Transformers: Takara's TG-23 Metroplex arrives! (Non-review)

Finally reviewed: Click on the link

https://iamterenceho.blogspot.com/2018/05/toy-review-takara-generations-metroplex.html

2 months ago, I ordered Takara's TG-23 Metroplex, approximately 1 month after the U.S. release. I bought it roughly for $150 on www.HobbylinkJapan.com, whereas the US version estimated average cost was about $115. I am aware of the U.S. Costco version running at $80, but Hawaii is not carrying it so that sucks and is another story for now. HobbyLinkJapan allows you to hold the item for 2 months allowing you to stockpile more figures within 2 months to save on shipping. 2 months was up and Metroplex (Metroflex in G1 Japan), was shipped to my house. Here are the pics:

So you can see that it is 1/4 the bed size.

Here are the rest of the pics showing every available side(s) of the box. Figure will not be un-boxed yet. Sorry.

So there you have it for now. He is billed as the largest TF figure made standing roughly at 2 feet tall.  Metroplex was supposed to be based off of the Fall of Cybertron design, but somehow he resembles  the G1 incarnation. My only complaint for now is that the Japanese front pic of Metroplex does not have Trailbreaker, Optimus prime, Hoist, Sandstorm, and Bumblebee lying on various parts of his body. The U.S. release had this artwork to promote those figures so you could buy them, but it would had been great to have the same artwork on the Japanese release.
Here is the artwork for the American release (click on one of the pics):
http://www.amazon.com/Transformers-Generations-Metroplex-Autobot-Scamper/dp/B00CFWWD7O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386133065&sr=8-1&keywords=metroplex



How to get him:  I would not recommend getting him at HobbyLinkJapan.com only cuz of high shipping costs. Because the figure was huge, I paid almost $70 for shipping which made it $220 total. I was pissed because I couldn't cancel my order after it got released (just a day, darn it!). Don't get me wrong, HobbyLinkJapan has great service and good for stockpiling, but too bad about the cancellation policy.You could return it but it would had been a hassle.

If possible, wait for TFSOURCE.com or BIGBADTOYSTORE.com, both American stores that carry foreign products as well to drop in price. TFSOURCE, which I have bought from once allows stockpiling and free shipping after $150. BBTS does not have free shipping but does stockpiling which is coined "pile of loot." Basically, you save on shipping if you buy in bulk. This past Black Friday, TFSOURCE and BBTS had Takara Metroplex for $160 discounted from its $229-249 price range.  So that means, TFSOURCE would had been free shipping up front. BBTS would not have been free but if you bought other products, then the shipping would had been well worth it.

All of this has taught me to be patient even on U.S. releases. I buy figures for $13-14 only to have them discounted a month or two later at $9. I could had saved $60 had I been eager not to get it on release. Then again, I can't tell if it will sell out or not. Anyways, take care folks and maybe some where down the line, I can do some photography on the figure itself and compare the product to the U.S. release which I am contemplating of getting. Laters and God bless.


Finally, a review 5 years later.

https://iamterenceho.blogspot.com/2018/05/toy-review-takara-generations-metroplex.html