I got the Abominus set from Ali in the fall...I'll have a look and see if they still have any when I have a sec.

 

This much is true.

What's funny is how I don't even mentally use the term "knock-off" anymore... I only use the abbreviation, even though it's the same number of syllables. Like, I say and even think "Kay-Oh." Weird. Must be the side-effect of mainly interacting with these terms online.

I think that the KOs that are available are always going to reflect the most plentiful / most popular line of the moment. The Bayformers movies were HUGE, and many many many movie-themed TFs flooded the market... so KO producers are going to follow those same trends. Until something comes along that eclipses the visibility of the Bay movies (if anything) I'm sure we'll see a disproportionate number of movie-themed KOs.

z

 

The Live Action Movie (initially) were very popular in China - so it makes sense they'd get a lot of focus.
Even if now the Live Action Movies are less visible - I find I don't really think about them like "at all" - which can be a problem as it means I forget to buy some key products - when it's out of sight, out of mind like that.

Also the VAT & other Sales Tax changes & Impoirty duty issues make me less inclined to chase expensive KO's anyway - It just makes so much extra work or expense. It's put me off buying Diaclone completely & I could barely justify the cost before an over night 20% price hike.

I think I'll stick with Upgrade kits for a while.

 

Does anyone know if there is a KO G1 Vintage Megatron figure in works or already out there? As I found a KO g1 Optimus Prime for my shelves. But I have yet to find a KO G1 Megs.

 

Today they called me that they release my 2x BPF Magnus that were stuck in customs for a couple months.
Though I am going to pay a 24% import tax (around 20ish Euro) and a 15 handling fee (%%%%@@@@*&#&#), those two still come lower
than buying a single original....Even without factoring in the upgrades they have. So.....

There was the old Destroy Monarch and a couple other obscure ones from back in the day. Nowdays I dont think I saw one.
I was searching for one 3-4 years ago in order to transplant parts. Never found one barring Destroy Monarchs, and that price I was better off buying a vintage sealed original.... Junker Long Haul eventually had to be amputated further for the greater glory of the Decepticon Empire.

 

Angry face.

 

You have become...the destroyer of worlds.

 

 

That used to happen to me when buying from US webstores, but pretty much never now that I'm buying mostly from China.

z

 

The name Monarch gives Venture Brothers vibes.

 

Its EU policy (they tax the +15 is our own.....Clever way of adding more fees shall we say?), everything that enters from outside gets taxed...
They are changing it again in around July, and they remove the the 20euro limit as well...Free movements of goods/trade anyone?

I am pretty sure, that was death  

 

It was both, but I was paraphrasing:

- I am become death, the destroyer of worlds.

 

If the tax has been pre-paid then you SHOULD NOT be being charged a processing fee as well as pre-payment with a VAT number on the package. That was why I was wondering what would happen with TF Safari.

I suppose I should be thankful that Gift Parcels are still possible at all. It's just another "inconvenience" like when the US stopped doing surface mail parcels and so it become uneconomical to buy from America due to very high shipping costs to other countries. Which is a real pain when Amazon exclusives and such are a thing.

Sure there is ways around any cost with enough effort - but it's still extra time and hassle & difficulty for something that didn't require it previously - it slows down the flow of goods, and makes me a lot less likely to buy anything at all in some cases.

I have kinda stopped buying Diaclone as I just could be bothered to deal with what was already expensive toys getting even more expensive still - especially as some of them are so costly they could get held for Duty & incure processing charges even though the Vat has already been paid (so maybe that pre-payment set up should go a lot higher like upt £1000 or something).

If you collected swords or something expensive like that everything you bought would get messed around with, it's just a chore I don't need - and is likely one of the reasons I stopped buying the larger high quality KO's as well.

Leave the EU and then have them be an even bigger pain than they were before "thanks politicians" for making my retail therapy so much harder or expensive to get - especially if you don't want to buy everything off Amazon and eBay by default.

 

Thats what I am referring to silly  

 

Buy locally and from China then; that's what I do. I stopped buying TFs from the main US sites ages ago, as shipping was too expensive. 3P and KO toys are fairly cheaper from HK and Chinese sites.

 

Sure thing. Just let learn Chinese rq.

 

No need to. TFDirect, ShowZ, etc are based in mainland China/HK and they're in English. Even the Chinese versions of Amazon (TaoBao?) have English in them, I believe, plus there are Chinese sellers on eBay too. Ask the folks here.

 

Ordered the blue one but got the pink one. Tempted to unpin those hands.

 

I've long thought the Combiner Wars Devastator did not look as good as other versions. But I've now got Engineer Creator coming from SirToys and I've got this terrible feeling that TT may think that CW Devastator is good enough as an MP Devastator. Looking at the individual figures there are ones like Long Haul that still look hilariously bad, but combined I'm starting to warm on CW Devy. I still think the Mix Master foot looks too small, there's not enough paint, the waist and shoulder proportions look off, etc. I'm hoping that FT or XTB (or even Zeta) got for a 20" MP Devy next, but in the meantime maybe there is one that could compete with my JinBao OS KO Devy.

Is there anywhere to get a full size Combiner Wars Devastator anymore? I see a few on BBTS and such, but the late tax is in full force there. I checked SirToys and he's got the CBB downsized 31cm version. I guess I'm looking for a 45cm version. Any hints would be appreciated.

 

How about Amazon for $150?

Transformers Generations Combiner Wars Devastator Figure Set (Amazon Exclusive) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SOFZF08/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_WNCZQGJ3VV0TQQ49G7G1

 

I hear you. I used to buy from US sites like TFSource, but between the unfavourable exchange rate with the Canadian dollar, and the risk of getting nailed with handling fees and customs charges, I just gave up on US webstores altogether. It's just not worth it.

I buy second hand stuff through local Canadian fansites and obviously KO stuff (if that industry ever bounces back, at least)... but the prices on retail main line items in Canada are just getting bonkers, and with the latest round of price hikes, I think that's it. I'm out. Done. Unless something is on sale for at least 30% off, I just can't justify it.

If the KO scene doesn't make a comeback, that might be the end of my collector days right there. Ah well... it was a good run. I still have a room full of toys.  

I agree with all your criticisms of CW Devastator, but there still something very pleasing about how stable the combo is. And the figures have a big, simple appeal (though with some weaknesses).

I was initially critical of the combined form of JinBao Gravity Builder. The individual bots were big and fun, but the combined mode just didn't feel stable, and seemed too heavy for his own joints.

Well, I picked up the Upgrade Kit for JB Devastator recently on sale... and WOW... I'm impressed! I mean, it's really just a new head and new knees, but it feels like a whole new toy! I don't understand the physics of how adding the knee extensions somehow makes the balance and stability of the whole figure better, but it really does.

The set went from my "display as constructicons only" set to my centerpiece combiner. I love it.

z