The Energon Pub

Interesting information has turned up in the form of a posted email on

http://newsreader.visualmedia.com.hk/vm ... e_id=86372

in which Brian Savage of FunPublications warns of pending legal action against the sellers of stolen BotCon toys. This issue and push to eliminate some of the illegal auctions appears to be gaining momentum. We will keep you updated as this unfolds...

寄件人: "Brian Savage" <brian@mastercollector.com>
收件人:
標題: Stolen BotCon items
日期: Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:43:20 -0500
This is going out to each Ebay seller who has recently tried to auction
BotCon toys. All of they toys you are selling are stolen. You know
this
when you buy them out of the package.

As you see, I have the power to cancel your auctions and I have each of
your personal information provided by Ebay.

If you do not want us to continue prosecuting you through the police
and
Ebay (who will cancel your account), you need to return the stolen
property to me or to Hasbro in China.

If I don't here back from you that you have shipped our items back in
48
hours, I will press forward with both Ebay and the police. Consider
this your only warning.

You can send the items to me at:

Brian Savage
Fun Publications, Inc.
225 Cattle Baron Parc Dr
Fort Worth Texas 76108

or

Antony Bao
Hasbro
$)AIn[Z;*GH3G6+2?9$R5Gx6~:E3'7?NeB%/ Antony Bao/ 0755-26901222-693

Thanks for your attention in this matter. Even if YOU didn't steal it.

Selling stolen property is a punishable offense.

Do not ever purchase ANY Transformers from Chinese auctions or vendors
as Hasbro is also looking to prosecute.

Regards,

Brian Savage

About time.

This letter may be a hoax or the writer of this letter doesn't proof read well, seeing as how he uses "here from you " as opposed to hear. I have a hard time believing that a letter with this type of seriousness attached would have a basic grammatical error. Who knows.. just my thoughts

drfeelgood81083 wrote:This letter may be a hoax or the writer of this letter doesn't proof read well, seeing as how he uses "here from you " as opposed to hear. I have a hard time believing that a letter with this type of seriousness attached would have a basic grammatical error. Who knows.. just my thoughts

Could be, but that is one of the most common gramatical errors and with the recent other news about the crack down on these auctions/sellers, I think it's probably legit.

This is laughable. There is no way China is going to do anything about
100(or less) stolen toys being sold on an auction site. There is a much larger stake there revolving around pirated DVDs and there is nothing being done. I commend them on their efforts but as long as they are out of the U.S. I don't see anything but the loss of an ebay account for these sellers, if that.

Its been long delayed. Finally some action against these thieves

This guy doesnt have the power to press charges against somebody over seas either. Voilates international law, not to mention there is no court that is willing to allow it. Fake ass email is what this is.

DISCHARGE wrote:This is laughable. There is no way China is going to do anything about
100(or less) stolen toys being sold on an auction site. There is a much larger stake there revolving around pirated DVDs and there is nothing being done. I commend them on their efforts but as long as they are out of the U.S. I don't see anything but the loss of an ebay account for these sellers, if that.

Lol I agree here...as much as stealing sucks, china ain't going to do crap about it Come to think of it, mabey some classics 2.0's were lifted too? Ive seen a good many of them on e-bay.

OPTIMUS MAGNUS wrote:

DISCHARGE wrote:This is laughable. There is no way China is going to do anything about
100(or less) stolen toys being sold on an auction site. There is a much larger stake there revolving around pirated DVDs and there is nothing being done. I commend them on their efforts but as long as they are out of the U.S. I don't see anything but the loss of an ebay account for these sellers, if that.

Lol I agree here...as much as stealing sucks, china ain't going to do crap about it Come to think of it, mabey some classics 2.0's were lifted too? Ive seen a good many of them on e-bay.

C'mon folks, crime does not exist in a vaccum.

If these sellers loose their legitimate means of selling their goods (eBay & PayPal) or even if it becomes a difficult hassel to sell through those means, then Hasbro and FunPub will have enough incentive to pursue this.

This part:

"Do not ever purchase ANY Transformers from Chinese auctions or vendors as Hasbro is also looking to prosecute"

is really dubious. So anybody from China that sells online is automatically a crook? I really doubt it. Sounds like more China-bashing here (in that sentence only) is taken place and this Brian Savage guy is blaming the entire group just because of his grievances with a few bad apples in that group.

Super Megatron wrote:This part:

"Do not ever purchase ANY Transformers from Chinese auctions or vendors as Hasbro is also looking to prosecute"

is really dubious. So anybody from China that sells online is automatically a crook? I really doubt it. Sounds like more China-bashing here (in that sentence only) is taken place and this Brian Savage guy is blaming the entire group just because of his grievances with a few bad apples in that group.

I believe when he says that he is talking about them containing items that have clearly not been released in any public way yet, like BOTCON items, ANIMATED toys, etc.

What an asshole,if hasbro wasn't delaying toys they already have a billion copies of just sitting around,we wouldn't HAVE to buy or sell stolen transformers,it's their own damn lazy fault.

Its irellevant. Whilst people are stupid enough to shell out top dollar to get these toys a few weeks early then there will always be a seller willing to pass them along regardless of the risk from badly worded corporate threats.

rhinox555 wrote:What an asshole,if hasbro wasn't delaying toys they already have a billion copies of just sitting around,we wouldn't HAVE to buy or sell stolen transformers,it's their own damn lazy fault.

Ha ha I really like this theory. I agree.

rhinox555 wrote:What an asshole,if hasbro wasn't delaying toys they already have a billion copies of just sitting around,we wouldn't HAVE to buy or sell stolen transformers,it's their own damn lazy fault.

Or you could be responsible about it and wait the like, what, month or two till they get released, buy the toys in the store, and ultimately support the company who made it possible for you to have and enjoy the toys in the first place.

looks like some people are going to jail. is buying stolen items punishable too?

rhinox555 wrote:,if hasbro wasn't delaying toys they already have a billion copies of just sitting around,we wouldn't HAVE to buy or sell stolen transformers,it's their own damn lazy fault.

True dat! I agree with FP stance on the Botcon stuff. But the Animated junk, we know the toys are made. They've given themselves ample time to put it out there. People are growing tired of waiting.

They should really be trying to find the people in the warehouses and factories that are smuggling them out to sell to these Chinese auction sellers. A couple more cameras, undercover loss prevention officers, implement bag checks in and out of production facilities.
I mean, if they were really serious they would go for the head and not the ankle. It can't be too hard to hammer out who the culprit is.
Sounds like they need to do a better job with their inventory control.
Hasbro should be looking at themselves and the factories that produce their wares.

rhinox555 wrote:What an asshole,if hasbro wasn't delaying toys they already have a billion copies of just sitting around,we wouldn't HAVE to buy or sell stolen transformers,it's their own damn lazy fault.

Hasbro aren't delaying the release of animated - the retailers are - they want to squeeze more money out of the movie line as it has proved popular.

Also, nobody HAS to buy stolen anything - it's a choice you make.

Good start. Hope this action goes somewhere though.

Brian has confirmed with me via email that he sent that message out to eBay sellers recently. Nice to see Fun Pub and Hasbro using eBay's VeRO program finally.

What a load of BS. The guy can't even spell. I can understand eBay taking action, but come on - the police have worst things to worry about than some "stolen" Transformers. Shame on that guy for wasting the police force's time. Let them catch murderers and rapists. What a turd.

Go, Brian! It not fair that these people are allowed to steal these exclusives, which people pay hundreds of dollars for, before they even get over here.

woosh wrote:looks like some people are going to jail. is buying stolen items punishable too?

I believe it is in the UK, so would assume that it would be the same elsewhere.

im glad they get whats coming to them but im glad they sold them because we got to see them

Seibertron wrote:Brian has confirmed with me via email that he sent that message out to eBay sellers recently. Nice to see Fun Pub and Hasbro using eBay's VeRO program finally.

I thought it might be him because there have been so many leaks of the molds, and so many on eBay to buy before the con even starts. How else is he supposed to handle it when he has to tell the very people he is doing this for that they don't have enough sets for everyone, and yet here are these stolen bagged versions showing up on eBay... I say good job!

Counterpunch wrote:
Or you could be responsible about it and wait the like, what, month or two till they get released, buy the toys in the store, and ultimately support the company who made it possible for you to have and enjoy the toys in the first place.

It's never our own fault, it's always someone else's.