Encore Metroplex KO - Update
Wednesday, December 24th, 2008 8:59PM CST
Categories: Toy News, Site Articles, Store NewsPosted by: Stormrider Views: 59,108
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I spoke with TFSource.com spokesman, Curt, regarding the fake Encore Metroplex's that were sold. He assured me that only a small portion of their stock was affected. Curt had this to say:
Only a fraction of the orders purchased in December from us are the KO, so if yours shipped before December it is 100% authentic. We purchased from 4 different suppliers to get enough inventory for the holiday sale, and less than 10% of the stock shipped was the holiday sale. If your order shipped before December then, you have nothing to worry about.
In talking with other online retailers, it seems that the KO Metroplex came from one particular factory in China. As many of you will recall, a KO Metroplex was released this summer but in a different package. The illegal manufacturer most likely swapped the boxes this fall to disguise them as Encore figures in order to compete with the legitimate toys.
Update:
D Unit has reported that TFSource will be shipping authentic Encore Metroplex replacements to customers that received a KO. TFSource wrote:
At our cost, we also have purchased twice the amount of legitimate figures as KO’s shipped out, to fill any claims, from a legitimate supplier. So by all means please send your purchase back no questions asked, and we will send a replacement as well as refund shipping for the inconvenience. Normally we are good at identifying this product but the information regarding the counterfeit wasn’t readily available and we also received so many orders during the holiday, we really weren’t looking for it, so it is our oversight. Apologies for the unfortunate situation.
TFSource also mentioned that they will be taking action against the supplier of the counterfeit Metroplex’s.
We have filed a claim against the seller, as well as contacted Takara/Tomy with his name and address, as well as website, to report him for selling counterfeit products, as well as misrepresenting goods to customers as we have email communication stating that this was legitimate Takara/Tomy product.
To read the entire article, click here.
Only a fraction of the orders purchased in December from us are the KO, so if yours shipped before December it is 100% authentic. We purchased from 4 different suppliers to get enough inventory for the holiday sale, and less than 10% of the stock shipped was the holiday sale. If your order shipped before December then, you have nothing to worry about.
In talking with other online retailers, it seems that the KO Metroplex came from one particular factory in China. As many of you will recall, a KO Metroplex was released this summer but in a different package. The illegal manufacturer most likely swapped the boxes this fall to disguise them as Encore figures in order to compete with the legitimate toys.
Update:
D Unit has reported that TFSource will be shipping authentic Encore Metroplex replacements to customers that received a KO. TFSource wrote:
At our cost, we also have purchased twice the amount of legitimate figures as KO’s shipped out, to fill any claims, from a legitimate supplier. So by all means please send your purchase back no questions asked, and we will send a replacement as well as refund shipping for the inconvenience. Normally we are good at identifying this product but the information regarding the counterfeit wasn’t readily available and we also received so many orders during the holiday, we really weren’t looking for it, so it is our oversight. Apologies for the unfortunate situation.
TFSource also mentioned that they will be taking action against the supplier of the counterfeit Metroplex’s.
We have filed a claim against the seller, as well as contacted Takara/Tomy with his name and address, as well as website, to report him for selling counterfeit products, as well as misrepresenting goods to customers as we have email communication stating that this was legitimate Takara/Tomy product.
To read the entire article, click here.
Credit(s): TFSource.com, D Unit, Narc
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Re: Encore Metroplex KO - Update (855881)
Posted by Narc on December 24th, 2008 @ 9:17pm CST
Posted by Narc on December 24th, 2008 @ 9:17pm CST
Here's un update with the reply from TFsource's Curt to D Unit (the one who originally wrote the review)
And here's a link to the report itself (scroll down to the very bottom for the update):
http://loopydetails.com/index.php?/Core-Articles/what-the-heck-the-encore-12-metroplex-i-got-from-tfsource-is-a-fake.html
Please don't demonize our retailers. They're as much victims as the rest of us.. and they stand to lose more.
*Update - December 23, 2008: Sweet! I just got a reply from TFSource:
"Hi ___________,
We unfortunately didn’t receive any email on Saturday, but we’ve been having email issues all week. Sorry to hear about the Metroplex, please see the below.
No problem and we do apologize for the KO product being shipped, as our policy is never to misrepresent any items to our customers. We rarely carry any KO’s, but if we do we always clearly label them as such. To support our holiday sale we actually ordered from 4 suppliers, of which one shipped the KO’s. Fortunately we were able to catch this after shipping less than 10% of orders with the KO product. We have filed a claim against the seller, as well as contacted Takara/Tomy with his name and address, as well as website, to report him for selling counterfeit products, as well as misrepresenting goods to customers as we have email communication stating that this was legitimate Takara/Tomy product.
At our cost, we also have purchased twice the amount of KO’s shipped out, to fill any claims, from a legitimate supplier. So by all means please send your purchase back no questions asked, and we will send a replacement as well as refund shipping for the inconvenience. Normally we are good at identifying this product but the information regarding the counterfeit wasn’t readily available and we also receive so many orders during the holiday, we really weren’t looking for it, so it is our oversight. Apologies for the unfortunate situation, and the address for mailing your KO Metroplex back is below.
___________
___________
___________
___________
Thanks and Happy Holidays!
Curt"
I'm very glad that they are taking care of this issue immediately and to the best of their abilities. And yes, TFSource is still AAA+ in my books.
And here's a link to the report itself (scroll down to the very bottom for the update):
http://loopydetails.com/index.php?/Core-Articles/what-the-heck-the-encore-12-metroplex-i-got-from-tfsource-is-a-fake.html
Please don't demonize our retailers. They're as much victims as the rest of us.. and they stand to lose more.
Re: Encore Metroplex KO - Update (855883)
Posted by muswp1 on December 24th, 2008 @ 9:22pm CST
Posted by muswp1 on December 24th, 2008 @ 9:22pm CST
I'm glad TF Source is taking action on this. I'm sure they are as pissed as their customers were, especially if they were told the KO's were legit items. And I'm also sure since the KO factory (and probably the seller) in question is in China, absolutely nothing will be done over there to stop them from trying to sell KO's as legit toys.
Re: Encore Metroplex KO - Update (855899)
Posted by fenrir72 on December 24th, 2008 @ 9:50pm CST
Posted by fenrir72 on December 24th, 2008 @ 9:50pm CST
How to stop the KO makers? The law of supply and demand.If there is a demand but no supply, there always will be an enterprising fiend who'll make such products.
Take this incident for instance, prior to Takara's official announcement of Encore #12(Metroplex), there were KO's finding it's way into the gray market right(Metroplex and Metrotitan)? They were packaged IIRC as the 1986 movie boxed set or something. Then a few months later, Takara's bombshell of issuing the white titan............
was probably the feeling felt by the KO makers...................which probably lead to a lot of cancelled orders for their product. So what to do to recoup their dastardly investment? Change the box into Encore(probably also saved on the styrofoam casing used in the pseudo original package as opposed to the clear plastic frame of Encore.
To make this short.........Takara must ISSUE the original products in order tonullify the gray market that has sprung out of the insatiable appetite for G1 toys.
Take this incident for instance, prior to Takara's official announcement of Encore #12(Metroplex), there were KO's finding it's way into the gray market right(Metroplex and Metrotitan)? They were packaged IIRC as the 1986 movie boxed set or something. Then a few months later, Takara's bombshell of issuing the white titan............
was probably the feeling felt by the KO makers...................which probably lead to a lot of cancelled orders for their product. So what to do to recoup their dastardly investment? Change the box into Encore(probably also saved on the styrofoam casing used in the pseudo original package as opposed to the clear plastic frame of Encore.To make this short.........Takara must ISSUE the original products in order tonullify the gray market that has sprung out of the insatiable appetite for G1 toys.
Re: Encore Metroplex KO - Update (855992)
Posted by Savage on December 25th, 2008 @ 1:49am CST
Posted by Savage on December 25th, 2008 @ 1:49am CST
Nice. Way to go, TFSource. That's dedication to the fans, and very noble of them.
Re: Encore Metroplex KO - Update (856080)
Posted by Counterpunch on December 25th, 2008 @ 8:57am CST
Posted by Counterpunch on December 25th, 2008 @ 8:57am CST
Itoldyouso.
Re: Encore Metroplex KO - Update (856088)
Posted by Zeds on December 25th, 2008 @ 9:40am CST
Posted by Zeds on December 25th, 2008 @ 9:40am CST
Well done Curt and TFSource. You always come through to make sure that the customer is satisfied with their purchase. Best of luck with the claim against the supplier who sent the KO plexes to you!
Re: Encore Metroplex KO - Update (856172)
Posted by starfish on December 25th, 2008 @ 3:34pm CST
I feel shifting the blame onto Hasbro is maybe a trifle harsh.
Hasbro is a profit led business, and if they feel the demand is there, then we know they'll try to satify that demand.
But remember we don't have a divine right to these figures - it's Hasbro's call. And they're well within their rights not to release a toy if they don't want to. Indeed, some of the old moulds simply don't exist any more or are irreperably damaged (such as Sludge, IIRC).
But Hasbro choosing not to release a product should NOT be misconstrued as a green light to hit the black market. Hasbro own the rights to these toys, and if they can't / won't release a certain toy, we have to respect that.
To coin an analogy, just because I can't afford ebay rates for a rare CD album doesn't give me the right to illicitly download it.
On a lighter note: Merry Christmas to you all!
Posted by starfish on December 25th, 2008 @ 3:34pm CST
fenrir72 wrote:To make this short... Takara must ISSUE the original products in order to nullify the gray market that has sprung out of the insatiable appetite for G1 toys.
I feel shifting the blame onto Hasbro is maybe a trifle harsh.
Hasbro is a profit led business, and if they feel the demand is there, then we know they'll try to satify that demand.
But remember we don't have a divine right to these figures - it's Hasbro's call. And they're well within their rights not to release a toy if they don't want to. Indeed, some of the old moulds simply don't exist any more or are irreperably damaged (such as Sludge, IIRC).
But Hasbro choosing not to release a product should NOT be misconstrued as a green light to hit the black market. Hasbro own the rights to these toys, and if they can't / won't release a certain toy, we have to respect that.
To coin an analogy, just because I can't afford ebay rates for a rare CD album doesn't give me the right to illicitly download it.
On a lighter note: Merry Christmas to you all!
Re: Encore Metroplex KO - Update (856180)
Posted by Stormrider on December 25th, 2008 @ 4:36pm CST
Posted by Stormrider on December 25th, 2008 @ 4:36pm CST
I agree with everything you said Starfish, as I am sure most other people do to. I think fenrir72 was pointing out that the black market for toys will rise if the demand is not met. If Hasbro or Takara have a plan to release some of the original molds, they need to think ahead about the black market.
On a slightly different topic - it seems too coincidental that KO Metroplex came out one season before the Encore figure. Did the illegal manufacturer get his hands on the original mold while it was getting prepped? I am very curious how these people operate.
On a slightly different topic - it seems too coincidental that KO Metroplex came out one season before the Encore figure. Did the illegal manufacturer get his hands on the original mold while it was getting prepped? I am very curious how these people operate.
Re: Encore Metroplex KO - Update (856233)
Posted by REMINATOR on December 25th, 2008 @ 8:22pm CST
Posted by REMINATOR on December 25th, 2008 @ 8:22pm CST
*Hm, I thought I clicked the submit button. Guess, my comment didn't get through*
Anyhow, mine also have that H2208 on the box too and I got it from ImageAnime. I think it's the real deal since the wheels have rivet, the black chest compartment is not glossy painted, no square box around H2208.
On mine, the left leg flap does not clip onto the main leg securely. So if I roughly move him around, the flap from the leg would fold down. I don't have this problem with the right leg. Does anyone has this problem too or mine is really a KO.
Anyhow, mine also have that H2208 on the box too and I got it from ImageAnime. I think it's the real deal since the wheels have rivet, the black chest compartment is not glossy painted, no square box around H2208.
On mine, the left leg flap does not clip onto the main leg securely. So if I roughly move him around, the flap from the leg would fold down. I don't have this problem with the right leg. Does anyone has this problem too or mine is really a KO.
Re: Encore Metroplex KO - Update (856280)
Posted by fenrir72 on December 25th, 2008 @ 11:44pm CST
Posted by fenrir72 on December 25th, 2008 @ 11:44pm CST
Ditto to Stormrider. Very suspicious or is it coincidental that the KO makers got burned 
with Metroplex or should I say they are trying to recoup their losses with their cloned master molds.
I say it again as I say it a hundred times...............there will always be the black/gray market for such goods unless the original manufacturers provided the highly demanded product.Make it an Ipod,I-phone,Harry Potter books, TF DVDs etc.
In China for instance, TF G1 is one HOT Tamalle............really, no kidding!Blame it on the original Marvel/Sunbow Team who helped create the mythology.
Plus factor in the thousands of dopes who can't tell the real from the fakes and you've got a situation where some enterprising business person will try to fill up the void.
This doesn't justify the deed but let's face reality, someone will do it............make KO's.
How to stamp it out? Already we can see the result..............the release of the official Metroplex negated whatever profit margin the KO were supposed to reap thus now they are forced to repack them as the real thing. But still it didn't stop the KO from being repack no?
Don't buy 'em......well iffy, they are akin to being trophy pieces, heck some museams get burned too by purchasing fake Rembrandts and the works.
with Metroplex or should I say they are trying to recoup their losses with their cloned master molds.I say it again as I say it a hundred times...............there will always be the black/gray market for such goods unless the original manufacturers provided the highly demanded product.Make it an Ipod,I-phone,Harry Potter books, TF DVDs etc.
In China for instance, TF G1 is one HOT Tamalle............really, no kidding!Blame it on the original Marvel/Sunbow Team who helped create the mythology.
Plus factor in the thousands of dopes who can't tell the real from the fakes and you've got a situation where some enterprising business person will try to fill up the void. This doesn't justify the deed but let's face reality, someone will do it............make KO's.
How to stamp it out? Already we can see the result..............the release of the official Metroplex negated whatever profit margin the KO were supposed to reap thus now they are forced to repack them as the real thing. But still it didn't stop the KO from being repack no?
Don't buy 'em......well iffy, they are akin to being trophy pieces, heck some museams get burned too by purchasing fake Rembrandts and the works.
Re: Encore Metroplex KO - Update (856321)
Posted by starfish on December 26th, 2008 @ 3:39am CST
Posted by starfish on December 26th, 2008 @ 3:39am CST
Fenrir, Stormrider, you're both making a lot of sense (more than can be said for myself a lot of the time).
I think Hasbro are doing a goot job, personally. With the Encore series, they're giving the fans what they want and re-issuing many of the more hard-to-obtain old toys, such as Sky Lynx, Metroplex and Omega Supreme. They've also clamped down on KOs being sold on ebay.
I completely agree that it's something that won't go away, that whatever measures are put in place we won't extinguish the trade completely.
I do feel, however, that we could be doing more as a community to help the situation. In some quarters, buying KOs is seen as a perfectly legitimate thing to do, and many online TF dealers trade in KOs. Indeed, even this site's very own news page recently front-paged a story about a new KO WST Tracks.
I'm not saying that more stringent rules will rid us of KOs forever, but I do feel that perhaps the retailers and the more infulential fan sites could give less exposure to them.
I think Hasbro are doing a goot job, personally. With the Encore series, they're giving the fans what they want and re-issuing many of the more hard-to-obtain old toys, such as Sky Lynx, Metroplex and Omega Supreme. They've also clamped down on KOs being sold on ebay.
I completely agree that it's something that won't go away, that whatever measures are put in place we won't extinguish the trade completely.
I do feel, however, that we could be doing more as a community to help the situation. In some quarters, buying KOs is seen as a perfectly legitimate thing to do, and many online TF dealers trade in KOs. Indeed, even this site's very own news page recently front-paged a story about a new KO WST Tracks.
I'm not saying that more stringent rules will rid us of KOs forever, but I do feel that perhaps the retailers and the more infulential fan sites could give less exposure to them.
