You also have to factor in the amount of money it costs them to repair the molds, keep the dicast, stickers, funds to repair new figures etc. I agree the price is a bit steep, but I think the base-line cost for hasbro is around $15. $20 is about as low as they'll ever be unless they just want to get them off the shelves.

 

-Turbine

$20 for a toy that size is still a ripp off and has everybody forgot about shipping. With shipping and tax they come out to be about $26. Thats a great deal.

 

I would only consider buying them if the were $10. Does anybody know how much they were when they originally came out in th 80's.

Them being a rip-off is your opinion. In my opinion, $20 is a fair price. If you think it's too much, then just don't buy them. I got me 3 re-issues, and I'm happy to have them and don't feel "ripped-off". But that's just me.

I worked in a toy store in 1984, I can vaguely recall the original prices for the Transformers were about $8-10 for an Autobot car, $12-14 for a Seeker and $25 for Optimus.

 

Converting to today's (2004) dollars these prices become $14-18 (Autobot), $21-25 (Seeker) and $45 Optimus.

Sounds about right. I remember autobot cars about $10, seekers about $15.

:tflaugh i love my only G1 seeker, Skywarp. i admit, he doens't have the posability but so what? i mean he's a great toy and one of my favs!

Why do people like to breathe? Why do people like to east? Why? Why? Why?

I bought Skywarp when I saw it at TRU. I always wanted him. I still want Ramjet, Dirge, and Thrust. I never had any seekers as a kid.

 

I wish they would have done the wings better so that they attached at the shoulder and not the waist so it would look more like the cartoon.

I just like their plane mode, hate the bot mode. That's all I have to say. I just deem them the best planes yet made. But I found them to expensive, it's why I am happy for WST Thrust and Starscream.

$20 for a toy that size is still a ripp off and has everybody forgot about shipping. With shipping and tax they come out to be about $26. Thats a great deal.

 

I would only consider buying them if the were $10. Does anybody know how much they were when they originally came out in th 80's.

my original G1 Starscream box still has the Toys R Us price sticker on it. it reads:

 

$11.97

 

that's what the G1 seekers cost back in 1984-86

Character making something popular vs. the toy is a huge issue in G1. Lets face it, by todays standards, G1 toys SUCK. Even the good ones. But the seekers were cool because of their distinctive personalities. I mean c'mon, who doesnt love Skywarp and Thundercracker? Perfect bad guys. Starscream, either you love or hate. The coneheads were cool too. Look at Blaster for another example. Talk about getting screwed in the alt-mode department. A non working radio has all the play value of a rock, and given the Tf's situation, would be useless in a battle but that dude just oozed personality and personality goes a LONG way towards making someone a favorite character of mine.