Heading to LA area for a few days, and was thinking about checking our Frank and Sons collectibles show. Does anyone know if this is a good place to find Transformers figures (vintage and/or modern?) Thanks!
I went once a few years ago for a WWE signing. It's a pretty good show with mostly Marvel Legends and Funko Pops, but don't expect to find many amazing deals on Transformers. Those sellers have done this for a while and are well-versed in the art of secondary market prices. I did get a couple of 3rd party Masterpiece figures at decent, but not amazing prices. Definitely worth checking out at least once.
I haven't been there in a few years, but I remember most of the TFs being modern stuff. Don't expect the range or rarity you'd see at an actual TF convention.
IIRC, Toy Arena has something to do with them, or they're involved with the shows they used to do. Something along those lines. If F&S don't have it, Toy Arena most likely will. There are a lot of shops to get your plastic crack fix out there.
Most vendors there have gotten significantly more expensive in recent years, much harder to find a bargain than it used to be from what I’ve been told by friends in the area ToyShelv on Instagram: "I tried to like them but it just aint 2017 no more #frankandsons #toyshelv #marvellegends #toytok #losangeles"
I went recently, I'd say go with low expectations for transformers. Most of what you're finding is gonna be modern stuff marked up depending on what it is. Some stuff is okay, $25 for a new deluxe, $35 and $55 for voyagers and leaders. Then you'll have something like Velocitron Scourge (something still able to be bought on Hasbro Pulse) for $100 lol. Toyarena has third party stuff, I can't speak for pricing on a lot of it. There's a seller in the back right that has the most transformers, but prices can be confusing. Most of it is loose stuff, sometimes it's priced like something you'd buy MISB on ebay and other times it's fair. I bought a protoform prime from him, no gun and it was $20 which is pretty good. If you're going for more than just Transformers, you're gonna have a better time. There's a lot of gorgeous art, prop replicas, older or weirder action figure lines. You go for the experience, it's fun to look around.
I go down there every so often and can guarantee you'll find plenty of transformers! Some might be in bins, so you may have to dig around if you're looking for anything in particular, but you can find just about anything from any line. Most are going to be opened/played with, but if you're cool with that, you're set. Though, as others have said, chances are it's going to be expensive, kinda like they added the shipping cost on if you were to buy it online. In general, walk around and enjoy the show! There's so much to see.
Was just there a week ago and found Cosmos. Great spot to walk and see all the different toys they have. Feel free to barter with the seller if the you think the price is too high and some will work with you.
Yes. This is the reality I'm seeing at specialty shops today. It's all currently-available stuff that you can still get at e-tailers, almost all of it is shit that took forever to sell out or never sold out, and about 90% of this stock appears to have been purchased at local mass retail based on shelfwear and sticker gunk. And it's priced to stay there forever. One set of examples, I usually don't take pictures because the shop owner is always staring intensely at you hoping you'll buy something. Sorry man, I don't fancy paying your mall rent Look at these prices for beat up, hand-scummed retail boxes from wal-mart shelves: This probably came from a local Walgreens. There is actual brown dirt on the box: Yeah OK guy Good luck with your shop, sir.
I love the place,been finding some great deals down there for years now,but parking is a pain just as it was in the old building even with the bigger building and parking lot now. Watch out for the parking security. Anyone parks in certain parts of the parking lot for more then an hour and the security will have you car towed down the street. Its happened to a few our friends recently.You can even find a few reviews about it on Yelp. We think the security is on it to and gets a cut from the tow yard.
