Rocks in the Box

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31st January 2013, 12:53 PM
Iriorne

Rocks in the Box

I purchased an MP-11 off Ebay - it turned up in the mail the other day and I was surprised to discover two packets of gravel inside the box, underneath the figure's bubble packaging. :confused:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/233731/OTCA/MP11_gravel.jpg

On closer inspection the box appears to have been double-taped on the bottom, which leads me to suspect that these are non-standard additions.

The figure itself seems fine, aside from being slightly mis-transformed. The tape on his bubble packaging looks untampered with and all accessories and instructions are present.

Is it possible the seller is trying to screw people on shipping cost? The rocks weigh about 500g but it seems a bit odd as I paid flat rate, and why leave them in there? I do feel a little jibbed as it was supposedly MISB, though I was going to open it anyway.

Is it worth making a fuss over? Has anyone encountered anything similar?
31st January 2013, 01:14 PM
gamblor916

That's really strange. I was sent some gravel as well inside a box of paint I got off ebay from HK. Why send gravel? :confused:
31st January 2013, 01:30 PM
Tetsuwan Convoy

Wow. That is very strange. I wonder if they stick the rocks in for weighing the postage and plan to take them out later, but forgot this time...

I'd send them a message saying that it wasn't MISB as bags of rocks are not standard issue with transformers:p

Await their reply, you never know, they might go about refunding some of your money to keep you happy.
And then maybe drop him a lower mark on the feedback stars or neutral feedback.

I'd be a little bit glad it was only rocks and not something more sinister. Wow. People are strange.
31st January 2013, 01:39 PM
Megatron

Weird. It'd be interesting to see what sort of explanation the seller comes up with...

If you were going to open it anyway and everything else is fine, then it's not worth getting an exchange/refund, but if it were me I definitely would - MISB should be MISB.
31st January 2013, 01:57 PM
Skullcruncher

Crazy - maybe to help keep the figure in position? :rolleyes: at least the figure was there - at first I thought you just received the box with the gravel in it. :o
31st January 2013, 02:59 PM
griffin

I had a similar thing happen when I got the black Jetwing Optimus (big box)... it had in the shipping box, several small boxes of kitty litter, weighing 1.8kgs.
It had me worried at first that it was drug smuggling (I'm assuming it is kitty litter), and my home would be raided by the person knowing where it was being posted to... but nothing, and I threw it away.

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/386.jpg

I think the shipping was a set rate as well, but it doubled the weight of the box, and didn't get a reply when I asked why he did it.
31st January 2013, 03:38 PM
5FDP

I have never experienced / seen / heard of anything like this before :confused: Having said that though, if you had a cat, you'd be pretty stoked about the free kitty litter ;) :p
31st January 2013, 03:45 PM
i_amtrunks

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5FDP

if you had a cat, you'd be pretty stoked about the free kitty litter ;) :p

Ha!

The gravel/litter obviously isnt for safety reasons, maybe to balance larger figures to stop them toppling over? I'd prefer them not to do it as people usually stack heavier boxes at the bottom of piles, meaning more chance of your parcel getting crushed...

Just weird!
31st January 2013, 05:54 PM
liegeprime

hmmm, perhaps it's a test if these get through, something else can get through as well in the future ;P. Pretty dodgy IMO. you guys sure it was just plain gravel?
31st January 2013, 07:14 PM
ILikeSoundwave

I thinks the rocks were there to keep bugs and insects out of the boxes if they somehow creeped in.;)
31st January 2013, 07:27 PM
Waxpython

i've heard about this search for anything hidden in the gravel if you find any white powder reply to this thread ASAP
1st February 2013, 04:53 PM
Iriorne

Quote:

Originally Posted by liegeprime

you guys sure it was just plain gravel?

Heh, that was my second thought but no, thankfully, it appears to be plain old gravel or cat litter. :) Thanks for the input everyone - might send a question to the seller and see what sort of response I get.
1st February 2013, 05:28 PM
DELTAprime

Who was the seller? I'd like to avoid them.
1st February 2013, 05:47 PM
KalEl

It may be to keep/absorb moisture away from the item being sent, also can act as a charcoal filter type deal. As moisture can be an issue especially it sent by sea. The gravel/kitty litter is a great substance for this purpose.
1st February 2013, 06:11 PM
i_amtrunks

Quote:

Originally Posted by KalEl

It may be to keep/absorb moisture away from the item being sent, also can act as a charcoal filter type deal. As moisture can be an issue especially it sent by sea. The gravel/kitty litter is a great substance for this purpose.

I know that is done with paper/ceramic/porous substance items being shipped along sea routes, but if the rocks were in plastic bags, wouldn't that negate the absorbency gains?

Plus I doubt you'd ever need 1.8kg of kitty litter unless you were planning a bathroom break!
1st February 2013, 11:06 PM
Tober

Ever since the reclamation of Hong Kong by the Chinese government in 2000 there has been an anti-communist plot to smuggle Hong Kong into Australia via eBay transactions.
2nd February 2013, 12:23 AM
Iriorne

Quote:

Originally Posted by KalEl

As moisture can be an issue especially it sent by sea. The gravel/kitty litter is a great substance for this purpose.

Quote:

Originally Posted by i_amtrunks

I know that is done with paper/ceramic/porous substance items being shipped along sea routes, but if the rocks were in plastic bags, wouldn't that negate the absorbency gains?

At first I did think it was a drying agent but, at least in my case, the bags are pretty air tight and have a distinctly home made look. In any case, there's no excuse for opening an item that has been sold as MISB as the dessicant should function as well in the shipping box as in the figure box.

I sent an enquiry to the seller this afternoon but I doubt I'll get a response, let alone any money back. After all, the first rule of acquisition says: "Once you have their money, you never give it back". :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by DELTAprime

Who was the seller? I'd like to avoid them.

The seller was kit11670, based in Taiwan. In fairness to the seller, he/she/they have high positive feedback - something on the order of 40000+. I even checked feedback left for other MP-11s - all positive. *shrug*
2nd February 2013, 11:09 PM
drahsrebu

I've bought from this seller before, never received any gravel though. I feel a little ripped off now:p
3rd February 2013, 12:28 AM
KalEl

Quote:

Originally Posted by drahsrebu

I've bought from this seller before, never received any gravel though. I feel a little ripped off now:p

haha email them and complain
4th February 2013, 04:58 PM
Iriorne

Well colour me surprised, I got a reply:

Quote:

These bags are to consume moisture. We are at south east asia with high humidity and plastics may grow molds. So we add the dehumidifiers to consume moisture.

More or less what I expected. I think it's a little dicey opening up MISB figures, but whatever. I guess I'm happy so not gonna push it any further.

Quote:

Originally Posted by drahsrebu

I've bought from this seller before, never received any gravel though. I feel a little ripped off now

You can have some of mine if you're willing to pay postage. :p
4th February 2013, 10:43 PM
GoktimusPrime

Mineral/clay desiccant?
http://www.absortechaustralia.com/de...desiccant.html
http://www.maxsorbs.com/products
4th February 2013, 10:58 PM
drahsrebu

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iriorne

You can have some of mine if you're willing to pay postage. :p

Could probs do with some after all the water from the floods we've had:p
5th February 2013, 12:41 AM
Deonasis

Dammit, im too tired but i say something witty about Rocklords and then we all go hahaha! Glad it all turned out well and above board.
5th February 2013, 02:08 AM
Tetsuwan Convoy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deonasis

Dammit, im too tired but i say something witty about Rocklords and then we all go hahaha! Glad it all turned out well and above board.

LOL!

this thread has given me a good chuckle. Glad it worked out for everyone involved. Including me;)
5th February 2013, 10:13 AM
GoktimusPrime

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deonasis

Dammit, im too tired but i say something witty about Rocklords and then we all go hahaha! Glad it all turned out well and above board.

I've been trying to think of a witty Rock Lords reference since this thread started! I've since given up. :p The less I think about Battle of the Rock Lords the better. ;)
5th February 2013, 12:22 PM
Sharky

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoktimusPrime

I've been trying to think of a witty Rock Lords reference since this thread started! I've since given up. :p The less I think about Battle of the Rock Lords the better. ;)

Nuthin to loose your marbles over.... :rolleyes:
5th February 2013, 01:12 PM
gekisou

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tober

Ever since the reclamation of Hong Kong by the Chinese government in 2000 there has been an anti-communist plot to smuggle Hong Kong into Australia via eBay transactions.

That, my good sir, is brilliant.

Also, yeah, this seems odd, I've never had this happen to me before. Please update us what their reply is.
5th February 2013, 01:41 PM
UltraMarginal

you'll soon be able to see if it's absorbent, drop some in a bucket and splash some water in there. if the rocks expand with soaked up water over an hour or two, you've got an absorbent material.