Transformers Magnificus and Buzzworthy SS 44 Leader Optimus Prime Found in Canada

Retail distribution for Transformers toys (and action figures in general) can be a little screwy at times. That's why online collectible retailers exist and many fans have since gravitated towards them. What is sad to see is situation like the one below where we see merchandise destined for either Walmart or Toys R Us in Canada that was never put on shelves and was instead dumped to a liquidator after rotting in a warehouse. This is of course dependent on retailer and geographic location but the final wave of Kingdom was never found on Walmart shelves in Canada. And believe it or not, Studio Series Junkheap was scarce as well and no voyager wave beyond wave 1 for the Legacy line was ever stocked in Walmarts either. Well low and behold, liquidator store locations in Canada (specifically Quebec in the example below) are now getting an influx of all those toys skipped by Walmart.

It used to be just one wave was skipped and we'd see some toys at liquidators but this is taking it to a whole other level. This is further aggravating because it shows that retailers did have new stock, which fans surely could have purchased, but never replenished shelves with it, either moving on to the next line or just leaving the shelves with the same stock all year round. The specific location below is Boom Liquidation but there are province specific liquidators all across Canada (like Treasure Hunt in Ontario) so if there is any Canadian who has missed out on the toys shown below, it could be time to visit your local liquidator chain/store as this influx shows Walmart has dumped all their old stock to make room for a lot of incoming toys like the movie line, Earthspark, ect.

This is beyond *****. Seriously. My local Walmart had their TF shelves that consist of 33% same sh!t over and over again, and 66% of EMPTY, BARE SPACE. Why is it so hard to stock up those damn shelves?

I hate Walmart for having the Velocitron line exclusive to themselves and I hate Toys R Us for having the Buzzworthy line exclusive to them. This make getting those toys in store nearly IMPOSSIBLE.

At least so far, there's my local geek store, even if I have to pay a few bucks more. Plus Amazon is reliable most of the time.

Is it the retailer dumping it to liquidators or vendors?

When I was a buyer at TRU, I never remember us selling product out of our warehouse to liquidators.

On the other hand, cancelling our orders to vendors, perhaps too late for them to do anything but dump the product, THAT I remember.

That's a lot of stock to just leave in a warehouse for months at a stretch and then farm out to liquidation stores. Did it even occur to them to at least TRY to sell these at retail and get some profit?

MeGrimlock78 wrote:Is it the retailer dumping it to liquidators or vendors?

When I was a buyer at TRU, I never remember us selling product out of our warehouse to liquidators.

On the other hand, cancelling our orders to vendors, perhaps too late for them to do anything but dump the product, THAT I remember.

That's interesting, I thought TRU would buy directly from Hasbro. Or is Hasbro the vendor in your scenario?

william-james88 wrote:

MeGrimlock78 wrote:Is it the retailer dumping it to liquidators or vendors?

When I was a buyer at TRU, I never remember us selling product out of our warehouse to liquidators.

On the other hand, cancelling our orders to vendors, perhaps too late for them to do anything but dump the product, THAT I remember.

That's interesting, I thought TRU would buy directly from Hasbro. Or is Hasbro the vendor in your scenario?

Sorry, yes, TRU would buy direct from Hasbro. We called all suppliers and manufacturers Vendors, so it wouldn't be confusing.

I have the feeling either this is stock retailers ordered from Hasbro, and then backed out on, or stock that Hasbro thought retailers would want but then didn't. Usually when the vendor is stuck with stock like that, they'll offer it around to vendors at a reduced cost. If no one bites, they'll drop the price further and offer to their next tier of customers, and so on until Hasbro can finally sell it.

Since these are showing up in Canadian discounters, it's stock that Hasbro Canada had excess of in their warehouse.

Heh, the article seems a bit different than what I first read this morning. The bottom line is something is going on with Hasbro distribution, period. There were no Earthspark toys on US shelves for the holiday season, that's just odd. Amazon has canceled orders for the first wave of flip changers while having NO listings at all for the Tacticon figures. Evolution wave 2 voyagers and Leaders were available from independent online retailers and Canadian B&M before they were even announced and before many retailers got stock of the Wave 1 Voyagers. Don't even get me started on the distribution of ROTB Studio Series line. Nothing is going to change and we're not going to get answers if we don't start making noise and asking questions, all the time. Instead of losing our minds over Commander Armada Prime, we should be talking about bare shelves and out-of-order distribution. This has to happen at EVERY live stream and with every post someone from Hasbro makes. Enough with falling postrate in front of our Hasbro masters grateful for any morsel we get. It took us 30 years to learn about the Mysterions, it shouldn't take us another 30 to learn about why whole waves were showing up at some discount store or not at all.

Red Kog is back at normal deluxe price at TrU:

https://www.toysrus.ca/fr/Transformers- ... 658A5.html

Blue Silverstreak is 31.47$:

https://www.toysrus.ca/fr/Transformers- ... 22A11.html

And that's it.
It's better than nothing.

The cheapest place to get the big Select Guardian Robot is at TFTOYS.CA
The preorder is 270$. Unfortunately, shipping is not free but it's not too expensive. Be warned that you MUST pay the TOTAL amount of the preorder upfront.

My previous cheapest option was at GameStop, live in store (not guaranteed) with the Edge Platinum card. Ignoring the fact that I'll have to pay this year's fee, even with the Edge discount, it's 6$ more expensive.

So despite the 20$ shipping fee, the fact that I pay just the federal tax AND that my preorder is secured makes TFTOY.CA the clear winner.

I'm glad I discovered that place!
Now, to wait until May...

Canada has been lagging behind releases as of late in their big box stores. While it is still not caught up, Walmart has had a reset which finally brought new figures to give some variety to shelves which saw no change for a year. That includes:

- The exclusive G1 retro Hot Rod and Starscream
- Studio Series Core Rumble, Laserbeak and Wheelie
- Studio Series Voyager Ironhide and Galvatron wave
- Studio Series Deluxe ROTB Airazor and Bumblebee
- Legacy Voyagers Inferno and Armada Starscream

Also, the same collectible store which got Metalhawk early also got Generation select Guardian Robot in stock now, which can be picked up locally or be shipped.

While that option is $299.99 CAD, there is a cheaper option at TFtoys.ca but that toy won't ship until May.

Also, Toysrus has a sale on two of their exclusives, Red Cog and Silverstreak

Red Cog: https://www.toysrus.ca/fr/Transformers- ... 658A5.html

Blue Silverstreak: https://www.toysrus.ca/fr/Transformers- ... 22A11.html

Also, the Leo Prime seen in the image below is a return.

My local Laval Walmart is BAREBONE.

But there's that Cyberverse deluxe Arcee for only 9$ if anyone is in the area and still haven't gotten her.



Also, Toys R Us Laval have 2 remaining Origin Bees at 18.50$.

That store has more toys than my Walmart has. And guys I've never seen out yet!

OMFG, 48$ OFF on SS10 JAZZ!

HURRY TO NOT MISS OUT ON THAT INCREDIBLE SAVINGS!

https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/transforme ... 0197590694

Rumble is still listed as a rollback ($12.97) on Walmart.ca.

Any chance they'll price match their own site, even though they stopped doing price matches?

MeGrimlock78 wrote:Rumble is still listed as a rollback ($12.97) on Walmart.ca.

Any chance they'll price match their own site, even though they stopped doing price matches?

I think they only price match if the article is in stock on the website.

Speaking of in stock, Tarn is back in stock on Amazon.ca

william-james88 wrote:

MeGrimlock78 wrote:Rumble is still listed as a rollback ($12.97) on Walmart.ca.

Any chance they'll price match their own site, even though they stopped doing price matches?

I think they only price match if the article is in stock on the website.

Speaking of in stock, Tarn is back in stock on Amazon.ca

I saw Tarn at my local Geek store and I passed. Then I learned he's short packed.

The FOMO was too strong when i saw it back at Amazon.

I called my local Toys R Us Laval about the Buzzworthy Bumblebee NEST and SS44 figures.

Not only they have none in stock, NONE ARE EVEN ORDERED YET.

I don't know if that's the case for the whole province of Quebec. There's no trace of then online either.

TrU suck. Seriously.

While TrU is dropping the ball on Transformers, Walmart pick up the slack.

Pre-order for Legacy Metroplex at 200$.

https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/transforme ... VCRX5JJGRB

MPM Blackout at 200$

https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/transforme ... 0206365638

The G2 bots and G1 tools are there too.

After 9000 years, Bee Joe is at Amazon.ca!

https://www.amazon.ca/-/fr/Hasbro-Trans ... 82&sr=1-79?tag=seibertron0b-20&

Both NEST Ratchet and Origins Jazz have been found in Canada. Since they are part of the Buzzworthy Bumblebee toyline, they are exclusive to Toysrus. These were found in Markville, Ontario, by Janitor over at Cybertron.ca. But the best news is that Jazz is $35 CAD rather than the obscene 25% markup toysus places on deluxes these days.

Now, will my local TrU even bother to have that Jazz in stock?

The clearance sale previously reported keep going, bu until May 10th, if you buy two clearance items at Toys R Us, the cheapest one is 40% off!

So now it's your chance for some crazy savings, like for my second Biker Baroness and "Sphinx" Dinobot.

Most ROTB and Earthspark toys are on sale at amazon.ca at around 15% off.
It ain't much, but that was enough for me to finally pull the trigger on SS ROTB Battletrap.

The Legacy evolution "origins" 2 packs are at last available on amazon.ca.

The price is REALLY good for Ratbat and Megs at 77$:
https://www.amazon.ca/-/fr/F6964/dp/B0B ... 82&sr=1-32?tag=seibertron0b-20&

And for some reasons, the Shockwave and Orion Pax set is the same price, at 77$, Making it more normal.
https://www.amazon.ca/-/fr/F7015/dp/B0B ... C83&sr=1-2?tag=seibertron0b-20&

Oh, I must add that the 2 pack with Orion Pax and Alpha Trion was 100$. That's 23$ just for the X-Mass decoration that came as an "extra".
So, the price of these two new sets is once more, really , REALLY good.

It took 9000 years but the elusive SS44 reissue Leader DOTM Optimus Prime finally appeared on TrU's website!

https://www.toysrus.ca/fr/Transformers- ... E5BB1.html

Good time to visit your local Walmart, if you're in Canada. Not only are there some great new deals but there are also some new toys. Mainline voyager Rhinox from Transformers Rise of the Beasts just hit shelves, along with the latest wave of core class legacy figures (you can see all those on the shelf image below). We have some reviews of Rhinox for you below from our community.

Walmart has also got some nice deals on Transformers toys. The retro G1 releases are only $29 CAD (which is slightly above $20 USD), making Hound and Thundercracker 40% off. The ROTB Beast Weaponizer two packs (which I highly recommend to any parent who wants to get their 5-7 year olds into Transformers) are only $15 CAD ($11 USD). That is great value when you consider that it makes them the same price as the inarticulated Battle Changers.

Amazing deals.... if I had money to spend.

Ah yes, cartoon-colors Thundercracker sort of drives home the point of the Troop-Builder 4-pack's blue Seeker: pick whichever shade of blue you consider your "true" Thundercracker, and repurpose all the other TCs into generics from specific eps.

So far in Michigan, the only G1 repaint I've seen in any Walmart is Starscream, which I've sort of already had for almost 2 decades now via Takara's book-reissue, but the others are all on my kinda'-want list. I'd better start checking more frequently in case they get clearanced as soon as Hot Rod appears.

Starscream is still the only G1 Retro figure I've seen in US Walmarts. Glad I ordered them all online.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:Starscream is still the only G1 Retro figure I've seen in US Walmarts. Glad I ordered them all online.

Emerje

Same. I was kinda hoping to see Hot Rod in person, see if he would tempt me

I forget if we covered this but this buzzworthy set is avait from walmart. Very weird.

https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/transforme ... ZIQBV1IYG0

william-james88 wrote:I forget if we covered this but this buzzworthy set is avait from walmart. Very weird.

https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/transforme ... ZIQBV1IYG0

And at almost full price instead of on clearance.

Also, it's bizarre that after weeks and weeks, that set is still plenty available online and in store at that price at TrU.

https://www.toysrus.ca/fr/Transformers- ... 8E9FC.html

As if, no one care, or for those who cared enough to get at full price before, none want a spare.
If for some reason the price get even lower, like at 50$, I'll get a spare. But not before.

For some reasons, the ROTB mainline voyagers are 40$CAN at Walmart. So I got the last one of the trio, the one I thought I would skip, Rhinox.

I also found Kingdom Roadrage at Amazon.ca for 30$CAN. No taxes, free shipping. Nice!

I found the Legacy Evolution Medix at my local GameStop!

New sightings in Canada are coming at us in a fast and furious fashion and from three different retailers:

- At Toysrus we have a sighting of the Buzzworthy Ironhide and Prowl two pack in most provinces.

- At Walmart we have sigthings in the Ontario eregion for the Walmart exclusive G2 deluxes 2 Deluxes including Mirage, Jazz, Laser Cycle and Dead End. These are all part of the same wave.

- At Gamestop, fellow Seibertronian -Kanrabat- found the Legacy Evolution Medix, these are hitting several provinces simultaneously.

In Canada, Medix is a GameStop exclusive if I remember?

-Kanrabat- wrote:In Canada, Medix is a GameStop exclusive if I remember?

Yup

william-james88 wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:In Canada, Medix is a GameStop exclusive if I remember?

Yup

So that was pretty damn lucky of me to have stumbled onto that lone Medix at my local GameStop then.

The Sudio Series Autobots reissue collection never appeared on amazon.ca.
But here's the Decepticons one! At 195$, it seems expensive at first glance, but considering the base price of each figures, meaning a leader, two voyagers, and one deluxe (around 204$) 195$ ain't so bad. Especially compared to eBay.

https://www.amazon.ca/-/fr/F6957/dp/B0B ... 82&sr=1-10?tag=seibertron0b-20&

The mainline deluxes 3 pack of Cheetor, Nightbird, and Wheeljack are available at last at Toys R Us Canada!

https://www.toysrus.ca/fr/Transformers- ... 338B2.html

At 80$CAN, the price is very reasonable for 3 deluxes. Hurry up and get yours before the bots take everything!

-Kanrabat- wrote:The mainline deluxes 3 pack of Cheetor, Nightbird, and Wheeljack are available at last at Toys R Us Canada!

https://www.toysrus.ca/fr/Transformers- ... 338B2.html

At 80$CAN, the price is very reasonable for 3 deluxes. Hurry up and get yours before the bots take everything!

And you can get it for 60$ with the 25% off code TRU has sent to r members.

Sadly in Canada, Toysrus looks more and more like what it did at the tail end of its run in the US with the only stuff on the shelves being last year's product at higher prices than any other retailer. But, it is also where most Target exclusives are sold in Canada, so it's still a destination for collectors. You just have to be alerted of the seldom times something is new in stores and this happens to be on of those times.

A lot of new Transformers toys have now been found in Toysrus and they are:

- Buzzworthy Prowl and Ironhide (dead Autobots) two pack
- Buzzworthy RID Towline
- Buzzworthy SS Grimlock reissue
- The ROTB mainline deluxes 3 pack of Cheetor, Nightbird, and Wheeljack
- Smash and Change Scourge
- Titan class Nemesis
- Leader class Snarl from the Studio Series line (not a new sighting, but a worthy mention since people are still looking for that toy)

william-james88 wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:The mainline deluxes 3 pack of Cheetor, Nightbird, and Wheeljack are available at last at Toys R Us Canada!

https://www.toysrus.ca/fr/Transformers- ... 338B2.html

At 80$CAN, the price is very reasonable for 3 deluxes. Hurry up and get yours before the bots take everything!

And you can get it for 60$ with the 25% off code TRU has sent to r members.

It's been years since they sent any coupons so I threw my R cards to the trash and removed myself from their mailing list months ago.
Oh well.
Mine is already bought and paid for at full price. Still worth it tho.

Huh . . . I wonder what it's like to see shelves actually stocked. It's been the same kiddie-line crap on the shelves down here for so long I've forgotten what it feels like to see something on the shelves I might actually want.

Brokebot wrote:Huh . . . I wonder what it's like to see shelves actually stocked. It's been the same kiddie-line crap on the shelves down here for so long I've forgotten what it feels like to see something on the shelves I might actually want.

It feels like "HEY THE TRANSFORMERS SHELVES ARE FULLY STOCKED... With Marvels "shampoo bottle" stuff."

It's the case of my local Toys R Us and Walmart.

Brokebot wrote:Huh . . . I wonder what it's like to see shelves actually stocked. It's been the same kiddie-line crap on the shelves down here for so long I've forgotten what it feels like to see something on the shelves I might actually want.

Most of the stuff on the shelves in Canada is also kid stuff or really old product. Check the image below, what do you see in the pics that you don't see on your shelves and would like to see?

The Dead Ironhide & Prowl 2 pack finally appeared at my local Toys R Us. The price is also very good.
They got the BWBB ROTB Scorponok packs as well.





At GameStop, they just got the Legacy Evolution Armada Universe Hot Shot and Jolt pack!

A dire warning to my fellow Canadians.

Never buy anything from NMC Toys.

That Toronto based store may have been legit once, but the COVID thing transformed that store into a scam. He will take your money, never send anything, then ghost you.

Se some reviews at

https://www.sitejabber.com/reviews/nmctoys.ca

And

https://www.yelp.ca/biz/nmc-toys-toronto

And

https://www.reddit.com/r/ActionFigures/ ... as_anyone/

So, avoid and report.

Here to report that my local Toys R Us have lots of interesting things.

First, they have the BWBB SS AoE Grimlock and the SS ROTB Optimus Prime in stock.

They also have the latest JP set and the Top Gun Maverick. Both at full price.

They still have the same things on clearance, but this time, the Earthsparks are at 50%off.

They also have these metal figures.

Finally, the "buy two things on clearance and get the cheapest at 50% off" sale is on. Again.