New G1 Prime Knockoff Out! Buyer Beware!

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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...

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

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

Wow there getting more sneaky about these things.

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???

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

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.

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.

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..

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 shit 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.

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

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...

These guys are doing their homework! I never would have caught that!

Shit, I want one. Anybody know where to buy one online? Other then Ebay

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.

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

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.

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.

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 shit 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...

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)

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.

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.

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.

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

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

How do you know this?

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?

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?

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.

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

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.

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..

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!

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....

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.

no hard feelings....

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

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!