What The Heck? The Encore 12 Metroplex I Got From TFSource Is A Fake!

A couple of weeks ago I did a review of Transformers 12 Encore Metroplex. In my review, I noted that the plastic material used is very substandard and the toy seemed cheaply made. Initially I just thought that Takara screwed up in the build quality. Since I got this figure from a well respected online retailer (TFSource - on sale for $60); it didn't occur to me that my Metroplex could be a knock-off/counterfeit/fake.

Well, a couple of days ago I was at Ages 3 & Up and I saw that they had KO Encore Metroplexes on sale for $49.99. I noticed that the box was eerily similar to my Encore Metroplex's. So I went home and did some research on the internet for KO Encore Metroplex. What I found was the page (below) on a website that tells you the differences between a real Encore Metroplex and a fake one:
famitoy.com ★ toy news & reviews ★: Fake Toy Review - Encore 12 Metroplex

I was shocked at how similar my Encore Metroplex's box was to the fake one and how dissimilar it was to the real one. So this morning I bought my Encore Metroplex (box and all) to Ages 3 & Up to compare with their KO's. Spencer and the crew working there immediately confirmed that my Encore Metroplex was a fake. My box was identical to theirs and they confirmed that my crappy looking Metroplex was one big dud. I've already emailed TFSource about my findings and I'm awaiting their reply.

First I want to state that I have nothing but good dealings with TFSource, and in no way do I think that they purposely knew they were sending me a knock-off. In fact, the guys at A3U told me that their shipment of Encore Metroplexes was thought to be legit until Spencer checked out the merchandise and discovered that there were fakes. He had no choice but to sell his Metroplexes as KO's afterwards. I suspect that TFSource was also cheated by their suppliers.

I'm writing this article so that people can look out for these fakes. If you suspect that you already own one of these fakes, maybe the info here can help you figure out if your suspicions are warranted or not. So I will summarize the differences and provide images to help you find the fakes. First thought, it would help for you to read the page that I linked earlier. Now, let's get to the details.

Toy differences:
I only have my old original G1 Metroplex to compare and below are just a few differences that I have noticed.
- There is a wide gap between the tires and the hips on the KO, not so much on the G1.
- The tires on my KO Encore Metroplex have text with a different font compared to those of my G1 Metroplex.
- The garage door and the missile bay on the KO has glossy black paint over them, my G1 is just solid black plastic.
- The final difference is that the KO's quality is very shabby, nothing like the original (even though my G1 is worn over the years).





Box Differences:
- The grid background on the fake box has a whitish outline next to the grey lines. On my real Encore Omega Supreme's box, the grid is made up of solid single gray colored lines.
- The Takara Tomy logo's white outline is off center on the fake box, and evenly aligned on the real box.
- The image of the product is fussy on the fake box and sharp on the real box.
- The indented serial number has an indented square around it on the fake box, and the real one doesn't. The text is close together on the fake and farther apart on the real one. And worst of all, every fake box of Encore Metroplex has "H2208" indented on it; the numbers should be different in every box.





Anyway, I think everyone should check their Encore Metroplexes just in case. It's a shame that even retail stores may be fool by these KO's. I think Takara Tomy & Hasbro should step up their efforts against toy piracy; or at least warn the public about them.

Here's a link to my full article (with receipt image):
What The Heck? The Encore 12 Metroplex I Got From TFSource Is A Fake! | Core Articles

I'm wondering if anyone out there has more information about this subject.

 

Wow that is crazy.I heard some rumours they would take some of the G1 k/o's and repackage them in encore boxes but man talk about the suppliers ripping everyone off.Thanks for the heads up dude!

 

I was going to suggest contacting TFSource since they can sort out the problem, but looks like you have done it already. I would await their response, probably just a genuine case of mistaken identity.

 

No problem. Man this sucks, I was really looking forward to getting a replacement for my old dilapidated G1 Metroplex.

Still, I'm going to give TFSource the benefit of the doubt. I hope they'll email me back soon.

 

Grrrrrr. Looks like mine is a big fake as well. That gets my blood boiling.

 

This should be frontpaged. Now the brand new Encore line already has KOs. We need to get the word out, as this line is still brand new and not always easy to spot stuff like this.

 

Wow. I didn't get mine from TFsource but I will be checking it later. I am sure that they will have sold these in good faith, and any time it takes them to get back to you will be while they conduct an investigation into how they got supplied with them in the first place.

It really looks like the Chinese re-packed all those unsold 'Plexes from the KO run into faked Encore boxes and sold them as legit (as they weren't going to sell once the real Encore hit). It raises concerns over the minibot reissue too since they've brought all those out in KO form, but I feel this is less likely. I reckon this is probably just going to be Metroplex because of the circumstances where the KO came out right before the Encore was announced, leaving piles of the KO figure which wouldn't sell. But it's a worrying precedent.

 

And here I thought KOs were awesome because they give people a chance of getting toys they couldn't get otherw... oh wait.

 

Ugh, this is terrible news... From my own experience, TFsource has been screwed by their suppliers lately -- some of my henkei preorders with them have been delayed for months now, possibly permanently, due to shiftless import contacts. Curt lamented that this is the first time he's had so much frustration in eight years, and is having to exercise insurance claims for missing shipments.

I'm already in the process of reworking my orders... Curt and Company must never get a moment to rest.

 

So, ok, mine falls somewhere in the middle. The numbers on the back DO say H2208, but don't have any square indent. The Takara/Tomy logo border is only off center on the bottom panel by a tiny amount. The grid lines are clean and silver except they do have some whiteness bordering them when they get down into the red. The picture seems clear... so, I don't know, but I haven't opened him yet and I actually got him from BBTS.

 

This doesn't surprise me that much although I was surprised reading the thread.

The maker of these had considered repacking the left overs in Chinese packaging, but I dont think Metroplex would have been popular among Chinese kids at even 1/2 the cost they were wholesaling for

So... it looks like repackaging them in encore boxes is what they did instead. I think it is horrible for KOs to be passed as the real deal.

 

I'll take a look at my own Encore Metroplex when I get home, and compare to what you've got here. I know the provenance of that one, and I know, without question, that it is a real Takara reissue.

Updates this evening...

 

At first I thought, maybe this is why they were doing their Holiday sale at $60 per Metroplex! But since I purchased one for this price, I immediately checked mine and I have a real one. *Whew!* I guess I got lucky!

I'm late for work, but at least I have piece of mind!

 

wow, that's not cool. kos do not compare to the real deal so repackaging them in ko modern reissue packaging simply is not on. This needs to get front paged so people know about it.

 

wow, interesting.

also the picture showing the wheels, i notice the hinge where the lower leg side flaps pull out, the pin is exposed at the end by a groove in teh pin housing, in the encore version i have the pin is only exposed at the very end and then further back where the hinge has a hole.

the real encore has the rivets in teh wheel centres and teh black chest parts are moulded black plastic too.

 

KOs don't hurt anyone guys! If you don't want them just stay away from them! The rest of us love them! blah blah blah

Anywhos, TFSource has been nothing but awesome to me in the past, and I bet they're going to be even MORE pissed off than you are when they find this out. I'd be very surprised if they don't take care of you.

 

It got A3U, it really really looks like it's gotten TFSource, so I'd say it's very possible to have hit BBTS too  . I'd definitely open it up and see.

 

Ugh, now I'll have to be very careful when I finally do get enough cash to get the Encore stuff. KOs, the only KOs I have are G1 Constructicons and they suck, I mean I can't even get them to combine right. Bully for you if you're into KOs, but seriously, cheap alternatives do not a G1 collection make.

 

Eugh, awful.

I'm sure TFSource will give you a refund, though. They've never done me wrong.

 

Question for those who have recieved the KOs and opened it: Does it have the remolded peg on tank turret so that it can attach in city mode as a tower? If it doesn't, then it will be a big way to tell the difference. Oh, and I checked mine, and it looks like mine is real. I got him from BBTS right when he was released.