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Another ebay doozie. Gotta see this one!!

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Another ebay doozie. Gotta see this one!!
Posted by msacco on Sunday, May 21, 2006 12:00 PM
I heard about this one from the tCA listserv.
This calender is so obviously a fake. These Lionel feature weren't even available anywhere close to 1927!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6059830145&ru=http://search.ebay.com:80/6059830145_W0QQfromZR40QQfviZ1

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Posted by Poppa_Zit on Sunday, May 21, 2006 12:39 PM
"Paper discolored from age." HA! Two-month-old paper doesn't look like that.

I have a friend who bought one of the American Flyer counterfeit calendars. It was supposed to be from 1955 (I think) but it was printed on an offset press, a technology that didn't become popular and widespread until the 1960s.

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Posted by Kooljock1 on Sunday, May 21, 2006 3:01 PM
A repro is one thing, but having "Irvington" car sets on a 1927 calender is like having F-14's in a Korean War Movie! Just silly.

And then trying to say that its an original is just criminal!

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Posted by msacco on Sunday, May 21, 2006 3:20 PM
What get's me is where the %^%$ did this thing come from. It's completely out of whack.
Whoever fabricated this has got to be clueless.

Mike Sacco
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Posted by dwiemer on Sunday, May 21, 2006 4:09 PM
I think this guy knows exactly what he has and is doing, why else would you keep the bidder's identity secret (not that there are any yet). I bet it is so someone doesn't email the bidder and tell him of the fraud.
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Posted by 1688torpedo on Sunday, May 21, 2006 6:44 PM
This sure is a doozie alright! The Trains on this Calender look to be from about the 1940-42 period.The Bric-a - Brac Baron has plenty to learn about Toy Trains. What a fraud.
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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, May 21, 2006 7:31 PM
He keeps his feedback private, "Private Feedback This member, bric-a-brac-baron, has decided to make their feedback comments private. Feedback can still be left for this user and the ratings left are shown above in summary format."

He has had 2 neutral in the last month alone, and 5 negatives in the last 6 months.

No wonder he keeps anyone from seeing his feedback.
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Posted by Poppa_Zit on Sunday, May 21, 2006 9:24 PM
There's also a Burlington calendar for sale from 1921 with a photo of the Pioneer Zephyr on it.

He should not only be thrown off eBay, he should be arrested for fraud.
"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. They are not entitled, however, to their own facts." No we can't. Charter Member J-CASS (Jaded Cynical Ascerbic Sarcastic Skeptics) Notary Sojac & Retired Foo Fighter "Where there's foo, there's fire."
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Posted by DSchmitt on Sunday, May 21, 2006 10:21 PM
The dealer is probably not a crook. I viewed his other items (curently 276). I noted only 3 other train items, all calenders. A 1921 Lionel, 1955 Lionel and 1955 American Flyer. They look to my untrained eye like they could be authenic.,but I don't know and the 1927 calender makes the whole bunch questionable. They probably all came from the same collection. I would say he is not knowledgeable about trains and train calenders. He had 5 negitives, and 6 neutrals out of 1262 comments in a five month period. That's 1 negative out of every 253 feedbacks for the 5 month period. Considering the volumn of sales that is not very many. In the last month he had 0 negatives and 2 neutrals out of 317 feedbacks.

I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.

I don't have a leg to stand on.

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Posted by Poppa_Zit on Monday, May 22, 2006 12:15 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by DSchmitt

The dealer is probably not a crook. I viewed his other items (curently 276). I noted only 3 other train items, all calenders. A 1921 Lionel, 1955 Lionel and 1955 American Flyer. They look to my untrained eye like they could be authenic.,but I don't know and the 1927 calender makes the whole bunch questionable. They probably all came from the same collection. I would say he is not knowledgeable about trains and train calenders. He had 5 negitives, and 6 neutrals out of 1262 comments in a five month period. That's 1 negative out of every 253 feedbacks for the 5 month period. Considering the volumn of sales that is not very many. In the last month he had 0 negatives and 2 neutrals out of 317 feedbacks.


You contend he's not a crook. OK, answer these questions. How many 1955 American Flyer calendars exist with no pages torn off? He's sold MANY. Same with the Lionel.

Also, please notice every one of his calendars has January starting on exactly the same day of the week! These are not even convincing relicas because of the chronological disparities between the photos and the year.

And why does he need to hide feedback and bidder information?

He says he's not knowledgeable about trains and train calendars -- this is so he can plead ignorance if he ever gets caught. His description is worded VERY carefully, if you choose to dissect it. He was outed last month on the S-Trains board on Yahoo. Don't be fooled by this scam artist because his calendars are not authentic.
"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. They are not entitled, however, to their own facts." No we can't. Charter Member J-CASS (Jaded Cynical Ascerbic Sarcastic Skeptics) Notary Sojac & Retired Foo Fighter "Where there's foo, there's fire."
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Posted by DSchmitt on Monday, May 22, 2006 2:02 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Poppa_Zit

QUOTE: Originally posted by DSchmitt

The dealer is probably not a crook. I viewed his other items (curently 276). I noted only 3 other train items, all calenders. A 1921 Lionel, 1955 Lionel and 1955 American Flyer. They look to my untrained eye like they could be authenic.,but I don't know and the 1927 calender makes the whole bunch questionable. They probably all came from the same collection. I would say he is not knowledgeable about trains and train calenders. He had 5 negitives, and 6 neutrals out of 1262 comments in a five month period. That's 1 negative out of every 253 feedbacks for the 5 month period. Considering the volumn of sales that is not very many. In the last month he had 0 negatives and 2 neutrals out of 317 feedbacks.


You contend he's not a crook. OK, answer these questions. How many 1955 American Flyer calendars exist with no pages torn off? He's sold MANY. Same with the Lionel.

Also, please notice every one of his calendars has January starting on exactly the same day of the week! These are not even convincing relicas because of the chronological disparities between the photos and the year.

And why does he need to hide feedback and bidder information?

He says he's not knowledgeable about trains and train calendars -- this is so he can plead ignorance if he ever gets caught. His description is worded VERY carefully, if you choose to dissect it. He was outed last month on the S-Trains board on Yahoo. Don't be fooled by this scam artist because his calendars are not authentic.



Interesting points.

I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.

I don't have a leg to stand on.

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Posted by pbjwilson on Monday, May 22, 2006 7:19 AM
Guilty as charged. Off with his head!

I hope none of you are on the jury if I ever get in trouble with the law.

Jumping to conclusions, paranoia, overzealous.

GET A GRIP!
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Posted by FJ and G on Monday, May 22, 2006 8:53 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by pbjwilson

Guilty as charged. Off with his head!

I hope none of you are on the jury if I ever get in trouble with the law.

Jumping to conclusions, paranoia, overzealous.

GET A GRIP!


Toss him to the hounds...



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Posted by 4kitties on Monday, May 22, 2006 10:58 AM
I couldn't help noticing the engine's valve gear linkage, a level of detail on the boiler that suggests it's die-cast, and the mention of a whistle, which I didn't think Lionel offered back then. At least whoever made the calendar got Saturday the 1st correct. BTW Saturday Jan. 1 is correct for 1955 as well, but I think that's pure luck.

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Posted by Poppa_Zit on Monday, May 22, 2006 12:02 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by 4kitties

I couldn't help noticing the engine's valve gear linkage, a level of detail on the boiler that suggests it's die-cast, and the mention of a whistle, which I didn't think Lionel offered back then. At least whoever made the calendar got Saturday the 1st correct. BTW Saturday Jan. 1 is correct for 1955 as well, but I think that's pure luck.

Joel


It's not pure luck. Whoever counterfeited these calendars (there are at least 20 different variations) was too lazy or too cheap to redo the tear-off calendar pages, that's all. And if these are really legit, how come in all of the discussions regarding this topic on Internet model train forums NOT ONE collector has stood up to say, "AC Gilbert (or Lionel) did make those calendars in 1955, because I have one I bought in 1955." Anyone?

I'll bet if the CSI lab tested one of these, the "aged" paper would show traces of being soaked with tea or weak coffee before being laid out in direct sunlight to "age." It's the oldest trick in the book. Try it sometime.

And how is trying to prevent a fellow collector from being scammed considerd "paranoia, overzealous or jumping to conclusions"? What's wrong with trying to alert people of a bold scam? Some of these phony calendars have sold for over $75 because people thought they were getting the real deal. He's not the only eBay dealer selling them, either.

Thanks for the concern. I have a grip, and rest my case. [:D]
"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. They are not entitled, however, to their own facts." No we can't. Charter Member J-CASS (Jaded Cynical Ascerbic Sarcastic Skeptics) Notary Sojac & Retired Foo Fighter "Where there's foo, there's fire."
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Posted by DCmontana on Monday, May 22, 2006 1:52 PM
How come he hasn't been reported to E-bay. I thought they had a way of dealing with this kind of fraud? Or is that another of their selling points that isn't quite true?

Beware of paypal! My credit card number got out through paypal and I had a lot of fraudulent charges to my paypal account and to other places. I won't use it again.
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Posted by Poppa_Zit on Monday, May 22, 2006 2:08 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by DCmontana

How come he hasn't been reported to E-bay. I thought they had a way of dealing with this kind of fraud? Or is that another of their selling points that isn't quite true?

Beware of paypal! My credit card number got out through paypal and I had a lot of fraudulent charges to my paypal account and to other places. I won't use it again.


According to several of the model train forums, he/she has been reported and apparently eBay doesn't care, because they allow him to keep operating anyway.

He has also reportedly generated complaints to eBay regarding some of his other merchandise; i.e., several collectible websites are warning against buying his "Mammy" ceramics, as they are also said to be mere replicas of rare items.

These links make for some interesting reading. Just scan down each page and remember, the seller we're talking about here is bric-a-brac-baron:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/SportsMemorabilaAuctionConcernsKnowledge
http://www.shawnee-cookie-jars.com/
http://www.tiffanyfakes.com/dealers_to_watch.htm
http://p214.ezboard.com/fcookiejarassociationfrm12
"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. They are not entitled, however, to their own facts." No we can't. Charter Member J-CASS (Jaded Cynical Ascerbic Sarcastic Skeptics) Notary Sojac & Retired Foo Fighter "Where there's foo, there's fire."
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Posted by msacco on Monday, May 22, 2006 2:56 PM
Someone needs to really nail this guy. And yeah it's important, duh and not paranoia. What's wrong with looking out for the other guy by making this known.

Mike Sacco
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Posted by bowlerp on Monday, May 22, 2006 2:59 PM
This is not really open to discussion. Draw your own conclusions about the seller, but before you do open one of the Lionel product history review books that are readily available and look at the catalog for 1927. You will quickly see that there were no diecast steam locomotives or plastic passenger cars. Injection molded cars came only in the post war era. Everything prior to the late 1930's diecast scale Hudson was tin plate. Therefore, these calendars are...? What is it that anyone doesn't understand about those calendars, even without consulting the actual 1927 dates? Oh, not to mention Lionel did not invent the first toy train air whistle until 1935. This is quite laughable.
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, May 22, 2006 5:17 PM
Equally as ridiculous is the 1921 Lionel calendar he has for sale, which has an image of a boy sleeping and a General set above in the sky. This image comes from a series of posters Lionel put out in the 80's and in any case the General set certainly wasn't around in 1921!

Other calendars he has for sale include Babe Ruth Red Rock Cola 1938, Sunbeam Bread 1949, Ken-Wel Baseball Gloves 1921 and Home Run Cigarettes 1910...and, by golly, every one of them has the same font on the calendar with January 1st on a Saturday. What a coincidence!

The key to his getting away with this is that never once does he actually say that these calendars are originals from those years. He simply says that they are DATED that year.
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 8:27 AM
He should charge $50 shipping to complete the perfect rip-off!!
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Posted by JeffPo on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 1:23 PM
While I like using Ebay, I have found that they aren't much help at all of something goes wrong. Had a crook send me pure crap one time (i.e. misrepresentation). Ebay washed their hands of it, and said take it to Paypal. Paypal said that since I actually received something (didn't matter what), it was just a disagreement on quality between the seller and I, so they washed their hands of it. Only my credit card company came to my rescue.
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Posted by darianj on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 3:55 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by JeffPo

While I like using Ebay, I have found that they aren't much help at all of something goes wrong. Had a crook send me pure crap one time (i.e. misrepresentation). Ebay washed their hands of it, and said take it to Paypal. Paypal said that since I actually received something (didn't matter what), it was just a disagreement on quality between the seller and I, so they washed their hands of it. Only my credit card company came to my rescue.


Sounds like you did better than me. Not even my CC co. had my back when I had a problem on Ebay![:(!]
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Posted by markn on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 8:47 PM
Just to pile on-some more info on the 1938 "Babe Ruth/Red Rock Cola" calendar from a fan web site:
"Red Rock is the only soft drink beverage ever endorsed by Babe Ruth and posters were made of the endorsement in 1939. There is only one, perhaps two, original posters in existence today, and one is framed and mounted on the wall of its owner in Medina, Ohio."
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Posted by Poppa_Zit on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 11:19 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by markn

Just to pile on-some more info on the 1938 "Babe Ruth/Red Rock Cola" calendar from a fan web site:
"Red Rock is the only soft drink beverage ever endorsed by Babe Ruth and posters were made of the endorsement in 1939. There is only one, perhaps two, original posters in existence today, and one is framed and mounted on the wall of its owner in Medina, Ohio."



And bric-a-brac-baron is selling the other on eBay. LOL!
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Posted by dwiemer on Thursday, May 25, 2006 7:04 PM
Found another one of these sellers. I am not sure how to post the link here, but it is fayes_southern_memories is the ID. Does the same thing as the other guy, perhaps it is the same person/company as they hide all history, bidders and also is from South Carolina. Just don't bid on a item where they hide the information. This person also has the calanders that all start with January 1st on Saturday.
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, June 5, 2006 8:30 AM
I have no problem saying that everything that bric a brac baron and fayes_southern_memories sell are reproductions. They are very well known among depression glass and McCoy pottery collectors. They have been ripping people off (mostly new buyers) on ebay for a very long time and many suspect that they may actually be the same person selling under two different ID's.

Ebay will do nothing about them because they maintain that they are only a venue. I have reported both of them on many occasions for selling fake items under the wrong catagory, but ebay's reply is always that they have no way of authenticating their items so they can do nothing about it.

As with many things on the internet it's a case of teaching yourself at least a little about the subject matter that you are going to spend your hard earned money on and Caveat Emptor buyer beware because there is nobody out there that is going to protect you except yourself.

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Posted by Poppa_Zit on Monday, June 5, 2006 1:58 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by bobaboooey

I have no problem saying that everything that bric a brac baron and fayes_southern_memories sell are reproductions. They are very well known among depression glass and McCoy pottery collectors. They have been ripping people off (mostly new buyers) on ebay for a very long time and many suspect that they may actually be the same person selling under two different ID's.

Ebay will do nothing about them because they maintain that they are only a venue. I have reported both of them on many occasions for selling fake items under the wrong catagory, but ebay's reply is always that they have no way of authenticating their items so they can do nothing about it.

As with many things on the internet it's a case of teaching yourself at least a little about the subject matter that you are going to spend your hard earned money on and Caveat Emptor buyer beware because there is nobody out there that is going to protect you except yourself.

BobABoooey


With sellers like this, don't you wish you had their street address? [}:)]
"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. They are not entitled, however, to their own facts." No we can't. Charter Member J-CASS (Jaded Cynical Ascerbic Sarcastic Skeptics) Notary Sojac & Retired Foo Fighter "Where there's foo, there's fire."

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