[Lazer]

Bought a couple bootleg Black Series figures from Hong Kong, Vader for $11 and Maul for $14. I literally only wanted to compare to some legit figures and take the lightsabers as extras.

There isn't much to stop you so long as you know you're only going into it for self education. The figures didn't turn out that bad, they're passable as the real deal save for a few minor articulation oddities.

Aliexpress sometimes has better deals than what you find on ebay, but they're basically coming from the same exact place and take just as long to ship. I was actually tempted to go as high market as buying a knockoff electric guitar to test out and give to a learner later on...

It's only a ripoff if you didn't already know better. There are re-sellers in the states who try to sell bootlegs for collector prices of the real McCoy. I lament that that market actually exists and people can't really do anything to avoid it except limit your purchases to anything you find in hand or known/trusted sellers.

I grew up shopping at swap meets though so I don't hold a grudge at all towards bootlegs/knockoffs. Would I buy "Nikee" brand shoes or jersey's today? Maybe, cos' irony isn't dead yet...and the mint on card TMNT Mexico version figures all came in plastic bags and for like $4 a figure, which was awesome back in the day.