BBTS charges more for P-Bandai exclusives, so you're not really saving by going through them.

I just checked and they're charging $120 for that new Vegeta!? That's a $65 figure + $10 shipping and tax, so just under $80 from P-Bandai. Whereas BBTS sold it for $132 with their $4 shipping and tax. 

Import sites like N2G sold him for just under $60 + maybe $20 international shipping. So, still $80, but you get it a month earlier. They have limited stock, though, which is a problem. 

I'd say it's Import>P-Bandai>BBTS as far as value goes for these exclusives. 

Of course, for non-exclusives, BBTS is fine. Just a little later than most. But you can also get non-exclusives from Amazon and get free shipping if you have Prime, etc. etc. 

@nanigans I don't think anybody is suggesting going through BBTS for P-Bandai exclusives. BBTS is marking them up as much as they do because they're likely paying the same price we are to acquire them. If some of these exclusives were general release items instead of P-Bandai, the assumption is they would cost the same as what P-Bandai offers them for, or near enough. It just seems these days we're getting a lot more exclusives via P-Bandai than general release to the point where I'm almost surprised when something isn't released through P-Bandai. Vegeta, Gohan Beast, Orange Piccolo seem like the most obvious. The SSGSS Vegeta probably could have been a general release too since it should be pretty cheap for Bandai to produce. I think Bandai likes this release model though so it is what it is. I get it with someone like Cui, though at the same time, if I could preorder it now and not have to shell out almost 80 bucks after shipping and tax I'd have more interest, but in this case I'm probably going to pass.

I still disagree that this Vegeta is an odd choice as an exclusive. It makes sense. It's a very minor alteration to an already existing figure, with several other Vegetas currently readily available, and likely the final Freeza arc Vegeta costume still to come. Bandai proabably doesn't want to oversaturate the market with Vegetas, because fanboys be damned, he's not Goku. Goku sells no matter what.

Anyway, ultimately, I think people are less sour on P-Bandai in general than they are on paying up front for figures. And hey, that's fine. Personally, I prefer paying up front 'cause I always have the cash on hand. I pay for them and forget about them until I get that email that they're shipping out, and then it's a nice surprise. Even when a site like amiami defaults to Pay Later, I'll use PayPal to pay ahead of time as it helps me stay honest with my buying habits. But I get it that everyone is different from me, so at the end of the day you have to do what's best for you and yours. I don't think anyone is going to lose sleep over not getting a Kyewi. 😆

Managed to get a few new figs in the last week 🙂

Found Raditz MIB at a convention then a store I visit had both Super Hero Broly and Pan both on sale 🙂

My Android 19 just shipped!

Hey! Look! A general release!

https://twitter.com/preterniadotcom/status/1724232929922924947?s=46&t=pEMDfwxSsfbeiKK_HSMl8Q

Posted by: @misfit

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Hey! Look! A general release!

 

https://twitter.com/preterniadotcom/status/1724232929922924947?s=46&t=pEMDfwxSsfbeiKK_HSMl8Q

Heck yeah! Been waiting for a Gohan in purple outfit to get a new release!

No base form head, anime colors, no SSJ2 head, no effects...eh. This soft goods+plastic mixed media thing they're doing, last with The Batman, really looks bad. This is an easy pass. 

It's also not the first cloth cape in the Dragon Ball line. That was kid Chichi.

I already ordered the battle damaged Gohan...But this one is neat. Probably don't need it, though. I like the cape. 

@popoman I'm curious to see how the cape looks in person, but it at least looks better than what they included with Piccolo. I wish they included an all plastic, non-articulated, cape as well, but oh well.

That is the same base figure as before right?

@threash looks like it might be different. I don't have the original, but it looks like this one has the new style of thigh twist. It might also have an overlay for the gi like the new Gohan Beast and Orange Piccolo - hard to tell from the promo shots.

Can anyone tell me what the release schedule is for the current/upcoming figures?

I've seen Latent Power Trunks, Android 19, Super Sayain Goku, 3rd Form Freiza all showing up in the last few weeks and trying to budget for them!

Definitely excited over a v2 kid Gohan from the Cell Saga. I cancelled the nekkid Goku and POed this instead. I'll probably try to see if the plastic cape from the original will fit on him since I need my Piccolo and Gohan to match!

Looks like they teasing Full Power Frieza next.  Hope it's PBandai.

Also, anyone seen the new Walmart/Target exclusive Kaioken Goku Power Level 180000?  None of my local stores have it yet, but plenty of folks on FB already found it in CA.