I was just wondering other people's opinions on this. I picked up Masterpiece Skywarp and I really really love him. Only thing is he's essentially a leaderclass size figure without electronics. Did he really need to have a $60 price tag? The only other Masterpiece I have is Prime (the price of others kinda pushed me away from the others eventhough I do intend to get Grimlock.) Though I love the Masterpiece line why does it have to be so freakin expensive? I can get ROTF leaderclass Prime for half the price of Skywarp.

Well, I'll agree. It's just one of those things.

The mark up comes from it being a highly detailed, excluse, repainted, import, part of the MP line.

 

At least they hope thats what you believe. I see it as one of those things where they know people would pay alot to import it, so why not bilk em for a bit extra. The only reason why I think they're done as exclusives is to many retailers recall the DVD Prime overstock nightmare.

 

Sadly, Prime is the only MP so far who even imported desreves the price point. The jets aren't that impresive to me when compaired, and Megatron is a peice of paper compaired to the sledge hammer that is Prime. I mean seriously, you could hammer railroad spikes with that thing.

 

Worse part of all that to me. I don't even really like Optimus Prime.

 

I have no Grimlock yet for comparison...

 

But yeah, the MPs are pricey, but the possitive synergy they produce is why they do it. That and the fact that they know we'll pay for it, so why should they not be wallet hungry bastards?

 

 

After all, we're still buying it.

Well, I'll agree. It's just one of those things.

The mark up comes from it being a highly detailed, excluse, repainted, import, part of the MP line.

 

At least they hope thats what you believe. I see it as one of those things where they know people would pay alot to import it, so why not bilk em for a bit extra. The only reason why I think they're done as exclusives is to many retailers recall the DVD Prime overstock nightmare.

 

Sadly, Prime is the only MP so far who even imported desreves the price point. The jets aren't that impresive to me when compaired, and Megatron is a peice of paper compaired to the sledge hammer that is Prime. I mean seriously, you could hammer railroad spikes with that thing.

 

Worse part of all that to me. I don't even really like Optimus Prime.

 

I have no Grimlock yet for comparison...

 

But yeah, the MPs are pricey, but the possitive synergy they produce is why they do it. That and the fact that they know we'll pay for it, so why should they not be wallet hungry bastards?

 

 

After all, we're still buying it.

 

True about Prime. Mine has taken more than one tumble from the shelf due to a toddler running past and he is showing that he is made of the same "sterner stuff" that Prime himself would be made of. On the flip side I feel like one of Skywarp's fingers are gonna show up missing any day now.

 

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Overall, no - I think they're worth their RRP. Thundercracker was a little bit more expensive, but still acceptable. MP Takara Starscream is also dubious due to the less than quality plastic Takara used (and also dubious colours). The real exception is Grimlock who, at 13650JPY, is the most expensive Masterpiece to date. I've seen and fiddled with the toy for myself IRL and it's nice, but not _that_ nice.

 

Here's how much I paid for my MPs:

+ MP01 Convoy: 10290JPY

+ MP03 Starscream: 10290JPY

+ MP05 Megatron: 10290JPY*

+ Hasbro MP Starscream: 100AUD (cheap!)

+ MP06 Skywarp: 10290JPY

+ MP07 Thundercracker: 10500JPY

 

So I've paid an average of $120 per Masterpiece. Yeah, I think that's a fair price for what you get. :)

 

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*I had to pay additional costs for my MP Megatron due to the fact that it's classified as a prohibited replica firearm under NSW law, so I had to go through the costs of registration and acquiring safe storage. There's also annual membership costs too. But I don't blame Takara for that... (-_-)

$120 for a MP is to much for me. I have most of them. No Grimlock, Thunderckracker, or MP-4.

I won't pay over $70 for one. I've never picked one up in regular or online retail. Each was hunted for at the best price in the auctions save for MP-2 who came real cheap from Robotkingdom.

 

I'm saying this as someone who doesn't tend to nickle and dime. Still, for what these are...

Think of them more like Transformable statues that really mean something to those that used to play with them as kids. Mine collect dust but I love the way they look. Now I think anyone else fairly new to them may think the price tag is out of bounds. But the same would go for my Masterpiece Voltron or Yamato 1/48 Veritechs. I look at them for detail and engineering. The MPs really don't skimp on details and accessories. And they also try to tie the accessories to the comics and tv shows when economically feasible.

 

But it really just depends on what you want out of it. I feel the opposite with the Leader Class figures. Not that their bad but I'd rather spend the money on another MP.

Yikes. Where do you live, Goktimus Prime?

 

The only MP I have is Starcream, which I paid an inflated 90 dollars for on eBay. Thing is, it was covered in mold and couldn't be returned. I've learned to watch for shady sellers since then. >_>

I did manage to clean it up, but it wasn't really worth all that money, especially now that I see people selling them for a lot cheaper... What was the original, in store price for SS?

 

Also, I never even saw Thundercracker. What happened with him?

he was the 6th run of the mold and people got bored?

 

 

I understand about the detailing, and thats hey I get them. But the Seekers lack of articulation and the sheer fear one feels touching Megatron make them very very nice, but not exactly "Masterpieces" to me.

I can see why Grimlock cost what it did. The repaint possibilities are extremely limited. Takara got about 5 uses out of MP Optimus Prime and Hasbro got two. We now have all three jets from Takara and now two from Hasbro.

There's also annual membership costs too. But I don't blame Takara for that... (-_-)

 

Wait, you have to keep paying to own MP Megatron? Geez, what happens if you don't pay the membership costs?