How to Avoid Fake LOL Dolls

Unfortunately, the huge popularity of LOL Surprise products and the limited supply has caused an increase in fake LOL dolls and counterfeit LOL Surprise toys in the marketplace.

According to a press release from MGA Entertainment, 10,000 counterfeit products were recently seized in Spain, and another 8,000 in Chile. The company is pursuing legal action against factories in China making unauthorized knock-offs, as well as filing complaints against counterfeit sellers.

What’s the Harm in Buying Fake LOL Dolls?

They Can Be Harmful to Your Child’s Health

Our inspiration for writing this article was a recent article from The Times about the significant dangers of fake LOL dolls.

The popular and widely available LQL dolls that were seized contain phthalates, a chemical that can damage the kidney, lungs, and reproductive system of children.

Getting fake dolls isn’t worth your child’s health! Learn the difference between fake and real dolls and buy real ones.

Low Product Quality

Fake LOL dolls have poorly defined outfits, features, and packaging. The low product quality means they will break and disintegrate faster than real LOL dolls will.

Why spend money on a fake only for it to be destroyed quickly?

Fake LOL Dolls Aren’t Covered by the Manufacturer’s Warranty

Did you know there’s a manufacturer’s warranty on real LOL dolls?

Check out this article covering the complete process of what you need and how to invoke the warranty.

Obviously, fake LOL dolls aren’t covered by any warranty.

Confusing for Other Buyers

Many negative online reviews are actually reviews of counterfeit, knock-offs that are low quality and not authentic products. This distorts the review rating for the genuine thing.

Imagine a little one missing out on an LOL doll because her mom was convinced not to buy a real one because of reviews for fake ones.

Make Sure You Don’t Buy Fake LOL Dolls

Here are some ways to make sure you are getting authentic, high-quality, collectible LOL Surprise products:

1. Buy from Reputable Sellers

When you purchase from a reputable retailer, you know you are getting the real thing. Beware of unfamiliar or online sellers, who may be selling counterfeit products.

2. Check the Brand Information

The package should always say “L.O.L. Surprise!” (with that punctuation) and “MGA Entertainment, Inc.” or “MGA” on the outermost packaging.

3. Read the Product Information and Label Carefully Before You Buy

A common knock-off is LQL Surprise, with very similar color and packaging as the original. Read all the visible text for typos and misspellings, or anything that looks suspicious, and read the website or page for suspicious text as well.

4. Pay Attention to the External Packaging

Real LOL dolls only come in surprise balls, not balls in boxes, not boxes, not plastic, not packages with the exact dolls shown on the outside. UPDATE: Some LOL dolls now come in boxes. LOL OMG Barbie-like LOL dolls come in boxes, as well as some series like the Remix series. Be sure to read our guides so that you know how the packaging should look.

All the LQL dolls in the picture below are FAKE. Notice the fake packaging and look closely for the LQL.

As many LOL Surprise experts know, the only way to tell the color of the ball from the outside is by using a flashlight. If the outer layers are so incomplete or translucent that you can see the inside color of the ball, it’s a counterfeit product. In cheap knock-offs, the clues and stickers may also be poking out of the packaging, and not neatly sealed inside.

5. Not Sure If It’s a Fake LOL Doll?

When in doubt about the authenticity of the product, compare it to the packaging shown on LOL Surprise! MGA Entertainment, the official website of the brand.

How to Spot Fake LOL Dolls

If you open the product and find:

• There is no upside-down text in the bottom right corner of your picture clue, it’s probably a counterfeit product
• Paint is incomplete or sloppily placed, it’s probably a fake
• Glitter is cheap and comes off everywhere, it’s probably a fake
• If the doll doesn’t match the official collector’s guide as seen on lolsurprise.mgae.com, it’s a counterfeit

These are all the characteristics of fake LOL dolls and toy products. If you’re still unsure what fake products look like, check out these two unboxing videos in which fake products are opened and compared to real ones.

 

What to Do If You Do Get Fake LOL Dolls and Toys

If you do get a fake, please do other consumers a favor and write a review and put it online to warn others. MGA Entertainment is also searching online for sellers of fake products and trying to get them removed.

Keeping counterfeit LOL Surprise products off of the market not only protects the value and reputation of the dolls for collectors, but it keeps kids from being disappointed with inferior dolls.

Once you know how to spot counterfeit LOL Surprise products, you can rest assured knowing that you are getting real LOL Surprise dolls, that truly have a place in your collection and within the doll family.