In my experience collecting TFs, Takara makes the good figure then Hasbro copies it and prices it lower for America. Dont get me wrong, some TFs I HAVE to buy the Jap version. Look at GF Galaxy Convoy and Vector Prime! I HAD to buy the Takara version. It's PRIME!

But this Starscream is nothing compared to Prime.

Actually, when I compare the raw Takara and Hasbro RRP, the prices are about the same, or in some cases, Takara works out to be cheaper or better value for money.

 

Remember that if you're living outside Japan and buying Takara Transformers, you're also paying additional cost for shipping the figure - and in some cases, the commission that dealers might charge (I tend to avoid such dealers -- much prefer online stores that charge the bare RRP + shipping). But to make a real fair comparison between Takara and Hasbro's pricing policies, you need to ignore the additional costs of importing, because those aren't the costs that are charged by Takara - they're incidental additional costs because you happen to be purchasing the figure overseas. Remember that for Japanese fans, a lot of Hasbro toys can seem more expensive too because they have to pay for shipping over to Japan as well as whatever dealers might charge. The fairest comparison is between the raw RRPs. On top of that, don't forget that many Japanese fans will buy these toys on sales or when stores have marked the prices down. Taking all that into account, the Takara figures aren't inherently more expensive than Hasbro TFs.

 

I've usually found Takara TFs to be inherently cheaper; particularly if you ship in bulk, since the cost of shipping per item becomes cheaper. That's why I usually order Takara TFs with a bunch of mates at the same time; we all get our toys shipped in the same box and we split the overall cost of shipping amongst ourselves making it relatively cheaper per person.

Okay, forget it. I'm out. Trying to force myself to like this thing is like being pecked to death by a duck. It's just one thing after another. I got to point where I could cope with the mold changes, then it was the color. I had just gotten over that, and now it's the size. I can't keep doing this. This has become the PS3 of Transformers for me; every bit of news that comes along just gets worse and worse.

 

I could stomach this if it were available domestically, or the price were right, but what started out as a Masterpiece has degenerated into a blue, butterfly-winged Alternator with no real accessories (outside of an unpainted Dr. Archeville), and it's just not worth the hefty price tag. Maybe half.

 

It's healthy that people are finally starting to wake up and admit this thing just doesn't look all that great. I feel better already.

I'm amazed that you are familiar with the experience of being pecked to death a duck! Perhaps it was a witch disguised as a duck, after all, they do have the same mass. ;)

With his lesser size, MP SS's price point will be a critical selling issue. Even though he has tons of detail and plenty of accessories, I can't see myself paying around the same price I bought MP Prime for. With die-cast, I would imagine 50 to 60 USD would be appropriate. I'm still hoping that the detailed Abrams Tank Megatron schematic comes to fruition as an MP Megs.

In my experience collecting TFs, Takara makes the good figure then Hasbro copies it and prices it lower for America. Dont get me wrong, some TFs I HAVE to buy the Jap version. Look at GF Galaxy Convoy and Vector Prime! I HAD to buy the Takara version. It's PRIME!

But this Starscream is nothing compared to Prime.

Actually, when I compare the raw Takara and Hasbro RRP, the prices are about the same, or in some cases, Takara works out to be cheaper or better value for money.

 

Remember that if you're living outside Japan and buying Takara Transformers, you're also paying additional cost for shipping the figure - and in some cases, the commission that dealers might charge (I tend to avoid such dealers -- much prefer online stores that charge the bare RRP + shipping). But to make a real fair comparison between Takara and Hasbro's pricing policies, you need to ignore the additional costs of importing, because those aren't the costs that are charged by Takara - they're incidental additional costs because you happen to be purchasing the figure overseas. Remember that for Japanese fans, a lot of Hasbro toys can seem more expensive too because they have to pay for shipping over to Japan as well as whatever dealers might charge. The fairest comparison is between the raw RRPs. On top of that, don't forget that many Japanese fans will buy these toys on sales or when stores have marked the prices down. Taking all that into account, the Takara figures aren't inherently more expensive than Hasbro TFs.

 

I've usually found Takara TFs to be inherently cheaper; particularly if you ship in bulk, since the cost of shipping per item becomes cheaper. That's why I usually order Takara TFs with a bunch of mates at the same time; we all get our toys shipped in the same box and we split the overall cost of shipping amongst ourselves making it relatively cheaper per person.

 

 

I think everyone knows that. If I look at a site HLJ or robotkingdon, the price for MP SS doesn't seem that bad. However, once that shipping is added, I immediately lose interest in the toy. I can do without MP Starscream and I can wait, if it should ever happen, for Hasbro to release one of their own.

If you ship in bulk, it's cheaper. That's what I'm doing.

In 2 years MP 03 will be 150-200 on ebay (roughly the price of swerve lately) and everyone will be complaining about the gouging. Do youself a favor and buy it now...

In 2 years MP 03 will be 150-200 on ebay (roughly the price of swerve lately) and everyone will be complaining about the gouging. Do youself a favor and buy it now...

 

Nah, if it were perfect, I would have pre-ordered it already. The colors are just not right, and I don't mean it should be G1 toy accurate, just a modernized color scheme. The jet should have been light gray and the reds and blues should have been a little brighter. Then there's the fact that we've yet to see in the box pictures, preventing me from accurately know just what MP SS comes with.

In 2 years MP 03 will be 150-200 on ebay (roughly the price of swerve lately) and everyone will be complaining about the gouging. Do youself a favor and buy it now...

 

Interesting theory. I predict that within 2 years time Hasbro will have released a domestic version of this figure, Takomy will be doing an "anime" version, and MP-03 will be remembered as a major misstep.

 

And to Goki, not everyone can afford to buy toys in bulk :tftongue

In 2 years MP 03 will be 150-200 on ebay (roughly the price of swerve lately) and everyone will be complaining about the gouging. Do youself a favor and buy it now...

 

Interesting theory. I predict that within 2 years time Hasbro will have released a domestic version of this figure, Takomy will be doing an "anime" version, and MP-03 will be remembered as a major misstep.

 

And to Goki, not everyone can afford to buy toys in bulk :tftongue

i mean how is it cheaper to buy more than one :tflaugh no matter what the discount for 2 of them is.