Hi guys, I was browsing Big Bad Toy Store and found that you can preorder the Commemorative Powermaster Optimus Prime with Apex Armour. I thought these were out of production so has Hasbro started producing them again? Also, shipping from the US to the UK is a pain in the neck for my wallet so if anyone knows if I can get the preorder from UK sellers or retailers then that would be helpful.
There was another production run of several Commemorative Series reissues that were released in Asia back in 2012. Packaging differences between the old and new versions varied from figure to figure, with Powermaster Optimus Prime featuring by far the most drastic changes: The 2012 version is completely missing the front flap that featured the package art on the 2002 version, Apex Bomber isn't acknowledged anywhere on the packaging, and neither is Optimus Prime referred to as a "Powermaster" anymore. Oh, and also 2012-style cardbored ties instead of twist ties. Compare: The other 2012 reissued reissues were regular Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, Side Swipe (still spelled as two words), Rodimus Prime, Astrotrain (now named "Decepticon Astrotrain" on the packaging) and "Commemorative Edition" Soundwave (the one in 2006 "Classics"-style packaging).
Yeah I read somewhere on the boards that the first reissue was selling for as little as $30 by resellers and they have surged in price since.
There was shelf-warming happening because the figure was over-produced. He was $100 import priced, IIRC, when he was first released. But that means he was probably only about 6000y in Japan. As with all things, he eventually hit clearance pricing of around 3000y there at the same time that Hasbro released him over here for $50 via Toys R Us. It was the perfect storm to devalue what still is an epic reissue. If you get a chance to swing one, I highly recommend it. $180 feels a little steep, though. I feel like it should be more around the $120 mark but what do I know? I have the God Ginrai reissue and the E-Hobby Fire Guts version. Also the E-Hobby Nucleon Quest Convoy. Fire Guts is in his packaging but the other two are in a tub somewhere in my garage after my move two years ago. Probably need to go fish them out and put them back in their boxes.
There's a Prime with Apex Amour on Mandrake for 18k yen (roughly $169 USD) @MrNegiGeneration3000. Mandarake Since your not affected by the "Shipping Suspension of Mail" as per the situation right now, mailing stuff to UK is still going ahead (check Mandarake's International page about this mailing situation) DHL shipping (within 3 days) is going to cost you almost 2x the price of EMS Shipping (might take up to a month before it gets shipped out). I have the Nucleon Version on the way by EMS to Canada (paid 15k yen with minor box damage, unopened) that just got shipped this past Sunday in which I might hopefully get in a months time. EMS cost me 4500 yen while DHL is 7950 yen. FYI: The there is one Nucleon Quest Prime (C-307x) up for 20k yen now.
I put a MISB Commemorative PM Prime and a MIB Takara God Ginrai on the Kapow Toys Facebook group this evening. UK Based Seller
