Toys · spotting a fake
Is This One Real?
60 checks collectors use to tell a genuine Beyblade from a copy, from the printed code on a face bolt to what a counterfeit launcher does after a fortnight.
- 60checks, from 38 discussions that compared a copy with a real one
- 10things to look at, printed codes most of all
- 3generations covered, the Metal Saga worst affected
A midfake is a mid-quality copy, often good enough that people buy one knowingly; a full fake is the cheap kind that arrives scratched.
12 checks
Printed codes
A moulded or printed code is the single most quoted check.
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A short printed code on the box or piece encodes a production date: a letter for the month, then two digits for the day and two for the year, so a buyer can check whether the code lines up with a date the part is known to have actually shipped.
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Sellers who show a photo of the underside with the code visible are trusted far more than those who don't, since that bottom-of-piece photo is exactly what buyers rely on to check a code before buying.
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A run made in a different country than the main production line (called out for one 2013-coded example) is treated as a lower-quality-standard copy even when the code format looks otherwise normal.
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A genuine facebolt is said to carry a short printed code on its side; a piece that matches the box art and branding closely but lacks that code is treated as a mid-quality copy.
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A box printed 'BeyBattle Burst' instead of 'Beyblade Burst' is a genuine, licensed Middle Eastern regional release, not a counterfeit — check for the TakaraTomy logo in the upper-left corner of the box to confirm.
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Hasbro Beyblades don't always carry a code stamped on the facebolt the way TakaraTomy releases do, so a missing facebolt code alone doesn't prove a Hasbro piece is fake.
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A box printed with a rival brand name rather than the actual TakaraTomy/Hasbro name is a giveaway of a full fake; a midfake, by contrast, usually carries no maker branding at all rather than a rival name.
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A genuine bit chip prints the words "BEYBLADE X" on it; a copy's chip leaves this off.
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A copy's lock chip prints a product code (for example "CX-007") where a genuine chip should print the words "BEYBLADE X".
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A genuine lock chip prints the words "BEYBLADE X" on it; a copy's chip prints a product code instead.
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Checking that the blade base's mould markings and the attack ring and bit chip all belong to the same production era, rather than mixing parts from different releases, is how one buyer's copy was judged genuine.
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Genuine metal parts carry a mould print; a metal piece with no print on it at all is a red flag.
10 checks
Screws and mould
How the halves are held together, and what the casting looks like.
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A rivet detail in the mold construction is described as very hard to reproduce, so a leaked piece that shows it correctly is judged to be a genuine factory piece rather than a fabricated mock-up.
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A licensed regional release can still differ from the mainline version in small parts, such as a missing eye piece or non-tri screws on the layer and driver, without that meaning it's fake.
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A reproduction can have excess material left where the two halves of the mould met, unlike a clean genuine part.
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A copy uses Phillips-head screws where a genuine part uses rivets and tri-wing screws.
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A copy's ratchet uses the wrong style of screws compared with a genuine one.
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A large boxed set bundling a carrying case, an extra grip, and a flashy light-up "battle pass" accessory around a low price point is typical of an off-brand or counterfeit bundle rather than how the genuine line packages its releases.
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A part moulded in a noticeably different shade of colour compared with the same part on another genuine copy can indicate a swapped-in piece.
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A copy's inner plastic and screws inside the tip assembly are visibly different from genuine Takara Tomy parts, though they can be swapped out for real ones to look closer to authentic.
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A copy's main blade uses Phillips-head screws that are rounded on top, where a genuine one uses flat-topped tri-wing screws.
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A deformed or misshapen energy ring, compared with a crisp genuine mould, marks a counterfeit part even when the rest of the set looks correct.
12 checks
The metal and rubber
What it is made of, and what is missing.
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Meteo L-Drago and Lightning L-Drago copies are called out as missing the rubber lining that the genuine energy ring/clear wheel has, leaving a bare surface instead.
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A positive reading on a home lead-test swab is not a reliable tell on its own: the swabs commonly used are said to give a false positive on contact with zinc, which is present in the zinc alloy that genuine and unlicensed pieces are both typically made from.
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The Burst line doesn't really have a true midfake tier the way the Metal Fight market does — an unlicensed Burst copy is generally treated as a full counterfeit rather than a higher-quality reproduction.
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A stainless-steel cast replica sheds visible dust during use; a brass or zamak-cast replica doesn't wear down the same way.
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XRF alloy testing on several mid-quality reproduction fusion wheels found them mostly zinc with iron, copper and/or tin — a brass-type alloy — with no detectable lead, contrary to community lore.
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A reproduction fusion wheel that stays shiny for longer than a genuine one is a sign of a copper-brass alloy composition rather than raw zinc.
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Midfakes generally don't replicate rubber quality well, so genuine rubber parts tend to feel noticeably better even when other elements are close.
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A solid, full-metal tip on an unusually cheap bey (rather than a genuine rubber-and-plastic performance tip) marks it as a full fake rather than a midfake.
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A fake Poison-series metal wheel is prone to snapping at the prongs during use, unlike the genuine part.
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Counterfeit metal often has a different feel in the hand and is more prone to crumbling than genuine die-cast metal.
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Some counterfeit sellers use metal alloys that contain lead, unlike genuine die-cast parts.
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Cheap generic Beyblade knockoffs sold on general marketplaces are often lower quality than dedicated midfakes and more likely to contain lead.
6 checks
Branding
Whose logos are on it, and what that combination means.
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Genuine pieces are said to carry a clear protective coating over the metal by default, so a lead swab is more meaningfully tested against a worn, coating-free spot than against a brand-new piece.
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A box branded with a regional distributor's own logo alongside a genuine TakaraTomy or Hasbro mark signals a licensed Middle Eastern release rather than a counterfeit, even years after the original run.
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A piece marked with both a TakaraTomy logo and a Sonokong logo is a licensed Korean midfake, not a dangerous unlicensed counterfeit.
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Colours on a reproduction are often slightly off from the genuine TakaraTomy or Hasbro release.
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There are no midfakes of Hasbro releases, so spotting a Hasbro-specific colourway on a piece is enough on its own to confirm it's genuine.
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Genuine listings on marketplaces like AliExpress show the real Takara Tomy box art in their own photos; listings with altered spelling in the product name or unusually low prices are more likely to be copies.
5 checks
Paint and finish
Colour, stickers and marks that should not be there yet.
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Copies from after-market or overrun sources are usually described as fine and nearly identical to the genuine release apart from the paper stickers, which come out noticeably different.
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Visible scuffs and scratches present straight out of the package, before the piece had ever been used, were pointed to as a sign of a cheaply made copy rather than a normal production item.
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The copper content that helps mids resist tarnish can trigger a false positive on cheap lead-swab test kits, since those kits are designed for paint, not bare metal.
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Colouring that looks slightly off from the standard shade can flag a copy.
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Rough, uneven paint edges on the colour coat are a sign of a copy compared with a genuine finish.
5 checks
The parts themselves
A tip, driver or ring that is the wrong shape or height.
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The midfake ships with an oversized performance tip compared to the genuine part, which pushes Befall's feel from a balance type toward more of a stamina type.
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An Evil Befall midfake's EWD tip spins basically like a plain sharp instead of free-spinning, and has poor stamina compared to the genuine part.
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A midfake spin track's thread can be loose enough to strip, so it stops tightening down fully.
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Missing or non-functional ball bearings inside the blade base is a sign the part is counterfeit.
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A performance tip that doesn't match a model's correct shape is another counterfeit giveaway.
4 checks
How it holds up
What fails first on a copy.
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Counterfeit Burst launchers tend to jam or fail much sooner than genuine ones, even when the beys themselves hold up for a while.
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A reproduction bey typically runs 80-90% of the quality and look of the genuine version.
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Some gimmick mechanisms don't work as well on a reproduction as they do on the genuine bey.
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Full fakes tend to have visibly worse build quality than midfakes, which most tournament judges can't reliably tell apart from genuine parts on sight.
2 checks
Weight
What it should weigh, and what a copy weighs instead.
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This midfake's energy wheel and spin track sit noticeably lighter in the hand than the genuine TakaraTomy Evil Befall.
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A weight disk that feels flimsy or arrives already broken, rather than solid like a genuine one, points to a fake.
2 checks
The box
What sealed packaging can and cannot prove.
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Rough, uneven edges around the packaging's tape and window are a sign a box was opened and resealed rather than factory-sealed.
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Resealing tape used on a box can be replicated closely enough that tape alone cannot prove a sealed item was never opened.
2 checks
Price and seller
What a price tells you before the toy arrives.
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Buying straight from a manufacturer's own storefront on a marketplace lowers the odds of getting a copy compared with third-party listings.
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A full multi-piece set selling for roughly forty dollars is a sign the contents are copies rather than the genuine article.
The discussions behind the checks
What each one found
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AeroPegasus is entering retail?
A commenter argued a leaked prototype photo had to be a real factory piece rather than a faked render, pointing to a rivet in the mold that would be difficult to reproduce convincingly, and suggested the piece was more likely unauthorized factory stock than a copy.
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Takara Tomy Original Codes Metal Series 18.01.2021
Buyers of older Metal Fight parts rely mainly on a printed date code on the packaging or piece to separate a genuine production run from a copy, and established that after-market copies are usually close to the real thing in finish, differing mainly in sticker quality and small material details like a missing rubber lining on the energy ring.
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So, Bad News about Gyro War X...
A buyer who imported an unlicensed X-style blade found it arrived scuffed and scratched despite being unused, and a home lead-test swab used on the metal came back positive; the discussion worked out that the positive reading was most likely a false one caused by the zinc content common to both genuine and copy pieces rather than proof of lead.
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They don't know our pain and suffering
Inside a broader discussion about which regions get genuine Beyblade X stock, one reply noted that mid-quality copies can match box art and branding almost exactly, and that checking for a short code on the facebolt's side is how those copies get told apart from a genuine piece.
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Better quality look at the offbrand X-Over beys
A commenter linked video evidence claiming even the lowest-quality offbrand X-Over replicas tested negative for metal contamination, pushing back on the assumption that unlicensed copies always contain unsafe materials.
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I finally found the Valkyrie I was looking for, but is it real?
A buyer's find carrying 'BeyBattle Burst' branding rather than 'Beyblade Burst' was confirmed genuine: a Middle Eastern licensed release built on TakaraTomy stock but using Hasbro-style regional packaging because the word 'blade' is restricted in local toy naming there.
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Wild wyvern Middle East version
A decade-old Wild Wyvern found in a Middle Eastern toy store, missing its eye piece and fitted with non-tri screws, was confirmed by fans as a genuine regionally distributed release rather than a counterfeit.
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Was it worth it? What are your opinions on these Beyblades?
A buyer who knowingly bought a bundle of counterfeit Burst beys and launchers for about $45 found the launchers failed quickly, and other fans warned the beys themselves would wear out and break faster than genuine stock, with several also raising lead-exposure concerns.
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FREE GIVEAWAY! Celebrating 1 Year Of My Account
A giveaway host disclosed upfront that the Variares included among the prizes was a midfake rather than genuine stock, without giving further detail on how they knew.
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Look what she got me for my bday
Commenters identified pieces from a large birthday gift collection as licensed Sonokong midfakes based on the dual TakaraTomy/Sonokong branding, distinguishing them from unsafe unlicensed copies.
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100% Metal Beyblades that I made
A hobbyist described producing accurate replica beys in brass by pressure die casting for roughly $55 each, pitching them as a cleaner, longer-lasting alternative to stainless-steel replicas already sold elsewhere, which shed dust with use.
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Evil befall midfake
Buyers testing a newly released Evil Befall midfake found it performs solidly despite a lighter energy wheel and spin track and an oversized tip, and treated the midfake market as a separate, lower-cost tier that doesn't threaten collector value on genuine copies.
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It finally happened
Fans discussed buying reproduction beys from a specialty marketplace, describing them as generally close in quality to genuine stock but with visible mould-seam flash, slightly off colours and weaker gimmick performance, at a noticeably lower price.
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No Lead in Mids!!*
A hobbyist ran XRF composition testing on genuine TakaraTomy, Hasbro and mid-quality reproduction fusion wheels and found consistent zinc-brass alloys with no detectable lead across the samples, also explaining why cheap paint-swab lead tests give false positives on this metal, though some commenters noted lower-quality full fakes can still contain lead.
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Got this for 17 dollars, is it a midfake cause i don't see any code on the face bolt
Fans confirmed a bey bought cheaply at a local shop was a genuine Hasbro Blitz Striker Hyperblade worth well over $100, not a midfake, because Hasbro's specific colourway isn't produced by midfake makers and Hasbro facebolts legitimately lack a code.
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Mail Day!
Fans identified a bey bought for a couple of dollars on a marketplace app as a full fake rather than a midfake because of its solid metal tip and rival-brand box printing, and noted full fakes carry a real breakage and lead-exposure risk and are banned from tournaments, while higher-quality midfakes generally pass inspection.
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Just got Poison Zurafa is it legit?🥺
Fans confirmed a newly bought Poison Zurafa was fake, warning that fake Poison-series metal wheels can break at the prongs during battle and citing possible lead exposure, though without describing specific visual tells.
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God I love adult money
A collector regretted an Evil Befall midfake purchase because its EWD tip performs like a plain sharp with poor stamina, and noted other midfake spin tracks can strip and lose the ability to tighten fully, while still calling midfakes decent value against rising prices for genuine loose parts.
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Post your nightmare fuel 💀
One collector reported deliberately using a rival-brand fake spin track and tip on a Dragonis build because those specific fake parts hold up to breakage better for them than genuine ones do.
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Accidentally brought fakes to a beyblade competition
A blader unknowingly brought a friend's secondhand Beyblade X collection, which turned out to be entirely counterfeit, to a sanctioned event; the pieces passed an initial deck check but were caught mid-match, and the blader was disqualified once judges confirmed the parts were copies.
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WTF AMAZON?!?!?!
A shopper ordered a part through Amazon and received a counterfeit instead of the genuine item; commenters explained that Amazon can restock returned merchandise after only a cursory check, letting swapped or fake pieces re-enter circulation, and pointed to the wrong screws as proof this one was a copy.
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Just got this any tips?
A buyer's newly purchased Beyblade was identified by the community as a counterfeit; commenters warned it would break quickly, could contain lead, and would not be usable at a sanctioned tournament, while still saying it was fine for casual play.
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My mom got me one of those big packs thst come in cases. Bit awkward to explain she got scammed, not sure if I should even open it.
A parent unknowingly bought an off-brand, case-and-accessory bundle online that the community identified as counterfeit and possibly lead-containing, though several people said it was still fine to use casually for practice rather than in sanctioned play.
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Wrong parts???
A shopper found a retail package containing swapped internals, including a wrong-coloured blade and a lock chip printed with a product code instead of "BEYBLADE X"; the community concluded someone had opened the box, swapped in counterfeit parts, resealed it, and returned it to the shelf before it was bought.
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Has anyone seen this yet?
Fans confirmed a viral video showed genuine footage, not AI, of counterfeit copies of a rare, hard-to-find Beyblade in wide circulation, and debated whether buying a copy of an otherwise unobtainable piece for display was ethically different from scalping.
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My Gf got me a beyblade and she is hoping it's real. As far as I know I believe it is
A gift bought for a blader was quickly identified by the community as a counterfeit from its lock chip printing and its screw type, though several people suggested keeping it for display rather than telling the partner it was fake.
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Sealed Authenticity Check on Hasbro Dragoon GT
A buyer asked whether double taping on a sealed box pointed to tampering; commenters explained tape is too easy to replicate to prove authenticity on its own and recommended opening the box to confirm the contents matched what was paid for, since the question was not resolved from photos alone.
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Is Dranzer F original?
A buyer asked whether their Dranzer F was authentic, and a commenter judged it a real Takara release because the blade base, attack ring and bit chip all carried markings consistent with the same production generation.
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Dranzer HMS
A poster shows off a Dranzer HMS repro, and commenters describe the maker as a single Canada-based hobbyist whose repros are considered reliable, with faster turnaround for orders shipped domestically than overseas.
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My experience buying midfakes from China.
A buyer recounts ordering a Storm Pegasis and Lightning L Drago described as midfakes from an overseas marketplace, walking through the customs process and noting the parts themselves arrived in good physical condition despite a torn-open box.
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Beyblade shop india is scam confirmed
A buyer reported that a Draceil V2 and Draceil MS ordered from a reseller arrived as counterfeits, describing a broken or missing bearing assembly, a weight disk that felt fake, and metal parts with no mould print and a texture that seemed prone to crumbling.
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My experience on importing beyblade to India
A buyer walks through the full customs and shipping process for importing a self-described midfake Meteo L Drago into India, including tracking, customs clearance and total landed cost, though the write-up offers no way to distinguish the copy from a genuine one.
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The fake beyblades from blade king beys has finally arrived
A buyer reviewing beys from a reseller known for counterfeits found most parts accurate but flagged a deformed Fusion Hades energy ring and an incorrect Fang Leon performance tip, and a commenter added that this reseller's metal parts are known to contain lead.
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Need help buying a beyblade for my bf
Someone shopping for a first beyblade gift was warned that generic knockoffs sold on general marketplaces are usually lower quality than dedicated midfakes and often use lead-containing metal, with a midfake bought directly from an overseas marketplace suggested as a cheaper, better-made alternative.
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Received My Galaxy Pegasus From Beys & Bricks Today
A buyer who had been warned in advance that an overseas reseller's Galaxy Pegasus would turn out to be a midfake confirmed on arrival that the prediction was correct, though the item arrived without any customs duty being charged.
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🚨 Awareness post: Hobson Store is selling midfakes as OG and defending they're OG not midfakes.
A public complaint accused a reseller of selling a Diablo Nemesis as genuine when a buyer confirmed it was a midfake, adding that the reseller disputed the finding and had reportedly done the same thing to other customers before.
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No, they’re not midfakes lol, IYKYK
A commenter accused a seller of duplicating the moulds of rare beys that had been out of production for over a decade and reselling the copies at high prices as if they were originals, an accusation the original poster's own reply did not directly address.
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Regarding recent incident of buying Diablo Nemesis
A buyer defended a reseller previously accused of selling a fake Diablo Nemesis, confirming the item was in fact a mid version rather than genuine while maintaining they had received a full refund and considered the matter resolved.