Fake Lego Chinese sets....avoid!

[Richard Dower]

I got the fake 8145 and 8653 in the mail this morning, to make things simple i would advise to avoid thee sets as the quality is terrible. not just in terms of the mold but the colour of the parts. the Enzo fake is the worst...all the Red parts are actually Rust in colour. some of the panels are shiny while others have a flat/matt look.

http://imgur.com/a/i9HIr

the parts in LBG are actually more VERY LBG....the shock absorbers are a joke, an insult...they look NOTHING like the Lego ones and were almost falling apart. There was no Metallic Silver parts # 75535. the Enzo used molds not used in the original...example the fake has part # 6538c instead of # 6538b. the engine blocks are the newer 2850b mold instead of the original part # 2850.

i could go on and on, the shoddy quality conectors, how parts lack any of the © Lego branding, anyone who has experince with genuine Lego Technic parts will see instantly the difference....i didnt take any photos because it was a waste of time, i was not bothered to go do a part by part analysis....you can tell right away just by the look and feel of the parts there were a joke.

the only parts of equal quality IMO were the flex soft axels, the colour was right and the rubber looked and felt exactly the same as genuine Lego.

i kept very little, out of 1358 parts i kept the following:

7L axel in Black: http://www.bricklink...colorID=11&in=A (the quality is terrible though)

32195b: http://www.bricklink...colorID=11&in=A (these molds looked and felt OK...but lack the branding, i do have several of these as used parts in genuine Lego....i will have to see how many genuine parts i have before i decided to dump the fakes)

x873c01: http://www.bricklink...colorID=11&in=A (again the moulding a very superb and shoddy....the mold of 8145 to 8653 are actually different with the 8145 being closer to a genuine Lego part, the Enzo Chinese part is a joke....alas i only have 4 of these parts as genuine Lego, they are very expensive to buy, like €10 per part. so i am keeping them as i dont have much choice)

wheel covers, unique to the set...i kept them but they look closer to Flat Silver in colour as opposed to Pearl Light Gray: http://www.bricklink...colorID=66&in=A

Genuine Lego part: http://img.bricklink.../P/66/50965.gif

Fake: http://imgur.com/a/wOiIV (note....part is laying on a flat surface wth the camera directly overhead)

i kept the fake 14L and 16L flex hoses due to no choice...genuine parts too expensive:

http://www.bricklink...&colorID=5&in=A

http://www.bricklink...&colorID=5&in=A

Part # 32195b in Red, no choice here...unique to set and i have never seen them listed for sale on Ebay: http://www.bricklink...&colorID=5&in=A

i suspect alot of the ones on Bricklink are fakes, you can tell if the part is missing the Lego copyright branding and other markings seen on a genuine Lego part.

Part # 3941 in Trans Red, hmmm...but weird this part, the fake 8145 part look very off colour, but so does the fake 8653 part. the fake 8145 colour palet is WAY off....its closer to cherry Red, or perhaps a very light Trans Orange part.

the fake 8653 part is more colour accurate, the the mold is worse....the Trans colour is a something light shade of Red then what would expect, but not as bad the the fake 8145 part. Honestly....if i could i would aviod using any of these parts, but it looks like i have no choice here sadly.

http://www.bricklink...colorID=17&in=A

as for the wheels, tyres and wheel hubs. the rubber and molds of the tyres actually isnt too bad at all...but you can buy them genuine and brand new via 32039, the only real difference is that the Black wheel hub is 6 spoke instead of the original 3 spoke:

http://alpha.brickli...lor=11#T=C&C=11

http://alpha.brickli...age?P=15038#T=C

the molds of the fake wheel hubs were pretty bad, i dumped all the wheels and tyres. overall i think is dumped in the bin 98 to 99% of the parts.

i paid €76 with free shipping....was it worth it for just these small few parts?

dunno, probably not...but i really wanted to build these sets and felt that buying genuine parts was more expensive. what is done is done,

Edited June 3, 2016 by Richard Dower

[Corvette3]

This reminds me of the previous time you talked about fake lego only you were a lot more supportive of it, you live, you learn i suppose.

Chinese-produced products are often a gamble, sometimes you get what you pay for and sometimes you wonder how badly you got ripped off.

[DrJB]

A while back I saw on eBay, someone selling such sets (do not recall the brand), from Israel. I thought this was more 'legitimate' than the China made, so I wrote him but never a response. What got me interested is, he stated the sets were made by Lego ... It was tempting to try, as eBay would cover such 'truth in advertising/description' issue, but decided not to in the end. The potential hassle was way more than the $$$ savings. If it's too good to be true, then for sure it ain't.

Edited June 4, 2016 by DrJB

[Saberwing40k]

I kind of think you're a fool for trying. Sure, some of the parts might be expensive, but I figure that you'd spend less, if you shopped around on Bricklink. Basically, what you did is spend like 80 bucks to get shoddy knockoff parts you probably could have gotten for less on Bricklink. Are the parts expensive? Yes, but you still probably did not save any money, and for shoddy parts. Oh well, you live, you learn.

Also, why do I see lots of the red ball joints for the Enzo on Bricklink, for like a dollar a piece? Or will you not deal with Bricklink?

[Richard Dower]

I kind of think you're a fool for trying. Sure, some of the parts might be expensive, but I figure that you'd spend less, if you shopped around on Bricklink. Basically, what you did is spend like 80 bucks to get shoddy knockoff parts you probably could have gotten for less on Bricklink. Are the parts expensive? Yes, but you still probably did not save any money, and for shoddy parts. Oh well, you live, you learn.

Also, why do I see lots of the red ball joints for the Enzo on Bricklink, for like a dollar a piece? Or will you not deal with Bricklink?

i suspect those Red Enzo parts ar not legit...they only ever appeared in one set, i think they might be selling fake parts....unless i see the part branded with the Lego logo its fake.

let me give you one example...new or used, the 1x9 Tan/Beige liftarm is €10 each...that is €20: http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=40490&idColor=11#T=S&C=2&O={%22color%22:2}

trans red used is €2 each....that is 8 Euro: http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=3941&idColor=17#T=S&C=17&O={%22color%22:17}

16L soft hoses start at €3, so 6 Euro there: http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=32202&idColor=5#T=S&C=5&O={%22color%22:5}

14L start at €7.50 so that is 15 Euro: http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=32201&idColor=5#T=S&C=5&O={%22color%22:5}

the wheel covers start at €5 each so that is 20 Euro: http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=50965&idColor=66#T=S&C=66&O={%22color%22:66}

steering arms start at 6.25 each so that is 25 Euro: http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=x873c01&idColor=11#T=S&C=11&O={%22color%22:11}

7L axels in Black. lowest price is €3 for three: http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=44294&idColor=11#T=S&C=11&O={%22color%22:11}

the PLG wheel covers start at €9 each, that is 36 Euro.

the x44 part costs €5 each so that is another 20 Euro: http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=44&idColor=5#T=S&C=5&O={%22color%22:5}

now i dont need the fake x44 parts myself as i have about 13 of them used in my own parts collection.

between 8145 and 8653 i need six 14L and nine 16L.....so do the math.

i could go on....but i think the point has been made, i did make a saving.

Edited June 4, 2016 by Richard Dower

[Gnac]

unless i see the part branded with the Lego logo its fake.

Wagh, time to chuck out all your pegs

[dr_spock]

Live and learn as the saying goes. It did seem like a money saver at the time: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=133489

[Kendo12]

Avoid fake stuff...seems like common sense...

[1974]

i could go on....but i think the point has been made, i did make a saving.

You did not save any money as you did not get any LEGO. Instead you blew a lot of money on complete waste AND supported a very dubious company

Get that BL account, I really don't know what's holding you back

[Appie]

Considering you're comparing sets, how about looking into used sets on bricklink or any other local site used for second hand stuff. Specific parts will always cost more than when you buy them as a complete set.

You did not save any money if you expected actual Lego branding on these items. Of course isn't, it's the one thing Lego could actually sue these Chinese imitations companies for.

Also, why isn't this in your first topic about this crap? No need for 2 topics about crap.

[DrJB]

Cool it off guys. Nothing wrong with sharing experience with others. Whether the OP wasted or saved money is really HIS call to make. Beauty/Value is in the eye of the beholder. While I agree buying off-brands promotes chinese companies, buying overpriced components from bricklink promotes blood suckers as well.

Edit: I take that back, not very nice of me (as 1974 replied), though many on BL set very high prices, at least from my own experience. Apologies to those I did offend.

If the OP is happy with his purchase, good for him ... After all, it's HIS lego parts (and his money), and he's free to do whatever he pleases with both.

Lastly, I was contemplating getting one of those sets as an 'experiment', but now, thanks to the OP, I won't. So, his experience IS of value, to many amongst us.

Edited June 4, 2016 by DrJB

[1974]

buying overpriced components from bricklink promotes blood suckers as well.

That's not very nice of you. BL sellers provide loads of parts (and sets) that you can't get anywhere else. The price is set by demand (if they want to sell that is), nothing blood sucking about that at all

But they're surely not breaking IP, pissing on TLG and generally have a wee bit more morale that the knock off companies, so there's that

Cheers,

Ole

[nerdsforprez]

Cool it off guys. Nothing wrong with sharing experience with others. Whether the OP wasted or saved money is really HIS call to make. Beauty/Value is in the eye of the beholder. While I agree buying off-brands promotes chinese companies, buying overpriced components from bricklink promotes blood suckers as well.

If the OP is happy with his purchase, good for him ... After all, it's HIS lego parts (and his money), and he's free to do whatever he pleases with both.

Lastly, I was contemplating getting one of those sets as an 'experiment', but now, thanks to the OP, I won't. So, his experience IS of value, to many amongst us.

I agree with you for the most part DrJB. Always super important to respect others and their decisions. Especially on a worldwide forum where we get such diverse backgrounds, cultures, etc...

I will say this, however. Value, worth, etc. may ultimately be subjective, but that does not mean they can't be measured objectively. You may not agree with how the measurements go, but there are ways to measure such things that were once considered completely subjective. The OPs experience is completely theirs, I get it, but objectively, at least number-wise their experience is a complete anomaly and they should be aware of this. To come to a forum regarding Lego and post something in favor of these cheap knock-offs is well....hmm... I will just say there needs to be the awareness of the likely replies. I may have complete freedom to go on some forum regarding Ferraris and say how equal in value a Ford Focus is but if I am not aware of the likely result well then that is on me....... If I retort "hey, it is my money and I have freedom of speech I can do what I want!" ... that is fine. But the obvious and likely response will be "fine..... you are free to say and do as you please. And so are we. And this is what we have to say about your comment. You are a #@*&%#*

[1974]

He, you, I and everybody else do certainly not have "freedom of speech" here. I'ts a private forum. If the owners decide we can only talk about Minitalia in a long forgotten norwegian dialect, it's their call and we can do zip about it

Still, knock off sucks and I can't fathom why anyone would buy that crap

[nerdsforprez]

He, you, I and everybody else do certainly not have "freedom of speech" here. I'ts a private forum. If the owners decide we can only talk about Minitalia in a long forgotten norwegian dialect, it's their call and we can do zip about it

Still, knock off sucks and I can't fathom why anyone would buy that crap

:laugh: In that extreme I fully agree. But extreme examples rarely apply very well to real world examples. Nobody discussing norwegian dialect here......

I think the moderators try, and do a reasonably good job, of promoting free speech or at least opinion. But in an extreme, absolute interpretation of the phrase, obviously there is not a complete freedom to say whatever you want. I think to state that this is a forum with a certain prerogative (LEGO) goes without saying.

[DrJB]

I will say this, however. Value, worth, etc. may ultimately be subjective ...

Agreed, hence my comment (read up): Beauty/Value is in the eye of the beholder

... You are a #@*&%#*

You too, just in case ... LOL

I must add this though, regarding the argument of Focus vs Ferrari, and whether those chinese copycats take any $$$ or market share from Lego. The answer is a simple No. Those sets are long discontinued and the people who buy them do so simply because they can't afford (or are not willing to pay) the premium prices on eBay and other places. If any at all, those copycats are competing with the entrepreneurs amongst us.

I bought 4 'discounted' helicopter sets (with the Fiorano wheel covers) because I felt there was more value in the extra parts as opposed to pay full price on BL, for the wheel covers alone. I did spend more money, but I have many valuable extra parts.

Edited June 4, 2016 by DrJB

[1974]

Not sure if I get your jist .. but as long as the set is discontinued, it's okay to buy a fake set?

What do you mean when you say you bought "4 'discounted' helicopter sets (with the Fiorano wheel covers) because I felt there was more value in the extra parts as opposed to pay full price on BL" .. does that mean you bought fake LEGO?

You need to spell it out for dumb folks like me, please

Cheers,

Ole

Edited June 4, 2016 by 1974

[PorkyMonster]

I got the fake 8145 and 8653 in the mail this morning, to make things simple i would advise to avoid thee sets as the quality is terrible. not just in terms of the mold but the colour of the parts. the Enzo fake is the worst...all the Red parts are actually Rust in colour. some of the panels are shiny while others have a flat/matt look.

is the brand Decool?

[zux]

i suspect alot of the ones on Bricklink are fakes

I "like" the way you get into such conclusions without ever using Bricklink.

[1974]

I "like" the way you get into such conclusions without ever using Bricklink.

Yeah, if anything that would be THE place to buy original LEGO as it's full of LEGO loving nerds that wouldn't touch that knock off shit with a ten foot pole. Ebay is FULL of crap and ebay don't care one bit

OP, what exactly is your beef with BL? Why don't you open up an account? Last time I asked you I offered a metal hook for 1EUR, but you never replied back .I see they're going for 20EUR now ... Lemme know if can find that killer deal on ebay

[Capn Frank]

Moved this topic to the same forum your related topic was already moved to.

[Captain Britain]

Yeah, if anything that would be THE place to buy original LEGO as it's full of LEGO loving nerds that wouldn't touch that knock off shit with a ten foot pole. Ebay is FULL of crap and ebay don't care one bit

OP, what exactly is your beef with BL? Why don't you open up an account? Last time I asked you I offered a metal hook for 1EUR, but you never replied back .I see they're going for 20EUR now ... Lemme know if can find that killer deal on ebay

Couldn't agree more. I admit I buy minifigures a lot more than I buy parts, but when I was first getting into it all eBay was my main source, until I discovered Bricklink and took the plunge. Would never look back! Way cheaper than being scalped on eBay or potentially getting a dodgy fake (the places seems to be rammed with them now!) and 9 times out of 10, Bricklink has been way cheaper for me to get the rarer bits I need, not to mention much easier too. Like you say, it's full of Lego loving nerds who seem to be spot on with what they supply!

[dr_spock]

With Bricklink, you can find sellers who are local to you and allow for local pick up where you can inspect the goodies before forking over the cash.

[mnpumar]

Thanks for this info.