Anybody ever buy a TF even if it's broken (and not use it as parts?)

 

I did it only if it's the only TF left on the shelf and I know it's going to be discontinued. Case in point, Energon Ultra Magnus. The part that was broken was the hip - somebody snapped it and returned it, but I bought it anyway at the time, even though I knew there were more coming in.

I bought a TM Scavenger whose box had been mangled, and he was in bad shape.  I asked a clerk if I would still have to pay full price, ($6) since the toy was already 4 or 5 years old (I found him at walmart in 2001).  I got him for $3.  After opening him, I just reattached all his ball joints, and he's as good as new.

Vintage. Yes. They're cheap placeholders for possible re-issues.

 

Current. Nope.

Not on purpose. played with condition but not broken. This one ebay dude screwed me with G1 Mirage. It was a complete pw condition G1 Mirage as seen in pic.  I let the bidding get up to 40 or so dollars, $10 UPS ground shipping.  I made a little storage box, printed out a bio sheet and everything for the toy. 3 or more weeks later I Finally get the toy after writing countless (escalating urgency)e-mails. when I open the box and examine the fig, Why did it have a big chunk of missing arm armor!? My head went through the roof! The piece of plastic that says"Citane", the chunk that says tan and half a E, was gone! He photographed the toy from the opposite angle.

 

On top of all this the toy came regular, USPS mail for $1 and change after I paid $10 for UPS. All I got back was my Shipping. If I would have known it was broke I wouldn't have bid let alone let the bidding get to $40 +

Does it count if someone sends you a broken Transformer? :P

 

Honestly, I think it can add to the "vintage' vibe, which only really works for G1 stuff IMO.

Only the old ones.  Esp my Powermaster Optimus, I think every part of him has something broken, and I bought all his parts separate.  In smaller Robot form his white crotch thingie is broken, his trailer nob that hooks onto optimus is broken, and I just got Hi-Q to complete him, and he is missing an arm.  Mind you I bought all this crap thinking it wasn't broken, and now I have 100% broken Powermaster Prime that I have paid too much for to complete, because I could just but a complete non broken one for probably less then what I've paid for this piece of junk.  But there is a special place in my hear for him, and all his broken ways...

Only the old ones.  Esp my Powermaster Optimus, I think every part of him has something broken, and I bought all his parts separate.  In smaller Robot form his white crotch thingie is broken, his trailer nob that hooks onto optimus is broken, and I just got Hi-Q to complete him, and he is missing an arm.  Mind you I bought all this crap thinking it wasn't broken, and now I have 100% broken Powermaster Prime that I have paid too much for to complete, because I could just but a complete non broken one for probably less then what I've paid for this piece of junk.  But there is a special place in my hear for him, and all his broken ways...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Pics?

Broken toys are good for customs.

Something like that Black Broken G1 Tracks (see Pre TF section) oh yea!  And I'd fix it one way or the other as well.  Same goes for say Blue Bluestreak. 

 

I just got a couple UK Exclusives that are broken for cheap, just to have them.  I paid junker price for them and suit me just fine.  No need to replace with a better one, but if one comes along this will tide me over till then.

 

Built my G1 collection, getting bits and pieces at fleamarkets like that.  Diaclone busted up Swoop for $0, just to HAVE it.  Mind you I remember a time some lady was trying to sell a blue trailbreaker with no head for $20...passed on that.  Would have been good as a display item in truck mode but not for $20. 

 

ANYTHING can be parts.  More than once I have taken perfectly good toys and turned them into something else.  Round Xmas one year, I took a perfectly good red Japanese Sideburn and made it transform G1 style...did not want to wait for the US one to run with the idea, and did not care I trashed a $25 or so japanese import. 

 

Bought a junker Star Convoy for $70 just to swap the forehead wing with my good SC's broken one, and was going to paint it but never did. 

I'm too superficial to purposely buy a broken toy unless it's to fix another broken toy like A3U Said. I hate getting one scuff on my stuff. If a fig is damaged or scratched, All I will see is the inperfection and it will drive me up the wall.