D'oh! Seized by Customs!

[blackie]

lol thats hilarious, cause i got a megatron ko about 2 years ago, was transformed in gun mode, and had no trouble getting it in... weird

[GoktimusPrime]

yeah but Australian Customs didn't really start cracking down on Megatron until last year (2007) with the debut of MP Megatron. I just didn't feel like trying my luck.

When I got e-Hobby Megaplex in 2002 I totally forgot to have it sent to me in robot mode, so it was sent to me in gun mode - but it got through fine! I thought getting MP Megatron would be okay since it was packaged in robot mode, but then when reports started cropping up everywhere of Customs confiscating MP Megs I got worried... thankfully mine came through okay. But I went and got myself the permit anyway so that my gun-Megs collection is nice and legal and also for peace of mind if I ever try to purchase any more gun TFs in the future (bring on Encore Browning!).

Ironically I've only ever had one Megatron that was inspected by Australia Post Customs... and customs officers handled the packaging so badly that it was severely damaged. The toy was okay but the package was ruined. It was Machine Wars Megatron! True story.

[dirge]

*sigh* If that was the main issue then we'd have no problem importing the orange tip versions from America.

Well, the laws that define what can be sold are State laws - such as those that mandate the orange tip. Customs are federal, and since they are speficially looking for MP-05s after a flood of _illegal_ ones were seized.

You probably could get the American one and legally own it. The trick is convincing customs to release it.

lol thats hilarious, cause i got a megatron ko about 2 years ago, was transformed in gun mode, and had no trouble getting it in... weird

Customs don't pick up everything. Had they detected this one, you could have been in quite a bit of trouble. I'm in no way judging you for it, but customs missing something is not the same as them explicitly allowing it through.

[PirateCop]

imagine all the cool crap in a customs place...lets launch an operation to liberate everyones megatrons!...and nun chuks!

[Tiby]

I've been there - ultra security. 2 main doors just to get to the reception area. Then an airlock type of thing between you and the person behind the desk.

[Mixmaster]

I've been there - ultra security. 2 main doors just to get to the reception area. Then an airlock type of thing between you and the person behind the desk.

lol. The one in Adelaide is basically like a McDonalds counter. Lift the side counter and waltz into the backroom with all the goodies.

[PirateCop]

i bet they have a rancor in their basement

[1orion2many]

Really? I remember Megatron being recalled as early as 1984-85 (different states outlawed them at different times). That toy's been banned since like... forever! Think about it - growing up in the 80s, how many kids did you know who owned a Megatron toy? I knew one kid - and he got it from another state which outlawed the toy after NSW (I think he got it from Melbourne).

When I bought a G1 Megatron toy in the 90s from an online purchase, I specifically asked the seller to send the toy to me in robot mode. When Megatron was reissued in 2001, I had the reissue sent to me in robot mode. Yeah... the G1 Megatron toy's always been prohibited.

I remember G1 Megs in the stores over here up until about 1988 which was the last time I saw one sitting on the shelf all bright and shiny right next to Optimus

[Pulse]

I remember G1 Megs in the stores over here up until about 1988 which was the last time I saw one sitting on the shelf all bright and shiny right next to Optimus

Showing your age again, ay?

[1orion2many]

Showing your age again, ay?

As long as I'm not senile, the last thing I want to do is start wandering around without my pants on, I'd be showing more than just my age then.