Warning: the anime merch booth at the convention in Atlanta last weekend had some really sketchy bootlegs

I was at the big con in Atlanta last weekend and checked out the vendor hall. One booth had a ton of figures, but something felt off. I picked up a popular character from Demon Slayer and the paint job was super sloppy, with colors bleeding outside the lines. The box had blurry printing and no official studio logos anywhere. I asked the seller about it and they got really defensive, saying 'it's just as good.' Has anyone else run into this kind of thing at cons lately? How do you spot the fakes before you buy?

2 comments

2 Comments

clairer7912h ago

My local comic shop had the same issue last month with some One Piece statues. It feels like this is happening way more now, not just at cons but even in smaller stores. I always check the bottom of the box for a copyright stamp and feel the paint texture. Sellers getting defensive is the biggest red flag, they know exactly what they're selling. It sucks because it ruins the fun of collecting when you have to be a detective.

rose_grant7812h ago

Ugh, tell me about it. I bought a "limited edition" figure online that arrived smelling like a chemical factory and had paint so thick it looked like it was applied with a butter knife.