Another fake EKII for viewing...

[Robert P.]

Purchsed off of eBay, the price too good to be true, came this one-piece cross to my door today. It's well made for a one-piece cross. I had to try and slip a dollar bill between the frame and core it looked so good. The first thing that hit me was it's excessive weight. From the smallish photos on eBay it looked like a nice cross, but I got stung. I asked for photos while the auction was live, but none came. I should have taken the hint. But I was asleep. The seller won't return my e-mails, so I have no choice but to leave him nasty feedback. He paid for it...after I paid for it.

The suspension loop is very large for an EKII. The swasi is large and high. The '1939' date is crude, but the '1813' is pretty good. You can see in the photo on the 9:00 arm the dents that look like oil. But they're dints in the soft heavy metal. I hope I can get my $50.00 back!!!

Robert

[Anthony N]

Hi Robert!
Sorry to hear that, we all get stung from time to time.
I am very experienced on ebay, been a business seller on there since '98 (music), if you want any help in trying to get your money back just PM me. If you paid with Paypal that would actually be the best route to take before trying through ebay.
I would advise NOT leaving negative feedback on ebay until AFTER all attempts at getting your money back have failed.

[Robert P.]

Hi Robert!
Sorry to hear that, we all get stung from time to time.
I am very experienced on ebay, been a business seller on there since '98 (music), if you want any help in trying to get your money back just PM me. If you paid with Paypal that would actually be the best route to take before trying through ebay.
I would advise NOT leaving negative feedback on ebay until AFTER all attempts at getting your money back have failed.

That's sound advice. Thank you. Yes, it was Paypal. I'll contact them first.

Robert

[George Stimson]

I've copied the info re this fake over to the "Crosses of the Wehrmacht Fakes Gallery." http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...86#post1778086

[Robert P.]

Thanks George,

That was my next thing to do after calling Paypal.

Thanks,
Robert

[hagwalther]

The open ribbon ring is usually a bad sign too.

Regards ...

[Robert P.]

The open ribbon ring is usually a bad sign too.

Regards ...

You're right. It was a bad deal all around. But there is good news - Paypal contacted the seller, and he has written wanting to refund me. I get to part with the cross at last.

Robert

[RICK S]

ek2

Hi Robert
Good for you, this has got to be a first that I have heard of e-bay doing something about anything.

[Martin Burr]

Hi Robert

I'm glad to hear you should be having a successful outcome to this purchase. It's getting to the stage where ebay is now too risky and should be viewed as a "repro only" site for these awards.

Having just looked through the fakes gallery, I would have been stung by nearly all of them !! Off for another read of Gordon Williamson's "The Iron Cross of 1939", i feel the need to try to learn some more.

[Robert P.]

Martin,

I started out knowing nothing. My first EKII was at 10 years old from the back of a Field & Stream magazine classified section, a Heer helmet too. I don't remember one thing about the cross, and still never knew anything about a numbering system until I started as a collector about ten years ago. I was very vulnerable to any faker selling his wares until I found this forum. This forum is excellent, and what a tool we have being members! I know the book you are referring to. Detlev Niemann has a great book too, and many others. But to me, this forum is the best book there is at this stage in my collecting. I bought 'The Iron Time' 1st & 2nd editions, and they (the 1st edition, waiting on 2nd) are excellent. But I have to say that holding and studying, especially photograhing these awards in your hands is really giving me the best advantage. I bought a fake, sure, but I'm learning. It just made me smarter is all. It made me more cautious.

Robert

[hagwalther]

I'm selling an EKII packet on eBay right now - guaranteed to be original.Mind you, it might be the only item there that is....Regards ...

[Robert P.]

I'm selling an EKII packet on eBay right now - guaranteed to be original.Mind you, it might be the only item there that is....Regards ...

Which maker, if I can ask?

Robert

[hagwalther]

Which maker, if I can ask?

Robert

PM Sent.

Regards ...

[Robert P.]

I just wanted to bring something to everyone's attention, hoping it will help them in future buying. I learned a valuable lesson in making a stupid decision buying this cross. It wasn't an expensive mistake, but still it was money out of my pocket. Here's a link to the eBay auction:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...fromZR8QQfviZ1

It looked like an average unmarked EKII. Nice large thin ring, good paint, patina, etc...When the seller didn't send more photos I asked for I should have wised up. But I went ahead blindly, stupidly. In order for Paypal to guarantee my money back, including my original shipping expenses, the parcel going back to the seller had to have tracking. From the US to a foreign country the only tracking on USPS Airmail is through registered mail ($5.05 postage + $7.90 registered = $12.95) or through Global Express ($24.95). I chose the former. I had to eat this expense. Like I said, it was a cheap lesson, but I still lost money and time. I guess we all have a list of eBay sellers we have confidence in, and some we don't. I just added one to my 'don't trust' list.

Robert

[hagwalther]

That's the way it goes mate. A pretty cheap lesson at the end of the day though and I'm sure some people have lost a lot more.

I only buy form a few guys on the forum who I know and now and again from other members. I also have a few contacts in the world and while I check quite a few on line sites I only tend to purchase from a couple of them. This tends to keep problems to a minimum.

Regards ...