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Post by iacon45 on Dec 3, 2023 2:05:17 GMT -5
I... *sigh* I'm out. They've priced me out. These things, they're just asking for too much money for what they're all actually worth. Yup. Big part of why I've pretty much tapped on TFs too. Just can't justify the pricing. Can't blame either of you. I haven't completely gotten out of TFs just yet, but I am getting there. There are still a few characters I need to fill in my G1/BW Generations gap like SS86 Swoop and yes I am curious about SS86 Optimus and next year's Tidal Wave. But I have greatly slowed down on buying TFs. Between the rising prices and shit like quickly yellowing plastic STILL being a thing a few years after the fact makes it hard to keep going. If you have been keeping up in the shout, my focus is shifting more into GI Joe Classified. In fact over the list year I have bought more GI Joe than TFs. With a few exceptions like sets, the basic figures are $25 a piece (same price as a deluxe class TF). But the GI Joe figures feel so much more satisfying than a deluxe TF. They have more heft, the detailing and sculpts are off the charts, several accessories, and most importantly way less QC issues than Transformers. For $25, I feel like I get my money's worth compared to a deluxe TF.
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Post by Matrix Dragon on Dec 3, 2023 7:09:06 GMT -5
... Yeah, I think I'm gonna pass. In Australia, Commanders are getting beyond insane for prices. There are third party masterpiece grade figures I can get for less, including international shipping. And it's Studio Series 86 Optimus, which you know means the trailer is going to be a box that we'll be lucky to even get a Roller with.
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Post by Greatshot on Dec 3, 2023 10:31:14 GMT -5
If you have been keeping up in the shout, my focus is shifting more into GI Joe Classified. In fact over the list year I have bought more GI Joe than TFs. With a few exceptions like sets, the basic figures are $25 a piece (same price as a deluxe class TF). But the GI Joe figures feel so much more satisfying than a deluxe TF. They have more heft, the detailing and sculpts are off the charts, several accessories, and most importantly way less QC issues than Transformers. For $25, I feel like I get my money's worth compared to a deluxe TF. Definitely seconding this. Classified is a FAR better "investment" of my toy spending now. They basically feel like Masterpice ARAH, for a price I can justify. Outside of Volvo Prime and Galvatron, I haven't paid full price for a TF in ages (and barely bought any at all) and I just can't.
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Post by Optimal Megatron on Dec 3, 2023 16:41:36 GMT -5
Honestly, my main thing is just, I kinda appreciate to a degree the hobby giving me something that's a safe pass?
TFs are basically my major toy spending overall beyond a handful of video games.
But these days, stuff like this, my main reaction is "oh thank god, a Commander that's actually something I can pass on."
My main annoyance most of the time is that distribution is such you roll the dice on finding something at all if you don't preorder, outside of really big ticket items like Titans. Several times I don't get something because I'm not sure about it RIGHT now, and by the time I have some spare cash, it's almost impossible to find for retail.
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Post by machsabre on Dec 4, 2023 0:08:24 GMT -5
I'm just gonna sum up my complaints as best I can.
Look, I think we can all agree that the quality of these things have not gone up in recent years... But the prices surely have.
Are there ways to improve on the ER Prime? Of course, yes. But it can all be done on a Voyager price level. Hell, BOTH of the RotB Primes proves it! Commander Class toys are now about $90 and... Look, if this was Tidal Wave, a new Powermaster Prime or even Comic Universe Fortress Maximus or Scorponok... I'd get it. I really would.
But this is plain old ordinary standard Optimus Prime. Even pulling out all the stops, I cannot see him being more than a Leader class toy, like Dreadwing or Galvatron. So it's all about that fucking trailer.
"The ER Trailer is a cheap hollow box and it doesn't look good and we want a bigger trailer that can fit an Autobot and has Roller and a repair drone and-"
Remember when Commander Rodimus came out? I loved him but fuck, people could not stop bitching about what a waste of money he was for having an oversized empty trailer and a cannon. Well...
It's not going to be a Generations Scale Masterpiece. It's gonna be a overly fiddly robot, and a big oversized box that folds down to be an oversized underpainted platform. You will probably have the Repair Drone... But it's a crap shoot if you get Roller. (I can totally see them releasing a Core Class Roller toy.) And odds are, the chest is going to be made of really fragile translucent plastic, making it a breakage concern... Because Hasbro cannot learn anything. Oh and you'll get another same Matrix accessory and some blast effects.
Thank you, that'll be $90 please. Plus shipping.
Meanwhile, RotB put out some of the most fun toys Transformers has given us in years, and they were not only a lot of fun but all (save for the Studio Series one) were highly affordable. Hell, those Beast Changers guys for $10 was some on the most fun and worthwhile toys they've made in years. They were $10 and they felt like a $10 toy.) And it seems like the line sold pretty well. So what do they do now? Do they do the smart thing, and release a bunch of repaints, like Airrazor as Bluebolt, the Beast Weaponizer Primal as Optimus Minor or Beast Changer Rhinox as Backstop or taking the Battlemasters Airrazor and Optimus Primal and making them Squawktalk and Beastbox... All to fill some time until the Transformers ONE toys hit? Calling it Reign of the Beasts of some stupid thing?
No, it's over and done.
But yeah. Let's Optimus Prime. Again. This time for double the price! (Won't even get into how bad EarthSpark is treated.)
And the funny thing is that I have more disposable income now than I ever have in my entire life... But Hasbro has done some really shitty things this year, from the D&D OGL 2.0 nonsense, the Magic the Gathering card debacle, and just overall shittiness like this?
I DON'T have to support them.
I'll just buy some Gundams.
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Post by Matrix Dragon on Dec 4, 2023 8:53:31 GMT -5
You know, I'm weird. I loved that cannon with Rodimus.
But yeah, every single thing you said is accurate. I honestly can't see how they're going to make an 86 Movie themed Optimus worth between 150 and 200 Australian, depending on the store.
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Post by Optimal Megatron on Dec 4, 2023 11:11:32 GMT -5
Remember when Commander Rodimus came out? I loved him but fuck, people could not stop bitching about what a waste of money he was for having an oversized empty trailer and a cannon. Well... I admit to being one of those people, but I'm also one of those people that feels most trailers are a waste of space on Optimus too if it isn't an Armada or Powermaster Optimus that combines into a bigger robot. But I admit part of my base mode hate is mostly lack of space to actually display them as such. Commander Rodimus does look fucking awesome in vehicle mode (even if I did put him off until I got him on sale). But damn it, Mach. I hadn't thought of a Commander scale Fort Max that's actually a good toy compared to the Titan. Now I'll forever be stuck wishing that could exist and knowing it won't. But yeah, I'm absolutely down with all those alternative suggestions for a Commander slot. Anything but 86 Prime. He gets enough toys. No need to take up this slot, even if it IS the 40th anniversary.
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Post by triumshockwave on Dec 4, 2023 18:43:19 GMT -5
I'll just buy some Gundams. Ditto. The value for the dollar is fucking ridiculous for what you wind up with. Part of that I'm sure is that there is near zero labor cost with a model kit, since the customer assembles it. The sheer amount of plastic in the box though is not insignificant. If you look at other model kits though, like a Star Trek kit, they are way lower quality and way lower part count, but the prices are much higher. I dunno if this has to do with the weak yen or something, but I'll take it. Plus you get all the entertainment / therapy value of assembling it. There's only a few holes I need plugged as far as TFs, like others have said. Other than that I just buy Core figures to fiddle with on my desk.
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Post by Optimal Megatron on Dec 4, 2023 19:35:26 GMT -5
I'll just buy some Gundams. Ditto. The value for the dollar is fucking ridiculous for what you wind up with. Part of that I'm sure is that there is near zero labor cost with a model kit, since the customer assembles it. The sheer amount of plastic in the box though is not insignificant. If you look at other model kits though, like a Star Trek kit, they are way lower quality and way lower part count, but the prices are much higher. I dunno if this has to do with the weak yen or something, but I'll take it. Plus you get all the entertainment / therapy value of assembling it. It's funny, the last time I was seriously into Gunpla was 00, and I feel like if anything, the costs have come *down* for G-Witch compared to what I remember back then. Admittedly, I do 1/144 scale mostly due to wanting suits that aren't going to get a bigger scale release, and maybe it's just that there's more accessible ways to get them rather than through import shops, but it's an odd thing.
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Post by iacon45 on Dec 4, 2023 20:27:55 GMT -5
If you look at other model kits though, like a Star Trek kit, they are way lower quality and way lower part count, but the prices are much higher. No kidding on Star Trek kits. Friend of mine picked up one for $40 and it looked way smaller than I thought it would be at that price. Also looked like it was all molded in a smokey almost clear plastic. That's the one thing I love about Gundam kits. They are all pre-molded in the correct colors so painting isn't a must (which I suck at).
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