Scammer Alert: auroradumar

This was originally posted on SeraSell, but now that the issue has been resolved I feel comfortable posting this for everyone. Just a heads up!

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Hey eveyone! Ochibawolf and I have both recently had a very unpleasant experience with an eBay seller so we wanted to share the story with you all in hopes you can avoid the trap we both fell into. The seller in question is auroradumar.

In December, Ochi and I each won an auction for a Cutie figure: mine was Mercury; hers, Mars. Both figures were listed as being in “excellent condition” and “not been removed from the box.” The box was listed as “good condition, with little wear and tear.” The seller noted that the box still had “the original tape.”

Ochi and I both got into a bit of a bidding war with some other buyers but ended up winning our respective figures. We each paid promptly. I received my Mercury figure on January 15th. Ochi got her Mars on the 17th. Ochi noticed that her Mars figure seemed to be missing the stand which can be seen on the back of the box in the pictures. Also, her box was not “with little wear and tear” considering strips of the box wear torn off.

At this point, Ochi filed a claim with eBay that the item was not in the described condition. Then she contacted me to ask about my Mercury figure. I told her my figure was new and unopened but when she told me about hers missing the stand I decided to check to see if mine was also missing the stand.

When I got home that night I looked in through the front of the box and I couldn’t see the stand. While I was peering at it without the awe of ‘omg new toy,’ I noticed some weird thing on her arm. It looked like some kind of goop. I decided to open the box. Boy, what a SHOCK. Poor Mercury’s arm and leg almost fell off!! It’s clear that someone broke this figure and then tried (poorly and without any skill) to repair it. I was horrified.

I contacted the seller and politely inquired about a return/refund because of the condition of the figure. I told them that I didn’t think they were trying to mislead me. I can see how one would think the figure was unopened since I too thought it was fine when I first got it. Long story short, the seller seems to think that Ochi and I are in cahoots to scam them out of their money when it’s pretty clear they were trying to scam us in the first place (or they really just didn't LOOK at the items they were selling). After failed attempts at nice communication with this seller I gave up and also filed a claim.

Ochi and I were both awarded in our favor for our claims and we have shipped our figures back to the seller. eBay has issued full refunds to both of us. However, we are concerned the seller is just going to relist them so we wanted to make sure the community had all the information. Please see this Google Doc for a record of the communications.

I would also like to concede that it is possible this seller really did think these items were new and unopened. It might be that they did not intend to lie about the condition of the figures, but given the circumstances and their conduct it does seem pretty unlikely. Ochi and I are both really happy that eBay sided with us in these cases and we hope we never have to deal with something like this again. :(

Collection Update & Star Locket Comparison

I haven't really posted a collection update in a few months. Obviously I've gotten many things (hehe) but I will just go over some of the coolest here. As always, you can see the whole collection in painstaking detail on my DeviantArt account, Sakkysmoonbag. Skip to the end if you want to help with a Star Locket Tutorial!



Back in November I picked up all three Starlights Beauty Change dolls on SeraSell. They were $100/ea which is probably a little more than average, but as usual my habits of wanting to buy directly from other sellers I trust out weighed my desires to try and wait for a deal from an unknown seller. I'm really glad I got them all together though. Of course, now I'm eying other BC dolls, but they are so expensive and I don't have all that much space for dolls these days. >_>

In December, I found a Heartful Harmony (also on SeraSell). It was $117. It's an expensive item for being so weird (it's not canonical in any way) but I had it on my wish list because it plays Moonlight Densetsu. You can see a video of it here. I have seen it sell for less (averaging around $80-90) but I was happy to pick it up in such great condition.

(Slightly off topic: there are lots of videos of Sailormoon toys on YouTube and I find them helpful as references for various things. I was thinking about also doing videos of my toys and stuff but since most of them are up in some form already do you think it's too repetitive? Or are different perspectives good?)

Also in December, a fellow collector contacted me about a Nakayoshi Chibimoon. I wasn't too keen on spending all that much on one doll but she was so cute and she came with her box so it was hard to resist! She was $206 which I think makes her the most expensive price I've paid for one doll. Since then, I've been trying to sell my World Musical Doll to make up for it. xD

In January I snagged a Super Sailormoon Petite for $50. I'd actually lost one in auction only a few days before I found this one and I was happy to get it from a trusted seller. She's in really great condition. I wish I knew more about the petite figures, particularly Moon and the Inners. There seem to be so many different versions of them and it can be very confusing.

I also went eBay crazy in January and bid like mad on a Sailormoon World Sailor Saturn doll. I don't know what made me do it, but I just kept bidding and bidding with complete determination to win. I swear sometimes I have no control. I won in the end for $135.49. Ugh. I don't know why I did it but DAMN is she cute >_> She's also unopened and it's the version with the proper boots.

The last few awesome items have just come in the mail in the last few days. It's really exciting since these are things that I have been looking for for a really, really long time. I am sure some of you know what it's like when you have something on your wish list for so long and you just feel like you can't get your little hands around it! D:

FINALLY I got my Eternal Article AND my 1992 Starry Sky Orgel! <3



I'm absolutely GIDDY of course!! :D The Eternal Article I had to finally break down and spend $300 on eBay (though it included shipping). I was really determined to get it for $250 or less but I just couldn't WAIT anymore. It feels REALLY good to have at least one version of all the compacts now. And the Orgel was just a stroke of luck! Another collector contacted me by email and offered it to me along with a PGSM Deluxe Henshin Accessory Set. The locket was 100€ (about $120) and the Accessory Set was 45€ ($60). Considering how expensive that set has been selling for on eBay I was really happy to get it for that. Now I have earrings for my Mars costume! *dance*

Incidentally, this seller also has the following items available. I'd be happy to make a referral if we've done business before.

• Eternal Sailor moon Dream Pocket Dolls 45€
• Sailor Star healer Dream Pocket Dolls 30€
• Sailor Neptune Beauty Change 50€
• PGSM Chatterbox Luna (in box) 55€

Now I have two Orgels so I'm not really sure what I will do. Because I am over $300 in the negative I am tempted to sell one, but I'm not sure if I would keep the Japanese one in the Chinese box, or keep the Chinese one in the Chinese box, or keep the loose Japanese one and sell the Chinese one with the box. It's a complicated decision. For now I will likely keep both for a while and ponder it over. I really would like to pay off this giant debt but I don't think I'm quite ready to part with either yet.

Also, here's the stuff I have for sale. :P

I took the time to do a few comparison photos of the lockets for you guys. I posted it on DA:

Star Locket - HK vs. Japanese by *SakkysMoonBag on deviantART

Star Locket Tutorial
I really want to make a guide to all the different versions but I need help from people who have them. So far I have photos of:

• 1995 Made in China Hong Kong edition with box
• 1992 Made in China Japanese edition loose
• 1995 Bandai Asia Korean edition with box
• 1992 Made in Japane Pink Japanese edition loose
• 1992 (?) Unknown Spanish edition with box

I don't have permission to use the images of the Pink Locket so if anyone could provide photos of that for me I'd rather have permission to use them. Also, if anyone has a 1992 Japanese locket that says "Made in Japan" on the back could you provide pics? Or if you have any other version not covered here then I could use the info and pics. :D I hope to make a video so we can sort it all out forever!