How to Tell If Your Smiski Is Real or Fake: 7 Clear Signs

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Plus, learn how to avoid counterfeit Smiskis
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Smiskis are adorable glow-in-the-dark collectible figures. They come in a variety of poses and have a unique, minimalist design. But as Smiskis get more popular, there’s an increasing number of counterfeits on the market. So how do you know if your Smiski is the real thing? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered, including tips on spotting a fake Smiski and how to be sure you’re buying the real thing .

How to Spot a Fake Smiski

  • Packaging: Fake Smiskis may have misprinted packaging or be missing the insert or foil bag.
  • Texture: Real Smiskis are matte, while fake Smiskis often have a slick finish.
  • Color: Real Smiskis are either glow-in-the-dark green or a similar shade of blue.
  • Quality issues: Fake Smiskis may look melted, disproportionate, or have discoloration or air bubbles.
Section 1 of 3:

How to Tell if a Smiski is Real or Fake

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  1. 1
    Box and inserts Real Smiskis come in a colorful hexagonal box (although Hippers and other specialty figures may come in a rectangular box). Every set of Smiskis has its own packaging design, so compare the box to the packaging on the Smiski website or other online sources to be sure the printing and colors match up. [1]
    • The box should be slightly matte and feel high quality. If it’s glossy or feels especially flimsy, it could be a sign the product is fake.
    • Pay close attention to the Japanese characters on the packaging—this is a common place to spot errors.
    • Also, familiarize yourself with any inserts that should come with your Smiski, like a pamphlet showing all of the figures in that particular series. Fake Smiskis may have an insert, but it might not match the original. [2]
  2. 2
    Foil bag Real Smiski figures typically come in a sealed foil bag inside the box. If you open a Smiski and it’s in a transparent plastic bag, it’s probably a fake. [3]
    • On fake versions with a foil bag, the bag may be difficult to open, or it might be flimsy and tear more easily than it should. [4]
    • Be sure to compare the printing on the bag to the authentic packaging, as well. [5]
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  3. 3
    Texture and finish Real Smiskis are slightly matte, and while they’re smooth, the plastic has a slight texture to it—almost like a bouncy ball. Fake Smiskis are usually glossy or oily-looking, with a slick feel to the plastic. [6]
    • The figure should feel like it’s made of a high-quality material.
    • For such small figures, Smiskis have a decent weight to them—they’re not heavy, but they don’t feel flimsy, either.
  4. 4
    Color Most real Smiskis are a unique glow-in-the-dark light green color, with darker green accessories and dark grey mouth and eyes. A few figures—mainly from the Bath and Toilet series—are soft blue, with blue or white accessories and dark blue eyes and mouth. [7]
    • Fake Smiskis are sometimes an odd, sickly green—but note that real Smiskis can become discolored over time, so if this is the only issue, it may still be real.
  5. 5
    Shape and facial features Real Smiskis have a large, round head with a small, molded nose. The eyes are evenly spaced on either side of the nose. The mouth is small and usually either slightly downturned or in a straight line. [8]
    • Fake Smiskis may have unusual proportions, like a head that’s too small or that looks slightly melted. [9]
    • You might also see other issues like the eyes being too large or too far apart, or the limbs and body seeming too skinny. [10]
  6. 6
    Pose and accessories Fake Smiskis might have the wrong accessories or stand in the wrong poses. On Smiskis with branding (like the “Trying to Climb” Smiski Hipper with a Smiski diaper), the printing might be the wrong color. [11]
    • Be sure to familiarize yourself with every Smiski pose in the series you’re buying from so you’ll know which ones are real.
  7. 7
    Overall quality Fake Smiskis may have production errors like discoloring or air bubbles in the plastic. [12] Some may also have visible seams, or the heads might pop off too easily.
    • Most real Smiskis do have removable heads, but they’re fairly secure on the figure and should only come off with a firm tug. If the head falls off on its own, it could be a fake.
    • It could also be a sign of a fake Smiski if the head doesn’t turn at all.
    • On fake Smiski Hippers, the adhesive may not stick very well.
    • Fake Smiskis may not glow in the dark.
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Section 2 of 3:

How can I avoid buying a fake Smiski?

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  1. 1
    Study real Smiskis so you can compare them. To avoid buying a fake Smiski, look at pictures of the real figures online, including the packaging and inserts. Especially study the series you’re thinking about buying from. Pay attention to the poses, accessories, and colors of each figure. That way, you’ll be more likely to spot a fake when you see one.
    • The Smiski website is a great place to start, but you can also watch videos of people unboxing real Smiskis to get a good idea of what they look like in person. The subreddit r/smiskis is also a good place to see pictures of real figures (and to find out which sellers to avoid).
  2. 2
    Buy from authorized retailers . Check the Smiski “Where to Buy” page to find out where to get Smiskis near you. If you live in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico, you can buy Smiskis from the Sonny Angels Store .
    • You can also buy Smiskis from online retailers like Amazon and Ali Express —but carefully read the seller’s reviews to be sure you’re buying an authentic product. These are offered by third-party sellers so their authenticity can’t be guaranteed.
    • You may also be able to find real Smiskis at bookstores, toy shops, and some retailers like Urban Outfitters.
  3. 3
    Be wary of suspiciously low prices. If you find Smiskis for significantly below retail price (around $12 on the Sonny Angels website ), there’s a good chance that it’s a fake. But Smiskis that are priced higher than usual can be fakes, too—especially if there are other red flags, like you’re buying from a little-known site or an independent seller.
    • Be especially cautious of anyone who claims to be selling a rare “Secret” Smiski, even if it’s priced above
  4. 4
    Ask for proof of authenticity. If you’re buying from a third-party seller, ask them to provide the original packaging or proof of purchase. If they can’t prove where they got the Smiski, they may be trying to pass off a fake as the real thing.
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Section 3 of 3:

Why do people sell fake Smiskis?

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  1. Smiskis are popular and can be hard to find, so the demand is high. And people selling knock-offs can turn a profit, especially if they’re selling a lot of them (or charging more than retail). You may be especially likely to find fake Smiskis in areas where higher shippings costs make it less profitable for retailers to sell real Smiskis in their stores.
    • For instance, if you live in Canada, Sonny Angels charges a flat shipping rate of $25 on every order. Compare that to the US, where shipping is $6 (or free with orders over $55). [13]
    • Even though Smiskis are fairly popular, they aren’t sold in a ton of stores. That can make it hard to find them in person, even in areas where shipping doesn’t cost a lot. This creates an opportunity for knock-offs, as well.

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/shorts/k0i41GgTlY4?t=4&feature=share
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/Dy4nHPvVC78?t=136
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/shorts/8gRGNziw8u0?t=24&feature=share
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/Dy4nHPvVC78?t=146
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/Dy4nHPvVC78?t=131
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/shorts/8gRGNziw8u0?t=36&feature=share
      7. ↑ https://smiski.com/e/products/
      8. ↑ https://smiski.com/e/products/
      9. ↑ https://youtu.be/Dy4nHPvVC78?t=164
      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/Dy4nHPvVC78?t=237
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/Dy4nHPvVC78?t=228
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/Dy4nHPvVC78?t=250
      4. ↑ https://sonnyangelusa.com/pages/shipping-policy

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