Ripped Off?

[Serendipity_Collections]

Oh yeah I would say she sure does know what she is doing! Slicker then an eel from the looks of it. Nail her midnight! ^_^

[iriakun]

I read all your interesting comments and I know better than anyone Mandarake so I can give some explanations.

In the auctions, definitly cels and autographs are the most expected items and not cards, poster etc....simply because amounts are quite low (except dragon ball gold and silver cards)!
If mandarake sell bootleg, it is BIG mistake and even when you buy from abroad, that is something they really care.
Many years ago, in the English FAQ it was not written cels can be sold with wrong background. Bidder claimed for this reason and got complete refund. Now, FAQ is different of course...
Mandarake made its reputation not only for selling rare items but also original ones. Since almost 30 years you sell autographs, do you think you are not enable to say "I am an expert" ?
An autograph from Miyazaki, at cash buy counter first they call the big boss (Furukawa) and next others employees. You have at least 2 or 3 people who check it and ask you how did you get it, when etc...and in case of douts, they can request you to wait some days in order to verify.
Usually, Furukawa needs just few seconds for Takahashi Rumiko or Miyazaki. For animators, he is not very aware except from Ghibli so it is another guy.
However, I know someone who got an original Miyazaki's autograph and tried to sell it at mandarake just to know the value. Big boss said "I am not so sure, it doesn t seem an original so, what about this amount"...of course very low and for sure it was a perfect original! So as you are human, you can have doubts but in the case of mandarake, all its reputation is based on original rare items so for autographs, you can trust them at 99,99999%.
The Totoro at 600 000yen was too high, for sure two bidders fighting too much. The same one one year ago was sold at 120 000yen.
To ask to the artist if it is an original autograph, no way it s impossible as artists hate this kind of business. Remember, an autograph is like a present to a fan, not for making money!!!
That's why almost all mangakas hate mandarake and many animators too.
In studios, many sheets, cels etc..were stolen and I heard a guy for just one cel, was fired.
Yahoo auction, as you said, recently you got many fake autographs like this one and feedback it s not so bad.
http://openuser.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/user/fuurioida
Obviously, you know all are fakes but Japaneses lack of experience and trust easily what it s written.

The best and only way is to go to sign sessions during abroad and Japanese events. I got my Lost Canvas autograph from Teshirogi like that in Yokohama. It s so great to talk with the mangaka, better than the autograph!

[cutiebunny]

Since almost 30 years you sell autographs, do you think you are not enable to say "I am an expert" ?

After your anecdote regarding your friend and his authentic shikishi, I would say that Mandarake is not an expert when it comes to signatures.

In regards to cards, there are quite a few cards that do fetch hundreds of dollars - I can think of several just from Sailormoon alone. Cards, of course, are different from shikishi. Shikishi are one of a kind items. Cards are mass produced. But there should be someone on staff that would recognize that, in 99% of all cases, all card sets have a regular card set and a premium card set and that each card should have a registered trademark on it. I know that, at least in the case of Sailormoon, that this information is widely availble on the internet, with, in many cases, pictures to accompany the text.

I'm not saying that you shouldn't trust Mandarake - I'd venture that 99% of all items they sell are authentic. And, when dealing with the quantity of items that Mandarake does, mistakes happen. But, at least when it comes to shikishi, I'd be more inclined to believe the possibility of it being a fake...especially when it comes to very popular manga-kas. That's why, for items that are going to command several thousand items and that are known to be heavily counterfeited, I would appreciate some 'certificate of authenticity' rather than a blanket "we don't sell fakes" statement.

[iriakun]

Mandarake did not say "We do not accept your miyazaki autograph" to my friend, just they tried to take a position in order to make low value of the shikishi....you know, money money with them.

About cards, there is one guy in charge of that. It happened to cards so you should claim for that...

[kira]

damn cutie, now you have me wondering about a couple of shiki i have.

[cutiebunny]

damn cutie, now you have me wondering about a couple of shiki i have.

I think you're safe as long as you don't have any shikishi from really well known and popular artists.

The best advice has already been given - do your research and pay only what you're willing to pay.

[iceman57]

I think you're safe as long as you don't have any shikishi from really well known and popular artists.

Indeed, the more an art is expensive or wanted, the more are counterfeiters.

[iriakun]

damn cutie, now you have me wondering about a couple of shiki i have.

I am collecting a lot shikishi so show me the picture and maybe I can help you.
For example, the guy who sell miyazaki, toriyama etc.. fake autographs, it is always the same way of drawing, same pens etc...it is quite easy to see that!
If your shikishi are coming from Mandarake, they are original at 99.9999%.