The Energon Pub

News Credits: 337 · by **Air Commander Starscream** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 10:05 pm

TFW2005.com board member Dirgeimus Prime has recieved a e-mail form JRS Toyworld stating that ALL of their MP-05 Megatron preorders have been cancled. They also make mention of the same thing Ryan heard at Toyfair, that there will be a "US Safe" version which we reporterd as a rumor here. And just to note it is still a rumor at this point.

Here is the e-mail he recieved.
'Hello,

I'm sorry to say that I've cancelled your preorder for Masterpiece Megatron.

Below is a copy of what my vendor sent to me regarding recent news on the
figure:

"Hi Bill,

I am afraid the decision has been made that in order to comply with US Federal
Law all US-bound shipments of Megatron will have the plugs installed. Even
though he will be in robot mode, we have learned there will likely be pics of
him in gun mode on the box, which could cause problems at customs resulting
in a shipment being impounded if there is not a plug. Also, Takara has
apparently decided to do a "US safe" release through Hasbro. This could well
mean that they and/or Hasbro will alert US Customs to be on the lookout for
"counterfeit" merchandise.

So, sorry to say it, but all Megatrons to the US will get plugs. Boxes will not
be in "unopened" condition."

I think its better to cut my losses now and not even attempt to import the
figure due to the potential problems.

I'm sorry for any inconvenience this may cause you.

Regards,
Bill Egerstaffer

by **Bluebullet** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 10:24 pm

Oh, boy. I sure hope Toywiz doesn't fail me now!

by **MaikeruSama** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 10:25 pm

well they put it on we are all just going to cut it off or spray it grey. I wish they would save me the trouble.

News Credits: 8 · by **Liege Evilmus** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 10:36 pm

This is bad news. And seriously, that tip is going to flush the image of this toy.

I'm have to check with my import guy and see what he can do for me on this. For imports, I recomend finding a private Ebay sellers as they don't have to follow any store standards.

News Credits: 8 · by **Liege Evilmus** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 10:40 pm

Also if the concern is over the picture of a gun on the box, what good is a saftey tip on the ROBOT inside going to do about that!?!

I mean, won't that still be a picture of a gun?

News Credits: 46 · by **Maximus Prime** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 10:41 pm

I should so go and order about a dozen more from agesthreeandup. I could pay off my house with the price hike I could put on them.

Just kidding, just kidding. I wouldn't scalp fellow fans.

News Credits: 1 · by **Bot Marley** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 10:48 pm

"Also, Takara has
apparently decided to do a "US safe" release through Hasbro."

I can't wait to see this one!

News Credits: 18 · by **Immortal Starscream** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 10:58 pm

that means a us release is immenent. and probably for cheaper. but not a widespread release for sure. an exclusive somewere

so possibly a hasbrotoyshop online exclusive (yuck not that again)
or another SDCC exclusive (oh please god no)
or perhaps...botcon maybe? only time will tell

personaly its not about wether or not he has an orange cap to me. he still looks sexy reguardless. its the fact that i dont want someone else ripping open my toy and skrewing with it b4 i get it.

by **Dclone Soundwave** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 10:59 pm

Eh, it seems that most stores are adding the tip as it is. At this point, I don't care who I get it from, as long as I paint the tip as I have intended since the very beginning.

by **Bluebullet** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 11:06 pm

Hey, ACS, the "View User Comments" Button is taking me to a topic in Carbomya. I can't edit my first post to say this from the lack of an edit button and this needs a new topic, too.

News Credits: 156 · by **WhiteRabbit** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 11:06 pm

I love how it's easier to get a real gun than it is to get an oversized toy gun that turns into a toy robot.

News Credits: 337 · by **Air Commander Starscream** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 11:23 pm

Bluebullet.

I am aware of the problem and have reported it to Glyph and Ryan. There is some coding messed up right now when a news item is posted. The news item shows up on the main page, but the actual thread is not created (or is hidden) in the respected forum. This should be cleared up soon hopefully. Sorry about that guys, for now you can only add a comment for the News Item...no editing.

Thanks for the heads up though.

EDIT: THe problem is fixed now.

by **Gutter Bunny** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 11:35 pm

i cant understand why this is creating such an issue when it is very simple to get a TFC#06 into the USA. While it doesnt have a large gun printed on the box, i do not see why this makes any sort of difference

News Credits: 2 · by **Head Shot** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 11:37 pm

Ugh... I'm begining to detest bigbadtoystore for scaring everyone into this. (I'm also hating the U.S.'s toy laws.)
And no, the "cut the cap off" suggestion is not going to be valid for me. Why should i have to pay $90+ on something that I have to modify to get the desired result? I hope someone repro's the barrels and makes an absolute killing on selling them.

by **Nemesis Cyberplex** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 11:45 pm

Gutter Bunny wrote:i cant understand why this is creating such an issue when it is very simple to get a TFC#06 into the USA. While it doesnt have a large gun printed on the box, i do not see why this makes any sort of difference

It's causing such a problem because of how sought after this figure is.

& as far as the cap goes, sure we can all paint over them/take them off, but putting them on keeps the stores' arses out of a legal bind when it either:

a: dosen't pass customs & a lot of customers are screwed over

b: causes them to have a lawsuit brought against them for selling products that go against US toy gun safety laws brought on by somebody trying to transport one via ariline or some dumbass kid pulling one on a cop.

It does kinda suck, but then again rules is rules, & afterwards could be easily remedied.

Besides, anyone that wants to keep a TF MISB is kinda missing the point of having transformers: to transform them. Not to mention anyone that did wouldn't have to worry about the orange cap either.

News Credits: 668 · by **Autobot032** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 12:17 am

Head Shot wrote:Ugh... I'm begining to detest bigbadtoystore for scaring everyone into this. (I'm also hating the U.S.'s toy laws.)
And no, the "cut the cap off" suggestion is not going to be valid for me. Why should i have to pay $90+ on something that I have to modify to get the desired result? I hope someone repro's the barrels and makes an absolute killing on selling them.

What the hell? How does BBTS fit into this? Are you serious? Come on. You must be kidding. It's not BBTS's fault, it's the law.

If the companies so choose to modify it so you can finally have the item without it being confiscated and you get your money's worth, then so be it.

BBTS didn't do it. ...damn.

News Credits: 8 · by **Liege Evilmus** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 12:35 am

Autobot032 wrote:
Head Shot wrote:Ugh... I'm begining to detest bigbadtoystore for scaring everyone into this. (I'm also hating the U.S.'s toy laws.)
And no, the "cut the cap off" suggestion is not going to be valid for me. Why should i have to pay $90+ on something that I have to modify to get the desired result? I hope someone repro's the barrels and makes an absolute killing on selling them.

What the hell? How does BBTS fit into this? Are you serious? Come on. You must be kidding. It's not BBTS's fault, it's the law.

If the companies so choose to modify it so you can finally have the item without it being confiscated and you get your money's worth, then so be it.

BBTS didn't do it. ...damn.

I see what he's saying. Once it was released that he'd be a gun BBTS said they wouldn't carry it due to customs.
This was befor there was even a picture.

Then a week after they furuted that saying that they would sell it, but with a cap.
That made fans happy because if Joel put it on, then you could take it off.

However all that right there is I think what AOUTBOT032 ment by bringing them into this. But, realy I shouldn't speak for others.

What upsets me about Takara doing this is that it will now be something more permanent and harder to remove or alter.

by **Quaternion** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 12:37 am

I may be travelling to Japan in November and I was planning on picking up an unaltered MP-05 there. Will I have trouble getting it back into the States or does the law just prevent stores from importing it to sell it?

What if I just took it out of the box? I mean, I was going to do that anyway.

by 009* » Mon Feb 26, 2007 1:03 am

Glad I'm waiting for Megatron to actually get in stock somewhere before buying him.

Geez, all this ruckus over a little plastic add-on.

News Credits: 1 · by **Autobot Skids** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 1:38 am

Well... I agree with the comment about how it's easier to get a real gun than a plastic toy robot... heh...

America is in many ways wierd...

Happily - none of these problems are mine - HLJ will ship a non-plug version to me in Poland where no such wierd laws exist...

Skids

News Credits: 18 · by **Immortal Starscream** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 2:36 am

009* wrote:Glad I'm waiting for Megatron to actually get in stock somewhere before buying him.

Geez, all this ruckus over a little plastic add-on.

its not about the plastic add on for a lot of people. most of us dont want someone else opening and screwing around with our toys.

im an out of box collecter myself, but i cant stand the thought of other hands playing with my plaything. (leave the dirty thoughts behind there fellas)

and there are some who collect mint in box only, and now they cant get that coveted prize.

as ive said b4 i could give 2 shits less if its got an orange cap or not, its still sexy, but i want to be the one to open MY toy first.

by **Gutter Bunny** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:02 am

Immortal Starscream wrote:
009* wrote:Glad I'm waiting for Megatron to actually get in stock somewhere before buying him.

Geez, all this ruckus over a little plastic add-on.

its not about the plastic add on for a lot of people. most of us dont want someone else opening and screwing around with our toys.

im an out of box collecter myself, but i cant stand the thought of other hands playing with my plaything. (leave the dirty thoughts behind there fellas)

and there are some who collect mint in box only, and now they cant get that coveted prize.

as ive said b4 i could give 2 shits less if its got an orange cap or not, its still sexy, but i want to be the one to open MY toy first.

I on the other hand care a great deal about the "plastic add-on." My humble opinion is that placing of the orange cap will destroy said sexiness of the figure. I collect both mib and misb so that for me is not an issue. However, i want to be the one to make the choice as to wheter or not its open.

News Credits: 1 · by **Shinju-chan** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:12 am

I’ll say, I am just in a miff over all the neverending flow of red tape this figure has. I bought myself the #6 Megatron reissue here back only 3 years ago and that imported just fine through U.S. customs —and that one wasn’t in robot mode~! Surely the original Megatron figure looks even more so like a gun than this one? I don’t get it.