Sofvi Bootlegging Scumbags

Discussion in 'Other Asian Toys' started by badteethcomics, Oct 31, 2017.

  1. chimply.kaiju

    chimply.kaiju Side Dealer

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2009
    Messages:
    2,286
    Location:
    USA
    Name:
    Anthony
    flickr:
    chimplykaiju
    Sofvi Bootlegging Scumbags
    It is from the Megumi Ogita Gallery exhibit in Tokyo from October 2017.

    Not my photos. But photos I archive from that event. The same reflections in the background for all the paintings he posted on his Instagram.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  2. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2010
    Messages:
    13,378
    Location:
    Gert Brizzle UK
    Sofvi Bootlegging Scumbags
    ^^
    Oh, so he's promoting bootlegs by posting gallery photos ...

    And ... he's now offering GID, the cheeky fucker.

     
  3. MonstaIslandCzar

    MonstaIslandCzar Comment King

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2012
    Messages:
    1,158
    Location:
    Louisville, KY
    Name:
    Ben
    Instagram:
    MonstaIslandCzar
    Sofvi Bootlegging Scumbags
  4. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2011
    Messages:
    11,771
    Sofvi Bootlegging Scumbags
    Weird, I did not keep up on all the releases, I just took that to be a proper release of the Yabanjin (but I also did not notice the description).

    But to fair, Mandarake has always sold bootlegs. Of all eras. Bigger issue is if they are NOT advertised as such.
     
    Zontar likes this.
  5. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2010
    Messages:
    13,378
    Location:
    Gert Brizzle UK
    Sofvi Bootlegging Scumbags
    Sure, but i thought that was older bootlegs. I didn't know they openly sold recent makers stuff.
     
  6. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2011
    Messages:
    11,771
    Sofvi Bootlegging Scumbags
    I don't know the percentage, because I don't really follow enough of the 'popular' artists who warrant bootlegging, but for sure they have had ample KAWS KOs on there (as one example).
     
    The Moog likes this.
  7. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2011
    Messages:
    11,771
    Sofvi Bootlegging Scumbags
    The price on these is an easy giveaway:



    Not judging, just pointing out that Mandarake is a resale shop that tends to sell all sorts of goods. If people will buy it, it stands to reason they will [re]sell it. Unfortunately that is the market. Whether the original was meant to fool unknowing people/fans or not, if the site is transparent about the goods there is not much you can be surprised about. The higher 'esteem' an item has, the more likely it is to be targeted by people trying to cash in on that value.

    And for sure "copies" are not the same as unlicensed interpretations of characters. But those two categories - art toys and vintage bootlegs - are about as disparate as you could get in the hobby.
     
    Last edited: Apr 6, 2020
    Alebrije and The Moog like this.
  8. hellscrape

    hellscrape Comment King

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2013
    Messages:
    1,171
    Sofvi Bootlegging Scumbags
    That is not a yabanjin. That is a toy meant to resemble the yabanjin. I'm pretty sure it's a legitimate toy that took the name "Bootleg Toy."
     
    nothisisluke and chimmychazz like this.
  9. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2011
    Messages:
    11,771
    Sofvi Bootlegging Scumbags
    My bad then, just took it at face value from a quick glace, as I've said. It is a bit hard to make out details from the photo (being unpainted GID this is not unusual) and it seemed to bear a strong resemblance.
     
  10. hellscrape

    hellscrape Comment King

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2013
    Messages:
    1,171
    Sofvi Bootlegging Scumbags
    I apologize for the derail, but just to add to the bigger conversation, I would like to think that mandarake would not sell bootlegs at "legitimate" prices. It looks like the Kaws were priced as knockoffs and hopefully labeled as such.

    Does the fake vinyl smell different than Japanese sofubi? That, and maybe the joint cuts, might set them apart significantly, as well as the subpar paint jobs on some...
     
  11. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2011
    Messages:
    11,771
    Sofvi Bootlegging Scumbags
    Yes, the Kaws are labelled as bootlegs, just as I said. This has been my experience at least, that Mandarake is open with what these items are. There is no question - having seen some of these - that they are on the 'low end' of production, and while i have not handled a genuine Kaws piece, I would not think that anybody could be mistaken between the two.
     
  12. MonstaIslandCzar

    MonstaIslandCzar Comment King

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2012
    Messages:
    1,158
    Location:
    Louisville, KY
    Name:
    Ben
    Instagram:
    MonstaIslandCzar
    Sofvi Bootlegging Scumbags
    yeah just looked up bootlegtoy on IG. So they straight up make a bootleg copy of the yabajin and sell it at wonderfest and other shows? surely this has to be a collaboration or something related to the artist? WTF is happening in this hobby :roll:
     
  13. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2010
    Messages:
    13,378
    Location:
    Gert Brizzle UK
    Sofvi Bootlegging Scumbags
    Old Zhengy-boy is still up to his old tricks and the fucker is enjoying himself. Did he used to do header cards before? He's into doing mixed-pour marbles too. I thought he'd moved onto other toys but then another MVH bootleg photo was uploaded ...

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    https://www.picuki.com/profile/zhengzhengmonster
     
    Alebrije likes this.
  14. bunnyboy

    bunnyboy Side Dealer

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2008
    Messages:
    2,268
    Location:
    germanymey
    Sofvi Bootlegging Scumbags
    @The Moog Didn't he post a pic of apparently bootlegged, blank HxS headers on the other account months ago? Anyway, I like how the marbled ones look like they puked all over themselves... :|
     
    The Moog likes this.
  15. xSuicide Squadx

    xSuicide Squadx Super Deformed

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2013
    Messages:
    5,530
    Location:
    Phoenix, Arizona
    Name:
    Robert
    Instagram:
    manic_1mag3s
    Sofvi Bootlegging Scumbags
    Ishi - San got hit by a fake eBay listing, claiming to be a one off sold at DCon 2017. He only had blank black vinyl at DCon 2017. I can’t quite decipher the end of his post, reading “I know one fucker made copy to sell blank one already. I think this guy made it by copy.” It either sounds like he suspects the same person making/selling blanks made this one off, or someone sold the bootlegger a blank that he made the bootlegs off of. Either way, it sucks.

     
    nicholasfung and Alebrije like this.
  16. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2011
    Messages:
    11,771
    Sofvi Bootlegging Scumbags
    This is really shitty. Let's hope that the this seller is subject to the namesake of the toy. I really hope people won't support this, but let's be honest, there are enough people in this world that it only take a handful to keep this going, and a lot of others are probably just ignorant of all the releases or don't bother researching in their race to catch a trend. :(
     
    The Moog likes this.
  17. xSuicide Squadx

    xSuicide Squadx Super Deformed

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2013
    Messages:
    5,530
    Location:
    Phoenix, Arizona
    Name:
    Robert
    Instagram:
    manic_1mag3s
    Sofvi Bootlegging Scumbags
    @ultrakaiju Unfortunately, at the time of Ishi - San’s post there’d already been quite a few bids on the eBay listing. I’ve yet to see it myself, but I read comments stating it was pretty high. I can only hope there isn’t any bidder(s) that have zero clue of it being fake and end up paying an insane aftermarket price. :|
     
    The Moog likes this.
  18. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2010
    Messages:
    13,378
    Location:
    Gert Brizzle UK
    Sofvi Bootlegging Scumbags
    You gotta think even if he caught this one, how many have slipped through? What are the chances of this being the first one ever on eBay?

    Also, the more prices rise on hyped sofubi the more this is going to happen.
     
  19. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2010
    Messages:
    13,378
    Location:
    Gert Brizzle UK
    Sofvi Bootlegging Scumbags
    Has anyone else seen the two Bemon Kougai going for £1,443 at the moment on eBay? And another for around £950?

    OK, maybe they won't sell for that but holy sheeeeeeiiiiittt. I'm surprised nobody is bootlegging Kougai nowadays!
     
  20. zindabad

    zindabad Line of Credit

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2017
    Messages:
    1,812
    Location:
    Fake New York
    Sofvi Bootlegging Scumbags
    I'm sure we'll see them soon if the operation picks up. Every time I've thought 'oh, I'm surprised he hasn't bootlegged this' one comes out eventually. Bemon is a bit conspicuous by its absence right now though, agreed.
     
  21. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2011
    Messages:
    11,771
    Sofvi Bootlegging Scumbags
    Is anyone else having problems reporting the auction? I can't seem to get past the drop downs on the report page.

    Here is the link, and I'd advise everyone to report it so that this seller does not earn any money on the fake item. Whether they know or not, we should put a stop to this reselling anywhere we can, otherwise there will never be discouragement to continue to do so.

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/KARMA-DOKU...981261?hash=item4b7c997e0d:g:8VkAAOSw-Nle-R7Y
     
    Kerk1 likes this.
  22. badteethcomics

    badteethcomics Post Pimp

    Joined:
    May 31, 2013
    Messages:
    2,986
    Location:
    Brisbane, Australia
    Name:
    Glenn
    Instagram:
    badteethcomics
    Sofvi Bootlegging Scumbags
    It's weird.. Bemon always has that 'untouchable' air about it. Whatever happened to the Bemon bootlegs that were going around about 10 years ago? I remember hearing about kougai bootlegs that were turning up here and there.
     
  23. useless toys

    useless toys Side Dealer

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2006
    Messages:
    2,499
    Location:
    NYC
    Name:
    Ed
    Sofvi Bootlegging Scumbags
    You haven’t really made it as a toy maker until someone bootlegs your shit..
     
    The Moog likes this.
  24. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2010
    Messages:
    13,378
    Location:
    Gert Brizzle UK
    Sofvi Bootlegging Scumbags
    I just tried to report on ebay and it didn't work for me either. Last couple years I've seen a lot of people complain about eBay and their handling of complaints etc, I get the feeling they're too big to care nowadays.

    The bids are over $700 with 7hrs to go, some poor sap is about to pay a shit-ton for an erroneous toy.

    *edit.
    So maybe not a bootleg, but painted blank? The plot thickens.
     
    Last edited: Jul 5, 2020
    IronPaw likes this.
  25. C E

    C E Toy Prince

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2020
    Messages:
    270
    Location:
    NO
    Sofvi Bootlegging Scumbags
    Same problem here. Tried finding answers in the eBay community discussions and this issue was reported at least as far back as 2015 and still no fix :roll: Someone suggested trying a different browser, which I did and even installed a third one and gave that a go, to no avail.
     

Share This Page