Since I blogged about the great G.I.Joe The Rise of Cobra (ROC) toys clearance sale in local departmental stores some months ago, I still get some queries on where to find this and that particular ROC figure or vehicle, or playset at the rock bottom prices. 

Well you have to understand the pattern of stock clearance at retail stores, especially for fad items such as toys that are based on movies.  When the toys are collectibles popular with fans and collectors, a clearance sale would wipe out the most sought after pieces from the departmental stores very quickly. 

The next “big things” for the local toys scene are the Iron Man 2 movie toys, as well as those from Disney’s Toy Story 3 movie.  Hence inevitably, passe toylines like the 2009 G.I.Joe movie and 2009 Wolverine movie toys have been on clearance sale for the past several months to make shelf and peg space for the latest toys from other upcoming 2010 movies.

Nonetheless, some great gems from the ROC toyline are still found at very good prices, but in only very few departmental stores and some selected collector’s toy shops.  The local departmental stores that still carry the ROC toyline as of this week are: OG, Metro, and Toys “R” Us.  I don’t know what exact pieces they still have in their stores.  You’ve got to go there and find out yourself.

G.I.Joe The Rise of Cobra Pit Mobile Headquarters playset

For harder to find ROC figures, vehicles and playsets, most of them have been cleared from the departmental stores.  Your best bet now would be collector’s toy shops like Simply Toys, and the Sunday Toy Market at China Square Central (CSC).  The ROC toys still available there may or may not be at the rock bottom prices you prefer.  Well good luck to you, since we’re now at the tail end of this toyline.  It’s kind of like take it or leave it.

Here is a video review of the ROC Pit Mobile Headquarters.  This massive playset can still be found at Simply Toys at SGD 49.90, or at SGD 45.00 for their members.  You can call them to check for the stock availability before going there.  The box itself is very bulky and rather heavy, so preferably arrange your own private transport to bring it home!  Happy last minute ROC toys shopping, while stocks last!

While surfing YouTube, I bookmarked a couple of interesting video reviews of custom plastic display cases made for the popular 80’s Masters of the Universe (MOTU) figures.  The display cases can also fit in the sister toyline of MOTU - the Princess of Power (POP) dolls, as these are smaller than the MOTU figures.  

If you collect the more recent “re-issued” Masters of the Universe Classics (MOTUC) figures, you’ll be pleased to note that there are also custom display cases made to store and display them!  You can remove your MOTUC toys from their packaging to play and display, and then store them in an aesthetic manner, almost like they are still mint-on-card (MOC)!

Hope you like this toy storage tip.  Happy MOTU and MOTUC toys collecting!

When you see all the 3.75-inch Iron Man 2 action figures in the departmental stores, you might be dazzled by how all the red and gold variants of Iron Man closely resemble one another. 

You might be further confused if you can’t read roman numerals, so here are some tips to help you sail through in identifying the Iron Man 2 movie 3.75-inch action figures:

How to read roman numerals -

I - 1

II - 2

III - 3

IV - 4 (a ‘I’ before V is 4)

V - 5 (remember that V is 5)

VI - 6 (a ‘I’ after V is 6 and so on)

VII - 7

VIII - 8

IX - 9 (a “I” before X is 9)

X - 10 (remember that X is 10)

XI - 11 and so on (I’ll blog about the rest of the roman numerals if Hasbro gets that far in its Iron Man 2 toyline.)

If you intend to buy just the movie poster version of the 3.75-inch Iron Man action figures, just note that a round circle on his chest refers to his Movie 1 version, while an inverted triangle on the chest means he’s from Movie 2.  You can then choose which variant you would like to buy from these 2 main distinctions.  The back of their packaging also tells you a brief summary of each armor version or “Mark”.

Do beware that there are reported cases of mislabeled Iron Man 2 movie 3.75-inch action figures.  So you still need to check every figure carefully to ensure you don’t accidentally buy duplicates or the ones which you didn’t intend to buy!

Hope the above helps you in your selection of which Iron Man 2 movie toys to buy.  Of course for the collectors who intend to buy all of them, it doesn’t matter!  Happy Iron Man 2 movie toys shopping!

Following my blog post yesterday on sighting Iron Man 2 movie toys at our local departmental stores, here’s the movie trailer for your viewing, enjoy!

Iron Man 2 movie trailer - Release date on 7 May 2010.

Happy waiting for the movie to be screened in the cinemas here!

If you are in Singapore and you have a copy of today’s edition (26 Feb 2010) of The New Paper, turn to page 6 and you’ll see a large black and white photo on it.  I don’t have scanner to scan that photo though. 

Basically the photo shows a trio of recent years power ranger figures on the floor against a wall.  In front of them are an array of offerings of toys, milk and drinks.  The caption below the photo states - 

“Superhero Superstitions: Police found figurines used for prayer during a raid on an illegal gambling den in Geylang Lorong 8 on Wednesday.  The den operators apparently gave offerings of toys, milk and sweets to the figurines in the hope of better earnings.”

——–

My thoughts:

I know I often imagine my toys “coming to life” and having “unique personalities” of their own, but this takes the cake.  To worship them like deities is a little too startling for me. 

I can’t identify which series of power rangers those are in the photo.  I’m not sure if they are original brand products or bootleg versions.  One thing for sure, I’ll never see them as mere toys again!  Creepy…

An observation I’ve made about some toys collectors’ buying patterns is that when there is some sort of toys clearance sale, they will first do the usual of buying all the pieces that they have wanted all along. 

Then the sale items are sold out or they get restocked at much lower rock bottom clearance prices.  Those who had held back at the previous sale now enter the buying frenzy.  These are the patient yet very lucky ones who took the right “gamble” by waiting for further price reductions.  Most importantly, they are able to be at the right places at the right times. 

Among this round of buyers are those who had bought at original retail prices during the hype of the toy fad, and those who already bought at the higher clearance prices at the earlier sale.  Seeing how much cheaper the toys have become tempts them to buy some more of the same toys to keep unopened, or to open up for play and display.  Sometimes it’s to replace faulty or imperfect pieces that they already own.  Maybe there’s this fear that the toys may deteriorate over time, so it’s good to have another piece, or multiple pieces on stand by.

Once a clearance toys buying frenzy starts, it can get out of hand in the minds of some toy collectors.  It’s like some sort of rare opportunity not to be missed, even if you have those toys already.  This feeling is very similar to the emotions felt during the “rapid growth” stage of toy collecting.  Logic thinking flies out the window while emotions rule the head.

The other resulting type of toys buying frenzy happens to the toy collectors who for some reason, are always on the tail ends of the clearance toys hunting parties.  This is one very anxious, stressed and frustrated lot of buyers.  Everywhere they go, the clearance toys they want are all sold out.  Tough luck.  At the end of the clearance sale, they wonder why they acted like that.  I have no clear answer to that except for a sudden unexplanable wave of obsession that swept into their minds then.  Again, emotions win over logic.

Some of them end up buying loads of toylines that they didn’t think of collecting in the first place, but the attractive toys clearance sales gave them the opportunities at the right prices.  These are the lucky ones who scored a bargain.  For others, it is simply “impulse buying” and “herd mentality”.

There is no right or wrong in these emotions.  Many of us go through them at some stages of our lives.  Even if it is not toys, it can be other items that we use in our everyday lives.  All consumer goods go through clearance sales eventually, and our buying frenzy gets activated into bargain hunting modes.  It’s just that for some people, there is “after impulse purchase regret”.  Good luck on clearing those impulse items!  Humans are ruled by emotions much more than logic.  Life’s just like that!

 Interesting advertising gimmick isn’t it?

The following are some of the Transformers Revenge of the Fallen (ROTF) toys sightings at a mega toy store in Vivo City this week:

Takara Tomy ROTF Voyager Shanghai Attack Demolisher Figure at SGD 63.90.

They also have Takara Tomy ROTF Voyager Recon Ironhide and Takara Tomy ROTF Voyager Bludgeon at SGD 63.90 each.

Takara Tomy ROTF Scout Brakedown Figures at SGD 19.90 each.

Takara Tomy ROTF Deluxe Dirge & Red Rampage Figures at SGD 38.90 each.

Hasbro Deluxe Dirge, Armorhide, Ratchet, Brawn, NEST Bumblebee, Lockdown and the rest in the same wave are also available there at SGD 27.90 each.

I also spotted the ROTF Robot Powered Machines (RPMs), both single packs and 2-packs for the first time in Singapore!  They are die cast matchbox size ROTF vehicles toys with the sculpt of their respective robot modes at the undercarriage. 

The paintwork is very shiny and they make great collectibles, provided you don’t mind that they can’t transform into robot modes at all.  Nevertheless, they are very nice looking for display.

The single packs (wave 5) seen are: Optimus Prime, Bumblebee (2010 Camaro), Ratchet, Megatron and Jetfire - SGD 6.90 each.

The 2-packs there are: Optimus Prime vs Bonecrusher, Jazz vs Brawl, NEST Stealth Bumblebee vs Recon Barricade and another pair I can’t recall  - SGD 11.90 per pack.

Happy ROTF toys collecting!

G.I. Joe Movie Accelerator Suit Duke Figure @ SGD 20.00

Hasbro in Singapore has sprung another pleasant surprise for local G.I.Joe movie fans and toy collectors.  This time the G.I.Joe: The Rise of Cobra (ROC) super sale items are:

- Accelerator Suit Duke action figure is now on clearance sale at SGD 20.00!

- The Attack on G.I.Joe Pit Headquarters 5-pack box set is going at only SGD 10.00 now! 

- Others like the hugely popular but bulky Pit Mobile Headquarters playset (on super clearance price of SGD 30.00 only) were all gone within 1 day of being offered at this rock bottom price!

As of today, the first 2 items are still available.  If you are keen on getting them, hurry down to the the departmental store asap!  Happy toys shopping!

They say that photos speak a thousand words.  Well, here are my sightings of the latest Transformers Revenge of the Fallen (ROTF) toys this week! 

They were all spotted at various departmental stores along Orchard Road.  I didn’t get the ones I want yet, as I’m holding out for a sale.  If you can’t wait, happy ROTF toys shopping!

ROTF Scouts Slap Dash & Trenchmouth 2-pack @ SGD 29.90 (at T*********a & M***0).

ROTF Scouts Beachcomber & Deadlift 2-pack @ SGD 29.90 (at T*********a & M***o)).

ROTF NEST Deluxe Battlefield Bumblebee & Infiltrator Soundwave 2-pack @ SGD 49.90 (at T*********a & O*).

ROTF Legends Devastator box set - SGD 69.90 (at T*********a & M***o). 

ROTF Deluxe figures wave 9 - SGD 27.90 (at M***o).

ROTF Legends 2-packs - SGD 19.90 (at M***o).

Top row - Smokescreen & Nebula Starscream

Middle row - NEST Bumblebee & Shadow Striker

Bottom row - Off Road Mudflap & Skids

ROTF Deluxe Ice Cream Truck Twins & Voyager Demolisher Shanghai Showdown box set - SGD 69.90 (at O*).