Is it just me or is there a general level of difference between a Hasbro version of a TF figure and the Takara version? My experience is generally limited to reissues as you'll read below, but I'd be keen to hear how people have got on with other TF lines... I've just recieved my SDCC Blaster and have to say I am most disappointed with the overall quality of the toy. Blaster's right arm is loose and Eject has a loose leg and feels cheaply made... it's also a real struggle to get him in Blaster's chest. Now, although I don't have the TFC Blaster for comparison, I do have the Encore cassettes, and they are of a much better quality. I made the mistake of buying the 25th Anniversary Prime, and that also is of rather naff quality and again has loose arm syndrome, yet the Encore version is fine. It almost tempts me to open my sealed SDCC Soundwave and Encore Soundwave to compare!! The only Takara toy I've been disappointed with is Encore Bruticus, which is ok but definitely not of the same quality of the original G1 release. It wouldn't surprise me if my experiences ring true with others, as it would not be the first time I've bought items where the Japanese version is superior to the US version... Yet, as all these reissues are made in China for either Hasbro or Takara, should they not be of the same quality regardless of packaging / distribution? Surely the molds are at the same priduction facility and, for example, TFC Blaster came from the same mold and factory as SDCC Blaster?
I think its important to remember that takara tends to do smaller runs of figures which may help reduce the number QC issues. I for one do not have any takara figures though so that is mostly speculation but i have had really good luck QC wise. My only figure i bought with a lot of QC issues was animated skywarp. He fall apart so easily he might as well been made of gold plastic... Returned and got a different figure.
I'm pretty sure any perceived variances are all in the head. Hasbro and Takara generally use the same factories. Some people have just had bad luck one way or the other, and apply the broad brush, rather than following any true statistical truth. Others just get it in their head that because they paid more for Takara, the toy "feels" higher quality, when in fact the differences are negligible.
Percentage wise, I buy very few TakaraTomy products. Some of the few I did get had more problems percentage wise than the Hasbro ones. I distinctly remember how disappointed I was to get TFC Prowl and Jazz. Prowl had actual bent metal, and Jazz didn't hold together and fell apart. Later I got the Hasbro versions, and they were much tighter. So I guess mileage just varies... You can have bad on both sides.
It goes both ways for sure. I actually prefer Takara product in many cases because they often have better paint aps and just seem more detail oriented. That being said- the two biggest QC issues I have ever had with transformers toys were both on very expensive takara products. In both cases I was very fortunate that BBTS took care of me. My alternity convoy broke the 2nd time I transformed him (apparently a fairly common issue), and my kiss player Rodimus had two of the same side of a knee joint making it impossible to bend his knee. (although as a child I did get a Hasbro G1 Skywarp with two left hands- but that was at least 20 years ago)
Henkei Thundercracker is a floppy mess and his launchers don't even stay in his arms. My Botcon TC is tight and the launchers stay in in both modes.
Thanks for the replies so far! So I guess it can be bad on both sides! I thought it would be odd for there to be two sets of QC levels between the two companies, but then again, stranger things have happened. I've mainly got Takara product for a number of reasons, so I'll just put my Hasbro branded disappointments down to bad luck for now.
I have only had a couple takara transformers and they have generally been as good or better than the hasbro version I owned. Bandai on the other hand makes much much much better products for Japan than America, which can be pretty frustrating.
