I think ZZ SE's are gonna be history soon...

chrome · Post by **chrome** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 5:48 pm

Well, seems there is a bit of a problem. But I'm sure it's only a slight one. I called SilverLit Toys (the US distributor of X-Trek) with the sole intention of purchasing a few thousands of dollars worth so I could resell them. Unfortunately, I was told that due to patent issues, these could not be sold in the U.S. and would only be available in "other" parts of the world. This leads me to believe Europe and China will only be the guys to see these things.

The real question is, what other RC has a VERY similar patent in the US and why don't we know about it?

Later,
Chrome...

crazydave · Post by **crazydave** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 5:58 pm

Hmmm, could Radio Shack be trying to restrict competition?

They best not be, or I'll boycott Zip Zaps.

payaso · Post by **payaso** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 6:20 pm

chrome wrote: I was told that due to patent issues, these could not be sold in the U.S. and would only be available in "other" parts of the world.

The OG bits were only available in other countries cause of the MHZ issue, and that didn't seem to hinder us at all.

I'm not worried about it. All they have to do is exist, and we'll see our fair share.

silla

LBRC · Post by **LBRC** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 6:22 pm

I suspect Tandy/Rat Shack could care less. Especially since they don’t look anything like a SE but a “patitent” issue could very well be an inability to pay the appropriate amount of squeeze for the body rights. Especially if some toy company has bought exclusive rights to one of the body stiles.

Tuner1989 · Post by **Tuner1989** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 6:38 pm

Correct me if im wrong but older models of xtrek was in TRU they had mini cooper bodies right? I vaugley remember seeing something like these a couple years back at my local TRU.

LBRC · Post by **LBRC** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 11:00 pm

KB Toys maybe? I do remember cars that run around inside the little track from somewhere.

crazydave · Post by **crazydave** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 12:15 am

Oh yeah, good point LBRC. I forget the gotta pay for the body styles.

...and you gotta a point there, Payaso, about us having no trouble getting a hold of bits, but that's my hang up. It was just so much cooler to walk into Target and grab a Microsizer. I also bought more Zip Zaps than I would have liked to, just because they were there. It would be cool if these cars are just there.

LBRC · Post by **LBRC** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 11:36 am

Funny today’s Toy East e-news-letter not only mentions that they have the XTrek’s, although unfortunately not the Pro, it also had some of the Bit sets that have been under discussion lately.

DarkTari · Post by **DarkTari** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 5:07 pm

crazydave wrote:Hmmm, could Radio Shack be trying to restrict competition?

BINGO !!!!!

crazydave · Post by **crazydave** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 11:38 pm

DarkTari wrote:
crazydave wrote:Hmmm, could Radio Shack be trying to restrict competition?

BINGO !!!!!

Nah man, I don't think so now. I'd like to retract that comment now.

RS trying to hog body licenses, now that I can see, but the more I think about it, I don't see how RS could own the patent on 1/64th RC. There's already so many cars out there in this scale, I don't see how they can claim that, even if this car is proportional.

DarkTari · Post by **DarkTari** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 7:52 am

True! But RS (Tandy) is a very Large Company, they can make shit happen....or not

crazydave · Post by **crazydave** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 12:54 pm

Tandy is huge. Their influence is far reaching. That's why I'll never fully trust RS.

mod_o_matic · Post by **mod_o_matic** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 1:47 pm

Hmmm..that patent is in USA...but how about Canada? Think it would be possible to order them here and then just ship there?

TeamBonzer · Post by **TeamBonzer** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 11:02 am

Hi all

found some video of those Xtrek Pro's via bitracer

http://mitglied.lycos.de/freakzerr/

Then look near end of list for Xtrekpro

There are also some detailed internal shots as well.

Look a bit bigger than 1/64th to me, but I could well be wrong - any one found a comparison picture yet (ZZSE/BIT/Xtrek pro)?

civicsr2cool · Post by **civicsr2cool** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 2:58 pm

that was cool but ya have to see spinners1 its an xmod with spinners