The E-bay snag of a lifetime?

[Jonas Ne]

I was browsing through eBay when I saw this Wakizashi listen for only $590 USD. The seller was quite reputable "Antique Sakura" with no negative feedback and lots of sales. I instantly purchased the item and they confirmed the sale with a message a few minutes after. However, this is a shockingly low price like a scam low price, but the seller offers 2 months of return and is backed by eBay's authenticity guarantee. What can you guys tell me about the sword? Did I get the deal of a lifetime or did I just get scammed?

[Bugyotsuji]

Strange. Could be a scam, or hot property even...?

[Jonas Ne]

8 minutes ago, Bugyotsuji said:

Strange. Could be a scam, or hot property even...?

That is what I thought, but wherever I check for signs of a scam I see no issues. Surley if the item was stolen the owner would've reported it as such, and since the item has papers and must be cleared through the cultural affair system it would be caught no? Plus the seller offers returns and has a very good reputation on ebay. I'm kind of shocked, originally I thought the sword was HOZON which was amazing enough but to find out it is TH is even more shocking.

[Bugyotsuji]

Antique Sakura, not Sakura Antique, right?

 

Never use Ebay myself. Please keep us updated!

[PNSSHOGUN]

Reseller of yahoo Japan auction items, they likely don't own the sword and just bid on it.

[Jonas Ne]

CONCLUDED

 

The manager emailed me saying they made a clerical error, forgetting a 0 on the listing of the sword. Sadly they wont sell the sword for that price but positively they have offered a refund and a large discount on any other swords they are currently selling.

[robinalexander]

Sounds like the best sales pitch (hook) I've heard for a while.

 

The proof may lie in 'the huge discount" offer for another piece that is so overpriced a buyer may think they are getting a good deal.

[Bugyotsuji]

Maybe change the thread title to, ”The one that got away”.

[DTM72]

7 hours ago, PNSSHOGUN said:

Reseller of yahoo Japan auction items, they likely don't own the sword and just bid on it.

If that is the case, I would complain to eBay that they are selling product that they do not own. Many facebook and other websites are requiring sellers to show a date and username on one of the photos to prove ownership.

 

Sorry for the loss.

[Tensho]

I would leave appropriate feedback. They sent me an offer on an item I was watching, got a notification and accepted it. Didn't even have time to pay when it was canceled saying it was an error. 

 

Offering a "large discount" on another item sounds very much like another eBay seller. I'd believe it when I see it. 

[Alex A]

Hey Jonas, did you end up buying that book i recommended?., expect not

 

You be better reading that, rather than buying something on Ebay and expecting folks here to tell you whether you been scammed or not.

 

Ridiculous.

[Jussi Ekholm]

Here is the item at Yahoo JP: https://buyee.jp/ite.../auction/j1119171077

[Sansei]

Seems like a variation of the "bait and switch"?

[Bugyotsuji]

1 hour ago, Jussi Ekholm said:

Here is the item at Yahoo JP: https://buyee.jp/ite.../auction/j1119171077

Still incredibly cheap! Click bait?

[Jonas Ne]

3 hours ago, Alex A said:

Hey Jonas, did you end up buying that book i recommended?., expect not

 

You be better reading that, rather than buying something on Ebay and expecting folks here to tell you whether you been scammed or not.

 

Ridiculous.

12 hours ago, Jonas Ne said:

ought the sword was HOZO

I could not buy the copy you referred to me as it was for UK only (at least when I clicked on the link) I did order another copy elsewhere but it has yet to arrive. Also, there's no need to be rude sir. I am a new collector and only 20 with limited funds and just enjoy collecting Japanese antiques and sharing cool things with people on the forum. No need to act a snob at me for not being a devout and dedicated collector, if this post somehow offended you then don't waste your time responding much less being hostile. There are many kind folks here just discussing a hobby and having fun. Not to mention this post further helps new collectors who shop at online auctions avoid purchasing form bad business practice sellers. Stop being rude and driving away new members of the community, all this does is give the image that the Nihonto community is snobby.

[Jonas Ne]

4 hours ago, Tensho said:

I would leave appropriate feedback. They sent me an offer on an item I was watching, got a notification and accepted it. Didn't even have time to pay when it was canceled saying it was an error. 

 

Offering a "large discount" on another item sounds very much like another eBay seller. I'd believe it when I see it. 

Agreed, their refund has still not been processed and now seeing that they are attempting to sell items they do not own and or are selling these items at auction on multiple websites and taking the "high bid". I don't recommend purchasing anything form this seller.

Thanks everyone for the feedback and help!

[Jonas Ne]

4 hours ago, DTM72 said:

If that is the case, I would complain to eBay that they are selling product that they do not own. Many facebook and other websites are requiring sellers to show a date and username on one of the photos to prove ownership.

 

Sorry for the loss.

I have myself sent a report to ebay. I believe you can report listings against TOS without having purchased an item from the seller as well. If any of you have the spare time to report the seller yourselves please do, it will likely save a lot of amateur collectors such as myself some time processing refunds from bad business sellers. 
Thank you :D

[Alex A]

50 minutes ago, Jonas Ne said:

I could not buy the copy you referred to me as it was for UK only (at least when I clicked on the link) I did order another copy elsewhere but it has yet to arrive. Also, there's no need to be rude sir. I am a new collector and only 20 with limited funds and just enjoy collecting Japanese antiques and sharing cool things with people on the forum. No need to act a snob at me for not being a devout and dedicated collector, if this post somehow offended you then don't waste your time responding much less being hostile. There are many kind folks here just discussing a hobby and having fun. Not to mention this post further helps new collectors who shop at online auctions avoid purchasing form bad business practice sellers. Stop being rude and driving away new members of the community, all this does is give the image that the Nihonto community is snobby.

 

What you don't know Jonas is that i gave up over an hour of my life trying to help you out with the blade the other day.  When folks like yourself ask for help, its not just a case of coming up with something off the top of the head, its a case of getting the books out and researching online,.

 

You don't have the knowledge to go shopping for swords on Ebay, its a minefield, as you have just learned.  

 

Far from a snob, just someone that doesn't want to see someone throw their money away.

 

Some folks come here with sword after sword without buying books and expecting constant input into their sword buying antics, don't be one of them

 

Think i need to be more dont give a **** in future.

 

Good luck

[Jussi Ekholm]

Well can anyone really judge, if it would have been Tokubetsu Hozon wakizashi by a good smith for 600$? I mean it would have been totally outside my intrests but would have immidiately gone for it knowing it would be at least a super easy flip.

 

eBay, Yahoo JP etc. can be really difficult places to shop, so I will advice caution. Of course you can actually get really good deals in them. I think I am bit backwards in my advice against the general concensus, I encourage buying something and enjoying it. Speaking from experience it is not really all that fun to save up years and years towards getting something, of course people have varying mentalities but I cannot really imagine many wanting to get into collecting will want to wait 5 years before buying the first item. Getting and handling new stuff is actually exciting regardless of the item level (at least for me).

[jt nesbitt]

Jussi is absolutely right. If you are like me, the only way to learn is a combination approach. I can't make a real connection unless I have the THING in my hands and can look at it. Photos and dry texts only take me so far, I have to "feel" it. 

 Read books, AND buy inexpensive stuff. The ebay seller -  "hitendo" deals in inexpensive, but honest blades, and is a nice man. It's where I bought my first blade - and I still love that inexpensive but GREAT wakizashi. I would never sell it!

 Look him up. -- JT

[Bruce Pennington]

7 hours ago, Alex A said:

Think i need to be more dont give a **** in future.

You're a good man, Alex.

Zen Moment:  I heard a discussion on the radio the other day, went like this:

Guy was recounting a day, walking across the street with a buddy.  In the middle of the road, on the divider, was a beggar.  The guy handed him a $5.  The buddy said "Why do you do that?  You know the guy will just spend it on drugs or booze."  The guy replied "My heart loves to give.  I follow my heart and use my gifts and God will honor that.  What the other guy does with the 5 is on him, and between him and God."

 

If you love to help at NMB (I know I do), then follow your heart.  Whatever the guy on the other end does with that, is on him.

 

Just my philosophy about that.

[Bugyotsuji]

Jonas, wait till you get your money back before deciding whether to report the guy! 

[robinalexander]

What Piers said above.  That's a must.

[Alex A]

All i will add is that good and "collectable" items can be found for affordable prices, even for folks on a tight budget.

 

Takes a little time, patience and education. Its not just learning about swords etc, its about learning where to look and how spot something suspicious.  If anything looks too good to be true then, as the saying goes. 

 

I surely believe there is no need to accumulate junk on any budget, that's from experience.  

 

Think too many threads lately involving "cookie" tsuba , iffy swords and uneducated sword searches are having an impact lol

 

You don't get into any type of collecting without educating yourself a little, that's kind of dumb and a recipe for buyers remorse.

[Sansei]

".......Just my philosophy about that."

Bruce, I think that Alex A has the right idea though, wrt learning. Fewer mistakes are preferable I think.....follow the mind instead of the emotional heart. It will end up being less expensive:

Give a Man a Fish, and You Feed Him for a Day. Teach a Man To Fish, and You Feed Him for a Lifetime