Robot Paradise RP-01/01B Acoustic Wave (Formerly FansToys FT-02) G1 Soundwave & Cassette

Discussion in 'Transformers 3rd Party Discussion' started by Seth Sunthay, Jul 13, 2019.

  1. Christiano

    Christiano Banned

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2019
    Posts:
    1,760
    Trophy Points:
    187
    Likes:
    +2,844
    Ebay:
    Right, I saw him listed for $145 at ShowZ as well. I also got TW Constructor from them for $300. That doesn't make it a $300 set, man. I don't know why you're still trying to debate this as if one, small, Chinese retailer who has since lost a lot of their access to FansToys products for the specific practices you're mentioning somehow negate the going rate for the figure in the West when it was first released.

    This happens every time anybody mentions the average MSRP for a certain region: somebody mentions how they got it for $20 less by doing something situation-specific.

    I got a free copy of DX9's Giuliano because ShowZ sent me two of them when one got delayed... I'm going to start telling people that Giuliano costs $0 because that's what I paid for him.

    I don't even mean it as technical, sourced data; a $20 difference from one retailer to the next has virtually nothing to do with the point being made here that Acoustic Wave was never going to cost $150 if he included all four of his tapes.

    This is such a dumb thing that collectors constantly do to try to sway a point in or away from one's favor. But when TF Source, TCP and BBTS have it listed for $160/170, it just turns everything into such a game of pedantic football.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  2. Jersey_Steel

    Jersey_Steel Realist

    Joined:
    May 1, 2007
    Posts:
    2,370
    Trophy Points:
    312
    Likes:
    +3,143
    The last Takara product I preordered was Hound and he was broken out of the box. I'd rather buy the KO at this point over the official because it's better made. It's a shame because I like the Takara designs.
    Hey look, I quoted a going rate and then provided proof of what was paid with no discounts. ShowZ wasn't the only place selling him for that. But because you mentioned US retailers, I did my best to research a bit to see what I can find and here is TCPs initial price for him. So that's $20 more than what I paid. I also never said Acousticwave would cost 150 for the entire set and was actually agreeing with you and provided what I though it would have cost had FT kept their old pricing. Screenshot_20210710-120933_Chrome.jpg
     
  3. divinecomedy

    divinecomedy Board Certified Fans Trollar

    Joined:
    Dec 21, 2010
    Posts:
    30,242
    News Credits:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    362
    Likes:
    +30,303
    Hm, my take is we'll never know. If I look back at the last 30 years, there's always been an ebb and flow to the Transformers market. Back in 2000, people were pretty much giving TF figures away. G1 Overlord could be gotten for less than 100 bucks (he now sells for 400 bucks). When Buster Prime came out at the depths of the recession (back in 2009), retailers had to discount it almost immediately because he wasn't selling, two years later though, people were buying him for 3 times MSRP on eBay.

    I am not sure what tomorrow will bring, but I am 100% sure sometime in the future that might not be far away, the US economy will CRASH HARD, and it will probably not be able to get up again for a really long time. When that time comes, if dalianjj thinks he can get away selling his wares at current prices, he's probably the most delusional person on Earth.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  4. divinecomedy

    divinecomedy Board Certified Fans Trollar

    Joined:
    Dec 21, 2010
    Posts:
    30,242
    News Credits:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    362
    Likes:
    +30,303
    Yeah, mine showed signs of cracking as well. He will continue to live in my heart though because he's the first figure that I had to ship back to AJP. Jeff Bezos having to swallow a 100 dollars loss (means absolutely nothing given his wealth) was just icing on the cake.

    And if you take a look at the MP-52 thread, it's yet another s***show courtesy of TT.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  5. Dpuff

    Dpuff Aka buddy

    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2020
    Posts:
    3,399
    News Credits:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    222
    Likes:
    +19,361
    Toy companies should keep their prices the same forever. Car companies do it. Thats why i got my new f150 for $3000.......
    Im sorry.....$63000

    Edit: i do not own a new f150. Just being a smart ass:cool: 
     
    • Like Like x 2
  6. thrustjet24

    thrustjet24 Little known member of the Rainmakers

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2009
    Posts:
    620
    Trophy Points:
    202
    Location:
    Kaon
    Likes:
    +816
    Was able to snag a pre-order yesterday from TFs-Express for Soundwave and his minions. Never ordered from them before so hope everything will go smoothly. Hope that Buzzsaw, Ratbat, Autoscout, Slugfest, Overkill, Squawktalk and Beastbox get a release someday. I’m pretty sure at least the first three will see a release.
     
  7. Jersey_Steel

    Jersey_Steel Realist

    Joined:
    May 1, 2007
    Posts:
    2,370
    Trophy Points:
    312
    Likes:
    +3,143
    Oh yeah and I was in the same situation, but I think AJP had to eat closer to $180 in shipping when I sent it back. I think their Starscream looks really good, but I wont touch the official with a 12 foot pole.
     
  8. Hoffman

    Hoffman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2014
    Posts:
    6,950
    News Credits:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    287
    Likes:
    +11,315
    Even if the US economy did crash, whose economy do you think would continue to grow?

    If there was some sort of significant crash, you might see some sort of correction to US prices, but the economy does not affect all people equally. Based on demand, there may still be enough people willing and able to keep paying the current prices.

    The other option is simply that less people in the US can buy these things. Yeah the US economy has global impact, but now more than ever there are countries that will fill that void, and it doesn't mean there will be a significant impact to a niche Chinese company.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  9. Jersey_Steel

    Jersey_Steel Realist

    Joined:
    May 1, 2007
    Posts:
    2,370
    Trophy Points:
    312
    Likes:
    +3,143
    I don't think the issue is them increasing the cost, but rather increasing it by as much as they did. It started with Thomas I believe? Most people had preorders for $140-$160 and the price jumped to $220ish if I remember correctly. Then reissues of figures that were $140-150 were now $225-$250...
     
    • Like Like x 1
  10. Dpuff

    Dpuff Aka buddy

    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2020
    Posts:
    3,399
    News Credits:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    222
    Likes:
    +19,361
    Hmmm ok sure. I think bsf nailed it with this...."if ur selling ur stuff for 60 bucks and see it being sold elsewhere by someone else for 300 u'd want some of that too" That coupled with increase in materials, shipping, and just bc u can and there u have the facts of life....i mean there u have ur reason for the sudden price hike. Im sure there are other reasons but i think we all overthink it way too much tbh
     
    • Like Like x 2
  11. deaculpa

    deaculpa Stand Alone Complex

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2008
    Posts:
    19,077
    News Credits:
    8
    Trophy Points:
    387
    Location:
    Iowa
    Likes:
    +11,969
    I had to do a double take when I thought I could see through his knees in this shot… yep, you can see it in his rear shot if you zoom a bit. Looks like he could use screw hole covers on his back/arms too.


    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    • Like Like x 2
  12. Dpuff

    Dpuff Aka buddy

    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2020
    Posts:
    3,399
    News Credits:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    222
    Likes:
    +19,361
    Without knowing operating costs we will never know exactly why prices went up like they did. I think alot of us are close to having the answer but even then we still dont know. We dont know what they were paying for materials or shipping before or after the hike. We dont know what they were paying to rent space in a factory. We dont know they didnt buy their own factory. We dont know that they didn't hire a bunch of ppl to fill that factory. We dont know what they pay those ppl. Without any of this information anyone's theory could be just a correct as me saying they raised prices bc djj woke up, took a piss, and shook more than twice. We've all been warned about that but maybe he just didnt care.
     
    • Like Like x 3
  13. divinecomedy

    divinecomedy Board Certified Fans Trollar

    Joined:
    Dec 21, 2010
    Posts:
    30,242
    News Credits:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    362
    Likes:
    +30,303
    I still think he's gearing up to buy TT's MP division.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  14. Scyla

    Scyla Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2012
    Posts:
    1,500
    Trophy Points:
    232
    Likes:
    +1,347
    I’m fairly happy with my MP Soundwave (even with the terrible hip joints). But I would buy a Robot Paradise Soundblaster in a heartbeat.
     
  15. Scourgatron

    Scourgatron 4D Smart-ass

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2006
    Posts:
    16,960
    News Credits:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    387
    Location:
    Texas
    Likes:
    +18,127
    Prices went up because they can. And a lot of vendors have to charge what the US stores do.
     
    • Like Like x 3
  16. Hoffman

    Hoffman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2014
    Posts:
    6,950
    News Credits:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    287
    Likes:
    +11,315
    And that's the reality of it. The price is the price because that's what the price is. You have 2 choices...pay it or don't pay it, and the companies will respond in kind.

    These aren't essential goods that require regulation, demand will dictate how much companies can charge. I truly don't believe that these companies are solely out to maximize profits though. I think when we see price increases, there's probably a reason behind it.
     
    • Like Like x 6
  17. deathsheadII

    deathsheadII Not a Bounty Hunter yes?

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2010
    Posts:
    21,004
    News Credits:
    11
    Trophy Points:
    372
    Location:
    brighton uk
    Likes:
    +17,675
    i can't unsee the knee now! :lol  at least it's not as bad as the elbows or lack of on frenzy and rumble
     
    • Like Like x 1
  18. Okicyurnatp

    Okicyurnatp Banned

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2021
    Posts:
    500
    Trophy Points:
    132
    Location:
    Round Rock, Texas
    Likes:
    +1,043
    I don’t think there is enough bickering in this thread. Let’s step it up a notch so the mods earn their keep. Lookin at you gamerlingual.:confused: 
     
    • Like Like x 2
  19. Masimoed

    Masimoed Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2020
    Posts:
    186
    Trophy Points:
    97
    Likes:
    +206
    Personally I'm stoked to be getting a toon accurate Soundwave. I have MP-13 and it's a nice figure but at this point my collection leans toward toon accuracy so can't wait to have a toon Soundwave on the shelf. He's been one of my favorites since a kid, September can't come soon enough. Hoping for no delays on this.
     
    • Like Like x 3
  20. Dpuff

    Dpuff Aka buddy

    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2020
    Posts:
    3,399
    News Credits:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    222
    Likes:
    +19,361
    RP is the first step of a TT/FT merger.
     
    • Like Like x 2