Poke Doll Mofu figures vol. 2 were released today in Japan. This is the second series of figures. This time there are 3 Pikachus and 3 Eevees!!!
Figure #1 (Eevee)
Figure #2 (Eevee Smiling)
Figure #3 (Eevee Posing)
Figure #4 (Pikachu Hello)
Figure #5 (Pikachu Camera)
Figure #6 (Ditto Pikachu)
For those of you who are not familar with the Poke Mofu Doll figures, they are made by Bandai Company. They stand about 1.75″ (4.5cm) tall and are made of plastic. But what makes them unique from other figures is that they have a thin layer of fuzzy fur!!!
Vol. 1 featured 5 different Pikachus and 1 Mimikyu and is currently out of production. These figures are only sold in Japan and are in high demand, so they go quickly. But dont worry, you can get them on Pokevault while supplies lasts.
Its Demo stores just released the 2nd part of the 2017 Pokemon goods campaign. This time the theme is Christmas. It features Vulpix, Cyndaquil, Charmander, Flareon, Ponyta & Pikachu in a variety of goods including 3 mens and 3 ladies watches, a plush Pikachu, plush mascots, bag charm, thermos, towels, file folders, notebooks, several memo pads, cookies, iPhone case, tote bag, mirrors, pouch, keychains, several marshmallow treats and more.
These goods were not sold at the Pokemon Center like last time. They were only sold in EXTREMELY LIMITED quantity at Its Demo stores in Japan. Some stores only had as few as 1 of some of the popular items like the watches, plush toys, etc. These goods will go fast, but you can still find them on Pokevault if you hurry!
As all of you know “fake” or “bootleg” Pokemon items have become a huge problem. Trying to capitalize on the worldwide popularity of Pokemon, unauthorized sellers in China make fake or bootleg Pokemon plushies and other goods. Today there was a huge bust in South Korea. Over $6 million in fake Pokemon plushies were confiscated. Most of these plushies were headed for game center claw machines across South Korea.
Most people think “Whats the harm if my Pokemon plushie is fake?”. But there are several things that you dont know. First, it affects the profits of the company that makes them (Nintendo, Pokemon Center, etc). When these companies lose money from sales of unauthorized Pokemon items, they inturn raise the prices to try to get back all of the lost revenue. Thus making Pokemon items more expensive for ALL OF US!!!!
Secondly its illegal to sell fake or bootleg plushies. Most of the sellers on Ebay, Amazon, etc that are selling fake plushies have no idea that they are fakes. The sellers they buy from advertise them as “directly from China”. While this is true that they come directly from China, they are unauthorized. It is 100% illegal to make, produce or sell products with the Pokemon likeness without the written consent of Pokemon, Nintendo, etc. Thus, if you are selling fake Pokemon items, whether you know it or not, you can be held responsible. Having studied business law at university and having 20 years in the Pokemon retailing business I know that this is 100% true, however rarely enforced. It is estimated that more than 50% of the Pokemon plushies on Ebay are fakes or bootlegs (I personally think its close to 70%).
Lastly, fake Pokemon are made in unauthorize factories that produce them without any strict safety guidelines. They can use child labor and can contain some dangerous chemicals, lead paints, etc. Im not saying that they are all dangerous, but the factories are not regulated for safety standards like other authorized Pokemon factories. Would you want your child playing with a toy from an unauthorized factory???
Hopefully this is just the beginning of the crackdown on illegal Pokemon items and other countries will follow suit. We are a long way away from getting rid of fake Pokemon items, but hopefully other countries will begin the long process of getting rid of the fakes once and for all.
My friend sent me this video this morning from a comic convention in Canada. It makes me really sad to watch it. So many people are getting ripped off and they dont even know it. Some people think bootlegs are cute and cheap. Yes, some are cute, some are not, but most are bad or questionable quality. But the fact is bootlegs are actually affecting alot of people and most people dont even realize it.
The loss of revenue from people selling illegal bootlegs is the main reason for the Pokemon Centers constant price increases. This hurts everyone who wants to buy a legitimate Pokemon plushie. The Pokemon Center price has nearly doubled on some items in the last couple years due to lost revenue.
For those of you who want good quality plushies at a reasonable price, help spread the word and lets try to get rid of the bootleggers. In the long run, its better for everyone.
