German receives prototype Pleo, hacked up box

After waiting for what seems like ages, we can imagine just how excited one would be to finally receive that beautiful brown shipping container with their very own Pleo tucked within. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on perspective) for one particular German, an unspecified retailer sent out what appears to be a prototype dino, complete with a pieced together box that once held a fax machine. Interestingly, it seems the lucky recipient is rather perturbed by the incident, but being the optimistic crew that we are, we'd actually hang on to this thing for bragging rights or discover its true value courtesy of eBay. Hit the read link for a few more shots.

[Thanks, Jared C.]

[mushrooshi @ Dec 29th 2007 4:28PM]

Wouldn't a prototype be a collector's item?

[DaW @ Dec 29th 2007 4:36PM]

depends if its a prototype or a Chinese knock-off

[BigD145 @ Dec 29th 2007 4:36PM]

It would be more than that. It's a trade secret. It has programming that may not show up until Version2, the $1,000 model.

[ScareyJ @ Dec 29th 2007 9:41PM]

How to be a Retail Thief Lesson 1: "the switch"

Buy expensive product, replace with item of lesser value, and return for refund.
DO replace PS3 with phonebook
DO replace iPod with dumb@ss letter about reading more
DO NOT replace cheap fax with more valuable Pleo prototype!

< / sarcasm >

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Dec 29th 2007 4:40PM]

It looks like he received a Pleo engineering prototype. My best guess is, it won't be a high value collectible till Pleo reaches vintage status like many old Nintendo and Sega systems.


http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/29/snes-cd-development-controller-on-ebay-for-a-mint/
http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/13/ebay-auction-reveals-prototype-dreamcast-zip-drive/
http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/08/prototype-super-famicom-playstation-console-unearthed/

[Miles @ Dec 29th 2007 4:44PM]

Throw it out.
Stupid toys

[Neebs @ Dec 29th 2007 5:47PM]

Someone never had a childhood?

[ssuk @ Dec 29th 2007 6:51PM]

Not yet, from what I can tell Miles is 6 years old. He's still to find Pokemon.

[Richard @ Dec 29th 2007 5:08PM]

This is not a prototype, the retailer damaged the box and found another one about the same size.

[chrisaroz @ Dec 29th 2007 5:38PM]

A box someone made... its an old Brother Fax machine box cut up and taped together!

[Neebs @ Dec 29th 2007 5:47PM]

Or, going to the read link reveals its funky, with no battery etc.

[ScOObyDoo @ Dec 29th 2007 6:08PM]

I doubt it... It's a US model fax machine from a German retailer. It's probably a mockup box Pleo made and shipped by mistake.

[Jonathan Buford @ Dec 30th 2007 5:15AM]

This is a factory mockup box. The product could be final production, but most likely is FEP (First Engineering Prototype) or similar. The box obviously is using the die cut of the production box, which is usually done by the printing factories to check the final construction using whatever material they have on hand (ie. the same printing factory does Brother Fax boxes). My guess is that the carton packing uses a re-shippable inner carton, so someone at the factory goofed and mixed an FEP sample in with the shipment (hmmm, which brown box is it again?).

Funny but understandable mistake.

[Anthony @ Dec 29th 2007 5:08PM]

Its funny that the person that got this was so upset they ignored the people saying it would probably be worth at least the cost of the Pleo to someone. Instead they just sent it back to the company.

I guess everyone is different.

[ck @ Dec 29th 2007 5:23PM]

WTH. So the guy misses a golden opportunity to flick it on eBay, probably for a massive profit, plus all he gets out of it is his money back - not even a replacement.

Well played sir.

[tekdroid @ Dec 29th 2007 7:41PM]

I'm finding it a little hard to believe a massive profit could be had by selling a Pleo in a hacked-up box. In my world that would be worthy of a massive price cut.

[Tiptup300 @ Dec 29th 2007 10:32PM]

tekdroid, its a PROTOTYPE, you know those things that aren't supposed to be released and big collectors strive to find and buy.

[David Clark @ Dec 29th 2007 5:25PM]

*yawn* can't you guys write an open letter to kill this stupid toy? The coverage on it is a little embarrassing. It's a dinosaur robot, already! Go play with some legos or something.

[tekdroid @ Dec 29th 2007 7:39PM]

but, but... Legos don't have batteries that die extremely rapidly like Pleo. And frankly, when I pat them they don't show love, or any sort of indication that I exist.

Pleo ftw.

[mushy @ Dec 29th 2007 6:01PM]

I need to find a new website for my tech news.

[caubeck @ Dec 29th 2007 6:36PM]

Just seen the Pleo forums. Adults are apparently paying hundreds for these as toys for themselves.

I'd rather put a cat in a rubbery bag and draw a face on it, at least then when I stroke and talk to it I wouldn't feel quite so insane.

[Anthony @ Dec 29th 2007 9:08PM]

Would you give it a breathing hole? Otherwise I think it is slightly more insane.

[caaahl @ Dec 30th 2007 5:41AM]

Hi there.

Yeah, its me, the reciever of this incredible "package"....

Just to explain myself: I felt so lucky, when i found a german retailer, who said via email, that he actually has one pleo in stock....that i was SO excited when the package arrived.....and that i was SO dissapointed, when i saw whats inside the box.

First thing, that came through my mind: You've been foold, you paid 360 Euro for some crap that wont work.
Btw i searched the whole flat till i found an adapter that would fit (at least the plug) but "pleo" wasnt reacting at all. So, in quite a rage, i put it back in the box and the same day i brought it to the post office.

Later that evening and the days following more and more comments, even from official forum admins, that it could be a prototype... well, if i had more money and hasnt to care about 400 Euro more or less i probably kept it.
But sry guys, i am a college student and dont have the money to risk it. ;)

But hey, at least my case made it to engadget! \o/

[caaahl @ Dec 30th 2007 5:47AM]

PS: 3 of 4 foot-switches where stuck/glued, so they wouldnt move a bit. This was another indicator, that it could be a cheap duplicate.

[sean @ Dec 30th 2007 1:13PM]

I know smoneone who got a pleo from amazon, the interesting thing is that the real pleo doesnt come with a clear blister pack.