Transformers G1 Reissues are Being Stocked in Walmart Stores
Wednesday, September 19th, 2018 10:49PM CDT
Categories: Toy News, Sightings, CollectablesPosted by: william-james88 Views: 23,091
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We have some great news for you Americans. While it did not seem likely at one point, with all G1 reissues being fond online only in the US for months (MONTHS!!), we have some definite proof that these Walmart exclusive reissues will indeed be found on Walmart shelves. According to some sightings from across the internet that is even already the case. Our own LordPrime99, who works at Walmart, sent us an image of cases that will be placed on shelves in two weeks. These are cases of G1 Starscream, who comes six per case. This is the same time that the Bumblebee movie figures should be found on the same shelves, adding to the 80s theme of that film.
Fans have been dying to see these appear in stores so if you do find them, let the community know through our forum where you can report for stores in your state.
LordPrime99 wrote:So I work at a Wal-Mart in arizona in the back unloading trucks, and one of the packages we received for the toy department was labeled TRA G1 STARSCREAM and according to the department label, it's set to be stocked in 2 weeks.
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Posted by Regimus Prime on September 20th, 2018 @ 12:14am CDT
Posted by Dinobot-Snarl on September 20th, 2018 @ 5:38am CDT
Posted by Rodimus Knight on September 20th, 2018 @ 7:12am CDT
Walmart Stock person: Um sir I think it's because we inferred that it would only be available online, most of the people who wanted it were ordering it on-line and very few need them now in store.
Walmart exec: I guess people really don't want these G1 reissues.
Posted by o.supreme on September 20th, 2018 @ 10:00am CDT
How much is the Devastator set retailing for? I may get that if I see one, and can put it on layaway.
Posted by william-james88 on September 20th, 2018 @ 10:05am CDT
o.supreme wrote:So basically, any of these items spotted on a toy shelf at walmart prior to October 1 is a result of employees not paying attention or not caring...It would be interesting to see what percentage of stores follow the direction. Surprisingly I think WM is starting to take a small chance on higher price point toys in the absence of TRU, most notably the Marvel Legends Infinity Gauntlet that sells for $99, I've seen a number of them at walmart lately.
How much is the Devastator set retailing for? I may get that if I see one, and can put it on layaway.
75 $ USD
And yeah, that infinite gauntlet is a great example of something I would have only expected on shelves at TRU
Posted by o.supreme on September 20th, 2018 @ 10:31am CDT
william-james88 wrote:And yeah, that infinity gauntlet is a great example of something I would have only expected on shelves at TRU
The sad part is, possibly as some WM exec may fear, being a high-end collectible, they don't seem to be selling well, (most collectors that wanted these probably got them online) especially since the "kiddie" $20 gauntlet is right next to it. I saw one store with a shelfspace for Thor's Hammer, but haven't actually seen any in the store.
I *hope* the classics sell well. I don't plan to go all out on them like I did back in 2002 with the TRU ones, no way to get those all back again. But I'd be down for more original series combiner box sets, many of which have not been re-released (Stuntacons, Protectabots, Technobots etc...)
Posted by zatara1701 on September 21st, 2018 @ 2:06pm CDT
Posted by zatara1701 on September 21st, 2018 @ 2:07pm CDT
Posted by william-james88 on September 21st, 2018 @ 2:18pm CDT
zatara1701 wrote:Look what i just found!!!
Where exactly?
Posted by o.supreme on September 21st, 2018 @ 2:23pm CDT
Posted by zatara1701 on September 21st, 2018 @ 2:58pm CDT
william-james88 wrote:zatara1701 wrote:Look what i just found!!!
Where exactly?
The toy aisle...lol
Spring, TX ....North side of Houston.
No front page yet? Lol
Posted by william-james88 on September 21st, 2018 @ 3:19pm CDT
zatara1701 wrote:william-james88 wrote:zatara1701 wrote:Look what i just found!!!
Where exactly?
The toy aisle...lol
Spring, TX ....North side of Houston.
No front page yet? Lol
Can you please give us some time. Everyone here is a volunteer with day jobs. It will be up in the evening or tomorrow.
Posted by william-james88 on September 21st, 2018 @ 10:59pm CDT
If you find the G1 reissues near you, please let other fans know through our sightings section and sightings forum where you can report by state.
Posted by Wolfman Jake on September 21st, 2018 @ 11:38pm CDT
william-james88 wrote:And yes, both are packaged backwards.
Come again?
Posted by Black Bumblebee on September 21st, 2018 @ 11:40pm CDT
Posted by MeGrimlockKing2018 on September 22nd, 2018 @ 1:41am CDT
Posted by Amelie on September 22nd, 2018 @ 2:34am CDT
Posted by ZeroWolf on September 22nd, 2018 @ 2:40am CDT
Wolfman Jake wrote:william-james88 wrote:And yes, both are packaged backwards.
Come again?
The vehicles are facing the wrong way in the box.
Posted by Amelie on September 22nd, 2018 @ 3:15am CDT
ZeroWolf wrote:The vehicles are facing the wrong way in the box.
You shouldn't be able to see Hotrod's guns in the box and you should be able to see ALL the Constructicons at once.
Posted by Emerje on September 22nd, 2018 @ 6:35am CDT
MeGrimlockKing2018 wrote:Uh Hot Rod and Devastator ARE the originals just re-issued
There are some minor differences. The Constructicons have had their springs removed, Hot Rod is the original mold with the Targetmaster chest sticker, and both feature a new rubsign that doesn't change color, it just reveals the faction symbol.
Emerje
Posted by Black Bumblebee on September 22nd, 2018 @ 10:21am CDT
Starscream has the Megatron gun with remolded hands, so would be worth the purchase, but as I said, I already bought it when it came out in Japan years ago.
The minibots, though? The paint apps are different, making them better display pieces. Bumblebee even has his anime face. Thus, for me, it's worth the purchase as I didn't get these versions when they released the box set in Japan.
Posted by firefox91 on September 22nd, 2018 @ 11:37am CDT
Amelie wrote:ZeroWolf wrote:The vehicles are facing the wrong way in the box.
You shouldn't be able to see Hotrod's guns in the box and you should be able to see ALL the Constructicons at once.
But I can see all of the Constructicons at once in this box. I just can't see the accessories.
Posted by Dinobot-Snarl on September 23rd, 2018 @ 11:32am CDT
firefox91 wrote:Amelie wrote:ZeroWolf wrote:The vehicles are facing the wrong way in the box.
You shouldn't be able to see Hotrod's guns in the box and you should be able to see ALL the Constructicons at once.
But I can see all of the Constructicons at once in this box. I just can't see the accessories.
I agree. That is how they were originally packaged in the Devastator Gift Set except in styrofoam. Hot Rod is an utter no QC factory packaging nightmare for the whole run. Thinking of opening mine up and fixing it.
Posted by fenrir72 on September 23rd, 2018 @ 8:56pm CDT
I got the re-issue 2000 Hotrodimus. His flames were decals. TFC Hotrodimus targetmaster had his flames tampoed, though his thigh decals were that of the originals meaning they get damaged when applied and transformed.
I heard here that this Hotrodimus has the adjusted engine meaning the "targetmaster" mold but the flames are decals.
Please confirm?
Posted by Ironhidensh on September 28th, 2018 @ 6:26am CDT
Posted by no-one on September 28th, 2018 @ 11:42am CDT
Posted by o.supreme on September 28th, 2018 @ 11:46am CDT
carytheone wrote:Is there a street date on the G1 stuff? I've been in several Walmarts and while using the app/assistant to check prices I've checked my wish list and it marked the G1 reissues as in stock but nowhere to be seen.
A few pages back, there was a photo with the week beginning October 1st as the street date. of course, there are going to be those stores that don't abide by it, but start checking next week, or even this weekend, if its not out of the way for you.
Posted by no-one on September 28th, 2018 @ 12:18pm CDT
Ah, that makes sense. Thanks, I don't follow this thread super close.o.supreme wrote:A few pages back, there was a photo with the week beginning October 1st as the street date. of course, there are going to be those stores that don't abide by it, but start checking next week, or even this weekend, if its not out of the way for you.carytheone wrote:Is there a street date on the G1 stuff? I've been in several Walmarts and while using the app/assistant to check prices I've checked my wish list and it marked the G1 reissues as in stock but nowhere to be seen.
I'm only hunting the minibots, which still seem to be online only. I have a bunch of Wallys in town and I tend to pass a lot in my work travels. I really just want to hold the larger reissues in hand and get a feel for them. See if they spark my interest. G1 is a rabbit hole I'm giving a wide berth, a very wide berth.
Posted by o.supreme on September 28th, 2018 @ 12:23pm CDT
carytheone wrote:I'm only hunting the minibots, which still seem to be online only. I have a bunch of Wallys in town and I tend to pass a lot in my work travels. I really just want to hold the larger reissues in hand and get a feel for them. See if they spark my interest. G1 is a rabbit hole I'm giving a wide berth, a very wide berth.
It's nice to have a niche like that. Having been around for the original series, and the reissues in the early 2000's, and selling them all since, these for the most part don't interest me. I love the idea, but for me it's like trying to catch feathers in the wind, once they've been scattered, you really cant get them all back again. And of course, there are some differences that make them "not quite" what they originally were.
I might get the Devastator set if I see it. Still- not having that Styrofoam insert, or the spring loaded fists/drills again, wont make it quite the same.
Posted by Combat Zero on September 28th, 2018 @ 5:36pm CDT
Posted by william-james88 on September 28th, 2018 @ 6:02pm CDT
Combat Zero wrote:I wonder if they’re going to reissue other G1 combiners like Superion and Menasor as well as other characters like the Dinobots if they proved successful. I’d pay to buy a reissued G1 Grimlock.
Everyone would.
Posted by Emerje on September 28th, 2018 @ 6:04pm CDT
Combat Zero wrote:I wonder if they’re going to reissue other G1 combiners like Superion and Menasor as well as other characters like the Dinobots if they proved successful. I’d pay to buy a reissued G1 Grimlock.
They're more likely to do combiner reissues that have had their molds refreshed recently like the Seacons and Combaticons. The Dinobot molds are lost/damaged beyond use so they'd have to do some extensive rebuilding to get those guys out again.
However, the exclusive Studio Series tape reissues are entirely new molds so they seem to be testing the waters at a small scale right now and larger new mold reissues could happen eventually.
Emerje
Posted by Sabrblade on September 28th, 2018 @ 6:04pm CDT
The G1 Dinobot molds are long gone, having never been reissued after Generation 2.Combat Zero wrote:I wonder if they’re going to reissue other G1 combiners like Superion and Menasor as well as other characters like the Dinobots if they proved successful. I’d pay to buy a reissued G1 Grimlock.
Posted by no-one on September 29th, 2018 @ 6:39pm CDT
They're no longer marked as online only. Potential good news.
Between two stores I was able to get put my hands on Hot Rod, Starscream and Devastator. Some sweet packaging for sure. I was amazed how good of condition they all were. I did not get the feels and left them for someone else (made a post in the local sightings thread as well).
Posted by Ironhidensh on September 29th, 2018 @ 7:33pm CDT
carytheone wrote: I did not get the feels and left them for someone else (made a post in the local sightings thread as well).
Man, I had zero desire to pick up any of these reissues aside from Bumblebee (if I could ever find one....), but then I saw Devestator in store, and the feels hit me like a Kenworth with no brakes going downhill. I bought it quick like and have zero regrets.
Posted by o.supreme on October 1st, 2018 @ 9:22am CDT
Posted by Amelie on October 8th, 2018 @ 6:10am CDT
My childhood Bumblebee isn't in the most mint of condition, but its good enough for a comparison. Photos later, but a quick run down.
- The plastic is more flexable (I don't think its thinner, its just a different type of ABS)
- The yellow is on the cooler side (more Lemon than Cadmium)
- The detailing is softer. I won't put this down to "mold degradation", as its clearly a new mold - but its got some of the feel of a recast about it. I've seen similar detail softening from KOs.
All in all, I'm very happy with the price point and the quality. I can finally scratch that need for the alternate face sculpt now, too.
Posted by o.supreme on October 8th, 2018 @ 9:43am CDT
I was able to find the Devastator gift set at a Walmart near by. However I ultimately chose not to get it, and I determined I wont be getting any of the reissues.
Back in 2002, TRU "commemorative series" started with a mere 3 reissues (Prime, Magnus and Hot Rod). But the circumstances of their release were very different. I had just got married, and had no kids yet. These three Original Transformers had not been on toy shelves in approximately 16 years, (not counting G2 because of the stylistic changes) and while BW and RiD were fun (Armada was just coming out), it was nice to see the originals again. I eventually got them all and kept them in the packaging as I was more of a collector at the time.
Now however, in 2018, there have been several reissues of the original Transformers over the years, both in Japan, and North America. I remember having the G2 Constructicons, and while the colors were different, some of the aesthetic differences made it plain, THIS was NOT the same toy released earlier.
That's the vibe I got when Holding the 2018 Devaststor Giftset in my hands. It felt light and cheap (could be my own prejudices...) . No classic Styrofoam, no spring loaded hands/drills. Probably made of lesser quality materials, seemingly the packaging looked off, all around. It was a legit Hasbro Product to be sure, but to *me* it was a fake, -a facsimile trying to cash in on nostalgia.
Now for many casual fans, this is probably going to work. You'll probably hear so many comments online "WOW FINALLY EXACTLY LIKE WHEN I WAS A KID!!!" ---It's sad to say however it just isn't so. Now I'm not saying people shouldn't purchase these. If it works for you, then by all means, go for it. But when I think of the Unite Warriors Devastator I already have at home, and how my son and I enjoy sharing it, there's really no need for this, at least for me.
Besides, the original Devastator is seemingly plentiful on eBay, and if I were desperate enough, I could probably get one, for around double what this new fabrication is selling for.
Posted by Amelie on October 8th, 2018 @ 11:40am CDT
o.supreme wrote:Probably made of lesser quality materials
Detail casting aside, my Bumblebee's plastic was different to the original, but I wouldn't say it was of worse quality. If anything, the give in the yellow parts probably would prevent bits chipping off (which is probably the intent, given how thin\hollow G1 Bumblebee is)
I think your response to the reissues is more indicative of where you're at with your collecting. I know there are many G1 fans out there that will still pick these up just for the sake of completeness and comparison purposes. I doubt that any of the group buying for nostalgia reasons would even notice\care about the differences.
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on October 8th, 2018 @ 7:11pm CDT
Yes, I did store all of the extra bits. Pictures will come this week of Daddy Dev with his little Son
Posted by fenrir72 on October 8th, 2018 @ 8:24pm CDT
Posted by fenrir72 on October 8th, 2018 @ 8:30pm CDT
Amelie wrote:o.supreme wrote:Probably made of lesser quality materials
Detail casting aside, my Bumblebee's plastic was different to the original, but I wouldn't say it was of worse quality. If anything, the give in the yellow parts probably would prevent bits chipping off (which is probably the intent, given how thin\hollow G1 Bumblebee is)
I think your response to the reissues is more indicative of where you're at with your collecting. I know there are many G1 fans out there that will still pick these up just for the sake of completeness and comparison purposes. I doubt that any of the group buying for nostalgia reasons would even notice\care about the differences.
I'm one of the latter. Had to fork off the cone head sets bigtime from RK just to get Ramjet and Thrust (did you see their after market prices for their JP special release?) to complete my G1 seeker set.
Though their label sheets was plain sucks! Especially their adhesion.
Posted by Va'al on October 13th, 2018 @ 7:27am CDT
Check out the image below, and make sure to let us know if other Walmart stores (or any store, for that matter) are also offering these products at a lower price than expected - and also make sure to use our Sightings Database to help out fellow fans on the lookout!
Posted by Solrac333 on October 13th, 2018 @ 8:24am CDT
Posted by LordBludgeon on October 13th, 2018 @ 10:24am CDT
Posted by Dr. Caelus on October 13th, 2018 @ 2:25pm CDT
Posted by Megatron Wolf on October 13th, 2018 @ 6:37pm CDT
Posted by william-james88 on October 13th, 2018 @ 11:58pm CDT
LordBludgeon wrote:Well now I feel like I got ripped off... because I just picked up Hot Rod and Starscream for 29.99 each.
Thats cheaper than everywhere else for Starscteam
Posted by Bumblevivisector on October 14th, 2018 @ 11:25am CDT
Really? Because when I first saw Starscream 2 weeks ago, both Walmarts I checked had him for $15. That's what he scanned up for, and he was the only G1 reissue I've seen there to date. I thought it was a good deal, but it never occurred to me that it might be an error.william-james88 wrote:LordBludgeon wrote:Well now I feel like I got ripped off... because I just picked up Hot Rod and Starscream for 29.99 each.
Thats cheaper than everywhere else for Starscteam
And I neglected to check online because I still have the Takara "Book-Reissue" Starscream that first came with that Megatron gun, but now I'm thinking I should've bothered.
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on October 14th, 2018 @ 11:25am CDT
Bumblevivisector wrote:Really? Because when I first saw Starscream 2 weeks ago, both Walmarts I checked had him for $15. That's what he scanned up for, and he was the only G1 reissue I've seen there to date. I thought it was a good deal, but it never occurred to me that it might be an error.william-james88 wrote:LordBludgeon wrote:Well now I feel like I got ripped off... because I just picked up Hot Rod and Starscream for 29.99 each.
Thats cheaper than everywhere else for Starscteam
And I neglected to check online because I still have the Takara "Book-Reissue" Starscream that first came with that Megatron gun, but now I'm thinking I should've bothered.
I've only seen him for $35.99