ROBOTS toys from the upcoming sequel to the Transformers movie are already rolling out online and on shelves in Singapore - even before their official release date on May 30.
A check by my paper last Monday revealed that at least five auctions for robots from the sequel, Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen, were available here on the auction website eBay Singapore.
The sequel to the 2007 Transformers movie opens worldwide on June 24.
Some toy stores here, like those in China Square Central and Orchard Road, are selling the "leaked" toys, too.
Mr Lin Yanjie, owner of toy store Rapid Culture at Orchard Cineleisure, said he has been selling the robots since March.
They were ordered from Hong Kong and the United States, and packaged in boxes with the logo of Hasbro, the maker of the officially-released toys.
Ms Joy Koh, marketing manager of Hasbro Singapore, told my paper that the leaked robots are an international issue and that the company is trying to resolve it internally.
"Although we firmly discourage (the leak), it is further testament to the immense popularity of the Transformers toys," she said.
In 2007, Transformers toys were so hot - with popular ones selling out within weeks - that some stores here limited the number of Transformers products each customer could buy, said toy collectors and sellers. Some fans, like manufacturing executive Bob Khoo, 33, would consider buying selected leaked toys as "they might be hard to get later".
However, freelance toy seller John Tan said many of his customers are waiting for the official release, because stores are likely to give discounts on the toys sometime after they are launched officially.
