Those either went really quickly or somebody goofed...With all the credit card stuff my card was out of commission when the deadline was coming, was planning to sign back up and figured the con was a good a place as any to take care of it...and in cash...seeing that I could still get Runamuck was a cool bonus since I wouldn't have to hunt it down so I renewed myself early on Friday morning, they didn't inform me that the figures were all gone until after I finished signing back up. They said the figure would be mailed and there were several people behind me planning on signing up as well...those people walked off without doing it though,

 

That's one thing about the subscription thing I do like, having them with a window for pre ordering should have been done ages ago IMHO...if only we were able to do it ala carte...

Sure it does. Look, I like the guys I hang out with, and meeting new people is always cool...but spending $1K or so to hang out with friends? Nope, without the toys being exclusive I definitely wouldn't go as often if I could just order from home.

There are the club figures as an incentive for being a member...

Sorry my friend, but I DID see several dealers with stacks of Runamucks and $100 price tags...

 

This may be TiC but, aside from the minor hyperbole in the 2nd paragraph, there is nothing wrong with that response. They are a business. And regardless of what people THINK they know about popularity of figure sets and what they BELIEVE should/would/could happen with regards to sales, there is no way to know for certain what sets are going to sell out and when. And FP doesn't want to go home with any figures. As long as they cater to the people who took the incentive to pre-register for the convention, then it is my belief that, as long as those who pre-registered were given every opportunity to obtain the attendee figures, FunPub has fulfulled their commitment to the fans.

 

Well, somehow Toyarena ended up with a couple:
Transformers Club 2012 TFCC Exclusive Runamuck & Runabout (Over-Run) Collectable

 

Just because it is YOUR reason for going to the 'Con doesn't mean it's everyone's reason as well. One of my good friends from this site tries to go every year because she enjoys meeting her friends and hanging out and enjoying the other aspects of the convention.

 

And? I have 8 personally. That's because I signed up with the club under 5 names and all 5 were sitting in my mailbox the day I left for the convention, and I bought 3 at the store using my Gold Ticket. How many of these stacks did you see getting purchased from the store? Because no one Thursday night were buying stacks of these.

 

If you are gonna make fake statements, make sure you have your dates right ;-)

All day Friday, the limit was two. So, after two chances to go thru the line (once Thurs and once Friday), and the opportunity to buy 3 Junkions per Primus holder (5 if you were a Golden Ticket), we were still not sold out as of Friday close of show. This is with over a 1,000 Primus package holders AND a run of only about twice the number of Primus holders.

Also, General Admission attendees were able to purchase the following ALL day Saturday:

Optimus/Kick Off
Spinister/Octopunch
T-shirts
Lithographs
Autograph Card sets

 

I did see people wearing Protoform badges, more than a few times. That's $150 without toys, no HoF dinner either.

 

That's fine, and I understand that dealers want to buy them as well, but why allow them to buy 200+ sets and clean out when the con is only half over?

 

How did FunPub 'cater' to me the year I got to Pasadena late Friday because I couldn't get there any earlier. I had to do everything on Saturday morning and by the time I made the line for the club store the Sweeps were sold out. I had to pay 3X over Club price for them.

How about any Primus package holders who couldn't get a hold of the Junkions or Runamuck because I sure as hell didn't get a chance to buy one Saturday morning? How is FunPub giving ME every oppurtunity to purchase one if they allow dealers to purchase unlimited amounts?

 

Well it seems that people did go to just have a good time and take advantage of the other aspects of the 'Con. It's good to hear and also they are probably grateful that they only bought the Protoform package so they don't have to go through all this bullshit.

 

Which sets are you talking about Pete? I flew in on Friday and made my purchases on Friday...I was told 1PER PRIMUS PACKAGE HOLDER...IT WAS EVEN ON THE ORDER FORM. Runamuck had sold out before I even had a chance to buy...apparently dealers got a hold of these contrary to what I've been told.

 

We usually up limits after Thursday. I will double check but last I heard was it was 2 on Friday...

 

We've already heard from a few people in this thread that have said that toys being exclusive at the are one of the big reasons they attend rather than buying online. It doesn't really take a big leap of faith to see how enough people would stop attending and make the show less viable to do. It wouldn't mean NOBODY would go, but attendance would certainly suffer.

 

That's what I want to know too, where's the cutoff point so that others could have a chance at buying?

 

Yeah, the order form did state on the exclusive figures they were 1 per person, even the headband said so. I got them Thursday and even Friday they said still 1 per person until further notice.

All in all this was my first convention and me and more importantly my son had a great time and I appreciate what you do Pete and perhaps this is just something to work out for the next one.

 

Seems fairly obvious there is no cutoff point.

 

Pete,

I understand this is a business you run. But you do see the websites and dealers now have plenty of exclusives and at a crazy price, right? Do you really think this way works out is fair for the fans? People that went to Botcon couldn’t buy the junkions on Saturday. I really think that the way it’s currently handled encourages these scalpers. Dealers buy a shitload and load up there sites or B-S-T forums.
This year is no different than every other year but it seems to becoming the norm for dealers to come in buy in bulk and make money. When is someone going to step up and take responsibility for giving them the opportunity to price gouge us. Should we just not buy Transformers anymore? Honestly that would cost everyone. This is the worst part of the hobby and it really getting ridicules.

 

I think you're misinterpreting the point I'm trying to make here so I'll say it again: The fandom and members of TFCC should have first crack at any exclusives. Now, am I saying to reserve the exclusives from the 'Con for people who couldn't make it? No. What I am saying is that whatever doesn't sell out on Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning from people attending should go online for members to buy BEFORE DEALERS SNATCH THEM UP BY THE CASE LOAD.

If the club starts selling them to dealers by the case load early in the 'Con then even ATTENDEES will not be able to by them because they are sold out. The attendees AND members who chose not to come will have to pay an insane amount of money for them! For example, $35 for a headband that was only $5 originally, and so forth and so forth

 

I'll stick to TFcon...

I would like to go to botcon to check it out. The exclusives are awesome, but usually I only really want one... and it's always any Sideswipe they do.

So Pete. Even though I've never been I've bought any exclusive Sideswipe/Sunstreaker you guys have done after market. I do want to say I think you've always done a good job being good to my lambos.

It's just not been easy for me to pull off going to botcon with the cost and everything. Which is fine. I've had no problem getting the figs I wanted later.

But! I'm an exception in the fandom. I am super picky and selective about the toys I buy. I can admit if it's an awesome toy and all but if it doesn't fall into what I'm collecting I won't get it.

So in that case if I did go I wouldn't be there specifically for the figures. I would be there for the con experience and to have a good time. But that is just me.