Hi from Hong Kong

[primetime]

Many thanks for the detailed explanation Bladestorm will definitely check WanChai on my next HK trip.

Out of curiosity why do you refer to Kowloon as the "dark side"?!

Ahh, I looked this up a bit more - I know Tai Yuen St - it was already on my list just didn't go there as I thought it was mostly "kids" bric brac type toys there are some TFs but I was more into the Sino/Richmond/CTMA/Ins point type places.

[Bladestorm]

Kowloon is known as the dark side because if you live on HK Island you need to 'use the force' to get there... LOL
It's a Hong Kong colloquial term as Kowloon is often a mysterious, tempting, sometimes hostile place and in many ways quite different to Hong Kong Island. It may be a legacy of the seedy old Walled City days, but I'm not sure. It's just a term those of us who live here use when referring to Kowloon. Unfortunately I can't think of an Oz equivalent for it. People who live in Kowloon refer to themselves as living on "the dark side". Those of us who live on HK Island refer to visiting Kowloon as going to "the dark side".

Sino/CTMA, Ins Point are definitely where to go if your agenda is the 3P stuff.
3P is less common and slightly more expensive in most places on the island.
Tak-Tomy/Hasbro stuff is slightly cheaper (at the moment) on the HK side...

Many thanks for the detailed explanation Bladestorm will definitely check WanChai on my next HK trip.

Out of curiosity why do you refer to Kowloon as the "dark side"?!

Ahh, I looked this up a bit more - I know Tai Yuen St - it was already on my list just didn't go there as I thought it was mostly "kids" bric brac type toys there are some TFs but I was more into the Sino/Richmond/CTMA/Ins point type places.

[Sam]

Kowloon is known as the dark side because if you live on HK Island you need to 'use the force' to get there... LOL
It's a Hong Kong colloquial term as Kowloon is often a mysterious, tempting, sometimes hostile place and in many ways quite different to Hong Kong Island. It may be a legacy of the seedy old Walled City days, but I'm not sure. It's just a term those of us who live here use when referring to Kowloon. Unfortunately I can't think of an Oz equivalent for it. People who live in Kowloon refer to themselves as living on "the dark side". Those of us who live on HK Island refer to visiting Kowloon as going to "the dark side".

Naw, I think it's just that some HK islanders are too lazy to go to the Kowloon and New Territories side. The 'furthest' some of my friends are willing to go to is Causeway Bay. ;p

[Bladestorm]

That's so true Sam. I have friends who live in Pok Fum Lam who think going to Causeway Bay is like going from Sydney to Wollongong! (For those who don't know Pok fu lam is about 10 km drive from Causeway Bay).

People think I am crazy trekking all over HK and Kowloon all the time but this city has some amazing sights off the beaten track on both sides of the harbour that are worth the effort.

btw: for those visiting soon I was in the big Toys R Us in Tsim Sha Tsui (Ocean Terminal/Harbourside) today and the current stock are as follows: loads of MP Grimlock (HK$1199) and Sunstorm (HK$799). Loads of then and now Grimlock. A few Linkin Park Soundwaves. Quite a few Barnyard Battle sets (still on sale for HK$599), a ridiculously large number of Slog and a few AoE Grimlocks. A sparse collection of various Combiner Wars and a few remnant AoE figures, some of the RID one step changers and not much else...

Naw, I think it's just that some HK islanders are too lazy to go to the Kowloon and New Territories side. The 'furthest' some of my friends are willing to go to is Causeway Bay. ;p

[Jetfire in the sky]

This is a great thread and having done mass toy hunting trips over there a few times in the last couple of years I agree with Bladestorm, unfortunately In's Point has a lot of KO MP's now being sold at original prices, and Original G1 items have skyrocketed.
One place I found and would recommend beyond anything else is Toyzone, it is on HD's guide but is a ripper (hard) to find when you see the front of what looks like (is) an industrial high rise.
They deal in all things awesome, lots of second hand toys, biiiig section of Transformers from all era's. Plenty of 3p stuff and much much more. And!! (there's more) as was my case I had already filled my bags with other TF buys I asked if they could send it home to Aus, no worries, they boxed it up for me there and I paid the postage price with the purchase. They were really helpful and you could tell they were people who loved their job.
The address is:
Flat B, 4th floor Wah Ha Factory Building, 8 Shipyard Lane, Quarry Bay. The nearest MTR is Tai Koo exit A1.
Bladestorm I'm heading over later in the year so might be good to have a catch up.

[Bladestorm]

I need to go to Toyzone. Shamefully that's the one place I've never ventured and it is literally 2 MTR stops away from me. My fear is if I walk in there I will want (NEED) to spend thousands of dollars as I've heard of a lot of people doing exactly what you did... and I live locally so the temptation would be too great! (Hubby has restricted my budget for TF's for this year already LOL)

For those of you visiting soon I was over in Mong Kok last week and here's a brief rundown of what is there as of January 2015:
CDMA - Superman Toys had Revoltech Optimus, Cloud Brawn and Magnificus (insane prices though) as well as Fewture Optimus and Grimlock. Be warned though these guys don't seem to stock Transformers regularly so finding stuff here is hit and miss.
CDMA - Hot Toys was the ONLY store that had MP Ultra-Magnus in their Toy Hunter Store for HK$1080 (everywhere else if you see him, it is their already sold pre-order stock).

Sino Plaza
Basement level - Animate had a few Tak-Tomy Transformers, DMK-03 (for HK$548) as well as MP's like Soundblaster, Streak, Prowl, Bumblebee and some Generations stuff but it is hidden on the back window of the store only visible by walking around the OUTSIDE of their shop.
Shop 115 was the only shop in Sino/In's Point/CDMA with YOTG Optimus (HK$838) and Soundwave (HK$938).

I'm gunna write some of this up on my blog, but in brief here are a few shops if you'd rather go direct to places than toy browse every store.

In's Point (don't bother heading here until after 4 pm as that's when many stores open and a couple don't open until 5 pm) Shop numbers are displayed on a sign sticking out above each door.

Shop 109 had DMK-03 for HK$520 (cheapest I've seen in HK outside of sales)
Also had MP Bumblebee for HK$430 (but no coin or face mask)

Shop 137 (check boxes as some items are used but that is only written in Chinese).
Shop 122A
Shop 127 - Tokyo Station (opens LATE)
Shop 145 - Lots of Masterpiece Cars and older release Hasbro and Tak-Tomy Transformers
Shop 201 - It's just a display shop but so worth stopping to appreciate the TF's behind the glass.
Shop 236 - Lots of Encore, Red Bape MP-10 (HK$1480), Grey Bape MP-10 - really pricey though (and I was unable to check whether real/fake). Encore Optimus was HK$2280.
Shop 277 - Reasonable prices, most on display in the windows.
Shop 255 - Calibre Toys limited edition individually numbered Optimus Prime (HK$8000) and Bumblebee.
Shop 236 - Sporadic range of TF's (opens LATE)
Shop 268 - Transformers galore (only open 5 pm to 9 pm)
Shop 275A - Second hand and old Transformers
Shop 221 - Older transformers - including a heftily priced 20th anniversary Optimus Prime.
Shop 217 - worth visiting to appreciate the window display alone. Transformers heaven but prices range from reasonable to WTF depending on product (opens from 5 pm)
Shop 207 - had Revoltech Optimus (peterbilt robot mode) for HK$230 which was the cheapest I saw on the day.

Hope this helps some of you.

There was quite a lot of stock in In's Point this time around however I did come across "opened" figures being sold mint in box and a couple of fakes (owners claiming Tak-Tomy had changed their packaging - pfft) so as I always caution - check the integrity and authenticity of the item before you buy.

I'm happy to offer "on the ground" updates about what I'm finding here in HK if anyone is ever interested. If any of you are ever coming to town and have time to catch up do let me know - If I'm free I'm more than happy to meet up, show you around, take you to safe food (or at least recommend places), abuse shop owners who try to rip you off in my limited Cantonese.

This is a great thread and having done mass toy hunting trips over there a few times in the last couple of years I agree with Bladestorm, unfortunately In's Point has a lot of KO MP's now being sold at original prices, and Original G1 items have skyrocketed.
One place I found and would recommend beyond anything else is Toyzone, it is on HD's guide but is a ripper (hard) to find when you see the front of what looks like (is) an industrial high rise.
They deal in all things awesome, lots of second hand toys, biiiig section of Transformers from all era's. Plenty of 3p stuff and much much more. And!! (there's more) as was my case I had already filled my bags with other TF buys I asked if they could send it home to Aus, no worries, they boxed it up for me there and I paid the postage price with the purchase. They were really helpful and you could tell they were people who loved their job.
The address is:
Flat B, 4th floor Wah Ha Factory Building, 8 Shipyard Lane, Quarry Bay. The nearest MTR is Tai Koo exit A1.
Bladestorm I'm heading over later in the year so might be good to have a catch up.

[Sam]

The address is:
Flat B, 4th floor Wah Ha Factory Building, 8 Shipyard Lane, Quarry Bay. The nearest MTR is Tai Koo exit A1.
Bladestorm I'm heading over later in the year so might be good to have a catch up.

Thanks for the tip!

But mate, how the heck is one supposed to know an industrial building over at Quarry Bay has a toy shop?

By the way, I forgot to mention that the Toys 'R' Us in Olympic City's shopping centre (near the MTR station Olympic, surprise surprise) were selling MP Grimlock for $800HKD a couple of weeks back.

Pretty sure it was a promo price, so not sure if it's still available.

[Bladestorm]

Most HK Toys R Us still have MP Grimlock. The HK$799 special has finished though and he is back to HK$1100 with no freebies (before the $799 special he came with a free AOE Generations Leader class Optimus, or Grimlock.

As for knowing what to walk into... it is something you get used to in Hong Kong. Walk into the diviest warehouse and discover an amazing indoor soccer venue, or toy shop, or mall full of camera equipment. That's the crazy that is HK...

Thanks for the tip!

But mate, how the heck is one supposed to know an industrial building over at Quarry Bay has a toy shop?

By the way, I forgot to mention that the Toys 'R' Us in Olympic City's shopping centre (near the MTR station Olympic, surprise surprise) were selling MP Grimlock for $800HKD a couple of weeks back.

Pretty sure it was a promo price, so not sure if it's still available.