Gaijin prices

[Spartancrest]

Nothing really new but I just purchased a "Treasure bag" tsuba from Japan. The buy it now price was ¥14,546 or about US $95 + $20 in fees. Fair enough for an unusual [but not unique] shape.

However as often happens these days the same guard was up for sale on ebay - for US $250.80 + US $38.50 shipping. Very likely a proxy seller from within Japan, as the sellers addresses were from one side of Japan to the other. 

I guess the point of this post is to do your research and check whenever possible to see if the same item is listed somewhere else at a better price. Use google image search as at least a starting point. [it won't always help but it can't hurt] Compare known sites like Yahoo, Buyee or Jauce with ebay with a "Sort by" search for Recent arrivals, BIN price or Time ending soon - to narrow down the search. The time spent can save you money!

 

 

Unusual but not unique - this time of year they look a little like "Plum puddings"  [Note: No actual PLUM was used in plum pudding! But lets not get facts involved with tradition!] 

    

[KungFooey]

Hi Dale!

 

 

[BIG]

Hi Dale please do not buy any plum pudding without Hozon papers..

[GRC]

Dale, solid post as a reminder to everyone

 

I'll second the idea from Peter, but with a twist...

Please don't buy any Hozon papers for unsigned, and not uncommon tsuba from the Edo period 

 

... because those would then qualify as "hosing" instead of "hozon" papers?

or maybe even straight up "fleecing papers" 

[Spartancrest]

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/326370267223   US $907.94

 

 

https://www.jauce.com/auction/x1165131059   US $445.65  

 

Ebay more than twice the price   

[Jake6500]

On 12/24/2024 at 3:12 PM, Spartancrest said:

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/326370267223   US $907.94

 

 

https://www.jauce.com/auction/x1165131059   US $445.65  

 

Ebay more than twice the price   

 

Only twice? I recently bought a Muromachi Period tsuba for about 1/3 the price of the Ebay listing.