DON'T BUY IMPORTS!

 

The price you paid for that galaxy force figure could have gotten you a couple really cool Cybertron figures.

 

Don't buy BT's get Alts....same issue as above.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

That works for some people, but others feel that the takara version is higher quality and worth the price.  A few members would rather have one great GF instead of 2 less-than-great Cybertron.

 

Saying that, I don't import that much.

Yeah, the whole import thing is a can of worms that I don't want to even touch. The instant I say, "Alternators are a better alternative to Binaltech," someone is going to jump down my throat and take a dump because they think I'm badmouthing imports. While I do agree with Skullfire on this, I think it's best left alone because it might just erupt into a "faction war" of sorts. Plus, look at Rules of Thumb #3 & #4--that's kinda what I was getting at there.

 

Oh, and X-Bob?  :rofl  :lol Believe it or not, I actually had someone else in mind when I typed that.

I set my self a budget of about £200 ($400) a month, but as I'm moving out soon this will have to be cut back. In my defence though, I made efforts to get all the reall hard G1s first, such as reflector all three of the onmibots, and my prize of this month doesn't go to Swoop (not available in the UK in the 80s, and I knew he was going to cost a bit), but to the body of a real G1 Fort Max.

 

All he's missing are the regular accessories like the detachable ramps guns, but he has all his stock guns (like the ones on the legs and the arms). And I only paid £40 for him! TOTAL (shipping included!).

 

On ebay I've seen him with just the bare striped down torso (no nothing not even the arm or leg guns, or fixed on samll ramp or any of that stuff) for a s much as $100!

 

So I got a bargain there, and the bits won't cost that much to get, as Spike (seen at rediculous buy it now prices of $49.99) can be bought for as little as $25.00 from transrepro.

 

Ok I admit I live in the UK so Dollars to me is play money (I pay half what you do). But in perspective if you could get sucha deal for $40 you'd be over the moon. I really didn't expect to win the bid either, it was just a throwaway bid, someone will outbid me and strip him, but no, I won. I still can't believe it, and the torso is the most expensive bit to ship as well.

 

So yes it can be done, you just have to know what you want and how much you want to pay. Keep it sensible, or get the worst out of the way first, and then slow down.

 

What I got = http://i4.ebayimg.com/02/i/04/60/d1/d7_1_b.JPG

Whats available = http://images.channeladvisor.com/Sell/SSPr...ssmaximusL3.jpg

DON'T BUY IMPORTS!

 

The price you paid for that galaxy force figure could have gotten you a couple really cool Cybertron figures.

 

Don't buy BT's get Alts....same issue as above.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

That works for some people, but others feel that the takara version is higher quality and worth the price.  A few members would rather have one great GF instead of 2 less-than-great Cybertron.

 

Saying that, I don't import that much.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Well, we are talking about being on a budget here not whether or not bt's are better than alt's.

 

Basicly, stay domestic if you are a collecter on a budget. Otherwise if money is no object then yeah spend spend spend......

 

As far as a quality in comparison to transformers from takara vs transformers from hasbro.....my experiance is tat this is a moot point.

 

I have found that takaras stuff while probibly looks real nice tends to be super fragile.

 

Hasbro on the other hand doesn't really look to bad but the best part is the toy is tougher.

I just decided to take my paycheck, subtract the bills, and then 25% of what is left I budget for TFs. I haven't done that in a while, and I did it today... so I should be getting Torca, Night Recon team and Energon Signal Flare and Perceptor in the mail soon!

I'm a completist as far as Alts go, but I just buy what I can afford from other lines. My bills go out of my wages in the first week of the month. I wait til they're out of the way, then I look at what I can get with some of the left over cash. I have quite an eclectic (random as f**k) collection cos I search for things in price order on eBay and just buy the cheapest stuff, regardless of the series!

Great topic. :thumb For us older fans/collectors the issues of what to buy, and when are becoming increasingly rellevent. Especially with things like rent, loans, and other expenditures to consider.  I'm no completist but if I really like a line I'll probably go out and get at least 1 of every mold. I nearly got all of Armada, and Energon and I'm looking to do the same with Cybertron. Though the toys are improving noticably well and becoming more exciting to collect I honstly say I am tiring of having a new Optimus Prime, and Megatron released every other year. Energon finally got Megatron right and Cybertron finally did justice to Optimus so after this run I hope to only buy select Deluxes, and Basics. I'm increasingly finding  more and more difficulty  justifying dropping $70 - $80 CDs on a childrens toy. Damn must be growing up. :redface     

good topic for "poor" collectors. indeed, if you have enough money to buy TF, you should save money too!!

i only select what i love......... :usa

Top Tip - Buy ALL repaints on clearance. Except maybe Ultra Magnus & Galvatron!

I had to use this guide today. I found Unicron Head'D Primus in Walmart and I didn't want that to slip my grasp. Layaway helps the poor guy every time :thumb