Just going to echo this. I'm happy with my MP10, but this one does intrigue me... Just not enough to buy it right off the bat.
I\'m not goint to hate on this just because of the price, but why for that price is there only faceplate battle damage from the movie? Am I missing something and it has been posted elsewhere. That would look awkward especially next to the MP 36 with full damage.
This figure is pretty dope, there's no denying that. But gyeeeeh that price-tag! I don't have MP-10 yet, but that is what I will settle with as it still looks fantastic. If anything needed revisiting, I'd say it was Rodimus Prime and/or Grimlock. Wellllll...the classic seekers too. I know there are already two versions of them, but I still think they could be done better.
How many people actually do that? Plus most people consider Siege figures to be worth their individual prices.
I'll wait, because he looks so very nice; and at that price, I'm sure there'll be a discount at some point. But, if this release isn't from Hasbro, I can see, or pray for, a release without the trailer, maybe, at us retail. Target, maybe?
^maybe @avc-prime is saying if Tak-Tom keeps this HIGH-PRICING SCHEME diligently it may back-fired on them. But how can we say that Tak-Tom may leave such pricing scheme if people are still go gaga throwing $380-450 every time and gonna buy them?
LOL. Omg, are you turning this into an ethical dilemma? Folks do realize that we're talking about a luxury item and not the cure for cancer? This is like the whole debacle about Hasbro pursuing younger fans with lots of Bumblebee and Optimus figures that are cheaper and less complex-- except its turned on its head because this is the new high end benchmark. A luxury item for older fans. Hmmmm. Seems like this franchise has a huge range in the audience of its products and the price of its products--- that's actually a Very Good Thing. If it really bugs you that this is not for you, at least realize that if Hasbro/Takara can sell this figure then its proof that the franchise is strong and healthy. Maybe the financial success of this will bolster other stuff that interests you. And like others have mentioned-- its funny that 3P can pull off crazy high prices but not Hasbro or Takara. I don't get it...
It's essentially a parallel import. Not sure why this is news but okay... Nonsense. You're advocating that it's okay to pay at least twice what this is actually worth. And, of course, anyone is allowed to do that if they want to, but it's absurd to say that this is a "luxury item" and that this is a good thing in any way. It shows that the franchise is successful if it sells? No, it shows that Optimus Prime sells and some people have more money than sense. Do you honestly believe that TakaraTomy can produce dozens of these "luxury items" and have them all sell? These aren't specialty products in the same way Flame Toys, Prime 1 Studio or even 3A are - they're meant to be lower-end collector's items, and TakaraTomy are out-pricing their audience now. I'm sure MP-44 will sell well, even to the point of selling out, but it's because it's Optimus Prime - not because it's ultimately the direction the market is headed. There's a reason the first $400+ Masterpiece Transformer is Optimus Prime and nobody else. And besides, the only new "benchmark" this sets is that people are happy being overcharged for a figure that is not at all worth what TakaraTomy are charging. And will probably have as many QC issues as all their other recent Masterpiece stuff too, so have fun with that $400 paint-chipping. I'll spend that money on something that's better quality, thanks. Also, anyone saying that third-parties are pulling off "crazy high prices" is just silly - there's far more to it than that. As far as the official third-party products go, they have small print runs, high costs (including paying for the license) and produce figures that make Masterpiece look likes baby's toys (relatively speaking - I love the Masterpiece line, for the most part). Unofficial third-party manufacturers have small print runs too but don't have official contacts for things like factories so they have to rely on other people (either contacts or owning their own factory like Keith does to produce their figures on the side). To say "they're more expensive and so they're a rip-off compared to the official product" is stupidly ignorant at best.
We'd also be sending Takara the message that this is an acceptable business practice as it forces more and more fans out the official MP market. We're already seeing people throw in the towel over this, Dinobot and Yesatron.
Agreed, but I felt like that point had been beaten to death at this point by both us and others. And besides, when any of us mentioned it with Dinobots, we were screeched at about how we're wrong because it's "worth it" and... something... I give up. Anyone trying to justify the price is insane. Buy it if you want, but stop trying to justify it with anything other than "I want it". And just how much will Hound cost? Probably more than even Sunstreaker. And I think he's the worst Hound on the market, soooooo... Yeah.
I adore how a thread about the US release of a toy has turned into people bitching about Japan's economy and capitalism. FTFY, you're welcome. Also I know you're trying to be funny but they actually do have words for 'Limit", depending on the context, so... better luck next time? May wanna proofread your comments a few times before posting them, because this is practically unintelligible. It's funny when someone says they don't understand someone and they respond with something barely resembling intelligible English.
Them to be able to do it for 1/4 of the for price...like the third parties did. Who have a fraction of the influence, money and resources. Plus that Tarn is in a very different market than MPs.
That's the most annoying part is that all of it is to defend a couple of corporations that aren't, never have been and never will be our friends.
