Buyer Beware: Knockoff G1 Springer and Octane out in the market

Well this is lame. Thanks for the update, Crew.

Wow for KOs they look pretty good. See i wouldnt mind KOs if they were to be sold as KOs and for a low price. Kinda of like a filler figure until you can get a real one. But most try to pass them off as the real thing for a pretty penny. Now that pisses me off. Seeing as how i can never win either of these figures on ebay im not to worried about getting stuck with KO versions instead of real ones.

Hello,
I was interested in buying an Octane, Springer, and Optimus from a seller on Ebay "Gemspresentation". Can anyone tell me if these are legit G1 TFs? Or are they KO Springer and Octane TFs? They look VERY good if they are KOs. The Ebay auction numbers are: 350251842558 and 350252615871. Thanks alot!
SK

usmcloady wrote:Hello,
I was interested in buying an Octane, Springer, and Optimus from a seller on Ebay "Gemspresentation". Can anyone tell me if these are legit G1 TFs? Or are they KO Springer and Octane TFs? They look VERY good if they are KOs. The Ebay auction numbers are: 350251842558 and 350252615871. Thanks alot!
SK

Those auctions and the seller/store doesn't even sell TFs.

Shonefan4,
I'm confused by your post. Are you saying they are KOs because the store does not sell TFs? The reason I am asking if anyone knows any info is b/c I have been in talks with the seller to buy a few, but want to ask around before I pull the trigger. I know this seller has had the same TFs for sale about a year ago. I believe a Prime and Octane have been bought, AFA;'d and sold on Ebay about a year ago. AFA said they were legit, except for the BLACK BOX on the Optimus Copyright info. AFA said it still was legit. It is thought to be a variation. That was the conclusion about items from this seller about a year ago. Since then, KO Springers and Octanes have surfaced around the forums. I am not sure if the Springer, Octane, and Optimus the seller "gemspresentation" NOW has/had for sale in the past week are a new batch of KOs? or if they are legit old G1 stock. I am trying to research this as we speak. Any other help or ideas would be greatly appreciated.
SK

I'm definately not paying that much for them. That is why I have been talking to the seller. I may get them for a bit less than those prices.

usmcloady wrote:Shonefan4,
I'm confused by your post. Are you saying they are KOs because the store does not sell TFs? The reason I am asking if anyone knows any info is b/c I have been in talks with the seller to buy a few, but want to ask around before I pull the trigger. I know this seller has had the same TFs for sale about a year ago. I believe a Prime and Octane have been bought, AFA;'d and sold on Ebay about a year ago. AFA said they were legit, except for the BLACK BOX on the Optimus Copyright info. AFA said it still was legit. It is thought to be a variation. That was the conclusion about items from this seller about a year ago. Since then, KO Springers and Octanes have surfaced around the forums. I am not sure if the Springer, Octane, and Optimus the seller "gemspresentation" NOW has/had for sale in the past week are a new batch of KOs? or if they are legit old G1 stock. I am trying to research this as we speak. Any other help or ideas would be greatly appreciated.
SK

uh, isn't this the store on eBay you're talking about? Gemspresentation. It only sells...gems no KO TFs.

Shonen4fan,
That is the correct store. Check their "completed listings". The ended all three auctions because I am very close to a deal buying all 3 of them. I was going to pay for 1 through Ebay (octane), and the other 2 outside of Ebay. I know you are not covered under Ebay's PP protection outside of Ebay, but I am going to pay for the other 2 with a Credit Card. That way I can file a charge back if there is a problem. I told them to give me a few days to think it over and do some research on the TFs.

I would NOT buy the Prime being sold by that seller for the following reasons:

1. The box looks fresh from the KO factory floor -- not a single blemish on it. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.

2. There are no close-up photos.

3. Examine the photos on the box that show the various modes of the toy. On the front of the box, the photos with the red background. They should have a white border around them and they do not. Smells like KO too me.

4. Why would a eBay 'gem dealer' be selling a pristine G1 MISB Prime?

5. They are asking $3.6K for a MISB Prime. A more legit-looking MISB is being sold for $900 by another seller on eBay.

I didn't look at the other MISB for sale by the gem seller, but I reckon you'll find more 'too good to be true' examples.

I checked out the other auction, for Springer. As expected, the same blemish-free box and low-res photos. I don't have a G1 Springer box to compare against, but I suspect this is KO as well.

Ask yourself what set of bizarre circumstances led a 'gem dealer' based in Thailand to come into the possession of multiple pristine American-style boxed G1 TF's?

My guess is this seller is either lying or stupid, and I wouldn't touch his auctions.

Broody cuss:
Thanks for taking the time to respond and point out some interesting points to look for. I searched around more after posting this intial post. I seem to remember two different people buying from this seller "Gemspresentation" about a year ago. One person bought an Octane, and the other a Springer. They both graded 80s and 85s from AFA. I also posted my question on TWF2005 board and recieved a response from someone who saw one of the Optimus Primes grade an AFA 85. So I may spring and buy one of each. If you are interested in how the transaction turns out, feel free to email me at: usmcloady@hotmail.com in late october. Hopefully they will be back from being graded at that time. Thanks again for your time and help everyone!

usmcloady wrote:Broody cuss:
Thanks for taking the time to respond and point out some interesting points to look for. I searched around more after posting this intial post. I seem to remember two different people buying from this seller "Gemspresentation" about a year ago. One person bought an Octane, and the other a Springer. They both graded 80s and 85s from AFA. I also posted my question on TWF2005 board and recieved a response from someone who saw one of the Optimus Primes grade an AFA 85. So I may spring and buy one of each. If you are interested in how the transaction turns out, feel free to email me at: usmcloady@hotmail.com in late october. Hopefully they will be back from being graded at that time. Thanks again for your time and help everyone!

Hey, it's your money, but I wouldn't buy any of them, and I certainly wouldn't buy any outside of eBay's protection. This just smacks of a scam. None of those figures are even close to amount of money they are asking (I'd pay $800-$1000 for a graded 9.0 Prime, and about $600 graded for either Octane or Springer). Please reconsider and shop around more!

Razorclaw,
Thanks for the advice. I talked to the seller and I am getting them for about 1/3 of the asking prices. I know the Optimus that was bought from this seller about a year ago was graded an AFA 85 and then sold on Ebay for $3500! I have also seen Springer in an AFA 85 graded sell from $565-$1200! And the Octane normally on gets around $400-600 for an AFA 85. If I decide to complete the deal I already told the seller I will buy 1 of the items from them on Ebay, and withhold the feedback until all of them are recieved in the mail. That way I can file a claim of some sort if there is a problem. I'm also paying with a Credit Card in order to file a charge back should a problem arise that Paypal will not take care of. The seller has 100% feedback and I now know of 3 people (after researching the internet the past day) that have already bought TFs from Gemspresentation. All three have said that the product was legit. I'm still pondering because it is alot of $$ period. Once again thanks for the input and suggestions!
SK