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Post by El Caracho on Apr 21, 2018 8:55:11 GMT
I just got a letter from the German customs office that my Arado Ar 196 package will be destroyed because it violates the copyright of Lego :-(
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Post by Deinonychus on Apr 21, 2018 14:02:12 GMT
Damn. I had heard about LEGO trying to pull that crap with Mega Bloks and US customs, but it looks like they've had some success in Germany now. I think it was shortly after every country in the world (except Denmark) told LEGO that they couldn't keep suing other block companies for patent and copyright infringement they decided to start trying to stop other blocks through customs agencies. This ins't good for anyone and I truly feel sorry for you there.  |
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Post by niho on Apr 21, 2018 18:05:53 GMT
That's what the customs do sometimes because of the minifigures. They are still protected by patent. I'm so sorry for you, El Caracho!
I got my Arado last week.
But it happened to me when I bought the Chinese houses from Xingbao. Unfortunately, I was so stupid to order all 4 at once.
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Post by El Caracho on Apr 22, 2018 9:03:30 GMT
Damn. I had heard about LEGO trying to pull that crap with Mega Bloks and US customs, but it looks like they've had some success in Germany now. I think it was shortly after every country in the world (except Denmark) told LEGO that they couldn't keep suing other block companies for patent and copyright infringement they decided to start trying to stop other blocks through customs agencies. This ins't good for anyone and I truly feel sorry for you there. Well, that's not my first order that got destroyed by customs, so far 2 minifig deliveries and most recently the Oxford 1990's Reply Game Room (BM35213) modular building, which was very sad, because that set is discontinued and very hard to find, and I had payed a lot of money for this "collectors item" (more than this set would have cost out of genuine Lego bricks). This was already my 5th attempt to get this set, and I thought at least this time something was finally shipped towards Germany ... but after I got a short glimpse at it at the customs office, they told me I won't get it and that it will be destroyed. And I almost had it in my hands Well, for the Arado I can at least try to simply order it again, but for the Oxford Game Room it's unfortunately not that easy ... But somehow I don't feel guilty of betraying Lego on their rightfully entitled profit, as I have spent A LOT of my money on Lego in the past (and still do ... just bought the Tron Lightcycles last week ... and the UCS Millennium Falcon on sale with 20% off on AFOL shopping day in their brand store) But it happened to me when I bought the Chinese houses from Xingbao. Unfortunately, I was so stupid to order all 4 at once. I only got 3 so far (missing the Martial Arts School), but I ordered each of them individually and prayed each time that they will make it through customs. I'm not sure that the new set (Chinese Theatre) will be any better because of the changed minifigs ... customs may still see them as a threat for Lego and act accordingly to protect Lego's profits ... |
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aushen
Junior Member
Posts: 57 
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Post by aushen on Apr 22, 2018 15:25:27 GMT
I just got a letter from the German customs office that my Arado Ar 196 package will be destroyed because it violates the copyright of Lego :-( Sorry to hear that I think I've been fortunate to not have any sets seized yet in Canada, but it does seem like they have been a bit more aggressive recently regarding the knockoffs :/ |
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Post by niho on Apr 22, 2018 17:22:48 GMT
The problem with the Oxford sets is, that they not have a CE mark. So the customs may not hand you over. Had the same with the Panther and the T 34 when I ordered them at GMarket.
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Post by achtungpanzer on Apr 22, 2018 17:49:47 GMT
That is too bad Caracho :-(
I am not encountering any troubles here in Holland
That is because the customs highest priority here is collecting the right custom fees
You can import stuff free till 22 euro's, everything above you will have to pay custom fees
They are working hard now to get rid of the 22 euro limit because a lot of small packages are entering the country, especialy from China, so they want to have fees over every amount because they are missing lots of taxes this way
Aliexpress is being watched especially, not for illegal copies of lego but for people who are declaring to have a package with a value of say 5 euro while it is actually 50 euro
Maybe a way could be to declare it as toys (seller has to this) and not as building bricks/blocks, so maybe you can ask the seller to do so
Maybe the German customs are not alarmed this way
I know also that they monitor people who are ordering a lot from foreign countries so when a certain adress pops up they know it is the same guy ordering again with a history of ordering for instance illegal lego
Here in Holland they got wise over the years, i once even had to show a payment confirmation for a US ebay purchase , because they didn't believe the value to be correct
( what indeed wasn't .... So i had to pay more custom fees)
Fact is this was over some second hand worm '89 nike sneakers what only has a collectors value and wasn't even new.... But where i paid a lot for
Customs wanted a share so i had to pay taxes over the full amount including s/h
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Post by johnlamarck on Aug 15, 2018 9:09:35 GMT
You can also see there the other improved WW2 Jie Star sets (Spitfire Mk Vb, Arado 196, P-40E, P-47D).
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Post by johnlamarck on Aug 15, 2018 9:23:11 GMT
A funny idea would be for several members to buy a specific one of these aircraft and try to improve it. Rules for this could be that a maximum of 10 additional parts may be installed, which are not part of the set. The forum members then vote on which model has succeeded best. Would someone join in here? Your wish has been granted (with the exception of the 10 parts) ;-)
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Post by niho on Aug 29, 2018 20:42:30 GMT
John, you beat up every one of those planes! I like them all very well. I'm still looking for an alternative cockpit for my Arado.
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gillum
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by gillum on Sept 13, 2018 16:34:30 GMT
Just completed them all, plus the Sembo "Zero"...  |
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Post by johnlamarck on Sept 17, 2018 18:31:35 GMT
I rebuilt the Sembo Zero into a Kyushu Shinden : |
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