Scams, fakes, scalpers. It’s all that makes any hobby so much less enjoyable. Especially when you fall for one. This is one of the reasons I am so afraid of buying singles. And I also buy sealed products from trusted sources. Big sellers I know I can trust, even if sometimes I probably could get some stuff a bit cheaper. As it comes to counterfeit, I noticed it’s all the small toy stores around my place that sell these. They most likely aim for the younger kids that won’t be able to tell a difference besides it’s cheaper so they get excited. I remember when I was a kid and was excited to get “LEGO” for cheap, of course it wasn’t LEGO but I only understood that when I was older.
Yes, you're right. Scammers always target those who don't know - or care - any better. So you're doing the right thing buying products and cards from reputable sources. I do the same and can live with the extra money I spend on having peace of mind. I'm hopeful though since the Pokemon company keeps on printing so much product that overall, most cards and packs are getting cheaper. Happy collecting!
Thank you, as usual! (-: Unfortunately, they get better every year. I've seen some slabs recently where I had to look a LONG time to identify them as fakes. Very sad...
This helps if you have a real copy to compare but without a real copy you can only check the back with a cheap original card. For texture and color on the front, I´ve seen MTG fakes that have the texture, the color and the holo symbole printed on. Only way I was able to spot the difference was the light test as the fake failed the MTG light test directly. Everything else ..... at least for me I had no chance and I had the original to compare! For Pokemon I don´t realy know but if the guy that faked the MTG cards starts with the Pokemon cards you will have problems to find out what the realy ones are. Oh and they have the black/blueish layer in the middle to take the rip test!
I kinda think having some of the super expensive fakes or cards pretending to be pokemon cards that aren't actually pokemon cards would be fun to have for displaying purposes but other than that fake cards are lame.
I absolutely agree with you on the display for fun part, and of course, everyone is free to buy whatever cards they like! Unfortunately, purchasing fake cards in any way encourages scammers to make more of them...and there are still many people who fall for them I enjoy custom cards - the ones that are totally different from the real ones - for display purposes. If I want some super expensive cards but cannot afford them, I get lightly played version instead, for example. Happy collecting!
Scams, fakes, scalpers. It’s all that makes any hobby so much less enjoyable. Especially when you fall for one. This is one of the reasons I am so afraid of buying singles. And I also buy sealed products from trusted sources. Big sellers I know I can trust, even if sometimes I probably could get some stuff a bit cheaper. As it comes to counterfeit, I noticed it’s all the small toy stores around my place that sell these. They most likely aim for the younger kids that won’t be able to tell a difference besides it’s cheaper so they get excited. I remember when I was a kid and was excited to get “LEGO” for cheap, of course it wasn’t LEGO but I only understood that when I was older.
Yes, you're right. Scammers always target those who don't know - or care - any better.
So you're doing the right thing buying products and cards from reputable sources. I do the same and can live with the extra money I spend on having peace of mind.
I'm hopeful though since the Pokemon company keeps on printing so much product that overall, most cards and packs are getting cheaper.
Happy collecting!
Last year i bought a full complete base set, and some months later sell it. The buyer did the same light test you show to see if they are real 😁
you got me with the gut feeling. but you're right as usual.
thanks for the tips. those fakes can be really sophisticated...
Thank you, as usual! (-:
Unfortunately, they get better every year. I've seen some slabs recently where I had to look a LONG time to identify them as fakes. Very sad...
This helps if you have a real copy to compare but without a real copy you can only check the back with a cheap original card.
For texture and color on the front, I´ve seen MTG fakes that have the texture, the color and the holo symbole printed on.
Only way I was able to spot the difference was the light test as the fake failed the MTG light test directly.
Everything else ..... at least for me I had no chance and I had the original to compare!
For Pokemon I don´t realy know but if the guy that faked the MTG cards starts with the Pokemon cards you will have problems to find out what the realy ones are.
Oh and they have the black/blueish layer in the middle to take the rip test!
I kinda think having some of the super expensive fakes or cards pretending to be pokemon cards that aren't actually pokemon cards would be fun to have for displaying purposes but other than that fake cards are lame.
I absolutely agree with you on the display for fun part, and of course, everyone is free to buy whatever cards they like! Unfortunately, purchasing fake cards in any way encourages scammers to make more of them...and there are still many people who fall for them
I enjoy custom cards - the ones that are totally different from the real ones - for display purposes. If I want some super expensive cards but cannot afford them, I get lightly played version instead, for example.
Happy collecting!
@@JuliusCollects yes, fake is only fine for free. never give scalpers money