I'd like to read that letter.

 

These guys will never get it. Some of them no matter what will be funpub drones forever. I could see the post now.

I got screwed in the ass by a funpub train. Then they wanted me to pay them for there time. So I did. Now my butt hurts.

 

I'm really struggling to understand what you're on about.

Who has defended FP are a decent company in the last half dozen pages? All anyone has asked is for evidence of the more outlandish claims being made. Stad has given that*, though I can't find the comments on facebook but since FP traditionally delete posts I don't doubt that it was there.

You on the other hand are just rambling on about train rape.

*Assuming that the post was as quoted and meant what it sounds like it means, then it's another case of FP doing something that actually could have been a good thing, having BBTS not consume sets aimed at the public would mean more people having the chance to buy direct which has been a regular complaint,

Put it this way all the people who cant find Masterpiece Prime and Soundwave because dealers like BBTS where taking all they could would have been happy if Hasbro had been producing an extra run going directly to BBTS if it meant TRUs stayed stocked long enough for regular fans to get them at retail prices. But FP having production numbers which certainly complicates the issue, by not making clear or worse trying to hide it or lie about it makes it incredibly shady.

If stopping stating the number of sets made is as a result of a deal with BBTS and or ehobby well I guess it makes sense, but I'm not convinced its a good idea. However pointless, people buying limited edition sets like to know how many are being made.

 

This is my take-away from the last couple of pages. Sounds like FunPub has stopped revealing production numbers (of convention box sets) specifically to avoid breaking the implicit promise I referenced earlier when they gave BBTS (or whoever) additional toys beyond the ones set aside for BotCon.

I'm not happy about that, but neither will I accuse them of an unacceptable breach of promise in that circumstance. I would simply ask them to reconsider what, at best, remains shady behavior.

(Still annoyed that they haven't revealed production run numbers on club figures since 2008 -- with the exception of an official number for SG Cyclonus in 2010 and a no-longer-quite-remembered number for G2 Ramjet in 2011 -- but that's another issue. The point being that you really can't say "limited" with a straight face without revealing the number. The number is what makes it limited. Otherwise, it's just exclusive.)

 

For someone who has never been, but is seriously considering it, what are some of the simple logistics I would need to know?

- how much it is?
- is it overall worth it?
- attend all/some days? (is it still worth it if I can only attend Sat & Sun?)

etc etc

thanks a bunch in advance.

ps, I'm an East Coaster, but I have a friend who lives about 20 miles away from Pasadena. So "hotel" is taken care of.  

 

More specific answers may not be possible until FunPub actually officially lets us know that the convention is, in fact, where we already all believe it to be (and when), but here's some rough answers:

If you want the full pre-registration package (including the box set of toys), expect to pay somewhere between $360-$400 for that.

This doesn't include hotel costs, travel, etc., but you've suggested that the hotel part doesn't apply to you anyway, and travel will depend on what method of travel you use, gas prices, etc. Personally, if you're coming all the way across the country, I'd expect to spend at least $500 just getting here and back, but shop around. Depending on your specific location, even on the East Coast, prices vary wildly.

Whether it's worth it depends on your opinion of the toys, what you get out of the panels, how much you interact with other fans/attendees, the dealer room, and so many variables that I simply can't pretend to speak for you. Many spend that money, as large an amount as it is, because for them, it's totally worth it every year, even accounting for FunPub's failings. For others, they spend that money and regret it, and possibly don't ever come to another BotCon.

I'd suggest attending all of the days of the convention, possibly including the extra day for the customizing class (and additional $100-ish of expense) if such a class appeals to you. If you don't like tedious model-type work assembling a Transformer still on the sprues, skip it. I find it a valuable reminder of just how much work goes into designing these fairly complicated toys that nonetheless can be purchased (generally) for only about $10-15.

There's also a walk-in option at just $20 or so per day, but between the additional lines and such, I really don't think it's worth bothering with if you're already spending so much money just to get out here, so I mention it only for completeness sake.

Finally, some people try to take in more than just the convention while they're out here. That, of course, adds to the cost, and is totally up to you.

I have more information (and also looking to add more!) over on The Unofficial BotCon Pasadena Survival Guide.

 

Wow thank you so much for the reply. I'll look at that page right now.

ONLY prob is, I'm a school teacher, and my last day of school is Thurs the 19th, which means logistically I would only be able to attend the Sat and Sun dates (possssssibly the Fri)

That's why I asked if it was still worth it....

 

There isn't much that actually happens on Thursday (it pretty much just means that the Custom Class isn't an option, and you probably won't be picking up your pre-registration materials with the most of the rest of us on Thursday night). The main even doesn't start until Friday, anyway. If you're able to deal with taking a late Thursday flight after school is over, you can arrive and not really miss anything of importance (although that would obviously leave you tired when you arrive).

If you have to miss (all or most of?) Friday, I think I'd still recommend the full pre-registration package, but if you don't care so much about the toys (which I always recommend that you can sell for most of -- if not more than -- what you paid) the Walk-In options are still a possibility. But, honestly, I consider that option just for locals who are more casual fans.

But, honestly, it's a LOT of money to have to spend if you can't do the whole thing. Whether or not it's worth it is ultimately up to you.

Perhaps the reveal of the theme and/or the box set of toys will make a difference, as well.

 

hmmmm, am I missing something in regards to "entrance fees?" I was looking at their 2013 brochure page....and I noticed they had varied packages to choose from.

Some were mid-tier topping out at around 200-250, which included early bird entrance and whatnot. Could I feasibly pick from one of those? (sans toys) ....that's not going to break the bank.

either of these two:

The
Mini-Con Package
($90 for club members or $150 for non-
members) consists of the following:
• Convention name badge.
• Admittance to the Exhibit Hall including the Private Exhibit Hall
Experience on Friday and Early Bird privileges on Saturday.
• Admittance to all convention panels/seminars and the Casino Night
Awards Party.
• The pre-convention tours and classes are available for an additional
charge.
• The Mini-Con Package is offered in conjunction with the Primus
Package so that accompanying family members can join the fun. Each
Primus Package is limited to three Mini-Con Packages.*†


TheProtoform Package
($175 for club members or $250 for non-
members) consists of the following:
• Convention name badge.
• Convention program with comic.
• Admittance to the Exhibit Hall including the Private Exhibit Hall
Experience on Friday and Early Bird privileges on Saturday.
• Admittance to all convention panels/seminars.
• The pre-convention tours and classes are available for an additional
charge.
• This package does not include any of the Primus Package figures, or
the Casino Night Awards Party

 

Assuming it happened, it's a question of how long such a partnership was going. If Joecon was the first occasion and they only considered that production numbers were no longer valid and started withholding numbers fair enough I guess. I don't know maybe they dropped the use of the term limited too? Do they just refer to them as exclusives?

But if BBTS have been ordering an unaccounted for 10-20% (or whatever) for the past few years and it's only recently been revealed then it's full on shady business again. Not that the result makes a hell of a lot of difference to anything, but it would be an other example of FP being almost incapable of open and honest business.

You'd have to get a Protoform package. Minicon is only for someone attending with someone who already has a Primus or Protoform package. The only other option is on the door tickets which are only about $10-15 a day, but that only gets you in Saturday and or Sunday and you have to line up each day to get back in.

The protoform is expensive for what it is, the Saturday night is often fun but the primary benefit of the protoform package is that you dont have to queue for on the door tickets on Saturday and Sunday which can take hours and you get in to the Friday dealer room and panels.

 

ah ok, this is starting to make sense now.

So, going off of the numbers from 2013, I would be looking at purchasing the Protoform package? Listed as $250 dollars?

And that would allow me to enter on Sat/Sun without standing in line?

If so, I can live with those numbers.

 

I'm not sure how you can claim not to "find" it, since I gave specific directions on where it was located. But, just in case, here it is for everyone to see: https://www.facebook.com/GIJoeCollectorsClub go to the JoeClub FB site. Scroll down the timeline until you see the box dated Feb. 14th (should be on the right side of the page.) The subject of the thread is: GIJoeCon Registration UPDATE!
and it goes on to list what sets are sold out. Go down into the comments and find the post by CJ Barrymore, of Feb 15th at 12:01AM, and you can read EXACTLY what I posted in the next few posts, including the Club response at 9:32 AM.

I really don't know how I can make it more specific than that.

By the way, while I'm not defending Fun Pub (although they DO get a bad wrap) I am a member of both clubs, and I do enjoy their products.

 

Geez settle down at no point have I suggested I didn't believe you, but I can claim not to find it because I didn't find it.

I read GIJCC as meaning the Joecon page, not club, easy mistake to make for someone with zero interest or knowledge or the Joe side of Hasbro and FPs business.

 

No prob, easily done, which is why I posted the link to the Club FB page, so as not to be confused with the Con FB page. I initially had to search them both to find it, as I couldn't remember which one it was on myself.

 

Well joecon was announced today so maybe they will confirm Botcon soon !!

 

Oh snap, I just saw this thread. My wife and I just moved to Pasadena a year ago. I've always wanted to attend Botcon but have never been able to due to the high cost. However, I'm thinking since we won't have to pay for a hotel or airfare we might actually be able to make it this year!

 

From another thread, it looks like FunPub is admitting what everyone knows, yet somehow still without coming right out and saying it....

 

what thread was that on

 

The TFCC magazine thread about Rattrap, Crosscut and Tankor reveals...

 

Pasedena makes $ense. Alot more people will go to the convention if it's in LA because there are more Trans Fan there. It would have been nice if it would have been in Memphis, Orlando or New Orleans. The only Botcon I went to was in Pasedena it was pretty cool.