Officially licensed bobbleheads: how to spot a fake
Packaging, serial numbering, paint quality and holograms — the tells that separate a licensed figure from an unauthorized copy.
The box tells you a lot
A licensed figure ships in its original box with the league or franchise logo, the manufacturer's name (Forever Collectibles, Funko, SAMS/Success Brands) and crisply printed legal information.
Blurry text, distorted logos or spelling errors on the box are the first red flag.
Serial numbers and holograms
Most limited editions carry a serial number printed or labeled on the piece (1,234 of 5,000, for example) plus an authenticity hologram on the base or the box.
If a figure is advertised as a limited edition but that numbering appears nowhere, ask for photos of the base before you buy.
Paint, seams and weight
On an official figure the paint stays inside the lines, the uniform colors match the real thing, and the face has real detail in the eyes and eyebrows. Replicas show paint bleed, dull tones and visible mold seams.
Weight helps too: unauthorized copies tend to use lighter, hollow resin.
Buy with protection
Make sure the seller shows the actual figure rather than a stock photo, and offers an authenticity guarantee and a return window. Every figure in our catalog is photographed exactly as it ships.
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