What store did you order from? I always go show-Z for this type of thing and customs haven’t been an issue yet. Touch wood.

 

You're right, when I use ShowZStore I never get caught at customs. But I pre-ordered this before I knew ShowZ was a thing, so I used TFSource. They get caught a lot more, almost as much as BBTS (in the latter's case, I think the giant 'BBTS' packaging tape might be a giveaway).

 

Damn, you live in the UK and shop at BBTS?! I’d never even consider using them unless it was an absolute last resort and I also felt like throwing a load of money away.
I don’t know what other lines you may collect but I’ve done a fair bit of trial and error over the last 8 years or so and, as a fellow Brit, I’ve concluded that for 3rd party Transformers I’ll always go Show Z first then johosontony on eBay (UncleBillyShop on Twitter) and some add on kits that don’t end up on those sites somehow are available from Kapow Toys in the UK. That’s where I ordered the SS Megatron add on kit.
For official Takara products I now use Anime Export although, depending on the size and cost of the package you may end up paying a lot for even standard postage which is pretty slow and EMS will almost always get caught by customs. I’ve found MyKombini to be the best for cost effective fast postage and avoiding customs followed by Nippon Yasan but their prices are a bit higher.
Anyways, those are my recommendations. Sorry if you already know about them but I hate paying customs so much that I will always try to offer alternative shopping methods to anyone who regularly suffers that sting.

 

Thanks, I appreciate the recommendations. The online store scene's changed a lot while I was gone.

For the record, I don't shop at BBTS. Not anymore, not unless I absolutely have to. For obvious reasons.  

But I started buying TFs online before reputable Chinese sellers like ShowZ showed up, so I used to have no choice but BBTS, TFSource, etc. for stuff Kapow didn't stock. I was out of collecting for a couple of years, and so my first few orders when I came back were with the guys I knew.

 

OMG I'm so done with BBTS. Shipped yesterday and it won't arrive until NEXT SATURDAY. I've gotten things from China faster than that! I wish I could go back and preorder from somewhere else.

 

I stopped using them for this exact reason. FedEx smart post is the worst. BBTS is closer to me than Tfsource and TCP and they still can take a week longer than the others.

 

I'm perfectly fine & satisfied with the kit. My mindset is, I look at it as more of a weapons add-on kit & treat the additional limbs upgrade just as bonus that's all.

At least now he's not as barebones as before.

 

Used the Economy Shipping option?

 

Thanx for the heads up dude. Yup I boiled it in hot water & now the irritating whiteish stress marks is gone lol.

 

Well shoot. 2 days to get to New Zealand from Hong Kong but it hasn't left the depot in NZ for 3 days. Honestly, our postal system is shit.

No slight on RBT, they're great, just let down by the locals yet again.

 

Here's another pic 

 

Received mine today. Hmm... not feeling satisfied.

Maybe once I transform it? Otherwise I feel you really need to upgrade the whole figure, and this is from someone who loves SS Grimlock.

 

Yeah bro I can empathize with ya. Sometimes it can happen, due to endless delay of an item, somehow the moment it arrives..the feeling becomes deflated. The item becomes meh.

 

I think that is what it was, plus I got with anothwr stellar figure. Truth be told, I have really warmed to it. Here it is in dino mode. Will probably end up taking lots of photos of this.

 

One of my fav reviewer, has just posted a review..Emgo!

 

I wasn't sure if he was getting it but I'm very glad he did. I too love his reviews so I was happy to see this pop up in my youtube notifications. Mine should arrive tomorrow. The multiple delays has decreased my hype but I'm still looking forward to the kit and will certainly be glad to have it looking back.

 

Reading the comments on the Emgo video, several people are reporting broken mace & chains. Has this happened to anyone here? I’m still waiting for my kit to arrive.

 

Nope hasn't happen to mine yet. The only noteworthy thing was the whiteish stressmark that appeared which I promptly boiled in hot water & now it's gone lol.

 

Mine arrived today. The only problem with it is that the rearmost screw that holds the tail together is missing. No biggie; I have spare screws from previous upgrades.

 

I just got my kit in the mail and it looks great. Unfortunately the tail has a pretty bad manufacturing error. The pin that attaches the middle segment to the largest part if the tail was inserted at an angle and through the joint itself and stuck in the tail. As a result the middle section can't move and there are large ugly stress marks along the joint and I'm worried it'll break if it gets bent too much. I tried to use a knife to push it back in place but it didn't budge. I've contacted TFSourse, hopefully they can get it replaced fairly quickly.