Hi all,

Have been looking for a place to pre-order MP-05. Was wondering if anyone had any suggestions? I usually go through Joel at BBTS, but not interested in having an orange tip glued to this beauty.

RobotKingdom looks OK, but they have a clause that they will not accept responsibility if your unmodded item gets seized by customs? Dodgy.

Can you help?

http://www.capturedprey.com/Scripts/prodVi...p?idproduct=379
I've heard they do good business, so I'll be ordering from them pretty soon.

My thoughts are...:
I'm in the US. I would like MP-05 un-oranged, unaltered, and unopened. I figure the best order of preference is:

1) Order from a domestic vendor selling unmodded.
2) Order from an international vendor selling unmodded.
3) Order from a domestic vendor selling modded.

In general, ownership of an item transfers when either paid or shipped. This means burden of loss in case anything goes wrong also changes hands at the same point. If I order from an international vendor, like Robot Kingdom, in the event there is any issue with customs, the burden of any potential loss will fall on me the moment Martin ships. If I order from a domestic vendor, I only have to worry about potential loss along the domestic shipping route (much safer); I can bypass having to run the customs gauntlet since the vendor can only fill my order of an unaltered if they get it through anyhow.

I really wanted to order from LAF, since they clearly offer you the ability to back out if they aren't able to sell unaltered ones... but I was asleep at the wheel through both of their pre-order rounds.

I recently saw some local news report on US Customs cracking down on bootleg items entering the US. They showed footage of customs agents opening all kinds of small to mid packages coming through San Francisco (exactly the same size and style as my previous orders from Robot Kingdom), searching for and seizing all kinds of illicit goods: fake Nikes, fake Levi's jeans, etc. I thought I heard them say they were opening literally every package that came through now. I didn't even know they had the manpower to do such a thing, but... decided I'd much rather let a domestic vendor deal with any of that hassle, hehe.

Agreed.

I'd like mine unaltered, but the chance of it being siezed by customs if I ordered from an international vendor are high, and the chance of a domestic vendor not modding it is unlikely, my only option is to get it altered from some place like BBTS (from which I've already pre-ordered it).

However, looking at Captured Prey version, it seems nice, but how are they going to do it? That's my question.

But glue can be simply dealt with. Heat it up and take it off and then gently remove and leftover glue-y residue.

...you can always order from this store..

MP-05 Preorder (Unmodified Version)

Yeah, I'd order from BBTS and remove the stuff too. But I like mine sealed, so I've made a pre-order with Kicks, hoping that they won't feel the need to get them specifically modded. Will see..



Think this still have to go through Customs, at least for a US buyer, since they're in Canada. At least they're one more alternative to the pot.

I also suspect that BBTS won't be changing their orange mod policy. Their info stated the modifications would be done in Japan. This suggests they may've arranged to subcontract the modification work to someone there. If that is the case, it may not be a simple matter to back out of such arrangement. But.. who knows..

Thanks for the repsonses. Has been helpful.

I'm now leaning towards Captured Prey, but would also like to know how they plan to circumvent customs and who pays they price if they don't! Will send through a question and let you know what their response is.

Here is the email that I sent to Captured Prey.....

"I'm interested in pre-ordering Masterpiece Megatron from you. Can you please confirm that this figure will be sent to me unmodded and unopened? Also, who will accept responsibility if the figure is seized by customs?"

In general:

Captured Prey's ownership)
- From: The moment it leaves their wholesaler's shipping point and is being transported to Captured Prey.
- To: The moment Captured Prey ships it out to a buyer (you).

Your ownership)
- From: the moment it leaves the vendor's shipping point and enters into the courier's hands onward.

For the most part, whether or not the figure is seized by customs shouldn't matter to you since you don't own it yet. The vendor, Captured Prey in this case, is the one purchasing it and bringing it into the country, the vendor owns it, so they're the ones who have to figure out how to deal with it (hopefully better than we end consumers could because that's their business hehe).

2 issues complicate this:

a) When do they charge you for the item?
b) What are the terms of your pre-order agreement? Some vendors may try to convince you that you can't get your money back (even though the vendor didn't/couldn't fulfill their end of the agreement), or they may put up roadblocks trying to get you to buy something else from them.

Just remember: ownership = burden of loss (not just the rights). This is why the reputable vendors all state clearly that they won't charge you until they ship. That way you don't pay for something you may never end up getting.

In fact, it can actually be troublesome to a vendor even if a potential buyer wants to pay money up front. Yes, they get money quicker but they have not fulfilled their end of the deal. More than that, they become caretakers of someone else's property which can invite legal troubles or customer complaints.

BTW, last I looked at Captured Prey's site, the pre-order was listed as out of stock with no button allowing you to add it to cart.

Glue - thanks.

Here's the response I got from Captured Prey -

"I can guarantee that the figure will be unmodified. Customs is our problem, but as I say, it's not a real problem. This item, in all honesty, classifies as a novelty weapon replica due to it's gross oversize. There's nothing illegal about it, despite what others choose to believe.

Unfortunately, the units I can be acceptably sure of have been sold through. More may become available if some buyers do not complete their payments by the end of January".

Well - that's convinced me not to go with BBTS. But on Glue's advice - I will look for a vendor that will not charge me before the item is actually shipped to me.

The search for the perfect order continues.....!

Have checked with Bigbadtoystore and they will mod this figure regardless of whether or not it comes packaged in robot mode. Something about being responsible vendors or something or other....

Although our pre-order has sold out, we only listed a portion of the overall shipment (gives us room to grade). So if it works out that we do not need the orange tip, then we will have additional unmodified MP-05 in-stock.

I ordered from JRS Toyworld... I was going to go with Captured Prey, but missed the boat on their preorder. From the JRS product description:



I've never dealt with them before, but the desire to ship unmodded coupled with a backout option if it does get modded convinced me.

Unfortunately, I wasn't quite able to get all the points of my own advice hehe. Ended up switching my pre-order from Kicks to TFSource. No ill will meant toward Kicks (most word I've heard from their customers is that they're happy with them). I'd just ordered from TFSource before, and I liked the terms better since they spelled out more clearly that I could cancel the pre-order in the event of The Orange. Unfortunately, Source also charges money ahead of time, so.. interest-free loan to them in the meantime. Oh well. Price and peril of luxury item purchases..

I'm taking my chances with Robot Kingdom, though I'll admit I am suspicious. I emailed them to ask if they would transform them, assuming they were packaged in gun mode, and they flat out said no. So basically, they're not going to put out any effort whatsoever to get these things through customs. I don't really think it'll be a problem, regardless, but the new in-box pics with the gun on the cover to have me worried...

Has anybody heard anything good or bad about TAO TOYS ONLINE...? They are selling MP5 unmodified for 99.95...I wanna order , but I'm hesitant until I hear something about them from somebody on here....help me..

jrs sadly cancelled thier preorder

Oh man....! I'd had them pegged at the top of my list of US vendors for ordering unmodded too, but I missed all their preorder rounds and went with another. That was completely unexpected.. o_O

TFSource is apparently additional preorders but only for modded ones for now. Kicks is still taking preorders but their page still doesn't list any info regarding the orange mod.

At this point, you are probably best going w/ someone reliable and then hoping to be able to remove the plug once you get it. I had pre-orders w/ TFSource and BBTS, but have since cancelled the BBTS since TFSource claims theirs will be un-modified. Seriously though, just go w/ the best price and the most reliability. I am willing to bet that you can get the plug off once it is in hand.

Yeah, I've never thought that removing the orange would be too much of a hassle, at least relative to the enjoyment of having an MP Megatron. Just that some of us fools are into the whole MISB thing. =)

Anyone got any ideas what the availability of MP-05 will be after the initial shipping? I was going to wait to see if customs got the unmodded. But if customs overlooks them, will there be any left to order?

I am curious also...I don't want to miss out either, and end up paying 3 times the original price after the fact...Is it safe to wait ?

Seems LAF is going all mod too. The way it's looking right now, I'd say bets had to have been already placed a while ago if you wanted unmodded MISBs, since it seems it's too late to make any decisions now. Supply seems to have already vaporized, and getting worse with each new vendor who buckles under the feeling that they need to mod. But even had those vendors maintained selling unmoddeds, it's always been my impression that MP Megs would move much faster than the first MP Prime. It only seemed like a few months, possibly several, at most before the avg price of Prime went say $20 higher than its release import prices here in the aftermarket?

*sigh*.. At this rate though, it may be considered lucky if MISBs can even be found at release, much less for 3x the original opening price..

most likely itll be a task for kitbashin
doesnt seem too hard to remove the cap, maybe slice off the tip, then heat the adhesive and remove, then repaint

either that or we get those repro ppl to make us a repro barrel, depending on how easy it is to remove the entire barrel

Anybody done business with kooltoyz before?
http://www.kooltoyz.ca/preorder.html

That is right we have to go all mod now. We got the word from our supplier to either go mod or no MP-05 at all.

Not sure what is going to happen with the price of MP-05 Megs after the initial release, but it does seem MP Megs will fly off the shevles faster than MP Convoy.

say los, what adhesive will the the orange cap use?

heh cant blame me fer tryin!

There are still places to get the unmoded version it all depends on how much more you are willing to pay AND if you require the item MISB or simply MIB. For myself frack the places that open the box and put the stupid caps these items aren't for kids so WTF is the excessive concern with child safety? For a $100+ toy you'd think we can get what we pay for!

So anyone have any info about other places that sell the unaltered version?

well i ebayed mine, unopened unmodded for $123 shipped

I bought mine from Action-HQ.com during the initial wave, fast shipping, no problems with customs at all. I would recommend an over-seas dealer or eBay if you have to have an unmodded one as I myself had to.

Really? How long ago, pm me details. thanks.

If you're going the Ebay route and live in the U.S. then it's best to find a U.S. seller that has it. Otherwise, you're looking at 45-$55 or more in shipping charges.

I don't keep track of them every single day, but I have yet to see one that sells for less than $180 on Ebay.


Also, in regards to eHobby Black Convoy, here are a few listings that I came across:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Transformers-Hybrid-St...1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Transformers-Hybrid-St...1QQcmdZViewItem

Thanks dude for taking the time to help. YOU ROCK!

GOOD news is Megs will be reissued... but bad news so far is BBTS still requires the inane safety plugs. Have the rest of you found places restocking that are untampered?

BBTS is charging $99, correct? Plus whatever the shipping is, but it'll have the orange plug.

I found one on Ebay: unmodified, in the U.S. and $20 shipping, currently at $102.50 and ends in just under 6 hours.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Megatron-MP-05-masterp...1QQcmdZViewItem

not bad... anyone else preordering MEGS? Speak up!

i am
theres a thread on the board where agent-GH i think is rallying people to preorder megs and get a discount

I preordered from BBTS. I could care less about the plug and removing it. I care nothing about the packaging or MISB. I might consider the group buy on here, only for the discounted price. But I want to go with whoever can get me the item for sure. Modded, unmodded, discounted or full price. As long as I get it, I'll go with whoever.

Yeah group buys are good when people are responsible enough. Who the hell actually wants to pay more to some store and then shipping on it too?

For anyone still looking for one check out the group buy started by Agent-GHQ.