The Energon Pub

News Credits: 150 · by **GetterDragun** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 9:42 pm

We know that there is a G1 knockoff Prime out already, but there is a new knockoff out where they fixed the issues with the box! The original KO had a Grey border along the top of the box, which was the giveaway, the new KO does not! The only way to tell is that the background goes straight across on the new KO box, where as on the real one, the border is not perfectly straight across.

Here is the auctions on Yahoo Japan (you might need to log in to see it):
http://page13.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/r35645824

EDIT: I AM INCORRECT ABOUT THE NOTCH IN THE WINDOW, SOME LATER VERSIONS OF G1 PRIME HAD THAT. THERE IS NO WAY TO DISTINGUISH AS OF YET!

Here are the images for reference:

Original KO:

New KO:

Real G1 Prime:

News Credits: 10 · by **Agamemnon** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 9:47 pm

Would the borders around the pictures also be a give away?

News Credits: 3 · by **DISCHARGE** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 9:48 pm

Thanks for the tip. I've seen a lot of those on ebay recently and was pretty sure they were knock offs. Any time an influx of any Transformers appears online in pristine boxes buyers should beware and use common sense.

News Credits: 23 · by **1337W422102** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 9:55 pm

Be vigilant, mates. Thanks for the heads-up, GetterDragun!

News Credits: 1 · by **Ninja Sixshot** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 10:08 pm

i still cant tell a ko from an original. sad huh?

News Credits: 23 · by **1337W422102** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 10:23 pm

Ninja Sixshot wrote:i still cant tell a ko from an original. sad huh?

Then stay away from eBay, or whatever other auction sites these crooks are trying to sell these bootlegs on.

News Credits: 1 · by **Ninja Sixshot** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 10:26 pm

well i dont even buy from any online retailers so i think im safe(unless they put them in some stores)

by **Noisemaze** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 10:35 pm

And now that it has been reported, they'll fix it again!

News Credits: 150 · by **GetterDragun** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 10:50 pm

I was wrong, the notch isn't the way to tell as later G1 Primes didn't have it. This is just like the swoop I guess, no way to tell.

News Credits: 16 · by **Super Megatron** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 11:24 pm

Nothing new. This is just a way to take money from people with an obsession for certain toys or characters that shouldn't worth more than $20 and milk their money for it. Nothing wrong with buying a used Optimus Prime or for that matter, who cares if it is a KO or not. It's just Optimus Prime, not like they haven't made a bijillion versions of it already.

News Credits: 150 · by **GetterDragun** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 11:38 pm

Super Megatron wrote:Nothing new. This is just a way to take money from people with an obsession for certain toys or characters that shouldn't worth more than $20 and milk their money for it. Nothing wrong with buying a used Optimus Prime or for that matter, who cares if it is a KO or not. It's just Optimus Prime, not like they haven't made a bijillion versions of it already.

Cause if you are expecting an original, it sucks to know you got ripped off with a fake.

by **Mighty Scorponok** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 11:54 pm

Thats good to know, but if the difference is so minor, then i suppose not to many peoplewould care. Unless someone was to buy one from e-bay or so... or beeing a ie hard collector...

by **Mighty Scorponok** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 11:55 pm

Yeah, nd i mean bussiness wise, its still a really good made KO anyway...

by **skyrinkfusion** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 11:59 pm

do all the KO have 1980s as the copyright date on the toy and box?

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

News Credits: 7 · by **shortround** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 12:39 am

Wow there getting more sneaky about these things.

by **vectorpaulie** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 12:41 am

And here i thought id seen alot of Ko's but i swear it looks almost like the real thing now i wonder the first Ko of g1 optimus has warped wheels does this one havem too or do they have it right to a T this time???

News Credits: 2 · by **hyperconvoy69** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 1:06 am

By the beard of Zeus! That's diabolical! Seriously though, its a good thing we get these updates.

News Credits: 1 · by **Dark Ops** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 1:15 am

You know... I rather like knockoffs sometimes. You know the kind: the ones that you can spot a mile away. These though... These are /counterfeit/, and that's just wrong.

News Credits: 8 · by **Megatron Wolf** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 1:39 am

You think hasbro would do something about this. They are useing there trademarked names and designs. Unless hasbro is getting a cut from the bootleged figures. That would be the only reason why hasbro would let it happen. Seeing as how hasbro makes a lot of money with the Transformer brand. And also has there ever been a Rodimus Prime bootleg? I remember a few years back there were alot of Mint Japanese Rodimus Primes on ebay. Were they just re-issues or were they fake? Because i got on for $35.

News Credits: 2 · by **PrimulArchangel** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 1:48 am

People been selling these on ebay for a while now , they list right in the auction listing that its a knock off and they still make a few hundred off them.. I would buy one myself but not for more then 30$ for a KO but that will never happen because people pay hundreds or them.. I buy alot of knockoffs because there cost is cheaper then buying the real deal and most of them look great with repro lables on them.. My first knock off was a G1 Jetfire , all plastic but looks great in the lineup..

News Credits: 18 · by **Immortal Starscream** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 2:30 am

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.

News Credits: 1082 · by **Tigertrack** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 4:30 am

Just buy from people and seller's you trust, and you should have no worries...

by **Primelord** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 9:36 am

DISCHARGE wrote:Thanks for the tip. I've seen a lot of those on ebay recently and was pretty sure they were knock offs. Any time an influx of any Transformers appears online in pristine boxes buyers should beware and use common sense.

Yes, thats true. I have seen a sudden influx of G1 prime, G1 swoop, G1 seaspray and G1 beachcomber appearing at ebay. I start to suspect and never really bid on them. All are so perfect condition that its just impossible for more than 20yr old toy...I agree with you, common sense and even sixth sense is necessary

Some can be spotted to be KO but some are really difficult to tell...