Have You Ever Been "Ripped Off" With A Bootleg?

[RiderNadeshiko 5]

So Wizard World is in St. Louis this weekend and my mom and went today. While browsing, I found a vendor selling anime goods and found a Figuarts Zero Sailor Mercury figure for $45 (they usually go for around $80). I assumed this might have been a pre-owned figure because of the low price and that the box wasn't in the best condition. I bought it, big mistake.

When we got home, I'd thought I'd unbox her and put her on my shelf. Well, not only did her right leg pop off, she fell off of her stand! Apon further inspection, I noticed her paint job was rather sloppy looking and there was what looks like dried glue around her stand (also for some reason the gem on her tiara is green instead of blue, her eyebrows are green too...)

I didn't buy a used figure, I bought a bootleg! With part of my birthday money...

So, my mom found me some crazy glue and we glued her legs back together. Mom wants to send a complaint about the vendor on the convention's Facebook Page, but they never gave me a receipt. Since I still bought it, I'm going to try to fix it up a bit, but I'm still peeved off.

In the future I'll need to remember "Buyer Beware". Has anything like this ever happen to you guys?

[Time Shield 402]

So the figure literally booted its leg?

[Invincible 2,091]

Not really sure it was a rip-off, but I once ordered a cellphone from an overseas store, since they really jack up the prices here in my country. When it arrived, the package felt oddly light. I had the good sense to film myself unboxing it - the package had everything BUT the phone in it (charger, headphones, booklet..).

I used the video evidence and demanded my money back - the store owner apologized over and over, and said it was probably stolen in customs or something. It's just annoying that I had to wait for its arrival.

Hope you can get a refund or at least some compensation. 

[RiderNadeshiko 5]

4 minutes ago, Time Shield said:

So the figure literally booted its leg?

Yes... I'll admit your post is kind of funny.

3 minutes ago, Invincible said:

Hope you can get a refund or at least some compensation. 

Probably not since I never got a receipt and since we already took off our wristbands when we got home, we can't return to the convention and my mom probably doesn't want to drive me back to St. Louis today.

I'll post pics after I get the figure glued together.

[K.Rool Addict 718]

Sounds like a bootleg.... O_O

[Jeric 46,860]

Almost happened to me. I collect vintage Star Wars (Kenner era). I found a vendor at a con who had a an ESB At-At in box from 1980. He was hesitant to let me inspect the At-At, but he relented and held it closer. I didn't have to look for longer than a second or two before I realized it was the version released in the 90's with some painting tweaks to hide the differences between the two.

I reported the vendor immediately.  

[RiderNadeshiko 5]

So, the glue on her legs has finally dried and I took a few pictures. It doesn't look as bad as I first thought it did after taking a second look, but there are still some obvious things that bug me.

I took a few pictures so you can see what I mean.

Also, does anyone know how I can get the dried glue off the stand without ruining it?

[Lenny 249]

Be careful what you buy online. Maybe you can ask for a return, or file a dispute if the defects/imperfections weren't included in the description.

[RiderNadeshiko 5]

Except I didn't buy it online, I bought it from a vendor at a convention.

[K.Rool Addict 718]

xD Those pictures! Reminds me of the time I took pics of my precious Rika figurine <3

https://ru.myanimeshelf.com/figures/934824_Furude_Rika_Maid_Ver.

[Dreambiscuit 10,094]

6 hours ago, Jeric said:

Almost happened to me. I collect vintage Star Wars (Kenner era). I found a vendor at a con who had a an ESB At-At in box from 1980. He was hesitant to let me inspect the At-At, but he relented and held it closer. I didn't have to look for longer than a second or two before I realized it was the version released in the 90's with some painting tweaks to hide the differences between the two.

I reported the vendor immediately.  

I'm surprised he even tried to get that one by. Fans at cons are really knowledgeable and meticulous when it comes to collectibles. The '90s At-At is so much different from the '80s version, it would take some serious paint to cover it up! I'm glad you reported it.  

Some things, like the early 2000s Star Wars stuff was really made cheaply by Hasbro to begin with, like the 12" General Grievous. When I got mine and opened the box, all the arms and legs just fell off. I figure Hasbro was thinking most fans buying these would be collectors who would keep it in box for display purposes, but lots of people like to play with these too, and the quality was terrible! This was right off the shelf at Walmart so it was legit. It was just cheap.  So in that case I got ripped of legitimately. 

[RiderNadeshiko 5]

And she's been glued back together. Despite being a bootleg, she's not a bad looking figure. I still don't know how to get that dried glue off the base.

Here she is on my book shelf.

[simba86 1,541]

I have been ripped off before to, many many times.

i would complain to the convention and try to contact the vendor, odds are they new it was a knock-off and that is why they did not charge as much

[Messy Mane 9,032]

F*** YEAH! I used to live in los angeles and in the swapmeet's you find a lot of bootleg toys,when i was little I asked for a plain old batman and I got a Bootleg green and yellow batman.I was so pissed off XD!!!

[TBD 17,256]

I wouldn't called "being" ripped in my case. Since I know what I order is from china which is known for bootlegged stuff.  That mean I know I will be getting bootlegged figures. But the price is very cheap so I couldn't care less. Just as long the figures looks good and descent, which they always do.

And I usually order them from ebay, otherwise I wouldn't trust other unknown website. 

[Lenny 249]

Yea, but it's cheaper so I get alot of b00tleg

But that's fine

[Lenny 249]

6 minutes ago, TBD said:

I wouldn't called "being" ripped in my case. Since I know what I order is from china which is known for bootlegged stuff.  That mean I know I will be getting bootlegged figures. But the price is very cheap so I couldn't care less. Just as long the figures looks good and descent, which they always do.

And I usually order them from ebay, otherwise I wouldn't trust other unknown website. 

This guy knows what I'm talkin' about 

Thanks china

[glim 11]

If you are good at repainting/customizing you might be able to fix those errors. Some bootlegs are better than others, it depends on the product being bootlegged/ the maker of the bootleg.

[Kaneki 1,073]

Intentionally, yes. I've bought like, cheap electronics on eBay that may look like knockoffs but aren't really, just because I don't feel like spending the money.

But non-intentionally, no.

[Kairo 49]

I once bought some on sale cookies, then when i opened the package half of them had gone missing.