Is it Ever a GOOD Idea to Buy Bootleg Merchandise?

With the influx of Sailor Moon products hitting the shelves, copycat fakes were destined to make their way onto the market. You can finally find amazing prices for that figure you've been wanting, and it's completely affordable! Are you being fooled? The answer is yes, yes you are. I can say without a shadow of a doubt in my mind that if the price is less than half the regular price of the item, you're buying yourself a Saban Moon; when it arrives at your doorstep a wave of disappointment will quickly set in. I have an article all about how to spot a fake item versus legitimate merchandise, so check it out here if you haven't already. But today I'm asking, is it ever a GOOD idea to buy flea market figures? Keep reading to find out why it might be worth your while to check out some made in China goodies.

Disclaimer: Before making any purchase, you need to know the dangers of buying fraudulent merchandise. These products could have harmful paints on them, or could have been made with harmful chemicals. The items are typically unregulated and untested. There's no quality control, and no way to ensure that you're getting the product as it is initially presented online or in person; that onus is on the seller directly who is looking to keep up the reputation of their store. I do not endorse criminal behaviour. I am outlining some of the advantages if you were to receive fraudulent items. Educate yourself on the dangers of purchasing fake goods, buy smart and safely! And never give these items to children!

Reason Number One: Some Copies are Pretty Damn Good

Photo is the property of thanksback on Ebay

Some people are looking to collect, while others want to have something pretty to look at every now and then. Both factors are completely legitimate, and I buy figures for both reasons. Unfortunately I have to keep my expensive figures tucked away because I don't have a case to display them in currently. If they were to be on display, I'd be leaving them open to damage and having pieces lost. But for $15 I can set my worries aside and display the figure while not being too hard up about the fact that it could get damaged. For that price it's worth the gamble. I get my pretty figure on display and can use it as a conversation piece, instead of stashing it away like Gollum and his ring. Some copycat figures are really well copied and display nicely. For a reasonable price you get what you pay for. If you can't afford the big price tag on official items, going a step lower isn't always a big disappointment. They're likely to have defects, but if you take your chances you could end up with a nice piece.

Reason Number Two: They Make for Good Replacement Pieces

 I hate when I lose or break something from an original set. With my Kyouko Sakura figure (from Madoka Magica) I broke a piece of the stand trying to display it. I looked all over the company's website to purchase a replacement stand and couldn't find one anywhere. Then my brother suggested I purchase a knock off Madoka figure to get the stand. GENIUS! For $10 I was able to get a replacement stand and make her set complete again. Some figures come with tiny pieces that are destined to get lost. You can save yourself a lot of heartache by buying a cheaper product to replace that small piece. I think it's crazy that the manufacturers don't offer small sets for replacement pieces, so it's an unfortunate compromise I had to make. It's a lot better than slamming down another $60 to get the figure all over again, so if you're not object to alternative methods then knock offs might be worth looking into.

Reason Number Three: Endless Hilarity

Some fake products look almost identical to their real counterparts. While other fake products hit every branch in the ugly tree on their way down from China. Whether you're looking for an awesome gag gift, or like collecting hilarious oddities, nothing beats those products that make their worst attempt at mimicking real merchandise. There's an awesome Tumblr page dedicated to hilarious Sailor Moon ripoffs, but my personal favourite is Planet Girl (shown above). There's a bit of a weird mystique to uncommon bootleg items that make them more interesting than the real merchandise itself. If you haven't considered collecting some strange pieces then maybe hit the flea market. You'll never know what treasures you'll find there.

So those are my three reasons for considering bootleg merch. Once again, please be careful when buying these items as you never know what you're going to get. Consider the risks, and buy responsibly. And I must reiterate, NEVER give fraudulent merchandise as a gift or toy to children. Lead paint is still a problem even with legitimate products, and there's always a risk involved with buying these products.

Thanks and I hope you enjoyed reading! Leave a comment about your experience with buying fake merchandise, I'd love to know if you have any good or bad stories to share.