from what I've heard (in Australia at least) shoes (road 3-bolt type and SPD 2-bolt type) come into the country with those type of cleats on them so that they are classified as cycling equipment and not clothing - this makes the import fees a lot cheaper! I'm going to get a couple of pairs out of the "cleat box" on monday. I imagine that if every pair of shoes comes with some, there must be tens of thousands of the unwanted things in shops all over the country...

- Joel