The Energon Pub

Hello all,

I am new to this forum. I have a question about the test shots that appear on Ebay. I purchased the exact one that was linked through this site. The so called "Gameboy type movie test shot from factory". Officially named "Power up". I wanted to know what the actual definition of a "Test shot" is. Since I purchased this one from Ebay, more and more of the actual Real Gear toys that will be sold in stores have surfaced for auction. I see no obvious differences between the "test shot" that I won, and the Real Gear toys in package.
I contacted a seller on Ebay ( not the one I purchased through) that had the packaged Real Gear toys for sale. I asked them the difference between the test shot and the final packaged Real Gear Power up that will be sold in stores. The response was "I should have said that it is a sample of actual product going to be released". Confirming it is not a prototype/test shot! They are still posting them as "official test shots" after confirming with me that they weren't!!
So now I am alarmed that I purchased the "Gameboy type test shot", when it is NOT an actual valuable prototype at all. From what I understand, actual test shots are very rare and valuable. If I am correct, these loose "test shots" selling on Ebay for the Real Gear line, are NOT prototype/test shots at all! They are misleading auctions and are ripping people off.
If anyone can help to clarify this for me I would be very greatful. The actual toy that I purchased has a link from this site that takes you to the actual auction that I won. The transformers movie gamebot test shot. Any help would be awesome. Thanks much!

Alexandra

Testshots are not Prototypes. Prototypes are much more fragile in most cases, they are usually hand scuplted, and are what is used to make the production molds. A test shot is part of an initial run to test out the molds and equipment before the full run goes into production. They are basically the step between the prototype and the retail release. Usually there isn't really alot of difference between them and the retail release. At that point in production they aren't planning on making changes, they are jsut testing to make sure everything works as planned. Most testshots often lack paint apps and stickers however. They often get marked with a "Not for Sale" paint app or etching.

Realistically the large numbers of "Testshot" Real Gear figures on Ebay right now are probably items stolen by factory employees from the initial runs of the retail releases, the sheer number of them out there pretty much precludes them all being from the testshot runs. The very first few unpainted figures that showed up Ebay a month or two ago were probably true "testshots".

What you probably bought is a loose retail release figure. Which won't be worth anymore then the actual release figure, and probably less in the long run since it has no box or card.

However the worth of testshots and prototypes is debatable. Personally I'd never spend money on them. I prefer the official finished release. However some collectors do like to have them. Not of course that all most all Prototypes and Testshots sold on Ebay or anywhere else are actually stolen property. Takara and Hasbro are not in the habit of selling them off. Not that your likely to get in any real trouble for having them, but some people stay away from them for that reason.

Tentagil is right. About the only difference between a test shot and final production figure is that early-stage test shots will be unpainted and late stage test shots will be marked 'not for sale' or intentionally damaged in some way. About the only time test shots become valuable collector's items is if due to factory error or mould flaws the figure or paint scheme differs significantly from the later, corrected, production figures or if the production suddenly gets canceled.

Although, technically, a genuine test shot is still a form of prototype as it's used to work the bugs out of the production process and not a final production piece, so unless he completely omitted the term 'test shot' then it really isn't dishonest (assuming is is indeed a test shot and not simply an early sample of the production run).

Thank you guys so much for the response. I'll wait until the item arrives here. The seller specifically states in the auction that it is a "test shot". Funny how the seller will not response to my questions reguarding the specifics of the toy.It is identical to the ones in packing ready to be put on shelves. It has the same exact coloring as the toys to be released. Also, another seller that I spoke to who is selling the exact same products responded to me saying that "no they are not actual "test shots", and they probably shouldn't have put that in the title and auction".Next day they post it AGAIN under that title knowing it's false. They are samples of the toys to be released. Not test shots. So that has been made very clear. That's very upsetting that they are more than likely selling stolen toys under misleading auctions. I'm about to bring the ruckus and grind these losers between my molars. Thanks again.

Alexandra

Starryeyed wrote:Thank you guys so much for the response. I'll wait until the item arrives here. The seller specifically states in the auction that it is a "test shot". Funny how the seller will not response to my questions reguarding the specifics of the toy.It is identical to the ones in packing ready to be put on shelves. It has the same exact coloring as the toys to be released. Also, another seller that I spoke to who is selling the exact same products responded to me saying that "no they are not actual "test shots", and they probably shouldn't have put that in the title and auction".Next day they post it AGAIN under that title knowing it's false. They are samples of the toys to be released. Not test shots. So that has been made very clear. That's very upsetting that they are more than likely selling stolen toys under misleading auctions. I'm about to bring the ruckus and grind these losers between my molars. Thanks again.

Alexandra

Technically, anything that doesn't come in a shipping box is a test shot.

i don't buy to many test shots myself, unless there's something definitely defining it as a test shot. like my test shot classics starscream has a messed up face, and a not for sale stamp on it. and my energon test shot screamer has the same not for sale, and a purple spark crystal.

these little things do normally make it seem like screwed up factory rejects, which i guess they are. but it also makes them distinctly unique.

I just remembered (and I'm not sure it always applies) but one way to tell a test shot apart from a production run figure is that generally a test shot won't have the date stamp added yet.

Well, I found an extrememly small printing on this inside of the leg that says 2006 Hasbro Inc. It is very very hard to see. It's on the inside lip of the front inner leg. I asked the seller if he'd be opposed to a refund if it turned out not to be a test shot. He said no returns. I'll fight him on it though becuase I would never have purchased it knowing it wasn't something unique. It was a misleading auction and more and more people are buying from this SPX toys. If it's stolen I want nothing to do with it. It was $50.00!! I'm an idiot. Oh well. Thanks guys.

Starryeyed wrote:Well, I found an extrememly small printing on this inside of the leg that says 2006 Hasbro Inc. It is very very hard to see. It's on the inside lip of the front inner leg. I asked the seller if he'd be opposed to a refund if it turned out not to be a test shot. He said no returns. I'll fight him on it though becuase I would never have purchased it knowing it wasn't something unique. It was a misleading auction and more and more people are buying from this SPX toys. If it's stolen I want nothing to do with it. It was $50.00!! I'm an idiot. Oh well. Thanks guys.

You might get him shut down for a bit but I doubt it. SPX has been selling 'testshots' and prototypes like that for a long time, and their are several other sellers on Ebay doing the same thing all from China. They'll popup again, your best bet is to try to get your money back, but even that might be a little difficult. If you paid by Credit Card or Paypal you might be able to, but otherwise your probably stuck with a very expensive toy.

Starryeyed wrote:Well, I found an extrememly small printing on this inside of the leg that says 2006 Hasbro Inc. It is very very hard to see. It's on the inside lip of the front inner leg. I asked the seller if he'd be opposed to a refund if it turned out not to be a test shot. He said no returns. I'll fight him on it though becuase I would never have purchased it knowing it wasn't something unique. It was a misleading auction and more and more people are buying from this SPX toys. If it's stolen I want nothing to do with it. It was $50.00!! I'm an idiot. Oh well. Thanks guys.

A test shot isn't a prototype. He didn't mislead you. Anything pulled off the production line pre-release has been considered a test shot...could have been tested for quality. Plus if it was a true prototype, it would have most likely been stolen.

Ok, I already knew that a prototype is NOT a test shot. But what proof do I have that this toy wasn't just taken out of a package and posted as such. I have no way of confirming that it is an authentic TEST SHOT. By everything I have been told it isn't a test shot. It has the date and manufacturer stamped on the leg. It is the exact same coloring of the final product. Also the seller informed me they have no knowledge of toy production. I'm getting a lot of mixed messages. So yes, if it isn't a test shot, the auction is misleading and Ebay will help me to collect my money. Another seller that had them for auction told me they are not test shots. Where can I find an authority on toy production?