So for combiners, Hasbro and Takara tend to either sell the components individually, all in a box-set, or (rarely) both. Which do you prefer?

For me, I would rather have both box-sets and individual releases for every combiner. While it's nice to get all of them at once, it makes it harder to get a component if you just want one. So there should be options.

 

Just posted this in another thread:

With the three different size classes there was little chance for distribution to work for this line without a concerted effort from Hasbro to let retailers know how closely related those three products are. They also tried to sabotage it themselves by swapping one character for each team in waves 1 & 2. Takara's box set distribution works much better to guarantee complete sets for everybody, but that many high-priced sets wouldn't work well here for Hasbro at retail.

 

I chose both, because honestly, I can't decide.

On one hand, box sets tend to be expensive, and I usually need to save up if I want to get one. With individual figures, I can buy them at my leisure until I have the complete combiner.

On the other hand, buying figures individually can be a pain because even if the figure is good enough on its own, it still nags at your soul that you don't have the complete set, and leaves a distinct feeling of emptiness and dissatisfaction. Especially, if I may let my CW Onslaught pains take over for a minute, when you can't find an affordable way to complete said set.

 

From a collector standpoint, box sets. But if HasTak did that they'd completely lose retail revenue from children. Thus, the answer must be both

 

Both, but prefer boxset. I end up buying the combiner wave in a single go anyway and the box set makes it more likely I will keep the packaging like the UW line.

 

I like the idea of teams being sold as sets but want to see Hasbro continue to mix in characters that may not belong to any given team with the Deluxe and Voyager waves as time goes on.

 

It will be interesting to see how these molds get re-used in the future. Are they likely to have a few mixed in assortment with non-combiner figures or will they just be reserved for combiner releases & re-releases?

 

I like Gifts sets better, because sometimes is cheaper, and also you get the whole combiner

 

While I prefer box sets, I know that people would complain about not being able to buy box sets, so I voted both. Box sets are better to me, though, since that basically gets rid of any worry that you might not be able to find one figure.

 

This is what's important to me - how much does it cost.

 

both, but the molds have to be available in both.

 

Hunting for that last combiner part gives me an ulcer, so I chose box sets.

 

boxsets all the way.
with the exceptions of wave 1 and wave 4, I've bought all of my cw deluxes online, and all of my voyagers at retail. and its always frustrated me that i havent gotten the whole team all at once. the g2 sets, Grand Galvatron, and Predacus will be a welcome change for me.

finding anything new at retail has been a massive headache for me in recent years. much less trying to snag multiple figures from separate size classes. especially when voyagers seem to move faster than deluxes. and trying to track down Legends is impossibly brutal, cuz most of the shops in my area are morons who think that One-step figures belong on the Legends peg.

 

I put both.

There are times I want the whole set, and it guarantees me all figures needed. Other times, I don't care for the group and just want one or two of the figures. Either because they're random characters I want to own (Rook, Offroad), they're IMPORTANT characters I want by themselves (Mirage) or I have customizing plans for them (Ironhide).

On another note, I'm not happy with box sets charging more for than the individual price points combined. So that can sway my vote.

 

Boxsets all the way I say.Individual figures are either A.hard as hell to track down or B.Super Expensive when you do find them.

But with boxsets (well all except UW Defensor which is $160 just because it has Deluxe Groove) they are pretty reasonable.I just wish Hasbro had done boxsets like Takara did,but they were in such a hurry to start selling them by Christmas 2014 they just basically said "Fu** It" and shoved the figures out the door instead of waiting 3 or 4 months like Takara did and gave us proper figures like Groove,Slingshot,and so forth.

 

Boxsets. I buy the teams all or nothing anyway. It's just more convenient.

 

Also, with the box sets(Defensor and Bruticus) you get the actually team members. Not some one off character like Rook or the Repaint "blast off".

 

Box sets make it easier to collect an entire team, but it can get very pricey, especially when you're paying customs on top of everything else.

I also like to be able to mix and match my Combiner teams, (especially when it comes to 'new' Combiners) - sometimes I prefer the UW version, and other times, the CW one. It can be annoying when you only want one or two figures out of a box set.

I'd like both Hasbro and Takara to release some 'extra' limbs for the likes of UW Grand Scourge and CW Galvatronus. However, it looks like I'll be mostly taking the Unite Warriors route for the forseeable future.

 

Both. Box sets for when I'm getting an entire team (i.e. Bruticus) and individual for when I only get a couple of characters for my own combiners (i.e BC Optimus, Rook, First-Aid, Prowl, Mirage, Ironhide, Wheeljack, and Sky Lynx.) I am still more inclined towards individual, though.

 

I vote both. While box sets are more convenient, I appreciate the luxury of cherry picking individual bots. For the Masquerade set, I only got Prowl, and for the Aerialbots and Stunticons, I'm glad I wasn't forced to get Alpha Bravo, Off-Road, or the Legends-class team members.