test figures

from time to time I see test/prototype figures on Ebay that look interesting to pick up and have a few questions

- is it legal for them to be listed for sale? assuming they originated from the production factory, is that still considered property of the toy company?
- do test figures hold any collectible value?
- is the material of the test figure the same as the final product the same or different?
- what test figures do collectors here own?

thank you!

Hello I own A Deviants Slaughterhouse Test Type. It seems pretty brittle compared to the actual product. I have it signed by Casey Lau and I won it from figures.com. I enjoy this figure but I think the test type figures are an iffy thing on ebay. I've seen test types of figures more than once as some are just crappy replicas so you're kinda on a hit and miss thing. Also Most test types are not made for any sort of retail they are produced with much more brittle pvc. Be careful when getting test types because alot could be fake and I'd say most if not all are stolen from the factories. If You get an actual one it'd be a true Collectors piece.Nothing you would want to pose are display in poses

Hello I own A Deviants Slaughterhouse Test Type. It seems pretty brittle compared to the actual product. I have it signed by Casey Lau and I won it from figures.com. I enjoy this figure but I think the test type figures are an iffy thing on ebay. I've seen test types of figures more than once as some are just crappy replicas so you're kinda on a hit and miss thing. Also Most test types are not made for any sort of retail they are produced with much more brittle pvc. Be careful when getting test types because alot could be fake and I'd say most if not all are stolen from the factories. If You get an actual one it'd be a true Collectors piece.Nothing you would want to pose are display in poses

thank you Starscream, very good information and points, which reminded me one something else I wanted to ask. how do you know if the ones on Ebay are true test figures and not some re-spray painted retail figure passing off as one? thank you!