Transformers For Your Child

Answer 1

More Than Meets the Eye

The Transformers have recently taken center stage once again after three mainstream motion pictures and several recent animated incarnations, though their beginnings date back to Japan of the 1970's. The toy-giant Kenner (later bought out by Hasbro) combined several toys from various franchises owned by companies such as into what is now known as the Transformers audiences know and love today. The original run of Transformers toys were made to last, unlike today's bedroom furniture and toys and would make an excellent centerpiece to any child's room. While there are many original Transformers available on auction sites across the internet, unless you are a seasoned collector it can often be difficult to determine the value and condition of an original transformer.

Several resources exist on the internet that will aid those searching to add a piece of Transformers memorabilia to their child's room. TFU.info is just one of many websites that offers a comprehensive list of every Transformers toy created and categorized by year of release, faction, genre, sub-genre and even whether or not the toy that you are searching for was released domestically or internationally.

Common Concerns When Shopping for Transformers

The Transformers fan community has adopted a set of common terms when used to describe the overall condition and completeness of an item up for sale. The scale runs from C1, described as an item stripped off all extraneous accessories and in overall very poor condition, to C10, an item in pristine condition with all available stickers and accessories.

The terms MIB, Mint In Box and MISB, Mint In Sealed Box, are also used commonly amongst Transformers sellers and may be easily confused by the general public. A MISB toy will be one that has been completely unopened and is often denoted by sealed tape on the outer box. A MIB toy will be a Transformer that has been previously opened, but also comes with the original packaging and may or may not come with the original Styrofoam insert and paperwork such as the instructions and sticker sheets. Naturally, a MIB or MISB toy will cost more money than a loose, or opened toy due often due to issues of completeness and overall quality of the item. Finally, over the years there have been several high-quality knock off Transformers created in an effort to scam fans. When shopping for a toy claiming to be MISB, make sure to ask to see pictures of the tape sealing the box, original price stickers, and pictures of the box itself.

Realistically, a MISB toy from the 1980's will have some scratches and dents on it as well as yellowing of the tape used to seal the box. Just like in real life, if it seems too good to be true, it likely is.