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Using Amazon
Amazon follows a similar rule set with a few extra features you need to be aware of.
“Fulfilled by Amazon” does not guarantee a legit product. There have been stories of people buying a product from someone because it was “Fulfilled by Amazon,” meaning the item was in Amazon’s warehouse. While one would think that people wouldn’t store their bootlegs right under Amazon’s nose, they will.
However, customer service is very, very strict and they will help you if you manage to get a bootleg. If you order a figure and receive a bootleg, contact customer service. Usually, they’ll get you a refund and help you with everything else. Same goes for if your figure comes broken.
But don’t use this as a safety net. Imagine you’re Amazon and you’ve received several emails from a single customer who seems to constantly say they purchased a bootleg. Even if every figure is actually a bootleg, there will still be penalties. Amazon has been known to ban people who request too many returns/exchanges.
There are sometimes packaging issues. Anyone who bought the Project Mirai DX game from Amazon knows there was a slight problem with the packaging where the outside cardboard box that held the clip and the AR cards got crushed because Amazon packed the games in bubble envelopes. According to people who have bought figures from Amazon, their items often come with a little bit of damage to the figure boxes. While this isn’t a huge problem for some, anyone who wants a mint condition box should look at who’s fulfilling the order. If Amazon is, you’ll probably want to steer clear.
However, I recently found a figure on sale from someone who packed the item themselves. Usually, people who ship figures know how much we love the boxes and will try their hardest to protect the packaging.
Buying from Facebook Pages
No. Don’t do it. Ever. Even if they are claiming to have pre-orders of authentic products, don’t do it. If they don’t even have a website and are running off of a Facebook page but can somehow afford all of these figures (and not even a storefront), they are bad news. Just don’t buy figures from Facebook pages.
It’s one thing if a figure seller has a Facebook page that talks about their products and gives a link to their website. But if you see a page that just shows pictures and gives you the price, don’t do it.
Disclaimer
I’ve purchased both used and new figures from Amazon and eBay in the past and have received real figures. Using the guidelines above, it is possible to find real figures on those two websites. I don’t discourage you from using them if you’re looking for a certain figure, but I do encourage you to shop wisely. Use this knowledge to avoid drowning in bootlegs.
This likely won’t keep you from ever purchasing a bootleg as the bootleg sellers are getting more and more slick as the years go by, but knowing the red flags should help you avoid obvious ones.
This is a guide created by a fan and is in no way associated with any figure company or specific figure distributor. Following these guidelines will help you to avoid bootleg figures, but there is no guarantee that following the guide will result in you never receiving a bootleg.
Feature Image Art by: Chiku
Bootleg vs Real Images by: Good Smile Company
