The Energon Pub

by **Optimum Supreme** » Fri Mar 13, 2015 5:54 pm

It's not US laws about cigarettes and anything that could possibly be construed as promoting them to kids. Cite:

http://www.amazon.com/Candy-Crate-DK-Ci ... B000BXSRT2

And this isn't some special order only online for adults, if anyone thinks that. The candy store at the mall sells similar candy cigarettes. No they aren't as widely available as in the 80's, when you could get them at any 7-11 or whatever, but the fact they still sell them anywhere on the up and up is enough to show it's not the US gov't keeping this Japanese toy away from US importers.

If PM didn't have lawyers up the wazoo, they couldn't keep this import from being sold. They have no actual leg to stand on, just fear of expensive legal battles that would break the tiny retailers even if the retailer won in court (and they would). This is why people hate lawyers (well one reason.)

News Credits: 60 · by **fenrir72** » Fri Mar 13, 2015 6:01 pm

MartianSpyGirl1996 wrote:A great way to avoid any potential problems is to drop G1 altogether and start focusing on Beast Wars Masterpieces, teehee Cheetor, Blackarachnia, Tarantulas, Terrorsaur, and BW Scorponok all need some serious help...

MP level with 1990s cartoon accurate low poly garaud shading look? :-B

News Credits: 10 · by **sol magnus** » Fri Mar 13, 2015 6:14 pm

MartianSpyGirl1996 wrote:A great way to avoid any potential problems is to drop G1 altogether and start focusing on Beast Wars Masterpieces, teehee Cheetor, Blackarachnia, Tarantulas, Terrorsaur, and BW Scorponok all need some serious help...

Yeah. No.

News Credits: 241 · by **Jelze Bunnycat** » Fri Mar 13, 2015 6:14 pm

Optimum Supreme wrote:It's not US laws about cigarettes and anything that could possibly be construed as promoting them to kids. Cite:

http://www.amazon.com/Candy-Crate-DK-Ci ... B000BXSRT2

And this isn't some special order only online for adults, if anyone thinks that. The candy store at the mall sells similar candy cigarettes. No they aren't as widely available as in the 80's, when you could get them at any 7-11 or whatever, but the fact they still sell them anywhere on the up and up is enough to show it's not the US gov't keeping this Japanese toy away from US importers.

If PM didn't have lawyers up the wazoo, they couldn't keep this import from being sold. They have no actual leg to stand on, just fear of expensive legal battles that would break the tiny retailers even if the retailer won in court (and they would). This is why people hate lawyers (well one reason.)

It's also a matter of picking your battles wisely, for the same reason Hasbro isn't actively hunting down 3rd Party Companies: some cases yield nothing but financial loses, especially for companies that are really small and work "under the radar".

Generally speaking, the law is merely used as a means for deterring unwanted behaviour, and for enabling prosecutions should such behaviour observed to be determined to be damaging. One can always choose to ignore them if the (potential) damages by the actions caused are viewed as insignificant. Remember, the law is nothing but a tool to be used. :-B

News Credits: 60 · by **fenrir72** » Sun Mar 15, 2015 6:13 am

Updated Ocean Designs Exhaust decals

Notice more Malboor fonts?

News Credits: 650 · by **ScottyP** » Sun Mar 15, 2015 10:16 am

Optimum Supreme wrote:It's not US laws about cigarettes and anything that could possibly be construed as promoting them to kids. Cite:

http://www.amazon.com/Candy-Crate-DK-Ci ... B000BXSRT2

And this isn't some special order only online for adults, if anyone thinks that. The candy store at the mall sells similar candy cigarettes. No they aren't as widely available as in the 80's, when you could get them at any 7-11 or whatever, but the fact they still sell them anywhere on the up and up is enough to show it's not the US gov't keeping this Japanese toy away from US importers.

This part you are correct about - this is not stemming from a law, but from a court case. The MSA only covers the defendants in that case, namely Philip Morris, RJR, Lorillard, Brown & Williamson, and some other company I forgot. While it does set a legal precedent, companies making candy are not bound by the MSA. No states wanted medicare money back from candy makers, but I guess if they ever wanted them there's precedent for getting that if a judge were to take that giant leap. Highly doubtful, of course.

Optimum Supreme wrote:If PM didn't have lawyers up the wazoo, they couldn't keep this import from being sold. They have no actual leg to stand on, just fear of expensive legal battles that would break the tiny retailers even if the retailer won in court (and they would). This is why people hate lawyers (well one reason.)

The reason they do go after them is that they do have at least a toe to stand on, which keeps them employed/contracted/whatever as attorneys for PM, who pay them lots of money to find every tiny almost insignificant thing so that PM doesn't have to go pay out, potentially, millions of dollars in penalties (or who knows what ridiculous amount) if they're found to have violated the terms of the MSA. Basically, it's a risk/reward scenario and it's cheaper to pay the lawyers than to be chill and then potentially, even if it's highly unlikely, suffer any consequences. Doesn't change the fact that it's really kind of dumb, but legal matters and practical matters aren't good bedfellows.

News Credits: 10 · by **sol magnus** » Thu Mar 19, 2015 11:30 am

Welp. I just got this from the seller of my MP-23 Exhaust on ebay -

Hello Buyer,
I am sorry my English not good,
I received a information from Takara Tomy Hong Kong today,
Due to some painting included cigarettes deco . Item can not release on Hong Kong market,
In this case , I want to cancel this order and full refund to you.
Please reply to ebay accept to cancel this order and get full refund.
I am very sorry,
Thank a lot !

That's definitely not good. Now, I've got to scramble to come up with an MP-23. D'oh!

News Credits: 293 · by **shajaki** » Thu Mar 19, 2015 11:57 am

That makes me very nervous. I won't have issue receiving my Exhaust (living in Canada) but the store I chose (chimung) is based in China. So if they can't even get it themselves.....

News Credits: 293 · by **shajaki** » Thu Mar 19, 2015 11:58 am

That makes me very nervous. I won't have issue receiving my Exhaust (living in Canada) but the store I chose (chimung) is based in China. So if they can't even get it themselves.....

News Credits: 10 · by **sol magnus** » Thu Mar 19, 2015 12:03 pm

shajaki wrote:That makes me very nervous. I won't have issue receiving my Exhaust (living in Canada) but the store I chose (chimung) is based in China. So if they can't even get it themselves.....

I do have a backup plan - an American acquaintance living in Japan who might be able to pop into a store and pick me up one.

by **cloneemperor** » Thu Mar 19, 2015 4:11 pm

Well, I just got my payment request from HLJ.com, so it's now paid for and should be shipped out soon if all goes well.

News Credits: 650 · by **ScottyP** » Thu Mar 19, 2015 4:41 pm

cloneemperor wrote:Well, I just got my payment request from HLJ.com, so it's now paid for and should be shipped out soon if all goes well.

Yep, same here. Paid for and about to ship soon with Star Saber, some Q Transformers, and a gauntlet of Build Fighters Try HG kits

News Credits: 293 · by **shajaki** » Thu Mar 19, 2015 6:16 pm

Multiple reports of MP-23 Exhaust hitting the streets are coming in. I guess we can finally FINALLY put the cancellation rumors to rest.

News Credits: 10 · by **sol magnus** » Thu Mar 19, 2015 6:59 pm

shajaki wrote:Multiple reports of MP-23 Exhaust hitting the streets are coming in. I guess we can finally FINALLY put the cancellation rumors to rest.

So now the thing for those of us that got boned is how to acquire one.

EDIT - found one from Japan on ebay for (ugh) 96.00 shipped.

News Credits: 331 · by **chuckdawg1999** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 12:06 am

With Exhaust being released I guess I should get around to opening Wheeljack...

News Credits: 293 · by **shajaki** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 7:01 am

chuckdawg1999 wrote:With Exhaust being released I guess I should get around to opening Wheeljack...

How do you reveiw stuff still in the box?

News Credits: 461 · by **mooncake623** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 8:19 am

Thanks to Alfes2010's Twitter account we get the first in-hand images MP-23 Exhaust. After much drama the highly anticipated and highly controversial MP-23 Exhaust is finally released in Japan! If you have ordered yours from your Japanese retailer of choice you should have already gotten your shipping notice or should get it very soon! Let us know what you think in our Energon Forums, will you be importing this from overseas (at this time it is still not being sold by US retailers)?

Check out the images we've below and remember keep your optics tuned to Seibertron.com for the latest in news and updates!

by **Desslok2201** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 8:48 am

Between this and Star Saber, next week is going to be a very good week. I may hug the mailman.

by **RSC** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 9:19 am

Long time reader, first time poster.
Hobbylink just notified me yesterday. Should be shipping today!

by **Rated X** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 9:25 am

US retailers are spineless cowards. If I was one of the smaller US based retailers, ill sell those things through paypal under the table quicker than you can say "smoke one" !

News Credits: 461 · by **mooncake623** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 9:27 am

Rated X wrote:US retailers are spineless cowards. If I was one of the smaller US based retailers, ill sell those things through paypal under the table quicker than you can say "smoke one" !

hmm.. I wonder if Ebay listings will in the US will get taken down

by **Desslok2201** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 9:35 am

mooncake623 wrote:
Rated X wrote:US retailers are spineless cowards. If I was one of the smaller US based retailers, ill sell those things through paypal under the table quicker than you can say "smoke one" !

hmm.. I wonder if Ebay listings will in the US will get taken down

Considering that even when the topic was hot, MP05 Megatron was never taken down, I really can't see that this will.

by **Guitarbot** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 9:47 am

Can anyone tell me where to order this from? eBay sellers seem to be a little sketchy and the prices are going up. Are there any Japanese shops that will export to the US? I can't find MP-23 Exhaust anywhere -RobotKingdom, HLJ, no one has it on their site?

by **Desslok2201** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 9:52 am

Guitarbot wrote:Can anyone tell me where to order this from? eBay sellers seem to be a little sketchy and the prices are going up. Are there any Japanese shops that will export to the US? I can't find MP-23 Exhaust anywhere -RobotKingdom, HLJ, no one has it on their site?

eBay sellers have been raising prices rapidly for days now, I'd suggest you either jump on it now or wait several months and hope the prices go down after the novelty wears off. Check the stats on the eBay sellers- there are several reputable sellers, like toyspark.

News Credits: 461 · by **mooncake623** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 9:52 am

Guitarbot wrote:Can anyone tell me where to order this from? eBay sellers seem to be a little sketchy and the prices are going up. Are there any Japanese shops that will export to the US? I can't find MP-23 Exhaust anywhere -RobotKingdom, HLJ, no one has it on their site?

I believe preorders at Japanese retailers has long been sold out.