I wasn't suggesting it was a fail because they didn't have full stock everywhere at all locations. What amazes me, though, is that other movie lines that weren't due to air for 2mos (Dark Knight, The Hulk, etc) already have prominent shelf space (seen them on shelves since May), while a TV series that's aired for 6mos has had little to no retail exposure.

 

I just wonder about the logic of it all.

Toys R Us

 

My next stop was at the Toys R Us down the street. They had a full supply of TF:A figures ready to go. No sales or advertising, but they were there. Not surprisingly, they are fetching a small premium for the Deluxe class figure ($10.99).

Walmart

 

 

WOW!!! $10.99 for the deluxe figures? You mean Bulkhead, Starscream and Megatron? Those were going for $25 at Kay-Bee.

 

My son flipped over Lockdown so we picked that one up. I love the flat paint colors rather than the shiny. Looks way cooler. It's a pretty awesome figure. They went all out in engineering these figrues to have spot on transformations in both modes. They look almost odentical to their TV show counterparts.

 

So what makes the other "deluxe"... are there non-Deluxe versions? Or is it just a word they throw on there to make them seem like more than what they really are?

 

Usually when I think deluxe I think something like "the deluxe model car with the leather seats and power windows" v. "the crappy regular version with vinyl seats and crank up windows".

They refer to class sizes, and different price points.

Toys R Us

 

My next stop was at the Toys R Us down the street. They had a full supply of TF:A figures ready to go. No sales or advertising, but they were there. Not surprisingly, they are fetching a small premium for the Deluxe class figure ($10.99).

Walmart

 

 

WOW!!! $10.99 for the deluxe figures? You mean Bulkhead, Starscream and Megatron? Those were going for $25 at Kay-Bee.

 

My son flipped over Lockdown so we picked that one up. I love the flat paint colors rather than the shiny. Looks way cooler. It's a pretty awesome figure. They went all out in engineering these figrues to have spot on transformations in both modes. They look almost odentical to their TV show counterparts.

 

So what makes the other "deluxe"... are there non-Deluxe versions? Or is it just a word they throw on there to make them seem like more than what they really are?

 

Usually when I think deluxe I think something like "the deluxe model car with the leather seats and power windows" v. "the crappy regular version with vinyl seats and crank up windows".

 

It is a size class designation and has nothing to do with "extra goodies"

Basic or Scouts = small $6-$7 figures

Deluxe = Most common figures $10

(both of these come on cards)

 

Voyager = $20 Figures

Mega(?) = $25 Figures (this size class is not very common actually but I think the new Onslaught and Powerglide are going to be this size)

(Boxed!)

 

Leader = $30 figures (usually Megatron, Prime, and in the case of the Movie figs - Brawl)

Supreme = $40-$50 figures (the only ones i can think of are C-Primus and C-Starscream)

(Both the leaders and the Surpremes come Boxed packaged in Robot mode)

 

Then there are all the piddly figures like - Alternators, FABS, Legends, Minicons and stuff...

but the list above is what most mainline figures are categorized as.

 

I wasn't suggesting it was a fail because they didn't have full stock everywhere at all locations. What amazes me, though, is that other movie lines that weren't due to air for 2mos (Dark Knight, The Hulk, etc) already have prominent shelf space (seen them on shelves since May), while a TV series that's aired for 6mos has had little to no retail exposure.

 

I just wonder about the logic of it all.

Logic = BLOCKBUSTER MOVIES are more marketable than childrens cartoon shows on cable channels that no one watches.

Toys R Us

 

My next stop was at the Toys R Us down the street. They had a full supply of TF:A figures ready to go. No sales or advertising, but they were there. Not surprisingly, they are fetching a small premium for the Deluxe class figure ($10.99).

Walmart

 

 

WOW!!! $10.99 for the deluxe figures? You mean Bulkhead, Starscream and Megatron? Those were going for $25 at Kay-Bee.

 

My son flipped over Lockdown so we picked that one up. I love the flat paint colors rather than the shiny. Looks way cooler. It's a pretty awesome figure. They went all out in engineering these figrues to have spot on transformations in both modes. They look almost odentical to their TV show counterparts.

 

So what makes the other "deluxe"... are there non-Deluxe versions? Or is it just a word they throw on there to make them seem like more than what they really are?

 

Usually when I think deluxe I think something like "the deluxe model car with the leather seats and power windows" v. "the crappy regular version with vinyl seats and crank up windows".

They refer to class sizes, and different price points.

Edit: What Hunter Rose said

Toys R Us

 

My next stop was at the Toys R Us down the street. They had a full supply of TF:A figures ready to go. No sales or advertising, but they were there. Not surprisingly, they are fetching a small premium for the Deluxe class figure ($10.99).

Walmart

 

 

WOW!!! $10.99 for the deluxe figures? You mean Bulkhead, Starscream and Megatron? Those were going for $25 at Kay-Bee.

 

My son flipped over Lockdown so we picked that one up. I love the flat paint colors rather than the shiny. Looks way cooler. It's a pretty awesome figure. They went all out in engineering these figrues to have spot on transformations in both modes. They look almost odentical to their TV show counterparts.

 

So what makes the other "deluxe"... are there non-Deluxe versions? Or is it just a word they throw on there to make them seem like more than what they really are?

 

Usually when I think deluxe I think something like "the deluxe model car with the leather seats and power windows" v. "the crappy regular version with vinyl seats and crank up windows".

They refer to class sizes, and different price points.

Scout = $6.99 (Not used so far in Animated

Deluxe = $9.99

Voyager = $19.99

Ultra = $24.99 (This will be a size in the upcoming Universe line, not used that I know of in Animated)

Leader = $39.99

Supreme = $OMGWHYEVENBOTHER.99

:tflaugh @ Supreme. Isn't the Activators taking place of the Scout/Basic class?

:tflaugh @ Supreme. Isn't the Activators taking place of the Scout/Basic class?

Those are more like a "Sub-line" of the Animated line, similar to Fast Action Battlers. They don't really fit in to the main line and are more intended to be for younger kids. They just happen to be Scout-class-sized. I think that Deluxe will be the smallest size in the main Animated line.

Well at least my target doesnt care about animated because like 3 days ago they put out 2 prowls, 2 bb, 2 cybertron optimus's and 2 lockdowns and just moved the movie figs from there to the other pegs where movie figs are. they havent put any others out and all they have left now is 1 prowl 1 lockdown and 1 optimus. my walmart which is across the street always has plenty of animated :bounce. my walmart is where i got lugnut and grimlock 1 month ago and where i got ratchet and blackarachnea about 2 months ago. My walmart has animted a plenty in deluxes but cant keep any voyagers except bulkhead (which have been sitting there for 2 and a half months). they aucually have barely any movie toys!! The deluxe pegs are all being filled by animated and a whole end cap is filled by them. the most movie they have are the voyagers which have been pushed to an endcap are just getting dust. So im aucually not complaning i guess im bragging :tflaugh. oops :07redface

Well atlast my target cares. i went to my local target and they had on an endcap 3 voyager optimus's. I bought one. and the wave one voyagers were on the endcap. they had also on that endcap 13 or 14 deep space ss.

Mega(?) = $25 Figures (this size class is not very common actually but I think the new Onslaught and Powerglide are going to be this size)

Leader = $30 figures (usually Megatron, Prime, and in the case of the Movie figs - Brawl)

Supreme = $40-$50 figures (the only ones i can think of are C-Primus and C-Starscream)

 

The old "Mega"-size figures became the Voyagers at the $20 price point (strangely enough, at the end of Energon, when Mega got renamed Voyager, Hasbro also renamed the Deluxes to "Combat Class," but that never really caught on so they reverted to calling them "Deluxes" again).

 

The next price point are the "Ultras" which were $30 during Cybertron (not $25) - a class that wasn't used for the movie or Animated figures, but seems for some reason to be returning for Universe (although, I'm not sure if the Universe Ultras are going to be slightly smaller and perhaps come in at a $25 price point - a move I'd argue actually makes sense).

 

Also, Leaders are usually ~$40 and the Supremes are ~$50.

I wasn't suggesting it was a fail because they didn't have full stock everywhere at all locations. What amazes me, though, is that other movie lines that weren't due to air for 2mos (Dark Knight, The Hulk, etc) already have prominent shelf space (seen them on shelves since May), while a TV series that's aired for 6mos has had little to no retail exposure.

 

I just wonder about the logic of it all.

I wondered that too. But release dates on things is all marketing voodoo, so I've learned to shrug and wait it out.

The truth- in essence- is that if there's anyone to blame for "upsetting the balance" (or what the f*ck ever), it's Cartoon Network. They released their cartoon 6 months too soon.

 

What? No way. The date had been set months in advance, well before Hasbro's decision to continue the movie line. They couldn't cancel it.

 

As for availability of the figures... I've been seeing them a shotload here in texas. Hell, my local wal-mart had to set up a section dedicated solely to Animated. They've been selling well too.

 

Hate to quote myself, but I'd like to see someone reply to this. That point of view just makes no sense...