[Kelly618]

Hello-

I was reading a post about someone getting fakes from ebay. I buy my smurfs from ebay and I hold my breath every time, but then I wonder if I would really know the difference anyway.

I was wondering if any of you would be able to give us newbies some visual tips. For example if you have a fake and the originial if you could post both pictures and tell us how we would spot it.

If this is too hard-- I completely understand, but sometimes I am a visual learner.

Thanks so much for all the information and smurfy chat! I am loving this site!!

Kelly

[Fram]

You can always post auctions you are interested in here, and we'll tell if they are real, fake, or uncertain. Apart from that: some models are always fake (the golden flying Smurf and so), but other ones are harder to tell (some of the very expensive ones like the praying Smurfs are faked with a level that can hardly be told apart on a pic).
Often the fakes have worse seams and less sharp markings, but this is no golden rule.

[hfos]

Yeah, what Fram said ^^ and sometimes we can guesstimate, some sellers are known to sell dubious smurfs.

[Rachel]

Hi Kelly, as Fram as said, always fell free to post anything on here and we will try and help.

I will be adding a lot more info to Blue Imps regarding fakes and how to tell what is real or not in the New Year so stay tuned.

[eggie smurf]

Kelly,
Attom has an incredible site on fakes -- http://www.geocities.com/attombomb7/mennoblue4.html -- if you have time, check it out...there are the obvious fakes that do not copy any of the pvc smurfs, all the way to the harder to spot ones.

[Syd Smurf]

Hi Kelly

I think the best way is to ask one of us here like Attom or Rachel as they are experts on fake spotting. We can try to explain but because there are so many different types of fakes it would probably confuse you and us as different rules apply to different fakes. However by asking questions about specific smurfs then you will get a better idea quicker as to what are authentic and what are fakes ones.

What Fram says above is correct and also there are fake Easter smurfs from Hong Kong which are very hard to tell from just a photo as well. It can all sound very daunting at first but over time it becomes easier and easier once you know what to look for. If you are in any doubt then feel free to contact someone here and they will be happy to help you out I'm sure.

I posted some info on the Fake Praying Smurfs (in the "Fake" section) on this forum a while ago so you can dig that up which can help with those ones a little bit but if you are in any doubt then please contact one of us and we will do our best to help where we can so you don't buy something that you didn't want.

Dyar

[XoioX2000]

Hi Kelly,

I think Attom's site is a fantastic source of info.

I don't want to repeat what's been said above and I agree with all of it.

One thing to do is to know your smurfs: If you haven't got one, try to get one the DSK catalogues.
Although this catalogue can be critisised for the accuracy of the prices and some of the very weird "variations" that suddenly spring up, there is one thing that it does well: It lists all the basic Smurfs available.
So even if you only use it for that purpose, it's worth having.

In any case if you have any doubt about a smurf, just post a pic, even it's an auction pic. We should be able to give you a good idea of what it is.

As Fram said some of them can very hard to spot from a pic, and in that case you have to look at who is selling it and if you are ready to gamble.