Takara Grimlock and Classics Sunstreaker

[klystron]

Hi guys.
I need some quick advice -
As per normal, I've decided I want a figure after its finished sitting warming shelves in target. This time its classics Grimlock. I was sniffing round on ebay and found a takara version for $18AUS + $25AUS p/h. But its from "TKO, Hong Kong" Does the TKO stand for "Transformer Knock-Off?" Normally I disregard toys from china/taiwan/HK/etc. The seller is "minlo" Is this a KO or legit? (I have no experience with takara TFs). If legit, is it an OK price? Advice/thoughts/comments?
Secondly, I got Classics Sunstreaker the other day, and while I am fairly stoked with him, the rotating chest piece does not sit straight when in robot mode. I read someone saying they did a quick mod to fix it, but I cant find details of the mod. Anyone do this? And if so, how?
Lastly, how come I cant find any TF animated figures anywhere? It took me this long to decide which ones I wanted, now I cant find any of the bl%%dy things!
Thanks guys.

[kup]

It's perfectly safe to buy stuff from Hong Kong or China if you know what you are looking at. I got several awesome legit figures from that region at excellent prices.

I can't really comment on the Japanse Henkei Grimlock (Henkei is Classics in Japan) until you provide us with an ebay link or a photo.'

When it comes to Animated figures, I have noticed that several Sydney stores are very poorly stocked on them. Sometimes they just have a few figures at a time and some don't even have them at all. Several of these stores are overwhelmed with Movie stock so it's possible that they refuse to stock any more items until they clear those away. The same thing that is happening to Animated apparently is happening to Universe to a lesser degree.

[kurdt_the_goat]

You should just buy elsewhere...

Robot Kingdom has Henkei Grimlock for:
$US 16.90
+ Registered Airmail Parcel $US 11.73
or + EMS $US $16.68

And while you're at it, could probably pick up plenty of animated figures as well to reduce the overall burden of shipping.

[Pulse]

Yeah I totally agree with you Kup on stores refusing to place Animated Figures on shelves while the Movie/Allspark stuff clogs up space. Maybe their buyers fell for Hasbro's marketing spin regarding all the hoopla the movie would generate in sales & bought up big from Hasbro. Now the majors are stuck with all these Movie/Allspark figures/merchandise that even sales can't help move...

[kup]

Yeah I totally agree with you Kup on stores refusing to place Animated Figures on shelves while the Movie/Allspark stuff clogs up space. Maybe their buyers fell for Hasbro's marketing spin regarding all the hoopla the movie would generate in sales & bought up big from Hasbro. Now the majors are stuck with all these Movie/Allspark figures/merchandise that even sales can't help move...

It did generate a lot of hoopla but Hasbro mismanaged it completly.

The first few waves of movie figures and first release of each movie mold was pretty successful and that includes non movie molds such as Swindle.

What is taking a lot of shelf space is the stuff nobody wanted such as senseless repaints, Cybertron repaints and other junk that for some reason Hasbro thought it would sell as good just because of the movie name attached.

Now this is costing them dearly (at least when it comes to Sydney) as it seems that nobody wants to restock on their newer and more expensively to develop toys until the movie remnants that are filled with stupid repaints.

What they should have done is either quit on the movie line while they were ahead or produced new molds if they were wanting the movie line to last this long.

[Paulbot]

Back on topic... (see here for the other discussion)

I sometimes have the same problem with my Sunstreaker and have just used a bit of extra force on occasion to get it a bit more straight -- but that's not really a fix.

[STL]

If u still have a receipt that's an option. If not you can buy another one and then replace it with ur fudged one and ur completely in the right b/c the fault wasn't evident when u bought it. I've since improved my Prowl who has now better paint apps... just.

[klystron]

Thanks for that link kurdt. I think I'll place an order with them. Prices seem pretty good too.
Guess I just got ebay tunnel vision for a bit there (been on it so much lately trying to get G1 Dinobots!!)

Anyone for the Sunstreaker issue?

BTW - if interested here is ebay item number for takara grimlock
170258777995

[GoktimusPrime]

$US 16.90
+ Registered Airmail Parcel $US 11.73
or + EMS $US $16.68

...it would've been cheaper to buy the toy when it was out on shelves dude! (or at best, the same price!)