There’s nothing like buying a Transformer that you want from a local store. It’s faster, cheaper, and you get instant gratification. The problem is local stores more often than not does NOT have what you want. Either it’s old stock or the shortpacked stuff is snatched up instantly. There’s nothing worse than going to a few stores and coming back empty handed.

Recently I bought some stuff from Ebay, online stores, and even hasbrotoyshop.com. It’s more convenient to have the stuff come to you, and if you have good timing you can even score some good deals like the recent hasbrotoyshop.com sale. Is anyone else considering making the majority of their purchases online?

 

I am more and more buying online as of late. Buying on-line saves me time (and gas) from not having to run from store to store looking for something and possibly not finding anything. And as of late I have not seen many of the newer figures. Galvatron, Wave 2 10th Beast Wars, and Excillion and Override GTS I ordered from the Club Store when they first showed up on the site, CD Scattershot and Dark CZ ordered from the Hasbro Toy Shop. Aside from Galvatron, I have yet to see any of those in stores. I was about to order Alt. Ricochet and Rollbar on-line as well, but by dumb luck I was able to pick them both up when I went to Wal-Mart for some other stuff. And personally I kind of get the same feeling pulling into my driveway seeing a package on my porch as I do seeing something I have been looking for in a store.

 

If the hasbrotoyshop.com's recent sale is a sign of things to come then I'll have no desire to shop at stores from now on. Right now I still hit Walmart, Target, etc because I am very impatient and want things right away but to save 25% and free shipping is just too good to pass up.

 

I do most of my TF shoppping online. I only pick up the mail line stuff (ie. Cybertron) in retail stores. For reissues/alts, I am willing to pay the online premium to have them come to me.

 

since I have to pass walmart, target, AND TRU on the way to and from work, I have no problem stopping by them to look for goodies. The problem is they have no idea how to order things... they let the section go stagnant before finally ordering things late, and either keep it stagnant, or worse, grossly overstock and let the shelf stay clogged. Walmart has FOUR cases of the prowl/skids/tracks/sunstreaker alt assortment, and everyone already has those they want from it, so its collecting dust. at the same time TRU JUST stocked THREE cases of the old shockwave/wheeljack assortment   so thank goodness for the HTS sale. I try to buy from my stores so they will continue to stock TFs,but sometimes its just ridiculous and I say screw you and go order online. I think I'll have to do the same thing for Soundwave cause at the moment Voyageurs are grossly overstocked too.  


Andy

 

Until very recently, the formula for me was exclusively:
- Domestic releases from WM or Target
- Imports from BBTS

However, over the last couple of months the club store and hasbrotoyshop have hooked me up with a couple of things (such as BWX w2).

My general philosophy now is that if a mainline item hasn't shown up locally for 4-6 weeks after the first sightings are posted here, I will go online for it.

 

my only choice is online, I cant get G1 in stores.

 

It's all about the hunt! I use e-bay for the old stuff, but for almost all the new stuff, I have to go hunting 'cause it's not much of a challenge on-line. So far, I've found everything I set out to find with the exception of certain ML figures, but then again I live in CA and I live near tons of Targets, Wal-marts, and TRUs. Hell, I even go look if I'm already out just to look. Nothing can compare to the the thrill of the hunt IMHO.

 

I prefer online because the Amish scalpers get everything before I can. plus a few extra bucks for shipping doesnt really matter once you figure in gas and time.

 

I get most of my mainline stuff in stores. But then I work at Target so I know when something new hits the shelves. I'm patient for the most part so I hardly even bother hunting, except for the occasional TRU run. If there's a good deal or something I'll go online, like I did for Dark Crumplezone (which was good since I only saw him once in a store so far).

I think I end up buying more non-mainline stuff than otherwise though, so most of it has to be done online. Old mainlines, rare stuff, exclusives, parts, posters... all stuff I can't find in a normal store.

 

Amish... scalpers? You're kidding, right?  

I don't collect just Transformers, and because the other toys I get will 99% of the time never be available domestically in any sort of store (maybe if there a collectible store in the state that handled imports, classic and modern), I've long gotten used to ordering online.

There's been a couple times, like the recent Godzilla figures at K-Mart, that I've felt a thrill in seeing toys in person, but those moments are few and far between. Wal-Mart's already beginning to adapt to that collector's market, other online stores are becoming mainstream, and I think it's only a matter of time before the primary source of toys is no longer any brick and mortar shops, but online storefronts.

 

I still do with my BT/BT* and TFCs... Used to be a lot more with GF as well... I buy an ALT every now and then on eBay which usually means it's overpriced but it saves me time and gas... CYB stuff and UNI stuff I usually get at stores...

 

Since I began to refocus my collecting towards vintage TFs from G1 last year, I would estimate that 95% of my Transformers purchases have occured online. I actually prefer it now, as going to stores and 'hunting' just isn't as rewarding as it once was, especially with the crappy distribution this area has.

 

In another thread it was pointed out to me that the money I spent on Alts Ricochet, Rollbar, and Optimus from BBTS could have bought a whole other Alternator had I been patient and bought it off of the shelf. The heck with that.

I've either got scalpers or just some other dedicated fans in the area I live. I always see the remains of the latest Alt case assortment, even when I check the day that the first sightings are reported online. Only once have I pre-emted the others (Shockblast).

Buying Alts solely from the shelves I missed Deadend, Tracks, Meister, Decepticharge, Wheeljack and Swerve. With the exception of Tracks and the new assortment, and possibly Meister in the upcoming one, I've never seen any on the shelves. I've never seen Prowl around here either, though I bought him online.

At this point I'm doing all of my shopping online. It's just not worth it for me to drive to the ends of the earth looking for the toys I want, or risking paying exorbitant amounts on eBay when I can spend an average of 7 bucks extra, including shipping, and buy them online from BBTS. I want these ones enough that I'm just not willing to be patient and wait for a year or so hoping they'll re-release the toy in another assortment like Tracks.

I like the fact that I can preorder the day these things become available and all that's left is the excitement of waiting for it to actually arrive. My time is worth more to me than it's taking to try to keep up with the Alts. And while I lose out on the whole "thrill of the hunt", the benefits more than make up for it.

 

Yeah I pre-ordered all Titaniums and non-repaint Alternators from BBTS, and I can't wait.

 

buying at the store allows you to pick out the less defective ones, but you're right about the stores rarely having what you're looking for

 

Here in the UK we have to get most stuff online as the stores stock a very limited range of items although they can sometimes surprise you.

Thats why I decided to take action and start my own TF store.

 

That's a good point. I bought all my BTAs in person (two at a toy show, one at the shop the guy owns) so I could inspect them for paint chips since I'd heard that was an issue.

 

Just got my latest, Battle Convoy, from Hobby Link Japan. I don't want to buy imports from a comic shop in the area, at their big markup. That part of my hobby will stay online. That is, if there's something after Twincast that I want. MP-03, I'll have to see the toy first. In that price range, I'd rather see more reissues like Predaking or Star Convoy.

I have good distribution around here, and there are dozens of stores within driving distance, so if it will be available at retail, I know I'll be able to find it. Alternators require the most diligence, but I have a hybrid car and a desire to get out of the house and away from my wife, from time to time. I have found every one on the shelves here in Minneapolis.