Th 4RL deal

Hi, I'm new to collecting the TAKARA versions of figures, and now that I finally have spare money to afford TAV18 Drift, and TAV21 Optimus Prime, I can't find them for anything less than a 15-30 dollar markup. SO, my question is, given that these figures have been out for two months, are those the only prices I'm going to find from here on out? Or if I wait, will some of the shops who have them listed for a more reasonable markup *probably* get more in eventually? Again, I'm new to collecting the Takara version of the toys, and I'm am gravely concerned by how hard it is proving to find these toys suddenly at the shops I actually frequent, and FURTHER concerned by the *very* vague answers I've gotten from the shops that *have* responded to my emails about what the deal with them is. So yes, um... please help. Any advice or guidance from a TAKARA collecting veteran would be appreciated. EDIT: Erm... I may have posted this thread in the wrong forum... >_>"

On top of all the really great looking molds here, I'm really glad to see them making a female character without a clear homage or tie-in to another series . That's a major step forward if it actually becomes a thing they do semi-regularly. ...Although, when you figure in the fact that they've never done a proper G1 homage to Arcee, or any of several female characters that are (fairly?) well established, it could start to look a little frustrating. I'm just going to not think about it and hope that the Generations Arcee/Chromia announcements are legit and preferably awesome.

Wait... Generations Arcee is a thing? For real this time? Man I've been out of the game for too long!

I like it if the price is right. Like the build and style... gets points for not being a Motorcycle. I don't know when they decided Arcee has to be a Motorcycle all the friggin' time, (Energon, I know) but it's time for a break from that. Oh and uh... apparently after years of absence, I have returned to these hallowed forums. Wheeee.

Wow, at 118 each, that puts the total for owning the whole set at about $360... What a terrible time to have lost my Job!

I feel guilty that I didn't follow my "Read the whole thread rule" I usually follow but I just gotta say it: Prime isn't bad. But.... Prime isn't fantastic either. In fact I would go so far as to say that the most fantastic thing about it is how fantastically bland it is. The writing is almost but NOT QUITE clever... Characters NEVER stray from their Archetype, and Prime seems to only be around to provide epic speeches and moral compass. The show recycles models to a ridiculous degree, and seems determined to hit EVERY cliche they can dredge up without doing ANYTHING to change it beyond adding robots to it. Like... an Episode where Prime gets sick and they have to race for a cure? Seriously? How many hundred THOUSAND times has THAT been done? Bleh. ANYWHO... sorry for the rant? But I just had to get it out. All in all, I'd RATHER see it improve than see it canned, but if they don't add a spark to it soon, I'm going to lose complete interest. :/