Informing You For Your Protection.....

[blade2025]

This one being sold online is 10 inches.

They must have watered it, and fed it well ..

No, it's the shoes.

[glowfunkofreak]

This one being sold online is 10 inches.

They must have watered it, and fed it well ..

No, it's the shoes.

A mouse with platform sneakers .. sneakkkyyyyy !!

[Funko5ker]

Pete has mine. So that's why I said mine didn't go to VA.
I believe you just said yours is a color proto .. or is it all black ?

It is all irrelevant, because in the item description they say the are the original owner and got it at Fundays.
No mention of anything else, not from a collector, and not from a authorized Funko Dealer.

Reading is fundamental ... LOL

Maybe we can get the seller to come forward to verify they were at Fundays ?
I'm sure one of those Funatics that were there would remember such a rare item given away.

Yes, mine is all black. Just saying there are more than two out there. Non "custom" ones I mean. But like you said this seller's listing doesn't add up if the two that were given out at fundays are already in known collections.

[BigM]

First off, I'd place a Vegas bet that the one on Ebay is fake. 0 Feedback can be scary (although, you have to start somewhere) but even then the figure itself and the description (in which he spells Mickey "Mikey" at one point are a couple indicators as to why this is most likely fake.

Secondly, as said by a few people, if one person starts doing this then others may follow. I understand this is not the first time something like this has occurred but I do NOT want this happening either. I can't afford every piece out there but I'm not commissioning fake protos or FP Batmans or any other piece because I would much rather have the legitimate product and not a fake one.

If someone wants that, then so be. But like Jim said, who knows what the other person will do with this? This could easily pop up on ebay next week and if we didn't see this earlier someone may have fallen for it.

Third, protos do mean a lot to some people. I know they don't appeal to everyone for various reasons but to me it's a love for a certain character that makes me want them. I enjoy the rarity of them also but I don't spend what I would call absurd amounts of money on them. (Most aren't exactly cheap but if it makes me happy, I can pay a certain amount for an item). I think it's very cool that Funko allows it's fans to own these pieces that otherwise may be thrown away or stored somewhere (I'm not sure what other companies do with their protos) and that's another reason why I collect them. (plus "customizing" them takes the fun out of collecting them)

And finally,

I bet the guys at pawnstars know a guy who could help us authenticate protos=D

[homietrav]

No .. it couldn't be.
There are only 2 made of these.
Gemini never got any, this made them even more special, these were given out as awards.

Don't need to be a detective I was there. LOL

I have a color steamboat Willie proto I got from gemini. I'm pretty sure there was someone else on here who got one from them around the same time I got mine too. I think Poncho Pete has one as well so there are more than two. Unless the two from fundays are slightly different.

Didn't the one sold by Gemini have a lean and wouldn't stand without support under the foot?
Is that the one you have, Rob?
I remember something like that but I could be wrong.

[glowfunkofreak]

Look .. I'm just adding to the thread here which is titled - Informing You For Your Protection.....

I'm not buying it .. wasn't even remotely planning to.

Would not like to see someone get ripped off on a fake .. that's all.

Take the information I shared as you like. I was there, took pictures as usual (blurry as they may be).

It's at a pretty cheap price too if someone wants to risk it.

I wouldn't advise it, but what do I know . ..

[Squird]

To those of us who collect protos, it's not about the money, it's about what a proto is. It's part of the process, not the end result. I like my production pieces, I love my protos. Without them, you wouldn't have the toy to strip the paint off of.

That's kind of a big deal (obviously not to you, but to others)

Once one guy strips his toy and sells it, then someone else does it, then another, then another. Then it's only a matter of time before these pieces start getting resold as simply 'protos' and not 'custom protos'.

I don't think its a witch hunt, it's calling out some jerkwad who's too cheap or lazy to try and get a real proto so he's resorted to making his own.

But if they are identical and even you can't tell the difference, what does it matter? Who says he's too cheap or lazy and instead just wanted to make one? What people do with their figures is their business. I digress.

You really don't get what makes a proto special.

People can absolutely do with their toys what they want, but if it doesn't matter, then why do it in the first place? Because people want something that looks like a proto, but reeks of acetone? Nice collection. Hope they don't smoke.

There are real protos out there, if you're faking it because you don't know where to find one...you're lazy. If you're faking one because you don't like the price...you're cheap.

[The Blot]

Wow that's unbelievable!!! I know customizers often strip their toys first before painting them (especially in the designer art toy world), but I've never seen anyone try to pass off a stripped toy as an unpainted release. Terrible!!!

[t_keela]

Imagine if someone copies a Picasso or a Leonardo da Vinci and years down the road it ends up on the secondary market and someone buys the fake....This is the same. Our problem with protos is we have no way to tell a real proto from Funko since they are not marked. It seems like fraud that someone would strip a production piece to make it into a proto. Just my opinion. This is a dangerous slippery slope!

I apologize if this has already come up in thediscussion, but I believe that there is a way to differentiate a prototype from a stock Pop!. The difference must be at the bottom of the sole of the pieces and real toy has an engraving that states the year of production and who owns the license on the left foot (i.r. 2013 Walking Dead), and name and place of the manufactured piece on the right (Funko LLL ; www.funko.com ; Made in China) and dumb seller would neglect these things as they would require wet-sanding with 800 and higher grit sandpaper in order no to damage the piece.

I apologize if this is wrong or has been brought up in the conversation already.

[Funko5ker]

Imagine if someone copies a Picasso or a Leonardo da Vinci and years down the road it ends up on the secondary market and someone buys the fake....This is the same. Our problem with protos is we have no way to tell a real proto from Funko since they are not marked. It seems like fraud that someone would strip a production piece to make it into a proto. Just my opinion. This is a dangerous slippery slope!

I apologize if this has already come up in thediscussion, but I believe that there is a way to differentiate a prototype from a stock Pop!. The difference must be at the bottom of the sole of the pieces and real toy has an engraving that states the year of production and who owns the license on the left foot (i.r. 2013 Walking Dead), and name and place of the manufactured piece on the right (Funko LLL ; http://www.funko.com ; Made in China) and dumb seller would neglect these things as they would require wet-sanding with 800 and higher grit sandpaper in order no to damage the piece.

I apologize if this is wrong or has been brought up in the conversation already.

I think most protos actually do have the same imprint on the bottom as do the production piece. That's why it's so hard to tell a real one from a fake one.

[Cristina]

I think most protos actually do have the same imprint on the bottom as do the production piece. That's why it's so hard to tell a real one from a fake one.

And, unfortunately, you can't smell the acetone through the eBay listing

[beckysaurus]

Jeez. What a shame. I would love to have that steamboat proto.

[t_keela]

I think most protos actually do have the same imprint on the bottom as do the production piece. That's why it's so hard to tell a real one from a fake one.

That's just silly. They found the best way for collectors to distinguish a proto from non-proto and got rid of it...

I hope that in the future they put a PROTO engraving somewhere on the toy (crotch perhaps? ) to help us distinguish...

[edorice]

I apologize if this has already come up in thediscussion, but I believe that there is a way to differentiate a prototype from a stock Pop!. The difference must be at the bottom of the sole of the pieces and real toy has an engraving that states the year of production and who owns the license on the left foot (i.r. 2013 Walking Dead), and name and place of the manufactured piece on the right (Funko LLL ; http://www.funko.com ; Made in China) and dumb seller would neglect these things as they would require wet-sanding with 800 and higher grit sandpaper in order no to damage the piece.

I apologize if this is wrong or has been brought up in the conversation already.

Sorry, but no. The protos have names and years on them as well.

[ShoMeNodder]

Seen it both ways

[Micho808]

Thanks for this info!

[jpaskoff]

I feel bad for whoever had the other proto he had listed..especially because I posted it in the eye on the web section.

[SaberFireTiger]

Shameful. Honestly who makes a proto if not to sell it off? I don't understand the logic in wanting something like that if it wasn't real.

[Chemo_Nchicago]

Apparently anyone looking for a cheap alternative because you know it performs the same function at a lower price

[TheLastDude]

What happens to this custom in the future is anybody's guess, but the same can be said for all other reproductions.

And this is where the trouble lies.

Guy A: Makes a very good and convincing custom proto piece and then gifts it to a friend.

Friend: Falls on hard times and sells off collection. Custom proto piece gets mixed in.

Guy C: Buys the collection and thinks he's hit the motherload when he finds a proto piece. He then proceeds to sell the piece as a true proto.

Guy D: Overpays by anywhere from 100-200 bucks to score a great "proto" piece.

Now that custom proto is out in the market and nobody knows if it's real or not anymore.

Shameful. Honestly who makes a proto if not to sell it off? I don't understand the logic in wanting something like that if it wasn't real.

I understand it. I would love to have a proto piece, but I can't justify paying what they cost. It would be much easier for me to pay 25 bucks or so to a customizer to have one made.

However, it would be silly to do so because, like you said, it's not real.

I don't "show off" my collection to anyone anyway. The only ones who see my collection are my wife and I, and I'd know it wasn't real...thus defeating the purpose of having it.

[DocRamon]

i think it's all similar to reproduction paintings. they're common in the art industry, but they're sold AS reproductions. it's not fraud until someone tries to represent it as an original. but in that case, even though we joke about pawn stars experts, professionals are brought in to inspect pieces and verify the facts. and as we've seen on that show even, yes, sometimes the seller is just unaware of a piece's true history. this is just a part of collecting, sad to say.

ron's really said it best: buyer beware. be smart, people. don't buy if you're suspicious. research the piece you want. research the seller. know your hobby.

but, thinking of ways to curb the problem... couldn't funko just start making color protos in 'close, but not exact' colors? i'm not talking those 'crazy' colors like bright orange and pink. but the tony montana proto could have easily been brown/black instead of tan/blue. and then everyone would know that 'mis-colored' color protos are authentic, and those that look like paint-stripped originals are just that.

[mstg25]

This idea my hurt Brian's wrist BUT I think all Protos should be signed

Yea highly unlikely, , Brian would be signing more than Stan Lee! Lol

Then how long before we need to get the signature authenticated?

These trolls just make it worse for everybody. They are going to ruin the secondary market for these

[edorice]

but, thinking of ways to curb the problem... couldn't funko just start making color protos in 'close, but not exact' colors? i'm not talking those 'crazy' colors like bright orange and pink. but the tony montana proto could have easily been brown/black instead of tan/blue. and then everyone would know that 'mis-colored' color protos are authentic, and those that look like paint-stripped originals are just that.

From what I understand, the proto colors are for testing the colors of the production piece. This is part of their business dealings with the licensor. We are only getting the protos as collectors because Funko is kind enough to pass a few on to the collectors, what the artist's don't keep for themselves. Changing colors would defeat the original purpose of the proto.

[MasterKenobi]

Making a mountain out of a molehill. I know the person who "made" it. He never said it wasn't a custom. He's sold custom Vinylmations for years. As soon as I saw it posted, I sent him a message that longtime Funko proto collectors would "flip their lids" over this and then he voluntarily removed the photo and apologized for it. He was ignorant to the furor it would cause.

He never tried to sell it. Now back off the ledge people.

[jpaskoff]

Now I need to ask cause I'm paranoid...anyone know anything about the seller I got my Peter Pan proto from? He had a Blibo Baggins, Ariel, Ursula, and Pan proto for sale...

[edorice]

Now I need to ask cause I'm paranoid...anyone know anything about the seller I got my Peter Pan proto from? He had a Blibo Baggins, Ariel, Ursula, and Pan proto for sale...

I think Poncho Pete bought the Pan from him. Those protos looked legit, but ask Pete for more info. I think you're OK.

[jpaskoff]

Now I need to ask cause I'm paranoid...anyone know anything about the seller I got my Peter Pan proto from? He had a Blibo Baggins, Ariel, Ursula, and Pan proto for sale...

I think Poncho Pete bought the Pan from him. Those protos looked legit, but ask Pete for more info. I think you're OK.

I was the one who got the Pan from him, that's why i'm asking . Thanks, makes me a bit less nervous now!

[Reverend]

Seen it both ways

I bet you have Carol

[RPT111]

This was a fun read. Guy makes a custom proto and people freak out. This person was upfront about it being a custom. So some reason kicked in. Then the speculation of how this could be a bad thing to go against reason started. It is a custom, that is it. This seems to be handled with over reaction than a warning people could possibly buy a fake proto.

[Alleycat]

Looks like it has started already ..
I see a very suspicious big pop proto on eBay from a seller with 0 feedback.

I only know of two sets that were given out at this Fundays .. only one is pictured here at the awards table since Brian gave me my set for Funko Spirit or being the "King of POP!" at the time.


http://www.justanotherfunkoobserver.com ... 11-385.jpg

I got a set and Craig (for being the Proto King) got a set to the best of my knowledge. If you look at the lower right hand corner of this blurry picture you can see the second set.

http://www.justanotherfunkoobserver.com ... 11-408.jpg

I don't have mine anymore, but it didn't go to VA, plus they say they are the original owners.
Craig doesn't live in VA anymore, and I'm sure he wouldn't start a new eBay (2 days old) in a state he don't live in anymore.

Sorry people.. buyers beware !!

Just catching up on this thread.

I still have a set of the Blox cereal monsters that I got from Brian at that Fundays. I believe there were 4 sets on the tables. I now live in Florida. I've had nothing on ebay for quite some time now. I don't and never did have a Steamboat Mickey proto.

I've accumulated well over 600 protos over the past 10 years and have been very careful who I have bought from. I only have a few protos whose origins are questionable, and I've attached a note to each of them so I won't forget (got them from a guy in China / Hong Kong / Japan (?). I just wish I had noted where and from who I got each proto as my memory can only store so much.

As has been said, many protos have the copyright and Funko imprints on the bottom of the bases, but some do not. Some of the older protos are even larger than their production pieces.

Also as has been said…. buyers beware.

Not sure? Just say NO!

[unoudid]

This was a fun read. Guy makes a custom proto and people freak out. This person was upfront about it being a custom. So some reason kicked in. Then the speculation of how this could be a bad thing to go against reason started. It is a custom, that is it. This seems to be handled with over reaction than a warning people could possibly buy a fake proto.

I think this is a very healthy discussion on what should or should not be made as a custom. I just wish customizers had the integrity to be original with their designs and make new creations instead of knocking off pieces (protos, chases, etc...). Cool.... you get a quick buck for copying a high dollar piece because someone can't afford/find the real thing.... how about you make something new and original instead?

[glowfunkofreak]

Well .. I know I congratulated someone on getting the other set .. just don't know who it was
I was more then likely pretty drunk soooooo ...

There were only 2 sets of the three though Disney Big POP!s proto's ..
I found a much clearer picture after further research.
One set to the left of the Freddy Banks .. and the other to the right.
The proto's were all separated almost entirely by type of proto that year.
See my other picture with the regular size POP! proto's I had posted before.
The front table was the items Brian awarded to people for special accomplishments.

[cliffd64]

This was a fun read. Guy makes a custom proto and people freak out. This person was upfront about it being a custom. So some reason kicked in. Then the speculation of how this could be a bad thing to go against reason started. It is a custom, that is it. This seems to be handled with over reaction than a warning people could possibly buy a fake proto.

I suppose it IS a fun read, but it's also very educating to the unseasoned collector.

Regardless of people's reaction or over-reaction, collectors need to be aware that this stuff can and DOES happen. For some people the temptation of altering a $5.00 clearance pop ( or wobbler as the case may be) to appear as a prototype costing at least 30 times more is too great. The more people that know this, the better.

It used to be very difficult to come by a prototype. They were not sold by retailers like Gemini in the past. The only ways to acquire a prototype was to either get it from a "proto toss" raffle at SDCC or from Fundays or a direct gift from Funko. Not one dollar changed hands from Funko and the lucky collector. Trades and sales among collectors were common (as well as flippers) and some prices paid reflected the rarity and difficulty of obtaining one.

Once these started being sold outright the rarity diminished and a market price was established. Because none of this goes unnoticed I am sure that there were people willing to take advantage of the ever expanding desire of Funko collectors to obtain these prototypes. So I'm virtually certain that someone has been sold a fake proto ... it is an unfortunate part of collecting.

Was this item in particular meant to dupe someone... probably not, but it DOES demonstrate exactly how easy it is to do and also how careful you must be if it is your desire to pay for a prototype. It's just like an autograph on eBay... Buyer beware!

Intent or not...a "custom proto" is pretty pathetic... it demonstrates a good chemical knowledge of paint removal but no real artistic value of any sort. Of all the customs I have seen... this is the least attractive.

[MERCWITHAMOUTH]

I actually like these protos but i dont find myself ever buying one due to the price. I do see myself making a "custom proto" but I would not stoop so low as to sell these fake protos because thats truly what they are. If anything the protos should come in some sort of special box or with a certificate so that way the authentics can be separated from the fakes.

[Squird]

This was a fun read. Guy makes a custom proto and people freak out. This person was upfront about it being a custom. So some reason kicked in. Then the speculation of how this could be a bad thing to go against reason started. It is a custom, that is it. This seems to be handled with over reaction than a warning people could possibly buy a fake proto.

I don't think it ever went against reason. My question is why bother? Stripping the paint of a production piece to have a custom proto is kind of stupid. As Ross says, why not create something new instead of recreating a piece that already exists?

Also, making your own protos (or recreating exclusives), in a time when most new collectors freak out over the condition of the boxes and stickers and paint-aps, is so counter to the premise of 'value-based collecting'. Folks want everything pristine to preserve future value, but are totally willing to knock off something that costs more than they're willing to spend. And the argument that maybe this will help bring down prices of real protos? Well, I'm going start making my own stickers, go to Barnes and Noble, and make every piece of plastic in the store an 'exclusive' so I can help everybody out with lower Ebay prices.

[blade2025]

Looks like it has started already ..
I see a very suspicious big pop proto on eBay from a seller with 0 feedback.

I only know of two sets that were given out at this Fundays .. only one is pictured here at the awards table since Brian gave me my set for Funko Spirit or being the "King of POP!" at the time.

I got a set and Craig (for being the Proto King) got a set to the best of my knowledge. If you look at the lower right hand corner of this blurry picture you can see the second set.

I don't have mine anymore, but it didn't go to VA, plus they say they are the original owners.
Craig doesn't live in VA anymore, and I'm sure he wouldn't start a new eBay (2 days old) in a state he don't live in anymore.

Sorry people.. buyers beware !!

Just catching up on this thread.

I still have a set of the Blox cereal monsters that I got from Brian at that Fundays. I believe there were 4 sets on the tables. I now live in Florida. I've had nothing on ebay for quite some time now. I don't and never did have a Steamboat Mickey proto.

I've accumulated well over 600 protos over the past 10 years and have been very careful who I have bought from. I only have a few protos whose origins are questionable, and I've attached a note to each of them so I won't forget (got them from a guy in China / Hong Kong / Japan (?). I just wish I had noted where and from who I got each proto as my memory can only store so much.

As has been said, many protos have the copyright and Funko imprints on the bottom of the bases, but some do not. Some of the older protos are even larger than their production pieces.

Also as has been said…. buyers beware.

Not sure? Just say NO!

Thanks for the info Craig. I never thought about adding a note about how I obtain the proto. I will do that now.

[GodFodder]

It says CUSTOM right in the title, so it's not like he/she is misleading a potential buyer. If it were advertised as a 1/12 proto then of course that would be a problem. This is really no different than any other custom figure that nobody seems to take issue with, so I don't quite understand all the fuss.

[buzzgotawoody]

Mickey "WTF man, you mean to tell me ive been standing next to a fake all this time.. "


haven't been too active in a bit..ill spare you the probs... but I was reading this and just wanted to let you guys know that I also have 9 inch willie.. . i bought my proto from a great funko funatic.. brother bear. aka iceman44 a while back. I also remember someone buying a black one on gemini like homietrav said, and i remember the buyer saying it had a lean on it.I think he was putting quarters at the bottom to keep him standing at the time. Pete got his from ron , Funko5ker says he got one from gemini, and I got mine from bear, and whoever the other buyer on gemini who's willie had a lean and wouldn't stand straight .

So there are more than 2, but the listing says its one of two from fundays. Ron said he got his at fundays which went to pete, and im not sure where Bear got his from but if his came from fundays as well than the one i have would be that second one. Sucks cuz its a really nice piece and now people who want it cant feel confident buying this proto.

Anyway hopefully ill be a bit more active soon. keep up the fun funatics.

[icemanfan44]

yours is no fake brother but I will gladly refund your money for his return

[TheLastDude]

It says CUSTOM right in the title, so it's not like he/she is misleading a potential buyer. If it were advertised as a 1/12 proto then of course that would be a problem. This is really no different than any other custom figure that nobody seems to take issue with, so I don't quite understand all the fuss.

When the custom is something that had never been made, then yes, there is no issue. The issues comes in when the custom is something that does already exist and is rare or valuable.

Take for instance Hasbro's Marvel Universe figures. I know people who used the Professor X body to make Agent Coulson and Agents of SHIELD figures. These don't exist so they're easily identifiable as customs.

Now, say someone takes a regular pink and blue Archangel figure and customizes it into an X-Force Archangel. This is a problem because X-Force Archangel DOES exist, and it sells for a pretty penny.