[❤Mokyu❤]

It's funny how much cheaper it can be to buy directly from Japan. There were some Madoka figurines for $35 each at the con, but I can get 4/5 of the set for the SAME PRICE from Japan. Of course, you have to factor in shipping fees and a charge if you use a shopping service, but it's still cheaper...

[okaonos]

Some vendors are cheap, some ridiculously expensive. I looked for a East of Eden boxset. Found it at one vendor for $100. A couple aisles down another vendor had the same thing for $50. It really just depends. ACen has no control over what vendors charge really, so if a vendor wants to overcharge, that's their problem. On a similar note, don't forget that some vendors are willing to haggle or make deals, especially on Sunday.

[Dark Spellmaster]

Sunday's are great days to buy and haggle, given that some want to get rid of their stock. Also any items that I liked and didnt' have the money for this year, I took note of about how much they were and I'm going to set aside some for one for next year. Plushies are insanely expensive, and the larger ones even more so. I really didn't see too many with over priced peices.

[myrla]

Dark Spellmaster, on 04 May 2012 - 04:12 PM, said:

Sunday's are great days to buy and haggle, given that some want to get rid of their stock. Also any items that I liked and didnt' have the money for this year, I took note of about how much they were and I'm going to set aside some for one for next year. Plushies are insanely expensive, and the larger ones even more so. I really didn't see too many with over priced peices.

Funny.. i got 3 plushes, one for $15 and 2 for $10 each, and I thought they were a great deal. All handmade, and adorable! =]

I guess it's really what you look for. I look for manga at conventions, but for me it's -always- cheaper on Amazon.

[Voltaire30]

One thing to keep aware of is the product you are purchasing.
Specifically, is it real or not.

Many cheap items are cheap for a reason, they are not legit or the exhibitor got it at a HUGE discount. Now depending on the item, it is possible either way, but one of the unique things that distinguishes our Exhibition Hall from lets say an online store, is that you have the opportunity to review the items right then and there. You can check for the appropriate copyright info. You can check for the appropriate region codes on the DVD/Blu-Ray. You can check for the ST mark on the plush.

Yes there are costs associated with them getting in and selling their goods, but to avoid shipping and have the ability to inspect what you are purchasing, even if it is a bit more expensive, it is usually worth the slight increase in price right?
You wouldn't buy a car online without first checking it out (even if it is cheaper) and making sure it had seats (unless you like seat-less cars ), should anime, manga, plush, etc... be any different?

[chainedbyroses]

Voltaire30, on 04 May 2012 - 11:18 PM, said:

One thing to keep aware of is the product you are purchasing.
Specifically, is it real or not.

Many cheap items are cheap for a reason, they are not legit or the exhibitor got it at a HUGE discount. Now depending on the item, it is possible either way, but one of the unique things that distinguishes our Exhibition Hall from lets say an online store, is that you have the opportunity to review the items right then and there. You can check for the appropriate copyright info. You can check for the appropriate region codes on the DVD/Blu-Ray. You can check for the ST mark on the plush.

Yes there are costs associated with them getting in and selling their goods, but to avoid shipping and have the ability to inspect what you are purchasing, even if it is a bit more expensive, it is usually worth the slight increase in price right?
You wouldn't buy a car online without first checking it out (even if it is cheaper) and making sure it had seats (unless you like seat-less cars ), should anime, manga, plush, etc... be any different?

We should have some sort of course or tutorial on identifying bootlegs to help people out.

Maybe a guide on the main site, maybe take suggestions for it off the forums & other sites (PKMNCollectors has a thorough one). Heck, maybe even a panel at con running once per day so everyone has a chance to see it. An hour would be more than enough, and we could show & bring examples** for that matter too... *brainstorms*

(**I was duped one year here over a Mario star that will probably give me lung cancer from asbestos one day, but it is SO FLUFFY. I could bring my ..... Death Star...? *badumtish* I also have a bunch of Pokemon merch that's prone to rampant eBay bootlegging, official versions imported from Japan that I could bring & compare to their sadder Booty Cousins?)

[Voltaire30]

chainedbyroses, on 04 May 2012 - 11:42 PM, said:

We should have some sort of course or tutorial on identifying bootlegs to help people out.

Maybe a guide on the main site, maybe take suggestions for it off the forums & other sites (PKMNCollectors has a thorough one). Heck, maybe even a panel at con running once per day so everyone has a chance to see it. An hour would be more than enough, and we could show & bring examples** for that matter too... *brainstorms*

(**I was duped one year here over a Mario star that will probably give me lung cancer from asbestos one day, but it is SO FLUFFY. I could bring my ..... Death Star...? *badumtish* I also have a bunch of Pokemon merch that's prone to rampant eBay bootlegging, official versions imported from Japan that I could bring & compare to their sadder Booty Cousins?)

I could run a panel next year, provided I have time, about bootlegs and how to identify them, if that is something that people want to attend.
I can't promise anything right now, but if it is a high demand thing, and it could be held after the hall is closed, I would be more than willing to host one, if I am free, provided it is approved by our panels department, and etc...

[eveille]

I honestly refuse to buy anything at conventions anymore except for possibly a wig for a future cosplay, which is the only thing I bought this year, or I spend my money in the Artists Alley. After taking a trip to Japan and going to Akihabara and Nakano Broadway it's just sickening to see how much they jack up the price of goods over here, granted they do have to ship them over, but still it's outrageous. So much that I refuse to buy anymore at cons, let alone some anime merchandise in general. If there is something I must have I scour the internet for it and if I can't find a reasonable price I don't buy. But that's just me.

[Voxx]

Voltaire30, on 05 May 2012 - 03:14 PM, said:

I could run a panel next year, provided I have time, about bootlegs and how to identify them, if that is something that people want to attend.
I can't promise anything right now, but if it is a high demand thing, and it could be held after the hall is closed, I would be more than willing to host one, if I am free, provided it is approved by our panels department, and etc...

Maybe a page in the programming guide would be helpful like a list of things to look out for and if someone does spot a bootleg there could be information on what to do in case that happens like locating Exhibit Hall staff.

[JujuFox]

chainedbyroses, on 04 May 2012 - 11:42 PM, said:

We should have some sort of course or tutorial on identifying bootlegs to help people out.

Maybe a guide on the main site, maybe take suggestions for it off the forums & other sites (PKMNCollectors has a thorough one). Heck, maybe even a panel at con running once per day so everyone has a chance to see it. An hour would be more than enough, and we could show & bring examples** for that matter too... *brainstorms*

(**I was duped one year here over a Mario star that will probably give me lung cancer from asbestos one day, but it is SO FLUFFY. I could bring my ..... Death Star...? *badumtish* I also have a bunch of Pokemon merch that's prone to rampant eBay bootlegging, official versions imported from Japan that I could bring & compare to their sadder Booty Cousins?)

If it wasn't for PKMN Collectors I wouldn't have noticed all the bootleg Pokemon plush. I'm 99% positive that some of the big ones going for only $10 were booties since they weren't Banpresto or Takara Tomy. : /

[Sapphy]

eveille, on 05 May 2012 - 06:49 PM, said:

After taking a trip to Japan and going to Akihabara and Nakano Broadway it's just sickening to see how much they jack up the price of goods over here

You can't really use the prices in Japan as a really good base for the prices over here, though. I'm not sure if a lot of anime merch sellers over here are actually able to buy from the manufacturer directly, or if they instead buy from a reseller. Sellers local to Japan are more likely able to purchase direct without the middle man, which will lower prices to the consumer. When you've got to buy from a reseller (if this is indeed what American sellers are doing), add in any import costs and expensive shipping, and you're selling to a niche market of whom only a percentage are coming to the convention you're at to buy items, the prices will go up. Aside from the standard "convention markup", they've got to mark up the merchandise quite a bit to make the profit worthwhile.

DavenEvanXaviour, on 05 May 2012 - 07:15 PM, said:

If it wasn't for PKMN Collectors I wouldn't have noticed all the bootleg Pokemon plush. I'm 99% positive that some of the big ones going for only $10 were booties since they weren't Banpresto or Takara Tomy. : /

Those huge things were only ten dollars? Yeah, unless they were American licensed and made, those were bootlegs for sure.

[❤Mokyu❤]

Please, guys, if you suspect someone is selling bootlegs, let staff know! Those vendors should be kicked out.

[ExentricSage]

Vendors will charge what people are willing to pay. It may take a few cons of terrible sales for a vendor to ether lower their prices or quit the con scene.

It's like with anything; look for good deals and ignore the bad ones. I saw a Gurren Lagann box set for $45 on Sunday. I kicked myself for having already paid so much more for the individual two-disks!

[PsychoSora]

Personally I've noticed this quite a bit, but you just have to be a little... cautious. First off, hand made stuff, prepare to pay out the nose, or attempt it on your own if you think you'd like one, but not want to pay your entire weeks paycheck. (Might even make it all that more special)

And also, most of us have smart phones now a days (sorry to those that don't, this doesn't help you much ) Whip out your phone, and research the item you want to purchase. If you can buy it cheaper online (don't forget to factor in Shipping and Handling) perhaps it's better to do it that way. The vendors know that most people aren't going to bother too much. They are going to see an item they like, fall in love, and CHACHING.

All though, yes... there is a certain something my mother and I saw at the convention and were... boggled, by how well they were selling for the price. But, like I said, if you think materials and your time are would be cheaper, make it yourself

(PS: Try setting a budget too.. it REALLY helps)

[JujuFox]

❤Mokyu❤, on 05 May 2012 - 10:56 PM, said:

Please, guys, if you suspect someone is selling bootlegs, let staff know! Those vendors should be kicked out.

Honestly, the thought didn't cross my mind to let them know. Now if they were Pokedoll knockoffs that might have triggered something, but whenever I was walking around the exhibit hall I had specific things I was looking for, so my mind was elsewhere.

[Dark Spellmaster]

myrla, on 04 May 2012 - 04:16 PM, said:

Funny.. i got 3 plushes, one for $15 and 2 for $10 each, and I thought they were a great deal. All handmade, and adorable! =]

I guess it's really what you look for. I look for manga at conventions, but for me it's -always- cheaper on Amazon.

Did you get them in artist Alley? If so where? I saw large and small plush going from 25 to 100 dollars. Namely the poneys.

[AcenFTW!]

This year I bought solely from the artist alley, but I do have to agree, some prices in the E-Hall was quite out of control. Will a Price Ceiling and Price Floor work?

This post has been edited by AcenFTW!: 06 May 2012 - 09:38 PM

[rondo]

What can I say, pony plushies are hot..especially since there aren't too many official ones floating about and many fan made ones are pretty nice.

Bootlegs are why the vendor mix is so different today than say 10 years ago. I remember those bootlegs back then.

This post has been edited by rondo: 07 May 2012 - 07:51 AM

[myrla]

AcenFTW!, on 06 May 2012 - 09:38 PM, said:

This year I bought solely from the artist alley, but I do have to agree, some prices in the E-Hall was quite out of control. Will a Price Ceiling and Price Floor work?

No, it's a free market society. Caveat Emptor - if prices are so high, then don't buy from them. Trying to instill something like that would guarantee the hall would be very, very tiny. How do you regulate things like handmade plushys? My $10 plushy is no bigger than 6" around but my $15 handmade chocobo was over a foot long.

[chainedbyroses]

DavenEvanXaviour, on 05 May 2012 - 07:15 PM, said:

If it wasn't for PKMN Collectors I wouldn't have noticed all the bootleg Pokemon plush. I'm 99% positive that some of the big ones going for only $10 were booties since they weren't Banpresto or Takara Tomy. : /

Some of the big large ones were made by other companies than Banpresto and Takara Tomy -- Play By Play and a number of ancient licensed merch was there this year (giant Dragonite and Marrill anyone?) that I honestly haven't seen since I was a kid, as well as a few big ol' Hasbro and other merch that really shouldn't be so hard to find in the USA (since it was, after all made for sale here). Many of those still had the original tags from the '90s saying $9.99 or $14.99, so the vendors may have just figured to sell at the printed price, whether for consistency, ease of pricing, or just not knowing what to charge for it/what it was worth (not necessarily taking into account the extra cost they could charge for vintage, nor for surprising rarity of the plush -- doubt they've ever been to PKMNCollectors & studied the costs & challenges of retro items lol).

On a side note, a LOT of vendors do not know what some plush is worth (like my Taffetta Caterpie I got a few years ago -- $15 when Y!J easily had it for 5000 Y), and others simply slash their prices hoping the volume sold makes up for the losses off individual sales (eBay principle No.1 : "a cheap sale is better than no sale at all"). Now, on the other hand, a lot of sellers I've spoke to over the years just buy lots in bulk on Yahoo!Japan/stock up before con, & hence why they may only have a few of a certain plush, may not have all the info about them, or may get a little defensive when asked why everything smells vaguely smokey (tobacco smoke may be more common than air in Japan, lol). At the same time, there are a number of folks that either are distributors, know distributors, or have contacts in Japan that are able to buy a ton of stuff and ship it off to them here for prices lower than the going rates on eBay and other import sites (examples coming to mind are brianJapan, a few people on PKMNCollectors, and anyone who's ever bought in bulk from Sunyshore/others' sites & resold the stuff for more). Prices are marked to compete, so if you have one seller near you that has many of the same things for $25, if you put -yours- at $20, you may have an edge over them (cost vs convenience), but at $15 you're virtually guaranteed the sale. I could get into economics, but I'll save that for another time, a panel, or PMs :3.

As for the real booties -- like the blatantly missing body parts Pokemons, or the Mario plush with embroidered game name details & tags not matching or Luigi With No Mustache -- indeed let staff know pronto. Depending on the seller's attitude, you may also want to ask them why Luigi indeed lacks his creeper 'stache (or why Pikachu is missing his face spots, or whatever) -- it can be both helpful (& informative -- some may not even know they had 'em, or the warning signs of them!) AND be potentially entertaining at the same time (*note that I am NOT recommending antagonizing vendors, no matter how fun responses may be to hear about Weegee*).

(....Still kinda kicking myself for missing the ancient Dragonite though. Next Year! *Barrowman!!!*)

[JujuFox]

chainedbyroses, on 09 May 2012 - 06:36 PM, said:

Some of the big large ones were made by other companies than Banpresto and Takara Tomy -- Play By Play and a number of ancient licensed merch was there this year (giant Dragonite and Marrill anyone?) that I honestly haven't seen since I was a kid, as well as a few big ol' Hasbro and other merch that really shouldn't be so hard to find in the USA (since it was, after all made for sale here). Many of those still had the original tags from the '90s saying $9.99 or $14.99, so the vendors may have just figured to sell at the printed price, whether for consistency, ease of pricing, or just not knowing what to charge for it/what it was worth (not necessarily taking into account the extra cost they could charge for vintage, nor for surprising rarity of the plush -- doubt they've ever been to PKMNCollectors & studied the costs & challenges of retro items lol).

I didn't see any ancient Pokemon plush, but I did see giant plushes of Gengar, Meowth, Tepig, Pika, Oshawott, and Snivy, all in the same type of material with same tags. The new Pokemon are almost exclusively made by Tomy, Banpresto, or Pokemon Center, so is it safe to assume those were booties? Here is a pic of them.

[The Fujoshi]

chainedbyroses, on 04 May 2012 - 11:42 PM, said:

We should have some sort of course or tutorial on identifying bootlegs to help people out.

Maybe a guide on the main site, maybe take suggestions for it off the forums & other sites (PKMNCollectors has a thorough one). Heck, maybe even a panel at con running once per day so everyone has a chance to see it. An hour would be more than enough, and we could show & bring examples** for that matter too... *brainstorms*

(**I was duped one year here over a Mario star that will probably give me lung cancer from asbestos one day, but it is SO FLUFFY. I could bring my ..... Death Star...? *badumtish* I also have a bunch of Pokemon merch that's prone to rampant eBay bootlegging, official versions imported from Japan that I could bring & compare to their sadder Booty Cousins?)

I posted this before and I'm surprised the mods didn't make a sticky out of said thread:

http://leafdust.live....com/87163.html

Bootleg vs Fake: Figmas, plushies, etc. and how to spot them.

Ebay also has a lot of bootlegs as well, so it's not just anime conventions. Buyers probably buy the fakes from there and either resell them or assume they are real.

I do agree that some stuff is crazy overpriced Like 80 dollars for a pair of natsume slippers =_=

[Manifested Dreams]

DavenEvanXaviour, on 09 May 2012 - 06:44 PM, said:

I didn't see any ancient Pokemon plush, but I did see giant plushes of Gengar, Meowth, Tepig, Pika, Oshawott, and Snivy, all in the same type of material with same tags. The new Pokemon are almost exclusively made by Tomy, Banpresto, or Pokemon Center, so is it safe to assume those were booties? Here is a pic of them.

Those look like "Toy Factory" brand plush. American company that makes plush for amusement parks/boardwalks/arcades. They are officially licensed to my knowledge.

[chainedbyroses]

DavenEvanXaviour, on 09 May 2012 - 06:44 PM, said:

I didn't see any ancient Pokemon plush, but I did see giant plushes of Gengar, Meowth, Tepig, Pika, Oshawott, and Snivy, all in the same type of material with same tags. The new Pokemon are almost exclusively made by Tomy, Banpresto, or Pokemon Center, so is it safe to assume those were booties? Here is a pic of them.

Not necessarily. There have been several runs of many different plush since Gen5 came out, and many different sets, styles, and promos, so assuming they're bootleg because they're not necessarily of those three (the tags are hard to read, used plush tend to lack papar tags, and you didn't say what/where the image is from) would be overly cautious and potentially slanderous, should they indeed be authentic.

quick edit:

Manifested Dreams, on 09 May 2012 - 07:45 PM, said:

Those look like "Toy Factory" brand plush. American company that makes plush for amusement parks/boardwalks/arcades. They are officially licensed to my knowledge.

Ah, this. Thanks kindly for the ID. I knew there was a US brand out there on these goods, but the name eluded me, apart from Jakks Pacific (*cries in mental agony at though of giant Jakks*) & another small one whose name is eluding me now.

The Fujoshi, on 09 May 2012 - 07:20 PM, said:

I posted this before and I'm surprised the mods didn't make a sticky out of said thread:

http://leafdust.live....com/87163.html

Bootleg vs Fake: Figmas, plushies, etc. and how to spot them.

Ebay also has a lot of bootlegs as well, so it's not just anime conventions. Buyers probably buy the fakes from there and either resell them or assume they are real.

I do agree that some stuff is crazy overpriced Like 80 dollars for a pair of natsume slippers =_=

Mods here or on PKMNCollectors? If meaning PKMN, they already have a stickied tutorial on booties, linked from the intro/welcome linked/bookmarked threads.

Oh, ebay is notoriously Land Of Booty. Hell, I could go on there right now and post a ton of ebay shops exclusively selling factory rejects &/or bootlegs. The trick is to tell if its very faked, or just a poor victim of a Bad Factory Machine, which tends to be harder than it looks, and very YMMV online, especially in cases of stock photos, and recycled photos. Buyer beware, basically.

(Side note: Note that Sad Unloved Rejects are actually a fairly common output in a factory - just look at some of the ones that make it to the shelves, or shoes that are /almost/ right but just a tad smaller than the other, pants that the hem is just a tad diagonal as crud, chocolate that didn't quite mold right, etc. Also note that these tend to wind up online and elsewhere at rockbottom prices -having been bought from the reject bin @ factory at rock bottom- and being cheap or derpy does not inherently make it a spoof created unscrupulously. (To clarify, Tootsie Co. & World's Finest Chocolate's reject/Discounted Sales Shops are very near to me, so I see rejected stuff fairly often -- only thing wrong most of the time is "oopsie" labeling, slightly smooshed product, or molds/patterns not exactly going quite right; not bad per se, but not "store shelf ready" if you will.)

[The Fujoshi]

chainedbyroses said:

The mods here; there was several threads in the past about items as well as bootleg concerns, so I thought there would be a thread or a stick about it due to the dealer room as well as the nature of sellers.

[chainedbyroses]

The Fujoshi, on 09 May 2012 - 08:50 PM, said:

The mods here; there was several threads in the past about items as well as bootleg concerns, so I thought there would be a thread or a stick about it due to the dealer room as well as the nature of sellers.

What if we just then make a new specific "How To Spot And ID Bootleg Merchandise" thread, fill it up with all our cumulative knowledge and info, and thus become so awesome we warrant a sticky for effort, then? I'm game for that.

Heck, we can ask some PokExperts for their BOOTY VS LEGIT pics (don't they have like a decade of samples archived?), and witness a slew of painful poor little Eevees suffering from HerpaDerp Sewing Skillz have a bunch of good examples and pictures of a wider variety than what we alone have as references. Booty Mario Star and Legit $15-odd taffeta!Caterpie are willing to pose & tell their tails, and some Square Enix Play Arts that were either a steal @ $20 if their legit, or the cheapest high-quality booties I have ever ever seen of the set (*not sure whether to feel a little proud of my set or to blush and lol nervously*).

[Dark Spellmaster]

^this

Sounds like a plan. I'd love to read up on that becuase I was going to hunt down some specific plushies for next year.

[myrla]

Dark Spellmaster, on 06 May 2012 - 09:11 PM, said:

Did you get them in artist Alley? If so where? I saw large and small plush going from 25 to 100 dollars. Namely the poneys.

The Chocobo was in Artist Alley, near the front of the AA walking path. I'm blanking on the name right now, but I know them because of Dr Who cosplay and other amazing goods.

The other plush was all the way in the back corner of EH near where you entered for Autographs at a vendor, but they are homemade.

[The Fujoshi]

chainedbyroses, on 10 May 2012 - 01:42 AM, said:

What if we just then make a new specific "How To Spot And ID Bootleg Merchandise" thread, fill it up with all our cumulative knowledge and info, and thus become so awesome we warrant a sticky for effort, then? I'm game for that.

Heck, we can ask some PokExperts for their BOOTY VS LEGIT pics (don't they have like a decade of samples archived?), and witness a slew of painful poor little Eevees suffering from HerpaDerp Sewing Skillz have a bunch of good examples and pictures of a wider variety than what we alone have as references. Booty Mario Star and Legit $15-odd taffeta!Caterpie are willing to pose & tell their tails, and some Square Enix Play Arts that were either a steal @ $20 if their legit, or the cheapest high-quality booties I have ever ever seen of the set (*not sure whether to feel a little proud of my set or to blush and lol nervously*).

I can help with this. I have more links as well as Ebay stock photos that I can contribute.

Personally....I buy from Playasia, Playtechasia, Toranoana as well as Jlist. (I wonder about jlist though....the shimpan I bought seemed bootleg and cheap ._.)

Sadly there are bootleg video games as well so this isn't limited to popular plushies. Many of these video games are on ebay/Best buy (!) and other major retail chains and you can't tell until you actually buy the copy and put said disk in, which is why it's a pet peeve of mine to buy brand new rather than used video games, unless it's impossible (like SMT nocturne.)