For Sale: Troy's Splitting Yin Yang Chakram replica

Hey everyone!

Today I bring you a Todd's Costumes licensed Splitting Chakram replica for sale, by a seller named Troy located in the US.

The chakram it's number 339/1000 (the 3000 was a mistake, confirmed by Todd Coyle himself). The piece comes with the original box and COA, and is in great condition.

The price is negotiable, so if you're interested please contact the Troy directly. You can reach him here:

troy081766@gmail.com

Have a happy Tuesday you all!

EDIT: I'm happy to announce that the item has been SOLD! Thanks to the buyer and to everyone who saw and shared this entry. Battle on!

BEWARE! - Avoid eBay seller "Beholdkingjr"

 Hello everybody!

I've decided to do something I haven't done before, but that I have wanted to do for quite some time now. I've created a new category named "BEWARE!" to help expose the many SCAM cases that way too many Xena collectors suffer or have suffered. On the one hand to give them due visibility, and on the other to (hopefully) help other fellow Xenites NOT to fall victim to the same despicable tricks (and people) in the future.

Today, I bring you the case of eBay "seller" beholdkingjr, aka Joshua "J.R." Merino —as brought to my attention by fellow collector Zak aka zeeproptreasures.

I have been aware of this seller for quite some time. He's been selling extremely overpriced Xena replicas on eBay for months —many of which were VERY inconsistent. Some showcased photos of one type of chakram (i.e. a Todd's Costumes replica) while the description said it was something else (i.e. a Creation Ent. replica). Others mixed replicas that had nothing to do with each other (i.e. a Russian chakram replica, with a Creation Ent. shadowbox). And then there were listings that mixed photos of different "brands" of chakrams, as if they were photos of the same piece.

His descriptions have always been vague, and it's been VERY frustrating to see unsuspecting Xenites buying items from him that: A) Didn't really match his "grand" descriptions; or B) Had recently been purchased elsewhere for a regular price, and were now being resold for double or triple their value. Those things are already highly questionable on their own —but it hasn’t been until now that I’ve had clear confirmation that he’s been outright SCAMMING people (or at least trying to).

I’ve asked Zak permission to share his testimony —and he’s kindly agreed to share his experience with you all. So here you have it in his own words:

"Hi everyone! (...) I just wanted to warn other collectors about a particular eBay seller who scammed me regarding a pair of alleged Creation Ent chakrams earlier this year. The seller's eBay username is "beholdkingjr," and his name is Joshua "J. R." Merino. Back in February, I happened across his listing for both editions of Creation's chakram replicas with their shadow boxes, and it seemed like a nice opportunity to collect both at once. The photos of the items looked like the genuine article as well. I ordered them. A week later, I received them. The shadow boxes were authentic, but immediately upon unboxing the chakrams, I knew something was wrong. Turns out he sent me a yin/yang chakram from Todd Coyle's Silver Screen Replicas line and an original chakram made by Alexandr Eremin, a Russian artist with whose replicas I was already familiar. I confronted him, opened an "item not as described" case with eBay support, and eventually received a full refund, but not before he gave me a lecture about how I "wasn't licensed to tell whether they were genuine Creation replicas." I have attached photos, so you can see what I was expecting versus what I received". J.R. is still selling Xena replicas on eBay, and I believe he has two or three chakrams currently listed. I advise other collectors to avoid him at all costs".

The photos Zak mentions are the ones that follow:

Zak also adds: "My one regret! The return process took so long that the listing expired before I could leave him any negative feedback. If eBay would permit me to, I would tear him a new one, 80-character feedback limit be damned. My biggest fear is that he will continue to scam other collectors, so I want to prevent that if I can".

Sadly, Zak's case is far from the only one. In my various years as a Xena collector, I've run across one-too-many scams —many of which either affected people close to me, or myself directly. There's little we can do against them (as the culprits just change nick-names or open new eBay accounts), BUT there's something we can do: we can DENOUNCE them, and SHARE them, to at least minimize their impact.

There are quite a few unscrupulous people making profit out of scamming Xena fans out there. So be careful, and double-check with other collectors if you can. And if you feel you've been scammed and you want or need some help, don't hesitate to let me know!

Thanks again to Zak for his testimony.

Battle on friends!

For Sale: Atle's Splitting Yin Yang Chakram replica

 Hello girls and boys!

A Xenite called Atle has contacted me to let you all know that their Splitting Yin Yang Chakram replica is for sale!

As you can see from the photos, it's one of the licensed replicas produced by Todd's Costumes --and it's number 354/1000. It comes with the COA and is in mint condition.

Atle says price is $1100 (negotiable). If you're interested, write them at:

atleaton@hotmail.com

Have a good Sunday you all!

EDIT: I'm happy to announce that the item has been SOLD! Thanks to the buyer and to everyone who saw and shared this entry. Battle on!

For Sale: Amanda's Collection

Hey girls and boys!

Amanda, a fellow Xenite, has asked me to share the news that she's letting go some items from her collection. Let's take a look at what she's selling:

- XENA CLONING SUITCASE PROP

First of all, Amanda's offering this one-of-a-kind piece: Xena's Cloning Suitcase, as seen in the S6 episodes "Send In The Clones" and "Soul Possession". This piece comes with its It's a Wrap! COA.

The suitcase has two compartments: one for the rusty modern-day chakram (not included), and another with 2 vials containing Gabrielle and Xena's hair! These are the samples that Alti and her scientist use to clone Xena and Gabrielle in the episode --and in theory come from Lucy Lawless and Renée O'Connor themselves!

The suitcase was also used in the episode "Soul Possession", when present-day Gabrielle and Xena (in Joxer's body) come back from their honeymoon. You can see Joxer grab it from the car with all the tags on it.

- CHAKRAM TOY PROTOTYPE

Next in the list is this unique item: the prototype used to create the short-lived (and sought after) toy line of Xena's chakram!

This prototype is a hard plastic casting that has been tested and show some wear. Size is 9 7/8 in diameter. Plus, Amanda tells me that it was used for promotional purposes, and that it was also taken to conferences and meetings when promoting the line.

- BLUE RESIN KATANA PROP

Finally, we have a very rare production used prop from the finale episodes of Xena: a Higuchi milicia katana, similar to Gabrielle's dragon katana.

This piece is made of hard resin and real blue fabric, and shows signs of wear and use. Amanda tells me she acquired it from the well-known collector Xenasbard, and that it has always been displayed with care, preserved exactly as she received it.

***

If interested, get in touch with Amanda at:

onesweetangel89@hotmail.com

Stay well people!

My Collection (XII): Xena's Rusty "present day" Chakram

Hey again!

To complete the pieces that I've been recently showing on Facebook, I also bring you another new item of my collection: Xena's rusty chakram as seen in the S6 episode "Send In The Clones".

This is the "real" chakram that Alti gives to Xena's clone in the present day, all dirty and rusty. I don't know why, it always fascinated me!

A friend, Epiphane David, provided the two "virgin" unpainted chakrams, and I took care of the whole weathering process. It was quite an experiment, but it was super-fun, and I think both chakrams ended up great!

Here you have some more photos:

And finally, a photo of the episode, for comparison. 

Photo credit: AUSXIP

PS: If you like Xena prop and replicas, and want to share or discuss about your stuff, feel free to join our new Facebook group: Xena Prop Masters!

Battle on!

Xena at the Smithsonian (part III)

Hello everyone!

I hope you're doing ok during these weird times! In the meantime, here in confinement, I wanted to share these images that I found online, courtesy of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.

https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1299828

Just look at ALL those awesome details!

Hope you enjoy them as much as I do. Cheers! :)

For Sale: Heather's Collection

Hello everyone!

I briefly come back from "retirement" to bring you the awesome prop and replica of a fellow Xenite, Heather. Heather sadly has to let go most of her collection to help with medical expenses --but we're confident that her treasures at least will find new loving homes!

Let's see what Heather has to offer, folks!

- XENA'S GOLDEN LYRE FROM S5  "LYRE, LYRE, HEARTS ON FIRE"

First we have the totally astonishing guitar-weapon that Xena brandishes during S5 "Lyre, Lyre, Hearts on Fire". As you can see from the pictures, this lyre it's quite the masterpiece --full of intricate details as seen on its medallion and its mosaic-like sound hole.

This piece is perfectly preserved and comes with a "It's a Wrap!" COA. As far as Heather knows, it's one of a kind.

She's asking $3,000 plus shipping for it.

- GABRIELLE'S RESIN SAIS S5/S6

The second lot is a pair of resin (stunt) sais --Gabrielle's trademark weapons during Seasons 5 and 6. I don't think these pieces need much introduction!

These sais are original and screen-used, and also come with a COA from the "It's a Wrap!" US auction. Rennée O'Connor herself (and not only her doubles) used sais such as this in action sequences. Remember that the metal ones were rarely used on set.

Heather's asking $3,000 plus shipping for them.

- TODD'S COSTUMES SAIS REPLICA

Apart from the screen-used sais set that you just saw, Heather's also offering a pair of replica sais from Todd's Costumes. These include Gabrielle's leg leather straps (also a replica made by Todd's Costumes, that for some reason hasn't been on stock for many years).

Let me tell you, both the sais and the leg straps are VERY fine replicas --which I'm pretty sure date back to the days when Todd Coyle produced his first (and high quality) unlicensed replicas.

For these, Heather's asking $400 plus shipping.

- LIVIA/CALLISTO'S PROP LATTICE DAGGER

I'm pretty sure you all will also recognize this piece. Now not to? This dagger was seen all the time during the series, for example during S3 "The Debt" (when Xena comes out of the water). Additionally, both Callisto and later Livia (Xena's daughter) used it many times too.

Heather tells me that one edge is sharp (rare!). Described as "Narrow Lattice Dagger", it also comes with a "It's a Wrap!" COA.

- SCROLL PROP FROM S3 "THE QUILL IS MIGHTIER"

Now, this is a rare treasure! For those scroll-lovers out there, Heather brings us this beautiful scroll. As the most experts amongst you will notice, it's one of Gabrielle's trademark scrolls (which we can always tell thanks to its distinctive end caps / golden ornaments).

Also, as you can see, there's some "modern" writing that reads "Xena Rules!" and "Gabrielle was here". Who knows? Maybe Rennée O'Connor herself scribbled these sentences during one of the many scenes in which she had to pretend to be writing.

This scroll has no COA. Heather's letting it go for only $500 plus shipping.

- GABRIELLE'S S6 NECKLACE (SCREEN-USED PROP)

Another of Heather's treasure is this necklace --a screen-used piece, seen around Gabrielle's neck during the whole S6. As far as we know, there's only another original necklace prop out there. This one in particular was sold by "Shed 11 Costume House" some years ago.

The necklace doesn't have the COA, but it comes in the original "Shed11Costume House" box. The price to this piece is something to discuss with Heather directly.

- CREATION ENT. YIN YANG CHAKRAM REPLICA

Next is a very nice Y&Y chakram replica. It comes without its shadowbox or COA, but it's clearly a Creation Entertainment replica.

The price for this well-preserved chakram is $500 plus shipping.

- TODD'S COSTUMES XENA ARMBANDS & GAUNTLETS REPLICAS

Last but not least, we have these replica armbands and gauntlets, manufactured by Todd's Costumes.

From the quality of the making, I'd venture to say that these are also early replicas --which had a considerably higher quality than his later versions.

Heather's asking $250 plus shipping for them (which trust me, is a MUCH better bargain than what you'll find at Todd's Costumes right now).

***

This is it! If you're interested, please write Heather an e-mail at:

hmryan71@gmail.com

Please, don't hesitate to let her know if some of the pricier props catch your eye but are a bit out of your budget. Heather's open to all SERIOUS offers.

Have a great day, and... until next time?

Monday eBay Roundup (XXII)

Hello Xenites!

The Xena prop/replica world has been very quiet these past weeks. But today there are some items on eBay that I'm sure will prove worth your attention. Let's take a look!

- SILVER DISC / SHIELD PROP FROM S4 "THE WAY"

   > Character: Background object in S4 "The Way"

   > Material: Urethane resin

   > Papers: COA from It's a Wrap!

   > Seller: whomac7

   > Price: $99 (already $470!!) plus shipping (only USA)

   > Opinion: This shield is ON FIRE! Wow! This is obviously a gorgeous piece (you can find a very complete description in the listing) and the starting bid was very reasonable. Now the bids are skyrocketing, which is always an adrenaline rush!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/161809199779

- DRAGON HELMET PROP

   > Character: Campbell? Fraley?

   > Material: Urethane resin?

   > Papers: Not mentioned

   > Seller: njmoondragon

   > Price: $75 plus shipping (only USA)

   > Opinion: Another rare and quite interesting looking prop. The seller mentions to have acquired this piece in the Yahoo It's a Wrap! Auctions, but no word is said about the COA. The insides of the helmet are marked with the words "Campbell" and "Fraley". Price is quite low.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/262026600579

- TODD'S COSTUMES Y&Y CHAKRAM REPLICA

   > Manufacturer: Todd's Costumes
   > Number: 375?/1000

   > COA: Not mentioned

   > Seller: lilsis651

   > Price: $299 plus shipping

   > Opinion: This one has been lurking around for a while - it's the third or fourth time the seller re-lists this chakram replica. Price is not bad, but before bidding but aware the paint is chipped in several places. It's probably something that CAN be fixed, but I point it out so there are no unpleasant surprises too late. There's no mention about the paperwork.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/231678761355

- MARTO'S 10th ANNIVERSARY GOLD XENA SWORD

   > Manufacturer: Marto of Toledo
   > Number: Not mentioned

   > COA: Included

   > Seller: wschaefer123

   > Price: $895 plus shipping (only USA)

   > Opinion: I don't usually bother to review Marto's Xena sword replicas, but this one is a bit more special: it's part of the 10th Anniversary Gold line. So it's fancier :p What a price, however!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/252078123156

- MARTO'S XENA "SUPER" KATANA REPLICA

   > Manufacturer: Marto of Toledo
   > Number: Not mentioned

   > COA: Not mentioned

   > Seller: westsidediscount007

   > Price: $179.99 plus shipping (only USA)

   > Opinion: Same here. Not a big lover of this katana replica. It's a nice collectible, neatly made, but not accurate. Attention! This one here is missing a couple of pieces!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/311437502817

- MARTO'S XENA "SUPER" KATANA REPLICA

   > Manufacturer: Marto of Toledo
   > Number: Not mentioned

   > COA: Included

   > Seller: supasella2012

   > Price: $390 (or Buy Now for $520) plus shipping (only USA)

   > Opinion: The very same kind of replica, but from a different seller. So, same opinion. This one comes with the original box and all the paperwork. It's a tad more expensive, though.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/301733647121

****

Is it me, or the "Only USA" seems to be becoming a thing? I mean, almost all the items I see on eBay lately are "Only USA" - what's happening? What is the position of international collectors (such as myself) if sellers don't wish to ship abroad anymore? That's something to think about.

Stay tuned for more, people!

Monday eBay Roundup (XIX)

Greetings everyone!

The last few weeks have been a bit quiet due to the lack of Xena news, but it seems this week things are finally waking up a little. Let's take a look at the new items we can find right now on eBay.

- TODD'S METAL SAIS REPLICA #99

   > Manufacturer: Todd's Costumes
   > Number: 099/1000

   > COA: Not included

   > Seller: kalikins2014

   > Price: $200 plus shipping (only USA), or Make Offer

   > Opinion: Sais are not a thing to find on eBay too often, so this is neat! PROS: Cool items, well made, low number, and definitely good price! & CONS: Missing COA, unexperienced seller (only 1 review on their profile) and shipping within the USA only.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251983992112

- MARTO OF TOLEDO XENA'S KATANA

   > Manufacturer: Marto of Toledo
   > Number: Not numbered

   > COA: Not mentioned

   > Seller: kalikins2014

   > Price: $300 plus shipping (only USA), or Make Offer

   > Opinion: I've stated my opinion about these katanas in several occasions (nicely made but inaccurate katana). I stick to it. Nevertheless, price seems fair (far less than what we usually find around) and the item looks very well conserved. Same seller as above.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251982761595

- MARTO OF TOLEDO GABRIELLE'S KATANA

   > Manufacturer: Marto of Toledo
   > Number: Not numbered

   > COA: Not mentioned

   > Seller: gooser2012

   > Price: $99.99 plus shipping

   > Opinion: Why do katanas always seem to come in pairs? :) I've also said what I think of Marto's Gabrielle katanas many times (less accurate than Xena's, but at the same time quite fine katanas). This one is exceptionally cheap, so if you're interested this might be your best chance!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/181768400002

- MARTO OF TOLEDO XENA'S SUPER KATANA

   > Manufacturer: Marto of Toledo
   > Number: Not numbered

   > COA: Not mentioned

   > Seller: sonofkrypton22

   > Price: $449 plus shipping 

   > Opinion: Samo samo hehe Not the first of these to review either. They come with many cool thingies but these katanas are even less accurate than the regular ones. Still, they are a nice collectible and I'm sure many owners are happy with theirs. This one comes from seller sonofkrypton22 (aka Otsillac) and it's a but more expensive than the one above.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/141684509828

- RESIN SCREEN-USED BORIAS SWORD

   > Character: Borias. Xena.

   > Material: Urethane resin

   > Papers: COA from Turners

   > Seller: sonofkrypton22

   > Price: $289.99 plus shipping

   > Opinion: Also from Otsillac there's this very cool Borias-style sword. This kind of sword was used by both Borias and Xena (in her evil warlord days), and unless specified it could have been used by either them or the stunt doubles. Original, and very well-conserved for a screen-used prop.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/141687699723

- SIGNED XENA PLAQUE AND COSTUME PIECE

   > Character: Xena (or double)

   > Material: Wood. Leather.

   > Papers: Not mentioned

   > Seller: sonofkrypton22

   > Price: $350 plus shipping

   > Opinion: What a curious piece! Otsillac says this is a OOAK (One Of A Kind) piece that was sold by creation Entertainment. It includes a 10x15 photo, signed by Lucy, plus a small piece of leather that seems to have belonged to her costume. Also a small plaque. It looks nice!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/141687699547

- TODD'S YIN YANG CHAKRAM #500

   > Manufacturer: Todd's Costumes
   > Number: 500/1000

   > COA: Included

   > Seller: beatles-rock

   > Price: $500 plus shipping

   > Opinion: A non-splitting Y&Y chakram. The painting scheme seems a bit dark, but it might be due to the lighting (you should definitely ask the seller). This chakram is a bit more expensive than the ones we've found as of late, but on the brighter side the seller DOES ship outside the US.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171818135980

- GOLDEN WINGED GAUNTLETS

   > Character: Unknown

   > Material: Leather. Rivets.

   > Papers: COA from Turners

   > Seller: traysea

   > Price: $37.99 (2 bids already) plus shipping

   > Opinion: Very nice looking gauntlets. As it usually happens with most Turner's items, these gauntlets are unidentified and could come from either Xena Warrior Princess, Hercules or Young Hercules. If you recognize these gauntlets please let me know or write the seller so they can update the description in their listing.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281713841198

***

Well, here we are. End of the entry. Not huge but not bad, huh?

Keep an eye open for updates or new entries, people :)

Cheers!

Monday eBay Roundup (XVIII)

Hey Xenites!

This week we DO have a Monday roundup, isn't that great? :) A few new Xena items have been listed on eBay, and although they're not many they're very cool - I'm sure many of you will be highly interested on them.

So let's take a look, shall we?

- TODD'S SPLITTING CHAKRAM #301

   > Manufacturer: Todd's Costumes
   > Number: 301/3000

   > COA: Included

   > Seller: redfox0_0

   > Price: $350 plus shipping (only USA), or Buy Now for $500

   > Opinion: I hadn't seen one of these in a while. I must say I LOVE this piece - it has a good low number, the paint looks great and it's undoubtedly well conserved. It's worth mentioning that although the COA says 3000, this is a mistake (confirmed by Todd Coyle himself). It should say 301/1000, as the license only covered 1000 units.
>> EDIT: Seller indicated paint is slightly chipped in the handle, and there will be a price reduction when the bidding is over.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/151674899696

- TODD'S YIN YANG CHAKRAM #488

   > Manufacturer: Todd's Costumes
   > Number: 488/1000

   > COA: Included

   > Seller: redfox0_0

   > Price: $300 plus shipping (only USA), or Buy Now for $500

   > Opinion: Same seller, and very similar piece. This one doesn't split in two pieces, but it's nonetheless a gorgeous piece. I's sure it'll find a loving home without much trouble :)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/151674903398

- TODD'S COSTUMES XENA'S WHIP #?

   > Manufacturer: Todd's Costumes
   > Number: Unknown 

   > COA: Included

   > Seller: redfox0_0

   > Price: $200 plus shipping (only USA), or Buy Now for $350

   > Opinion: I reviewed one of these not too long ago (here) and I stick to what I said. Price is quite reasonable too.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/151674876010

- MARTO'S GABRIELLE 10th ANNIVERSARY KATANA REPLICA

   > Manufacturer: Marto of Toledo

   > Number: Unknown

   > COA: Included

   > Seller: redfox0_0

   > Price: $500 plus shipping (only USA), or Buy Now for $700

   > Opinion: What can I say about Marto's 10th Anniversary katanas? Pros: very nicely done pieces, a very realistic katana feel, noble materials, gold... Cons: not very accurate. Specially in this case (Gabrielle's katana) this replica feels little like the original prop (that you can see here).

http://www.ebay.com/itm/151674852843

- MARTO'S XENA 10th ANNIVERSARY KATANA REPLICA

   > Manufacturer: Marto of Toledo

   > Number: Unknown

   > COA: Included

   > Seller: redfox0_0

   > Price: $500 plus shipping (only USA), or Buy Now for $700

   > Opinion: Same opinion as in Gabrielle's katana - although I must say Xena's katana replica is slightly more similar to the prop than Gabrielle's. Still, a nice sword. If you want to check a 100% screen accurate Xena katana I invite you to take a look at here.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/151674825117

***

UPDATED with two more items from the same seller:

- TODD'S COSTUMES XENA'S SWORD #221

   > Manufacturer: Todd's Costumes
   > Number: 221/3000

   > COA: Included

   > Seller: redfox0_0

   > Price: $300 plus shipping (only USA), or Buy Now for $550

   > Opinion: There's not much to say about this sword, it speaks for itself. Very nice and sought-after piece. Similarly to the sword we saw last week (here), this one is listed a very reasonable price, plus it comes with COA and has a good numbering.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/151674992232

- TODD'S COSTUMES XENA'S SCABBARD #249

   > Manufacturer: Todd's Costumes
   > Number: Unknown 

   > COA: 249/3000

   > Seller: redfox0_0

   > Price: $200 plus shipping (only USA), or Buy Now for $350

   > Opinion: I'm not a huge fan of Todd's Costumes scabbards (hence why I decided to make my own version) but his early pieces had a high quality unseen later on. So although this might not be a 100% screen-accurate scabbard I'm sure it'll be a great collectible. 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/151674984959


***

That's all. As I said, not many items, but I'm sure they'll fly :)

Stay tuned friends!