Smith Lord Creations' Selling FAKE Yak Face and More

Selling bootlegs, fakes, repro, or whatever you call them, is wrong and should NOT be supported.
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[@Chris365Smith]

Junkman... Its Smith Lord Creations. Im not one to comment on youtube, forums etc as I don't see the point as it is irrelevant to me how others think and I can't control that ..... How I see it, there's always going to be a devide, and what it all comes down to is money, it shouldnt be about that, these are toys and a very important part of my life when growing up, everyone has there opinion and there entitled to it. So the worst case scenario happened and someone tried to sell one of my Yaks as original straight away for £179, wasn't a member of my group, was a member of Echobase... So obvs there's good and bad everywhere... Now it was my choice to name and shame that person, as i wasnt happy like everyone else and I have said things I shouldn't have, ... People won't get far trying to sell one of my figures as original believe me, and ive got to disagree with your video, saying its not up to the buyer to ask questions???? Yes it is, when i am buying something I always ask a question... And again your point about sone maybe putting them with a bunch of 10 figures?? Again my figures are £40, so the seller would have to still be asking a large asking price to make profit on that and the other 10 figures.... People just need to ask a simple question, so since this episode with this very dodgy buyer, i have decided to take action on getting SLC on my figures, now I know for a FACT that most still won't be satisfied but that's the change I'm making. I am not here to make enemies, but to help people complete collections, if i was the person people think I am, i could of do them EXACT with the original COOs and that is not my intention. People can try and force to get these stopped, but it will never happen, so without trying to be rude, the collectors need to get used to these, as i am helping the other side who can't afford or simply can't justify paying ridiculous prices. If there wasn't a demand, I wouldn't be doing this, and if the prices weren't so high I wouldn't be doing this. There is a lot more bad, brutal, terrible things happening in the world, than for collectors to be arguing or calling each other out over star wars... Yes its your love of Star Wars that makes you passionate but its also our Love of Star Wars which makes us passionate and if anyone ever tries to sell my goods in the wrong way they would be dealt with. Rant over. Thanks Smith Lord Creations

[@ThatJunkman]

Thanks for the reply. I be up for doing a Q&A or let you come on to say your side. I am 100% up to having both opinions here. My only real concern is trying to get it so close. Even down to the glue pattern on carded fakes. There is no need for that. Also could easily make the figure a little taller or wider. Or maybe a very slight bent in the arm. Something that makes the figure 85% the same not 99%. Then it’s easy for us that collect to tell and those that want a figure can have it. I have no issue with the custom stuff or even doing figures of it’s easy to tell it’s not real (more than just a miss COO). I don’t think your attend is to rip any one. But it’s a very good chance that it will do that. Either on purpose or by mistake. And yes I have got use to it, so I mostly stopped collecting cause it’s too hard to know anymore. But even use to it, doesn’t mean I can’t speak out or warn others. Again be more than happy to give you the time to state your side. I would love for viewers to hear both. [e-mail]

[@Chris365Smith]

I appreciate the reply, ok so the COO on an orignal is quite noticeable, example you have the coo, LFL and the year, so without i feel that is more than 1%, difference but that's my opinion, i feel that if you are buying it online, all you have to do is ask the question, the seller CAN NOT reply and say I'm not sure if its real or not like they do with Repro Weapon, which I know a lot do that.... The figures, they can't get away with it when asked the question, ebay actually advise buyers to ask as many questions as possible but all you need is one question. And if that seller lies, then you are entitled to your refund.... And i would appreciate and love buyers to contact me direct if this ever happens and give me the sellers name, this would get rid of the dodgy sellers, and obviously if you are buying one in the flesh, all it is, is a check of a leg... Come on its not hard Junkman, you know this lol.... and after last episode with the dodgy seller, I don't see it happening often at all. Again thats my opinion. On my cardbacks, yes we did the waffle effect as i do want them professionally sealed on, and i dont want a cheap own kit sticky one sided blisters, the main point of my cardbacks which you can't of been informed about or you wouldn't of mentioned the waffle effect, is that I have Smith Lord Creations printed on the back of all my cardbacks. So I do appreciate your opinion, and I 100% understand your and collectors side, but I also 100% understand the side of the collectors I'm doing these for.... the SLC on all figures and Smith Lord Creations on all cardbacks I feel is enough to determine if its genuine or not, and I dont think collectors have to be educated much at all to determine if original or not. Thanks again Chris

[@mikecuntala9675]

I definitely appreciate chris’ effort to stop people from selling his figures as real. Putting a brand on them would definitely go a long way. Because we don’t need this to become a Toy Toni situation years down the road. Thanks Junkman. And Thanks Chris for trying your best to keep the scammers from taking advantage of your fine product

[@Chris365Smith]

@@mikecuntala9675 Yes thank you.... And i totally understand your views...it would definitely not become another Toy Toni situation, this isn't my intention... Thanks

[@jellyrollbaker]

I love Star Wars and just started again with collecting some of the old figures. I had maybe 4 or 5 Yak Faces in the early 80s because they were in the dump bin in the toy store for $1,99....😢 And now i would like to have him again but won't pay stupid money for it..... So i thank Chris for making this Awesome figures!

[@Villafarrell]

The Clone Action Figure War has begun...

[@scottakanumba1heathen379]

Aren't those "Uzay" (sp?) figures considered repros if not bootleg?

[@anthonyklenke4385]

@@scottakanumba1heathen379 I believe those are universally known as bootlegs since they were taking toys currently in production and selling them rather than importing/licensing official Kenner products.

[@garym6315]

Two reasons to collect figures; you love the designs/playability or you want to make money by owning rare things. If the representation is 90% accurate, people who love the figures shouldn't care that they are reproductions. The only people who are impacted are the ones who think their investments are being threatened.

[@gildad2000]

Disagree. I have a modest collection of vintage Star Wars stuff. I have no intention of selling any of it. It just makes me happy to know I have real vintage stuff. I got duped into buying a stormtrooper on a repro card on eBay when I first started, I didn’t know. Now I do and it sucks I have to pay such close attention because people are trying to sneak in fakes.

[@emilflognoid1532]

@@gildad2000 I agree with your disagreement to Gary m, but your experience doesn’t make repros wrong, it makes that eBay seller wrong.

[@user-do2ev2hr7h]

Here's the thing: even if you're not using this type of repro to run a scame (and I tend to agree there are many collectors just want them for those innocent purposes), it's still something that is technically a bootleg and by it's nature can be used to defraud people. Neither of those things are cool and (IMHO and the eyes of the law) outweigh someone's desire to have a rare figure in their personal collection.

[@EternityJMan]

Seems that you’re all forgetting about having something special. How many people in the world (with a suitable bank account) would collect classic cars, if a manufactor was pumping them out at a “repo” price, that made them (quite a few classics to choose from, but..) the preferred means of transportation for the average Joe? No fun driving a Ferrari, if there’s a similar looking car, round every corner. Same with collecting. You spend a couple of hundred on a coin, while your mate has every single one, from the given periode. Just fake, but they look just as cool. And regardless of them being fake, you still lose/die a little inside. Hey, he might even get props for his collection. While nobody gives a s**t about yours. If it spreads to all the figures, lotsa people are gonna go that way. It will hurt emotionally, aswell as financially. Just like art is a passion, it’s also very expensive to collect (in most cases). So saving up some dough, in your collection is quite alright. I mean, it’s gotten really expensive, these past few years.

[@Matt_Desrochers74]

No one should call them “repo”...that’s short for repossession which is what happens to your car when you don’t pay for it. This is REPRO which is short for reproduction. It drives me crazy when people say REPO. It’s REPRO.

[@j4rp13bot4]

Don't be a douchebag. He mispronounced a word. I was a grammar nazi too when I was younger. Grow up and focus on yourself.

[@rumblehat4357]

Matt Desrochers maybe those repos should be repo'd!

[@Matt_Desrochers74]

@@j4rp13bot4 He mis-pronounced the word every time he said it so I assume he thinks it's "repo". Not trying to be a "douche". I'm trying to make sure that people know the difference. I've interacted with the Junkman quite a few times now and I 'd like to think that he knows I'm not being an ass. The dude cracks me up!

[@emilflognoid1532]

Matt Desrochers I was gonna say zackly the same pacific thing!

[@Liofa73]

J4rp13 Bot --- I think the only douchebag is the person that calls another person a Nazi... Educate yourself, this has nothing to do with the horrors of WW2. The OP maybe a pedant in some respects, but it's disrespectful to call him a Nazi.

[@toypolloi]

One things for certain in this world, Star wars collectors are never happy no matter what happens. These new figures look really nice and will enable people to get figures in there collection's that would otherwise be out of their price range. Yak face is not a rare figure, he is over priced. And these are clearly marked with no coo. What would you do if Hasbro started making them, which could well happen?

[@deathstar5138]

Great comment..its nice to see a comment with some common sense

[@toypolloi]

@@deathstar5138 Thanks. I think a lot of Star wars collectors take things way to seriously and only worry about the money. Enjoy them for what they are, toys! I'm looking forward to having a blue snaggletooth in my collection. I would never buy a vintage one as they are so over priced. But one of these will do the job.

[@AnalogToys]

@@toypolloi I COULDN'T AGREE MORE!

[@anthonyklenke4385]

Yak Face is rare depending on where one lives. If you're in Europe where he was sold...more common. Over here in the states he is rare. I don't think this is a case of "Star Wars collectors never being happy". Instead I think its about the legitimacy of unlicensed reproductions of figures that were made by Kenner. In the '90s I bought a DC reprint of Action Comics #1 and while neat to have and read...I knew it was not the real thing. It did not carry a sense of history that something truly vintage carries with it. If possible I like knowing the stories behind the figures I buy; what did the kid who owned them loved about the character? This is lacking in reproductions. You may feel different and that's fine. Intellectually I understand your position and straddle that line myself since I re-card my figures for display. If you don't see the value of owning vintage then enjoy your custom figure.

[@retroblasting]

@@toypolloi I concur with Toy Polloi and Analog Toys.

[@gabrielattridgefuentes4961]

The real issue is that collectors don't want their little toys to lower in value. Please smithlord don't ever stop doing what your doing, keep up the great work

[@kurtoogle4576]

I would buy these repos. Good fun!

[@AlienShowz]

By creating fakes it’ll only make the real ones worth more

[@charleswilson3439]

In a strange way, I agree with you and I agree with Smith Lord. You see, I had a Vlix, and a Snaggle Tooth and lost them in a storm years ago. We had a home invasion and they stole everything. So, I am loyal collector and cannot afford to buy some of these figures again. But, because, I had them in the past, I want them again. Life is not fair, yet, I am going to have my collection again. My dad bought me a Vlix when he went to S America years ago and that meant something to me. I even had a dog names Vlix. So, in a way, I am glad that someone cares enough to make sure that I can have a complete collection.

[@kaiblumenstein5209]

I‘m 100% with you! I would never buy a fake snaggletooth or yak face. They shouldn‘t produce them, it Is just wrong.

[@thecasualguy6009]

If people selling custom made figures emphasize that they are repros, or have a modern date stamp molded on the figure somewhere, then I have no issues with that. I’ll probably never own a yak face, so why not buy a custom?

[@ThatJunkman]

How will you know it’s not real if someone buys it and says it’s real in there auction

[@sefs257]

I think the best solution in favor of both parties is to have a signature print molded on the bottom of the feet that clearly shows it as a custom figure, a clear proof of authenticity that buyers can check to see if it is legit

[@thomasrondon9286]

I disagree with a new collector shouldn't have to check things out, it doesn't matter what someone get into collecting for, they should ALWAYS inspect and get the most accurate info on each piece they add to they're collection. It doesn't matter if it's fans or action figures. The vintage Yak Face & Blue Snaggletooth were some horrible looking figures so unless I had the originals, I wouldn't want them. That's all I have to say on that.

[@Ivonkah88]

Caveat Emptor... and if you are a new collector chances are you are not trying to acquire a blue snaggletooth or yakface, nor should you be... that is the realm of advanced, experience collectors.

[@loganmichaelanti-funkopops3115]

They got rid of the date stamp on the back so you could tell the difference, I don’t really see a problem with it.

[@Dlcollins73]

SLC is no different that what Hasbro has hanging on the shelves right now...repro figures.

[@user-do2ev2hr7h]

It's different in two key ways: 1. Hasbro has a license for the product they're making. 2. The Hasbro repros are readily distinguishable and labeled as such, whereas the explicit stated goal of many fan customs is to replicate the original product as exactly as possible. As much as some fans/collectors may not like it, those two things DO matter.

[@Dlcollins73]

@@user-do2ev2hr7h I’ll put this to bed for you. If you don’t like them, don’t buy them. I don’t really care about your explanations. Have a nice day.

[@user-do2ev2hr7h]

@@Dlcollins73 I could easily say the same about your viewpoint, and IP law is on my side.

[@frogsgottalent1106]

I agree ! He should be charging more like $10 - 15 bucks. $80 is outrageous!

[@tristanpritchard7253]

Yeah, how silly to say that. Creating these is expensive especially with shorter casting runs. Good quality casting using injection moulds is highly specialised and expensive. Why do people expect things to be cheap all the time. No one is making you pay for them. Where exactly do you get 10-15 bucks from? I'm guessing for now that it may be an arbitrary amount based on what you think they are worth. Buisiness involved cost analysis of production and profit for the company either for oneself or to reinvest. Did you think of all this?

[@vicrules6666]

@@tristanpritchard7253 He's just making molds of models that already exist no real skill involved.

[@tristanpritchard7253]

@@vicrules6666 they are RIM moulds and CNC'd which is expensive. Upon further research you will find that they cost thousands. Simple silicone moulds would not stand up to high pressure injection casting. They are made more like car bumpers not like how people make custom figures. There is an immense amount of skill in this type of mould making. It's not a poor and cut. They are multi part moulds that do not flex so a good understanding of undercuts, seam lines etc is involved. This is why people who do this sort of thing get paid so much within product design.

[@thephotoviper]

For those who buy toys as an investment, this probably is a bad thing- as someone who buys toys to play with, I am glad people remake classic toys, so they can be found and played with, at a reasonable price....

[@ThatJunkman]

80-100 is a reasonable price to play with a toy??

[@thephotoviper]

@@ThatJunkman not all repros are that pricey, but yeah, 100 is a lot more reasonable than double that...

[@carlo2384]

This is a losing battle Junkman. If there's a market to fill, someone will fill it. Just surprised it didn't happen sooner. Best bootlegger around? Hasbro.

[@marktroddyn3351]

The people killing this hobby are AFA grading services and middle man scalpers. Bring on repros. The closer to the original the better.

[@williamskillman4200]

Agreed! AFA is killing vintage toy collecting. It getting harder to find an non graded carded figure

[@Chuck-he1jd]

what a crazy statement ... flood the market with fake crap.. how does this help anyone ??

[@mdfgreenlantern]

I think that this is a good lesson to collectors about being careful about what you buy because the fakes are getting better every day.

[@tristanpritchard7253]

It is not a fake, it is a reproduction that is clearly marked SLC on the back of the leg.

[@ralphsdad1693]

There are sellers on ebay with floating repro weapons that need to be called out also

[@Liofa73]

Ralph's Dad --- Why? So you can sell them originals for a hugely inflated price for a piece of tiny plastic from the 1980s?

[@ralphsdad1693]

@@Liofa73 there were already repro weapons available that were distinguishable from the originals due to the fact that they didnt float. To make repros that float just makes it more difficult to tell them apart which seems very deceptive to me.

[@VirginPrince]

Seems like it'd be real easy to solve the problem. Just etch a new date or special symbol into the molds of the repros. It'd be super easy to spot a fake.

[@spaceknight793]

I have a "repro manifesto" I wrote up. Long argument short, all repros should ETHICALLY be marked as such. The makers should agree to a particular mark (such as a letter stamped on the back of the leg, or extra hole in the bottom of the feet--something uniform and easy to recognize). For repro accessories, I always drill a small hole in the handles, or cut a notch if a hole isn't feasible, so I can readily see that it's repro.

[@arctrooper999]

Hey you know I love this channel and I'm not talking trash but you're talking about fake figures...what deal did you make with Kenner to sell Kenner logo shirts and Kenner Star Wars bounty hunter shirts? Did Kay Bee give u the ok for shirts with their logo? Just playing devils advocate keep up the great work

[@ThatJunkman]

Yes. Those, far as I know, was never on a shirt and I doubt anyone would think they were old shirts. As I said in the video I never cared if they had the right to do it. As for the shirts, Lucasfilm pulls down some. Others they don’t care. So at least if they haven’t a issue it’s take down. And I am good with that. But sure that doesn’t apply to all the shirts.

[@TheMijman]

So you're pissed people are selling fake figures. Yet you're selling fake shirts...

[@tristanpritchard7253]

@@ThatJunkman You are still using/buying IP that is not yours and this is also a copyright issue

[@fritzk3627]

That Kenner and Filmation IP you use in your vids and on your shirts are still owned by others. Hasbro might take issue with your Kenner shirts. Seems hypocritical...

[@deadbeatdynamo]

"As I said in the video I never cared if they had the right to do it." So someone with no moral barometer is here to tell us why something is bad? What a hypocrite.

[@zecarloschavez5702]

I didn’t know about SmithLord Creations. I just went over to his store and got me some figures- thanks Junkman! And bigger thanks to Chris Smith for these figures!

[@ThatJunkman]

You Welcome. Great guy and makes great stuff

[@zecarloschavez5702]

@@ThatJunkman both sides of the coin are controversial. But the worst part is people selling fakes as authentics- the best is to have a Han in Stormtrooper disguise to go along with Luke.

[@livefortoday537]

‘As collectors you shouldn’t be buying them” a lot of collectors can’t afford £1500 for a vinyl cape Jawa or £500 for a blue snag so if these are all you are missing from your display and you can get really good reproduction then who are you to tell someone to not buy these? The other thing is that he’s actually very clear on what he sells so I don’t see a problem with it……p.s I don’t own any repro’s but I can certainly see the attraction to save a lot of money

[@BenLewitt]

They're clearly marked and not going anywhere. The people who complain about reproductions are those who are worried demand for their vintage figures will decline if the people who are just looking to fill a hole on the shelf and can get it another way.

[@ThatJunkman]

No

[@1980StarWarsGuy]

These are mine I would do: R2-D2 with serving tray Bith band Sandtrooper Mos eisley spy Darth Vader with removable helmet Dr evazan Duros alien A droid from the sandcrawler Bantha Custom playsets Cloud city (not mentioning the cardboard one, the one that fans *Realy* want) Jabbas palace (acssesable, with Jabbas throne, max rebo band and Rancor) And death star 2 Oh yeah Tarkin, forgot about him

[@michaelweldon1127]

I don’t think u or anyone commenting on this video are crazy, but as someone who has been involved in the classic car and guitar community, I see fake, forgery, and reproduction parts are the norm. It’s just the way collecting in those communities work. If it doesn’t have documentation, or you didn’t buy it from a respected dealer, it is repo. I guess the issue is that the vintage action figure community doesn’t have this type of mentality in place yet. I always enjoy your videos.

[@rumblehat4357]

michael weldon that's a tough sell. I am not a reputable dealer, I am just an original collector from the very beginning. My collection is legit, but to dismiss it offhand because I am not a name in the business is a little harsh. If someone was to try to sell vintage stuff, the items in question MUST be scrutinized carefully. By both parties. One simply can't dismiss something because it doesn't come with provenance. Discoveries can still be made in this day and age and that is why I say scrutinize and question before dismissing an item. Unfortunately, bootlegs are part of this world, and I do not agree with that. I don't think they will lower value of the real items, but you never know. Did I collect for future value? No. But that doesn't mean I am ok with that value bottoming out because of bootleggers.

[@bentonrp]

Thank you for talking about this. I wish there were more and different perspectives expressed, but at least you started the convo. I make customs, it is fun as hell, but haven't sold any because there is so much to consider; I worry about rarities - like a real 80's yakface - not being handled right because it would no longer be viewed with the proper reverence after collectors have gotten use to knowing so many of his clones out there. Whereas before if you saw it, you'd know how to treat it. Great video!

[@dmxxxtentacion7661]

Great video! I'm glad you called this dude out. That explains why recently on ebay ive seen many listings for yakface and being sold! The market is basically being flooded with fakes and alot of people are possibly gonna get tricked into buying a fake from other accounts.

[@Liofa73]

DMXXXTENTACION --- He doesn't put that many out, it's a small production... Flooding the market? Lol... They are more like bespoke pieces.

[@tristanpritchard7253]

You can ask for multiple photos and request refunds via ebay. If you are in doubt about anything don't buy! If it seems to good to be true (say an original Yak Face for $100) then it probably is...Don't buy!

[@TheAtariCreep]

I made a replacement cape for my Remco Dracula, I had a dude totally lose his shit about it. I don't think putting fakes/exact copies out there is a great idea at all for all the reasons you mentioned but in all fairness displays sometimes call for stuff like this. I don't support it but I can see how one would. I say make custom figures, LIKE ME!!!!! Ones that are YOUR creation even if the base is an original. People think they ae being creative coping others work, I think it's lame. Make your own thing.

[@garybuder4645]

Are those real kenner and filmation shirts on your site? Some would consider them wrong as you don't hold the license to those. Just a quid pro quo

[@ThatJunkman]

If someone thinks it’s bad to sell them with out being the license hold they are right. And if I did a video upset someone was selling stuff they didn’t have a legal right to, I would be a hypocrite. That’s why in this video I said I don’t care if they have a right or not a right to do it by law. I said I don’t care if they have the copyright or not. It has, for me, nothing to do with that.

[@paulb3476]

Personally, I'm all for customs of all kinds To me, its art. I'd rather pay way less for a custom than an arm and a leg for the real thing that only cost a few bucks new. I'd actually buy both Han and Luke if they were a hell of a lot cheaper At $100 bucks, might as well buy the real thing. Plastic toys are only worth what you're willing to pay for them That's it. The reality is, when we all die, family members have no idea what we have in the collection that we spent years building. Unless they are into the hobby too, or know someone who is. Again buyer beware Always watch out for what your buying Always ask questions if something seems off But really , no figure no matter how old it is, is actually worth whatever price the seller is asking for it except for whatever the original MSRP was.

[@scottakanumba1heathen379]

Hi Paul!

[@glyn420]

Paul B a counterfeit isn’t a custom.

[@paulb3476]

@@scottakanumba1heathen379 welcome back

[@paulb3476]

@@glyn420 It's not a counterfeit Anything anyone makes, is technically a custom made toy

[@glyn420]

Bull crap he is making them exactly like the originals that makes it an unlicensed counterfeit. You can try and spin it any way ou want but you are 100% wrong. Otherwise anyone could make any star wars toy they want and market and sell it. Guarantee you if it hurt hasbro and licasfilm and Disney’s bottom line this would end.at least do blantaltly being done.

[@charlesbennett959]

Same problem in other hobbies. Hotwheels, Matchbox, Military stuff collecting, Barbies..... It's constant. I'm with you.

[@restock_1731]

Junkman, I love your videos, they are very helpful. I've seen your video on starting to collect and it got me thinking that I want to really get a collection going. All I have now is a Carbonized Boba and Cad Bane Black Series, nothing special. I'd really love to display these and any figures I hope to collect, I'm not big on MOC and perfect figures. I now know that I have a lot to figure out (pun is intended. Lol) and alot to look for. I don't think I want a repo, and now I know to keep my eyes open, when I start.

[@RansomeStoddard]

I was at a store in Fulton, MD that sells vintage Star Wars action figures and they had a loose Yak Face for sale for $300. I thought that was a great price and asked to see it. When I held it, I instantly knew the plastic wasn't right. It was too hard. Then I looked for the COO and there was no date. I turned it over and the foot holes were round, not hexegonal. I had 6 other figures I was about to buy, but I put them all back and left. Very disappointing.

[@ThatJunkman]

At least you noticed... also there some figures, a few, that didn't even have COO on them so when people fake them its going to be even harder to tell

[@RansomeStoddard]

@@ThatJunkman Yeah, Yak Face doesn't have the country of origin on it, but he should always have the 1985 stamped on it. I didn't mind the fake weapons before, when they were gray and a different type of plastic and sank in water. But now the fakes are so close to the originals that holding them side by side it is hard to tell the difference. I hate it.

[@ThatJunkman]

One the Ewok has no date or anything. Same with Imperial dignitary God I hope no one‘s making fake ones of that figure

[@RansomeStoddard]

@@ThatJunkman A fake Imperial Dignitary? Talk about adding insult to injury. Not only is he the worst figure ever made, but a fake one of him as well? That is just sad.

[@billyfegan1654]

I agree. I myself want to get into customising vintage figures but mine will be original or background figures. I have the han stormtrooper figure you mentioned but I bought mine loose. Just to let you know they have also made an exact luke stormtrooper figure which I also have. It's a great copy but still a copy. Also do you know if hasbro are going to produce more of the retro collection? Bill

[@willow2348]

Imagine picking one of these up in a thrift store or something and feeling amazing only to find it’s a crap fake

[@Liofa73]

Willow234 --- But you wouldn't because they are properly marked on the backs of the legs to show they aren't made by Kenner.

[@willow2348]

Liofa Yeah I have learnt that since 👌👌

[@dacca6836]

I hate seeing so many "is it real?" Vinyl cape jawas on Facebook groups.

[@TheBadger74]

Yeah, the only way to truly guarantee it's real is MOC, and who can afford one of those? Is it a better figure than the cloth cape anyway? Or is it just the monetary value that is so attractive to people? I prefer the cloth, because that's the one I've still got from childhood. I wasn't even aware of the vinyl one until they became such a grail figure! If I wanted a vinyl one just to complete the line, I would probably pick up a "naked" old Jawa for peanuts, and save it from the beater pile with a repro cape. That way I wouldn't lose any sleep worrying if it's real or not. I could always destroy the cape if I was selling it/going to the care home, lol. Most of them are fake I suspect, they were released for such a short run. I certainly never saw one back in the day.

[@barnacleburrito3728]

that’s a completely absurd argument that somebody who is new to collecting “shouldn’t have to spend his time looking at the back of the leg in the photo on ebay” why not? I collect lots of stuff for which reproductions have existed for decades. it was gonna happen eventually, that’s just part of collecting. until then it’s awesome that we can get our hands on repros

[@ThatJunkman]

K

[@Chuck-he1jd]

I agree with junkman... I never understood why anyone would buy a copy or clone or anything. Fake , Repros , clones, knock offs... all lower the value of these original figures. Like buying FAKE gold...

[@TRON8882]

Since Disney owns Star Wars, I'm surprised the Disney legal team's not going after this guy for fake Star Wars action figures. Great video.

[@ThatJunkman]

They don’t care. They not losing money off it.

[@Phoenix2312]

I understand 100% what you mean... I am not sure if Smithlord does mark his figures - I can only hope that he does... In my view, I have no issue with his Reproductions, They are great Quality and as long as he has a Custom Logo that marks them out - Then it has to be Buyer Beware! Sadly, there will obviously be opportunists who will try and pass them off as real... And there is a Massive Forgery Market as well... I went to a Car Boot here in the UK and the Forgeries I saw were almost undetectable - They even had the PROPER Kenner / Palitoy Etchings on them! I only knew that the Stormtroopers I saw were 100% Fake because there was NO YELLOWING! That Yellowing was a common fault in all teh White Plastics back then... No Yellowing, Its a FAKE! Not that the Stall holders would admit it but I BLOODY KNEW!!! There was NO DAMN WAY they had spent upwards of 5 Weeks CLEANING OVER 200 STORMTROOPERS before selling them!!! Do I think Smithlord should stick to Customs - Yes... Not Repro's... Or if he is going to do Repros - Make Minor Alterations... Make a Blue Snaggletooth Repro with a Bent Gun Arm or something so it looks like a Custom!!! As long as he has them clearly marked, I don't want to berate the man... But if they do look Literally like a Kenner Original down to the Etchings... Then yeah! That's not good! When it comes to accessories - I do not care if they are Repros to be honest... They were lost so easy back in the day that unless you find a Mint In Box / Carded Figure - Chances are its either going to be missing a weapon or have a Repro... The Figure is the main issue - If I were to be collecting again - The Figure MUST BE ORIGINAL - The accessories I am not so fussed but the Figure MUST BE GENUINE!!! 6:59 Devils Advocate here - Looking at the two Side by Side, You can Tell at a glance that Smithlords is a Reproduction... A Good one but you can tell - The Bubble is Different for starters - And His Yak Face is Slightly Larger... BUT - A New Collector would not be able to tell... So yes, I agree here that there should be some distinction - Even a Simple one such as as you suggested a different Photo or a Watermark On teh card in a place that CANNOT be cut off (As swindlers would!) saying SMITHLORD... That very simple addition would be a great help. In fact, I would say, Hide it under the Bubble - Down by Yak Face feet or Under the Blister... A Slightly Deeper shade of red so it can be seen without spoiling the aesthetic of the Look...

[@elvisspringsteen72]

Warren Marris I have a vintage stormtrooper (given as a gift back in the early 80’s so I know it’s genuine) that is white as white can be. The plastic does feel a little different, though. I wonder if later casts for ROTJ used a slightly different plastic?

[@stephenwarhurst6615]

With Smith Lord Creations I think if one buyer ask to by 100 Yak Faces and 100 blue Snaggletooths I don't think Smith Lord Creations will say sorry no one per customer. Smith Lord Creations is doing this just to make a quick buck

[@CybermanBill]

No.... he actually is a true Star Wars fan and lover. He makes these so EVERYONE can have a certain figure in their collection and not have to pay a fortune!! He clearly marks all his figures and clearly states multiple times in all sales listings that these are customs made from all the original material the originals were made from. He clearly states these were never made originally or these are Reproductions and customs. You know what you’re buying and he’ll even tell you how to tell the difference between the original figures and his Customs. He means no ill intent and he’s not trying to screw people over or make a “quick buck”! He just wants to bring the joy of having a repro or custom figure that won’t break the bank that is made from the original type molds with all the original materials or wants you to complete your collection with a figure that never came out. Best part is these figures won’t stick out in your collection. No one will know unless they look hard enough and know their Star Wars figures. I don’t even collect Star Ears bit I find what this guy does to be a wonderful thing that is there to help the collector not hurt him. What someone does with his Customs is not his responsibility. Know your stuff when collecting and you won’t get burned! 🤖🤓

[@jaysonw8730]

Hahaha, Hundred and hundred !? You make it, sound like dude is chopping these things like ecstasy pills, lol. But, he did target yak/blue-snaggle/han-luke stormtrooper disguise. And, will prob target rocket- fett/smallhead-bighead/exploding three-pio/variant jawa/yoda’s snake🤔

[@GB-ip4dm]

I don't see the point of muddying the waters and creating a replica. It just causes confusion and makes owning an original less special. The paint should be altered, use a different shade etc. to clearly identify the replica.

[@rickconsort2671]

Remember when Marvel reprinted the first several issues of their original Star Wars comic in the '70's and CLEARLY marked "reprint" in the little price box? Perhaps he should etch something similar into these figures to make it a simple check? But your points on people who don't know better (and those that do) selling this as an "original" are still valid no matter which way you look at it regardless of how the figure or card are marked. Overall I think it just creates more confusion in the collecting community and creates an ideal situation for scammers to take advantage of. But what do I know? At least I know to keep my eyes out for it. Great video man. Take care.

[@mikemoore7297]

It was said in Jurassic park " just because you can did you ever stop and think if you should "

[@raydeen4331]

I have no issue at all with reproduction figures and accessories as long as they are CLEARLY marked as such.

[@davidj5910]

Me personally I've been having an issue with the vintage line for quite some time. I find it strange how over the years so many rare figures are now plentiful on line. Even carded figures. So many Boba Fett carded figures, so many AFA vinyl caped Jawas so many Yak Faces and just figures on card. Just 10 years or so ago everything was so scarce now places like Dallas Vintage Toys has like 10 of everything carded and AFA. Great vid Junkman! OH AND BTW..even though now everything is so plentiful, the prices all of a sudden have quadrupled.

[@tristanpritchard7253]

When the Dinky and Hornby generation dies the value of the items will go down. Stamps are declining in value due to a lack of younger collectors. It is quite likely that the same will happen to Star Wars too. The chances of a strong vintage collecting base remaining and holding prices or even making them rise is slim indeed. L.F.L is clear on the leg as is SLC. A collector with a future specialist interect in the vintage range will know this. You should always know what you are buying whatever it is. These figures are great and may even lower the value of the originals making them more affordable and democratising ownership of the highest priced figures. I hope good quality figures such as these continue to be released, they are excellent.

[@nesmandan1037]

I’d expect the prices will hold value for the next 10-15 years, but suddenly crash just like electric trains, baseball cards, and dozens of other collectibles.

[@cheddarcheese7928]

I also collect the occasional Baseball card.And that's getting VERY bad with repros..It's mostly from ebay sellers that basically say "I found these old ball cards in a old tin"."I dont collect cards so I cant verify these are real"."So my loss is ur gain!"..And they know what's up..No one sells a 51 Mantle or whatever for $100..Makes me want to crack them in the head.

[@T2Tiberious]

Right on, Junkman! I am glad to see someone on youtube take an ethical stand. Spot on!

[@tristanpritchard7253]

T2Tiberious It’s not a stance based on ethics he doesn’t want them to lower the resale value of his collection when he dies. That’s an economical stance!

[@bigbob0042]

I agree custom figures of characters that were never officially made that's awesome and I totally agree about making unlicensed repro's of figures especially the hard to find highly sought after figures should not be done, a friend of mine got took around 2-3 years ago from a dealer at a toy show, which he thought was a Vintage double telescoping lightsaber Darth Vader , it was a deal that couldn't be passed on but wasn't cheap either and it even had all the original trademark markings on it and everything, he didn't find out until about a year after he bought it cause he had to sell pieces of his collection cause he lost his job and that was the main piece out of his collection that had the most interest , I don't know all the exact details but long story short turned out to be fake and basically worthless from a vintage collector stand point. But like you said if you know its a repro and only want to display it in your collection that's all fine but one day if the items ever get sold or have to be sold somebody can get ripped off, the only way I can see about making reproductions is put reproduction on the back of each leg the whole length of the leg , so anybody from the collector to the average joe can tell, just my opinion

[@LongToad]

I have no problems with people that edit figures and customize them- as long as the original company is not being replaced or undercut. What I have a problem with is people literally printing out copies of items and making money off of IPs they don't own. It's different if you make 1 or 2 from scratch, or add a few custom accessories, but some of these are getting out of hand where they're basically mass producing them. For a while, Chinese sellers were selling vintage Gen 1 Optimus Primes sealed in the box and vintage Pokemon gameboy games for 10% of their value, I have to wonder, what good can come from this? They were also selling Optimus in black, silver, and red versions that never existed, I'm still opposed to those because they're basically mass producing them. I already find bootleg items all over the place and it is getting really sickening, it makes me not want to collect anymore- any purchase can end up being a scam. I understand people want these items for nostalgia but you have to understand what effect it has on the collecting market and the company itself. What if these companies ever wanted to release "retro" items? I know people probably don't give a fuck about the company's profits but what are these companies going to do if enough people buy bootlegs from places like Alibaba? Who is going to create new ideas for toys if there are too many parasites sucking off the profits? As much as I hate corporations, I reluctantly have to support copyright laws because it would destroy innovation and collecting if copyright laws don't exist. I don't want our country to turn into China where you can't trust the quality of named products anymore. Imagine a world where everyone steals music and buys ripped movies? Why would any artist or company want to produce new products or entertainment if everyone is stealing it?

[@Liofa73]

Bigbob0042 --- These customs and the ones from Stan Solo are specifically branded with their identification, you could never mistake them for the original. Your point about not making hard to get figures is nonsense, everyone doesn't want to spend hundreds of dollars on rare figures just to complete their collection. Especially as there aren't enough figure to go around and the community is getting ripped off by vultures for what's left.

[@tristanpritchard7253]

You need to know all the details if you are to give value to your opinion. The "average joe" is not a collector....He is the average joe. Can the "average joe" tell a fake Victorian dresser from a genuine one? Of course not. That is why research and learning are the corner stones of knowing any subject.

[@bigbob0042]

Tristan Pritchard making a reproduction figure is one thing and theyre are usually subtle differences from the original so there is no way for it to be mistaken for an original but an exact clone/copy of an original with nothing different is another. The newer reproductions have taken steps to make them non mistakable but in the beginning the companies were making 100% exact clones and that is the main problem I was talking about in the original post

[@MiKeMiDNiTe-77]

Smith Lord has a Smith Lord logo embossed into his figures though dosnt he

[@monkeybubblessupperdude1016]

It's if you look at the transformers these days...there are so many 3rd party companies making "transformers"...some of which hastak either can't for legal reasons or won't and while some people say they are knock offs /forgaries they are NOT as they are sufficiently different enough to not be a direct copy of an official item...and also they are not called "transformers" or have any reference to official names or titles such as autobot or decepticons or the characters name so we know before hand it's NOT a hastak item...the problem is when a company DOES do a knock off of the official item and then tries to pass it off as the real deal.

[@monkeybubblessupperdude1016]

I don't really see an issue with it as long as the person TELLS you it's not a legitimate item...

[@kenwoods9247]

Im with you, Junkman!!! There is a great disturbance in the force!!! It's "The Repro Market!!!" Buy Real Toys!!! Leave the fakes to the counterfeiters!!!

[@exhistoriascientia]

There is only one thing at issue that determines the right and wrong of reproduction figures: licensing. Has Smithlord purchased and received express rights (in other words, Disney said in writing that he could do it) the rights from Disney to produce anything related to their intellectual property? If not, it doesn't matter what figure he's making. If it's from Star Wars in any form he is in the wrong to make it. It's intellectual property theft. Period.

[@verndelap]

I’ll tell you the problem with these fake/repro figures that you have here: They don't require any rarity to attain real vintage value. Smith Lord Creations(SLC) did what Hasbro has done and is taking the exact same steps too. SLC didn’t earn the right or the license to reproduce fake/repros, so SLC doesn't have to take any responsibility for them. just like Hasbro, SLC stood on the shoulders of Kenner to accomplish something as fast as he could and before he even knew what he had, he created it and packaged it and slapped it on Ebay like a cheap VINTAGE Star Wars PLASTIC REPRO lunchbox, and now he's selling them, he wants to sell more of them.

[@brademerick9181]

Just to clarify something , Hasbro IS Kenner , ... Kenner Bought out Hasbro years ago and kept the Hasbro name because it had more clout in the toy market . If they want to they can still use the Kenner logo.

[@MonsterGrove]

I own a yakface i recieved as a gift , but it didnt have moving joints it was like a statue and my buddy paid $15 for it . On the shelf it looks ok but i never thought anyone would confuse it as real. The quality really wasnt all that. But i totally see your point about these fake figures made too well confusing the market. Or possibly confusing The Future Market! 🤗

[@ThatJunkman]

Maybe it better if they did that. Looks like vintage. No moving parts

[@paulb3476]

My take is always buyer beware . if the price seems too good to be true, then it probably is.

[@GRIZZLOR]

Who buys a blue snaggletooth online for hundreds of dollars and doesn't ask for pictures to make absolutely sure that they get an original? That scenario just doesn't exist.

[@ThatJunkman]

you think you can tell with photos.. cute

[@GRIZZLOR]

@@ThatJunkman In the case of Smith Lord Creations you can clearly tell because it says SLC on the boots.

[@MikeFrazee222]

The value of these figures are going to crash.

[@cheddarcheese7928]

I really dont think so..There have been SW repro weapons available for years(even ones that past the float test)and they havent really taken a hit..

[@KardboardKenny]

i have one single bootleg. but i bought it from a honest bootlegger, my bootleg "Galvatron" is actually named Galvontron (it was clearly written on the box) and doesn't have a single Decepticon symbol/logo. and after doing a lil research, i found out that it's the same toy mold, made on the same lines, out of the same plastic and just made after the reg shifts went home. but i'll be honest, $20 was a lot better than the $!25 for the original. but i have no intention to sell it. but i DO agree your point w/the classic SW toys. those thing are way to expensive to be given the shaft over.

[@j4rp13bot4]

I agree with you junkman. It's not illegal, but it's definitely not in the best interest of true collectors.

[@juanc1328]

The issue is not that they shouldn’t be making them. BUT putting them out there as the original-and selling for the original current value price. Ripping collectors off.

[@RansomeStoddard]

No, they shouldn't be making them. As Junkman pointed out, someone is going to buy them and put them in their collection, knowing they are fake. But then they get divorced or die and someone else who has no idea what is real or fake will sell them all as real. Somewhere along the line someone will get screwed. It's like what happened with the Toy Toni action figures a few years back. I have been screwed a couple times by that, once by Toy Toni himself, and once by someone who bought one from him, thinking they were original Kenner, and then sold it to me a few years later. When I sent it to get graded, it was declined by AFA. I wasted $500.

[@juanc1328]

RansomeStoddard , yeah it is shady and a rip off when they do that. Feel your pain. I dealt with fakes in the guitar collecting market. Got a knockoff Chinese made Les Paul. I really do think they need to be expose for fake figures and called out on it.

[@RansomeStoddard]

@@juanc1328 I agree. It is fraud, simple as that.

[@EMMETTCULLENHALE]

all the Fake figures is why i will never buy original Vintage Figures

[@derektorres6260]

I did see retroblasting's video on stormtrooper Han. I didn't know about the fakes. Thank you for calling Smith Lord out on the fakes, I don't think retroblasting did, but I still love them

[@ThatJunkman]

I wasn’t trying to call them out. As I don’t know if he knew they did more than just the custom stuff.

[@HRDK-SKLETRMUMMR-MEGTRN]

Oh, I didn't know this was about Star Wars???? 🚀

[@TOKYOTOYBANZAI]

...also are the t-shirts you sell officially licensed? Just some food for thought.

[@ThatJunkman]

No you got me. They look just like 1978 shirts and I’m taking everyone for 100s if dollars. (Not sure why I have to say it in the video and then here also. My issue of selling fake toys has zero to do with copyright and legal issues)

[@Rebelscumradio]

These figures are clearly marked on COO - this is hysteria. If you are going to spend 300-400 on a piece of plastic and not fully check it out then it is the buyers fault i'm sorry to say.

[@ThatJunkman]

What if pay $50

[@jimhayen8088]

What's going to happen to our collection when we die? No one is going to want this stuff after adults of our age is gone.

[@ThatJunkman]

No one? The why did I know lots of collectors of it under 25

[@wiggles1986av]

I love your honesty and if I lived in the US I’d totally love to have a beer with you! I personally agree with your views. What would be an idea to satisfy both ends of the market would be for the ‘repro artists’ to have their own stamp on the figure, thus nullifying any authenticity.

[@Liofa73]

wiggles1986av --- They do have their own stamp in the mould...

[@tristanpritchard7253]

They do. They are clearly marked SLC

[@CourageDreams]

I agree with you junkman. There are certain lines that should not be crossed like these bootlegs repros. It only puts doubt in the mind of innocent collectors old or new.

[@tperson8347]

Myself personally, there's a difference between the the collector side and the side of me that just loves action figures. The only reason I would get repros is to hold me over til I get the real thing, but I wouldn't dare say my collection is complete if I have repros instead of the real deal. That what a collection is. You might as well get a blow-up doll and tell people your girlfriend's up for ANYTHING. :)

[@theviking6052]

What is it going to take to get that emperor shuttle

[@ThatJunkman]

Giving one away when we hit 30,000

[@GristleP2]

I collect for the love of the game, not for monetary value. No 47 year old piece of plastic is worth $600. So I buy repros where I need to.

[@mickfrendo8212]

I don't see any point in polluting my collection with high precision forgeries.

[@them4477]

OK, any one with any sense creates an inventory of their collection. Especially if its worth anything. If you haven't Mr Junkman, I suggest you start. I'm fine with this, they aren't forgeries. Any collector can tell. Easily. Oh, and if Smith Lord reads this, Please make a Death Star Gunner next!!

[@ThatJunkman]

If anyone collector can tell why have I never meet one collector that never been fooled once, why do people post daily asking for help on “if this is real” and getting all different answers, why would I tweet a pic of a fake and real and ask people what was real most picked the fake one. There’s no reason you can’t make the figure with a slight bent arm or something good else.

[@michaelloehman7939]

I’m glad he makes them. I can’t afford to pay these outrageous prices the market has pushed these last 17 figures up to and I still want to finish my collection. So I happily buy them. I can’t control what others do, but I refuse to be punished because there are soooo many dishonest people. Plus, there are still differences in the figures from the originals (slc/ss markings for example). People who do their research will be able to identify real from repro. Know what your buying before you make the purchase. It’s really on you if you can’t figure it out and if you don’t feel safe buying from a certain individual, then move on to someone else. The people this affects the most are people who just want to sell these last 17 figs they found for super cheap at a garage sale/ flea market at a ridiculous price. I’m glad there are options out there for us who can’t afford originals, but still want to finish the set of figures they grew up with.

[@toddtr5520]

your not gonna die junkman, you'll be plased in Carbonite and sold with your collection lol!!

[@ThatJunkman]

Sounds better

[@BanthaPooDoo64]

I can't wait to pick some repros soon for my collection ,It feels my Star Wars gap

[@JoeRo-ud9ze]

AFA Grading is the way to go these days. Great video Junk!

[@ThatJunkman]

Sadly maybe so. Even I had not being able to touch my figures

[@jeffstark8449]

Damn you are right about this junkman. Part of me wants to get repro weapons to complete figures but I know i shouldn't. Btw I'm happy with my yak face from the 90s or whatever it was from

[@ThatJunkman]

I started buying loose in 1993. 6 figures not compete yet. I will wait for the real ones. :)

[@cryptosuperman4909]

The prices some of these figures are going makes it impractical and impossible for most collectors to ever complete their collection, Smith Lord caters for this lot and those that are willing to pay the high dollar can still do so. I think it’s safe to say anyone getting into collecting starts off wit the basics and not the last 17 so by the time they get deep into their collection are well versed in prices and what to look for.

[@tristanpritchard7253]

This is exactly what sensible people do. A well thought through comment.

[@danielrhodes7594]

I agree about figures that were already made by Kenner in 1977-1984. I don't even like the Retro figures that Kenner is putting out now. However, I do like and want to get some vintage style figures that we never got in 1977-1984, like R-3PO, K-3PO, U-3PO, some astromechs, Tarkin, etc. Kenner should have produced more figures back then.

[@ryanbarker5217]

some people don't call it piracy, they call it 'sharing.' thievery by any other name is still thievery. customs are fine. repro has a place under certain circumstances. but, when you make weapons that float, there's no reason for that other than to steal people's money. there's no reason for these things to exist just because you entered into an expensive hobby your wallet has no business in.

[@TheBadger74]

If people started refusing to pay silly money for a tiny piece of plastic just because it's vintage, there would be no reason to con people. It's all got totally crazy. 15 years ago you couldn't give SW toys away. When the inevitable crash comes people will feel a bit silly I think.

[@jacoblipkestudios7621]

I have 2 real blue snaggetooths that were in the family and those have different writing on the back of the right leg.

[@jasonggabbott]

I'm surprised Kenner don't make exact copies of The originals. If they did it would really drive the original prices down.

[@rickwj324]

I grew up collecting Kenner SW figures in the 70's & 80's. Disney has destroyed my love of SW, but seeing the Mando Retro Collection figures made me hit ebay and buy all 3 waves of Retro Collections. Oddly they are missing 3PO and R2. My hunt for these figures led me to discovering Chris Smith's stuff and I 100% support what he's doing!! I bought a 3PO and will wait for R2 to come back in stock!! I know they aren't real...but then again, the Hasbro Retro Collections are exactly real either...but they look good hanging on my wall. Chris' stuff is great...not to mention he's giving us options of retro figures that will never get made!

[@cheddarcheese7928]

I have always been crossed on this subject.But again,if it's well marked as a repro I'm in 100%..If not I have a huge problem with it..Right now,I would be afraid to buy an original SW weapon.That's bad.I think some people can make weapons that could fool you..And that's very bad..

[@toy_shout6958]

I can see where he is heading. It is about those who sell fake stuff and they claim it to be genuine

[@ryanbarker5217]

the guy does amazing work, i'll give him that. i wonder how he does the injection molding since he says he uses the same techniques? too bad he doesn't use his figure-making skillz for something like a rebel fleet trooper instead, he'd probably sell just as many of those. he probably can't sculpt, though, so that's why the copies. hell, he could even make vintage-style figures of certain prequel figs. you telling me no one would buy a 'vintage' bantha? :)

[@slycooze150]

He’s trying to make vintage bantha.

[@ryanbarker5217]

@@slycooze150 huh. should stick to making things not produced already. should be interesting given the level of the figs. tricky to design vintage stuff and capture the feel, not like modern stuff where accuracy is the goal.

[@jimhayen8088]

You know what....Farmboy Luke was first created in 1978. Then he was reproduced in 1980. Then he was reproduced in 1983. If it is reproduced in 2019 again....what's the problem?

[@ThatJunkman]

No there’s no figure called that in the line

[@mikemonk4375]

It’s always interesting when someone tells someone else the right way to enjoy their hobby. The repros are visually different from the originals, you just have to look. If somebody wants to try to make a mint selling /trading hunks of plastic for hundreds of thousands of dollars, it’s their money, and they should do their research. I would argue it’s the “Serious Collectors” that have ruined the hobby for most people by assigning exorbitant prices to something that really has no intrinsic value other than sentimental memories. You wanna try and pay off your mortgage good for you. Leave the folks who just want to enjoy their toy collections alone. Someone wants to throw a piece of $3 vinyl on a Jawa, instead of selling their kidney to pay for a supposedly “real” one, good for them. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder I reckon. Cause that Jawa with the old, busted, really isn’t worth more than the one with the shiny new one outside of “serious collecting” circles, and Johnny Bandwagon financial speculators, and auction house owners. See here’s the thing Ace, even before repros came on scene the were far more “forgeries” out there in the form of altered paint apps and porked COOs than the “serious collectors” like to admit. They’re toys not money, and when you try to make them a means of currency, sooner or later you’re gonna get burned, bad. Eventually, the balloon is gonna burst, and you’re gonna see how many “serious collectors” start trying to unload their crap in a fire sale.

[@anthonyklenke4385]

I think you bring up some very legitimate ethical concerns and I think you're absolutely correct in drawing the line at producing action figures that are copies of ones that Kenner produced. Some may take issue with calling them forgeries because Smith Lord is marketing them as "custom" and "repro" as well as covering himself by saying not to re-sell them as original. In order to be a forgery (from a legal perspective) one also has to intent to deceive--which he is not doing. *HOWEVER* it is a forgery on ethical grounds because he knows putting Blue Snaggletooth and Yakface out there "in the wild" carries a high probability that his customers or their customers will intentionally deceive. I think he may be taking a huge risk. Let's say someone buys one of these fakes from an unscrupulous eBay seller for $350-600; AFA then returns it to him/her because it's a "custom". I wonder if that person could sue SLC? Beyond this, you've made me think about my own collection. I'm trying to collect all of the vintage figures loose in complete and in NM to Mint condition. However, I am a re-carder. My intent is to just display them for my own personal enjoyment. As I re-card I take care to not make it too convincing by reproducing telltales of original packaging. These include not having cross-thatched glue on the bubble. The bubble outline on the back of the card. Your video got me thinking. I may put a label on the back of the card that identifies it as a re-carded original figure. I may include where I got the figure from (my figures are well played with). I may even discreetly mark it. Thanks for a thought provoking video Junk Man!

[@williammitchell4417]

The figures in the thumbnail look like Walters.

[@SydneyDrums]

I have a genuine Yak Face. The searching & money I paid is half the fun of collecting. Fake & repro can be deceptive.

[@AwesomeMooseSmile]

Listen, I'm a huge Yak Face fan, probably one of the biggest in the world (because outside of the kenner toy, nobody actually cares about the character himself), and while I am financially comfortable, I don't feel like spending $500-1000 dollars just to have one, so I bought a repro for like 50 dollars. Sure it may not be the real thing, but it looks and feels like it, and as long as I tell people that it's just a reproduction, I think it's fine. I'm not much of a collector, and I don't intend on selling it or any of my stuff solely for profit, it just looks enough like the real thing (it also costed me more money than the other two Saelt Marae toys combined), and it makes me happy. Sure having a real one would be amazing, but in order to complete the Yak Face collection, I'm willing to own a repro. However, now that they're reissuing it in a 6 pack, I have no issues with buying a legit one now (I even bought two because I want one both loose and on the card). I do agree about people buying a repro and selling it as real is scummy, but IMO that's a problem with the seller, not the item itself. There are ways to tell if it's a fake like a copyright, so educating people on how to spot the differences when looking to buy one is I think a better solution rather than advocating for people to not sell and buy repros.

[@bobbypierce7608]

Thing is..ill collect exactly how i wish!! 300..500..900..per vintage figure..thats what turn people to reproduction figures. As long as smithlord keeps making these avalible..ill fill the gaps as needed.

[@crushingalldeceivers]

I have a real Yak Face put away and a Smith Lord one on display, please don't tell me what to do with my money and collection.

[@ThatJunkman]

Ok who did. I want names and numbers