SDCC 2013 Hasbro Exclusives Available on HTS.com - Metroplex Sold Out

necr0blivion wrote:

Agamemnon wrote:Aaaaannnnndddd, Metroplex is out. Eh, I guess it saves me from having to explain the purchase to my accountant. (Read:wife)

Hong Kong ACG-Con Exclusive Metroplex would like to have a word with your accountant...

http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=HAS23059&mode=retail

Yeah, saw that. Price is a little stiff. I think I'll settle for the normal retail release.

managed to snag one but it seriously sold out in the time it took to pay for it. BTW that comic2013 code for 10% off did not work

quick side note I noticed that the ACG con metroplex preorder, which is virtually identical to the SDCC metroplex, was still in stock at BBTS at the price of $250 while the SDCC metroplex was sold out at the price of $290...... LOL,WTF?

oh I almost forgot F#@K you scalper B#&CHES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was fortunate enough to be checking the site at the end of a meeting at work and got lucky that they came online right as I was heading back to my office. I scored all 3 TF items and Boba Fett.

Boba Fett sold out first, then the Magic Gathering cards, then Metroplex, then Gem, then Deadpool figures. Surprised Shockwave's Lab is still available since it is one of the 30th anniversary items.

Metroplex gone within half an hour? Not entirely unexpected, but damn, that's annoying. I've had the Hasbro website open in a tab for the last few days, refreshing a search for "Metroplex" every few (conscious) hours... And it still slipped through my fingers...

Ah well. Suppose I'll keep an eye on it just in case, and if no miracles happen, I'll settle for the retail version.

Yotsuyasan wrote:Metroplex gone within half an hour? Not entirely unexpected, but damn, that's annoying. I've had the Hasbro website open in a tab for the last few days, refreshing a search for "Metroplex" every few (conscious) hours... And it still slipped through my fingers...

Ah well. Suppose I'll keep an eye on it just in case, and if no miracles happen, I'll settle for the retail version.

It was about 10-15 minutes for 'Plex to sell out...

Was filming a review and had my phone on silent. Missed everything. I really wanted that Fett.

Agamemnon wrote:

Yotsuyasan wrote:Metroplex gone within half an hour? Not entirely unexpected, but damn, that's annoying. I've had the Hasbro website open in a tab for the last few days, refreshing a search for "Metroplex" every few (conscious) hours... And it still slipped through my fingers...

Ah well. Suppose I'll keep an eye on it just in case, and if no miracles happen, I'll settle for the retail version.

It was about 10-15 minutes for 'Plex to sell out...

Which is, theoretically, within "half an hour."

I never understand why they would make something like this with such a limited quantity, and without a definitely announced sale time. Seems like a formula for pissing off the fanbase. I mean, I know that they shouldn't make an overly excessive amount where they will be stuck with unsold stock... But for such a high demand item, wouldn't they rather have our money by having us buy a more expensive version direct from them? Now everyone that missed out on this will have to settle for the retail version... Which costs less, and is sold through other people... So less money for Hasbro.

So... I guess... Shut up and take less of my money? Okay... Since I have no choice... If you insist, Hasbro, you can have less of my money.

Yotsuyasan wrote:Metroplex gone within half an hour? Not entirely unexpected, but damn, that's annoying. I've had the Hasbro website open in a tab for the last few days, refreshing a search for "Metroplex" every few (conscious) hours... And it still slipped through my fingers...

Ah well. Suppose I'll keep an eye on it just in case, and if no miracles happen, I'll settle for the retail version.

I set a auto refresh add-on to refresh the page every 5 secs =X

I managed to get one while I was driving. Not literally of course, that would be dangerous. I was coming from an appointment, refreshed my phone browser; there it was (Metroplex), I pulled over, grabbed Kindle, placed order, OWNED!!! I will say that this was the first time that I had ever been successful doing this. I, like many of you, suffered from lack of sleep over the last two days. This was a great hunt though. Reminded of my hunt for rare toys in Korea days in the late 90's to mid 2000's.

Ugh. I REALLY wanted that Boba Fett, too.

Yotsuyasan wrote:

Agamemnon wrote:

Yotsuyasan wrote:Metroplex gone within half an hour? Not entirely unexpected, but damn, that's annoying. I've had the Hasbro website open in a tab for the last few days, refreshing a search for "Metroplex" every few (conscious) hours... And it still slipped through my fingers...

Ah well. Suppose I'll keep an eye on it just in case, and if no miracles happen, I'll settle for the retail version.

It was about 10-15 minutes for 'Plex to sell out...

Which is, theoretically, within "half an hour."

I never understand why they would make something like this with such a limited quantity, and without a definitely announced sale time. Seems like a formula for pissing off the fanbase. I mean, I know that they shouldn't make an overly excessive amount where they will be stuck with unsold stock... But for such a high demand item, wouldn't they rather have our money by having us buy a more expensive version direct from them? Now everyone that missed out on this will have to settle for the retail version... Which costs less, and is sold through other people... So less money for Hasbro.


So... I guess... Shut up and take less of my money? Okay... Since I have no choice... If you insist, Hasbro, you can have less of my money.

yeah you'll find that Hasbro does many things that take advantage of rather than cater to its customers. kind of retarded but then again we are talking about the same company that made a deluxe megatron and several leader/weaponizer bumblebees......

It is appropriate as well that Hasbro's transformers brand would celebrate its 30th anniversary be releasing thirty repaints, retools, straight up carbon copies of earlier releases, inflating the price and then making them exclusive and therefore much more difficult to get. Its appropriate because that is their entire business strategy apparently.

you must laugh at the "collect them all" on by the number on each "thrilling thirty" figure because, well, its really, really, really stupid. I feel as though the third party companies are doing a better job of celebrating the 30th anniversary by releasing all these BA combiners, sixshots, and more! AND THEIR NOT REPAINTS AND WE ALL HAVE THE SAME SHOT AT OWNING THEM AND THEIR PRICED THE SAME AS THESE CRAPPY THRILLING THIRTY FIGURES!!!!!

Damnit, I waited diligently all morning until almost 2:00 PM EST, then I had to actually do some work. Figures.

Is there any hope of some remaining CS stock popping back up later today or tomorrow after they check their numbers and such? I seem to remember hearing that SDCC Bruticus appeared again last year for a few minutes after the initial sell-out, though I could just be grasping at any ray of hope now.

Figures. Been sitting in front of the PC for 2 darn days waiting for these thing to come available, fiancee calls me to pick up her friend from the airport because her family is too tired to do so, and in the span of being gone one hour the damn thing sells out. Typical...

Yea, I've been refreshing for days, but missed it too.

Oh well, less $$$ spent.

Didn't see the Joe/TF crossover set at all, did those sell out at SDCC?

I picked up the Shockwave set, a couple Iron Man dudes and the voyager Magnus.

Oh, the code DID work, just not on the SDCC item (how dippy is that???)

Ebonyleopard wrote:Figures. Been sitting in front of the PC for 2 darn days waiting for these thing to come available, fiancee calls me to pick up her friend from the airport because her family is too tired to do so, and in the span of being one one hour the damn thing sells out. Typical...

I know, I know.

Congrats to those who managed to get the exclusives they wanted.

As for me, I'm happy with my retail Prime Shockwave, I don't need the Titan Guardians, and I'll going for the retail Metroplex.

Sabrblade wrote:Congrats to those who managed to get the exclusives they wanted.

As for me, I'm happy with my retail Prime Shockwave, I don't need the Titan Guardians, and I'll going for the retail Metroplex.

I was pretty pumped with the SDCC Metroplex, but I think I'll be perfectly happy with the retail version.

Plus... you know repro labels is gonna make a killing

megatronus wrote:Plus... you know repro labels is gonna make a killing

Well, I have been looking forward to seeing what Reprolabels would be doing with Metroplex... But while I suspect they may be able to chrome up the legs, the face (which is the chrome I was more interested in) would be harder to do with stickers. Also, the thing I wanted most (the second red gun) would be hard to do with stickers...

I am very fortunate, my friend hooked me up with a comic con Metroplex, I got Shockwave on HTS, and I don't care for the guardians. I would have picked up the Guardians if they made them actually look like the old action masters toys or if they made them more poseable.

I've been watching HTS for days waiting for the window. And once again, I've missed it. This story is has gotten way too familiar.

mbd88prime wrote:oh I almost forgot F#@K you scalper B#&CHES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

+1! My first thoughts after seeing this thread? MUTHA#@!@!$%!!! C#$KSU#@ERS!!!

Yotsuyasan wrote:Metroplex gone within half an hour? Not entirely unexpected, but damn, that's annoying. I've had the Hasbro website open in a tab for the last few days, refreshing a search for "Metroplex" every few (conscious) hours... And it still slipped through my fingers...

Ah well. Suppose I'll keep an eye on it just in case, and if no miracles happen, I'll settle for the retail version.

+1. And I think a lot of were doing this... I think the lesson is this: you blinked. That's how you f*cked up. Next time around? Stop blinking! Maybe slow your heart rate down and move super-fast, too...

Yotsuyasan wrote:I never understand why they would make something like this with such a limited quantity, and without a definitely announced sale time. Seems like a formula for pissing off the fanbase. I mean, I know that they shouldn't make an overly excessive amount where they will be stuck with unsold stock... But for such a high demand item, wouldn't they rather have our money by having us buy a more expensive version direct from them? Now everyone that missed out on this will have to settle for the retail version... Which costs less, and is sold through other people... So less money for Hasbro.

So... I guess... Shut up and take less of my money? Okay... Since I have no choice... If you insist, Hasbro, you can have less of my money.

+1. I keep saying how the poachers (scalpers) are making waaaaaay more money on these than Hasbro. But remember: this is the same company that claimed "10-20%" of all their TF sales are from adult collectors. 1) You're a multi-billion dollar company and you don't know your exact customer demographics??? (i.e. "we know, but we don't want to admit adults buy our stuff more than kids"), and 2) Is 10-20% even remotely reasonable? As a lie or estimate? (numbers taken from a Seibertron comment/recounting of Hasbro reps answering a question at a panel).

mbd88prime wrote:AND THEIR NOT REPAINTS AND WE ALL HAVE THE SAME SHOT AT OWNING THEM AND THEIR PRICED THE SAME AS THESE CRAPPY THRILLING THIRTY FIGURES!!!!!

+111111212131341!!!!

In the past, it was all, "shut up. take it, b*tches!" But flash forward to present day: there are alternatives. Good alternatives, too (i.e. 3rd Party MP Shockwave). Hasbro is cutting jobs and doing a sh*t job releasing highly-sought after products - this is what circling the drain looks like!

I'm sure Hasbro will long outlive the TF brand, though! MY LITTLE PONY!

I want to add this: when I had trouble finding MP Soundwave last week, I went ahead and spent that money on 3rd Party stuff I had been eyeing (Stunticons!!!!).

I'm thinking I'll do the same with this Metro money. It's downright obnoxious that a small elite number of us get this product. If you're going to release tiny quantities, I think you should either make a pre-order list, lottery, or just wait and release more at a time! This awkward release creates negative impressions with your customers, Hasbro. And it puts money in the hands of scalpers. A LOT of money.

I hear a lot about piracy in the music/movie/gaming industry... but when does anyone bring up how much scalping hurts the business?

Every time something like this is released, I am absolutely disgusted by the sky-high prices I expect to find on eBay. Same thing with Nintendo's Pikachu 3DS XL - f*ck that noise.

The problem is when you are making your customers jump through hoops to give you money. That is pure fail.

i had been looking forward to purchasing that metroplex been checking the site once every half hour to hour and still missed my chance i was soo disappointed and mad
my first thought was those damn scalpers got a good deal of them and they will try to sell
them on ebay for 100 dollars more ...well they arent getting the satisfaction of overcharging me
i would rather buy the japanese version for more or get the retail for a little less than give those f-ing scalpers my money so i preordered the retail one on toys r us for 120 i guess a metroplex is still a metroplex(but damn i wanted the chrome and the extra gun)
on a side note i think we all should band together and boycott those annoying scalpers refuse to do business with them so they cant sell their stuff for their high prices and let them sit on their exclusives and suffer and then they will have to eventually lower their price ...but that will never happen because their will always be someone who will want it bad enough to pay the scalpers price ...shame on them

How fast did they sell out?

joevill wrote:How fast did they sell out?

Very quickly. Within ten to fifteen minutes, I believe.

Mindmaster wrote:

joevill wrote:How fast did they sell out?

Very quickly. Within ten to fifteen minutes, I believe.

That is correct. I was on Hasbro's site within 10 minutes of the first post here saying the products were up and 'Plex was sold out. I was checking every 10 mins or so, but had pretty much given up for the day...

Metrosuplex wrote:I want to add this: when I had trouble finding MP Soundwave last week, I went ahead and spent that money on 3rd Party stuff I had been eyeing (Stunticons!!!!).

I'm thinking I'll do the same with this Metro money. It's downright obnoxious that a small elite number of us get this product. If you're going to release tiny quantities, I think you should either make a pre-order list, lottery, or just wait and release more at a time! This awkward release creates negative impressions with your customers, Hasbro. And it puts money in the hands of scalpers. A LOT of money.

I hear a lot about piracy in the music/movie/gaming industry... but when does anyone bring up how much scalping hurts the business?

Personally I don't think these got scalped. It is one per house hold. How many can someone buy before the 10 mins are up? Plus there's a HK exclusive that is readily available for $250. Metroplex with shipping and tax in my state cost me 185. if you sell this on ebay for around 250 you will make what 20 bucks? (at $250 ebay takes %10 so 25 bucks and shipping is at least $20 on this thing paypal takes 4%... so buy for 185 sell for $250 55 from fees and shipping and you make $10 for 3 days of f5ing. I was going to give up after today.. all the stress from waiting hardly seems worth it. but I truly believe everyone that got one is a fan and would love to have it.

mooncake623 wrote:Personally I don't think these got scalped.

I'm sure they weren't all scalpers... Perhaps not even most of them. Still, the fact that there are currently over 80 of them on eBay goes to show that many of them were bought by people purely for the purpose of reselling them. (And even if those 80 were bought at SDCC and not online, then those are 80 that could have been put online following the con.) So... yeah. If I was a vindictive person, I'd say I hope all of those scalpers all choke on the money they'll get.

So yeah... Scalpers are even worse then Hasbro's stupidity here... But not by much.

good thing i ordered the retail version of metroplex on toys r us website earlier today
because now its not listed anymore!

Yotsuyasan wrote:

mooncake623 wrote:Personally I don't think these got scalped.

I'm sure they weren't all scalpers... Perhaps not even most of them. Still, the fact that there are currently over 80 of them on eBay goes to show that many of them were bought by people purely for the purpose of reselling them. (And even if those 80 were bought at SDCC and not online, then those are 80 that could have been put online following the con.) So... yeah. If I was a vindictive person, I'd say I hope all of those scalpers all choke on the money they'll get.

So yeah... Scalpers are even worse then Hasbro's stupidity here... But not by much.

I guess you're right but that's only saying that these guys aren't that smart... seriously How smart is it to buy this thing to resell? you're not getting much out of it if you're doing the math. there's so many alternatives "retail, Takara, HK exclusive"

Ultra Markus wrote:good thing i ordered the retail version of metroplex on toys r us website earlier today
because now its not listed anymore!

you shoudl buy from BBTS its cheaper.

http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=HAS22897&mode=retail

Yotsuyasan wrote:

mooncake623 wrote:Personally I don't think these got scalped.

I'm sure they weren't all scalpers... Perhaps not even most of them. Still, the fact that there are currently over 80 of them on eBay goes to show that many of them were bought by people purely for the purpose of reselling them. (And even if those 80 were bought at SDCC and not online, then those are 80 that could have been put online following the con.) So... yeah. If I was a vindictive person, I'd say I hope all of those scalpers all choke on the money they'll get.

So yeah... Scalpers are even worse then Hasbro's stupidity here... But not by much.

I think a pretty good portion are scalpers. One because of how many metroplexes are on ebay, two because you can order these exclusives from bbts and maybe other places which makes them a HUGE scalper, three because one time I posted something about collectors telling scalpers that we wont buy from them and about a million people descended on me telling me I was stupid, my plan unworkable, and so on. In other words a bunch of scalpers that happen to also be members on seibertron didn't like what I had to say and there were quite a few! I think that we are talking a out people who make a living or at least a good supplemental income on scalping and therefore most likely have ways around limits per household and so forth.

p.s. when I post something possibly intellectually stimulating like an old theory I had about predaking maybe being a prime, for which I had many supporting facts, no one has anything to say one way or the other save like three people. I hate scalpers you people are leaches, nothing more nothing less. No one ever claimed you could serve a medicinal purpose though!!! Hard working people bust their butts at work all day and come home hoping to purchase something cool as a little treat to themselves for a job well done only to find that these leaches have bled their dreams dry and all their hard work was for nothing. I AM vindictive and hope all that money is desease ridden and full of man sweat!

mooncake623 wrote:I guess you're right but that's only saying that these guys aren't that smart... seriously How smart is it to buy this thing to resell? you're not getting much out of it if you're doing the math. there's so many alternatives "retail, Takara, HK exclusive"

Well, based on the ones with "Buy it Now" options, they are hoping to at least double their money. And I'm sure there are enough people who aren't as knowledgeable bout the import market who will happily pay those outrageous prices.

So a sad combination of stupidity and greed basically means less SDCC Metroplexes for reasonable prices.

mooncake623 wrote:you shoudl buy from BBTS its cheaper.

He's also the same price at TFSource. And I already had a bunch of stuff in my order stack there, so I just added a Metroplex preorder to the pile.

Yotsuyasan wrote:

Well, based on the ones with "Buy it Now" options, they are hoping to at least double their money. And I'm sure there are enough people who aren't as knowledgeable bout the import market who will happily pay those outrageous prices.

lol everyone can have hopes and dreams. I really don't think it'll be more then $250 in the long run if you wait it out a bit.

EDIT::

This guy is selling for $250 free shipping... or you can make him an offer. so if one assumes he got this for 185 he is literally making $10

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?siteid=0&pub=5574891718&campid=5336631220&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fitm%2F2013-Comic-Con-Exclusive-Transfomer-Metroplex-MISB%2F151088595572%3FssPageName%3DWDVW%26rd%3D1%26ih%3D005%26category%3D83732%26cmd%3DViewItem%26

mooncake623 wrote:Personally I don't think these got scalped. It is one per house hold. How many can someone buy before the 10 mins are up? Plus there's a HK exclusive that is readily available for $250. Metroplex with shipping and tax in my state cost me 185. if you sell this on ebay for around 250 you will make what 20 bucks? (at $250 ebay takes %10 so 25 bucks and shipping is at least $20 on this thing paypal takes 4%... so buy for 185 sell for $250 55 from fees and shipping and you make $10 for 3 days of f5ing. I was going to give up after today.. all the stress from waiting hardly seems worth it. but I truly believe everyone that got one is a fan and would love to have it.

So there WAS a limit? I didn't know. But the scalpers are still there, even if your calculations are good. For one thing, you forget about other sell sites like Amazon. For example, someone's already listed Vanilla Metro for $180, and he's not out until Aug. 1st!

Anyway, my comment was for TF's overall, and mostly aimed at MP Soundwave, who is facing a similar fiasco - lots of people buying the only 2 Soundwaves in a given store, thanks to the promo. I'd love to believe they're all fans, but I'm too cynical.

Yotsuyasan wrote:If I was a vindictive person, I'd say I hope all of those scalpers all choke on the money they'll get.

Yes.

mooncake623 wrote:I guess you're right but that's only saying that these guys aren't that smart... seriously How smart is it to buy this thing to resell? you're not getting much out of it if you're doing the math. there's so many alternatives "retail, Takara, HK exclusive"

Some great replies to your post. And why $185? No free ship for being over $50? That sucks. $25 shipping/tax????

But basically, as mentioned, there are a lot of lazy/dumb people who don't know about BBTS and HK Metro/Takara Metro. Plus, everyone wants that awesome SDCC Metro box - it does look sweet. (I've heard conversations between TF collectors about how they never liked Asian TF's because the Chinese/Japanese on the boxes doesn't look right, etc. etc. etc.).

AND, I would add that most people do NOT do the math. They may very well be making only $10 on the sale, but they probably wouldn't figure it out until AFTER the sale. I once saw a scalper at Best Buy literally HOARDING tons of copies of crap games. These were games no one wanted, and he was collecting them like gold bars. Shifty bastard who didn't like me staring at his hoard behavior. And I thought, "How much is he going to make on crap no one wanted to buy from Best Buy????" But clearly he had a plan. Even if he ends up making $1 on each game, I'm sure he thinks scalping is the best job.

mbd88prime wrote:I AM vindictive and hope all that money is desease ridden and full of man sweat!

You are my hero.

If you guys want a convention exclusive, you guys have to go to the convention. If you choose not to go to the convention, then don't complain about people who try to make a little money off some products at the event that they attended. It's the name of the game. These trips are extremely expensive. If someone wants to offset some of their costs by flipping some exclusives, then so be it. I'd know I'd like to recoup some of the $3,000+ my wife and I spent last week to attend Comic-Con on flights, hotels, food, my exclusives, the $140 to ship back my exclusives, etc.

Metrosuplex wrote:
Some great replies to your post. And why $185? No free ship for being over $50? That sucks. $25 shipping/tax????

there was no free shipping on Exclusives at HTS. so its $150, $20 shipping, and around $15 tax. so i got mine for $185 in that 10 mins window. and I feel lucky.

Seibertron wrote:If you guys want a convention exclusive, you guys have to go to the convention. If you choose not to go to the convention, then don't complain about people who try to make a little money off some products at the event that they attended. It's the name of the game. These trips are extremely expensive. If someone wants to offset some of their costs by flipping some exclusives, then so be it. I'd know I'd like to recoup some of the $3,000+ my wife and I spent last week to attend Comic-Con on flights, hotels, food, my exclusives, the $140 to ship back my exclusives, etc.

No offense, Seibertron, but what if... WHAT IF... we can't afford to go???

I guess you're saying we should all spend the money and go... then buy extra exclusives, flip them, and lower our overall costs. Truly, a splendid scalper plan.

But my problem is this: if you can sell Metroplex for $250, and Hasbro made $100 on that sale... well, what do you say to Hasbro? Tough nuts?

If Hasbro made that money (as they manufacturer/wholesaler, they could build up the brand - i.e. Hasbro profits = bigger, better TF's.

I appreciate how scalping helps the common man, but your attitude is erroneously based on the product, not the principle. For example, would you scalp a bottle of water in a desert? Or a bag of food in a homeless alley? But this is a toy, so it's different?

Anyway, I respect your opinion, but it emphasizes what I said in other posts: SDCC and Botcon are ELITIST EVENTS WHERE THE FEW GET TO ENJOY AND SCALP TO THE MANY (who can't afford the elitist privileges).

Of course, I am assuming that we're not all the same wealth on here, so feel free to counter-argue that money plays no role in this conversation. Certainly, you can say, that $250 for SDCC Metro is a fine price, as it's significantly less than actually being at SDCC and picking him up?

mooncake623 wrote:

Ultra Markus wrote:good thing i ordered the retail version of metroplex on toys r us website earlier today
because now its not listed anymore!

you shoudl buy from BBTS its cheaper.

http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=HAS22897&mode=retail

they dont do paypal on preorders plus toys r us ships free

Seibertron wrote:If you guys want a convention exclusive, you guys have to go to the convention. If you choose not to go to the convention, then don't complain about people who try to make a little money off some products at the event that they attended. It's the name of the game. These trips are extremely expensive. If someone wants to offset some of their costs by flipping some exclusives, then so be it. I'd know I'd like to recoup some of the $3,000+ my wife and I spent last week to attend Comic-Con on flights, hotels, food, my exclusives, the $140 to ship back my exclusives, etc.

Aren't these expenses tax write offs for you ? =X lol

double post

mooncake623 wrote:there was no free shipping on Exclusives at HTS. so its $150, $20 shipping, and around $15 tax. so i got mine for $185 in that 10 mins window. and I feel lucky.

Damn. That's crazy. I expected to pay more... but not some $75 more than Vanilla! Thanks for the info. I guess I don't feel TOO bad about this mess.

But seriously, I hate jumping through hoops to buy something. Businesses cater to customers, not the other way around. This whole fiasco is a big FAIL, IMO. I thought 3rd Parties were bad (with their high prices), but at least they're not a pain in the @$$ to get (even with production delays). A 3rd Party product will, for the most part, announce a release date and stick with it, in plentiful supply. Not always, but I've had good experiences. Certainly none of this, "ONLY AT THE CONVENTION!!!! BE THERE OR BE A LOSER, B*TCHES!!!" crap! I get that exclusivity and elitism are awesome (whatever), but when you make a product that difficult to get (and you have an excess of demand), well, it's artificial.

This is Hasbro doing what the diamond industry does - they could release more, but then the scalpers wouldn't be so tempted to buy so many at the convention! In the end, I'd rather buy a 3rd Party Product than give a scalper the benefit of flipping a profit on a product they have no business profiting from.

Seibertron wrote:If you guys want a convention exclusive, you guys have to go to the convention. If you choose not to go to the convention, then don't complain about people who try to make a little money off some products at the event that they attended. It's the name of the game. These trips are extremely expensive. If someone wants to offset some of their costs by flipping some exclusives, then so be it. I'd know I'd like to recoup some of the $3,000+ my wife and I spent last week to attend Comic-Con on flights, hotels, food, my exclusives, the $140 to ship back my exclusives, etc.

Wow... Just wow... I usually try to avoid arguing with the person who runs a website I like... But that is just a pig-headed and elitist attitude.

You know what? I wanted that exclusive. But yeah, I can't afford Comic Con. You can? Awesome for you. And if this was just a Comic Con exclusive, then fine, I'd have never gotten up any hope of getting this.

But it was an exclusive to Comic-Con and the Hasbro website. So theoretically, it was supposed to be available in two places. And one of those, I can afford. (Visiting a website is free! Just have to pay for the toy.)

But an unannounced 10 minute window of opportunity? That's not availability. That's a lottery of dumb luck. (Don't get me wrong, I knew that the chances of getting it online might be small... But there's a difference between small and dumb luck miniscule.) To those who got him (and who aren't scalpers), awesome. Good on you. But bad on Hasbro for their piss-poor lack of online availability, and (expletive deleted) you for saying it's my fault I don't get it because I can't afford the time and money to go to an expensive as all hell event that I wouldn't have any interest in beyond Metroplex, anyway... Especially when it should have in theory been available on their website.

I wish I could be repentant of the tone of the above... And I hope it doesn't get me banned, or result in a thread lock or anything... But damn it, your post pissed me off with its tone. If it is worth anything, I'm done with this thread.

Seibertron wrote:If you guys want a convention exclusive, you guys have to go to the convention. If you choose not to go to the convention, then don't complain about people who try to make a little money off some products at the event that they attended. It's the name of the game. These trips are extremely expensive. If someone wants to offset some of their costs by flipping some exclusives, then so be it. I'd know I'd like to recoup some of the $3,000+ my wife and I spent last week to attend Comic-Con on flights, hotels, food, my exclusives, the $140 to ship back my exclusives, etc.

Excuse me for being curt, but that's easy for you to say given that that's your job. Not everyone has the "choice," as you put it, and I'm not sure I appreciate the elitist tone you're taking.

And this is is coming from someone who has definitely flipped a piece or two for a quick buck.

There's really no way for Hasbro to filter out scalpers on exclusives (which should be limited release). The only thing (that I can think of) is to be secretive about when the toys will be available on the site, which they do, but people complain about that too. I spent 5 hours at my computer this morning after a 12 hour shift of work, literally refreshing once or more a minute while watching some tele... I've done this the last 3 years and had success in getting the items I wanted. It sucks, but that's what you gotta do if you want them bad enough. I don't see anyway to be rid of scalping, so why complain? Pay the extra hundred for metro or have a terrible Wednesday once a year like I do!

Yotsuyasan wrote:I wish I could be repentant of the tone of the above... And I hope it doesn't get me banned, or result in a thread lock or anything...

You won't get banned for disagreeing with the site owner, that's not how we operate. We welcome discussion, and everyone is entitled to and welcome to voice their opinion provided it's done in a civil manner.

Yotsuyasan wrote:But it was an exclusive to Comic-Con and the Hasbro website. So theoretically, it was supposed to be available in two places. And one of those, I can afford. (Visiting a website is free! Just have to pay for the toy.)

It's a Comic-Con exclusive. Any leftovers would be sold at HasbroToyShop.com.

El Duque wrote:

Yotsuyasan wrote:I wish I could be repentant of the tone of the above... And I hope it doesn't get me banned, or result in a thread lock or anything...

You won't get banned for disagreeing with the site owner, that's not how we operate. We welcome discussion, and everyone is entitled to and welcome to voice their opinion provided it's done in a civil manner.

I know I said I was done with this thread... But just to answer that, my worry was about where I did more then just disagree with him... I said, "(expletive deleted) you," to him. Yes, I at least censored myself, but I thought it was still petty clear that my sentiment was a bit stronger then, "darn you."

And usually I don't like to go around saying such things to people in forums... Site owner or not! And if I went around throwing about random "F-you"s to every Tom, Dick, and Harry I disagreed with... well, then I should be banned! But... in this case... Well, I had no other or softer words that I felt would adequately express my feelings on the matter... And that is kind of rare for me. (Heck, people I know in real life are shocked if I swear, noting that it is atypical of my language.)

As you said, "provided it is done in civil matter." And I would be the first to agree with you that my post failed at being civil. Hence, my worry. But, well... Sometimes, on rare occasion, you feel you need to say a thing, even if it might not seem the most rational thing to say.

El Duque wrote:

Yotsuyasan wrote:I wish I could be repentant of the tone of the above... And I hope it doesn't get me banned, or result in a thread lock or anything...

You won't get banned for disagreeing with the site owner, that's not how we operate. We welcome discussion, and everyone is entitled to and welcome to voice their opinion provided it's done in a civil manner.

I know my opinion is not popular with those who really wanted this variant but were unable to attend it. I understand that it is frustrating when you can't get your hands on an exclusive.

I spent about 3 hours last week trying to get my hands on TRU Masterpiece Soundwave. I jumped through all sorts of hoops to get it and in the end, it was just sheer dumb like and being in the right spot at the right time that let me land that set.

Blaming so called "scalpers" is the easy route. Figuring out how to beat the system is the real challenge.

Sometimes when you really want a figure that you know in advance will be hard to get, you have to tell yourself that you will have to pay more than the original selling price. The $150 plus tax price was for people who got it at the show, or for the few lucky ones that were able to get it on HasbroToyShop.com. Thinking that you can get it for that price on such a high demand convention only exclusive is nothing but wishful thinking. It's being unrealistic about the situation and just leads to anger and frustration over something that is, at the end of the day, just a toy.

Just a little food for thought, including tax it was $162. Shipping is around $30+ on an item like this with FedEx or UPS but only if you have a box and tape. If you have FedEx or UPS package the item for you (which is what usually happens at a show like this), they charge an additional $15 to $20 for packaging and handling fees. Metroplex is really a $200+ toy if you purchased it at SDCC and had to ship it back to where you live.

Metrosuplex wrote:Anyway, I respect your opinion, but it emphasizes what I said in other posts: SDCC and Botcon are ELITIST EVENTS WHERE THE FEW GET TO ENJOY AND SCALP TO THE MANY (who can't afford the elitist privileges).

Collecting toys and other unessential commodities would be considered elitist by many people throughout the world. These are most definitely first world problems. Not being able to get SDCC Metroplex is not the end of the world. Prices will drop once the item is released at the upcoming Asian convention where it will be sold as well. I'm sure this won't be the last time we see this variant sold somewhere.