william-james88 wrote:JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:william-james88 wrote:Dumb question, but takara toys are always only sold in Japan right? No other country in Asia would have it distributed to them?
Some stores in Singapore and Hong Kong carry TakaraTomy stuff I think, but don't count on those Black Knights:
- Strafe is a Cybertron Satellite exclusive
- Scorn is exclusive to Ideon, Kojima, Bic Camera, Best Denki and Yamada Denki
- Slug is exclusive to Joshin Kids' Land and Yodobashi Camera
All of them Japanese stores, while Cybertron Satellite is a stand that makes the rounds there. The only mass-retail Black Knight is Grimlock.
Wow, how do you know all this? That's impressive. And Cybertron Satellite is interesting all on its own (I am trying to wrap my head around it's business model, but then again I still dont get the Takara/Hasbro relationship on a business perspective).
So I am guessing Vietnam wouldnt have any of that stuff then, that's where I am going soon. Too bad there arent any Hasbro asian exclusives out right now (except for MP-10 rerelease, but I already got that covered)
the business model looks like this: back in 1984 Takara, had the seeds of an idea about a series of transforming alien robots. Hasbro said "That's cool; let's help you nurture it." they took the rights, or borrowed them at least, spread them out to their larger markets (Hasbro UK, Asia, etc) and helped those seeds grow into what it is today. As far as territories themselves; Takara, and a lot of Japanese companies tend to remain within their own borders. Part of an old culture of isolation, maybe, but that's a guess. Hasbro however, being a separate company and a larger company andone destined for WORLD DOMINATION!!! is able/willing to distribute into its different little feelers. I would imagine there is some kind of non complete clause in place around the East-Asian border and it may extend to other areas should Takara want to go global, but Tak-Tom seems pretty happy with the size of their market (and there are a LOT of people in that small slice of the world) and where Hasbro has done the footwork for them.
no, Vietnam will not have the Takara stuff unless you get into a private importer. your best bet is to order it either from BBTS robot Kingdom. I think TFsource usually has the best prices but I don't know if they are carrying. I ordered Scorn from BBTS, 39.99+shipping but I have other things coming too.
Scorn to me looks like he's got
just enough grey on him that he'd fit into the SDCC set better than the retail red version. (I don't trust my hand enough to paint those chromes) That was my only complaint, the SDCC set had Snarl, the BBTS shared exclusive had Scorn, I wanted both, preferably in G1-esque. It's not ideal, Scorn's too copper-gold, and a matte Grey looking, but he's closer than cherry red.
By the way,which is more show accurate? 
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