discussion Ali Express - Cheap Figures

[Steve Brodie]

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[SIZE=10pt]Whilst searching for 1/35 modern Russian soldiers, Google images came back with a photo linking into Aliexpress, so I thought I would take a look and see what was on there, well I found 3 figure kits I was looking for to populate the my GAZ and the base (when its complete)[/SIZE]


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[SIZE=10pt]EM-35109 Crew of Russian Armoured car           $12.90 (£8.65) free P&P[/SIZE]


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[SIZE=10pt]EM-35099 Russian Soldiers (duo)                       $10.00 (£6.92) free P&P[/SIZE]


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[SIZE=10pt]EM-35098 Russian Soldier with dog                   $8.00 (£5.53) free P&P[/SIZE]


[SIZE=10pt]All the above are available from Field of Glory Models at £17.99 each plus p&p. I ordered them from Ali on the 4th May and they all arrived yesterday, packed in a plastic bags, inside a roll of bubble wrap and a substantial cardboard box. [/SIZE]


[SIZE=10pt]Now AliExpress specialise in, uhmm, ‘Replica’ items, although all the shops on their claim to get the items direct from the suppliers/manufacturers and I can see a market for maybe cheaper football tops where they can make some money, but resin figures? so are they replica’s or originals – can’t tell, they have all the right pieces – arms go on to the body without gaps – faces are sharp, uniforms have texture where texture should be etc. What I do know is that for the price of one set of figures from FOG (£19.24 inc p&p and VAT) I have acquired all 5 figures and the dog for £1.86 more[/SIZE]

 

[Guest]

A bargain haul there Steve! 


I've heard of Ali Express but always thought they're a wholesale outfit.

 

[Guest]

I deal with FOG quite a bit and I doubt they would retail dodgy stuff.

 

[Guest]

All these sets are from a company called Evolution Miniatures.


What you have bought are what is commonly known as recasts,ie they are fakes.

 

[Steve Brodie]

I deal with FOG quite a bit and I doubt they would retail dodgy stuff.

No Not FOG - Aliexpress 

 

[Steve Brodie]

All these sets are from a company called Evolution Miniatures.


What you have bought are what is commonly known as recasts,ie they are fakes.

Sorry i forgot to say they are Evolution Miniatures


More than likely, but i wouldn't have thought there was any money to be made, by the time you have brought the original, created a plug, got the resin, produced them, cleaned them up, bagged and then posted them free anywhere in the world.


A couple of pieces have a bit of flash, but no more than i have seen on other resin figures. 

 

[Guest]

No Not FOG - Aliexpress 

Sorry, didn't read the original post properly.


There is a tremendous amount of money to be made with fakes as you don't have to pay the artist for the original or put the hours in sculpting it. Not to mention the loss of business to the originators of the piece as they lose out on sales, don't recoup their investment and so stop producing. Selling fakes is theft I am afraid, there is no subtle way of saying it.

 

[Steve Brodie]

Sorry, didn't read the original post properly.


There is a tremendous amount of money to be made with fakes as you don't have to pay the artist for the original or put the hours in sculpting it. Not to mention the loss of business to the originators of the piece as they lose out on sales, don't recoup their investment and so stop producing. Selling fakes is theft I am afraid, there is no subtle way of saying it.

Agree, and as I now know, that's what they are (had to find out un boxed items, no colour card or labelling), i will go to a dealer next time. Just as i have done for my Stalingrad figures.