Metals Dinobot question??

[Autocon]

one is white and one is cream?

[Hursticon]

one is white and one is cream?

Yeah, Hasbro's version had that as a running change - I'm not sure about the Japanese version though.

[GoktimusPrime]

I believe it comes down to the fact that it is just far & away easier to find and acquire a Hasbro version than the Takara, there might also be a perception that Takara's will have a superior build quality (Taking into account TM Megatron).

TM Megatron was the exception rather than the rule. For the most part, Hasbro Transmetals are good quality. But one difference is that Takara's Beast Wars toys often have more show-like colours, since they released their toys after the show was created (whereas Hasbro's toys came out first). Having said that...

Yeah, Hasbro's version had that as a running change - I'm not sure about the Japanese version though.

Looking at the photo in post #1 Metals 2 Dinobot looks the same as Transmetal 2 Dinobot - the same creamy colour. So neither looks more show-like than the other. The cartoon model replaces the cream with white, which looks more similar to the rare white variant -- so I might understand that toy commanding a high price on the aftermarket. But Takara's TM2 Dinobot looks the same as Hasbro's, so the price hike seems unwarranted to me (unless someone desperately wants to have that box or lenticular tech specs card that they can read in Japanese)

[sideswipes brother]

It just seems like ALL the Transmetals 2 in the Metals line command high prices. Even the god awful abomination TM2 Cheetor!!!

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/TRANSFORM...ht_1750wt_1396

[GoktimusPrime]

So just get the Hasbro version. There's a loose TM2 Cheetor here going for about $22. I really don't see the point in splashing out on inflated aftermarket prices for anything, but especially if you can get the same toy for cheaper. The only difference would be the box and tech specs card -- and as nice as these things are, I don't think it's worth paying an additional $148 just for the privilege of having a box and card.

[sideswipes brother]

So just get the Hasbro version. There's a loose TM2 Cheetor here going for about $22. I really don't see the point in splashing out on inflated aftermarket prices for anything, but especially if you can get the same toy for cheaper. The only difference would be the box and tech specs card -- and as nice as these things are, I don't think it's worth paying an additional $148 just for the privilege of having a box and card.

I already have a complete set of Hasbro Beast Wars. Im collecting the Takara 'Metals' line now. I really just want to know what makes them so expensive?

[GoktimusPrime]

Im collecting the Takara 'Metals' line now. I really just want to know what makes them so expensive?

Nothing really "makes" them expensive. It just looks like some sellers feel like charging ridiculously inflated prices. But then, are there actually people out there who are willing to pay these prices??? Because we all vote with our wallets... and if you think these prices are unreasonable, then don't pay them.

If sellers are willing to charge massively inflated prices like this and you as a consumer find it unreasonable, then just walk away. Because when you agree to pay these prices then you're justifying them to the sellers, and encouraging them to maintain the prices at such a high level. If on the other hand nobody buys these toys at their inflated prices, then the seller will either continue to stubbornly sit on dead stock (which some dealers do), or they'll lower their prices in an effort to elicit sales.

If you already have all these toys as Hasbro versions, then I see even _less_ reason to pay extra for the Takara versions. I wonder when Metals toys suddenly got so inflated -- because I got Metals Megatron in 2005, some 6 years after it came out (it was at this time my Transmetal Megatron succumbed to Brown Plastic Syndrome and broke so I decided to replace it with the superior Takara version), and I think I only paid about $50 or so for it -- which was already an inflated aftermarket price (original RRP 2500JPY [$30], and I paid about $30-something for TM Megatron from Kmart). So I don't know what's happened between then and now that's caused a recent spike in the aftermarket price for Metals.

If you happen to be intending on travelling to Japan, or if you know any friends who are intending to go to Japan or already in Japan, you might want to consider asking them to try and find some Metals toys for you, because BW toys there really don't cost all that much. I picked up a loose in box BWN Dead End for about 400JPY ('bout five bucks)... off the top of my head I think that toy would've originally retailed for 700JPY ($8.50)... so I managed to get him for nearly half RRP. Heck, if you know any friends travelling anywhere around Asia (China, Hong Kong, Singapore etc.), see if they can scope out collectable toy stores for Beast Wars Metals stuff for you -- cos if they can find any there, I'm quite certain they'd be MUCH cheaper than what you're finding on eBay atm. After all, you're essentially looking at collecting the _same_ toys over again but with a different box and a tech specs card (how well can you read Japanese? ); I know that I always recommend against paying inflated aftermarket prices, but in your case where you already have these toys, I strongly advise that you consider avoiding paying inflated prices!

[Sky Shadow]

I already have a complete set of Hasbro Beast Wars. Im collecting the Takara 'Metals' line now. I really just want to know what makes them so expensive?

It's rarity that makes them expensive. Just like here, some Japanese toys are still available in such multitudinous numbers that they continue to be inexpensive (Encore Ratchet/Ironhide, Beast Wars Neo Randy, Micron Legend Demolishor, Galaxy Force Inch Up and hundreds of other equally obvious examples). Alternatively - again like here - some are hard to find because they were produced in limited numbers or near the end of a line (like Beast Wars Neo Blendtrons and Killer Punch) or both those things plus being particularly desirable recolours (like most of the Beast Wars Returns toys, particularly Megahead Megatron.)

In the case of the Beast Wars Metals line, most were widely produced and are still cheap (Airazor, Scavenger, Rattrap, Rhinox, Terrorsaur, Quickstrike, Primal, Depth Charge etc.) The ones that aren't - as above - were in some way unique and popular (Megatron and Ravage) or from the end of the line (Transmetal 2s).