I've bought from them for years and very recently even with no problems of restoration. I have however on more than one occasion bought something that was listed as new only to find physical damage to the toy later but that's a different matter.

As is I believe you could possibly still shop with them. The low dollar amount items I still purchase from them would be so low rung as to not warrant restoration so I'm doubtful I'd receive something that had been tampered with anyway. But in the case that you do receive such an item, contact them IMMEDIATELY and request a return on the grounds that it has undocumented alterations.

It seems to be affecting mostly higher dollar items currently but that does not mean they wouldn't restore cheaper toys at some point as well. Nor does it mean they haven't already engaged in that anyway. order at your own risk basically.

There's no questions it is definitely BAD. They're passing off restored product as authentic, at authentic prices. That's absolutely unacceptable.

Wow, this is disgusting. If they would at least divulge that they're doing this (although ideally not do it at all), I wouldn't really be phased, but to not say anything is horrible.

Unfortunately, assuming it is just targeted at vintage items, it does indeed not impact me. So while my use of Mandarake isn't as frequent as many others here anyway, it probably won't impact what I do get from them. Just not an alternative I like any better.

Eh I really don't care since all I buy are more recent items and the oldest, stuff from the 90s. It's shady but I'll still go about using them.

Such a shame to hear. I haven't bought anything from there in a while since I tend to go on Mandarake if I can't find something on other websites.

Wow, that's messed up. Fortunately I don't ever buy vintage items, but I think I'm only going to use Mandarake as a last resort from now on if I can't find what I want anywhere else. I'd prefer not to give my business to a company that does this.

Wow, that is a bit disappointing. It's not that the practice itself is bad, but rather, the lack of disclosure.

Mandarake has always worked on trust, and that trust is how they get their customers. Maybe the local fans (who make up the bulk of their customers) will pressure them to at least adopt full disclosure.

Anyway, I don't think this affects most of us, unless we're collectors of really vintage stuff. Mandarake does sell some toys that can more or less be considered antiques. Their Nakano store has this nice Japanese-themed museum display with toys that are possibly even twice my age. I'm guessing that it's these types of toys that will be potentially problematic, not our usual Sentai/Rider/action figure stuff.

This. I don't mind the idea of restoring vintage toys, but they shouldn't say it's original when it isn't. It's just dishonest.

If people knew they were getting restored toys and bought them with that knowledge, then sure that's cool. But the fact that it's been done in such a subversive way makes it pretty awful.

Kinda worries me, but I havent bought from them in forever, and when I do, its newew stuff anyway.

Still a dick move.

I'm not sure I understand. If Mandarake is fixing damaged vintage toys, repairing them, and what not, what is the issue? That sounds awesome to me. I wouldn't want to buy broken or damaged vintage toys.