Rumor: CollectA stole molds from Schleich?

Before you go crazy and assume things XD
It is something that I heard, so I don't know if it is true or not

Everyone knows that I bought a big lot from a Dutch site.
The seller was very excited about her animals that she collected and all of the 'collectors items' that are in between the group.
She talked a lot, about the dots under Schleich (that those are the collectors items), knew the WHOLE Schleich catalog out of her head (prices) and she told me CollectA was a part of Schleich, but stole molds from Schleich and began their own collection...
Wait...what? That last part got stuck in my head after a while. I kept thinking, can't be true!
So I searched the Internet, nothing found.

Due to the rambling the lady did, I assume it is a fable and that I'm 'worried' about nothing.
But... It is stuck in my head and I want to know if it is true or not.
So, is it true, or false?

I don't think so. I don't know how a company would "steal" a mold, perhaps remold a model and create a new mold with their name but I don't know of any CollectA and Schleich models that look alike?

I agree with LeeAnn , - the styles of Collecta and Schleich are very different.

About Collecta being part of Schleich. I think that is rubbish

Perhaps she was thinking the safari ltd /schleich relationship. Where stole could just mean bought/used existing molds instead of using a new mold?

Wilorvise wrote:

Perhaps she was thinking the safari ltd /schleich relationship. Where stole could just mean bought/used existing molds instead of using a new mold?

Maybe
She said that CollectA was a part of Schleich, before they stole molds and began for their own.

I also think it is rubbish. I had to hold myself in, pretending to be a beginner in collecting.
Why? In mails we had, talking about the price, etc. She asked which animals I already had.
I had a feeling that if I would say: Almost every, except for the older ones. She would not sell the group to me. Therefore I told here that I only had some Feline models. And indeed, she kept the ones I already had (Schleich feline models) and sold me the rest of the group...

Due to her behavior, I was certain that it was rubbish. Still, it kept me thinking.

Alligators in sewers is not the only urban legend of this world. Animal toy collectors also have their urban legends.
During a long time, TM was considered the trademark to Tom Major instead of Toy Major, K&M Int a part of Kaiyodo, SSS a collection of Science & Nature, etc., etc.
CollectA is an animal themed brand of Procon as Wild Republic is also to K&M International or Animals of Australia to Science & Nature.
CollectA gained some individuality as a company and actually, started with some molds sold under Nature Wonders name. Collectors world was always very Schleichcentred, sometimes everything in a similar concept to Schleich is considered a copy of it and sometimes these supposed copies are too big or too small to some collectors of Schleich figures. So, these myths are fruit of a huge dominance of Schleich in the market.
Honestly, I can't remember a single CollectA that really ressembles a Schleich figure, though, I remember people commenting that some of them seemed copies, often, it was a quite exagerated comment.
Sometimes, when you start a line of figures, you find inspiration in some models of a leading company, we can see it with some Mojö figures like the ewe and grazing Arabian foal, they're not copies but they look a lot like Schleich counterparts. Sometimes it is enough to talk about stealing moulds. As Laura commented, sometimes, brands reuse some old moulds from other companies, they buy it as it happened with Safari mountain goat. Though, companies don't give credit to the original author because they don't have to do it, those are not copies but a bought mold.
Schleich also sold AAA figures if I am not wrong and we shouldn't forget that some of their sea life figures were actually original Maia & Borges molds, again not copies, just a cooperation as Papo is doing currently with the Portuguese company.

Okay, so I only spent about half an hour searching, but I did find ONE that looks like it might be able to be argued as similar based on stance/stylings. Nature's Wonders HD Jungle Friends set:Currently for Sale Here  looks rather similar to the Schleich Lion stance and perhaps its mane's stylings? And still it depends a little on which model you compare it to how much similarity you might see.  Especially if you were LOOKING for similarities.

And as Roger implied, people can go a little crazy with a little rumor and half-facts. Especially if someone was already annoyed with ripoffs and thus sensitized to such things or had another similar bias.

Edit: CORRECTION: Erroneous info. Nature's Wonders & Nature's Wonders HD got confused by yours truly.

Wilorvise wrote:

Okay, so I only spent about half an hour searching, but I did find ONE that looks like it might be able to be argued as similar based on stance/stylings.  The lion sold under procon's Nature's Wonders HD Jungle Friends set:Currently for Sale Here  looks rather similar to the Schleich Lion stance and perhaps its mane's stylings? And still it depends a little on which model you compare it to how much similarity you might see.  Especially if you were LOOKING for similarities.

And as Roger implied, people can go a little crazy with a little rumor and half-facts. Especially if someone was already annoyed with ripoffs and thus sensitized to such things or had another similar bias.

Laura, what an interesting link to start a new rumor! This lion looks indeed somewhat like Schleich's. Though, those are not CollectA. Actually, I don't know the exact link between Natures Wonders and CollectA. I know that some of first CollectA references were sold also under the name Nature Wonders. Though, I have seen several other NW figures which molds were never used by CollectA.  Here is their Cat Friends Set.

Editing this post to share a link on TAI about Blip Toys,, Nature's Wonders HD is a collection of animal figures that belongs to Blip Toys company. What a confuse world and I hope TAI, that is needing some work in this company page, helps solving it.

Eeeehm, one of the cats looks like a Schleich actually! XD Main Coon Cat
And some look like Papo....

I beg a thousand pardons. Apparently I was confusing Procon's line of "Nature's Wonders" - (Procon being the parent company of CollectA) with Blip Toys' "Nature's Wonders HD"

Though as a side note, CollectA & Blip's both have locations in the same Hong Kong Plaza. So perhaps there was a sale of the name or certain products from Procon to Blip?

I will edit my previous post accordingly. Much apologies.

Wilorvise wrote:

 I beg a thousand pardons. Apparently I was confusing Procon's line of "Nature's Wonders" - (Procon being the parent company of CollectA) with Blip Toys' "Nature's Wonders HD"

Though as a side note, CollectA & Blip's both have locations in the same Hong Kong Plaza. So perhaps there was a sale of the name or certain products from Procon to Blip?

I will edit my previous post accordingly. Much apologies.

Laura, there are also some mistakes in my comments, without it ther's no urban legends!
I've read, at Laughing Giraffe forum, Amy commenting that she bought some of these Nature's Wonders at Walmart and that they're marked Procon. I mean these identical to CollectA. Not these sets we linked above. Honestly, I am finding it very interesting, mainly after revisiting Andreas' topic about these figures and he owns the most wonderful frogs and toads that belong to this Frog and Toads Friends set.
I'll try to compile as many info as I can about these figures and update a little the Blip Toys page on TAI.

Gosh, my poor brain

Susanne, I am a little lost too!

NightLioness wrote:

Eeeehm, one of the cats looks like a Schleich actually! XD Main Coon Cat
And some look like Papo....

Yes, it seems the same cat but in a different episode. So there's a maine coon, are other breeds identifiable?

From what I remember (and this could be very wrong too, I'm not a 100% sure, so take this with a grain of salt) but I'm thinking that CollectA was started by the current owner of Mojo Fun, but then he got booted out of his company and went to start another one, hence why I think that their "early models" look similar.

Also, I think that nature's wonders and procon were either smaller companies bought and absorbed into CollectA (as well as the models), or those were early phases of the company and they just kept changing the name for whatever reason.

Anyways, I'm not sure where I read that, so I can't back it up with a source, so just take it as you like. Anyways... I don't think that CollectA was ever a part of Schleich, vice versa, let alone I don't think any models were "stolen", maybe just ideas like the sable antelope.

LeeAnn wrote:

I don't think so. I don't know how a company would "steal" a mold, perhaps remold a model and create a new mold with their name but I don't know of any CollectA and Schleich models that look alike?

SUSANNE wrote:

I agree with LeeAnn , - the styles of Collecta and Schleich are very different.

About Collecta being part of Schleich. I think that is rubbish

I agree with LeeAnn and Susanne. I also think the seller talked rubbish.

Well, I wasted a few hours, and the ONLY mentions I've found for both Procon/CollectA and Schleich are when they're being compared in size/quality. How they have different emphases, or if both are being sold by someone.  THE CLOSEST I found was from 2009 where someone remarked that the lion family & rhino looked similar to past Schleich models Here

It's possible:
~ Someone may have moved jobs from Schleich to CollectA
~ Schleich moved production to China about the time CollectA became better known
~ Both companies' products are made in China
~ Illegal copies of either could have been mis-marketed as the other by illegal traders
~ Casual remarks of speculation may have taken as fact e.g. "That looks good enough I swear it's a Schleich mold"
~ Perhaps a model that was theoretically slated to be made by Schleich may have been cancelled (because it was deemed an investment risk), and perhaps CollectA happened to release a similar model to the one expected. "Obviously it got cancelled because CollectA  ---"
~ It seemed the only explanation to some people for why CollectA was gaining market share and popularity.
~ Frustrations with Schleich's changes. Easier to blame the company based in a different part of the world than the company they love.


That said, we KNOW that China is known for making illegal knockoffs.  The lady's knowledge lent a certain credence to her statement. And there are some notable similarities that seem to support at least the bare glimpse of her assertion.
And perhaps was her way of warning you off from that "young upstart" of a company. As you were a novice collector.

Just because someone earnestly believes something is true doesn't automatically make it so.  Sometimes companies decide not to do one or several new items for whatever reason. And sometimes other companies produce that item or several of the items.  I'm sure that Schleich would have brought a lawsuit against them if there was evidence of what she implied, if only to protect their revenue. And if nothing else, brought measures against the company in places Schliech had a base in which protect intellectual property rights. There is reasonable doubt to her claims.

Since there is not significant evidence to support the rumor's claim, and CollectA is still strong in the market, I'm going to say it's probably just a rumor.

Sorry for being so long-winded. I had to get it out of my brain so I can sleep.

Lots of interesting thoughts, Laura !
Yes, this business of model animal making is a jungle

I just thought of the only 100% certain case of an employee of Schleich, who moved away and started his own compagny.
And who was in competition with Schleich to gain the right to produce certain products : Mr. Volkmar Klaus, founder of Bullyland.

He was married to Mr. Schleich's daughter , and was considered the "crown-prince" of Schleich.
When they divorced, Mr Klaus left Schleich, and started Bullyland in 1974.
In competition with Schleich, he won the right to produce smurfs in 1974, and shortly after the right to produce models for Disney, the latter still being a major factor for Bullyland .

But stealing - no, no

How much stories you have there

I think Laura is right: brands often have models that never been listed, maybe sometimes these «lame» animals move to other brands. Plus yes, China almost always make illegal copies and sell it everywhere. So, in my country I constatly can see Schleich horses copies. By the way, if I don't mistake, they're selling by Happy Kin Toys. And everyone there remember story with CollectA copies, so we should think about who is thief and victim.
So I don't think that CollectA steale models. They're too famous and big companies to steale models by each other.

Karin, don't you think that this seller... is a bit crazy?

Anasta SchwarzeWölfin wrote:

....
Karin, don't you think that this seller... is a bit crazy?

The idea occured to me also

SUSANNE wrote:

Anasta SchwarzeWölfin wrote:

....
Karin, don't you think that this seller... is a bit crazy?

The idea occured to me also

Haha
It's really so

SUSANNE wrote:

Anasta SchwarzeWölfin wrote:

....
Karin, don't you think that this seller... is a bit crazy?

The idea occured to me also

Yeah, that occurred to me also. Can't explain the conversation we had. As I mentioned, I had to pretend to be a beginner, otherwise she would hold back more animals from that lot...
Mailing was very strange and after an hour talking, I went home with a headache XD

Guys, whoa the stories in this topic makes me dizzy.
Never expected this when I opened up the topic XD

Roger wrote:

Susanne, I am a little lost too!

NightLioness wrote:

Eeeehm, one of the cats looks like a Schleich actually! XD Main Coon Cat
And some look like Papo....

Yes, it seems the same cat but in a different episode. So there's a maine coon, are other breeds identifiable?

No, not that I can see :)
I thought the sitting one and two kittens looked like Papo current cats

I think that person who sold you the schleich collection had to confuse some stories and made a new story and started to believe it. As far as I know Bullyland and Schleich was one company in the past and then split into two but I don' think there was anything about stealing moulds in this story. CollectA has nothing to do with Schleich as far as I know.

I would not say the person is crazy or something (or maybe a little, how she didn't want to sell you things because you already had them in collection? now that's a bit strange since marktplaats is primarily for selling and buying and not for checking what you already had at home before I sell you something ) . Human memory is not a perfect thing, all people confuse facts from the past and make own version of the past confusing things in bigger or smaller degree. There may exist few people in this world with absolutely perfect memory but it may be just a legend We should not worry about it too much. At the moment we have Schleich, Papo, CollectA, Bullyland, Safari, Mojo and more on the market and they don't seem to "fight" with each other in any other way than just trying to make better, easier available and more beautiful modes for kids and collectors

Never tought it was zo interesting to read about company rumors.
I ceep up the following but i can not ad some info because i don't know nothing on this part

SUSANNE wrote:

Lots of interesting thoughts, Laura !
Yes, this business of model animal making is a jungle  

I just thought of the only 100% certain case of an employee of Schleich, who moved away and started his own compagny.
And who was in competition with Schleich to gain the right to produce certain products : Mr. Volkmar Klaus, founder of Bullyland.

He was married to Mr. Schleich's daughter , and was considered the "crown-prince" of Schleich.
When they divorced, Mr Klaus left Schleich, and started Bullyland in 1974.
In competition with Schleich, he won the right to produce smurfs in 1974, and shortly after the right to produce models for Disney, the latter still being a major factor for Bullyland .

But stealing - no, no

:idea:Ah, see, now we have the makings of a good rumor:

Take the truths of Mr. Klaus leaving and then making smurfs (which could be said to be taking or stealing from the competition or perhaps at a good price or "steal"), the idea of companies to sell old molds to other companies, mix and then fold in a handful of the tendency for human misunderstandings and mis-rememberings. Bake in the mind for a few years, cool and then serve. :)

It's quite possible part of her "crazy" happened to be an attempt at control.  If she happened to know all the stats of the Schleich off-hand, that's probably either a LOT of research and/or a bit of an obsession: of keeping herself from being taken advantage of, of wanting the collection she sank time and money into to go to good hands. Perhaps she didn't give you the felines you said you had because she thought you wouldn't appreciate them.  And as for the reason for selling: it could have been several things.  Maybe she needs money, maybe she didn't want it to go to her heirs who only see it as "that collection Mum got obsessed with" and don't appreciate it, being forced to downsize because she's moving (by coercion or her own whim).  Or perhaps it's to focus on a new hobby. Maybe she wasn't completely serious about selling and was just seeing what the market was like... Or maybe she just likes feeling in control and feeling superior. Who know?

Karin, I'm glad you survived with a headache and didn't develop a nervous twitch. Congrats on your negotiation skills.