'Yixing' Warning

[jayinhk]

Bought a Yixing on eBay and thought I'd got a great deal--the clay held water and it had a nice, sandy texture. Well, when I boiled it, the water turned yellow and it had an odor. I thought it was residual tea, but the seller said the pot was unused. I used the pot for a few weeks and the tea tasted fine, but I still caught a little whiff of the turmeric-like odor when the pot was empty. Decided to give it another boil and there was no odor. Left it on the stove for a few days and when I looked at it tonight, the water was yellow with that turmeric odor. The pot is getting shelved.

Looks like I ended up paying some Yixing tuition.

The shuiping I bought locally on Marshal's recommendation has been incredible and actually cost me less than the eBay pot.

[Poohblah]

some "yixing" teapots are meant to be nothing more than decorative pieces

[jayinhk]

Yup, with dad's tuition pieces, I think we now have eight. We would have nine if he hadn't given one away!

[tingjunkie]

What seller?

[MarshalN]

Yeah, tell us which seller, I think we need to know!

[jayinhk]

It was just a one off from a seller who really didn't know much about it, which is why I thought I'd lucked out. In retrospect, I realize this style of pot is pretty common and they're all junk decorations. The Yixing game is definitely a tricky one, but this one wasn't even a good fake:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chinese-YiXing- ... true&rt=nc

[MarshalN]

There's a reason I tell people never buy these decorative ones.

[jayinhk]

Decorative pot tuition fee paid? Check.

Attempting to get a refund from the seller without having to force it, but she hasn't responded yet.

[chrl42]

It was just a one off from a seller who really didn't know much about it, which is why I thought I'd lucked out. In retrospect, I realize this style of pot is pretty common and they're all junk decorations. The Yixing game is definitely a tricky one, but this one wasn't even a good fake:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chinese-YiXing- ... true&rt=nc

Living in HK and buying a Yixing from ebay..why?

Yixing teapots are meant to be made of Yixing clay and by traditional methods, in that those pots aren't really Yixings.

Those pots are worse than traditional Shantou or Guangxi Nixing pots, which were the imitation of old Yixings.

[jayinhk]

It was just a one off from a seller who really didn't know much about it, which is why I thought I'd lucked out. In retrospect, I realize this style of pot is pretty common and they're all junk decorations. The Yixing game is definitely a tricky one, but this one wasn't even a good fake:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chinese-YiXing- ... true&rt=nc

Living in HK and buying a Yixing from ebay..why?

Yixing teapots are meant to be made of Yixing clay and by traditional methods, in that those pots aren't really Yixings.

Those pots are worse than traditional Shantou or Guangxi Nixing pots, which were the imitation of old Yixings.

The Yixing game is just as tricky here in HK, but I do know of a good source thanks to M. If I can return this one, I'll just pick another one up locally for my oolong needs.

[the_economist]

Jay, it can never be as tricky as buying without touching the pot (ebay).

[theredbaron]

It was just a one off from a seller who really didn't know much about it, which is why I thought I'd lucked out. In retrospect, I realize this style of pot is pretty common and they're all junk decorations. The Yixing game is definitely a tricky one, but this one wasn't even a good fake:

Living in Hong Kong there is really no reason why you should go to the net, especially ebay, to look for Yixing pots. 99% of the Yixing ware offered there is rubbish, and the the few ones that aren't you really need a good eye, and even then it still is a risk.
You are much better off to ask MarshalN to point you to the right direction and a real world shop when you get the itch.

Good Yixing pots are so much in demand in Asia alone that there simply is no need for a seller to go to the trouble to list them on ebay, and maybe risk to sell them for much less than they are worth.
Nowadays it is a very rare high quality pot that made it somehow to the west many decades ago, and is now offered on ebay from a yard sale. Most such yard sale pots offered from western sellers were already tourist trinkets when new.

[gingkoseto]

Bought a Yixing on eBay and thought I'd got a great deal...

this sounds too over optimistic...
I think on eBay and specifically for yixing, you would assume it,s bad unless there is reason to believe otherwise... Or if you are ready to through away some money for a bet. $50 seems too much for a bet.

[jayinhk]

Lesson learned, but I'm only out $10 if I force this refund (which I guess I have to).

"Fake" case initated.

[yanom]

What grounds do you have for a refund?