Buyer beware: KO City Commander

Fans Project need to find out who is doing this and send the boys round to break some heads.

Okay now I am more then a little worried about the set I purchased..

I bought a City Commander set from eBay and payment was sent on June 17, 2009.

It is now into July, and I have yet to receive the item. It was being sold by a seller in Singapore.. and I am not sure now that the item I purchased is the real deal, nor am I sure if the Item is even being sent to me. I was told it could take up to 4 weeks with mailing to receive packages from that part of the world. I don't think anything of the time delay because I ordered my Henkei Starscream from another Singapore Seller and I just got that last week, the day before I posted my collection.

But the FP item cost me 180.00 plus 20.00 shipping. I thought I was getting a deal, but after learning that a Bootleg is being circulated out there, I now wonder if I paid for the Bootleg instead of the real thing..

If there are any other TF fans who can give me some insight with anyone who has purchased form eBay seller: physicsboyboy

that would really be appreciated.. I read his feedback and normally don't purchase from anyone below a 100%

his score was 97.5% so I figured I was still okay.. but now, I don't know. I am kinda worried...

I mean 200.00 is allot for me to spend on a figure upgrade, and to not get what I paid for at all is one thing.. but to get a bootleg is totally worse in my opinion.. because if I do finally receive this item and it is a Knock Off, that will mean that I got something less then I paid for, and leaving feedback will be my only recourse, while the seller gets to keep my money..If I never get the item, at least eBay will refund my money.

what sucks about this Hobby, is that we share it with allot of over seas, and no offense, Asian Sellers and Buyers..

who have the capacity to Bootleg and mimic almost to a "T" the original product..like so many shops in Korea where I could by 50.00 custom Nike shoes...

Now we have our own Bootleggers here in South America, but they do such a shotty job that you can tell it is a bootleg.. and most of the packages are in Spanish and called some thing else..

so I am worried now.. and really, really on edge..and I will be until this Item I ordered comes in..and I can inspect it and make sure it is legit..

can anyone translate that page as to the item problems for me, or is there a list of specific things to look for, so I can refer back to it in case I suspect the item I am STILL waiting for??

that would really help me guys.. thanks

So a company who uses someone elses intellectual property is now having it done to them?

Skywarp 2, let me do the dirty job for u again.

http://www.actoys.net/bbs/read.php?tid-376369.html
From Actoys user lovemg, he said the box of the KO CC is quite soft, apparently poor quality paper and easily torn. Same for instruction booklet.

When connect the ultra magnus truck to the trailer, the connection is poor. When lift up, the bloody trailer drop! So if u need to lift up, have to hold on both the truck and trailer.

Plastic quality is ok, colour is also not too bad.

Ok, party time. Robot mode (thats when the problems (plural) come)
Leg part is ok. Only click on it once, so how durable remain to be seen.
The problem parts is the shoulder piece, it will just drop off easily. Not tight at all due to gaps.

Next is the gun. Apparently the trailer parts that suppose to transform into big gun, cant transform well due to some slots inaccuracies.

Also the paint job not properly done, a lot of spilled over. Some water marks as well. Gaps here and there. There are some stains at the leg part.

Behind the shoulders there are 2 gun slots, one is too tight the other is too loose.

So his conclusion: get this if you have not enough money to buy the real thing. It is good for display, not to play with. Unless you prepare pick up pieces here and there.

GetterDragun wrote:So a company who uses someone elses intellectual property is now having it done to them?

I agree...but...I think the point of order is more to the fact that consumers should be aware.

I don't feel bad for FansProject and I don't think they're asking for anyone or thing to come to their defense on the matter.

That being said, we should be aware of inferior product...

Real Devastator wrote:Skywarp 2, let me do the dirty job for u again.

http://www.actoys.net/bbs/read.php?tid-376369.html
From Actoys user lovemg, he said the box of the KO CC is quite soft, apparently poor quality paper and easily torn. Same for instruction booklet.

When connect the ultra magnus truck to the trailer, the connection is poor. When lift up, the bloody trailer drop! So if u need to lift up, have to hold on both the truck and trailer.

Plastic quality is ok, colour is also not too bad.

Ok, party time. Robot mode (thats when the problems (plural) come)
Leg part is ok. Only click on it once, so how durable remain to be seen.
The problem parts is the shoulder piece, it will just drop off easily. Not tight at all due to gaps.

Next is the gun. Apparently the trailer parts that suppose to transform into big gun, cant transform well due to some slots inaccuracies.

Also the paint job not properly done, a lot of spilled over. Some water marks as well. Gaps here and there. There are some stains at the leg part.

Behind the shoulders there are 2 gun slots, one is too tight the other is too loose.

So his conclusion: get this if you have not enough money to buy the real thing. It is good for display, not to play with. Unless you prepare pick up pieces here and there.

As always Real Devastator, you are a Diamond in a rough patch of Cubic Zirconia!

I shall wait till the item shows, if ever, and I will take pics to confirm that i own the real deal.. thanks man!

as to the Hasbro Intellectual Property being used by FP and then being Bootlegged..

well it is Ironic.. but If I buy a Piece from FP, I want the real deal not some cheap ass copy..

GetterDragun wrote:So a company who uses someone elses intellectual property is now having it done to them?

Um, i don't think this hurts FP at all. They got rid of all their sets already. If anything, this hurts the consumer, not FP.

Wait, I'm not clear on what the defect is here...? I just bought a set with a Magnus figure off of ebay recently, what should I be looking for?

Covenant wrote:Wait, I'm not clear on what the defect is here...? I just bought a set with a Magnus figure off of ebay recently, what should I be looking for?

Here you go...

Real Devastator wrote:Skywarp 2, let me do the dirty job for u again.

http://www.actoys.net/bbs/read.php?tid-376369.html
From Actoys user lovemg, he said the box of the KO CC is quite soft, apparently poor quality paper and easily torn. Same for instruction booklet.

When connect the ultra magnus truck to the trailer, the connection is poor. When lift up, the bloody trailer drop! So if u need to lift up, have to hold on both the truck and trailer.

Plastic quality is ok, colour is also not too bad.

Ok, party time. Robot mode (thats when the problems (plural) come)
Leg part is ok. Only click on it once, so how durable remain to be seen.
The problem parts is the shoulder piece, it will just drop off easily. Not tight at all due to gaps.

Next is the gun. Apparently the trailer parts that suppose to transform into big gun, cant transform well due to some slots inaccuracies.

Also the paint job not properly done, a lot of spilled over. Some water marks as well. Gaps here and there. There are some stains at the leg part.

Behind the shoulders there are 2 gun slots, one is too tight the other is too loose.

So his conclusion: get this if you have not enough money to buy the real thing. It is good for display, not to play with. Unless you prepare pick up pieces here and there.

*whew*

Thanks!

Thats just wrong man

I do feel bad for Fansprojects. They're a very small company, so I feel bad that people are ripping them off. They can't take it quite as easily as HasTak.

Just one more thing to watch out for, I guess. I already got CC, so I'm good. As much as I like the idea of getting something cheaply (like the G1 knockoffs), I never end up getting it because of these sort of quality issues.

I just got my CC in today! Wow, talk about Karma!!

I took some shots of the box, can anyone tell me by the shots if this is the real deal?
you can't see it, but the tape is a circle..
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l262/ ... 0710_4.jpg
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l262/ ... 0710_5.jpg

I know, I know ... I suck at digital photography...
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l262/ ... 0710_8.jpg

okay I opened it, and want your opinions.. I think I have the actual one, and not a bootleg..




there is a small piece of what looks like cellophane or tissue paper between the joints..
is that something common to the original kit?


I didn't see any bleeds in the paint schemes..

Looks like the real deal man. But you'll know more once you open it up. The joints and everything should be super tight since he's should be the first batch. I mean mine was. I only have CC and PC, but you can def tell the difference between the two. PC was a lil looser then CC.

Form the gun and show us the seams.

Set the shoulder and arm pieces on, see if you can get them to lock on solidly. They're actually pretty tight when applied correctly.

Prime Evil wrote:Looks like the real deal man. But you'll know more once you open it up. The joints and everything should be super tight since he's should be the first batch. I mean mine was. I only have CC and PC, but you can def tell the difference between the two. PC was a lil looser then CC.

well the joints are tight, and there are these little black circles which I assume are pins.. they are on the back side of the figure...in trailer mode, by where the knees fold up..between what I assume is the waist/crotch section..

Counterpunch wrote:Form the gun and show us the seams.

Set the shoulder and arm pieces on, see if you can get them to lock on solidly. They're actually pretty tight when applied correctly.

I don't have my Ultra Magnus just yet, it is in the mail from another ebay member..but I have my Henkei version..should I try it with him and shoot a pic of it here??

skywarp-2 wrote:

Counterpunch wrote:Form the gun and show us the seams.

Set the shoulder and arm pieces on, see if you can get them to lock on solidly. They're actually pretty tight when applied correctly.

I don't have my Ultra Magnus just yet, it is in the mail from another ebay member..but I have my Henkei version..should I try it with him and shoot a pic of it here??

Yeah, try it with him. You're just doing a fitting to see if everything locks into place nice and correctly. If those fit well, then there's a good chance you have an original.

w8 a minute would bbts carry ko shadow commander and not know it if so

skywarp-2 wrote:okay I opened it, and want your opinions.. I think I have the actual one, and not a bootleg..




there is a small piece of what looks like cellophane or tissue paper between the joints..
is that something common to the original kit?


I didn't see any bleeds in the paint schemes..

FAKE (maybe no tissue on mine and it had the symbol for copyright not the word) but mine was sold this all memory)

okay, so here are the images of the full armor, and the gun..

By the way, I am Going Back through this thread and changing some images to direct links

Henkei Prime in Ultra Magnus' Clothes.. LOL




here are some detail shots..




the shoulders were tight, and I mean really tight! I thought I was gonna break the thing trying to get it off, now the right side was a bit tighter then the left.. but both were very fitted and hard to remove.. the legs at the base were a pain, and I kept thinking I was gonna break the thing putting Prime's feet in there.. the hands and head were very hard to move, I thought they were gonna break until they moved finally..

the gun handle was almost like it was stuck in the fist.. had to pull at that really really hard..

if it is a Fan's Project KO, then who ever they are, they are getting allot better are reproducing the mold..

I need to know if this is the legit one or not so I can leave feedback to my eBay seller, I purchased this from in Singapore..


So, do I have the real one??

Hmmm, I'm just going by the comparison's on the Fans Project site, but it might actually be a fake. You should go to the site yourself since you can examine it better then me.

http://www.fansproject.com/

Prime Evil wrote:Hmmm, I'm just going by the comparison's on the Fans Project site, but it might actually be a fake. You should go to the site yourself since you can examine it better then me.

http://www.fansproject.com/

well I went there, and apparently the shadow commander has drill holes, and the city commander one in the siebertron gallery does not.. so I'm still not sure, but the sticker sheet is dead on, and the box has circled tape holding the flaps on..

so I am not sure..

but I feel like I am pretty confident I have the original..

take a look at the back and front of my images and compare with the one in the gallery here, and then let me know what you think..

that would suck if we both have a bootleg.. and would make me paranoid as to whether FP's version is bootlegged all around..


my version has these pin holes on the top of the crotch piece:
http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/ ... 1585/1/40/

My sticker sheet has the same striations on the sides outside of the inner box as this one does:
http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/ ... 1585/1/79/

the front side looks like this with no drill holes: (even the left hand is missing a slight amount of blue on the tip of the fist like this image..
http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/ ... 585/1/124/

and here you can see the back of the shoulders have no holes, and the tabs on the towers on top have the same curvature..
http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/ ... 585/1/136/

After the shadow commander KO, the city commander KO news followed, it (the news) surfaced about 1 1/2 weeks ago, prompted some stores/collectors who aim to sell their stocks at high aftermarket prices to pour their pieces onto market at $150-$180 range. I still see room for further dive.

Good luck people!

Cheers,
Coolpop

I think the best way to tell would be forming the gun and seeing if the seams are tight like CP said. Another thing would be to check the paint applications. Mine was super clean with no drips, overspray or anything like that. Lastly, ninocam, you're a troll aren't you?


::EDIT::
Just remembered a couple things. The Shadow Commander KOs had retaped boxes. You said yours was sealed with the circular tape right? Also CC definitely had no holes because that version was glued closed instead of screws used in the two (upcoming 3) later uses of that body type. The SC did come with plugs to fill the screw holes. I can't remember if PC does as well. I'm kinda stumped man.

No your right Flux Convoy, Both PC and SC bot had the plugs.

Skywarp-2, judging by the pucture of your CC's gun and clean paint lines it looks like the real deal to me. Do the forearm pieces fit on snugly on Primes arms? Real_Devastator said the KO version arm pieces don't stay on at all.

Firebird wrote:No your right Flux Convoy, Both PC and SC bot had the plugs.

Skywarp-2, judging by the pucture of your CC's gun and clean paint lines it looks like the real deal to me. Do the forearm pieces fit on snugly on Primes arms? Real_Devastator said the KO version arm pieces don't stay on at all.

yeah the fore arms snap on snuggly, and there are no problems with them falling off.. actually the whole kit is very tight..

I was afraid I was gonna break something half the time..

But I would definitely recommend that if you do get the CC kit from Fan's Project.. that you keep the Ultra Magnus armor on him, and not put it on and remove too much... that is because I'm a scaredy cat with stuff like this... especially when I have some thing that cost 200.00.

But I do feel better now that I think I have the actual kit..

I can see how somebody would want the D.I.A. Kit for Henkei Prime..

What I didn't want to do was use that kit on Henkei Prime because I was afraid I'd somehow scrape paint off of him, and honestly, Henkei Prime is the best Damn Prime I have had since the Masterpiece!

but My Henkei Prime came out unscathed.. and I am happy to see that my sticker sheet, and box match the images of the figure in seibertron's gallery..

I busted out my CC, bought before all the KO stuff came out. It matches your photos. I think your CC is the real deal.

I think they changed the mold with SC a bit because my CC doesn't have some of the screwholes that SC sports.

The real test, of course, is tight joints ands connections. Since yours is tight, as it should be, then I'd say yours is the real deal!

I think you have a genuine Fans Project City Commander upgrade. It looks really good and sounds like everything fits right. One sure way to tell is by simply flipping out the little tabs on the back of his feet and see if the black pins are visible. If they are it is more than likely real, if not, well then...

Gauntlet101010 wrote:I busted out my CC, bought before all the KO stuff came out. It matches your photos. I think your CC is the real deal.

I think they changed the mold with SC a bit because my CC doesn't have some of the screwholes that SC sports.

The real test, of course, is tight joints ands connections. Since yours is tight, as it should be, then I'd say yours is the real deal!

Phew! I was totally worried about that kit like almost all day today..I was kinda worried because the gun didn't fit as tightly together as i would have figured, But I kept checking it over and it looked fine to me, and the pics show it as the one in the seibertron toy gallery.. so I suppose it is just that way..

but when I went to FP's website and saw their bootleg article, I began to get worried again..because the screw holes, but it is like you said, the CC didn't have them, which is cool.. and I remember reading somewhere that FP did some minor upgrades to the SC version..

Downshift7 wrote:I think you have a genuine Fans Project City Commander upgrade. It looks really good and sounds like everything fits right. One sure way to tell is by simply flipping out the little tabs on the back of his feet and see if the black pins are visible. If they are it is more than likely real, if not, well then...

yeah those tabs are there, however they didn't seem to fit snug, but when I posed him and took pics, the back tabs didn't move, so I suppose it stays on there some how... just figured that was gonna fit a bit tighter then it did..

anyways, I think i have the real one, and until we get some better KO reports with clearer images, we will all be worried I'm sure..

but it is like fanpop said and could be likely..

the CC kits have been showing up online for like 160.00 to 180.00 ever since news broke of the Knock Offs circulating.. so either the 180.00 is a result of collector fears, or the preferences to get the KO's or those 160.00 to 180.00 kits are the actual KO's themselves..

in either case, this whole situation is stressful, and I have placed the CC kit back in it's box and sealed it (I have a special patented method for pealing tape and using the same tape to reseal..without disturbing the box or the tape's stickiness)

So I would prefer to forget about this for awhile, otherwise I'll obsess about it and never have any peace of mind...

3RD party KO's only hurt

if there is a KO of a mass produced item in a different package that is one thing, but to do a KO of a 3RD party figure and then market it in the same box to fool those who buy it into a false sense of security is low.. and despicable..

well im still not sure about that being a real CC. i saw a review of the KO SC, the guy knew it was a KO when he bought it and it was tight all around no parts falling off and the like. so who knows. the point is do you like your CC and are you happy with it? if so then your golden in my opinion. im kinda wondering if the pics on the FP website of the "KOs" are not FP's bad test shots before the mold was finalized, and they are the ones making the "KOs" to get more out of their "limited" product runs. i personally would rather have the KO from a place like KOToys and know its a KO then take a chance on not getting what i pay for, i feel for ya there skywarp-2.

Dude. This thread was 6 months old. Let it die