william-james88 wrote:You should really stop thinking that way because its both wrong and will always disappoint you. These exclusives exist to give fans more product without relying on standard retailers who already have enough of the line to order. And that's it. As someone who was hoping to complete your combiner teams, I thought you would understand, especially since you saw the benefits of shorter lines. It's basically the same as POTP Wreckgar, TLK Hot Rod, BH Skylynx, SS Thundercraker. All these toys are not more premium than any retail release, its just that they are not available at all retailers. And most fans seem very happy because it means the price tag isn't higher compared to fun pub exclusives and the like.
It was probably my initial disappointment that caused me to choose my words poorly and I apologize. However...All those examples you stated above I DID see in retail stores except for TLK Hotrod, because of poor distribution. They may have been exclusive to a retailer, but I could still get them. Where else, aside form a handful of websites, can I get Ricochet or Red Swoop? And where for less than $22? Certainly not Hasbro Pulse.
The figures ARE slightly above retail price in that, the only 2 locations I can get TF toys from now are Target & Walmart. Deluxes for SS & Generations are currently around the $20 mark, Selects online everywhere that I saw were $22 (again I'm not talking MSRP, I'm talking what they really cost), so roughly 10% more than the average figure, thus denoting some sort of limiter that makes them "Special", however you chose to determine that.
Now in reality, did I expect Ricochet & Red Swoop to be vastly superior to PotP Jazz & Swoop...NO, but at the same time, I did not (nor should anyone) expect them to be noticeably inferior.
The paint apps on both are fine, no complaints there. However When holding both Ricochet & Jazz in hand, there is a noticeable weight difference. Ricochet almost falls apart in hand, and as others have noticed, it is a real pain to get either of them to stand up on their own.
A few months ago my PotP Swoop broke (one of his Dino feet), but it wasn't a big deal. I thought long and hard about *maybe* getting a Chinese knock-off (you know the ones I'm talking about), but I refrained. Now after getting these selects, I feel exactly like that's what I got, but just paid more for them.
I mean, as a fan of combiners, I'm glad, but in times past I could at least count on
for a better quality version of the same thing Hasbro produced. Now I cant even play that angle...
Bucket/Want List: Botcon 2016 Customization Class Ratchet (G2 Deco), or Customization Class Ratchet (Marvel Comics Deco) **would also be willing to pay for an Unpainted Botcon 2016 Ratchet, TT Legends Fortress Head (only) with working Electronics
Wish List of Modern Combiners: Road Caesar, Monstructor & Dinoking (proper size to fiction), Landcross, Guard City, Battle Gaia, & G2 Defensor. Wish List of Titans:Metrotitan,Majin Zarak
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