Are these Yixing teapots any good?

[JD]

Just curious if these pots are any good?

http://stores.ebay.com/Chinese-Teapot-G ... ec0Q2em322

I've bought 3 from them, and they look pretty good. I can't really tell if they're garbage or not. But they're so cheap that I was wondering if they're as good as the more pricey ones I've seen. They do have the mark on the bottom, and the mark or marks under the lid. The clay is probably a less expensive zisha clay. The lid does make a metallic clinky noise when lightly hit against the pot, so there is some metal content. And they work very well during gongfu sessions. I just didn't want to dish out $30-90 on pots from Dragon Tea House, especially when I needed 3. Did yixing pots get more expensive in the last two years? Sheesh.

[nickE]

Pour some boiling water in and then smell inside the pot, if you don't smell any funky chemicals, then they are probably fine. However, from what I've heard, they are supposed to smell like "hot rocks", which sounds weird but is true, as I've tried it with mine.

Either way, you can't beat a teapot for $5, even if it is fake.

[JD]

I never smelt any funny chemicals or anything in them. They just smell like uhm.. teapots. Clay maybe? I dunno.

[iannon]

I have had 2 pots from them for oh..about 2 years.. they have served me just fine even though i am sure they arent "high Quality" They do the job!

[Tea_Rex]

I bought two of their pots about 3 weeks ago and am happy with them. They are not the "highest" quality, I'm sure, but one of them actually improved the taste of one of my teas.

[iannon]

I agree..they have done quite well with my Oolongs