I'd pay shipping becuase I can't find alts in my area anymore.  I think my TRU is going to stop carrying them, leaving 1 target that still stocks them, but it has nothing but Windchargers. 

 

 

If Prowl was in stock, and if they had swerve and DC listed too, I'd be all over it.

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I just couldn't see paying more than $20 for an Alternator under any circumstances.

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That's because you don't collect them.  Many people don't see the sense in paying $60 for the same toy with a few diecast panels, yet that didn't stop you :tflaugh

 

And you (and I) are lucky to live in areas with decent distribution. For many people, online is the only way to buy they can Alts... $20 plus shipping is downright cheap, especially for a new mold.

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Tell me about it. Someone that won't pay more than $20 for an Alt would own exactly two alts if they lived in this quarter of the state and then stop collecting them.

What it comes down to is, a lot of stores don't stock Alts.  A LOT.  I never had any problem finding them... up until Shockwave came along.  Since then, every store in my area has completely stopped carrying the Alternators line.  EVERY store.  They just stopped, completely, without explanation.  No shelfwarmers, nothing.  So, I, and many others, are forced to make the choice between paying $30 for an Alternator or never buying another one, ever.  Really think about that.

just to clear up, I don't want to pay insane prices for an alt. 

 

I wouldn't pay a dime over $30.

 

plus, with gas prices, it's not like hunting down an alt is that much cheaper.

Living in rural Oklahoma sucks.  Factor in that my Wal Mart does not carry Alts...

 

Hasbro Shop:

Alt Prowl + Shipping comes to what, like $28 bucks?

 

Having to drive to Tulsa or OK City to the nearest Toys R Us or Target:

$20 MSRP, plus probably $20 worth in gas with the current going rate of $3 a gallon.

 

Ship it to me, daddy!

I'm in Alaska so yeah those prices aren't that bad.  Cybertron basics are 8 us up here, Alts go for 22.  And with the tiny selevtion I can find the net is a better deal all around.

I am told that the next alts shipping case would be Swindle, Wheeljack, Prowl and Decepticharge, at least in Hong Kong ;)

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I've heard that's supposed to be the next case assortment as well.

 

I have the feeling it will we Swerve instead of Swindle, though (or at least I pray it is - most of the places around here already have at least five or six Swindles :roll ).

Yeah, with the price of gas it probably is a lot cheaper for me to just order them than to drive all over town looking for one (not that there would be any, regardless).

 

And I agree, a dime over $30 is ridiculous.  To tell you the truth, I'm just about done with Transformers.  That's why I don't post here as often as I used to.  It's just become such an unneccesary burdon, trying to find these damn things, and I have MUCH more important things to worry about. 

 

The only TF's I'm still making any attempt to collect are Alts, and I'm currently 3 behind on those.  I'm probably going to skip Cybertron all together, simply because I can't afford to buy the main line when Alternators are $30-40 bucks a pop.

I know stores have to make a profit, I really do...here's the problem(s) with the club:

 

1.) $40.00 yearly membership (or more if you're international)

 

2.) Shipping is outrageous no matter how you cut it. From what I hear (and this figure is an example, not the real deal, but it makes the point) say shipping's $5.00 (and that's how it's stickered on the shipping carton), but you paid $10.00 (they pocket the difference for sure).

 

3.) Member price should be less than store price, and I agree that non-members should pay more than members (it makes sense and is fair). However, if I pay $40.00 a year for a crappy magazine and whatever else they send, I want something special. I can pay $19.99 plus tax and $5.00 in gas and have the same item..CHEAPER. Without the yearly fee! Here, you're paying through the nose...so where is the member only fine touches? Oh...lining their pockets...that's the fine touch. Got it.

 

4.) They screw you on their convention (that's pure drivel in a pissbucket with crappy exclusives a 5 year old could color and design), and still make a load of money out of you on that.

 

5.) Not to mention, they're the OFFICIAL club and convention for TFs and work in conjunction with Hasbro, they have a direct link to them. Even Hasbro sells their items at store cost plus shipping, no special needs.

 

I hate Master Collector, and they go screw themselves and their convention and their exclusives, and take an Acid colonic.

 

F**K YOU MC!

 

Rip off bastards.

Hey now, I happen to like those convention exclusives... that's actually a big part of my beef with Hasbro.  I'm EXTREMELY pissed that they're doing Ironhide as an exclusive.  In fact, the way they're going about these exclusives is how they should've gone about doing their Universe figures, which they botched royally.  I would definitely buy an Ironhide and Deathsaurus, were they available to the general public.

 

Also, price-gouging on shipping should be illegal, if it isn't already.  If it is, someone needs to bring this to the attention of the US Post Office.  You CANNOT profit from S/H.

5.) Not to mention, they're the OFFICIAL club and convention for TFs and work in conjunction with Hasbro, they have a direct link to them. Even Hasbro sells their items at store cost plus shipping, no special needs.

 

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I agree with some of the other stuff too but this is the silliest. It seems crazy that we paid $40 to get TFs at a price that Hasbro themselves are offering with no membership. It almost feels like a waste that MC is even offering TFs that can be found in stores or on Hasbro's site.