Many discount stores are stocking up on fakes of license film and television merchandise, reports News.
While some counterfeit products are easier to spot than others, the matching logos and well-loved characters make it difficult for the unsuspecting shoppers.
Whether the logo itself is slightly different or the characters accessories seem slightly off, the products may seem appealing as they are prices considerably cheaper than legitimate licensed products – but you do get what you pay for.
Popular titles such as Avengers,Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Star Wars, Minecraft, Superman and Frozen are all being ripped off and the merchandise is not only daggy, but could also be dangerous for kids.
It looks like LEGO, but it’s actually LEBQ
“Counterfeits are getting more sophisticated,” says Tom Godfrey, from consumer advocacy group CHOICE.
“So in some cases the toys may well look good from the outside, but what we find is that they won’t meet any of the safety standards. Genuine toys will have all the materials tested, all using the types of plastic that are known to be safe. Counterfeit goods haven’t gone through any of these tests, and so they won’t have an approved mark on the back showing the suitable age range for the product.”
Buying from known sellers if a good way to safeguard against fakes, and if you suspect you’ve bought inferior, potentially unsafe products you should return them immediately.
Owner of Just Collectables, Hal Rosenburg, has been in the action figure business for over 20 years, and he believes you need to follow your instincts and shop with reputable people.
“If you do need to buy something from a website,” says Hal, “you want to look at how complete the descriptions are, and the level of communication. If you see something on eBay that’s listed as just a loose figure in a bag, you don’t always know what you’re going to get.”
In terms of making payment, says Hal, “make sure you use PayPal because you’ve got a layer of protection there. What they do is automatically hold your payment for a period of time so you have recourse straight away if something isn’t right and you can get your money back.”
