1988 Minibot Equivalents

[Sciflyer]

In period, I recall mall-only toy stores typically being more expensive than the bigger toy-only chains and bargain stores. It's possible that some first-run figures might have been in that $5 range, but maybe not. I just remember my parents not really wanting me to buy Transformers at the mall

Edit: Seeing the old Toys R Us sticker for $2.99 jogged my memory that that was a very popular price for a lot of toys then. G.I. Joes were often in that range, too, and you could really stretch your dough picking up some smaller (but still cool) figures.

 

[Sabrblade]

If it would help, I could reach out to the Lukis Bros of Unicron.com (since I know them pretty well from having worked for Unicron.com back in the day and from hanging out with them at past BotCons and other events) and ask them about those prices listed on the instructions archive.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

Go for it. Don't let them ever think that site isn't still relevant and loved.

 

[LBD "Nytetrayn"]

Actually a quick search of the Internet strongly suggests that's wrong.

View attachment 39390View attachment 39392View attachment 39393View attachment 39391


It looks like the Mini Cars ran like $2.50 to $3

-ZacWilliam, Which makes sense as the big Autobot cars seem to have been around $6ish

What's that in today's money? Because I'm pretty sure they'd be charging a lot more than what it would come out to...

 

[Sciflyer]

It turns out that $3 in 1984 translates into roughly $9 - $10 now, which we all know is the going rate of small Transformers toys today...

 

[ZacWilliam1]

So I realized that I could also be looking at vintage ads.

-ZacWilliam, Yeah that tracks

 

[The Predaking]

Those pics are such huge image files they're taking forever to finish loading.

Sorry. I forget that everyone doesn’t have as fast internet connection as I do.

 

[The Predaking]

It turns out that $3 in 1984 translates into roughly $9 - $10 now, which we all know is the going rate of small Transformers toys today...

I never trust those inflation calculators. They always seem to make it look less of a jump than it was. I mean, do you really think that a person with $60 can buy as much food today as someone could on 1984 with $20?

 

[Sabrblade]

Sorry. I forget that everyone doesn’t have as fast internet connection as I do.

But... You're not ZacWilliam1.

 

[Sciflyer]

I never trust those inflation calculators. They always seem to make it look less of a jump than it was. I mean, do you really think that a person with $60 can buy as much food today as someone could on 1984 with $20?

Food? Absolutely not. Little plastic toys? Possibly. I agree that the calculators may not feel 100% accurate, but I think that they do a decent enough job at approximating.

 

[NovaSaber]

It's almost as if the prices were determined by each individual store.

But the minibots were consistently less than the combiner limbs at the same store.

In G2 also; combiner limbs in G2 were $5, while mini-vehicles were $3 or $4, and Go-Bots were $3.

 

[Stepwise]

So I realized that I could also be looking at vintage ads.

View attachment 39421

-ZacWilliam, Yeah that tracks

That's fun. Yellow. Bumper on a Cliffjumper card.

 

[Sciflyer]

I also love Optimus with Ultra Magnus.

 

[LBD "Nytetrayn"]

I'd love to hear how Optimus Magnus here came to be.

 

[Jackpot]

That empty, unadorned, upright trailer is giving union-suit vibes.

 

[Haywire]

That empty, unadorned, upright trailer is giving union-suit vibes.

Now I'm picturing Ultra Magnus running around with that little flap in the back hanging open...

 

[The Predaking]

Check out those prices!

How about the first US reissues!

What is really hard to find is some Beast Wars newspaper ads. I did find some catalog/wishbook pics though.

 

[Princess Viola]

lmao at snaptrap

 

[lastmaximal]

"Affordable enough to buy two" was a dagger in the heart

 

[Noip]

Those were the days my friend.
We thought they'd never end...