6 authenticity myths that make you throw money away

Vintage Pokémon figure collecting is full of rules that sound expert and are lies. These six make you dismiss good pieces or buy bad ones. Look them straight in the eye:

1. "Too PVC = fake"

Soft PVC-type material is normal in many original lines. Plastic hardness alone doesn't determine authenticity.

2. "Made in China = bootleg"

False from the root: legal, licensed manufacturing was done in China. "Made in China" says nothing about whether it's original.

3. "©Nintendo/CGTSJ = guarantee of original"

The most costly mistake. Bootlegs replicate that seal. Seeing the correct engraving isn't enough. What CGTSJ really means.

4. "Injection point = giveaway"

All injection-molded figures have an injection point. Original and copy alike. It's not a sign of anything.

5. "Relief or seam = fake"

A visible seam or relief doesn't decide alone. Many originals have them. You need to look at how they're made, not whether they exist.

6. "Auldey = pirate"

Auldey is an officially licensed branch, not a copy. The real differences here.

The only true rule

No isolated sign decides. What decides is how several converge: mold, paint, color, sculpt, base, and markings read together. That's why a serious tool gives you points to check, not a lottery-style yes/no.

Before you pay or discard, run it through /identifica.