The Energon Pub

Oh, yeah. That MP just popped into the scene while i was taking the snapshot.

Hehehe

olokin wrote:OMG!

You already got MP Skywarp! I envy you Auto Bot! Congrats man!

Anyway, guys, have you tried ordering online from international toy merchants? I order extensively from Barnesandnoble.com coz I know there are no custom duties for books. How about toys? Any insight is welcome.

i order extensively at eBay.com, i usually order loose bots sold as a set. before bidding, i check the following:

1.) MOST IMPORTANT: does the seller ship internationally?, if true, then

2.) How much is shipping to Phils? usually if they ship worldwide (you can see it in the page) there will be a shipping calculator at the bottom, use it to find out shipping to Phils. if not, ask the seller how much?

usually they reply within a day or so, so if you see an auction in which you have a figure you like, you better ask ASAP because it sucks to not being able to bid because the time ran out.

3.) Ask the seller the condition of the figures. toy collectors who are also sellers are the best ones to purchase from as they know how to grade the toys they sell, especially if sold loose. for toy grading, MINT usually is c9.5-c10, Near MINT c9.0, etc.

4.) before you bid, make sure you have a Paypal account. most sellers use this because it is safe and easy to use.

5.) Bid!

basically that's all there is to eBay. i've already received some of my items i ordered using this method. usually i bid on sets of loose figures because they sell cheaply, but like i said above, you always have to check with the seller about actual toy conditions.

zemper wrote:

olokin wrote:OMG!

You already got MP Skywarp! I envy you Auto Bot! Congrats man!

Anyway, guys, have you tried ordering online from international toy merchants? I order extensively from Barnesandnoble.com coz I know there are no custom duties for books. How about toys? Any insight is welcome.

i order extensively at eBay.com, i usually order loose bots sold as a set. before bidding, i check the following:

1.) MOST IMPORTANT: does the seller ship internationally?, if true, then

2.) How much is shipping to Phils? usually if they ship worldwide (you can see it in the page) there will be a shipping calculator at the bottom, use it to find out shipping to Phils. if not, ask the seller how much?

usually they reply within a day or so, so if you see an auction in which you have a figure you like, you better ask ASAP because it sucks to not being able to bid because the time ran out.

3.) Ask the seller the condition of the figures. toy collectors who are also sellers are the best ones to purchase from as they know how to grade the toys they sell, especially if sold loose. for toy grading, MINT usually is c9.5-c10, Near MINT c9.0, etc.

4.) before you bid, make sure you have a Paypal account. most sellers use this because it is safe and easy to use.

5.) Bid!

basically that's all there is to eBay. i've already received some of my items i ordered using this method. usually i bid on sets of loose figures because they sell cheaply, but like i said above, you always have to check with the seller about actual toy conditions.

How you get a paypal account man? I tried 2 years ago but Philippines wasn't part of the locations they served yet.

olokin wrote:

zemper wrote:

olokin wrote:OMG!

You already got MP Skywarp! I envy you Auto Bot! Congrats man!

Anyway, guys, have you tried ordering online from international toy merchants? I order extensively from Barnesandnoble.com coz I know there are no custom duties for books. How about toys? Any insight is welcome.

i order extensively at eBay.com, i usually order loose bots sold as a set. before bidding, i check the following:

1.) MOST IMPORTANT: does the seller ship internationally?, if true, then

2.) How much is shipping to Phils? usually if they ship worldwide (you can see it in the page) there will be a shipping calculator at the bottom, use it to find out shipping to Phils. if not, ask the seller how much?

usually they reply within a day or so, so if you see an auction in which you have a figure you like, you better ask ASAP because it sucks to not being able to bid because the time ran out.

3.) Ask the seller the condition of the figures. toy collectors who are also sellers are the best ones to purchase from as they know how to grade the toys they sell, especially if sold loose. for toy grading, MINT usually is c9.5-c10, Near MINT c9.0, etc.

4.) before you bid, make sure you have a Paypal account. most sellers use this because it is safe and easy to use.

5.) Bid!

basically that's all there is to eBay. i've already received some of my items i ordered using this method. usually i bid on sets of loose figures because they sell cheaply, but like i said above, you always have to check with the seller about actual toy conditions.

How you get a paypal account man? I tried 2 years ago but Philippines wasn't part of the locations they served yet.

Good question.

Follow-up question zemper, how you deal with customs?

olokin wrote:Follow-up question zemper, how you deal with customs?

This one is simple. Bribe them. The only option available. (The only option they will encourage you to do as well. Otherwise, if you insist on paying official dues with receipts, you may never get your next package after that.)

They usually come as package at post office. They will charge you P35 for doc stamps, with receipt. Officially, that should be all.

But post office greedy officials will charge you another 12% plus some more, purportedly for tax. All in all around 14 to 15%.

You'll have to haggle and negotiate with them to bring it down to a smaller bribe. Without receipt.

For reference, all bribes should be below 10% of the package worth. Usually around 3% to 8%, depending on how good you haggle.

Auto Bot wrote:

olokin wrote:Follow-up question zemper, how you deal with customs?

This one is simple. Bribe them. The only option available. (The only option they will encourage you to do as well. Otherwise, if you insist on paying official dues with receipts, you may never get your next package after that.)

They usually come as package at post office. They will charge you P35 for doc stamps, with receipt. Officially, that should be all.

But post office greedy officials will charge you another 12% plus some more, purportedly for tax. All in all around 14 to 15%.

You'll have to haggle and negotiate with them to bring it down to a smaller bribe. Without receipt.

For reference, all bribes should be below 10% of the package worth. Usually around 3% to 8%, depending on how good you haggle.

You speaking from firsthand experience Auto Bot? So the post office will be the ones collecting the custom duties?

olokin wrote:

Auto Bot wrote:

olokin wrote:Follow-up question zemper, how you deal with customs?

This one is simple. Bribe them. The only option available. (The only option they will encourage you to do as well. Otherwise, if you insist on paying official dues with receipts, you may never get your next package after that.)

They usually come as package at post office. They will charge you P35 for doc stamps, with receipt. Officially, that should be all.

But post office greedy officials will charge you another 12% plus some more, purportedly for tax. All in all around 14 to 15%.

You'll have to haggle and negotiate with them to bring it down to a smaller bribe. Without receipt.

For reference, all bribes should be below 10% of the package worth. Usually around 3% to 8%, depending on how good you haggle.

You speaking from firsthand experience Auto Bot? So the post office will be the ones collecting the custom duties?

Second-hand experience. My good friend regularly orders toys from abroad. Not Transformers. Those cutesy figures.

I don't know if it's called custom duties. But it's delivered by way of post office. The post office will deliver a note to you to pick up your package. You bring the note to the post office to claim it. That's where the bargaining and negotiations begin.

If you're a regular, like my friend, you'll have friends inside, and a sort of understanding on how much he gets. It's not fixed price. But you play around within a range of percentage.

Auto Bot wrote:

olokin wrote:

Auto Bot wrote:

olokin wrote:Follow-up question zemper, how you deal with customs?

This one is simple. Bribe them. The only option available. (The only option they will encourage you to do as well. Otherwise, if you insist on paying official dues with receipts, you may never get your next package after that.)

They usually come as package at post office. They will charge you P35 for doc stamps, with receipt. Officially, that should be all.

But post office greedy officials will charge you another 12% plus some more, purportedly for tax. All in all around 14 to 15%.

You'll have to haggle and negotiate with them to bring it down to a smaller bribe. Without receipt.

For reference, all bribes should be below 10% of the package worth. Usually around 3% to 8%, depending on how good you haggle.

You speaking from firsthand experience Auto Bot? So the post office will be the ones collecting the custom duties?

Second-hand experience. My good friend regularly orders toys from abroad. Not Transformers. Those cutesy figures.

I don't know if it's called custom duties. But it's delivered by way of post office. The post office will deliver a note to you to pick up your package. You bring the note to the post office to claim it. That's where the bargaining and negotiations begin.

If you're a regular, like my friend, you'll have friends inside, and a sort of understanding on how much he gets. It's not fixed price. But you play around within a range of percentage.

Man the way our government does it business, its scary...
Thanks for the info Auto Bot. Maybe I can try ordering online. Your friend didn't lose any of his orders in the mail did he?

olokin wrote:

Auto Bot wrote:

olokin wrote:

Auto Bot wrote:

olokin wrote:Follow-up question zemper, how you deal with customs?

This one is simple. Bribe them. The only option available. (The only option they will encourage you to do as well. Otherwise, if you insist on paying official dues with receipts, you may never get your next package after that.)

They usually come as package at post office. They will charge you P35 for doc stamps, with receipt. Officially, that should be all.

But post office greedy officials will charge you another 12% plus some more, purportedly for tax. All in all around 14 to 15%.

You'll have to haggle and negotiate with them to bring it down to a smaller bribe. Without receipt.

For reference, all bribes should be below 10% of the package worth. Usually around 3% to 8%, depending on how good you haggle.

You speaking from firsthand experience Auto Bot? So the post office will be the ones collecting the custom duties?

Second-hand experience. My good friend regularly orders toys from abroad. Not Transformers. Those cutesy figures.

I don't know if it's called custom duties. But it's delivered by way of post office. The post office will deliver a note to you to pick up your package. You bring the note to the post office to claim it. That's where the bargaining and negotiations begin.

If you're a regular, like my friend, you'll have friends inside, and a sort of understanding on how much he gets. It's not fixed price. But you play around within a range of percentage.

Man the way our government does it business, its scary...
Thanks for the info Auto Bot. Maybe I can try ordering online. Your friend didn't lose any of his orders in the mail did he?

One item was lost. He emailed the online shop. The shop says they will provide a replacement.

On another occasion, several figures came in one delivery. The post official insisted he wants one for himself. And proceeded to select and take out one figure. Nothing you can do.

olokin wrote:How you get a paypal account man? I tried 2 years ago but Philippines wasn't part of the locations they served yet.

try it again. i was able to do it just last April. of course, you have to get a credit card that they support, like Visa & Mastercard.

olokin wrote:

Auto Bot wrote:

olokin wrote:Follow-up question zemper, how you deal with customs?

This one is simple. Bribe them. The only option available. (The only option they will encourage you to do as well. Otherwise, if you insist on paying official dues with receipts, you may never get your next package after that.)

They usually come as package at post office. They will charge you P35 for doc stamps, with receipt. Officially, that should be all.

But post office greedy officials will charge you another 12% plus some more, purportedly for tax. All in all around 14 to 15%.

You'll have to haggle and negotiate with them to bring it down to a smaller bribe. Without receipt.

For reference, all bribes should be below 10% of the package worth. Usually around 3% to 8%, depending on how good you haggle.

You speaking from firsthand experience Auto Bot? So the post office will be the ones collecting the custom duties?

quite true. actually in my area (i dunno about where you live) it's like this:

when the post office receives your package, they'll send a message/receipt thingy (forgot what they call it) relaying to you that your package has arrived in the post office, and that you'll be charged for a small amount before you can get it. usually it's P35.00 in my case (also like Auto Bot said). to get your shipment, bring this memo/receipt to the post office, pay the amount and they will give you your package. simple as that.

i dunno about customs man, i mean, the mail usually works fine. never had a problem with customs, it's only that shipments usually get delayed by 2 weeks or so. maybe customs will come into play when ordering large items like MPs and stuff. don't have any experience with them yet.

zemper wrote:

olokin wrote:How you get a paypal account man? I tried 2 years ago but Philippines wasn't part of the locations they served yet.

try it again. i was able to do it just last April. of course, you have to get a credit card that they support, like Visa & Mastercard.

olokin wrote:

Auto Bot wrote:

olokin wrote:Follow-up question zemper, how you deal with customs?

This one is simple. Bribe them. The only option available. (The only option they will encourage you to do as well. Otherwise, if you insist on paying official dues with receipts, you may never get your next package after that.)

They usually come as package at post office. They will charge you P35 for doc stamps, with receipt. Officially, that should be all.

But post office greedy officials will charge you another 12% plus some more, purportedly for tax. All in all around 14 to 15%.

You'll have to haggle and negotiate with them to bring it down to a smaller bribe. Without receipt.

For reference, all bribes should be below 10% of the package worth. Usually around 3% to 8%, depending on how good you haggle.

You speaking from firsthand experience Auto Bot? So the post office will be the ones collecting the custom duties?

quite true. actually in my area (i dunno about where you live) it's like this:

when the post office receives your package, they'll send a message/receipt thingy (forgot what they call it) relaying to you that your package has arrived in the post office, and that you'll be charged for a small amount before you can get it. usually it's P35.00 in my case (also like Auto Bot said). to get your shipment, bring this memo/receipt to the post office, pay the amount and they will give you your package. simple as that.

i dunno about customs man, i mean, the mail usually works fine. never had a problem with customs, it's only that shipments usually get delayed by 2 weeks or so. maybe customs will come into play when ordering large items like MPs and stuff. don't have any experience with them yet.

I think it's quite safe in the provinces.

My friend got his packages in Manila. The seat of all Filipino Greediness.

Auto Bot wrote:
I think it's quite safe in the provinces.

My friend got his packages in Manila. The seat of all Filipino Greediness.

heinakuh! so that's why olokin asked about customs problems. things like that doesn't help much in brightening up our country's image, sigh.

BTW, Auto Bot, do you have MP Prime and Skywarp? how much did you pay for them? [/i]

Auto Bot wrote:

zemper wrote:

olokin wrote:How you get a paypal account man? I tried 2 years ago but Philippines wasn't part of the locations they served yet.

try it again. i was able to do it just last April. of course, you have to get a credit card that they support, like Visa & Mastercard.

olokin wrote:

Auto Bot wrote:

olokin wrote:Follow-up question zemper, how you deal with customs?

This one is simple. Bribe them. The only option available. (The only option they will encourage you to do as well. Otherwise, if you insist on paying official dues with receipts, you may never get your next package after that.)

They usually come as package at post office. They will charge you P35 for doc stamps, with receipt. Officially, that should be all.

But post office greedy officials will charge you another 12% plus some more, purportedly for tax. All in all around 14 to 15%.

You'll have to haggle and negotiate with them to bring it down to a smaller bribe. Without receipt.

For reference, all bribes should be below 10% of the package worth. Usually around 3% to 8%, depending on how good you haggle.

You speaking from firsthand experience Auto Bot? So the post office will be the ones collecting the custom duties?

quite true. actually in my area (i dunno about where you live) it's like this:

when the post office receives your package, they'll send a message/receipt thingy (forgot what they call it) relaying to you that your package has arrived in the post office, and that you'll be charged for a small amount before you can get it. usually it's P35.00 in my case (also like Auto Bot said). to get your shipment, bring this memo/receipt to the post office, pay the amount and they will give you your package. simple as that.

i dunno about customs man, i mean, the mail usually works fine. never had a problem with customs, it's only that shipments usually get delayed by 2 weeks or so. maybe customs will come into play when ordering large items like MPs and stuff. don't have any experience with them yet.

I think it's quite safe in the provinces.

My friend got his packages in Manila. The seat of all Filipino Greediness.

I hope so. I'm planning to acquire my MPs that way. I guess I'll have to reconsider it.

zemper wrote:

Auto Bot wrote:
I think it's quite safe in the provinces.

My friend got his packages in Manila. The seat of all Filipino Greediness.

heinakuh! so that's why olokin asked about customs problems. things like that doesn't help much in brightening up our country's image, sigh.

BTW, Auto Bot, do you have MP Prime and Skywarp? how much did you pay for them? [/i]

Remember my report on Skywarp's cheapest price at 4000? Well, i went back the following week to hunt him down. The 4000 price has pretty much spread beyond one shop. And a couple of shops are willing to go that low now.

I didn't get MP Prime. I'm not very much impressed by him. Some of my gripes are, Prime is too big and heavy, his truck mode is grossly disproportioned and inaccurate, he easily falls down, too many die-cast metal parts, too shiny paint job that can never last long. But the biggest issue is, he's too damn big.

So generally, i'm not into MP toys. But Starscream came out much smaller and lighter. Still not enough for me.

Finally, Skywarp came out with a near perfect jet mode, including the color. Very realistic.

That's the clincher.

olokin wrote:

Auto Bot wrote:

zemper wrote:

olokin wrote:How you get a paypal account man? I tried 2 years ago but Philippines wasn't part of the locations they served yet.

try it again. i was able to do it just last April. of course, you have to get a credit card that they support, like Visa & Mastercard.

olokin wrote:

Auto Bot wrote:

olokin wrote:Follow-up question zemper, how you deal with customs?

This one is simple. Bribe them. The only option available. (The only option they will encourage you to do as well. Otherwise, if you insist on paying official dues with receipts, you may never get your next package after that.)

They usually come as package at post office. They will charge you P35 for doc stamps, with receipt. Officially, that should be all.

But post office greedy officials will charge you another 12% plus some more, purportedly for tax. All in all around 14 to 15%.

You'll have to haggle and negotiate with them to bring it down to a smaller bribe. Without receipt.

For reference, all bribes should be below 10% of the package worth. Usually around 3% to 8%, depending on how good you haggle.

You speaking from firsthand experience Auto Bot? So the post office will be the ones collecting the custom duties?

quite true. actually in my area (i dunno about where you live) it's like this:

when the post office receives your package, they'll send a message/receipt thingy (forgot what they call it) relaying to you that your package has arrived in the post office, and that you'll be charged for a small amount before you can get it. usually it's P35.00 in my case (also like Auto Bot said). to get your shipment, bring this memo/receipt to the post office, pay the amount and they will give you your package. simple as that.

i dunno about customs man, i mean, the mail usually works fine. never had a problem with customs, it's only that shipments usually get delayed by 2 weeks or so. maybe customs will come into play when ordering large items like MPs and stuff. don't have any experience with them yet.

I think it's quite safe in the provinces.

My friend got his packages in Manila. The seat of all Filipino Greediness.

I hope so. I'm planning to acquire my MPs that way. I guess I'll have to reconsider it.

MPs in Manila will probably be much cheaper than online. Generally, Asian MPs goes for manageably good price. US MPs pushes it up too high. Japanese makes are usually very expensive in US and US sites.

thanks for the inputs on the MPs Bot! i was considering getting MP-01 when i have saved enough, but you posed some good points in there. now i'm gunning for the 20th anniversary one, but i'm afraid that it'll get gobbled up by collectors even before i can save 5000pesos for this guy.

i'm looking forward to the US release of SS. skywarp's nice, but i prefer having the "leading" antagonists/protagonists in my collection. not having any love for MP megs though, i'll only have him if someone gives it to me for free.

any idea if MP-01s are still being sold there in manila dude?

I haven't seen MP-01. Mainly because i was paying attention to him. But i'm sure he's just around. I'll check on it on my next visit.

I've seen 20th Anniv, going for around Skywarp's price. Something between 4000 to 4500.

My MP Skywarp is all i need in the MP line. I'm gonna pose him in jet mode most of the time. Together with my die-cast Macross Valkerie. Both are the biggest jets in my collection. Or i can pose them head on in robot mode. Macross Valkerie can sort of represent the Autobot Jetfire.

Auto Bot wrote:I haven't seen MP-01. Mainly because i was paying attention to him. But i'm sure he's just around. I'll check on it on my next visit.

I've seen 20th Anniv, going for around Skywarp's price. Something between 4000 to 4500.

oh ok, thanks bro. if you ever see 20th anni OP or MP-01, pls post the price & location will you? thanks!

Auto Bot wrote:I haven't seen MP-01. Mainly because i was paying attention to him. But i'm sure he's just around. I'll check on it on my next visit.

I've seen 20th Anniv, going for around Skywarp's price. Something between 4000 to 4500.

My MP Skywarp is all i need in the MP line. I'm gonna pose him in jet mode most of the time. Together with my die-cast Macross Valkerie. Both are the biggest jets in my collection. Or i can pose them head on in robot mode. Macross Valkerie can sort of represent the Autobot Jetfire.

What Valkryrie do you have Auto Bot? I'm planning on getting one too since MP Jets are equal in scale to Yamato's Valkyries. 1/60.

olokin wrote:

Auto Bot wrote:I haven't seen MP-01. Mainly because i was paying attention to him. But i'm sure he's just around. I'll check on it on my next visit.

I've seen 20th Anniv, going for around Skywarp's price. Something between 4000 to 4500.

My MP Skywarp is all i need in the MP line. I'm gonna pose him in jet mode most of the time. Together with my die-cast Macross Valkerie. Both are the biggest jets in my collection. Or i can pose them head on in robot mode. Macross Valkerie can sort of represent the Autobot Jetfire.

What Valkryrie do you have Auto Bot? I'm planning on getting one too since MP Jets are equal in scale to Yamato's Valkyries. 1/60.

Just an ordinary one. VF-1A 1/55.
From the first episodes.

Auto Bot wrote:

olokin wrote:

Auto Bot wrote:I haven't seen MP-01. Mainly because i was paying attention to him. But i'm sure he's just around. I'll check on it on my next visit.

I've seen 20th Anniv, going for around Skywarp's price. Something between 4000 to 4500.

My MP Skywarp is all i need in the MP line. I'm gonna pose him in jet mode most of the time. Together with my die-cast Macross Valkerie. Both are the biggest jets in my collection. Or i can pose them head on in robot mode. Macross Valkerie can sort of represent the Autobot Jetfire.

at 1/55 scale... is your Valkyrie a Toynami Masterpiece by any chance?
What Valkryrie do you have Auto Bot? I'm planning on getting one too since MP Jets are equal in scale to Yamato's Valkyries. 1/60.

Just an ordinary one. VF-1A 1/55.
From the first episodes.

Auto Bot wrote:
MPs in Manila will probably be much cheaper than online. Generally, Asian MPs goes for manageably good price. US MPs pushes it up too high. Japanese makes are usually very expensive in US and US sites.

Thanks for the advice Auto Bot. I'm trying out wasabitoys. My 20th anniv Prime needs a friend.

olokin wrote:

Auto Bot wrote:
MPs in Manila will probably be much cheaper than online. Generally, Asian MPs goes for manageably good price. US MPs pushes it up too high. Japanese makes are usually very expensive in US and US sites.

Thanks for the advice Auto Bot. I'm trying out wasabitoys. My 20th anniv Prime needs a friend.

Or a foe. The only friend he can get for now is long lost twin Magnus.

yo guys! got another shipment from eBay of loose TFs today. this set of BW figures came all the way from jolly 'ol England. took about a month to get here. still had to pay P35.00 at the post office, though.