We had listened to rumors about the recalling of the Encore God Fire Convoy reissue in China, due to several quality control issues on this expensive set. Finally, we have a Takara Tomy Official Apology and Collection Notice Regarding Encore God Fire Convoy.
The official statement was found at the Takara Tomy Website by our 2005 Boards member Gamerlingual. He was kind to summarize the text for us. According to this document, Takara Tomy send an apology to all their customers about a QC issue with the electronics. Basically a swap with the “Magna Laser” and “Magna Vulcan” speeches and sounds. There’s also a packaging mistake regarding this, too. This is the main official reason for the collection of the copies. While Takara Tomy will accept customers to return their purchased items, but they are NOT going to replace them and they will only issue refunds. As you should imagine, this is valid only in Japan at the moment.
There’s no mention about any other QC problems, but there have been several reports and pictures about them from several of our 2005 Board members, who have already received their copies. You can check them out in our respective thread. We are sure many fans were expecting this set (even for the expensive price, though), and we hope there’s a proper official solution or alternative for all collectors who already bought, or are waiting, for their copies around the world.
Logos Minor
First and last post in the feedback thread have good write-ups of what to expect Encore Car Robots God Fire Convoy (RID Omega Prime)
iamtfc
Is there a list of the more well known defects for the reissue?
Lordsloth
Saw that later on in the thread from my post other people also had experiences with incorrectly assembled parts.
I contacted the shop where I purchased the item and they managed to get me a replacement part.
I don't know how they get replacement parts for a discontinued set. I'm not going to mention them by name because I'm not 100% sure of what happened. Maybe they cannibalized a returned one before sending it back to Takara, maybe they went through proper channels. I don't know but however small the chance I don't want to ruin anybodies relationships with a supplier. In any case, I hope they know I appreciate it. Really puts a silver lining on a rough experience.
I mention this in case others have similar issues. Contact your seller, all hope may not be lost.
DoubleClouder
Yeah pretty much. I bought two and the first one was messed up, which I exchanged for another, and I just don't feel like opening the new one, and there's no point in keeping two MISB.
franpincho
In other words, play Russian roulette with a fully loaded Magnum.
Flash1087
I finally got mine!! I know it's kind of a low bar but this has been a Holy Grail for me for a long time. Sadly I'm not really gonna have time to crack into it and enjoy it until after my band gets back from tour, so I won't know if I got a bum copy, but goddamn am I happy to finally own this thing after…17, 18 years? I'll probably keep these guys mostly in the box (because I've always loved how the Car Robots boxes looked) but I at least wanna combine them once and put them back.
I guess next I should try to find one of those black Lucky Draw Fire Convoys, huh?
DoubleClouder
Anyone want to trade a MISB Encore God Fire Convoy for a LG-EX Grand Maximus? Going to say upfront, trade is final, not responsible for QC issues since it's MISB
PoweredConvoy
Thanks!
No, since TakaraTomy was only offering refunds. I'm sending the defective one back to Amazon Japan for a refund. I ordered the replacement from The Chosen Prime.
InvincibleSoul
Finally received my copy of God fire convoy.
Luckily, my copy seems perfect, build wise. Prime can transform, no warped plastic, combination works fine, no double pieces.
I'm so glad I got a good one! I waited a looong time for these two! Was very young when the show aired and they never arrived to the local stores.
mcart
Good vibes coming your way sir! Hope you get a good one!
geekatron prime
Nothing but good ju ju for a good copy for you!!
franpincho
I'll buy this when they are heavily discounted at BBTS.
Black Convoy
Good vibes!
Flash1087
Okay, I just sold some stuff to get the money together and sprung for one on TFSource. Honest to god I'm mostly buying it to keep in the box, so if I do have any QC issues they're probably not going to get terribly in the way of my sheer joy of knowing I finally own this specific one, but everyone send me your good vibes or whatever you believe in either way. (Mostly I just need to make sure it gets to my house before I leave for tour. )
Black Convoy
Oh I see, anyway. it's good to know someone could get a replacement.
Gamerlingual
The bottom of his post says amazon Japan. So maybe not Takara Tomy with all due respect?
Black Convoy
So you got replecement parts from Takara Tomy?
mcart
Exactly, I think we've all said what we want and only the sands of time will reveal the future. As I said, I have no interest in arguing with anyone here it's pointless and I like you guys, we're all brothers and sisters collecting together!
I am so happy you kept your originals or I'd have been so pissed for you! Couldn't even imagine how you would have felt! Hope this is the end of your issues with this figure!
PoweredConvoy
Got my replacement in.
Here is my original:
View attachment 27977992
Here is my replacement:
View attachment 27977993
Luckily I held on to the original, so I can send the hands with two incorrect panels back to Amazon Japan and keep the two correct ones.
Automorpher
This, I can certainly agree with.
It was never about you, me or anyone else as it's very obvious that we all have our own perspectives on the piece(s).