With BotCon 2015 about two weeks out, John DeLuna and Headmaster Don share a survival guide built on well over 30 BotCons between them. They walk through budgeting, the Thursday pickup line, the Friday dealer room rush, Saturday’s Hasbro panel and Sunday deal day. Don shares how he once blew his whole BotCon budget on a boxed Grand Maximus. Tips on snacks, phone chargers, parts parties and shipping round it out.
Before You Go: Food, Sleep and Budget
John’s first BotCon was 2000, and he has missed only one since. Don started at BotCon 1994 in Fort Wayne and has missed only 1997. John packs protein bars and snacks, which saves money and frees suitcase space for the trip home. Don usually eats out when flying but packs food when he drives. Neither changes his sleep schedule much, though Don tries to nap on arrival. John budgets around a short list of dealer room targets with a small buffer. Don plans around paydays and bills, then keeps a primary and a secondary list, including parts he needs.
Parts, Hotel Rooms and the Board
Both say BotCon is the best place to complete incomplete toys. Don points to parts parties and hotel room sales beyond the dealer room. John recommends the cork board, usually in the hotel lobby or near the dealer room, where fans post room sales. Don once bought a boxed Choke Rack off the board after selling his old one to pay for Brave Maximus.
Thursday: The Pickup Line
The registration pickup line opens Thursday night and can run anywhere from an hour to four hours. Don says Thursday pickup leaves time to check toys for errors before Friday. John adds that any widespread error will be the talk of Friday morning and the information booth will know. To pass the time, Don chats with friends and asks people about the sets. John says to bring a phone charger and external battery and grab any outlet.
Friday: The Dealer Room
Friday is preview day for pre-registrants, and John says Fun Publications now runs on time. Don heads first to the Japanese dealers’ table, where he has seen the Dark of the Moon Deluxe Soundwave and Dispensaur. He says crowds tend to go right, so go left. He does a quick lap for one rare target, such as the Family Mart clear Revenge of the Fallen Optimus Prime, then works table by table. John says to hunt must-haves first and save the like-to-haves for the weekend.
Saturday: The Hasbro Panel
Don cherry-picks panels, skipping guests whose stories he has heard. Both say the Hasbro panel is the must-see event. John’s trick is to sit through the panel right before it, from the start, to get a good seat. Don stresses a big breakfast and snacks, food runs with friends, and watching wallets once walk-ins arrive.
Sunday: Deal Day
Don, who worked toy shows with his antiques-dealer parents, urges polite, fair offers. John looks for plentiful items dealers would rather not ship home. He bought Masterpiece G2 Sideswipe for $50 on a Sunday without haggling. Don found his Dispensaur on Sunday about $12 cheaper after the Japanese dealers restocked. John also urges entering the raffles.
Blowing the Budget and Shipping Home
At BotCon 1996, Don bought a boxed Grand Maximus for $395 and blew most of his budget with no way to ship it home. A friend happened to drive it back for him. His advice: think it through, but if you can swing a once-in-a-lifetime deal, go for it. John ships his exclusives first thing Sunday morning before the shipping booth line builds. Don suggests checking nearby shipping stores or post office kiosks for cheaper rates.
Contributors: John DeLuna, Don
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