wow, lot's of stuff going on here :( lot's of good points, but some poorly expressed (i'm sure my earlier post was a tad angry). things will run their course, but maybe after a while the people involved will consider both the pooer fans and those who have more money. either way i hope it gets better. The idea of botcon is great, maybe it just got a bit fuzzy over the years. let's quit the hate already and leave it at that.

 

are there any design pics of the toys yet? even if i don't like the price, I'm still a tf fan and love seeing new stuff.

are there any design pics of the toys yet? even if i don't like the price, I'm still a tf fan and love seeing new stuff.

 

Well, I was wondering what this is. Maybe a kitbash? Looks way too much like SS in jet mode.

 

Edit: But some claim it's the Botcon TC, as reported here.

The reason for the high price is because it's a LIMITED PRODUCTION RUN of these figures. They're not making millions of these, they're only making a few hundred. Yes, it sucks the price is so high, but in reality it is a necessary evil. At least FP is making money, which will ensure future conventions will go forward without problems. I still have a beef about their system but I am glad that they're doing it this way so conventions can continue.

 

I can afford this set but I do not believe it is worth it for me to get it.

 

I am unfamiliar with how many retail figures are made of say Cybertron Optimus Prime, but are they really in the millions? I find that a bit hard to believe. If someone can prove me wrong, by all means do so as it would be interesting to have indisputable information on this.

 

 

Well, considering there are more than 3000 Wal-Marts in the US, and assuming that each Wal-Mart received 10 Cyb. Primes, there are at least 30,000 figures just to supply US Wal-Marts. I would guess the production run for any mainline release figure would be at least 500 times larger than any convention exclusive. There's ovbviously economies of scale there. It may not be a big factor in a straight repaint of an existing mold, but there's probably only one straight repaint (Thundercracker). The rest have remolded parts so they'll cost more to produce. Yeah, that's not going to account for all of the price/figure differences, but it's not insignificant. Exclusives are also produced differently too; the QC is much more controlled. A normal production run would have a few figures run through the system to make sure the quality was at a certain level...that's where some of the 'test shots' come from. Exclusives don't have that initial QC check...that's why you hardly see test shots of convention exclusives popping up for sale before release.

Quoted so you don't think that everybody is ignoring your posts. :tflaugh ;)

DN is a college student

 

Therefore, he will not be purchasing the Botcon set.

 

DONE

That one is definitely a custom. You can tell its a hand painted Starscream. A very nice custom, but still a custom.

 

And though I feel that yes the price is a bit high on this exclusive set I'm still going to pay it, because it the only way we are gonna see these figures. You can bash the club and claim that they are crooks or overpricing things all you like. But Hasbro ended classics. Most likely they aren't coming back. And these will likely be the last figures to be released in the line from anyone.

 

This Botcon 5 figures set only has 2 new toolings/molds (wings for Thrust and Dirge) and yet the figures are 650% retail cost. New tooling/molding is the most expensive part of producing a figure, so unless the production run on this set is A LOT less than 1000 units, the numbers just doesn't add up for me.

 

Please tell me how that math works would you. You have four ten dollar deluxe molds in the seekers and Bugbite, plus a 20 dollar Voyager in Dreadwind who is expected to be a Jetfire repaint. So retail you looking at 60 bucks not counting tax. Which makes the Botcon set 6 times the price at 329 for nonmembers or 5 times the price for club members. That cost covers the retool/remold work, the box design and manufacturing, bio cards etc. Now I'm sure that FP is making a decent profit off these, which as a business they are entitled too. The whole reason that the last club/Botcon failed is because they weren't making a profit. But I really don't think they are making nearly as much off this as so many people seem to think.

 

The last two Botcon sets were runs of less then a 1000, this one most likely will be as well. These are exclusives, that pushes the price up as well. Bottom line though is if you don't like it don't buy it. And unlike Starwars don't expect these to show up at a retailer ever.

 

Me I'm putting my money up for the set and for the extras. I can afford it and I want them. And to me at least the cost is worth it.

Someone mentioned the loose set being 180, making the packaging cost 150. That's not how it works. You are only allowed to buy a loose set IF you bought the boxed set as well, not if you attend. You can still buy the previous set loose on Mastercollector's site, but they verify if you have the boxed set first.

 

I didn't buy the two previous sets, even though I attended the Texas one. I am buying this set mainly for the souvenir factor of it being aroung the movie, and I'm travelling halfway across the Powerglideing country. I might pick up the loose set then sell the boxed one though. I haven't decided.

*Reads JABoyle3875's posts, and come to a conclusion*

 

Yiou know, you really don;t want a serious discussion on the truth of these matters, do you? You prefer to stick with you own opinion, whether it is the truth or not, and ignore everyone else's arguents against that. Which is fine, but this is hardly the board to do so.

meh :P

 

- don't really care for classics

- don't care for the seeker mold

- will never spent that kind of money on TF's (unless they were really über-rare and I really REALLY love the mold/character)

 

so, just for me no way I'm ever going to get this and regret it :wave

 

I really feel for those who do love classics and who do want to complete the seeker set. Have been there with other figures so I know it's annoying and frustrating to be confronted with figures you really want and won't be able to get without bleeding.

I was hoping for a re-doing of an old leader as well (ala Deathsaurus, Optimus Primal, Megatron).

 

 

Galvatron, Overlord, Fort Max, Metalhawk, Dai Atlas etc. Or a BM Optimal Megatron would be sweet.

 

 

As for all the people Starscreaming about price, most things with the tag of "exclusive" cost a lot. You either pay it, or go about your happy lives. They're only toys in the end. I'm not getting any of those this year.

 

*goes and sits with his Shokaract, Cyclonus, Deathsaurus, Megatron, Optimus Primal, Waspinator, Double Punch, Mega Zarak*

I wonder if any kitbashers and customizers on this board would be interested in making some extra cash......