The Energon Pub

News Credits: 1 · by **Leonardo** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 11:16 am

While I have no intention of being a G1 Prime, boxed or otherwise, it's very reassuring to know there're members of this community who are willing to let others know when there's a chance of being swindled. Good work, GetterDragun.

by **Dclone Soundwave** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 11:27 am

Sweet, now I know how to tell a KO Prime. And knowing is half the battle! Sorry...........

News Credits: 150 · by **GetterDragun** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 6:02 pm

Leonardo wrote:While I have no intention of being a G1 Prime, boxed or otherwise, it's very reassuring to know there's members of this community who are willing to let others know when there's a chance of being swindled. Good work, GetterDragun.

Thanks!

I just think it sucks to be ripped off.

by **ShockwaveUK** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 6:22 pm

skyrinkfusion wrote:also, I still dont understand why Hasbro and/or the police wont crack down on these companies...it cant be THAT hard to crack down large shipments of these things being manufactured in a huge factory

Neither Hasbro or Takara are loosing money because of them so there's really no incentive for them to go out of their way to bring the law upon them. I suspect if trading standards or whatever the equlvalent is in the country they originate from were to get involved they would be much more likely to shut them down. So if it really bothers you, do a little detective work and bring it to the attention of trading standards.

News Credits: 3 · by **buddha-con** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 11:54 pm

Immortal Starscream wrote:i buy KO from time to time too. some are good, some are crap. but the point of a KO is that its a cheap fake. great for families with little cash, great for kitbashers and repainters. great if you want to play with your tf, and not give 2 shits if it breaks because again, it is a cheap KO

but the fact that people are now allowing these counterfiet peices to pass buy, and pay a **** load of cash for them is utterly heinous and wrong.

no way should a cheap, inferior grade, POS that has a 1 in 4 chance of actualy being decent be selling for over 100, or close to it.

the problem is, hasbro and takara reps probably arent trained to sopt diffrences between rip offs and genuine deals. plus, neither are actualy selling this toy anymore, so they wouldnt have reason to look for them. the best they could get them for is trademark infringement.

in fact, i think we should all start selling emails to hasbro, or mention this atthe hasbro panel at botcon.

But....if you say something to Hasbro and they do decide to shut down the ko maker then that will leave NOBODY making g1 replicas/reissues/remakes/knockoffs anymore(I'm talking about QUALITY reissues/knockoffs, not "changable robot fighter" or whatever else) ...Hasbro and Takaratomy both gave up on reissues b/c of bad choices, while this Chinese company seems to actually have somebody smart behind the wheel of their reissue production(if hastak was smart they would try to "recruit this ko company, but that won't happen) ..and I know I am not the only one that uses reissues and knockoffs for most of their g1 collection...

News Credits: 409 · by **Stormrider** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 8:08 am

Thanks for the headsup GetterDragon.

I hate it when KO like this appear. They ruin the credibility of the line, along with the credibility of honest sellers. I wish governments would crack down on this... (I'm pointing my finger at you China along with S.E. Asia)

http://www.youtube.com/user/Pepsimus · by **Black Bumblebee** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 8:48 am

Honestly, I don't know if there's a lot that Hasbro / Takara "can" do about these sorts of KO figures if they're coming from China. China doesn't have laws that protect copyright... so if they can mass produce an item for a low price that sells at a high price, they will.
I agree... sometimes KOs can be fun (mini Devastator), interesting (Silverbolt with spring launcher), or just plain weird (overszied Bruticus). But when they try to pass themselves off as the real thing, they have crossed a line. If I shell out a large amount of money for a "genuine," original G1 MISB figure, a I expect that it actually be one and not some low quality bootleg.

by **JBrock** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 12:49 pm

Some more tidbits...

Knock-off prime used the French mold. Trailer says made in France, not Japan. Wheels are a sticky rubber and the stickers do not come applied to the exterior of the trailer.

Knock-off Swoop is missing the rubsign on the wing and the chrome has a tinge of gold. The launchers and swords do not hold tight in his hands and the one laucher won't stay in place on the underside of the wing.

Ravage/Rumble: Rumble is a red plastic

Bumblebee: rubsign is a decepticon faction symbol.

Also, expect the six seekers and Devastator giftset as well as the carded Constructicons around may.

News Credits: 23 · by **1337W422102** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 12:55 pm

Do the sellers sell these as "OMG LOOKE @ TIHS RAER HRD 2 FIND ORGINAL RARE!!!" or "You are bidding on a KNOCK OFF. This is NOT an original, though it is highly convincing."?

If they tell the bidder it's a fake and sell it as a knock-off, that's one thing. Selling this as an original is another - it's wrong and that sort of fraud pisses me off.

News Credits: 2 · by **Might Gaine** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 1:56 pm

This news is bogus.

New KO:

That image came from here:
http://page13.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/r35645824
The seller is a thief on Yahoo Japan who tries to pass off the Chinese knockoffs as American toys. He's been trying to sell the clear cassettes as, like, special limited versions at about $100. He's a con artist.

I saw that image on his auctions a couple months ago. It seems unlikely to me that he is using an image of the actual knockoff he is selling. He is probably just using a photo of a real Optimus Prime and sending people the standard knockoff.

It doesn't make sense that this one seller in *Japan* would somehow get a fixed version before *Chinese* sellers, where we typically see these knockoffs show up first. Furthermore, this guy doesn't even have Swoop, Bumblebee, Ratbat or Ravage which are the latest KO releases. He just has old stuff: Optimus in normal and black and different colored frenzy/laserbeak cassettes.

Real G1 Prime:

That kink doesn't mean it's real. That kink means it is part of the early 1990's Chinese run of Transformers. Note the tell-tale black boxes.

So, in conclusion, the sky is not falling. Please enjoy the rest of your day

News Credits: 3 · by **buddha-con** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 7:14 pm

JBrock wrote:
Also, expect the six seekers and Devastator giftset as well as the carded Constructicons around may.

How do you know this?

News Credits: 409 · by **Stormrider** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 8:28 pm

buddha-con wrote:
JBrock wrote:
Also, expect the six seekers and Devastator giftset as well as the carded Constructicons around may.
How do you know this?

Yeah, this is the first that I have heard of this too. Who's your source?

News Credits: 23 · by **1337W422102** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 8:44 pm

Stormrider wrote:
buddha-con wrote:
JBrock wrote:
Also, expect the six seekers and Devastator giftset as well as the carded Constructicons around may.
How do you know this?

Yeah, this is the first that I have heard of this too. Who's your source?

Gah! A counterfeiter! Kill it with fire!

But in all honesty, who told you THAT, mate?

News Credits: 150 · by **GetterDragun** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 8:52 pm

83457W422102 wrote:
Stormrider wrote:
buddha-con wrote:
JBrock wrote:
Also, expect the six seekers and Devastator giftset as well as the carded Constructicons around may.
How do you know this?

Yeah, this is the first that I have heard of this too. Who's your source?

Gah! A counterfeiter! Kill it with fire!
But in all honesty, who told you THAT, mate?

I trust him, so I would look out for these.

News Credits: 23 · by **1337W422102** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 8:54 pm

I was addressing my "who told you that" comment to buddha-con, not you, GetterDragun. I trust you!

by **JBrock** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 9:36 pm

Things can always change but I was told by someone with direct ties that the constructicons would arrive in May and the six seekers soon after. Take it as a rumor for now but i wouldn't spend big money on the vinatge versions of those figures if I were you.

The quality of the knock-offs are not up to Takara standards but they do drive the market down.

News Credits: 3 · by **buddha-con** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 12:28 am

83457W422102 wrote:I was addressing my "who told you that" comment to buddha-con, not you, GetterDragun. I trust you!

and I was addressing my comment to JBrock.. but, thanks for saying you don't trust me though :-(

just kiddin,... I think you have me confused 83457W422102, I had no information in this matter and I was also enquiring for more..

News Credits: 23 · by **1337W422102** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 7:13 am

buddha-con wrote:
83457W422102 wrote:I was addressing my "who told you that" comment to buddha-con, not you, GetterDragun. I trust you!
and I was addressing my comment to JBrock.. but, thanks for saying you don't trust me though just kiddin,... I think you have me confused 83457W422102, I had no information in this matter and I was also enquiring for more..

If you felt like I was insulting you, I'm sorry. I just want to know how whoever said that Seekers and Devs are next got to know such information, that's all. Sorry for the confusion!

News Credits: 3 · by **buddha-con** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 8:11 am

83457W422102 wrote:
buddha-con wrote:
83457W422102 wrote:I was addressing my "who told you that" comment to buddha-con, not you, GetterDragun. I trust you!
and I was addressing my comment to JBrock.. but, thanks for saying you don't trust me though just kiddin,... I think you have me confused 83457W422102, I had no information in this matter and I was also enquiring for more..

If you felt like I was insulting you, I'm sorry. I just want to know how whoever said that Seekers and Devs are next got to know such information, that's all. Sorry for the confusion!

It's aight, I too had not heard that before and was also wondering where this info was from...I hope if they do make a new devs, that it would be higher quality than previous knockoffs...ramjet and thrust would be great too if this is true....

News Credits: 150 · by **GetterDragun** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 9:52 am

buddha-con wrote:
83457W422102 wrote:
buddha-con wrote:
83457W422102 wrote:I was addressing my "who told you that" comment to buddha-con, not you, GetterDragun. I trust you!
and I was addressing my comment to JBrock.. but, thanks for saying you don't trust me though just kiddin,... I think you have me confused 83457W422102, I had no information in this matter and I was also enquiring for more..

If you felt like I was insulting you, I'm sorry. I just want to know how whoever said that Seekers and Devs are next got to know such information, that's all. Sorry for the confusion!
It's aight, I too had not heard that before and was also wondering where this info was from...I hope if they do make a new devs, that it would be higher quality than previous knockoffs...ramjet and thrust would be great too if this is true....

Ok, I'll settle this, everyone can be trusted in the last few posts.

News Credits: 3 · by **buddha-con** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 2:42 pm

no hard feelings....

How much would everybody be willing to pay each for those knockoffs:?
Devs reissue giftset?
Carded constructicon?
Boxed Seeker?

News Credits: 2 · by **NicholasPrime** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 1:41 pm

If this is a "new" bootleg (with the plastic window meeting the grey border exactly), how is it that I bought mine over 5 years ago? Is there any chance that this is just a packaging variation? Is there any other way to tell without opening it? This piece has been the gem of my collection since I bought it, and it would just be heartbreaking to find out that all this time it's been bogus. Please help! :sad: