I'll tell you part of the reason ... it's generally unacceptable to American consumers and children to not be able to see the actual product on display in retail.  Everything has a window ... even larger Lego sets have a lift up panel so kids and consumers can almost pointlessly see all of the unassembled parts.  Look at the second generation packaging of Alternators ... it lacks an outside window allowing kids to try to grab the product in the package, and therefore desire it.  Americans simply want to see what they're buying.  We're a less calm society and we're also a greedier society spawned by the foundation of the country where everyone has the opportunity to make it for themselves if they truly want it.  If suddenly the Transformers packaging were closed off showing pictures only and lucky draw was put in US retail, what do you think would happen?  Kids would pass over the toys in favor of other toys they could actually see and people would tear apart the retail boxes trying to get a peek of what's inside to see if it was a lucky draw.  So sales would fall and product packaging would get damaged, causing sales to fall even further. 

I'll tell you part of the reason ... it's generally unacceptable to American consumers and children to not be able to see the actual product on display in retail.  Everything has a window ... even larger Lego sets have a lift up panel so kids and consumers can almost pointlessly see all of the unassembled parts.  Look at the second generation packaging of Alternators ... it lacks an outside window allowing kids to try to grab the product in the package, and therefore desire it.  Americans simply want to see what they're buying.  We're a less calm society and we're also a greedier society spawned by the foundation of the country where everyone has the opportunity to make it for themselves if they truly want it.  If suddenly the Transformers packaging were closed off showing pictures only and lucky draw was put in US retail, what do you think would happen?  Kids would pass over the toys in favor of other toys they could actually see and people would tear apart the retail boxes trying to get a peek of what's inside to see if it was a lucky draw.  So sales would fall and product packaging would get damaged, causing sales to fall even further. 

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:pfx

 

just go to any comic shop that sells WSTs.. they are all open :tflaugh

I'll tell you part of the reason ... it's generally unacceptable to American consumers and children to not be able to see the actual product on display in retail.  Everything has a window ... even larger Lego sets have a lift up panel so kids and consumers can almost pointlessly see all of the unassembled parts.  Look at the second generation packaging of Alternators ... it lacks an outside window allowing kids to try to grab the product in the package, and therefore desire it.  Americans simply want to see what they're buying.  We're a less calm society and we're also a greedier society spawned by the foundation of the country where everyone has the opportunity to make it for themselves if they truly want it.  If suddenly the Transformers packaging were closed off showing pictures only and lucky draw was put in US retail, what do you think would happen?  Kids would pass over the toys in favor of other toys they could actually see and people would tear apart the retail boxes trying to get a peek of what's inside to see if it was a lucky draw.  So sales would fall and product packaging would get damaged, causing sales to fall even further. 

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:pfx

 

just go to any comic shop that sells WSTs.. they are all open :tflaugh

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I like your thinking and think that is plausible----for mass distributed items.  But smaller production runs/limited edition/Lucky Draw type products do not fit the bill as they are not usually distributed through mass merchants.  They are special order items/Give aways/ etc.

so ive seen the news post on TFormers and the toy reveiw and omg i want it. ive seen it posted on ebay about 4 times byt he same guy and no more. the picks he had of it made it look like a test shot. i mean he didnt show any packaging with it, it was merely the figure. and ive heard it was limited to 500. so whats the deal? is it out in that dvd pack in japan or what? will more pop up on ebay? will we see a (north) american release of a repainted hotshot in those colours? any info anyone has wold be great.

It came as an exclusive with Galaxy Force DVD1. I wouldn't be surprised if Hasbro did a Hot Rod recolor of him eventually, but I wouldn't really be surprised if they didn't, either.

I think I just got a proto of the Exillion/Hot Rod repaint in the mail.  I got him off of ebay.  The seller never specified if it was from the DVD set, or a proto.  I've ordered the set and it keeps getting pushed back according to the e-maisl I've received.  Anybody ahve a gues as to what I got?  It came from Hong Kong.

 

--Regardless, I love it. :tfgrin

pics?

well im not sure if we will get him thiers clearly a demand for it and thiers that weird jack shot repaint so they are doing repaints as well.

 

but if they do it will spoil the whole limited edition feel he has going and if i just got the DVD set idd feel a little riped off.

pics?

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I'll try and get some posted tomorrow.  Busy enough that I need a car like Exillion today!

but if they do it will spoil the whole limited edition feel he has going and if i just got the DVD set idd feel a little riped off.

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:tdown

 

Why would you feel ripped off? You made a choice to purchase something that was clearly not intended for release in your market, so if it's released by a completely different company in a completely different market in a completely different packaging, how would that have anything to do with your purchase?

 

Buy toys because you want the particular toy, not because it makes you feel "special" to have something no one else has.