Transformers questions by newbies, and not-so-newbies

[GoktimusPrime]

PMed. Thanks!

[griffin]

Did Shadow Strike Bumblebee come out in Australia? I vaguely remember seeing it... might in all honesty, there's just SO many Bumblebees out there, it's hard to keep track! I tried looking in 5 different stores today for him... couldn't find him!

The Checklist and the First Sightings topics are your friend with these sorts of questions. (if the checklist doesn't get updated for a few weeks, the First Sightings topic is a reliable resource to use)

Target was your best chance for it, but being released before Christmas, you'd be very lucky if you found one now.

If you are going for show-accuracy, there is also the Legion Class figure that is a little easier to find at this time (mostly at Kmart), as it is black, not grey... like in the cartoon. But then, Legion size may be too small for some, if you collect a certain size scale.

[GoktimusPrime]

Thanks griff.

I got the Legion class figure yesterday for half price at Target (cos of their current deal). I've still kept it sealed, so I might end up returning it if I can get the Deluxe version.

[DELTAprime]

Seeing the TRU price for MP Soundwave and the cassettes has me wondering, how does Hasbro undercut Takara's prices on the MP line? I know on the normal lines like Generations Takara uses higher quality paint jobs to justify the price, but what is different about Hasbro's MP line that makes it cheap?

[SuspectimusPrime]

Seeing the TRU price for MP Soundwave and the cassettes has me wondering, how does Hasbro undercut Takara's prices on the MP line? I know on the normal lines like Generations Takara uses higher quality paint jobs to justify the price, but what is different about Hasbro's MP line that makes it cheap?

Aside from material costs, Hasbro also produces at much greater quantities than Takara (due to the populations Hasbro cater towards), so is able to achieve economies of scale.

[Trent]

Seeing the TRU price for MP Soundwave and the cassettes has me wondering, how does Hasbro undercut Takara's prices on the MP line? I know on the normal lines like Generations Takara uses higher quality paint jobs to justify the price, but what is different about Hasbro's MP line that makes it cheap?

Takara have to charge more to cover the cost of developing the mold. Hasbro then just jump in and go "Hey, can we borrow this for a bit? We'll bring it right back!"

[GoktimusPrime]

Aside from material costs, Hasbro also produces at much greater quantities than Takara (due to the populations Hasbro cater towards), so is able to achieve economies of scale.

Takara have to charge more to cover the cost of developing the mold. Hasbro then just jump in and go "Hey, can we borrow this for a bit? We'll bring it right back!"

I don't buy that. Remember when Hasbro and Takara MP prices weren't all that different from each other?

Then...
+ MP3 Starscream retailed for approx. $105, Hasbro's MP Starscream sold here for $100
+ MP8 Grimlock retailed for approx. $140, Hasbro's MP Grimlock sold here for $150
...as we can see, the Takara and Hasbro prices are roughly the same.

Now...
+ MP11 Starscream & Sunstorm retailed for approx. $140 each. Hasbro's MP Thundercracker sells here for $80, Acid Storm is slated to sell for $100.
+ MP10 retailed for approx. $235, Hasbro's version sold for $150.
+ TakTOM's MP Soundwave & all Cassettes would cost a total of approx. $260. Hasbro's is slated to sell for $150.
...so on average, the TakTOM prices are about 40% higher than Hasbro's (even though they're getting smaller and lighter )

[DELTAprime]

Takara have to charge more to cover the cost of developing the mold. Hasbro then just jump in and go "Hey, can we borrow this for a bit? We'll bring it right back!"

Well if that's the case I'm happy to keep funding Takara's development of these molds.

It will be interesting to see what the price difference is if the Nissan trio get a Hasbro release.

[griffin]

Either the merger with Tomy is a factor, or Hasbro are increasing their commission rate (the amount of money they get on each toy sold outside of America - like how TFs are twice as expensive here).
Or both.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Anybody know anything about these Micro Transformer American Rescue toys?

That guy listed them up on his blog and I find them rather interesting.