Transformers Universe Classics Released in UK and news about future UK Animated and Universe Toys

All credit to Oddsey!

Eeeeeexcellent. Any idea if they'll be running any offers on TFs yet? They ran cut prices, BOGOF, etc on most of the toylines that came out this year.

Well they raised the Universe Deluxe to £13!

Yeah, seems to be a general trend. That's what HTSUK was selling them from. Have to say, I do find it a bit galling that the obviously kid-oriented TFA line hasn't had the same increase. I try not to be paranoid, but that does begin to seem like Hasbro saying "Hmm, we need to make some more money somewhere. Don't want to upset the kids, so we'll let the collectors take up the slack."

Nice scans. What I find hilarious, is that they have a picture of Leader Bulkhead in bot-mode, but a picture of Voyager Bulkhead for his alt-mode.

Hasbro UK don't need more money; they've just upped the prices to screw us. $26; That's what we're paying for 'em

I'm curious as to how a 5% or so price increase in the U.S. translates into a 33% increase in a market that's already paying twice the U.S. price.

(Or to put it rather more bluntly: Dear Hasbro U.K, go F*ck yourselves.)

And yet there's no price rise on Animated Deluxes. Can provide a compelling reason?

Also: why is the increase only on the Universe Deluxes? Why not the Universe Voyagers and Ultras?

And I wish Argos would stop just doing one code for Ultras, one for Voyagers, etc. By their own admission, their are five Universe Ultras. Why not have individual numbers so I can order what I actually want?

Because Deluxes are easy to screw people on. Ultras for £30 - Nobody would buy them, Megas for £25 - Nobody would buy them but people would still buy Deluxes at that price because they are still cheaper than Megas and Ultras

Tankor is so mine tomorrow!

On average, for every $1 USD americans spend on Transformers, how much do UK have to spend?

....no price rise on Animated Deluxes YET?

Regardless of currency fluctuations, for the last 20 years or so most toy companies have traditionally gone with one U.S. Dollar = One GBP.

£1 so $2 approx

EDIT: 1000 post

grats on 1,000

So, basically double on all figures = =

Thanks. Yeah pretty much.

Almost three times for Universe Deluxes

Yeah, that's annoying alright. I've only ever bought tfs from Argos on those rare occasions where they actually have some deluxes out in a basket, or where the listing is specific and characters do not vary.

You can always ask for a viewing when there's more than one item on a number. You don't have to pay beforehand and have no obligation to buy if they don't have the one you want when they bring a selection down from the stockroom. The only downside is you have to queue up to ask for a viewing (unless your sister works for Argos )
If they even have any in stock - ninety-nine times out of ten they don't have the new catalogue stuff in on launch day. Prepare to be offered a movie figure or something when you hand them the catalogue number.

Yeah, I found out about the viewing thing when shopping for Movie Voyagers last week. They don't exactly advertise that, do they?

Not as far as I remember. I only found out when my sister went to work there. I guess they like to be able to say they have the service available, but then don't spread that information around because it's probably a pain in the arse to have to go pick several figures from a catalogue number and haul them to the shop floor and back.

Thing is, this knowledge makes me more likely to shop there now I know I don't have to play TF roulette.

This is true. But then you still have to deal with the times you type the number into the little computer thing and it tells you they have four in stock and then you go for a viewing and find out it's four of the same figure and you already have that one.

I just can't wait til I go in on a Saturday afternoon, ask for a viewing on a load of different items, and then say "Nah, I've got all those. Didn't think you'd have anything new in. Oh well, cheers anyway. By the way: get someone to help you put those back, you could do your back in moving them all at once."

Haha! Most cruel.

If it was my sister you'd asked for a viewing and then did that to she'd chase you around the store with a hedge trimmer someone was waiting to collect.

Aaaaanyways, better get back to topic. Was there anything unexpected in this new catalogue? I'm certainly glad to see the Activators since Argos never stocked the movie Scouts last time.

Hmm, she sounds like she might be just my type.

Little surprised the Activators are a fiver, I was expecting them to be more £7-8. I presume the numbers attached to the various types (five ultras, ten activators, etc) is covering themselves for when the new waves come out.

It's probably just what Argos are expecting to be released between now and January - though it seems kinda misleading to me.

Bah, you ruin my day before its even started!
Nah Im ready for that eventuality, I can wait a few more days for him.

I got Prowl, Tankor and Sunstreaker for £35 shipped from America. Great deal.

One day I went to get Titanium Rodimus but they gave me Titanium Soundwave instead. And I don't like to cause a fuss so I just accepted it... I didn't have it already.

old skool catalogue style!

Alternatively you could order from the TRU website which does let you select individual characters from an assortment. It even tells you how many they've got in stock.

Here's a breakdown of what's listed for those interested:

Universe Legends Triple pack: £8.99 (387/6547)
Universe Deluxe (8 to collect!): £12.99 (369/7795)
Universe Voyager (5 to collect!): £19.99 (369/8048)
Universe Ultra (4 to collect!): £24.99 (081/5099)

Animated Deluxe: £9.99 (369/7647)
Animated Voyager: £19.99 (369/7685)
Animated Activators: £4.99 (387/6530)
Animated Power Bot (Bumblebee): £19.99 (081/5109)
Animated Arm Blaster: £29.99 (369/7764)
Animated Leader Bulkhead: £39.99 (369/7719)
Animated Leader Megatron: £39.99 (369/7692)|
Animated Roll out and Command Optimus Prime: £49.99 (369/7740)

Movie Ultimate Bumblebee and Nightwatch Prime are also listed. Everything is on pages 1710 and 1711.

Who will the 8 deluxes be?

sunstreaker
tankor
prowl
sideswipe
galvatron
iron-hide
acid storm
bluestreak

?????

Yesterday The scans for the Argos catalogue where released. I checked argos to day and ALL the Universe figures are in stock near me and pretty much everywhere. Happy Hunting guys
Buy Furniture, Toys, TVs, Laptops & PCs in the new Argos Catalogue
It doesn't say which ones but it's the normal wave 1
Deluxe: Sunstreaker, Prowl and Tankor
Voyager: Blaster and Heavy Load
Ultra: Onslaught and Powerglide

Yeah. All the ones you've listed. Basically waves 1, 2 & 3. (Although it seem only wave 1 is in the stores at the moment.)

Spot on. It seems to suggest we are getting Waves 1 - 3 of Universe Deluxes. Waves 1 and 2 of the Universe Voyagers and Ultras (Silverbolt for Christmas! YESSS!)

Animated, the 10 Activators would be the first wave out now, wave 2 with Optimus, Wave 3 Thundercracker and Patrol Bumblebee, and wave 4 with Grimlock and Earth Megatron.
15 Deluxes would give us wave 1 (Lockdown, Bumblebee, Prowl, Optimus), wave 2 (Ratchet, Blackarachnia. I expect these two to end up as shelfwarmers blocking the rest), wave 3 (Snarl, Oil Slick, Soundwave, Jazz), then wave 4 (Sentinel Prime, Swoop, Elite Guard Bumblebee), and then wave 5 (who is currently unknown. Possibly the Lockdown redeco and Prowl's armour).
8 Animated Voyagers - Megatron, Screamer, Bulkhead, Prime, Lugnut, Grimlock, Blitzwing, who is the eighth? Skywarp probably.

So how much on top of the exchange rate do you folks in the UK pay?

Its a similar issue here in AU current exchange rate is like 97 cents AU=1US dollar yet we pay an average of 25AU for a deluxe work that shit out a 150% price increase.

Yet when we called Hasbro AU on it they essentially turned around and told us that they hadnt modified the price because they didnt have to due to some limited numbers rubbish which essentially translated to they had found some loophole in the profiteering laws......

Wreck Gar I'd have said.

The price hike and reports of poor quality have really dented my enthusiasm for the Universe figures. I might just stick with animated and a few Marvel TF's if they get released here.

That's fine if the website lists what you want, but I've found they update so slowly it's possible for them to have items instore for weeks before it trickles onto their website.

Activators are showing as £3.74 on Argos's website, not sure if this is an online price only tho

They are on offer in store as well - its a cat launch deal.

Cat Launch deal??

Catalogue

I think we're getting a good number of Universe figs, I have decided to buy Universe but not Animated

Any idea how long that deal will last?...

Never mind, i wonder if we'll see more offers

That's good to hear. Maybe the emails of complaint I know were sent last time finally got them to wise up.
And I'll be taking advantage of that Activators deal too.

Cool, time to go raid argos!

What exactly is "all"?

Because I doubt Onslaught and Powerglide would be out here yet.