It's all a matter of perspective.

$14 is pocket change for a lot of people.

It's 4 gallons of gas. It's lunch for one at a restaurant.  

For your $14, oil was pumped out of the ground to be made into plastic. Minerals were mined to make metal. Parts were fabricated. Assembly was done, likely mostly by human hand. Packaging was created. A cargo ship was loaded and traveled from China. Trucks carried the boxes from the ports to the stores. The stores were lighted, heated, and staffed with salespeople.

Quite a bargain, actually. 

ScottE -- Member (always) & Moderator (when needed)

I think they were made mostly for collectors to put on the shelf. Another thing is they are kool to play with when you are at work in the office. They are small and do not require batteries. I do not think they were ever intended to be more than something just to tinker with.

Mudbugnla

Wowwee Bots: RoboQuad, Robotyrannus, RoboReptile, RoboPet
Tomy Bots: Verbot, I-Sobot

mudbugnla said: I think they were made mostly for collectors to put on the shelf. Another thing is they are kool to play with when you are at work in the office. They are small and do not require batteries. I do not think they were ever intended to be more than something just to tinker with.

The thing is, they do require batteries, and by tinker do you mean play with?(:^))

The battery requirements are 3 AAAs.

"Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

The question of batteries versus windup makes me think somebody is talking about the McDonald's toys that came out a couple of years ago. Those are even smaller than the battery operated minis.

Meet-McDonald-s-Happy-Meal-Robosapien

I have one of the McRaptors. My Terminator is cuddling it in my avatar picture.

Just to be clear, the McRobos are quite the mix of styles. Some are mechanical push button levers. Some are windup walkers. Some have small batteries and can make noise or move (but not walk). 

ScottE -- Member (always) & Moderator (when needed)

Don't have any Mc robos, any idea as to where I can find some?

"Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

They were done exclusively for McDonalds. The Happy Meal audience got them with their meals. I bought mine for a few quarters when stopping there on a road trip.

That leaves resellers as your only option. EBay and such.

ebay.com/search/mcdonalds+robo*

ScottE -- Member (always) & Moderator (when needed)

Windup mini robopet?

Yup. Windup.

Just dug out the details from the MotherSite

http://www.wowwee.com/mini/ 

The RoboPet mini, unlike any of the others, is a windup. 

ScottE -- Member (always) & Moderator (when needed)

Well, they are sometimes cheaper- I saw a pile of MiniPandas for $8 at Target and TRU this weekend. MiniRQs are still $12.99 though.

Visit my Roving RoboReporter blog!

I picked up my out of box Raptor at a warehouse clearance store for $3. Keep you eyes open at thrift shops, flea markets, etcetera.

ScottE -- Member (always) & Moderator (when needed)

Little plastic toys are sometimes a lot of fun to keep by your computer desk at home or in your office at work.  Every once in a while they can make a great conversation starter.  My favorite to date has been my desktop Death Star, which upon pushing a button it makes an excellent Death Star sound effect. 

The mini bots are like that - if you like the bots, it's cool to have a mascot in your workspace :)

Pete 

Peter Redmer
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I just bought a IG-88 assasin droid at a dollar genral for $5(:^))

"Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."