Sometimes bootlegs are so much fun.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Triue dat

@spot138

3 жыл бұрын

There really are some very charming ones

@peterl6095

3 жыл бұрын

You think kids gonna care? Unless they're collecting them....which most are adults doing.

@ChicagoMel23

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah like the Star Wars ones. Little Girl, Glorious Star Lord, Daft Serious, What, R2-PO...lol

"Hasbro would never sell a Bantha at this price point." Well...not until they can figure out how to get away with it, at least.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

That would have to be one diamond encrusted Bantha

@brentbanks8021

3 жыл бұрын

Sounds like a $300+ six inch scale police spinner(Blade Runner), 6" A Wing/B Wing and 6" scale Colonial Viper are safe to shoot for...

@davidanderson4748

3 жыл бұрын

True story!

@Astrotrain78

3 жыл бұрын

Didn't they sell a pair of stairs for $100

@hawktalon7890

3 жыл бұрын

@@Astrotrain78 I believe they did, actually. Very odd.

As a Transformers fan, it would be very interesting if you follow this up with your perspective on the "third party" companies.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

You got it!

@TrypticOwen

3 жыл бұрын

@@spectorcreative1872 Awesome. Should be interesting. Thanks!

@davidanderson4748

3 жыл бұрын

Also the role of 3D printing. It's changed the game for a lot of people.

@wanderingoryx3710

3 жыл бұрын

They're bootlegs

@leviswranglers2813

3 жыл бұрын

Ooo, Oooo, me too!

One of my favorite bootleg toys I’ve ever run into was “Robert Cop” it was just fantastic

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

I want one!

@wanderingoryx3710

3 жыл бұрын

It was intentionally made that way

Hey Scott, Toy Smuggler here. I'm the guy who sculpt the Star Wars Bantha. Thank you for the complement. And acknowledging that products such as the Bantha help the Star Wars franchise. I personally love your channel, it's informative and just fun to watch. Keep up the awesome job. Kevin Sexton the Toy Smuggler.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

You did an amazing job! Tuskin Raiders are one of my favorites and it still kills me we never got a Kenner versions. Yours looks amazing. I am envious of your talent!

@0820pdb

3 жыл бұрын

@@spectorcreative1872 Thank you very much, especially from someone like you, with your amazing background in toys. I would love on day make a full transition into the to industry. It's the love for classic toys that keeps me going. Thank you again.

@Empawk

3 жыл бұрын

@Toy Smuggler Which material are your Star Wars toy made from?

@0820pdb

3 жыл бұрын

@@Empawk Which are you referring too, the prototypes or final products?

@Empawk

3 жыл бұрын

@@0820pdb Both. I am mainly wanting to know what is used for the vintage style action figures. The ones that feel like rubber. I don't know what the material is.

From this I learned that Mattel is like Harmony Gold, they will go after whatever, no matter how small it is, if they feel it messes up with their copyright

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Not just Mattel. Many companies

@leviswranglers2813

3 жыл бұрын

Disney went after a in home daycare that had hand painted Mikey and friends on their wall, so I think Disney falls into that category also.

@jbriggsiv

3 жыл бұрын

I live in Atlanta and know people who work for Coca-Cola. They told me the stories are true about them sending people out and making sure places don't use the term "Coke" for another cola. They get their lawyers involved in what seems like the smallest thing, but rom what they told me, Coca-Cola wants to make sure their brand never goes down the path of Q-Tips or Kleenex. No one asks for a "cotton swab" or "bath tissue". Branding is important and I guess your lawyers have to constantly fight for protection of it or you can start losing control of your own IP. So I guess this is more of a thing about the law and IP in the USA than it is about the companies themselves. I think just about any company with and important brand will be pretty strict with its use. Ah, but what do I know? I'm just some bunny on the internet.

@Acidonia150reborn

3 жыл бұрын

@@leviswranglers2813 They sure do not do that in UK or Europe all ice cream vans/small traveling fun fairs and daycare places are full of that stuff to this day.

@CarlyCatharsis

3 жыл бұрын

@@jbriggsiv Sounds Like They RLY NEED To Rewatch The Old "Coca-Cola" Commercial Which Explains That We Should Just Let Things Be & "Live in Harmony". As Perceptual Ignorance IS Total Bliss! I For One Like 16oz Original Formula OVER 8oz & Bottles For Flavor Sake, But "NEW Coke" (80's & "StrangerThings" Reissiue) Was ALOT Closer To Mexican Ones With A Hint Of Cinnamon?!

I really appreciate the videos you have been putting out, I tend to learn something new every time.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

So glad to hear it! Feel free to pass to friends lonline, it helps the channel a ton

Living in Mexico, I LOVE seeing all the bootlegs for sale at the street markets 💜💙💙

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

They do have a home there!

@sideswipe1261

3 жыл бұрын

Send pictures! Have you thought about opening a little shop? Few places in the US have street markets like that to go to for all the goodies!

@KellerFilm89

3 жыл бұрын

Same in Hungary. In the 80's Hungary produced own Bootlegs, but since the 90's, where they got free from the Russian dictatorship, they don't produce anymore, they get the bootlegs from Asia and elsewhere. Latest bootlegs I saw in Hungary, where from Harry Potter, the new Jurassic Wold movies, some Disney Star Wars and Disney Princess stuff and Marvel.

Bootlegs are my favorite. They're from an official brand from an alternative universe. Special Man and My Little Horse are loved by kids in an universe very very far away. lol

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Everyone loves My Little Horse. I'll have words with anyone who says differently.

I have mixed feelings about bootlegs, often depending on how well done they are and if they offer something we don't get from officially licensed products. I generally prefer to support official releases but some of these are so cool I have a hard time resisting. I'd love a follow up video on selling custom figures vs customized figures.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah it is a hard thing to just have one emotion about

I think a whole video on "third party" Transformers wold go down a treat. Companies like Perfect Effect, Fanshobby, Mastermind Creations... They're doing big business!

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Truly they are!

@Beedo_Sookcool

3 жыл бұрын

For a while, it seemed Hasbro was just doing endless iterations of Optimus, Megatron, Bumblebee and Starscream with every wave, a couple of repaints, and maybe one or two new characters. I sincerely get the feeling that if the third-party companies weren't so prolific and successful in making and selling their versions of the combiners and triple-changers, Hasbro wouldn't've started doing those, themselves.

@DetectiveBarricade

3 жыл бұрын

@@Beedo_Sookcool Nor would Takara have chosen to go as cartoon accurate as physically possible with their Masterpiece line or even offer "b-list" characters like Tracks. (let alone the upcoming Skids) Now if only the plastic materials didn't feel so flimsy. *cough* Hound *cough*

@Beedo_Sookcool

3 жыл бұрын

​@@DetectiveBarricade Ugh, those blasted cartoon-accurate "Masterpieces"! Yecch. When I hear "Masterpiece," I want to see "working" pistons, rivets, sculpted seams, intricate paint decos and tampos, lots of accessories, and feel the heft of some die-cast metal in there. The last entirely new MP set I got was Tracks, in 2015. After that, I've had no interest in the line. I appreciate some of the attempts to go back and redo some in toy-accurate decos, but after 2017, I can't afford that kind of expenditure any more.

@MentasmUK

3 жыл бұрын

@@Beedo_Sookcool thing is they never looked like that in any iteration. Most people's fondness for the brand is based on the original G1 toys or cartoon/comic. As a kid I always wanted the toys to look like they did in the latter, rather than a disperate collection of moulds from random companies, so the current MP and 3P line is great for me. It's have no interest if they started adding gears, pistons and other intricacies that were never there to begin with. That said, there are 3P companies which offer that sort of thing.

Great stuff as always Scott. I try to buy the weirdest bootleg I can anytime I’m out of the country. And you are right, the less affluent the country, the more pervasive bootlegs are.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

It is like a ratio

Awesome and informative video ! Thank you !

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Thrilled you enjoyed~!

Great! Thank you for this video!

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoy! Share with your friends. It helps the channel a ton

I was saving my last bit of coffee to accompany my morning smoke, and spit it after seeing the incredible fella in the endless tussle. Great vid

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

I aim to please!

Nute Gunray : "My Lord, is that legal ?"

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Hasbro will make it legal

Great video Scott! Very informative. I had always wondered how operations like SmithLord Creations manage to go under Hasbro’s radar when, like you mentioned, Hasbro themselves are making “retro” styled products as well now. Never knew about the price point thing being what exempts them from legal troubles. I appreciate you sharing your insights in these videos. Great work.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Glad this video helped clarify. Feel free to share with friends online. It helps the channel a ton!

Wow, this was super interesting information. Thanks much!

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Glad it was enlightening!

Great stuff. I remember picking up a transforming Batmobile for my nephew while visiting Japan. It was really cool

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Sometimes bootlegs are the best toys! Sometimes

If someone can make enough profit selling a bootleg product that it gets the attention of the IP owner, doesn’t that suggest that there’s a demand for what they’re selling? And if so, why doesn’t the IP owner just, you know... make that thing? Even a small limited run of this figure or replica would lower the potential value of the bootleg, right? Speaking for myself as a collector, I’m not above owning a hand-made figure or replica it it looks amazing, but given the choice, I would always prefer an officially licensed item, even if it is a slightly lower quality.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

It can, but it doesn't always justify the cost of production

@CarlyCatharsis

3 жыл бұрын

I Dunno... Some Of The Latest Official Releases May Look Great in Bot Form, But Are Pretty-Low Quality When Changing To Vehicle Modes.

The most shoking scene in Episode VIII... was the toys crafted by kids

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

That is really funny!

I’d like to know a little more about the technical aspect of the design and production of the swap meet type. Are they using stolen molds? Are they creating their own molds from existing figures? Sometimes the figures look like the same mold as a legit one, but are scaled up or down somehow.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

I;ll add this to a follow up!

@CyberDragon10K

3 жыл бұрын

I know some of those KO people stole the CAD files for Masterpiece 36 Megatron and were able to produce alternate faces that were being held for a toy deco release by Takara.

Great piece. More deep digging would be fun to see. How do the people involved in designing & creating injection molds & paint ops & so on for widely-distributed bootlegs get into that business? Are those who produce these toys ex-industry employees down on their luck? How are corners cut to keep costs down? There needs to be lots of hard technical work done to make these knockoffs and seeing that compared to the manufacturing of legally licensed toys would be very interesting. How many of these come out the back door of factories that make legitimate toys? So many questions...

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

I'll add this to a follow up. Thanks!

Awesome! I've always found bootleg toys amusing but over the past few years I've grown to appreciate them more after an interest in action figure customization and kitbashing and stuff like that.

@justicierodelaliga

3 жыл бұрын

I wonder why someone would get these figures. And I mean parents and such. A kid will know it´s fake, it´s such bad quality it´ll break, it´s potentially dangerous and, I don´t believe, even the poorest child/family would want them. They can save the money to get a real one or just don´t get it. I can understand, if someone doesn´t have that much money, and would want to buy a toy for a kid to just get random X (and cheap) toy from any store. But not actually paying for these.

@planetschlock

3 жыл бұрын

​@@justicierodelaliga I suspect that impulse buying from parents/grandparents who don't know or care that they're the genuine article is a huge factor.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

It is such an interesting part of the hobby/industry

The phrase "Is the juice worth the squeeze" is a keeper...

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

I credit my bosses at Mattel for that one

I have a surprisingly decent He-Man bootleg, some knock offs like Warlord, the odd Warrior Beast or two, and some things blur THAT line (Imperial, Sungold, etc.). Great info hereabouts. "You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll hurl." (Thanks, 'Wayne's World' movie poster!) Great episode, sir. 💛

@williamthompson5504

3 жыл бұрын

Warlord is a DC comic character created before He-Man.

@TitularHeroine

3 жыл бұрын

@@williamthompson5504 I mean the scale and style of the figures specifically, Remco jumping on MotU popularity bandwagon.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

I don't even own "a" Bootleg let alone many Bootlegs necessitating an entire rack

I'm personally a big fan of the work of Obvious Plant, who I'm pretty sure was the one who did the aforementioned Incredible Fella. Another favorite of theirs is Mobile Suit Garfield.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Nice!

Interesting video thank you

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you liked!

The most bizarre knockoff I have seen is one called "Mickey Happy Turning" - I think such knockoffs should belong in a museum (especially online) such as The Counterfeit Report to help convey the seriousness of the problem.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

I would like to own one of these

Thankyou for clearing the whole Smithlord Creations situation up for me, every time I've asked about the legality of these elsewhere I've been greeted by passive/aggressive answers & treated as if I'm a hater who wants to see the firm shutdown.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah at the costs they charge, the IP owner I don't think cares. It is considered Craft.

@Beedo_Sookcool

3 жыл бұрын

@@spectorcreative1872 Suits me. The recent repro Amanaman is bloody amazing.

Uncle Owen and aunt Beru, post stormtrooper visit, action figures! I need them!

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

We all need those...

I second the notion to talk about third parties. I remember Disney suing/copyright-claiming everyone on Etsy that made Grogu merchandise (mostly dolls and plushies) back on december 2019, despite making basically zero Grogu toys themselves for that holidays season. Also, Seonardo is my favorite New Style Ninja Tortoise.

@Mark_Knight

3 жыл бұрын

I posted this comment already but it applies to your comment. I think bootlegs are fine, but my reason is more from anger. I cannot stand the gatekeeping, the unfair laws, the business with China, the destruction of the little guy ALL these Oligopolies do. To me, bootlegs are a push back against the "man" and almost like Karma.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

It really is u to the company what and how often they want to go after Craft industry makers. Thier is no rule.

@TitularHeroine

3 жыл бұрын

My favorite tortoise would have to be Venus. Oh wait -- bootleg names. I meant Wenus.

The Etsy part is fascinating. Someone commented to me about infringement upon making ascots and bow ties taking concepts from fictional characters, and a fellow seller received a cease and desist letter for featuring knitting work inspired by a certain book franchise. Meanwhile, I kept on seeing pieces as you mentioned.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah it is a wild west that tends to be ignored. Until it isn't

That Revengers: Endless Tussle thing is from a company that makes fake packaging called Obvious Plant.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

I watched both of those cartoons as a kid. They were not very good

@TitularHeroine

3 жыл бұрын

Good stuff 😂😂😂

@petermilne2470

3 жыл бұрын

The figure looks like Shrek got buff.

Hi! I am an avid toy collector I have a channel on Facebook with about 100 paid supporters and I just shared your video with them there are a lot of toy collectors amongst my community and I will be talking about your videos during my live streams because so many of my fans are toy collectors and love anything to do with toys! Thanks for the excellent video I really enjoyed it and I did thumbs up and subscribe I just found you today!

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! Sharing these videos is the best way to support the channel and it is very much appreciated!!

This was an interesting take on bootlegs. I've included your video in our article about the topic.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Nice! If you send me a link I will be happy to share it on my social media! (send as a new comment if you will, not a reply)

@TheGamesNexus

3 жыл бұрын

@@spectorcreative1872 It's the same one about the copied models: alkony.enerla.net/english/the-nexus/miniatures-nexus/miniature-hobby/miniatures-casting-miniatures-copying-existing-miniatures And I'm almost sure YT won't let me put a link in a non-reply comment. Update: Yep, tried it, and it's gone.

Great video in Argentina are doing a way bunch of 5.5 stile motu version figures i know their bootleg but many look great

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Still available? Crazy!

what I wanna know, is who makes the bizzare crossover ones, and why?

great video

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Well thank you much. Please feel free to share online with others, it helps the channel a ton!

"Is the juice worth the squeeze" now where have I heard this before...🤔🤔🤔

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

I think it is Tropicans' positioning line

@Geewunner4life

3 жыл бұрын

@@spectorcreative1872 or when dealing with the majority of modern day women.

Age old question haven't seen a video about on you're channel unless I'm missing it.. Collect MOC or open?

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Here you go: kzread.info/dash/bejne/k45rt8OBeqm0qcY.html

TBH, that Elsa with that armor in the promo art, looks badass

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Wasn't that scene in Frozen awesome!

Fan works and Etsy things sometimes are more creative and unique. They always seem to do stuff that manufactures don’t do or wont

There was a great article in a magazine called "Collector's Universe," around the time Episode I came out, about foreign knockoffs of Kenner Star Wars figures. The pictures were great. I'd like to get my hands on some of those, especially the Polish Uzay Blue Stars, which were just Snowtroopers cast in blue plastic instead of white. But I'd bet you wouldn't be able to find any for sale, and even if you could you'd have to take out a second mortgage on your house.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Oh yes those SW toys are actually quite legendary now

As an interesting aside, I live in Hungary, and here bootleg Playmobil figures from the previous century are sold at incredible prices. It managed to gather a following, and now collectors are competing to find old stashes.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Bootleg Playmobile. That is very interesting. I'll need to dig a bit deeper into that

@TheGamesNexus

3 жыл бұрын

@@spectorcreative1872 Here is some further info: translate.google.com/translate?sl=hu&tl=en&u=hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schenk translate.google.com/translate?sl=hu&tl=en&u=sites.google.com/site/schenkmuzeum/ Another interesting thing not mentioned in these articles is that the bootlegger created a new variant of the Playmobile castle that was later licenced by the original manufacturer (probably in exchange for not suing the bootlegger).

I was wondering about this too. Thanks for the insight. So this factories are like the hydra, you cut one head and 2 more grows. Have a nice day.

@richardromanyshyn608

3 жыл бұрын

I work on a lot of bikes and ATVs and the Honda copies of little four wheelers and cheap side by sides was just disgusting. Seems like they take the same parts from the most mysterious of suppliers. Brand name is always different every year and are constant tinker pieces of crap. You do get what you pay for. Local Menards had 4 junky side by sides in my shop at the same time. All with the same 1 problem from new. They send the parts to fix them then vanish out of existence once the bill is wrote out

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Well except they are not a terrorist organization giving people super powers using Infinity Stones.

@superjoe7

3 жыл бұрын

@@spectorcreative1872 I understood that reference!

Wondering where the pound shop/ dollar store style toys sit on this list, every action Dan, super ranger, space warrior, or super robot changer that graced the budget pegs

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

See here!kzread.info/dash/bejne/nH6Gra9uZJi_n7Q.html

Great video as usual, learning allot. Just courious, what makes you belive Smith Lord Creations toys are homemade? Are there indicators? Thanks!

@spectorcreative1872

2 жыл бұрын

High price.

thanks for the insight Scott very interesting stuff. I do like the look of that spader man you think its on ebay ? hahah have a great weekend.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Spader man, Spader man. Does whatever a Spaderman does

Outstanding video! Thank you! I will be referring a LOT of people to this one, as it's a frequent topic on the boards I frequent. I find some of the loudest critics of bootlegs are self-styled Serious Collectors. If it's a laughable bootleg from 1983 Yugoslavia, and it's in that collector's hands, it's a prized posession and conversatoin piece. If it's a modern repro of something Vintage that they wanted to scalp on eBay for $350, it's a sacrilege and must be stopped. 🤣 Also: "Knight Rider becames Robert!" Best bootleg tagline ever.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

I just wish I could write bootleg toy packaging copy!

I've got KO versions of all sorts of toys from Transformers to Slinky. With some of them, you'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference between them and the real deal unless you know what to look for. All they have to do is change a few minor things around to get around the legal issues and not have to deal with any potential trademark infringement.

Lol have you seen the price of the Target Exclusive “galaxy’s edge” millennium falcon Mr. Scott? You’re right hasbro would never charge $250.00 for the Smithlord Bantha..... they’d make sure to have less paint apps, “factory warping or damage,” charge $500 and make it a Walmart exclusive that most likely will end up on eBay for double that, possibly feeding some scalper’s gambling addiction..... Amazing video as always and thanks for giving us so many awesome bts toy vids!!

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

I did see it ONCE in store but just could not slam down the 300.00 they wanted.

Hi Spector, do companies also study the bootlegged items (especially craft products) to see which characters would sell etc? One example would be Demoniacal Fit. They make characters based on Dragon Ball and the figures are essentially SH Figuarts. However, they make figures of characters that Bandai haven't done yet. But funnily enough, Bandai does follow suit, such as the Ginyu Force.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Their is no exact rule, but yes they are looked at.

If It Werent For Kitbashing & Finding Some Cheap Bootlegs At Different Points Throughout The Late 80's-2011, I Would Have NEVER Been Able To Have The ENTIRE MK Toy Collection, (NOW Want A Platino; Fistos Twin?) TF-Bruticus, TF-Menasor (Stunticons), TF-Superion (Arielbots), The Technobots, TF-Defensor (w/Inferno Replacing Hot Spot), G2-Devastator (Yellow/Black), StarSaber & Victory Leo (Combiners)!!

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Hey whatever leads to a collection one is proud of!!

The funny thing is, both Smith Lord Creations and Stan Solo make products that are far superior in quality when compared with Hasbro's Retro Collection. Also, the two aforementioned companies are actually releasing figures that the fans want.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Irony is not without a sense of toys.

i would like to see you do a video on third-party companies. like in the transformers community. the ones that clearly make a G1 character but in a slightly different style. or the ones that make upgrade kits. would those count as a bootleg, and how do most companies feel about that stuff?

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Working on that!

When I worked at LEGO we had a glass case full of knock-off product. Many of them came from China. They took the brand very seriously over there. From day one we were educated to say things like LEGO bricks rather than Legos for fear of losing the name to the public domain.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

I have heard that! Yeah and 3D printers are coming for you Lego! Thanks for sharing this. Awesome

I choose to live in a World that is not controlled by Corporations where the Power is given back to the People, so I totally support Knockoffs, Bootlegs, and Piracy. Many times the Knockoff or Bootleg is much better than the original because there is less Corporate Limitations. And they allow for Everyone to enjoy the creation and improve upon it out of the Control of Corporations. When a Corporation gets so big that they think they have to Control Everything that is when that Corporation needs to be Dissolved.

I bought the bootleg ReAvengers when I was in Mexico they are 5 inch tall and metal kind of cool looking.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

I would love that set. Nice one

I hope you are right. There is a maker movement that does try to fill in the holes where mainline companies drop the ball. And they are made with passion and purpose. And most of these creators don’t make a lot. That’s why I think they are left alone. Plus it’s a laboratory for the big companies. They did the retro line after seeing the success of the maker movement. I think one helps the other. Hopefully they can coexist. And as you said some is a quick cash grab like you find at flea markets. Great video. Interesting topic. Cheers.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

And cheers back, Thanks for the kind words and be sure t share any videos you like on social media. It helps the channel a ton!

There are a lot of different types of these toys.I grew up in a poor ,Mexican community ,& poorly made/looking k/o,s were a norm.Odd colors ,weird plastics , bad paint,normal.These days there are figures SO close ,or exactly the same,at half the cost of the real one.In many ,side by side comparison shows little differences, if any.The bootleg ,boxed Neca Horror lines are most often the best.The cost is about half of retail.Now ,invent an asinine tripling of that price for "collect-abilty" sake ,and there's the reason to snag the k/o. Goofy k/o,s are fun to collect , just for laughs ,and thats a "thing" these days.Great subject & episode Scott ! PS thanks for the Aqua ear-worm...AL DAY now , i.ll be hummin that song....thanks bro........( ..in a Barbie world.... STOP ! ...)

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Well yes for economic reason this is appealing as well. Sorry about the song...

@genesanford9412

3 жыл бұрын

@@spectorcreative1872 yepper , i really dont have any "disposable income" , being a single father of a special needs child ,without family ,or gov assistance.i just dont have much for my toys.

The KZreadr Phelous primarily focuses on counterfeit MotU and TMNT figures and it's quite the amazing wonder

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah these things are all over the net

Sometimes they are better.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

From time... to time

What are the rule if there are any on products made for licensed products. Like upgrade kits for transformers for example.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Ah, I am working on a video on that!

@brandonmilner1957

3 жыл бұрын

I started last year making upgrades for a few transformers. I’m the small guy in this game. But I’m growing fast. A few of my designs have video reviews by others. And a few have told me they were not going to buy the original figure until they saw my upgrades.

Another example is that Morrison Entertainment, who owns Monster In My Pocket, is VERY aggressive about protecting their P - to the point that if you try to make rubber toys of (public domain) mythological monsters, or if you include "pocket" in your unrelated toyline, they will send you a C&D.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Oh I have sure seen my share of C&D letters in my time in the toy biz!

I'd love to hear your take on the Transformers 3rd party industry. That's always been something that I never quite understood how it was allowed to get so big. I know people who are huge Transformers fan but Hasbro gets no money off them because they only buy 3rd party.

@planetschlock

3 жыл бұрын

I think that Hasbro lets the third parties slide because, in a way, they kind of provide free market research into the kinds of toys and characters that collectors want so that they can make better assumptions on which characters might sell for their own official lines. Like for example, say there are a bunch of third-party toys of a lesser-known character like Bludgeon or Six-Knight that are being made and sold. Someone from Hasbro might see that and figure it's a safe bet to cash in with their official version in an upcoming line. Again, this is all conjecture on my part.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

I'll add it to the topic list! Thanks.

@wanderingoryx3710

3 жыл бұрын

Third party bootlegs

As someone who may or may not customize and sell DC Universe Classics figures, I fully expect ToyGuru to show up at my house and rough me up one of these days. 😬

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

I'm stalking you now

Fun video! A couple corrections regarding Sucklord & Smithlord though. Sucklord didn't make the SUCKLE keshi figures until years after his success with his Gay Empire resin action figure line. Smithlord & similar Star Wars custom repro companies ARE mass producing their figures, however unlike Hasbro who can afford to produce millions of their products, small companies like Smithlord are only producing enough to meet the demand of their fans, which are still in the hundreds to thousands. They even use the same factory injection molding process. It's just that the metal injection mold is so expensive to make, that their figures have to cost a higher price in order to recover the price of the metal mold used for plastic injection.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Oh yes, I wasn't saying that is how he started, just how he became more well known. But thanks for the extra facts!

What about the issue with factories in China who make exact replicas of authentic figures. For example blue fin Tamashii nation sh figuarts, which normally retail for $70-$100 you can find a Chinese knock off for closer to $20. Is this a topic that could supplement this video?

@trelard

3 жыл бұрын

The CCP doesn't care about rights laws. They are thieves and tyrants in the CCP Elite who use their own citizens as slaves and treat them less than human, so it's not a surprise they see everyone else as even lesser. This is why the CCP elite must be removed before they unleash yet ANOTHER biological weaponry against the planet like they have over the past few years.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah this could be a new video. Many factories are paid under the table to run "a few more units" for the black market.

Do you think that there's an element that bad toys highlight the better quality ones and so having cheap knock offs actually leads to more sales?

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Honestly i think that the bootlegs that are done for low cost are really there to serve low income countries not to encourage better legal product.

Hi House Scott. =p What about 3rd party accesory producers? Do they need to licence as well or can they just advertise it as "Fit for the following scale/toy line" Even though it's clearly a He-Man Axe or whatnot.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

It isn't really black and white and usually if it is a small enough run it is still considered a craft item.

I bought a bootleg Spider-Man figure back in the 90's (I actually still have him) when the animated series was on the air. I wanted a Spidey figure I could hang from the rear view mirror of my truck and not really care if the sun fades it or it gets damaged like I would if I bought one of the legit figures. Oh, and his packaging said his name was "Night-Man" (written in the same style as the legit Toy Biz figures) and his spider logo on his chest was more-or-less just a paint splotch with legs.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Night Man, like from Always Sunny?

My first intro to bootlegs was a.Metallica album called "The Devil, Shaved Soap, & Gasoline". I thought I had found a "rare" album (which it is, actually) but I played the record and it sounded like dog-poop. Next time I went to the record store, the guy at the record store filled me in on the wonderful world of boots

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

That is friggin hilarious

Most of the stuff we get when it comes to figures comes from China, and they are pumping fakes and "knockoffs" alongside the originals faster than the authorities can act. Plus, the Chinese copyright laws are a bit ambiguous, leaving them a lot of leeway to copy and resell stuff. Most of the time it's not even worth trying to fight a Chinese company. For example, a lot of Chinese versions of an official figure are actually rejects from the original's assembly line (small gaps in the assembly, some paint defects, a part came out slightly warped etc). They label them as "Chinese version" and can sell them freely, at a fraction of the original's price. Most times the manufacturers are obligated by contract to recycle the rejects, as much as they can, and reuse the material, but more often than not, they tend to "forget". And they get away with it 95% of the time, because the producers make a shitload of profit anyway, seeing that mass production of toys in China is cheap AF. Then we get the re-casters, which buy originals, make molds of them, and then cast their own versions. That's why you see slightly differences when it comes to parts size, joints, details, facial features, especially in figurines and action figures. I know this from a well known Chinese manufacturer that I worked with in the past.

I like the Japan Wonder Festival where makers can get a limited license to sell bootleg or garage kits for a few days. I have some fantastic Microman kits resulting from that festival.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

That is awesome. The Japanese toy market is pretty radical.

@wanderingoryx3710

3 жыл бұрын

@@spectorcreative1872 check out toy polloi's recent Japan mailbox video, he name drops a channel of an American living in Japan and has a lot of videos on 90s gum toys

Other countries basically... I was in Kuwait and we went to the mall in Kuwait City and like the entire toy aisle was just what you see here, what you have pictures of, that was wall to wall.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah outside the US this is a much bigger part of the toy aisle

@DrDeathpwnsu

3 жыл бұрын

@@spectorcreative1872 yeah the first time you see Superman and Spider-Man and a Ninja turtle with maybe ET and something else you don't even recognize all together in one box you don't forget that lol

What's the tank engine robot called

@spectorcreative1872

2 жыл бұрын

Thomas

The irony is that a lot people unironically buying the knockoffs are too poor to buy the actual product though they'd love to. I speak from experience. My family was extremely impoverished when I was young and, let me tell you, I did not want that poorly painted, rip off of He-Man. Bootlegs have a special place in my heart not because they're obvious cash ins from crooks that happen to be hilariously bad but because they remind me of all my parents could spare to give me something that was at least close to what I wanted.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Great points and you hit the nail on the head

So, is it the same sorta thing when a different toy company re-uses molds, but maybe does different colors and calls it something else? Like, I remember some of the "discount" stores back in the day having transformable robot toys that weren't "Transformers," but like, it was obviously using, for example, the Decepticon jet mold, maybe with a tweak or two here and there, and in a totally different color. And of course, they called them something different, like "Convertibles" or whatever.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Oh wait until you see the follow up video in the works!

Lol. Bernie dolls. Do they have the inauguration mittens variant?

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Just came out as a running change

I feel you missed an opportunity by not talking about the company Lepin, who produced straight up bootleg copies of LEGO sets and how LEGO successfully had them and had the owners jailed.

@studebricker2845

3 жыл бұрын

That's what I was going to comment. I would like to hear about Lepin and what happened there. I felt like they were harming the Lego brand and wondered why Lego didn't go after them right away. I'm a big Lego collector by the way. Not involved with the company at all, but I am very loyal to Lego as a customer.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Oh that is a whole other video!

Transformers bootlegs/KOs were rampant for a long time and probably will be still. It's only somewhat recently when the company Wei Jiang decided it was a good idea to KO a _Hot Toys Iron Man_ that the House of Mouse ordered Hasbro to crackdown on their factories and shutter their operations. Up until then the diehards swore by Wei Jiang stuff; bigger, better paint, and more detail/improved engineering compared to the stock Hasbro product. They probably still do now, but finding Wei Jiang stuff is a lot harder.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Send in the sharks with lasers.

2:18 I want that Frozen toy!! I vaguely remember seeing something of Suckle once and loved it and wondered how to get at that time. But I do love my Transformer Knock off toys. Cheap in so many ways but just pure fun being oversized and flimsy. I got to ask what is the deal with 3rd party Transformer toys? They have been around long before Hasbro did the Generations line and sell for quite price. I have few. Personally I think it forced Hasbro to make Generations Transformers cause of the popularity of the 3rd party TFs due that theylook like their G1 counterparts. Personally I'm glad Hasbro is making Generations cause I can't afford all the 3rd party out there and Generations is awesome in so many ways of durablitity and price.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

That Frozen toy is really hard to find.

Reminds of that episode of The Powerpuff Girls Classic, Knock it Off, where Dick Hardly creates cheap bootleg versions of the Powerpuff Girls, which he sells to various parts of the world...

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Oh that is a classic! Oh Blossom....

As primarily a transformer collector, I have seen a lot of 3rd party versions of their IP that are done in small to medium runs. They have gone on record more than once with the general sentiment that while it dose infringe on their IP, given the nature of 3rd party toys and their higher cost they typically sale only to older collectors and don't impact their general toy sales so they tend to leave the 3rd party companies alone as long as they don't use Hasbro's actual molds or claim to be Hasbro products.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah I'll need to do a whole video on that

When I think of bootlegs or knock offs I think of a much inferior toy however and what I'd like to know about is regarding third-party transformers and what category they fall under because most of the time companies like fans toys produce products that are indeed better than what is coming out by Hasbro I noticed Scott that other people have mentioned this in the comments so perhaps you can make a video regarding how are they able to get away with this and what category they fall under in making the third party transformers

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

I can certainly add that to the topic list!

Walmart sells Easter basket collections, that have KO products in them, so I bought one (about 20 yrs ago), but the plastic wrap over the basket was too dark to see inside. So I opened it, to get at the candies as well. 😏 The one I bought had a Transformer, 3rd party KO, 5 pack Combaticons/Bruticus, but it was called "Military Combining Force"! Lol 😮😝😂

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

I love Military Combining Force! The second season was the best. It jumped the shark in season 3

Bootleg figures, should check out Ashens videos. Very good as always. Have you done a video on toys in films looking so different than the real thing. E.G. Small Soldiers, early Toy Story figures etc.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Noted and will do!

@No1.OriginalTrilogyStarWarsFan

3 жыл бұрын

@@spectorcreative1872 Great cheers.

Have you done any research on those companies that start out with craft bootlegs and evolve in the companies making product using licensed IP? I know that is how Super 7 started...

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Outside of Super 7, I have not done any formal research.

I bought a bootleg toy; it's a Marvel Select Juggernaut that's been painted to the Unstoppable Colossus from the Fear Itself storyline. I ordered it from China via Aliexpress.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Nice!

I know a person who loved the Robocop bootleg "Robertcop" so much that when she was changing her name after her divorce she changed it to Robertcop

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Even super cops robots need legal help

I have some of the G1 Dinobots knock off figures that come out of China. Don't know if they some how obtained the official molds, or made molds from the original figures. Really wish Takara/Hasbro would recreate them and do an official reissue.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Hey, anything is possible if you make enough noise online

@bri55118

3 жыл бұрын

There was a video I saw that the company's take the original figures and take them apart and make blueprints from them. Then use that to mass produce the bootleg figures. Why takara or Hasbro won't reissue the dinobots it a mystery as they are some of the biggest fan favorites of the line.

Though I'm not a fan of Knock Offs, some that have caught my eye are the New Diaclone and Transformers Oversized KO's. The Takara/Tomy original Diaclones are very expensive, taking into consideration how small these toys actually are, and having a cheaper (although not as high quality) option is very appealing. Sometimes Hasbro's Transformers are made in a small size and feel very underwhelming in hand, that's why the Oversized KO's seem like a good alternative.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Transformers seem to be the king of this segment of the toy industry, likely due to so many countries being involved as makers and buyers

@mikespiegel_

3 жыл бұрын

@@spectorcreative1872 Also the existence of "third party" Transformers, which feature original designs that would not exist otherwise

@wanderingoryx3710

3 жыл бұрын

@@mikespiegel_ most of the time they have no qc and have fragile joints in places

The other major impediment is that bootlegs made in countries and regions that are not very keen on copyright laws in general. The one I notice is that China has a lot of really good bootlegs being made that are CLEARLY using the actual production lines of the actual toys. I seriously doubt that US companies can make China do anything China doesn't want to do relating to knockoff merch...

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Very similar to the internet. It is hard to enforce laws without a global legal system

I’ve purchased low quality clear KO’s of Transformers from stores like Toy Liquidators (owned by Kay-Bee Toys when around), that had actual Autobot and Deception stickers applied in the sealed packages (the 5 piece “Superion” set is one), and from Big Lots purchased 1:1 (lower quality) Optimal Optimus from BeastWars. KB is toast, but Big Lots is HUGE and do this all day long! How do they get away with it? It’s ballsy to use unaltered Autobot stickers on bootlegs and be sold through huge companies!

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Funny what you can do with a sticker!

First use is better described as the right to modify and sell items you have purchased. Like changing the height of a chair I bought and selling it or making a mod for a video game.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

And this gets misused all the time!

I have a bootleg yellow spyro plushie I really love

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

As long as you love a toy it can never be wrong

@SparkleWolf404

3 жыл бұрын

@@spectorcreative1872 He looks like a chicken! He's yellow with red spike!

You diddnt mention super 7 How do they get away with what they do?

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

They pay a licensing royalty and make official toys as far as I know. Am I missing something?

This is why companies should just produce better quality products and stop trying to shut down bootleggers.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Ha!

There is another angle to this, and thus is especially true of vintage toys (and to a degree modern; but computer design has lessened this.) It was really common to make prototypes out of existing toylines. The Kenner Star Wars line is notorious for (most notably in its earliest releases) building it's prototypes out of Fisher Price Adventure People. Every company did this. So there exists a lot if wiggle room in how companies can copy moulds. That's how you wind up with so much knockoff He Man figures, many from otherwise legit companies (Remco for instance.) It works best if you start from an already kind of generic design (Adventure People, He Man) and modify it; but you can get away with a lot. Going through parts piles; i'm amazed how many pieces I find made by one company are clearly stolen from another. With some slight change. Companies cut a lot of corners this way and it gets hard to sue over it without opening a huge can of worms on themselves. I think to a degree, bootlegs are just considered a part of the toy industry. Every company is full of them to some degree or another. It has become part of the culture. But there are certain lines you cannot cross. I have some amazing bootlegs in my collection. I love them.

@spectorcreative1872

3 жыл бұрын

Oh yes, when making prototypes anything on hand will due. MOTU He-Man trio case in point.