If there ever was a time for a Grand Maximus reissue.....

Discussion in 'Transformers Toy Discussion' started by FortressMaximus1976, Jul 29, 2015.

  1. FortressMaximus1976

    FortressMaximus1976 Well-Known Member

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    ....I'm starting to think that time has come and gone, if it was ever even on the table to begin with. I decided to revisit this topic in light of that fact that Encore Fortress Maximus was a success by most accounts, and although it had some production issues (it took me 4 FM to finally get an overall glitch-free one!), it exceeded whatever expectation Takara originally had for the figure.

    Its been about 2 + years since that release, and with the recent Trypticon reissue, the Titan Metroplex, Titan Devastor etc....I was kinda hoping MAYBE we might see this thing come to fruition. However, maybe they figure its too obscure for a wide release, although that could be dealt with if they simply do a smaller production run with less figures, but there again they would want to make enough to justify the overall cost and make a profit, not simply "break even." Maybe they want to spread it out a bit, and wait another few years.

    Has anyone ever posed this question to Takara at a Toy Fair or anything that we know?


    Wondering what others think, or speculate at this juncture....
     
  2. 3.8TransAM

    3.8TransAM Banned

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    I hope they do.

    I am certainly in if they do it.

    Only way I could ever justify it otherwise :lol 
     
  3. FortressMaximus1976

    FortressMaximus1976 Well-Known Member

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    Exactly, I mean for example there is 3 "new" Grand Maximus on EBay right now, or there was as of yesterday. 2 of them are about $6,000 at Buy it Now, and one that is $3400...If I was in a different place financially or where I was at about 8 years ago when I had few bills, I'd almost consider jumping on that one. But these prices are so prohibitive that I doubt Ill ever own this thing...my grail for sure!
     
  4. WishfulThinking

    WishfulThinking The world has moved on...we've always said.

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    I think you answered your own question. While sales were high for the initial run of Fort Max, why would retailers invest in a repaint wave of figures they were taking major financial hits on because of defective merchandise? Generally speaking, places like BigBadToyStore don't ship the defective merchandise back to Takara for a refund. They bite the bullet and have to come up with creative ways to get rid of the defective returns. BigBad even had a parts blow-out on ebay to get rid of them so they could make SOMETHING off them. Would you purchase a pallet of potentially defective product that you'll either take a loss on or, in order to break even, have the headache of selling part by part on ebay?

    I think THAT'S why we haven't gotten Grand Maximus.
     
  5. FortressMaximus1976

    FortressMaximus1976 Well-Known Member

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    Very good points...and yes, Big Bad got 3 of my returns. It was definently hit or miss in terms of what you got. I know there were many people who got excellent ones first time out, and they were lucky, but it was a 50/50 crap shoot. It is a shame though, as it doesnt appear these issues came to light when FM was released back in 1987, but different times, different processes, and workmanship.

    Big Bad also has had FM in stock for a long time, and its been about $269 for what seems like a well over a year. I'm curious what they have left for stock count, as I imagine they bought a ton of them from the start.
     
  6. JaZzPrImE74

    JaZzPrImE74 Sub to my YT Supreme J

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    I hope they don't reissue it. There's more important reiisues that we need like skylinx wich would do way better. If it's just online then fine it won't affect me but If hasbro does it I will let it sit in the shelfs until Black Friday.
     
  7. WishfulThinking

    WishfulThinking The world has moved on...we've always said.

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    If you read the description, you'll note they have to open each box up and inspect them now before they ship out to ensure you're getting a decent one. That's also time spent doing other things in your business. So, another strike against Encore FM from a dealer standpoint. I had to personally send one back because:

    1. a tab on the ramp slider was bent to hell
    2. a tab on the tower to keep it clipped to his waist in robot mode was snapped clean off -- and missing, meaning it happened prior to it being boxed and shipped at the factory
    3. Cerebros will not dock into his computing station...a defect in the station itself as he slid just fine into Brave Maximus'
    4. Spike's thighs are reversed (this is endemic to all copies of the mold, though)

    I sent mine back and received one that solved issues 1 and 2. But 3 & 4 still exist on my second copy. But they are issues I can live with, as opposed to bent or snapped off tabs and clips that affect it both as a toy and as a display piece. Still sucks.

    As a customer, I'd be leery of throwing money on even a short run of Encore Grand Maximus as:

    1. it will cost more, being a shorter run...and
    2. the above issues may persist into this run, causing both me and my retailer grief.
     
  8. WishfulThinking

    WishfulThinking The world has moved on...we've always said.

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    They already released Encore Sky Lynx. He's still available for a reasonable price.

    Amazon.com: Transformers Encore Skylynx Reissue: Toys & Games
     
  9. FortressMaximus1976

    FortressMaximus1976 Well-Known Member

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    Mine were:

    1st one: Broken tab on the tower section like what you had. Sent it back.

    2nd one: the red elevetor lever was busted/loose and didnt move the elavator as a result. Sent it back.

    3rd one: The right leg extension that swings around in robot mode with red gun, there was a glob of paint near the metal screw/rivit, and it cracked and paint came off when swinging this around. Sent it back.

    4th one: The spike leg issues I wouldnt have noticed unless it was mentioned the boards, so I just took that as no biggie, everything else is good overall.

    Its funny, your making me realize how f'd up this release was and how they would have to be EVER so cautious on a Grand Max and ensure shit was up to par. LMAO

    It sounds like Big Bad needs to literally take the thing out and Transform it to make sure no hip ratchet issues are there or that there is no glaring errors.
     
  10. Lbsammills51

    Lbsammills51 Well-Known Member

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    A thought I've had since then, with no evidence to support it so this is purely speculation, is that there was a chance for an Encore/reissue push, but Takara had to choose between continuing on with the expanded MP line (Fort Max came out right around the time of MP-13 and after MP12/14, with MP-10B, the cassettes and Datsuns to come) or an expanded reissue line (I recall the person that reported news of Encore Fort Max also indicated things like Grand Max, Black Zarak & Headmaster reissues were also on the table)...and chose to roll with MPs, leaving reissues to fade away.

    Hopefully one day Takara will go back to them and crank out some stuff, even if only periodically, that is desperately needed (GPS-affected stuff first and foremost, plus other things that are so expensive they're out of reach for many). If or when that day comes, I've no idea but I'm not expecting it anytime soon.

    I don't mean to sound like a prick...but are you high?

    One, as mentioned, you do know Sky Lynx was already reissued by Takara (and, at least with US online retailers, didn't exactly sell like wildfire)?

    Two, you do know Hasbro can't reissue Fort Max or its redecos even if it wanted to due to toy laws (mainly pointing to the "drop test" issue), so Hasbro tackling this instead of something else for a Platinum release is completely off the table?

    Sorry, maybe you just weren't aware of either fact, but yeah G1 Sky Lynx from Hasbro isn't the greatest idea and Fort Max is a non-factor.
     
  11. grimlock1972

    grimlock1972 Optimus, serving up the primest of ribs since 1984

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    I can't see many US retailers being too willing to orer to GRand Max given they all seem to have had trouble getting rid of the stock of Fort Max and at least BBTS still has some in stock. I also would not be much surprised if TF source still had some in the wharehouse.


    Grand Max as for me i am not sure if i would jump at him or not.
     
  12. JaZzPrImE74

    JaZzPrImE74 Sub to my YT Supreme J

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  13. JaZzPrImE74

    JaZzPrImE74 Sub to my YT Supreme J

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    Wtf what drop test? Do they actually have to drop a toy and it has to survive?
     
  14. Lbsammills51

    Lbsammills51 Well-Known Member

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    It may be reasonable for some now, given it's been several years since its initial release. It was discounted much cheaper than that though, but that was a while back.

    See here:

    Fortress Maximus (RID) - Transformers Wiki
    (second bullet under Notes)

    For safety reasons - Transformers Wiki
     
  15. WishfulThinking

    WishfulThinking The world has moved on...we've always said.

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    I think the drop test can be circumvented for two reasons:

    1. The drop-test standard is self-imposed, so Hasbro can change the rules if it wants to.
    2. The aim of the drop test is to prevent children from shattering their toys. If you increase the age limit to, say, ages 15+ like Bandai of America is doing with its MMPR Legacy line, then you've got a whole different ball game as the toy is no longer being aimed at children who might push Fort Max off the table and onto their four-year old sister because she won't give him back Spike.
     
  16. Edgewise

    Edgewise Fanner

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    Metroplex got reissued longer ago and a Metrotitan never happened.

    I think it's less to do with defect issues and more that a repaint of such a large reissue was just never in the cards. (Yes, earlier there was Guardian robot and also Fire Guts Ginrai, but I really think the lack of Metrotitan is more telling.)
     
  17. Lbsammills51

    Lbsammills51 Well-Known Member

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    I hadn't heard about this, so it's an interesting thought if Hasbro could do it.

    Whether they'd want to is another matter.

    True, but my only quibble here:

    Grand Maximus was an actual cartoon character in Japan, while Metrotitan and Battle Gaia (another obscure redeco of a G1 toy that showed up in Encore) were never featured in Japanese cartoons, making them that much more obscure for even Japanese fans.

    I was hoping Metrotitan would show up as an exclusive somewhere like Guardian Robot, but yeah it never did. A lack of interest (real or perceived) probably contributed, considering how exclusive-redeco happy Takara used to be with G1 figures.
     
  18. Galaxy Convoy

    Galaxy Convoy Well-Known Member

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    Personally I believe it's nothing more than TT has simply abandoned the reissue market because they're just as money hungry as Hasbro is *gasp*, and that reissues simply weren't cutting it. Whereas the MP line so far has pretty much been a license to print money.
     
  19. Edgewise

    Edgewise Fanner

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    Yes, I know, then I can add the quibble that the Fort Max mold being that much bigger and more expensive than the Metroplex mold, and blah blah blah...

    End of the story is the same: I think Grand Maximus was never in the cards.
     
  20. Sol Fury

    Sol Fury The British Butcher Veteran

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    Rumour I heard was there was an option for Grand Max to be done as an E-Hobby exclusive, but they declined to do it for whatever reason.

    I think most retailers still have a few Fort Maxes left in their stockrooms - problem with him is a combination that he is a huge toy, and he is extremely heavy to ship. Given the fact he didn't sell through, I cannot see many retailers jumping to get a Grand Max reissue, even if he is the in-demand one.

    Also - are we certain the mold for the Pretender shell survives? If that mold is lost, so too is a part of the appeal for the reissue on a Grand Max.

    Still reasonable. He was going for a fair bit more pre-reissue. He's a big toy, too.