This page contains affiliate links. We may earn commissions when readers interact with or purchase items through these links. For more information, see our affiliate disclosures here.

Botshots Released In Japan...As A Test Market Item?

Transformers News: Botshots Released In Japan...As A Test Market Item?

Wednesday, September 19th, 2012 1:30PM CDT

Categories: Toy News, Rumors, Sightings
Posted by: Autobot032   Views: 62,973

Topic Options: View Discussion · Sign in or Join to reply

A fellow fansite (The ALLSpark) has information from one of their posters, SwiftEagle, pertaining to the Japan release of Botshots. Images from the store were included as well. (NOTE: We have mirrored the pictures here for ease of viewing)

Here's what he had to say:

So here's an oddity! A friend in Japan was contacted by *his* friend in Japan with the info that Bot Shots have been released there, but only in one store (that he's seen so far). There are six toys out, each with two different packaging variations. Seems like a test market run to see how they'll do at retail there.


Botshots Released In Japan...As A Test Market Item?

Followed by this:
Additional info!

The line is called BeCool (pun on "vehicle"). Bumblebee is the battle-mask version from the latest Hasbro wave. The price is 714 yen.


Botshots Released In Japan...As A Test Market Item?

As of this news posting (09/19/2012) 714 yen is equivalent to $9.11 USD, making them nearly three times the domestic price. It's currently unknown if this test market will expand, or if these are just a store exclusive. We'll keep you updated.

Keep your optics tuned to Seibertron.com for the latest news!
Credit(s): SwiftEagle from ALLSpark.com

News Search

Got Transformers News? Let us know here!

Most Popular Transformers News

Most Recent Transformers News

Re: Botshots Released In Japan...As A Test Market Item? (1421804)
Posted by Grimlock Shakur on September 19th, 2012 @ 2:19pm CDT
wow... the Japanese sure know how to display their Botshots!

but 9 bucks for them! now that's crazy!
to be honest, even the $3.49 price I've seen for them is a little high, for the quality and value of them, the price should be like $1.49 or $1.99 domestic.

but hey, those Prime figures that are going for $29.99 are even cheaper quality!

thanks Hasbro! :APPLAUSE:
Re: Botshots Released In Japan...As A Test Market Item? (1421815)
Posted by Rushie on September 19th, 2012 @ 3:05pm CDT
Wow, that's odd packaging art. It's very retro 80-s looking which was probably intentional, but it doesn't look like TF packaging. A bit like the Kre-O box art.
Re: Botshots Released In Japan...As A Test Market Item? (1421866)
Posted by Rated X on September 19th, 2012 @ 5:29pm CDT
Japan can have em ! You guys want Kreo too ??? Rescue Bots ???
Re: Botshots Released In Japan...As A Test Market Item? (1421868)
Posted by XDMan on September 19th, 2012 @ 5:44pm CDT
From G1 to the latest toylines, those were created from Takara. :D

Hasbro only made the Action Masters, War Within, role play accessories, Real Gear Robots, Kre-O, Rescue Bots, Fast Action Battlers, young child's toys (from the movies like Power Bots and Gravity Bots, from Animated like Battle Bumbers/ Cyber Slammers, and the Target or Wal-Mart exclusive repaints of Bumblebore :ic$: ).

TakaraTomy as the real TF creators FTW!!!!!!! ;) ;) ;)
Re: Botshots Released In Japan...As A Test Market Item? (1421937)
Posted by Autobot032 on September 19th, 2012 @ 10:08pm CDT
XDMan wrote:From G1 to the latest toylines, those were created from Takara. :D

Hasbro only made the Action Masters, War Within, role play accessories, Real Gear Robots, Kre-O, Rescue Bots, Fast Action Battlers, young child's toys (from the movies like Power Bots and Gravity Bots, from Animated like Battle Bumbers/ Cyber Slammers, and the Target or Wal-Mart exclusive repaints of Bumblebore :ic$: ).

TakaraTomy as the real TF creators FTW!!!!!!! ;) ;) ;)


Incorrect. TakaraTomy and Hasbro have made this a joint venture for quite a while now. Japan had Real Gear Robots, too. Hasbro can pretty much do as they see fit with some of the molds and designs and exclusives, but the mold design phase is usually a joint effort.

Kre-O isn't simply a Hasbro creation, either. While TakaraTomy have nothing to do with it, the producers of the blocks, Oxford, does. Considering they manufacture the pieces, do the printing of boxes and paperwork, and Hasbro merely gave them faction symbols and designs for heads (and possibly accessories), it really isn't even a Hasbro creation, either.
Re: Botshots Released In Japan...As A Test Market Item? (1421957)
Posted by Cobalt Prime on September 20th, 2012 @ 12:25am CDT
Huh.

If only they had just "test marketed" the things here in the US as well. Maybe then the shelves wouldn't be clogged with them and we'd have a decent amount of Prime Deluxes on the pegs. Other than Cliff, BB, and Ratchet, that is.
Re: Botshots Released In Japan...As A Test Market Item? (1421973)
Posted by gavinfuzzy on September 20th, 2012 @ 2:48am CDT
Holy crap, that is expensive. I don't think these boxes work well too... I much prefer the US boxes that actually show off the bot inside. TBH, this way, the box is rather plain an ugly. It might be a good way to keep the clear chase figures rare though.

Woah, $9US? And I thought the $6 we pay for them here was rather expensive...
Re: Botshots Released In Japan...As A Test Market Item? (1421975)
Posted by Megatron Wolf on September 20th, 2012 @ 3:09am CDT
wow $9 for one of those, & i thought the prices were bad over here. It strange how these are being tested out there but over here they were mass released right away, is hasbro did test marketing then im sure the shelves wouldnt be filled with useless crap. Well when the shelves actually have stuff on them, i havent seen any hasbro stuff restocked around here in months. Its been the same 3 TFP bumblebees & and 5 DOTM figures for a while now. Granted theres nothing i want from the stuff that should be out now but its still not right to not restock. But back on topic why are botshots being packaged in such big bland boxes in japan?
Re: Botshots Released In Japan...As A Test Market Item? (1422036)
Posted by Actar on September 20th, 2012 @ 10:01am CDT
Are these the exact same figures as the ones in the US? Interesting to see that they are not even labeled under the Transformers brand. Like Bumblebee is 'Yellow Sportscar' and Prowl is 'Patrol Car'...

Transformers and More @ The Seibertron Store

Visit our store on eBay
These are affiliate links. We may earn commissions when you purchase items or services through these links.
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "THE FALLEN Transformers Revenge Fallen ROTF Voyager complete Hasbro 2009 240109R"
THE FALLEN Transfo ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "AD26 LOCKDOWN Transformers Age Extinction Movie Advanced deluxe Takara AOE"
AD26 LOCKDOWN Tran ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "MEGATRON Transformers Revenge Fallen Robot Replicas complete ROTF 2009 210930A"
MEGATRON Transform ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "BUMBLEBEE Transformers Studio Series Core Class Dark of the Moon DOTM 2023 New"
BUMBLEBEE Transfor ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "GRAVITY BOTS SIDESWIPE Transformers Revenge of the Fallen ROTF 2009 121027"
GRAVITY BOTS SIDES ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "OFFROAD SKIDS Transformers Revenge the Fallen NEST Global Alliance Legends ROTF"
OFFROAD SKIDS Tran ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "MEGATRON Transformers Revenge Fallen ROTF Voyager complete Hasbro 2009 240109W"
MEGATRON Transform ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "SKIDS (variant) Transformers Revenge Fallen ROTF Deluxe complete + more 221013A"
SKIDS (variant) Tr ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "DESERT TRACKER RATCHET Transformers Revenge Fallen ROTF Voyager complete 2009"
DESERT TRACKER RAT ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "Cyber Slammers RATCHET Transformers Movie 2007 complete Hasbro 170510A"
Cyber Slammers RAT ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "THE FALLEN Transformers Studio Series 91 Revenge of ROTF Leader Hasbro 2022 New"
THE FALLEN Transfo ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "GRIMLOCK Transformers The Last Knight Legion Class Movie TLK Hasbro New 2017"
GRIMLOCK Transform ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "STARSCREAM Transformers Revenge Fallen Robot Replicas complete ROTF 2009 210930A"
STARSCREAM Transfo ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "SKIDS (variant) Transformers Revenge Fallen ROTF Deluxe complete + more 220802A"
SKIDS (variant) Tr ...
* Price and quantities subject to change. Shipping costs, taxes and other fees not included in cost shown. Refer to listing for current price and availability.
Find the items above and thousands more at the Seibertron Store on eBay
Transformers Podcast: Twincast / Podcast #349 - Agent of Chaos
Twincast / Podcast #349:
"Agent of Chaos"
MP3 · iTunes · RSS · View · Discuss · Ask
Posted: Saturday, May 4th, 2024

Featured Products on Amazon.com

These are affiliate links. We may earn commissions when you purchase items or services through these links.
Buy "Transformers: Bumblebee -- Energon Igniters Nitro Series Barricade" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Power of The Primes Deluxe Class Dinobot Snarl" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers: Bumblebee -- Energon Igniters Nitro Series Optimus Prime" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Masterpiece Movie Series Barricade MPM-5" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers: Generations Power of The Primes Deluxe Class Dinobot Slug" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Studio Series 13 Voyager Class Movie 2 Megatron" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers: Generations Power of The Primes Quintus Prime Prime Master" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers: Bumblebee Movie Toys, Energon Igniters Nitro Bumblebee Action Figure - Included Core Powers Driving Action - Toys for Kids 6 and Up, 7-inch" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Attacker 15 Peterman Action Figure" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Voyager Class Roadbuster Figure" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Titan Masters Overboard Action Figure" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers: Bumblebee -- Energon Igniters Speed Series Barricade" on AMAZON