2 possible reasons that I can see. 1. It's the desire to have them. We all have that desire or else we won't be buying them, now or later. However, some people's desires are stronger than others, too strong to the point that they just want to satisfy that desire as soon as possible. If they don't satisfy that desire, then it's going to bother them from now until the mass release date. Every day the question is going to asked in their head "should I get it?". To end that annoying question they end up buying it early. 2. They want to have it early to show others that they have them. Perhaps so that they can be the first to review the figure. I don't necessarily think either reasons are bad or that it shows weakness. Just because someone can wait doesn't mean they are strong willed. It could mean that their desire to have the toy is less. As for your question of "is it worth it?" Well, lets say someone doesn't like transformers and thinks paying $10 or $20 for each figure is a waste of money, what would you tell them?

 

Its cool. For me, sometimes its an impulse thing. And i try to rationalize spending more than retail for these figures, but for something like Voyager Prime, i wouldn't mind paying a little extra. Its not even about getting it first, I just simply want it. Period.

Of course, some prices (Blitzwing, anyone?) are just insane ATM. Like my list, i always try to aim for prices near retail. If i can't, then i'll see if the figure in question is worth paying extra for.

 

I'd be number 1. You hit it right on the head. Also, seeing it on ebay or pictures of it here or other sites just gets to you after a while. WANT. NOW. BIN = Happy times for me   # 2 was just out of the question, I could care less about being first or reviewing it. I dont need people making fun of me all the time.  

 

Yep, I never saw the point in not just waiting. In a few months time it won't matter.

 

I agree, and if there's a figure or two that was sold out early or not in my area, then I'll resort to eBay or other online shops.

You can be a hardcore collector without breaking the fucking bank.

 

It was a dumb question to ask on a transformers collectors board. That's all I'm sayin.


Eh....Sorry I was so harsh...

 

I understand that some people have to have the plastic crack now. And bless Peaugh, Joopsta, et al for doing so, and Sean Long for the preview vids, etc.

Kudos, all round.

Though I'm more with Jarod in being surprised at the lack of patience (though, I repeat, understandable), and I'm glad he's asked the Q.

A strand from this though is But don't you lose the fun of hunting these things down in shops, in person?

Maybe I'm spoilt in London, with cheap travel to many toy shops and not quite the same level of competition or scalping (or not that I've noticed).

(I'm very tempted to pop my internet ordering cherry for TakTomy Scourge and Henkei Astrotrain, though...)

Anyhow, I look forward to the late 2008 Classics and TFA hunt!

 

How was it a dumb question to ask?

 

Guess some people are just more "passionate" about it than others.

Now replace passionate with hardcore.

 

the "I can afford it so I buy it" argument makes sense. I mean, when it comes to buying vintage G1, my attitude is always "it's worth what I'm willing to pay, no more, no less." That applies to rare pieces and prototypes as well. Pre-release isnt the same as prototype, but it's close enough.

but the "there's nothing I want now, so I buy this instead" argument is a bit odd. Doesnt that just mean that when the official stuff comes out, there'll be another point of nothing you want that you dont already have?

 

and when you're there on the toy aisle, you'll know to look extra hard to see if Prowl has both his arms instead of two of the same arm, because someone who bought it early reported the problem.

 

I'll never understand it either, but to each their own.

 

I personally think it's a waste of money, but it is their money, so they can do whatever they want with it. That and the early reviews are nice. Especially when it's a figure that I'm not sure I'll get or not.

 

TFs being more expensive in Canada, I haven't overpaid by much for most of my animated TFs, and if you include gas money for hunting, I've hardly spent more than what I would have at retail.

But I can't get myself to buy a figure that's more than retail+gas money+10$ or so... Toys like 150$ Blitzwing I just couldn't afford, not while I can put that money on something discontinued.

 

I don't agree that this is a stupid thread, and Tigermask's initial response was indeed "harsh". I will say this for Tigermask, though: that's the first time I've ever read someone apologise for being rude on any board.

My attitude to buying toys (or anything) has never revolved around obtaining as many as possible, or getting them as quickly as possible. The yearning for something is part of the fun, and makes it all the more worthwhile when you do finally track it down.

Also, I value the gaps between buying things. If a long time elapses between buying two Transformers, then that's fine, because I'll get to know the first one all the better, and get more value from it. It's the same with music. You might (or might not) have enough money to buy ten albums a week, but when are you going to find time to listen to them?

 

I don't begrudge anybody who does it, but I would never pay the exorbitant $$$ myself if the figs are going to eventually flood retail.

I'm patient.

With vintage, not so much.

 

I can see both sides of the arguement here. Some can, some cant, and some wont I'm in that third tier. But I certainly can knock any of the others plus it give you something funny to read when you read about people pay 2 or 3 times retail on a mass release.

So if you have to have it early fine all I'm asking is please post a price so I can have something funny to read at work or when I get it at retail.

 

someone has to do it. i have 5 animated cons already. i just do it to have them and didnt really spend alot. alot of us have worked out deals outside of ebay with these vendors and can get them less, its just a matter of asking really. for me its not to be the first or brag or anything. i am just a huge fan of animated and to nab wave 2 or 3 figures for a decent price is great since they wont be out until another few months or towards the end of the year.

theyre transformers and i love them!