I spoke with a police officer about this topic to get some facts on Canadian laws.

 

The orange safety cap is not required by law here (though it may be a bylaw in some areas). You can import megatrons without having them siezed by customs for violating toy gun laws. I'm importing mine from Japan and I expect it to arrive undetained and undamaged.

Oh man.. reason to move to Canada! =O

I don't see why everyone is getting so worked up yet. As far as I'm concerned, i don't think it's going to be this major kitbashing endeavor to remove the orange cap. The US companies are going to have to have employees assembly lining this thing, and that means something quick and easy to apply. I doubt there will be screws or even any adhesive of any kind, it will be a friction plug.

 

Whatever it may be, I don't think it makes much sense to get all worried until we start seeing how it's being done.

I don't see why everyone is getting so worked up yet. As far as I'm concerned, i don't think it's going to be this major kitbashing endeavor to remove the orange cap. The US companies are going to have to have employees assembly lining this thing, and that means something quick and easy to apply. I doubt there will be screws or even any adhesive of any kind, it will be a friction plug.

 

Whatever it may be, I don't think it makes much sense to get all worried until we start seeing how it's being done.

 

 

No, those plugs or caps are glued on quite securely. They aren't just held in place by friction. It doesn't take much time to glue one of those things in place, even on an assembly line. I worked in a plastic injection molding factory, so I know how long it takes, and it isn't long. I have also tried removing one of those things. It had to be cut off.along with what it was glued to.

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

 

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.

 

I don't make this Blot up as I go along, as some of you'd like to think. I may not have reported it correctly, but it's there before you.

the guy who i deal with seems to be confident in getting his mp megs' without mods or problems. then again we're in canada.

Autobot032: that still only seems to affect those who are ordering Megatrons in from dealers. I still don't see how it could affect private shipments - e.g.: if I get a friend to buy it in Japan and privately mail it to me. *shrug*

 

Another option could be to have the toy shipped to you in robot mode OUT of the box, and to have the box flattened, sealed in an enveloped, and mailed separately - I highly doubt that US Post is going to inspect a flat envelope with cardboard in it for replica weapon toys. ;p And even if by some freak accident the envelope is opened and seized, by having it mailed separately you would only lose the box but still receive the toy, which is the more important thing.

http://www.seibertron.com/forums/viewtopic...9e65f2adf08abac

 

Thread title: "Hasbro to stop MP Megatron (No Cap) shipments to the U.S."

well they did say it really just spells trouble for the unmodified version, since I had no intention of trying to import an unmodified version, i'm cool.

"it doesn't look good for having large shipments of unmodified versions making it through customs"

 

So I still don't see how this would effect personal private shipments of small quantities. For example, I'm going to have 2 MP Megatrons sent to me (one for me, the other for another Sydney-based collector - we split the cost of postage 50:50 which makes it even cheaper per person).

 

I can see how they would be thwarting dealers and importers from receiving unmodified versions, but I don't see how they can stop private individuals from doing it.

 

So the moral of the story is: don't deal with export/import dealers and just buy the toy directly from Japan yourself!! It's as simple as that. Screw using dealers and getting orange capped - pppfffttt!! :P

 

That's what I'm gonna do. I got my MP Convoy and Starscream via HLJ (an export dealer), but with Megatron I'm going to by-pass any dealers and getting the toy directly for myself.