Strange Fake Trend: Fake Bundles Beware

 Sometimes there needs more to be said about something than just an entry for an item so...
What's up with the new (it wasn't around at the start of 2023 much) "Fake Bundles" of stuff on Amazon? I mean obviously as always the motivation with fakery is "trick people get money" but this seems to be a new trick in the big bad book. So let's learn how to spot it and debunk it so it can be rightfully avoided!

There's also a NEW fake trend see * below...but first know about:

Fake Bundle INDICATORS
1. If 1 or more items in the bundle looks low quality, odd or doesn't match
2. If it has BOTH modern AND classic things in it
3. If there is more than ONE franchise in the bundle
4. If there is an excess of generic things in the bundle
5. If it is being sold by an "Alphabet Soup" named company like "Hbexby's" or "BARQUOLAN" or something like that, which isn't a real word (these are absolutely prolific on Amazon)

The 5 main indicators there are really easy to spot.
For example like 'set of action figures' and one of them is mis-painted and awful, or if there's 1 thing Sonic and the rest are generic (like tees), and Sega will NEVER put/allow other franchises to be sold with Sonic in a bundle so that is automatically fake. The only one that's a bit odd is #2, because sometimes a company will mismatch the art (like classic card with modern item) it's not supposed to happen but if you see it do research it to be sure it's just a mistake and not a fake.

Things likely to find with this sort of bundling:
Currently a main culprit is art supplies, stickers and coloring books. School 'sets' where like a backpack/lunch box and both are fake, a bundle of 3 tees and all are also fake, 'keychains' also 'ornaments' (made from bogus figures) and birthday supplies because literally anyone can stamp anything onto balloons/plates and try to sell it as a set. As usual the 'mini figures' where there's sets of them are also still an issue and Amazon and Ebay have zero interest in policing these which remains annoying. 

Innovative Designs:
1. This company gets a modern Sonic license
2. Proceeds to go absolutely HAM with it

These guys are going hedge-hog-wild with producing just silly amounts of stuff. It's actually a great thing because lots of inexpensive fun school/art supplies with Sonic spreads it easily to kids because it's simple for parents to gift and buy. It's also decent enough for collectors because who doesn't love stickers? Innovative Designs is mainly a stationary/supplies type company with loads of franchises they make things for. Branding items like markers, pens, stamps, notebooks, cases/boxes etc. is their field of work. They also have brands like G1 MLP, Paw Patrol, Care Bears, Gabby Dollhouse & etc. 

*NEW fake trend:
Apparently fakers buying up real things from places like Innovative Designs, breaking down their bundles, tossing fake garbage in with it and...turning around and selling that? How are they making money on that? What is the point of buying real stuff, adding fake stuff, and putting in all that work to scrape out a few cents? It's really odd.
You can spot some:
On Amazon you'll see 'Sonic art kit" bundles NOT sold by Innovative Designs but it looks like their stuff and then has either "tons of generic things" in with it OR "Other non-Sonic brand", in most cases it looks like Captain Rex Dinosaur?? It's very strange. 

Why is specifically fake art stuff EXTRA BAD?
Because art supplies like markers/etc 'for kids' NEED to be safe, they need to have some kind of chemical testing and be vetted by something reputable that the paints aren't full of lead and the markers aren't poisonous. Like some fake tee is just going to wear out and look shabby right away wasting everyone's money but dangerous chemicals are way worse than tricking poor grandma out of some buckaroos at the holidays for some lousy tee. 
Stamping out fakes doesn't seem to be something Amazon is into, so "PSAs" (I guess) like this one continue to have to be written. No idea how much good it'll do but well here it is.

Actual Gear Content:
It's hidden at the bottom! Of course, all this Innovative Designs stuff will show up on Gear in the upcoming times, there probably will be like at least a whole page dedicated to just their stuff on USA School Supplies. It's also amazing for people with Sonic Penpals overseas, decorating items like card collection notebooks/folders or etc. 

Where to find it:
Ross stores, Burlington, and Amazon are all confirmed to carry this brand at reasonable rates. Buy online or in person when it's the real deal: be sure the seller is branded "Innovative Designs".