).
(hopefully FunPub don't have any good panels at the end of Sunday, so that I can at least witness the clearing out of unsold items at the end of the day)

Karl Hartman has noted that almost everything is retail versions, but there are variants... so I'd expect that some variants are rarer than others.
They don't yet think there will be anything super rare, but if they do, it will be added here.


I'm excited that they have the Playskool Gobots and Big Adventures toys, which I'm missing a few from the last year... so hopefully I don't have any competition.
(another benefit of the Golden Ticket is first-in-line for the Dealer Room... so at least I should be able to get in first if I get a GT)

[UltraMarginal]

that's pretty insane, I don't think I'd know where to start with my shopping list. though a lot of this that I would be interested in I might have especially compared to when they sold off all their G1 stuff.

Other sellers are going to be a bit frustrated I imagine, as word gets out about this they will for sure be most peoples first port of call in the dealer room and a lot of people will be holding out till the sunday afternoon with their cash to grab a bargain on whatever they have left.

based on the thread you posted a link to, Jon already has nearly 2000 transformers he's planning on bringing to sell.