Talk:Robot Point
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I don't have any relevant images to check with, but, having just moved the article from "Robot points" to "Robot point", it occurs to me that perhaps both words should be capitalized? Does anyone have reference for that? Also, I have never before heard of mailaway TFs appearing at retail. I trust Sipher to not make shit up, but, can someone point me to a reference for that? --Steve-o 13:50, 29 April 2007 (UTC)
- Robot Points does strike me as being a proper name. I'd say capitalize. --KilMichaelMcC 15:24, 29 April 2007 (UTC)
- Yeah, I was about to say. I never heard of anyone finding mail-away guys at any sort of retail... if they were, how the hell were they packaged? I didn't think Reflector had a box? -hx 16:14, 29 April 2007 (UTC)
- Yeah, I kinda doubt these guys were EVER at retail. Also the tone of the article seems a bit dismissive and derogatory. I remember the mail away offers very fondly and had a drawer full of robot points for years even after G1 ended could use some reworking. Also a list of all US mail aways, cost/points, and a picture of Robot points would all be nice additions.
- While I agree the tone of the article shouldn't be too dismissive, I think it's prudent to note that the Robot Points campaign was brilliant marketing to kids who didn't think it through much. It was only a great deal in the sense of getting toys not in stores or ones long gone from shelves. (Which shouldn't be downplayed, of course.) But it's often forgotten that you had to pay pretty much normal retail in addition to those saved up robot points. Basically, it got kids to want to buy up craploads of toys for the priviledge of buying other toys and nothing more. The Robot Points themselves didn't reduce the price paid for the mail-order item. For a modern-day equivalent example, it would be like having to buy $40 worth of toys to get the 10 Robot Points necessary to buy Armada Hot Shot from Hasbro for $10. --ItsWalky 20:14, 29 April 2007 (UTC)
- Bingo. The costs-normal-retail bit is pretty important. (In fact, the Mini Vehicles offered later in the line cost MORE through the mail-away offer than most stores charged.) The offers STARTED with the Omnibots and such, but soon it was primarily "help Hasbro clear out its warehouses of retail stuff".
- As for at-stores... I don't mean "on shelves in boxes". Baggied and in rummage bins at odd outlets. Hasbro did that a lot, though more with Joe than its other brands. I remember posts about getting Omnibots in grocery stores, but Google is coming up blank. --M Sipher 20:32, 29 April 2007 (UTC)
- I would be wholly unshocked to discover they ended up at Children's Palace. Children's Palace used to have big garbage cans full of GI Joe vehicle drivers on their little insert-bubbles for like $2. -LV 20:50, 29 April 2007 (UTC)
- While I agree the tone of the article shouldn't be too dismissive, I think it's prudent to note that the Robot Points campaign was brilliant marketing to kids who didn't think it through much. It was only a great deal in the sense of getting toys not in stores or ones long gone from shelves. (Which shouldn't be downplayed, of course.) But it's often forgotten that you had to pay pretty much normal retail in addition to those saved up robot points. Basically, it got kids to want to buy up craploads of toys for the priviledge of buying other toys and nothing more. The Robot Points themselves didn't reduce the price paid for the mail-order item. For a modern-day equivalent example, it would be like having to buy $40 worth of toys to get the 10 Robot Points necessary to buy Armada Hot Shot from Hasbro for $10. --ItsWalky 20:14, 29 April 2007 (UTC)
- Yeah, I kinda doubt these guys were EVER at retail. Also the tone of the article seems a bit dismissive and derogatory. I remember the mail away offers very fondly and had a drawer full of robot points for years even after G1 ended could use some reworking. Also a list of all US mail aways, cost/points, and a picture of Robot points would all be nice additions.
Pics
Stick these where you will. My scanner turned the '88 one pink, and I tried to colour-correct it but it turned out looking a bit ropey around the edges. The original scan's in the pic's version history, so someone who's better at this kind of stuff can have a go if they want. - Magnus Maximus 14:45, 29 January 2010 (EST)
'Bots, circa 1987
'Cons, circa 1987
'Cons, circa 1988
Beast Wars, circa 1998
Video Gems, 1986
