How to obtain a prototype?

Postby **djknightrida** » Mon Dec 19, 2016 11:38 am

I realize this question may have been asked a bountiful number of times before but as an infrequent poster I'm counting on people's patience and knowledge to help out a fellow collector.

I'm curious how people get ahold of POP prototypes. Obviously there's eBay and I've been patrolling that avenue. But I am curious what other venues may be out there for obtaining a proto.

Specifically I'm on the hunt for either of the Blacklist POP protos. Would prefer Keen but as a big fan of the show I'll take whatever I can get.

Any assistance would be much appreciated O:)

Postby **Sarcasticguy** » Mon Dec 19, 2016 11:41 am

Gemini Collectibles is one of the most reliable online stores for protos.

Fugitive Toys sometimes has them as well.

You can also get them from the Fundays event or giveaways by Funko....

Other than that, ebay is where they live, avoid sales not in the US, generally as there are a lot of fakes.

Good luck!

Postby **CaseyJones14** » Mon Dec 19, 2016 11:41 am

I'd make a post in the WTB section and hope someone sees it who has the proto or knows someone who has it. Good luck!

Postby **Vinyl4Blood** » Mon Dec 19, 2016 11:44 am

There are several different ways to obtain a prototype. Some are expensive, some are free, and there are varying degrees of cost between.

Stores: like Gemini Collectibles & Fugitive Toys often have prototypes for sale on their websites.
3rd Party: In addition to Ebay, Funatics trade/sell them here on the board. Check out the "Sales/Trades & Giveaways" thread.
Contests: some funatics give them away in contests here on the board. Check out the "And the winner is" thread. Funko, Collector Corps, Legion of Collectors all hold quite a few contests throughout the year on facebook, twitter and instagram.
Events: Many fan/funatic/funko events give out protos as prizes. Fundays is the main one.

Hope this helps.

Postby **Jango_Fresh** » Mon Dec 19, 2016 12:23 pm

Currently Funko is doing a photo a day challenge and randomly selecting a winner each day for a mystery proto.

When buying a proto, I think it's ok to ask for pics of the proto, you can usually tell if it's a scrapper or has been stripped of paint.

Postby **StarWarner** » Mon Dec 19, 2016 2:42 pm

I've found a few people in facebook groups or on Instagram that have protos for sale that they obtained at Fundays or through reputable sellers. I would be very careful as others have said.

I think Gemini, Fugitive, and buying here are the safest route.

I know most Funatics are more than willing to take a look at photos to help determine if a proto is authentic. I've had a few fellow Funatics help me out.

A good general rule is if it seems too good to be true it probably is, but it never hurts to ask other collectors for their opinion.

Postby **TriFeckTa** » Mon Dec 19, 2016 3:42 pm

Good luck DJ, be careful protos can be addicting.

Postby **djknightrida** » Tue Dec 20, 2016 8:26 pm

Thank you all. Been very helpful. =D>

Postby **bryan_sato54** » Tue Dec 20, 2016 10:57 pm

good luck on finding what your looking for

Postby **hpellot** » Tue Dec 20, 2016 11:49 pm

Good luck

Postby **meangene** » Wed Dec 21, 2016 12:24 pm

Make sure you research what you are buying and if you are unsure ask questions. Good luck!

Postby **Mister Piggy Wiggy** » Wed Dec 21, 2016 12:34 pm

Aside from answers already given and online shopping, I guess asking Funko's design team that question? Maybe they have some prototypes in their garage, or something?

Postby **Mister Piggy Wiggy** » Wed Dec 21, 2016 12:35 pm

meangene wrote:Make sure you research what you are buying and if you are unsure ask questions. Good luck!

Well said. And to add to what you said, use common sense.

Postby **djknightrida** » Thu Dec 22, 2016 5:03 pm

Mister Piggy Wiggy wrote:Aside from answers already given and online shopping, I guess asking Funko's design team that question? Maybe they have some prototypes in their garage, or something?

What would be the best way to do that? Here? Social Media?

Postby **Mos_Eisley** » Thu Dec 22, 2016 5:36 pm

I don't think bugging designers directly is the best way to go.

Postby **CaseyJones14** » Thu Dec 22, 2016 5:38 pm

Mos_Eisley wrote:I don't think bugging designers directly is the best way to go.

Agreed. If you are looking for a very particular one just make a thread in the WTB section.

Postby **Sarcasticguy** » Thu Dec 22, 2016 5:38 pm

Mos_Eisley wrote:I don't think bugging designers directly is the best way to go.

Agreed.

I'm fairly certain that they aren't allowed to pass out protos privately anyways.

Postby **djknightrida** » Thu Dec 22, 2016 7:02 pm

And this is why I appreciate/needed the feedback. Muchos Gracias.

Postby **Mister Piggy Wiggy** » Fri Dec 23, 2016 11:13 am

djknightrida wrote:
What would be the best way to do that? Here? Social Media?

My best guess would be contacting them directly. Maybe Funko can transfer you over to their design department if you call them. I'd write Funko, too.

Postby **Malion** » Fri Dec 23, 2016 11:14 am

White spray paint

Postby **Mister Piggy Wiggy** » Fri Dec 23, 2016 11:19 am

Malion wrote:White spray paint

That, or trying your hand at sculpting one's own prototype.

Postby **jester00** » Fri Dec 23, 2016 11:36 am

Buy my Cpt Spaulding prototype

Postby **Mos_Eisley** » Fri Dec 23, 2016 4:03 pm

I can't believe anyone would suggest calling Funko or the designers to beg for free stuff.

Postby **rkwo** » Tue Dec 27, 2016 3:56 pm

You may want to wait a bit. Sometimes it takes a while for a proto to get "released". Just because the Pops are out, doesn't mean the protos themselves are available. Sometimes protos are out before the Pops are released, but most of the time the Pops come out first and then the protos start making their way out either via contests, Gemini, etc.

Postby **MyLittleFunkos** » Tue Dec 27, 2016 4:08 pm

Mister Piggy Wiggy wrote:
djknightrida wrote:
What would be the best way to do that? Here? Social Media?

My best guess would be contacting them directly. Maybe Funko can transfer you over to their design department if you call them. I'd write Funko, too.

Are you serious? I'm not sure that's the best advice that can be given.

"Hello, sorry to take you away from your busy day but I was just curious if you had any protos for sale or ones you might want to give me..."

[-(

Postby **Solcross** » Wed Dec 28, 2016 6:02 am

Yes, please don't be that person who oversteps boundaries.

Postby **Malion** » Wed Dec 28, 2016 11:36 am

1. Find a Funko person
2. Marry them
3. ???
4. Infinite protos

Postby **Mister Piggy Wiggy** » Wed Dec 28, 2016 12:26 pm

MyLittleFunkos wrote:

Are you serious? I'm not sure that's the best advice that can be given.

"Hello, sorry to take you away from your busy day but I was just curious if you had any protos for sale or ones you might want to give me..."

Dead serious. You never know, it just might work! One simply has to have guts/the gall and ask.

Postby **funko_vinz** » Wed Dec 28, 2016 12:32 pm

Malion wrote:1. Find a Funko person
2. Marry them
3. ???
4. Infinite protos

Postby **Sarcasticguy** » Wed Dec 28, 2016 12:34 pm

Mister Piggy Wiggy wrote:
MyLittleFunkos wrote:

Are you serious? I'm not sure that's the best advice that can be given.

"Hello, sorry to take you away from your busy day but I was just curious if you had any protos for sale or ones you might want to give me..."

Dead serious. You never know, it just might work! One simply has to have guts/the gall and ask.

I'm pretty sure Abe would know......

Postby **Mister Piggy Wiggy** » Wed Dec 28, 2016 12:36 pm

Malion wrote:1. Find a Funko person
2. Marry them
3. ???
4. Infinite protos

Postby **Mister Piggy Wiggy** » Wed Dec 28, 2016 12:38 pm

Sarcasticguy wrote:
I'm pretty sure Abe would know......

If I knew a Funko employee, then I'd straight up ask them. lol

Postby **Sarcasticguy** » Wed Dec 28, 2016 12:56 pm

Mister Piggy Wiggy wrote:
Sarcasticguy wrote:
I'm pretty sure Abe would know......

If I knew a Funko employee, then I'd straight up ask them.

If you knew a Funko employee, you'd know they don't handout/sell protos privately. That's why the giveaways are designed to include as many people as possible.

Postby **Mister Piggy Wiggy** » Wed Dec 28, 2016 12:59 pm

Sarcasticguy wrote:

If you knew a Funko employee, you'd know they don't handout/sell protos privately. That's why the giveaways are designed to include as many people as possible.

Okay, now that I didn't know. Is there a clause in their contract that forbids that, or is it one of those unofficial, unwritten rules?

Postby **CAHRULL** » Wed Dec 28, 2016 1:03 pm

Mister Piggy Wiggy wrote:
Sarcasticguy wrote:

If you knew a Funko employee, you'd know they don't handout/sell protos privately. That's why the giveaways are designed to include as many people as possible.

Okay, now that I didn't know. Is there a clause in their contract that forbids that, or is it one of those unofficial, unwritten rules?

Employees are often given protos of projects they worked on, but as far as I know they're not permitted to take them home from work, except in special situations (like the funko employee currently auctioning some on eBay to raise funds for cancer treatment).

Postby **treswright** » Wed Dec 28, 2016 1:06 pm

Mister Piggy Wiggy wrote:Aside from answers already given and online shopping, I guess asking Funko's design team that question? Maybe they have some prototypes in their garage, or something?

The designers do get protos for review purposes:

But my understanding is the protos don't belong to the designers, they belong to Funko. They eventually get distributed by Funko (given out at events, turned over to Gemini and Fugitive to sell, etc.)

Postby **Sarcasticguy** » Wed Dec 28, 2016 1:08 pm

Mister Piggy Wiggy wrote:
Sarcasticguy wrote:

If you knew a Funko employee, you'd know they don't handout/sell protos privately. That's why the giveaways are designed to include as many people as possible.

Okay, now that I didn't know. Is there a clause in their contract that forbids that, or is it one of those unofficial, unwritten rules?

It's most likely company policy to keep employees from ripping off the protos that can be worth a lot. If an employee who had access to every proto and started giving them to family/friends and selling them privately, that'd look really bad on the company. It's the same concept for most businesses....

Postby **Mister Piggy Wiggy** » Wed Dec 28, 2016 1:18 pm

CAHRULL wrote:
Employees are often given protos of projects they worked on, but as far as I know they're not permitted to take them home from work, except in special situations (like the funko employee currently auctioning some on eBay to raise funds for cancer treatment).

Makes sense. Before today, I had no idea about that.

Postby **Mister Piggy Wiggy** » Wed Dec 28, 2016 1:19 pm

treswright wrote:The designers do get protos for review purposes:

But my understanding is the protos don't belong to the designers, they belong to Funko. They eventually get distributed by Funko (given out at events, turned over to Gemini and Fugitive to sell, etc.)

You do have a point. Considering how Funko provides designers with their supplies, it's only fair Funko keeps the protos.

Postby **Mister Piggy Wiggy** » Wed Dec 28, 2016 1:20 pm

Sarcasticguy wrote:
It's most likely company policy to keep employees from ripping off the protos that can be worth a lot. If an employee who had access to every proto and started giving them to family/friends and selling them privately, that'd look really bad on the company. It's the same concept for most businesses....

Oh, definitely. I now understand why Funko has that policy in place.

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