Fake ESB Prototype

[Anchorhead-Autos]

yes well i replied saying that if i were put down that kind of money i'd like to be sure it was real.
but it isn't really that high of a price if it were one of a kind, so it does seem shifty.
as i mentioned in the other thread i don't really collect vintage.. but i understand not wanting to be ripped off.

Thanks man, be interesting if he answers the questions or not. Surely it would be worth 10x what he wants and have it on ebay so it's looking dodgier and dodgier..

[Dawfydd]

Yeah i'm kind of annoyed at the american seller listing on trade me now.. at like 20% or more of what you can find those items for, because we are backward kiwi's so its ok?

so the guy has replied again and completely dodged any verification of the model.
(Q) ; Yes i mostly army build and collect other more recent lines, as being able to assure that vintage stuff is really what it says it is has become so very hard its normally easier to find these items in person, Just the only other picture of this i had seen was in red but it'd be easier to spend that kind of cash if i knew for sure is all. ^_^

(A)stamp on lukes *censored* doesnt lie. i can sit here anf type all good things - use must decide if its worth what you want to spend

(Q)Hi, i've done a little research, there is a figure from 1996/7 which looks similar in design with slightly closer colours however it isn't a complete match. you mentioned mixed parts perhaps it is a mis-match custom of an older base and newer cloth covering, what date did you buy it? Thanks, sorry to be such a bother i just want to be sure, what kind of price is finding out by the way?

(A)figure is stamped 1978 on its backside - I have owned it for almost 20 years. you would know that many toys & their accesories are recycled into new lines - look at the ROTJ toys that made it into the robin hood price of thieves toy line - ewok village ,ewok catpult, gamorean guard. friar tuck,do some research on the $6 mill dollar man toy line & see whats been borrowed from there for this figure.$25O is a pittance to pay for quality stuff - i recently sold a pencil sharpener for $750 US

(Q)I'd really be interested in how much was it going to cost to get somebody to evaluate it? Sorry but 250$ is a high price to pay if it is fake, but a great deal if it is what it says it is, Just i can't find anywhere telling me it is a real production. And we both know that production marks can be copied or the base could be an entirely different figure.


--- I doubt he'll keep answering, considering he has no evidence besides "i've had it for 20 years" and "they re-use parts from other figures" which may or not be true, but clearly admits that faking it can be much easier.
Is there a resource we can use to prove its fake?
its been up before so i don't think anyone will fall for it.

[Dawfydd]

(A) i did check the whole thing over for those tell tale iniitials or crosses and ticks - no body qualified in nz maybe no even oz. toltoys distribution warehouse was in springwood - fellow I bought this from lived in daisy hill ( next suburb over ) i also bought an unpainted salesmans rep carded figure from him. I have an idea of what it would cost to evaluate this figure - you tell me what you would like to pay ( no stupid offers ) maybe we can do a deal

----
So yeah it seems like he keeps shifting the blame, making it seem like it'll be so costly to get the item checked, when he could just scan its body, i might try to bring attention to it on rebelscum tomorrow see if anyone there has any idea what it might really be.
looks like it might be a six million dollar man body or luke body with a switched head and/or clothes.
Or like he says and the pieces are from lesser price figures mashed together by him or somebody else.

I imagine the price is low so when somebody does get ripped off they don't make a huge deal as if it were 1/2k

Reading his feedback he's sold items that aren't what they claim to be, and selling shotty goods, there are only 7 cases of this but its certainly another red flag on if this item is real.

[Anchorhead-Autos]

Wow thanks for questioning him, he's starting to squirm ha. Clearly dodgy. I like what he says in the last answer: ...what would you like to pay ( no stupid offers ) maybe we can do a deal?...
Ha no stupid offers? How about a stupid auction with a clear FAKE star wars toy that you're trying to rip off 'dumb kiwis' with. I think he's like the U.S guy, thinks we are dumbasses or something. The Star Wars collectors in NZ don't need this.

This is what I said to Matt in the last conversation:
there's a guy in the UK on ebay selling repro boxes for 12'' vintage toys and he does custom boxes like Luke Xwing Pilot. He even suggests putting in the 1997 version in the box or even interestingly, suggests putting those clothes and accessories onto a vintage Luke. Exactly what I think is on trademe, a vintage Luke with modern clothes.

I think this Aussie guy you have been speaking to is doing exactly the same thing, it's like he got the idea off the ebay guys auction. He would be better off selling some death sticks...

[Anchorhead-Autos]

It's back but at a hundy cheaper this time - and no question and answers allowed this time around. How weird, I guess that's stops any awkward question though ha. Did you ever send the pics and description of it to Rebelscum.com? They are probably still laughing if you did

[Anchorhead-Autos]

I asked trademe admin about why there is no questions and answers available on the fake prototype auction. While they couldn't tell me too much due to privacy restrictions, turns out he's been a naughty boy and has had the Q and A facility taken off him for at least the near future. Just keeps looking worse for him, Kiwi's just don't need or want that kind of fake toy ruining the collectors market...

[Dawfydd]

http://forum.rebelscum.com/t1115463/
Seems like people agree, i'm not sure trade me really care about small time auctions though.

[fredstar]

I mentioned it on my my Look Sir, Toys FB page. it's a shame we're starting to see things like this in little ol NZ

[Anchorhead-Autos]

Cheers guys. There's some pretty funny replies on the rebs site. Some kid out of first grade's attempt at a scam etc great stuff. I'm interested to know if anyone would actually bid on an auction that you couldn't ask questions on? Not me, asks too many question in itself

[Dawfydd]

I updated the other thread but its not really clear why the questions are disabled and it isn't enough of a red flag to stop naive people imo.
I mean if its a punishment then shouldn't they tag something on the users auctions to warn people of the bad behavior, searching through a persons listings for a couple of red flags (when some users have 1k +) is really rough i've done it a couple of times but normally less than 100% wont stop me from buying off them if its a good deal, because its normally easier to sort out a problem than find the item you want at that price again.

Ah well, any user comment option for fakes could easily be abused but i do wish trade sites would perhaps label a warning on anything labeled "RARE" or "Prototype" just a tag like "be sure you see evidence of the items authenticity or inquire at populated websites for that collectible"
I keep seeing starkiller and Malgus marked as "Rare" but they damn well know they have been re-released in the new black series and are just trying to sell off the vintage while they can.