This is a follow-up to previous articles (see kellysheroesmilitaria Original Props…, Update 1, Update 2, Update 3) in which original prop auctions by “kellysheroesmilitaria” on eBay were compared with matching items available for sale from online retailers, as well as non-movie prop purchases made on eBay by “kellysheroesmilitaria” and items that appear to match being offered for sale as original props under the same eBay account. The subject eBay listing of the Update 4 article has been canceled by the seller for the following stated reason:
The seller ended this listing early because the item is no longer available for sale.
Below is an archive of the listing canceled by the seller:
As noted in the Update 4 article, eBay seller kellysheroesmilitaria purchased what appears to be the same item from eBay seller kristinsantiques on July 22, 2008. The item purchased by kellysheroesmilitaria was not marketed as used in the HBO production, Band of Brothers. kellysheroesmilitaria is marketing the uniform for sale on eBay as “[w]orn at the end of the movie at the surrender of the Germans at the airfield” in the series, Band of Brothers.
Below is the photo comparison from yesterday’s article:
Similar findings were archived in the prior Update 3 article, such as:
- replica German “FLUGZEUGHALLE” metal sign purchased by kellysheroesmilitaria on eBay for $13.99 then offering for sale a matching sign as having been used in Band of Brothers, which sold for $49.99
- a restored M1 Steel helmet bought on eBay for $29.99 followed by a matching helmet offered for sale starting at $29.99 with a $69.99 “Buy it Now” price that was marketed as used in Saving Private Ryan
- a vintage WWII canteen purchased on eBay for $10.49 then a matching canteen sold on eBay for $24.99 as a Band of Brothers prop
- multiple lots of medic bags and armbands purchased on eBay as sets for $20 per each set of two pieces, then matching pieces sold individually on eBay for $25-$30 per piece, with the bags attributed to use in Band of Brothers
- a reproduction German Dak helmet purchased on eBay for $41.61 with a matching helmet offered on eBay by kellysheroesmilitaria sold on eBay thereafter as “used during filming of Patton the blockbuster movie starring George C. Scott” for $99.99
As an example, below are photos comparing the “Patton” helmet from the prior article:
Click for High Resolution Comparison
As noted in yesterday’s article, I have reported a number of these auctions to eBay, using their third-party reporting mechanisms (as identified in the article, “eBay & Third Party Reporting (Fraud, Violations of Policy)“).
The first reports were made on July 18, 2008. I made an additional report on the now seller-canceled listing yesterday. I have received automated e-mail acknowledgments of these reports immediately following their submissions, and no communication since.
Below is a snap shot archive of the kellysheroesmilitaria eBay Store as of the time of publishing of this article:
Currently offered are a number of pieces identified in prior articles as widely available modern day replicas, such as the “Pirates of the Caribbean” knife, hat, and boarding axe, the “Patriot” gorget, the “Tombstone” keys, as well as a number of army surplus pieces attributed to Band of Brothers and Saving Private Ryan.
Many of these kellysheroesmilitaria eBay auction listings even used the same stock photos from the replica manufacturer and resellers, as seen in this example from the first article on this eBay seller:
The “Pirates of the Caribbean At Worlds End Knife” offered by kellysheroesmilitaria on eBay can be found at JAs Townsend & Son as an “18th Century Trade Knive with Square Handle KN-166” on their website. Since publishing the article, eBay seller kellysheroesmilitaria has replaced the stock photo with their own, noting “LAST ONE”. The matching photo was employed in this earlier version of the listing, as archived in the original article.
Below is a snap shot archive of items sold on eBay by kellysheroesmilitaria over the past two weeks:
I will continue to monitor the items listed for sale by “kellysheroesmilitaria“.
Given the lack of action by eBay over the past 17 days (since they have been alerted to these issued), I can only conclude that:
1) eBay has determined that kellysheroesmilitaria has not violated any eBay rules
or
2) eBay’s third-party reporting mechanisms are ineffective
All articles can be found here: kellysheroesmilitaria
Jason De Bord