They released it as Dreadwind and Smokejumper in 2004 in the Robots in Disguise line. Target exclusive.
Okay folks, I need the collective genius of the board to give me their opinion on this piece. Everything you see here was in the same bag you see. This color looks VERY familiar, I have my own speculation. I am wondering what everyone thinks?
Very similar to Strafe, but with a more muted color scheme and Decepticon symbols. According to the wiki, the Takara version that was released actually did have Decepticon symbols.
Remember, ATB Megatron himself is just a repaint from the 1994 Dreadwing figure. ATB Megatron saw a few samples leaked to stores in Ohio. I actually saw one on the shelf in a KB toys when I was in 8th grade. I specifically remember not buying it because it was "just a repaint of the Dreadwing toy I got the previous Christmas," and "Megatron as a jet is a stupid idea." Yeah. I'll let you know when I stop kicking myself over that one. Also, Starwarsproto, another thanks for posting all these great pics. You're really cool to do that.
There's just something about seeing a $12 K price, and then looking down the page to see a shipping charge that I find extremely hilarious.
I do not even know what the shipping charges says. The fact that insurance alone is would be hundreds on a $13k item. Like I said before it might be as cheap to fly the item to the winner.
I have a story like that as a kid, I saw 20-25 or so Beatles "butcher cover" variation of the album "Yesterday and Today" in a dollar bin at a K-mart. I did not figure out until years later what they were (sealed ones are worth thousands)
He is also apart of the global shipping program which sucks for anyone outside of the USA. I was bidding on the jazz laser cycle and if I ended up winning I would of had the $43 shipping fee and then ontop of that I would get the import fee which is another $256.
I took all global shipping programs off of my auctions. For some reason they automatically applied them. Its damn ridiculous what ebay tries to do sometimes.
I can imagine the ease of convincing a UPS insurance adjuster that a lost shipment of Transformer toy is worth $13,000, it would be far from buttery smooth I can assure you; know matter how well you packed it or how much insurance you took out on it. I would not ask someone to risk traveling with cash to pay for it. If you're paying for something in cash and picking it up in person you really don't need ebay at that point. Any personal transactions similar to this are done best inside a bank. And I can't think of one of my organs that would bring much money on the secondary market... now there is an irresponsible transaction.
I would have worked with you on that. Shipping overseas is always a bit of a risk. I've shipped 16-17k packages to 49 countries in the world. Very often the issue becomes the buyer wants you to declare the item as a gift for $20 so they don't have to pay import fees, which frankly I'm perfectly fine with I think the governments in Europe (and other places in the world) where my buyers live are getting enough of their citizens money already. On a nearly $2000 item I need to have an assurance that it is going to arrive and if it doesn't that I am compensated for the loss. The problem is that I can't take out $2000 in insurance and declare the package to be a $20 gift. In the past when I've offered the concept for example on a $400 item, that i will ship it as a $20 gift...If the receiver absolves me from any loss due to a damaged or misdirected package. Seldom do they opt for it. Don't get me wrong this isn't everybody but traditionally it is been my experience that many of my overseas buyers want to have $20 customs declaration and if there's a problem it is always the shippers responsibility for any losses. And that's exactly the way ebay and paypal is set up on any disputes. It kills me to charge someone nearly $30 for a priority mail package that would ship for $5 in First class package. If it a $60 item I have to do it because there is no tracking on a First class package. I have taken the risk in the past and got burned several times. Which is the perfect example of a few jerks messing it up for the honest people. Customs can be a nightmare as well. Years ago I had a box sealed box of Lady Death trading cards which was "examined" by Canadian customs, They (likely a dude) proceeded to rip open several packs of cards probably to check out Lady Death's body. If won by a foreign buyer the Menasor will be shipped via UPS or Fedex fully insured... not through ebay's shipping service.
If I were to win any of these auctions, I think I'd almost insist on picking the item up in person. Why put trust in a shipping company when I don't have to? Of course, I'm only +/-100 miles away, too, so I'm sure that's a factor.
You are right... that is lazy of me to use ebay global shipping on items like these. I will correct it in the future.
Thats great to know for future auctions, it bugs the shit outta me when you get something from the global shipping program and see the $10 shipping sticker covered up and you end up paying $50.
You know what's funny? It costs me a lot less to ship a toy from Germany to the US than it costs me to have the same toy shipped from the US to Germany. Also, the people I sent stuff never had to pay customs fees. But buying a toy at German retail is a lot more expensive than buying the same to in the US. It's insane.
Wow, that's actually awesome that you even saw those. I love stories like these except when people try to shoot them down as lies. That's really frustrating. Until Jon Hartman said my story was entirely plausible being in Ohio, I had people telling me I was having "false memories" every time I mentioned it.