TIG has always had a zero-tolerance policy against repro since 2009 when it began.

Today I was pleased to read that RS have now implemented their own policy against the sale of reproductions: http://forum.rebelscum.com/t1118018/#post19546722

This followed a petition to stop the sale of repro on Rebelscum: http://forum.rebelscum.com/t1117946/

The petition worked


Then I just read that SWFUK have also implemented their own rule on the selling of repros on their forum  

Definitely a good day for the hobby all round, and important for awareness... just need RS to stick the add-on banner to their site now

this is really great news

Damn it, and I've just agreed to become Poon's UK distributor

While I agree that reproduction weapons is a major problem, were the poon vlix figures really that big an issue? I mean we all know they are out there and we knew they were out there before he created new molds for them. The broad brush used to ban repros over on rs has perhaps has such a large stroke that it created problems for reseals, toy Toni cards, unused cardbacks, carefully removed bubbles, etc... To me these items policed themselves now in the classifieds. It is still being discussed there, but many collectors go for reseals especially on super rare cards. Now those resealed Ledy or clipper or whatever rare carded figures can not be sold there.

I don't want people to think I am for repros, as I am not, I just think that to make a rule such as was made is over the top. We are all collectors and try to look out for one another so things like reproduction parts or even wrongly paired parts get called out pretty fast most of the time anyway.

Interestingly the rules changed within a couple of hours of their initial launch. To start with they didn't explicitly include the use of original items so there was a window for authentic reseals but then this changed to extend to resealed items or items cast from original molds (i.e. blue harvest) which I tend to think is a step too far.

My opposition to repro crap has always been because of the likelihood of others being deceived by something that appeared genuine. Given the history and exposure, Blue Harvest items are not going to be mistaken for original hard copies any more and are generally accepted.

I have two POTF figures where the bubbles are badly cracked and a previous owner used tape to stick on them to hold them together. Would these now be prohibited at RS? They're not really reseals as you couldn't have removed the figure through the cracks, they are still vintage sealed. Also the tape is very obvious and is not going to accidentally deceive anyone into thinking they are faultless.

I think the original wording was fine but this also gives a clear demonstration of why it's important to explain the intent whenever making rules or laws. The intent is to stop people being deceived into buying something that is not genuine. Banning Repros is how we're going to approach that goal however the rule is there to serve the intent, not the other way around.

I understand the repro ban as that is needed, however if blue harvest pieces were to be allowed, then the vlix figures would also be allowed as both are copies of original figures right? I am asking as I haven't ever researched blue harvest. Someone mentioned custom made items like the ones falcon toys made when he used original figures to be used, however didn't he change them enough that they could be considered custom pieces? Under the ban they would be not allowed for sale, because they use original figure parts recasted to create a new figure. My point was that in order to ban something from sale then they need to not use such a broad ban and get more specific. Figures that are custom made using original figure parts are for sale here and I am looking to try to get some off some of our customizers. I think allowing descretion to the moderators would be better than issuing such a large rule.

It is weird how the views around have changed as I remember when rocket fett customs, vlix customs, and other unproduced droids and ewoks used to be sought after items. Now to own one seems to lump you into a category of helping fund scammers or being pro repro items. I own some of poons fetts as that is as close to the rocket fett as I would ever get. I chose not to buy a vlix as vlix was affordable. Heck a real one was around the $1200 to $1500 mark just a year or so ago. Now it seems they are going for well above that so I have considered buying a repro one just as a place holder, but I don't want to be black marked or lumped into a group that is pro reproduction items.

I know repos are an issue that is why like the others who have them I drill a hole into them. I use them for my custom builds as there is no way I would use a real vintage weapon as sometimes I modify the weapons although I don't sell my customs I have traded them mainly as I wouldn't really know what to ask for one . I would like to see all sellers just not bothering to put a repo item with a vintage figure I have seen more and more sellers doing it on ebay, I have seen lots of figures I was ready to buy then I read the words repo weapon or repo cape and at that point I ignore the piece and will look for one either with the real stuff or nothing at all. I have been caught a few time in thinking something I sold or traded was the real deal only to find out the weapon was a repo then I feel really bad about it even if it was just a freebe that someone needed. I would prefer to see repos done in a colour that is not used for a vintage one like a grey stormtrooper blaster instead of black then you would know right off it's a repo. I Know there are scammers out there trying to make dishonest money but there are also people who will clearly tell you it's a repo. This is a battle that will never be easily won as with anything that is collectible there will be people who will try and take advantage of others. Hope this all makes sense.