RARE RED CAPE BIB FORTUNA SEALED IN KENNER BAG

[DSJ™]

Just saw this auction.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3116368185&category=2475

Thought?

[dustrho]

Well, I know this bad boy is very rare indeed.  However, I don't think it's anywhere close to being worth $4800.  No way in living hell!  That's almost twice the value of a 12-back vinyl cape Jawa MOMC.  Sorry, I just don't buy it!

Also, this cape looks like it could have been homemade.  It just doesn't look authentic to me.

I know these normally go anywhere between $150-300 if they're in good shape... maybe more if it's actually complete and mint.

[DSJ™]

Found some links to the toysrgus.com archive on the Red Cape Bib.

http://www.toysrgus.com/images-unpro/red-bib1.html

http://www.toysrgus.com/images-fakes/red-bib.html

Also take note that the same seller has a Vinyl Cape Jawa MOC on the block too.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3116368163&category=2475

[DSJ™]

I send the seller an email asking:

Can you tell be the background history of this item?
Do you have any information that can trace the piece back to its exact source?
Anything you can supply will be helpful.

Reply:

Dear Sir/Madam,

The source from which I originally purchased this piece from has probably
the largest collection of rare vintage star wars prototypes in the world.

He has many contacts with original employers of kenner, and this is how he
obtained the piece.

There are hardly any collectors in the world who have this figure, and I
have had an extremely large amount of interest and offers for this piece
already.

If I can be of any further assistance please let me know.
Kindest regards.


I sent another email & I am waiting for a reply.

[DSJ™]

Holy crap this seller is fast with the email replys.

How long ago did you obtain this item?
I do understand that the person were it was obtained from may not want to been known though any more background information would be helpful. Was the seller from the UK or other parts of the world? Have you seen this persons collection?
 
Thanks.
 
 
Reply:

Dear Sir/Madam,
 
I have seen this persons collection before, and they have items such as a complete set of unproduced 12" dolls and a rocket boba fett, to name only a couple or extremely rare items.
 
This piece was purchased in the UK. Large dealers such as Tom Derby have offered high amounts for this piece, when the original owner had it, but I was lucky enough to purchase it.
 
If you have any further questions please let me know.
 
Kindest regards.

[dustrho]

So DSJ, what's going on in that head of yours???  I think this guy is full of crap!  Lets see... I have $5000 to spend, so I can either get a 12-back MOC vinyl cape Jawa or get red-cape Bib Fortuna.  Which one to get?

This guy is a complete joke...

[DSJ™]

Whats going on in my head! Hmmmmm!
Nothing like doing a little investigation work.
I just find that when someone posts something for a high price & the item in question is considered rare, needs to be checked out.
I just hate for someone to pay big money & find out that it is a fake.
Iv'e been doing alot of inquiries in the past 2 years & have had sellers auctions ethier pulled or themselves banned from fraudulent auctions.
Over at RS, Iv'e been called an Ebay Cop.  
That's were my little animated buudy comes in.  

[dustrho]

Just out of curiousity... how do you exactly go about reporting a seller to eBay?  I've seen some bogus auctions myself, but never knew how to go about reporting to eBay.  LMK

[DSJ™]

Here's the link:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/basics/select-RS.html

I give them all the information that is collected.
This includes links to data base sites for stolen pictures, word for word descriptions, etc. The more you have, the better it is for Ebay to understand what is going on.
My fastest time for getting someone busted is just under 12 hrs.

This should help you out.  

[Reconsgt]

Good work on policing the auction on ebay Dale.
 There seems to be some very stupid people out there. When some sellers make little to no effort to hide the facts they are stealing images and so forth they are begging to be caught.

 I have been on the receiving end of fraud and it does piss an person off. If anyone read my ramblings in wattos about fraud it does pay to be persistant with these people and following up with the complaints.

 As for the red caped Bib These items are very interesting and a part of the history of the toys. If they are deemed real then they are a high end piece. All of these can be a tad differnt depending on what the designers what and what was tried. This seller is offering a certificate of Authenticity. which is very good if it comes with a 100% money back guarantee. I agree that it is the buyers job to research the item to satisfy their needs and a good seller will have all supporting info in place before the item is offered. With this item he states Tom Derby was looking at it as well which is a good place to start. If Tom says its real I would bet it is.  Also with items of this price I would try to have a third party receive the item for inspection pending payment. A reputable dealer in this sort of item should not object to something of that nature as long as it will be going to a well known and trusted inspector.

 Just an idea.

[dustrho]

Who's Tom Derby?  Maybe he's someone very popular, but I've never heard the name before.

And don't you think that price is just a weeeeeee bit too high???

[DSJ™]

Who's Tom Derby?  Maybe he's someone very popular, but I've never heard the name before.

And don't you think that price is just a weeeeeee bit too high???

Tom Derby is the man that runs http://www.cloudcity.com

He sells alot of nice items on Ebay on consignment.

Forgot to mention that he is very well known in the SW Community & over at RS.

[dustrho]

Not to get too off topic here, but has anyone bought from this guy before?  I checked out his site a long time ago, and prices seemed almost as high as Brian's Toys.

[DSJ™]

Yep, I did. My Yak Face coin. I got it from him off Ebay.
If they don't sell on his site, they go to Ebay from what I have see.
This is his user name: auctions@cloudcity.com

Past sellers history list:

http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?MfcISAPICommand=ViewListedItems&userid=auctions@cloudcity.com&include=0&since=30&sort=2&rows=0

He is completely honest in his descriptions & has a very good listing page with excellent photo's.

From his feedback, I recognize alot of names from the SW Community.

[Reconsgt]

Toms prices are not cheap but you also get the piece of mind knowing that he stands behind his items. He is also well known, therefor gets offered some pretty rare items

When it comes to the higher end items and rare things that most people haven't seen first hand, some of the price can be warrented as to the amount of research  that went into authenticating the item. I would say that places like Toms and others have saved collectors alot of money on fakes by pointing out details and by being a broker or independant opinion on items.