I buy from whichever company puts out the better version...its a figure-to-figure basis. While I prefer Alternators over BT, I prefer Superlink over Energon..

 

And with that stated, Die-cast isn't nearly as expensive to produce as you guys think...I think the problem with Hasbro is they'd have to reinforce the packaging and pay more for freight, because of the weight increases...

 

Bts cost so much because...

Collector value in Japan(they're almost scalped the moment they leave the factory) Licensing fees, and for us, importing...

Seriously, when you've got internet beyotches selling BTs for the low low price of $74.99 you know something's amiss.

I have a question about Lambor. Is his whole car shell diecast minus the seats of course or is it just the front end and doors?

Well, the front end and doors are almost everything. The entire rear portion is plastic, yes, and I believe the sidewalls under the doors are plastic too. Still, with the front, hood, and doors, that's a good chunk o' metal.

 

As noted, not only is the back part a weight issue as a bot, it's on a relatively tiny joint, and it's not easy (on mine at least) to pop it open off the door panels...so they probably couldn't make it metal without beefing up the hinge, too. On the others, most of the metallic parts are pretty well-connected to something solid.

It annoys me that hasbro doesn't use the same paint Takara uses to make their plastic shiny. But we do have Silverstreak, Hound and Tracks to break Hasbro's trend.

I have a question about Lambor. Is his whole car shell diecast minus the seats of course or is it just the front end and doors?

Well, the front end and doors are almost everything. The entire rear portion is plastic, yes, and I believe the sidewalls under the doors are plastic too. Still, with the front, hood, and doors, that's a good chunk o' metal.

 

As noted, not only is the back part a weight issue as a bot, it's on a relatively tiny joint, and it's not easy (on mine at least) to pop it open off the door panels...so they probably couldn't make it metal without beefing up the hinge, too. On the others, most of the metallic parts are pretty well-connected to something solid.

BT Deadend's hood scares me...it basically wobbles on that little pin joint.

Is there a way to mod the hinge to make it stronger? Bore out the hole for a larger pin?

The way I see it, we get a pretty good deal on Alts. Could they have concivably used Die cast and made it more collector friendly? Perhaps, but consider the subsquent price hike as a result and the effect on sales. Alts are already have an appeal to a small audience in collectors and have no show to back them up so its already a hard enough sale of a $20 car to non fans. Now the price goes up to say $30-$40 and the shelvewarming would be even worse than it already is

My Alt DE doesn't wobble.

I buy from whichever company puts out the better version...its a figure-to-figure basis. While I prefer Alternators over BT, I prefer Superlink over Energon..

 

And with that stated, Die-cast isn't nearly as expensive to produce as you guys think...I think the problem with Hasbro is they'd have to reinforce the packaging and pay more for freight, because of the weight increases...

 

Bts cost so much because...

Collector value in Japan(they're almost scalped the moment they leave the factory) Licensing fees, and for us, importing...

When I was in JPN I found the BT's in Akihabara (I'm sure I'm spelling that wrong six ways from sunday) for 4000 yen (or a little under $40). From what I've heard MSRP in JPN is ~4900 yen. I don't know haw hard they are to find, but it's not that hard as all 4 that were out at the time were there. That said, I can get them for around the same price on eBay shipped if I buy packages etc. The problem is if you want them now!!!

I actually have 2-3 of almost every alt including all the bluestreaks (only 1 each of #1 and #2). Yes I have a good income, but I also wait to get a good deal on package. I plan to keep some MISB and have one open of every one.

I think the Binal techs in general look and feel better than the alts, but if there were no such thing as BT I'd buy Alts no question about it. In fact I have one each MISB or the Alts that I've been able to find so far. The only Alt I really think looks bad is sideswipe who just looks plasticy with the huge red plastic hood...

 

In terms of how much they cost, they are grey market which increases cost, and as someone said, they are from JPN so that's an expensive location for anything. You only want to import something from JPN if you have to $ wise. The cost of shipping and making diecast plays a role and the lower volume plays a role.

The fact of the matter is that that is where they are priced because that's what the bean counters at Takara thought the market would bear and they projected it would be profitable at the volume they would sell at. If they had projected wrong you would see price gouging/shortages or discounts/unmoving product. I see little evidence of either.

I was going to write earlier but someone beat me to the Japanese shops subject. Actually while I was in Shinjuku in early April I found Hound and Bluestreak for aout 3500 yen or $35. It was at Yodobashi, first floor was all video games there where I picked up the G1 game to. Yodobashi.com may have them for the same price if you can read Japanese.

 

The big malls had them for about $52, I almost gave up and decided to just buy Alternators. Course now I have a BT habit that's expensive in the U.S.

What I don't like with Alternators that they took too long to come out, and when they do, the newer ones are shortpacked so you have to wait longer, or have to be very good at toy hunting. When Binaltech toys come out, they are easy to get, in our part of the world and stores easily restock them when they get sold out. Until now, the BT version of Dead End is hella easier to find than the Alt version. I have nothing against the toys themselves, since they have greater playability and cheaper than the BT versions, but they just take too long.