US Walmart Being Restocked with G1 Hot Rod Reissue Facing Correctly

I hate to say it, but at this point I think they's over-saturated the market on this wave of G1 figures. Although I would like a properly facing Hot Rod in the box, but I'd rather like to see some other G1 figures done, Like Rodimus Prime, Cyclonus, Thundercracker & Skywarp.

I never thought I'd say this, but my local Walmart actually had about the same amount of Hot Rods as that picture above, and 4 or 5 Starscreams, no Devastators though, One of my local stores did have some, but none since the initial sighting, and I've never seen any of the minibots in my area.

Somehow I doubt were are going to get more (as in new figures) of this Reissue line. Seems like a lot of other things, just a quick nostalgia cash grab for the holidays. Has anyone seen those small mock Arcade cabinets that are like $300? Those things are selling like crazy, though you only get 2-4 games depending on which type you purchase. If I had that kind of money, I'd rather build my own cabinet, that could load as many arcade games as I wanted onto it.

Rodimus Knight wrote:I hate to say it, but at this point I think they's over-saturated the market on this wave of G1 figures.

Between over saturating and not enough stock, I think this is the better option. You cant predict the perfect amount but at least every fan who wants one of these gets one. We dont even know if there are plans for more, this was basically to recreate the 80s TF spirit in theme with the retro vibes of the BB movie.

william-james88 wrote:

Rodimus Knight wrote:I hate to say it, but at this point I think they's over-saturated the market on this wave of G1 figures.

Between over saturating and not enough stock, I think this is the better option. You cant predict the perfect amount but at least every fan who wants one of these gets one. We dont even know if there are plans for more, this was basically to recreate the 80s TF spirit in theme with the retro vibes of the BB movie.

Not to mention that retailers are stocking up for the biggest shopping days of the year. Considering how fast the other reissues sold out and we are just left with Hot Rod, I'd say they are selling well and expect all of those Hot Rods yo be gone by the New Year.

Don't forget ... this is essentially Bumblebee Movie tie in product (because it's playing off the 80s nostalgia which I think is the only reason we are getting this stuff), which I don't see many of you talking about. The BB movie comes out in about 5 weeks, so i expect retailers to continue to stock up on movie related product.

My local Walmarts have had a lot of these re-issues over the last couple months (except the minibots) and they are starting to sell out. I'm still really wanting the Bumblebees to start hitting the shelf. I assumed that they would eventually with the movie coming out. Fingers crossed.

I'm holding out hope that if these do well we'll get another wave. Soundwave?

Seibertron wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

Rodimus Knight wrote:I hate to say it, but at this point I think they's over-saturated the market on this wave of G1 figures.

Between over saturating and not enough stock, I think this is the better option. You cant predict the perfect amount but at least every fan who wants one of these gets one. We dont even know if there are plans for more, this was basically to recreate the 80s TF spirit in theme with the retro vibes of the BB movie.

Not to mention that retailers are stocking up for the biggest shopping days of the year. Considering how fast the other reissues sold out and we are just left with Hot Rod, I'd say they are selling well and expect all of those Hot Rods yo be gone by the New Year.

Don't forget ... this is essentially Bumblebee Movie tie in product (because it's playing off the 80s nostalgia which I think is the only reason we are getting this stuff), which I don't see many of you talking about. The BB movie comes out in about 5 weeks, so i expect retailers to continue to stock up on movie related product.

When they first started to appear in the stores locally, they sold out pretty fast, Hot Rod and Star Scream. I haven't seen any of the minibots in stores though. Devistator has been sitting around most places, and lately so have Starscream and Hot Rod.

Rodimus Knight wrote:When they first started to appear in the stores locally, they sold out pretty fast, Hot Rod and Star Scream. I haven't seen any of the minibots in stores though. Devistator has been sitting around most places, and lately so have Starscream and Hot Rod.

I'd love to find a Starscream! I passed on him because there were so many at the same store as above when they first got them in last month, but I haven't seen a Starscream in stores since the last weekend of October, and that was at a Walmart in Gaylord, MI.

so hes not facing in proper direction its no crime 99.9% of people who buy this toy will take it out package to begin with put on shelf dont know whats worse over used favorite only word in new toy topic someone saying mistransfomrd or toy not put in package right way only to be taken out of box anyway.

good for people who want genreatrion one hot rod with target master will not be hard for them find in stores

dragons wrote:so hes not facing in proper direction its no crime 99.9% of people who buy this toy will take it out package to begin with put on shelf dont know whats worse over used favorite only word in new toy topic someone saying mistransfomrd or toy not put in package right way only to be taken out of box anyway.

Still on Hasbro's payroll I see. Always getting offended every time someone points out Hasbro mistransforming, and now mispackaging, their figures. You're right, it isn't a crime, but it is undeniable WRONG! Hasbro should be making their figures as attractive as possible and they deserve to be called out every single time they screw up. Why would you or anyone else defend them for making their on products as unattractive as possible? Don't you understand that in the long run you're only helping to hurt the franchise, you aren't helping anything which is why I feel the need to call you out every time you bring it up. You yourself even said you don't buy figures anymore and you only seem exist here to be offended so why are you here? These are expensive collectibles, people are going to want to keep them MIB because they look fantastic on a shelf as they are, but sticking them in the boxes backwards makes them less desirable (unless you collect box errors, but in this case it's so common it could actually hurt its value).

Emerje

Emerje wrote:

dragons wrote:so hes not facing in proper direction its no crime 99.9% of people who buy this toy will take it out package to begin with put on shelf dont know whats worse over used favorite only word in new toy topic someone saying mistransfomrd or toy not put in package right way only to be taken out of box anyway.

Still on Hasbro's payroll I see. Always getting offended every time someone points out Hasbro mistransforming, and now mispackaging, their figures. You're right, it isn't a crime, but it is undeniable WRONG! Hasbro should be making their figures as attractive as possible and they deserve to be called out every single time they screw up. Why would you or anyone else defend them for making their on products as unattractive as possible? Don't you understand that in the long run you're only helping to hurt the franchise, you aren't helping anything which is why I feel the need to call you out every time you bring it up. You yourself even said you don't buy figures anymore and you only seem exist here to be offended so why are you here? These are expensive collectibles, people are going to want to keep them MIB because they look fantastic on a shelf as they are, but sticking them in the boxes backwards makes them less desirable (unless you collect box errors, but in this case it's so common it could actually hurt its value).

Emerje

Some of us, like myself, are very interested in knowing as much about the toy as possible. In the case of the dozen Hot Rods I saw at the Wal-Mart store pictured in the story, there were minor flaws in the chest sticker on each Hot Rod that I saw that I've never seen before on Hot Rod toys. I looked at a dozen of them looking for one without a flaw, and finally just gave up. If they weren't correctly facing in the package, I wouldn't be able to see the flaw. Again, shocked that there are flaws in the sticker, irked that there is one, yes I realize I'm so picky that I even see the flaws which many of you just overlooked or don't care about, but I'm extremely picky because of my macro photography for the site.

In addition, it's fricking packaged the damn wrong way! It's like getting an action figure packaged with his ass end facing forward. That would be wrong for an action figure, it's wrong for hot rod to be packaged backwards!

Rodimus Knight wrote:I hate to say it, but at this point I think they's over-saturated the market on this wave of G1 figures. Although I would like a properly facing Hot Rod in the box, but I'd rather like to see some other G1 figures done, Like Rodimus Prime, Cyclonus, Thundercracker & Skywarp.

yeah wheres their love

LOL! So now "wrong facing" Hot Rods will be first release rarities worth three times as much on ebay...or vise versa Suddenly my OCD is in remission over the Funko Savage World Mumm-Ra on a Lion-O card I picked up from Game Stop just to have a complete series one set.

Thanks to fellow Seibertron user, Carytheone, we have news of a special vote Hasbro is launching tomorrow through their Hasbro Pulse social media account (and also advertised on their Transformers Official Instagram account). The vote will determine which of four pre-selected G1 toys will be reissued in Walmart in the Spring of 2020! The choices are: Perceptor, Astrotrain, Thundercracker and Skywarp.




Here's the post as put on the Transformers Official Instagram account.

Transformers Official Instagram wrote:Which G1 classic bot do you want to see make a return to Walmart in Spring 2020? Cast your votes starting tomorrow in @HasbroPulse's story! A post shared by TRANSFORMERS (@transformersofficial) on Dec 10, 2018 at 6:00am PST

Remember, the voting begins tomorrow!

Who do you want to see reissued? Let us know in the Energon Pub and stay tuned to Seibertron for all the latest news and reviews.

I can't help but wonder if these will be VS two packs, but why are two Seekers against each other? Weird.

EDIT: ah, it's a bracket with only one release?

carytheone wrote:I can't help but wonder if these will be VS two packs, but why are two Seekers against each other? Weird.

Thundercracker did turn on the Decepticons and become an ally to the Autobots in IDW (even earning a punch to the face from Skywarp).

Sabrblade wrote:

carytheone wrote:I can't help but wonder if these will be VS two packs, but why are two Seekers against each other? Weird.

Thundercracker did turn on the Decepticons and become an ally to the Autobots in IDW (even earning a punch to the face from Skywarp).

Well I made an edit as you posted this. Maybe it's a bracket leading to a second and final vote?

Would they mix their G1 Kool-Aid with IDW Flavor Aid?

carytheone wrote:I can't help but wonder if these will be VS two packs, but why are two Seekers against each other? Weird.

Because Thundercracker has been a good guy in some fiction for years but also who cares if it means you can compete the original seeker trio.

Also it won’t be a two pack, it just decides the next two rereleases. Don’t need to start putting that crap in people’s heads. That’s how people thought mirage and impact or were being released even though no one anywhere said it would be a two pack.

Frankly, I don't think any of these four are good reissue choices. Both Perceptor and Astrotrain have been reissued by Hasbro within the last decade, and making us having to pick just one between Skywarp and Thundercracker means that if either of them wins then we'll be one member short of completing the Seeker trio with Starscream.

Of these choices, the only one of these I'd actually pick if I felt absolutely compelled to pick one would be Astrotrain but ONLY if it were to come not in his original 1985 Hasbro retail deco but in the never-released prototype deco first seen in the 1985 toy magazines that the cartoon animators used for reference in coloring Astrotrain's character model, as detailed at the end in this video (beginning just after the 6:00 mark):




Yes, I am aware of that e-HOBBY exclusive "Astrotrain Proto Color Version" that was meant to evoke the prototype deco, but the shades and hues of the gray and purple were off.

Sabrblade wrote:Frankly, I don't think any of these four are good reissue choices. Both Perceptor and Astrotrain have been reissued by Hasbro within the last decade, and making us having to pick just one between Skywarp and Thundercracker means that if either of them wins then we'll be one member short of completing the Seeker trio with Starscream.

Agreed

If it's cartoon colors Astrotrain that would be an excellent choice. Maybe one with a darker purple than the Takara attempt?

Anything else and this is a snoozer.

ScottyP wrote:If it's cartoon colors Astrotrain that would be an excellent choice. Maybe one with a darker purple than the Takara attempt?

Anything else and this is a snoozer.

If they keep the current trend up, who ever wins will be just like the last few. 100% G1 less the authentic styrofoam smell. I miss that smell.


I do kind of feel they are barking up the wrong tree with the reissues though. Both in character choices and distributor. What's their endgame? Just toss shit at a wall and see what sticks?


Wasn't Preceptor just released with Blaster (I spotted that release in bulk at a few salvage stores) and some weird color variants of Astrotrain and Blitzwing?

If they really wanted to move product, put out the seeker mold in new colors like Acid Storm or Red Wing.

My usual response would be to always bet on Skywarp, but their last Seeker reissue suffered significantly from what I like to call "mushface" and I'd rather not repeat that. That said, the other options aren't particularly interesting choices, either.

I find it hard to believe that any future Walmart reissues would be limited to one character, so I'm just gonna vote Skywarp, and hope for the best, both in terms of molding issues, and further reissues beyond the fan poll character being maybe something more exciting.

The only reissues that interest me at this point are Scourge, Cyclonus, the Dinobots, Wheeljack, Sunstreaker, and Mirage.

Yet I'm fully aware of the problems already in existence regarding this group: namely that the molds are gone. One could therefore correctly infer that I'm over reissues. Sad to say. I love G1, but I'm good.

Sigh... I really really really wish it was a bad joke that they are going to sell these through Walmart again. That was literally the worst buying experience ever. I had the same item canceled 7 times before I just bought it marked up on Ebay months later...

Cyclonus and Scourge might not be lost. We know they've kept track of Hot Rod, Rodimus Prime, Galvatron, Kup, and Wheelie, so it's possible they still know where Blurr, Springer, Wreck-Gar, Cyclonus, and Scourge are.

I would be down for a cyclonus reissue, I was gutted as a kid when the one I had finally gave in and had to be condemned to the bin. Though i was never sure if it was the target master version I had or if the target master belonged to hot rod

Even without being able to buy any of these, these are pretty poor choices.

RiddlerJ wrote:If they really wanted to move product, put out the seeker mold in new colors like Acid Storm or Red Wing.

YES!

Red Wing is never happening though. Funpub wouldn't milk the $eeker mold for it? Red Wing is dead forever

Optimutt wrote:The only reissues that interest me at this point are Scourge, Cyclonus, the Dinobots, Wheeljack, Sunstreaker, and Mirage.

Yet I'm fully aware of the problems already in existence regarding this group: namely that the molds are gone. One could therefore correctly infer that I'm over reissues. Sad to say. I love G1, but I'm good.

If they'll reverse engineer the Dino Cassettes of all things, I'd say anything is fair game again at this point. Maybe not for Walmart reissues though, I'm sure they have to keep the cost down.

Optimutt wrote:The only reissues that interest me at this point are Scourge, Cyclonus, the Dinobots, Wheeljack, Sunstreaker, and Mirage.

Yet I'm fully aware of the problems already in existence regarding this group: namely that the molds are gone. One could therefore correctly infer that I'm over reissues. Sad to say. I love G1, but I'm good.

Wait, there is something wrong with the cyclonus and scourge molds? I didnt know that.

ZeroWolf wrote:I would be down for a cyclonus reissue, I was gutted as a kid

You want me to gut Ultra Magnus?

What reissue do I want next?

How about that Bumblebee I ordered forever ago that got cancelled, walmart?

william-james88 wrote:

Optimutt wrote:The only reissues that interest me at this point are Scourge, Cyclonus, the Dinobots, Wheeljack, Sunstreaker, and Mirage.

Yet I'm fully aware of the problems already in existence regarding this group: namely that the molds are gone. One could therefore correctly infer that I'm over reissues. Sad to say. I love G1, but I'm good.

Wait, there is something wrong with the cyclonus and scourge molds? I didnt know that.

I guess that since we have never gotten a reissue of either Cyclonus or Scourge, I just assumed that the molds were lost. If they hadn't lost the molds, wouldn't they have reissued them at least once in the past 30 years?

Question - Would anyone else like to see Beast Wars reissues?

Caelus wrote:Question - Would anyone else like to see Beast Wars reissues?

Only Beast Machines Basic figures. Everything else is pretty easy to find still at decent prices.

And there is a ton of G1 stuff that was never rereleased that I wouldnt assume means lost. Like Overlord, for instance.

william-james88 wrote:

Caelus wrote:Question - Would anyone else like to see Beast Wars reissues?

Only Beast Machines Basic figures. Everything else is pretty easy to find still at decent prices.

And there is a ton of G1 stuff that was never rereleased that I wouldnt assume means lost. Like Overlord, for instance.

Overlord saw a 1991 release in Europe and Australasia with different purple plastic and rounded off shoulder spikes.

^That was technically a first release as far as that market and the European G1 line are concerned.

The Beast Wars reissues we probably most need are the Robot Masters versions of Optimus Primal and Megatron. Those are a bit thin on the ground.

Caelus wrote:Question - Would anyone else like to see Beast Wars reissues?

To be honest, not really. As much as I love Beast Wars, most of the originals are quite accessible already. If they're going to do BW I'd rather they made new figures.

Sabrblade wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

Caelus wrote:Question - Would anyone else like to see Beast Wars reissues?

Only Beast Machines Basic figures. Everything else is pretty easy to find still at decent prices.

And there is a ton of G1 stuff that was never rereleased that I wouldnt assume means lost. Like Overlord, for instance.

Overlord saw a 1991 release in Europe and Australasia with different purple plastic and rounded off shoulder spikes.

Thats just the Hasbro release, and its still within the G1 era. I am talking about an actual reissue, like the ones we are talking about. A scorponok reissue would be fun too, same with the pretenders. A whole bunch of stuff was never reissued.

Pretty much anything, barring powermaster Prime, from 1987 onward could do with a re-release... I wonder if people would buy Action Masters if rereleased on the world.

Optimutt wrote:The only reissues that interest me at this point are Scourge, Cyclonus, the Dinobots, Wheeljack, Sunstreaker, and Mirage.

Yet I'm fully aware of the problems already in existence regarding this group: namely that the molds are gone. One could therefore correctly infer that I'm over reissues. Sad to say. I love G1, but I'm good.

And yet here we are with rare Dinobot cassette reissues in the Studio Series line. Never say never true believers!

You know what would get me excited about a G1 Perceptor reissue? A brand-spankin' new cartoon head, done in G1 toy style, so that Perceptor can finally have the face he so rightfully deserves after all of these years. How many reissues has there been of Perceptor over the years? It's time to do him up right with a new noggin' at long last.

I'm torn on Astrotrain. If they did true cartoon/prototype colors (not that silly lavender or light purple color Takara thinks makes purple cartoon accurate), not the e-Hobby colors, or if they did a straight up G1 toy color reissue (which has never been done before, then I'm game for him.

Hopefully we get some other "new" reissues that haven't been released before during the 18 year run of reissues so far.

I'm voting for Astrotrain.

Optimutt wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

Optimutt wrote:The only reissues that interest me at this point are Scourge, Cyclonus, the Dinobots, Wheeljack, Sunstreaker, and Mirage.

Yet I'm fully aware of the problems already in existence regarding this group: namely that the molds are gone. One could therefore correctly infer that I'm over reissues. Sad to say. I love G1, but I'm good.

Wait, there is something wrong with the cyclonus and scourge molds? I didnt know that.

I guess that since we have never gotten a reissue of either Cyclonus or Scourge, I just assumed that the molds were lost. If they hadn't lost the molds, wouldn't they have reissued them at least once in the past 30 years?

From observation, anything past Season 2 is a bit of a hit and miss, especially when it comes to popularity and thus demand. If the demand is there, Hasbro and TakaraTomy will go out of their way to locate the molds needed wherever they are.
For now tho they're assigned to figures/molds that have been reissued within the past 10 to 15 years because they're relatively readily accessible.

I have no interest in the jets, I have the Encore release with proper launchers so those don't interest me any. I passed on the most recent Perceptor because I don't need another Blaster and I really didn't want the funny colored Astrotrain from the other set so I'd be happy with either one getting a reissue, even if it means a plain black and white Astrotrain.

I'm surprised they aren't looking at Takara Tomy reissue they've never done before like the Combaticons, Galvatron (just pretend the gun mode doesn't exist on the packaging), Metroplex, Omega Supreme, or Skylynx. They'd be pricey, but seeing how well the Constructicons sold it should be perfectly fine.

Emerje

Hey, the Hasbro reissue jets have proper launchers too - they just have longer, bulkier gun missiles and dorky-looking small missiles as a consequence. You want improper launchers, go look at the vintage Hasbro Seekers and their launchers with springs too feeble to launch a straw wrapper (much less their missiles).

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:Hey, the Hasbro reissue jets have proper launchers too - they just have longer, bulkier gun missiles and dorky-looking small missiles as a consequence. You want improper launchers, go look at the vintage Hasbro Seekers and their launchers with springs too feeble to launch a straw wrapper (much less their missiles).

Speaking of improper missiles, that Perceptor's gun aint gonna launch.

Caelus wrote:Question - Would anyone else like to see Beast Wars reissues?

I would LOVE to see some Beast Wars reissues starting with gorilla Optimus Primal and T-Rex Megatron!!! It'd be a nice change of pace

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:For now tho they're assigned to figures/molds that have been reissued within the past 10 to 15 years because they're relatively readily accessible.

Says who? Looks at G1 Dinosaur cassettes ...

Caelus wrote:Question - Would anyone else like to see Beast Wars reissues?

I'd be down, especially if Hasbro/Takara threw us a bone with some of the harder to find figures like X-9 Jaguar, the Blendtrons, TM2 Blackarachnia, and Killerpunch.