The decision in the last few years to include AA or AAA alkaline batteries in the current larger size figures is causing a major headache; you would like to keep the figures sealed up, but with the inclusion of AA or AAA batteries instead of the old button cell batteries you found in calculators etc., you now run the risk of a battery leak at one point or another if you keep the figures sealed up. And that could ruin a perfectly fine figure. I just took out the batteries from my 1992 G2 Optimus Prime's voice box (had forgotten about these) and these had the print "JAN 2001" (expected expiry or best before date, I guess) on them. There was no juice left, as was expected, and fortunately there was no leakage either. But these were Duracells; I suspect those included with the larger Transformers figures made nowadays are the cheapest no-name batteries you can find. I guess you have no choice but to open and remove the batteries from the figures you have in storage, unless you want to make an unpleasant discovery in a few years time. What happened here, then? Did US and/or EU consumer legislation force Hasbro and other toy makers to include batteries with battery-operated products so that these would work right out of the box?

If you keep the figure sealed, you probably won't see it anyway. But the battery compartment will be a mess and it obviously will never work.


Thanks for reminding me though, I had some batteries left in Omega Supreme.

Don't know the specifics, but it might have to do with how the batteri compartment is constructed. If it's an easy "open lid and slip batteries in" dealy then the batteries are optional. But - as has been the case with many Hasbro TFs the past, what, 20 years? - if the compartment needs a screwdriver to be opened, then I guess the batteries have be included before hitting the shelves. Again, I don't know the specifics, but it seems credible to me that it's a case of making it as easy for the consumer as possible; the argument being that not all household may have a screw driver.

I dunno... Either way, Hasbro has opted for the cheapest no-name batteries for the past (at least) 6 years, even using their own brand, IIRC.

Batteries in Misb/Mosc figures is indeed quite an issue for collectors, but keep in mind that we are in the minority.
The main market is the children and their parents. Including batteries will make it less of a hazzle for them, but it affects us.

Though I wish Hasbro/Takara would keep this in mind when they produce "limited edition" and "collectors editions" of the figures.

Personally, my sealed electronic figures are "mint in re-sealed package".
I dont wanna deal with a potential battery leak later on, so that's the price I have to pay.
The misb/mosc factor is what I must sacrifice by doing so, but the toy will survive for a far greater time.

Opening them up without damaging the packaging too much is quite a pain though..

Actually, the trend at TakTomy for the past many years has been that if a toy in its regular retail release featured electronics, then they would be omitted from their lucky draw versions. The lucky draw "Sky Lynx" version of Flame Convoy did not have any electronics, for instance.

Same deal with BotCon Clench.

Freedom is the right of all MISB toys!

*cue G2 Slingshot stepping out of his and promptly disintegrating into a pile of gold plastic dust*

...with exceptions!

That is a very good move on their part for the MISB collectors.

True! And cheaper for all concerned!