Overall, which line sold the most? I assume the original G1. There was an actual Transformer ‘craze’ back then, and I don’t think that’s been replicated since (rise of video games, etc).

So I would also say G1 Bumblebee, based on popularity of the line, duration of availability, and price point.

A dark horse contender could be G1 Topspin. He was ubiquitous, and was priced at $6, barely more than a minibot, making him easy to afford. The market is still so saturated with that original figure that you can still get him for pretty cheap on eBay.

 

Not counting reissues, what single release sold the most?

 

Can you save some for me?

 

I'd assume the G1 Jumpstarters, Twin Twist and Top spin

 

I suspect that G1 Prime and his many reissues are probably the best-selling TF toys.



As for Hasbro, you do realize that without them, TFs and the lore wouldn't even exist? If you don't like something that they are doing, send them a polite email. They probably don't post sales figures for individual toys because that would cost more. The business has gotta make money, after all.

TFs are a Hasbro property, period. Yes, Takara had a part to play, but Hasbro and Marvel back in the day created the lore and reasons that TFs got so popular the world over. I can't imagine, and nor would I want the property to be owned by any other company.

 

 

I guess we might as well say that Takara sucks for creating both the Diaclone and Microman franchises. Because both lines have sub-lines that are part of the pre-Transformers era. And that Marvel Comics sucks for getting involved when it comes to creating the characters, promoting them in comic book format, and also co-developing most of the animated series. And TakaraTomy not only sucks for expanding the Japanese G1 continuity with series like Legends, they also suck for allowing Hasbro to continue the franchise for those who may also prefer the toys over all fiction made for it. All because they cannot report how many figures were sold at stores not owned by them.

Sarcasm aside, I can only guess that Optimus Prime was the biggest seller from 1984-1985. And that either Bumblebee or Cliffjumper ended up becoming the most popular in terms of purchase from 1984-1986. Because both have been reissued for both series 2 and series 3. Beyond that secondary markets are a hodge podge of wibbly wobbly, timey wimey... Stuff. So my guess is that, reissues and variations included, Optimus Prime is top on that list.

 

I had an aneurysm reading the first post.

Most likely g1 prime due to reissues and the face it is THE original optimus prime. Hell even if you don’t collect g1 toys (like me) chances are you may still have him.

 

I have another question are microman and diaclone part of transformers toyline because together with them transformers is worth 30 billion dollars?

 

why would microman and diaclone be a part of transformers? they are seperate franchises that had some of their figures rolled into a single franchise (transformers) but are still their own thing

 

Ok I get it

 

I doubt Hasbro has the ability to track sales of individual figures. If anything, they know how many they put production orders for, but as they're sold by Hasbro in cases of 8 varying between 4 or 5 individual figures for Deluxes, I think they only really can track how many cases are sold to retailers. How many pallets they're moving from their distribution centers to the retailers' distribution centers (Walmart, Target, Kroger, etc.).

That model, I think, is completely different for TakaraTomy, btw. I believe they still pack cases by individual figure (ie: a case of 8 Cliffjumpers). Again, I don't think they can track individual sales, but can track production orders and distribution.

 

Interesting question, not sure though I would guess it was OG Prime in all his various incarnations.

Also, punctuation and grammar are your friends.

 

I'm gonna guess it's the G1 Bumblebee mini-vehicle mold. It's been reissued and remolded many, many times. Repainted. It's been released as new character exclusives. It's been released as a keychain. As a stocking stuffer. In international markets in all sorts of different colors. Cumulatively, I think it'll be hard to beat. It may not even be possible to completely catalog every release its ever had, official and unofficial.

Because of this, like with the G1 Optimus Prime mold, there is a zero percent chance that the original molds are being used. It's almost certainly a recreation at this point (likely a recreation of a recreation).

 

Instead of asking why they don’t post sales figures, try asking why they would and how it would be beneficial to them.

and then then it’s clear why they don’t

 

The same reason most organizations don't publish real sales data - to keep the public in the dark buying their spin. After all, what's always immediately brought up when anybody makes an assertion? "Where's your data?" Instant debate shutdown! Nobody has that data because it's all secret squirrel. So sit down, shut up, and believe everything you're told. Cyberverse is doing super awesome, kids don't like dinosaurs anymore, we've always been at war with Eurasia!

Though, my guess is the original Optimus Prime is the most sold TF toy ever. It sold for the three best years of the franchise and has been reissued a dozen times.

 

I think it depends on if you count rereleases as the same toy and if things like the keychains count.

But it's probably UNLIKELY to be anything released AFTER 1986. The Millennial population surge was big. Buying power of paychecks was stronger. Electronic competitors were scarcer. The adult buyers of the 80s were more mainstream -- Tom Hanks and Spielberg were collectors and you could find TFs everywhere including magic shops and board game stores and radio shack. Retail had a lot of muscle behind it.

I'd venture outside of 1986, maybe early Bayverse stuff. Armada probably saw a surge as well since most folks probably didn't register Machine Wars or RiD and so it was kind of a G1 revival in its day for older casual fans, with Optimus back as a truck.

Anything that sold 84-86 is a contender. Although rereleases may push Optimus in the lead, I'm not sure if you OMIT rereleases that it's fair to count Bumblebee from 84-86 because his packaging changed and I think he included minispies and decoys for awhile.

 

Wtf was all that about?Why so angry?

 

Channeling George Carlin today?

Everybody "knows" the power of the free market but the part they don't know is that asymmetrical information runs counter to said free market. Information is power and controlling Information is an exercise in exerting it over others. The less you know, the more easily you're herded in the direction they want you to go, because you literally don't know what's going on.

It's possibly a little too deep for a thread that started like this.