Ok. I've just got to say it and it'll probably piss some of you off but... well... oh well. That's life.
So according to the Tformers it looks like Target may be carrying the TakaraTomy Encore series of the upteenth rerelease of some G1 figures.
If you are willing to shell out $99.99 for a G1 Megatron, G1 Prime, or G1 Soundwave or even $64.99 for a G1 Starscream you have got to know you have a problem and it is time to leave this hobby.
How many times are these things, especially that damn Prime mold, going to be rereleased over and over and over and these crack collectors are just going to buy them over and over again?!?!?
It blows my mind. It really does.
Your $99 would be better off spend on Masterpiece Prime or Megs and that $64.99 will get you a new Wal-Mart Masterpiece Starscream.
To keep shilling big money on these 20+ year old molds is just stupid.'
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
Now these are obviously aimed not at kids but right dead center at your toy collector hearts!
Sure, there are probably a few new people who the movie brought in that would like to get these again because they had them as a kid but on the whole, these just feel like the same retread releases done how many time in the past few years.
It blows my mind really, especially if this is true and Target and Wal-Mart expect to get these prices for this stuff.
Now when big box American retailers start getting these kinds of things in it is just a tiny little nail in the coffin of the online specialty retailers like your TFSource and others like that.
You've got to know TakaraTomy would love to move the volume of product that a big box retailer can typically move.
And I'd suspect that if these somehow make themselves into stores (with the exception of Megatron who I still don't know how he can be sold again after the MP debacle) they'll eventually get discounted and clearanced out, with all of the ebay whores swooping down to then resell the shit to people willing to fork over cash for these old boring ass molds.
Don't do it kids.
Make the Baby Jesus happy. Spend that money on something much better toy-wise.
Agreed. And I happened to be by Wal-mart last night, and saw some unopened stock of Masterpiece Starscream, which I asked someone to open for me. For 48.88, that's a pretty awesome figure. Poseability issues in the leg aside, which I assume is also the same on the Takatomy MP, he's amazing. Amazing enough to even leave in alt mode, which looks like a friggin model of a jet. Gorgeous. I'd much rather have that than shell out absurd amounts of money for toys I've seen again and again for the past twenty-four years.
It's starting to sound like KISS' farewell tour, just because you can still play doesn't mean you should.
The last time they did this was Masterpiece Ultra Magnus - right? Did you guys get a target release for this figure too? Due to the fact that the first 4 Encore figures are being released at store level, do you reckon the later encore releases will be hitting targets too - namely Ironhide, Ratchet, Jazz & Sky lynx? Did a similar thing happen in 2004 with the 20th anniversary figures? (I wasn't a hardcore TF collector then) Have we gone back to 1984 or something?
I don't think it's stupid to buy Encore Prime. There are a lot of collectors out there (myself included) who don't own a G1 Prime. I do, however, think it's stupid to get Encore Prime if you already own the G1 version or the previous re-releases of the figure.
I do, however, agree that it's pretty sad and pathetic for one to buy Encore Prime if they already own G1 Prime, G2 Prime, the TRU reissue and the Takara reissue. That's beyond overkill. No one needs multiple versions of that mold.
I might pick up Encore Prime myself though since the only other G1 Prime I own is the G2 Prime minus his fists and his trailer.
I'm not saying it is stupid to buy this if you don't own one, hence why I think some kind of release of these makes sense since there are probably some people who saw the movie this summer and said "I had that!" and end up buying it again.
But even the last time Hasbro rereleased these guys back in the early naughts they weren't this much money. And Soundwave was a recent rerelease too.
I just can't see how anybody can justify $99 for these specific ancient figures when the Masterpiece versions of 3 out of 4 can still be had for that general price range.
I'll probably grab a G1 Prime...I never had one, not even when I was a kid. I got a Powermaster Prime instead...which I have to admit was way cool at the time...it was a Prime that could become a bigger bot, just like Ultra Magnus could! That made it very awesome for me.
I don't need the rest though...I have the TRU Soundwave that came out a while ago (and was, you know, $30), and once I have a Masterpiece Megs and Starscream, I simply won't care enough to have the G1 versions.
Trust me dude, you'll care about getting a G1 Megatron after you see how shoddy and weak the MP version is. I'm with you on Starscream though. He was one of those characters whose figure was always a lot lamer than the character (like Ironhide and Ratchet before him) so a Classics and/or MP Starscream is a must.
Being able to get a G1 Prime that you didn't already have = good
Paying $99 for a re-re-release of a G1 mold = bad.
Encore OP was the first G1 OP I've ever owned (not counting Pepsi OP, which beat him to my door by 2 weeks.) It was a godsend for me, right down to the price range I was willing to pay for one. I wouldn't have paid no $100 for it, though.
I agree with you 100%, Nala.
What I find shocking is that with most of these new Encores being readily available online at much lower prices, even if you didn't have them in any previous version, why would you ever buy them for 30% to 40% more???
TFsource.com and BigBadToyStore are so much more reasonable pricewise. In fact, just a couple days ago I bought an Encore C+9 condition, Starscream from TFsource.com for $32.95.
Why would anyone go anywhere else while these toys are still available at better prices??
Just plain crazy is what it is.
I agree with you 100%, Nala.
What I find shocking is that with most of these new Encores being readily available online at much lower prices, even if you didn't have them in any previous version, why would you ever buy them for 30% to 40% more???
TFsource.com and BigBadToyStore are so much more reasonable pricewise. In fact, just a couple days ago I bought an Encore C+9 condition, Starscream from TFsource.com for $32.95.
Why would anyone go anywhere else while these toys are still available at better prices??
Just plain crazy is what it is.
N:
I don't care for G1 Megatron's toy that much, but I do like the original Prime. However, I don't think Encore Prime is really worth $100. Perhaps $40, certainly $30, but no more.
Cordially yours:
Autobus Prime
w/minicon Farebox.
Now, my big question is how they plan on getting away with this when the 20th anniversary releases saw the ubercrap longer missiles and shorter smokestacks? And since eBay seems to have taken a stance against selling G1 Megs without a safety cap, are all these going to be capped?
No matter what it really seems like a better deal ordering direct from Takara.
tfans has indicated that it's an independent seller going through the target.com website like amazon zshops. So no, Target isn't that dumb, but they'll let someone else be stupid greedy.
I still need to get all 4 of the Encore reissues, but especially G1 Megs & Prime. So I'm happy that Takara keeps re-releasing these ...
:)