Henkei VS Hasbro

[Kyle]

Given the much larger volume of a toy released by Hasbro vs the TakaraTomy version, I'd say Hasbro pays for the majority of Research and Development cost. With the exception of a few Japanese only moulds here and there, Hasbro would be the one ordering the development of the majority of toy moulds anyway, and TakaraTomy probably gives them a discount for the R&D cost with the agreement that they are allowed to use the same moulds to release toys in Japan and Asia. This could possibly be a reason why TakaraTomy can afford to have different paint apps and chrome on their version.

[5FDP]

This could possibly be a reason why TakaraTomy can afford to have different paint apps and chrome on their version.

Not always a good thing...

[kup]

Not always a good thing...

That's a prototype, the colors are not final. However It would be a bad idea if they go with that.

[canofwhoopass_87]

Figures aside though - I like the Hasbro packaging more. I can't read japanese and the characters sort of remind me of cheap KO's sold in some gift shops. I suppose you have to be japanese illiterate to understand

[GoktimusPrime]

Given the much larger volume of a toy released by Hasbro vs the TakaraTomy version, I'd say Hasbro pays for the majority of Research and Development cost. With the exception of a few Japanese only moulds here and there, Hasbro would be the one ordering the development of the majority of toy moulds anyway, and TakaraTomy probably gives them a discount for the R&D cost with the agreement that they are allowed to use the same moulds to release toys in Japan and Asia. This could possibly be a reason why TakaraTomy can afford to have different paint apps and chrome on their version.

That doesn't explain why Hasbro versions of Takara(TOMY) moulds/lines sometimes have reduced quality, such as the notoriously cheap and brittle rubber used for tyres in RiD. I bought my RiD Optimus Prime 2 years after I got Super Fire Convoy, yet the tyres on my RiD OP split only a few months after purchase, whereas the tyres on my SFC remain in tact to this day. Then there's the paint apps on the Autobot and Decepticon insignias for Armada where they just "splotched" red or purple all over the insignia. That doesn't seem to be a cost-saving move (if anything, wouldn't it cost more since they're technically using an extra drop of paint per figure by doing so?) -- just seems slack/lazy to me. And is bright hurt-your-eyes day glow yellow cheaper than the regular yellows that Takara uses? (e.g.: Armada Hot Shot vs. Micron Legend Hot Rod)

...and G1 reissues and Alternators were just ridiculously expensive in Australia. ALTs initially sold for approx. the same price as Binaltech's RRP in Japan and our G1 reissues here sold the about the same price that you would pay for a Japanese reissue in Australian import stores. Which meant that if you imported it yourself it was _cheaper_ than buying it from TRU!! Both lines were R&Ded by Takara, so I really didn't see the need for them to be so expensive. Yeah I know they're cheaper for Americans, but for us as Australians they were really f'expensive. I remember at one stage buying Japanese reissues from local import stores was even cheaper than TRU!

Some TF lines are evenly co-developed by both Hasbro and Takara. I believe that most of the Unicron Trilogy toys were co-developed by HasTak - at least that's how I understand Aaron Archer's description of how Armada was developed. The line was developed to cater for both Hasbro and Takara's markets, hence why they had to choose alt modes that they felt could appeal to both markets etc.

Figures aside though - I like the Hasbro packaging more. I can't read japanese and the characters sort of remind me of cheap KO's sold in some gift shops. I suppose you have to be japanese illiterate to understand

I guess you have to be Chinese illiterate too since KOs come from China, not Japan. (-_-) Unless all non-alphabetic languages look the same to you. (-_-) Also a lot of KOs have really crappy English like "Fireeninebot" (makes "Destoron" look good).

I generally prefer Takara's packaging. I find they put more effort into it, the toy photography isn't as doctored as Hasbro's and it doesn't occupy as much space. Oh yeah, Takara usually don't go as crazy with twist ties as Hasbro does!

[Jhiaxus]

The cost of Transformers for Americans means sweet FA to me. I'm sorry, but for me the cost of a Hasbro Transformer is comparable to a TakaraTOMY Transformer -- and for approximately the same price I'd rather get the Takara version if I happen to prefer it over the Hasbro version.

If the Hasbro versions were substantially cheaper for me like they are for Americans, then I may reconsider getting Takara versions. But they're not.

So as long as I'm earning my wage in AUD I'm always going to be looking at it from an Australian perspective... unless the price of Transformers here becomes cheaper and more comparable to what Americans pay. And that's not taking into account other factors like differences in average wages, cost of living etc.

The point I was making was that the reason Tomy's toys have more paint is that they COST MORE in their INTENDED MARKET.

That's got very little to do with the skewed view we have in Australia, and PRETENDING that it does is ridiculous. It might ENCOURAGE you to buy the Henkei toys, sure. That's fine, that's valid.

But that has nothing to do with the fact that Tomy doesn't put more paint on the toys out of a sense of customer satisfaction.

And as for the Quality Control thing, it works both ways. I've hardly EVER had to return a Hasbro toy. But I've had Tomy toys broken STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BOX. All the anecdotal evidence I've ever heard put Tomy's quality control way bellow Hasbro's. But you know what? It's anecdotal.

LIke the tyre cracking? My Wild Ride's tyres cracked. he's a Japanese release. My Super X-Brawn's tyres never cracked -- or haven't yet.

Anecdotal.

Finally... will you please stop calling them "Takara". Takara doesn't exist any more. The company is named TakaraTomy in Japan, but as you point out you live in Australia. You have an Australian perspective. You only see things through an Australian point of view. In Australia the company is *TOMY*. Tomy is its international trading name. Look at any of your movie toys. Do you see the name Takara on them? Nope, nowhere.

Tomy.
--Jhiaxus.
(Seriously, dude. I get it... you look at it from an Australian perspective, that doesn't change the simple fact that neither the toys from Hasbro nor the toys from Tomy are made for the Australian market.)

[Darth Conlan]

Are there any rumors of new seekers coming out? To me it would be a no brainer to name and release the Rainmakers.

[kup]

Are there any rumors of new seekers coming out? To me it would be a no brainer to name and release the Rainmakers.

The obvious repaint would be Sunstorm but nothing has been announced for Classics. However if one happens, I am afraid that Hasbro will paint him piss yellow rather than orange like they did with titanium. The Animated and E-hobby color schemes are the way to go.

[Darth Conlan]

Yeah I have the E-Hobby one coming from ebay. Love him. He is my Fav transformer. Would like him in henkei/classic/generation though.

[GoktimusPrime]

Finally... will you please stop calling them "Takara". Takara doesn't exist any more. The company is named TakaraTomy in Japan, but as you point out you live in Australia. You have an Australian perspective. You only see things through an Australian point of view. In Australia the company is *TOMY*. Tomy is its international trading name. Look at any of your movie toys. Do you see the name Takara on them? Nope, nowhere.

Tomy.

In Japanese they're still called "TakaraTOMY" (タカラトミー), and TV commercials will have the announcer say, "TakaraTOMY" (not just "Takara" or "TOMY"). Their official website is takaratomy.co.jp. I accept that "TOMY" is their international trading name, but in Japan they're called TakaraTOMY. I guess in this regard I'm looking at it from a Japanese POV. ;p

The only time I say "Takara" now is if I'm referring to the company prior to the merger with Tomy; e.g. Car Robot = Takara. For anything made since then I say "TakaraTOMY." If I'm referring to the company from both before and since the merger I type "Takara(TOMY)."

If you or anyone else wants to call them "TOMY" then that's fine - although it would only be applicable if discussing the company in its post-merged state. If we were to talk about say Japanese G1 then it would be "Takara."

(Seriously, dude. I get it... you look at it from an Australian perspective, that doesn't change the simple fact that neither the toys from Hasbro nor the toys from Tomy are made for the Australian market.)

As Takara (pre-merger) once kindly told me, Australia is a Hasbro market. So it is Hasbro's responsibility to look after us. Now having said that, I'm not going to start pointing blame at Hasbro Australia for decisions made by their U.S. parent company... but ultimately it is Hasbro Australia who's responsible for our market. Isn't there anything Hasbro AU can do to bring down the cost of TFs here or are prices completely set by Australian retailers like Kmart, Target etc.??

So don'tcha just love it whenever American fans start whinging about how expensive Transformers are in the U.S.?! (-_-) :/