Transformers questions by newbies, and not-so-newbies

[5FDP]

I like Cyclonus! But I must admit it's my G1 bias that's speaking there, hehehehehe.

I agree with you on this. To me, he IS the ultimate version of G1 Cyclonus. He would easily be in my top 3 Classics - along with Ramjet and Jetfire.

Question: Why do so many people hate G1 Thundercracker?? (o_O)

I don't.

[Deceptic_Optic]

i dont neither...lol he just seem so weak so i prey on them...lol

[1AZRAEL1]

i dont neither...lol he just seem so weak so i prey on them...lol

I say it's survival of the fittest

[jazzcomp]

any particular reason why takara is more expensive? are the hasbro/takara classics essentially the same?

[SharkyMcShark]

The Takara Versions are generally what is referred to as Henkei (or Gentei), and are generally given more accurate to source material paint jobs. Also they have to be imported.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

That and the Japanese market is more targeted towards adult collectors than ours, so their TFs are usually more expensive even besides the usual things are more expensive in Japan rule.

[Deceptic_Optic]

I say it's survival of the fittest

spot on mate

[Gutsman Heavy]

Thundercracker is my favourite Seeker and has the most potential to be a great character, but rarely gets the chance

Plus he is blue, and blue is awesome.

[Deceptic_Optic]

Thundercracker is my favourite Seeker and has the most potential to be a great character, but rarely gets the chance

Plus he is blue, and blue is awesome.

and he is pretty easy to elimate in the tf games...lol

[GoktimusPrime]

I agree with you on this. To me, he IS the ultimate version of G1 Cyclonus.

Well that's not hard considering the lack of competition!
However it could be argued that in the context of their relative vintage, G1 Cyclonus is superior to Universe Cyclonus because he does have a relatively tighter looking jet mode.

i dont neither...lol he just seem so weak so i prey on them...lol

You bully! :~(

any particular reason why takara is more expensive? are the hasbro/takara classics essentially the same?

TakaraTOMY Transformers aren't fundamentally more expensive than Hasbro toys for Australians.

Let's compare RRPs. Remember that the JPY is worth more than the AUD, so I'm going to quote the following prices:
A: Australian RRP in AUD
B: Japanese RRP in JPY
C: Japanese RRP converted to AUD
D: Japanese RRP in AUD as it would be for someone living in Japan paying with JPY (i.e. no loss through currency conversion) <--i.e. this is how much the toy would cost for Australians.
So the fairest comparison would be between A and D.

DELUXE = A: $30, B: 2310JPY, C: $29.45, D: $23.10 - conclusion; we pay $6.90 more for our Deluxes compared to people in Japan.
VOYAGER = A: $50, B: 3150JPY, C: $40.13, D: $31.50 - conclusion; we pay $18.50 more for our Voyagers compared to people in Japan.

However, there is truth to what SharkyMcShark has said too. Japanese toys are (generally) of higher quality with things like superior plastics, more paint apps etc., so the Japanese RRP is higher than the US RRP (e.g. a Deluxe in the States costs 10USD ($11.30)). But from an Australian perspective, TakaraTOMY toys aren't really more expensive than what _we_ pay here.

But what can add onto costs for people in Australia are:
+ Currency conversion (especially if the JPY is really high at the same time as the AUD is low)
+ postage - although this gets cheaper when shipping in bulk, which is why many of us here love doing group orders.

Also remember that the main advantage of buying toys in a store vs. shopping online is that:
1/ You can visually inspect the toy for yourself.
2/ You can easily refund/exchange it if it's faulty.