How rare are the G2 Autobot Cyberjets?

[Joseph Bardsley]

Something I've been wondering about for a while, now.

Back in the day, it felt like the Cyberjets were everywhere. I recall them shelf-warming at Toys R' Us, alongside many other spots. Back in 1995, in the last, dying days of the G2 era, it was not uncommon to see them marked down to 2 for $5. (I recall them originally retailing, at least in Canada, for $7.99, then, which equates to $13.92 today).

I only ever recall seeing the Decepticon Cyberjets at retail (Skyjack, Space Case, and Hooligan). I was on a work trip this weekend to Victoria, BC, and found Jetfire and Air Raid at Cherry Bomb Toys (a local collector's store). I paid $45 CAD each for them. (I also picked up a Deluxe Insecticon Barrage, and Jallguar, from Victory's "Breastforce" team).

I recall reading here years ago that the Autobot Cyberjets were very rare at retail, and maybe only sold at a couple of locations. Were they US-exclusive? Chain-exclusive? I certainly don't ever recall seeing them in stores.

And, did I get a good deal?

Hope everyone's doing well!

JB

[Irrellius Spamticon]

They stayed in KB toys for probably a combined 5 years, they were still there when Transmetal 2 Megatron was there before the store closed.

I still have mine and a few extra sets at the store, they're still only about $10. If they were really rare people would spend more on them.

[Zobovor]

On Monday, September 19, 2022 at 2:46:39 PM UTC-6, Joseph Bardsley wrote:

> I recall reading here years ago that the Autobot Cyberjets were very rare at retail, and maybe only sold at a couple of locations. Were they US-exclusive? Chain-exclusive? I certainly don't ever recall seeing them in stores.

I bought all my G2 toys at either Toys "R" Us or Kay-Bee Toys... except for the Autobot Cyberjets and the second wave of Go-Bots. I had to buy them from some friendly fellow here on ATT (I wish I could remember who, but it's been a really long time). Beast Wars had begun by that point, G2 was getting phased out, and I was worried I wouldn't be able to finish my collection. So, he grabbed them at retail and sold them to me for what he paid, but I don't recall what store he grabbed them from. I want to say Kay-Bee? Did they have Kay-Bee price stickers on them? I can't say with certainty.

I imagine the final G2 toys probably had a much shorter presence in stores due to the shift to Beast Wars. Stores probably cleared out all their remaining G2 product. The newer Cyberjets and Go-Bots would have come out in late 1995, I think, and Beast Wars was already happening by February 1996 or so. So, not much of a product window at all. Same for the Autorollers, I would think.

(This is going to drive me crazy. Was it Dan Perlberger? I don't think I ever actually did any trades or sales with him. Was it Lewis M. Brooks?
Maybe it was David Minter. That sounds right.)


Zob (if you'd asked me 27 years ago I could have told you for sure)