| Despite not having many new products in retail, the Toys R’ Us flagship store in Robinsons Galleria still manages to get a pinch of an update to their glass display shelf whenever the local distributor has for select stores have foot traffic that has caused some controversy for some local collectors not having them nearby theirs.
Not even its store rival Toy Kingdom flagship store in SM Megamall, which was a few blocks away with a similar glass display, even gets a decent update with all the silent word of mouth going around that the local distributor is tightening their belts due to the rise of interest rate and price point hike going up TRU still gets new stock. |
The retail scene in the Philippines is changing most would rather get their toys online, but most traditional consumers would rather see them in person the reason they still make their way to the “most updated” retail store away from the nearest ones they have that do not even get the latest Transformers even though there a few months and a couple of wave assortments behind.
Back in the day, the Philippines used to be ahead of other Asian countries when it came to Transformers being in the news through international message boards when it comes to sightings of the latest assortment. Now, it’s “all man from themselves” when most of the latest Transformers are now being sold at specialty stores for far more than the original retail price of the product that is already on clearance in the US.
New Arrivals, sort of
Despite having the local distributor “skipping waves” there are bittersweet updates with all the delays and you rarely see all retail stores having that same situation. But for those who are just hoping Hasbro would drop them at their nearest store that is not the case as the local distributor is “very selective,” which store deserves a new stock with them cutting cost post-pandemic era.
TRU at Robinsons Galleria had new stock for two assortments for Studio Series including the SS86 range based on the classic 1986 animated film as well as the most recent live-action film from “Rise of the Beast” that seems a few months behind. But as they say “better than nothing” or you have to go through other proper channels to get these far higher than the actual cost.
Studio Series | Wave 7 and 8
Core Class | Retailed at: ₱ 999.00 Pesos [$ 26.88 AUD | $ 17.72 USD]**
- Bumblebee | Dark of the Moon [Wave 7]
- Decepticon Frenzy (Red) [SS86 | Wave 8]
- Noah Diaz Exo-Suit | Rise of the Beast [Wave 8]
- Terrorcon Novakane | Rise of the Beast [Wave 8]
The Lone Voyager
With all the Core Class for the Studio Series from both live-action films and Transformers: The Movie finally making its retail appearance for the last two waves it would be also a rare opportunity for some to ever get a hold of Autobot Ratchet from SS86 as this figure will be re-released as the “dead versions” similar to Ironhide and Prowl last year that will be packed-in with Deluxe Class Autobot Brawn as a two-pack that was announced a few weeks back.
There are very few stocked at this store, and none of them are sold elsewhere is already not giving fans from other places the chance to acquire it. Some who don’t collect this series would go FOMO just to resell it, which has become a common practice to most collectors locally that some would even dare to flip it up priced way above the actual cost because of the scarcity.
Voyager Class | Retailed at: ₱ 1,999.00 Pesos [$ 53.79 AUD | $ 35.49 USD]**
- 86-23 Autobot Ratchet [SS86 | Wave 22 ]
It is not a good perspective for the fandom in general as not all have access to the latest items, and most are too dependent on local retail that can’t even deliver due to the local distributors' rumored financial challenges at the same time catering only to a very niche market that most who have been local to the franchise just immediate drops out because they can’t get access to the most recent releases.
For those who have been fortunate to get them from other sources good for them, but for the general walk-ins who would be a potential returning customer it is not only the local distributor is suffering, but also the toy store that carries these items becoming nothing more just a store that carries older stock.
So far no news of any newer product being stocked, and TRU and TK stores with foot traffic are the ones who get the most updates despite being a few months delayed. It is unfortunate indeed but for those longtime collectors and fans, it is best to find other resources as the retail market in the Philippines is changing.
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** - Currency Converter via Google.com
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