Robot Point

That and $3.50'll get you a Mini Vehicle!

As with G.I. Joe Flag Points before them, Robot Points (alternately called TF Points and Beast Points) of different denominations came printed on the cardboard packaging of Generation 1 Transformers toys. Robot Points were designed to be clipped and saved along with Tech Specs and were marked with a number and either an Autobot or Decepticon symbol. The number mattered, the faction did not. The amount of points on each toy was generally reflective of the size/expense of the toy.

As was frequently the practice with toy lines of the time, most Transformers toys from 1985 until the end of Generation 1 included small pack-in flyers advertising exclusive Transformers merchandise, older discontinued product and even new exclusive toys and merchandise for purchase by mail-order.

Each item had a particular monetary cost (which was at least the regular retail price of the discontinued toys) plus a certain number of Robot Points needed to purchase them. The Robot Points acted a bit like "proofs of purchase" and a bit like "green stamps". A rather clever system, in that kids had to buy substantial numbers of Transformers in stores to be able to pay retail prices for mail-in toys.

Transformers mail-in offers were handled by Hasbro subsidiary Hasbro Direct, which was also responsible for effectively identical G.I. Joe and My Little Pony offers.

In Japan Takara reserved many characters exclusively for mail-in offers, even some of a high level of prominence, including Ratchet, Cosmos, Dirge, Warpath, and Repugnus. Strange.

• 
  Video Gems, 1986
• 
  'Cons, circa 1986
• 
  'Bots, circa 1987
• 
  'Cons, circa 1988
• 
  Beast Wars, circa 1998
• 
  Beast Wars, circa 1999
• 
  Japan, pre-Beast Wars
• 
  Japan, post-Beast Wars
• 
  Moon point!
• 
  Convoy Black Version points

Mail away offers and cost/Robot Points

New items

• Time Warrior - $10 + 5 RP
• Powerdasher - $3 + 2 RP
• Reflector - $10 + 2 RP
• Omnibots - $5 + 2 RP each, or all three for $12.50.

Discontinued items

• Optimus Prime - $21.50 + 5 robot points
• Megatron - $21.50 + 5 robot points
• Thundercracker - $10 + 2 robot points
• Wheeljack - $8 + 2 robot points
• Mirage - $8 + 2 robot points
• Ratchet - $8 + 2 robot points
• Sunstreaker - $8 + 2 robot points
• Cosmos - $3.50 + 1 robot point
• Warpath - $3.50 + 1 robot point
• Cliffjumper - $3.50 + 1 robot point

Notes

• The Generation 2 line featured Robot Points on the back of its packaging, but no mail-away campaigns were ever offered during the line's run. It's possible that the mysterious Solarbot that was mentioned on early proof packaging of the Go-Bots Firecracker, Gearhead and Blowout was intended as a Robot Points campaign, but since the back of those proof cards has never been seen, this is pure speculation.

See also

• Pack-in flyer
• S.T.A.R.S.