The Energon Pub

Hey all, I need some advice. I know my transformers, I'm not a collector but I buy and sell on ebay and I do enjoy it when I get the chance to see a nice bot. Today, I got one of those nice bots, in fact, its a sealed devastator and I have never seen one in as good shape as this. Heck, I've never seen one sealed at all! I realize that there is a reissue out there that is pretty close to the original but i just so happen to have one I know is authentic on had and the UPCs match so I know this is legit. So has anyone seen a nice sealed devastator? Are they as rare as I think, or am I just dellusional? If anyone has a clue, ballpark price?

Show us some pics.

There is a bootleg of the giftset. UPC codes don't mean a thing to those that make fakes.

how-to-spot-a-k-o-t73836.php

this may help you my friend.

Hey, I realize it might be a replica because I don't have much experience with them but I lean towards saying its not. It has the upc code of an original and the fine print is the same. Also the japanese writing is on scrapper like the original. It came with a catalog full of old tfs. All of this may not make a difference but its what I noticed. The bootleg wasn't somthing I was aware of, you'll have to take a look and tell me if it is. Anyway here are some pics.

fenrir72 wrote:http://www.seibertron.com/energonpub/how-to-spot-a-k-o-t73836.php

this may help you my friend.

This will help him even more.

Your pics are a bit dark, but as I can tell, sorry, but it's a bootleg - from the pics the difference that is striking is the missing grey lines... May need the word of a bigger expert than mine, though.

I think it's an original because the only KO that comes with a toy catalog is shockwave.I have only bought a KO reflector and it doesn't stay together very well.

I see what you are saying about the gray lines, It has them on one side and it doesn't on the other. But soundwave85 mentioned that this repro doesnt come with a catalog. Do you think someone would have gone to the trouble to print boxes, make toys and print a catalog to sell at 90 dollars a piece. I'm not trying to be sarcastic but I just want to make sure

I'm no expert, but if they sold it for $90, it has to be a KO. As they saying goes, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Based on my experience on eBay, $90 is about the going rate for a KO like that, while the real things go for several hundreds of dollars.

guyIncognito, its true that the going rate for a nice repro is 90, but this is not a repro, its identifyed by the upc as an original. It could however be a bootleg made to look like an original.

It's easy to make a fake UPC code. I'm not trying to rain on your parade, but honestly it's probably a KO.

Tad wrote:guyIncognito, its true that the going rate for a nice repro is 90, but this is not a repro, its identifyed by the upc as an original. It could however be a bootleg made to look like an original.

I don't know why you're insisting on an original because of the UPC code. A bootleg will have the SAME UPC code as the real thing. That's how KO manufacturers work. They try to make the fake look as close as possible to the original. They are NOT honest enough to want to change the UPC code.

You'll need to take some pics in better lighting, but from what I'm seeing you definitely got a fake. The toy catalog isn't even the one that should go with him. Devastator was only aroung for the 1984-86 releases. Those are 1988 and up in the catalog.

One sure way to know is to measure the width of the forearm peg on Bonecrusher. The original has a 4 mm peg while the fake has a 5 mm peg.

You misunderstand me. I'm not saying a fake would have a different code I am only saying that the code means that its not a the ligit hasbro made repro. I am NOT saying it couldnt be a fake.

I'm SOOO glad the Encore set is being released, so I don't have to go thru this, trying to figure out if it's KO or not. Just hope the QC on this set if better than the Encore Bruticus set.

Sorry but thats not true. There are tfs in the catalog from 86' like skylinx and several others

Tad wrote:You misunderstand me.

We misunderstand you because you're not making much sense.

Are you asking us if this a an original, a reissue, or a KO?

Is it a knock off and how do you know

Baisically, How is it possible to print a box, make toys with diecast parts and fine print stamped on them and sell it for 90 dollars and make a profit.

Tad wrote:Baisically, How is it possible to print a box, make toys with diecast parts and fine print stamped on them and sell it for 90 dollars and make a profit.

With a factory. They have thousands of them in China.

It sounds like you're in denial. You bought a KO. Get over it and move on.

ZenPrime wrote:I'm SOOO glad the Encore set is being released, so I don't have to go thru this, trying to figure out if it's KO or not. Just hope the QC on this set if better than the Encore Bruticus set.

Crap is this true, can anyone else comment?

Tad wrote:Baisically, How is it possible to print a box, make toys with diecast parts and fine print stamped on them and sell it for 90 dollars and make a profit.

Simple: people who made the fakes don't care about copyright laws, thus they don't pay for any Research & Development, royalties, licenses, anything. Just for the production of the figures.

You got a Knockoff/bootleg my friend, as several people have pointed out. There are many ways to tell, as people have tried to point out.

1. $90 is not the price for a 1980s MISB Devastator, a MIB gift set will run you $250-500 while a MISB will run $800-1000.

2. The catalog you show as "proof" of legitimacy shows it's a fake. The Devastator giftset was released in 1985, the catalog you have shows Generation 1 Fortress Maximus with Cerebros and Spike who wasn't released until 1987.

3. UPC codes mean nothing, nor does text on the box, nor does the first glance at the box ... KO manufacturers are trying to fool you. They want you to believe you are buying the real thing. People have already pointed out what to look for to tell it's a KO, so I won't post that again.

4. Not all KOs are created equally. Just because you got a high quality one with a box, instructions, and a catalog and someone else didn't doesn't make your KO any more legit. I bought a Henkei KO Sunstrom and it came with a real looking package and instruction and tighter joints than my real Henkei Thundercracker and Skywarp.

If you were buying this for your own enjoyment and display, well know you got a fake version of the gift set and just be happy you didn't overpay. If you were looking for an investment, well ... I'm sorry but you will not make anymore money on it.

I think I read somewhere that one of the arm connectors on hook were originally chrome plated but on the KO it's die cast.It's very possible it is a knock off this why I hate knock offs.

ZenPrime wrote:I'm SOOO glad the Encore set is being released, so I don't have to go thru this, trying to figure out if it's KO or not. Just hope the QC on this set if better than the Encore Bruticus set.

This! I remember the joy I had as a child receiving the Devastator gift set and, since I've gotten back into Transformers as an adult, this is one I have longed for. Unfortunately, due to its immense popularity, it's bootlegged to death so, because of that, I don't trust trying to make a purchase for an original or even a past reissue. That's why I made my preorder with BBTS and called it a day. Can't wait for November now! It'll be like I'm 8 all over again. LOL.

Kibble wrote:https://kotoys.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_121_502_514&products_id=82&zenid=081d1a8de091516840822d772d4d81bb

That pretty much sums it up now.