yanik pipes of inferior quality
black...@gmail.com
I thought I should warn you about Yanik meerschaum pipes.
His work was good before, but his quality lately has been really
slipping.
The carvings look like they are done by an apprentice and signed by
"Yanik" later. The signatures don't even match.
If that isn't bad enough, he has been waxing his pipes excessively
which either causes the meerschaum to develop stress cracks after you
smoke it, or the wax itself is splitting when it expands at a different
rate than the meerschaum.
I wrote yanik about this cracking situation and he denies it's his
fault - then he blocked me from bidding on his ebay auctions, which is
OK by me.
The problem most likely lies with poor quality meerschaum that has
cracks in it to start with. The extra wax is designed to hide and fill
the flaws in the meerschaum. And if you notice, yanik's latest pipes
are swimming in extra wax (or whatever it really is!).
Today, yanik wrote me a nasty letter rattling on and on about....
"something" (who knows? he gets all angry and froths at the mouth) ,
and punctuated it with jab after jab at AB Meer, who was never even a
topic of my conversations with him!
Then I figured it out: yanik banned me from his auctions BECAUSE I gave
good feedback to ABMEER! Yanik is watching my bids on OTHER pipes....
AND HE'S JEALOUS!!!!!!!
Jeez..... yanik is really a pathetic crybaby !!!!
Anyway, I have many many yanik pipes and I thought I should warn
everyone about what has been going on lately with the yanik meerschaum
line.
What's going on with his childish ego is anybody's guess.
Don't spend a lot of money on a Yanik... you might just regret it.
I do. I spent $300 on 2 cracked pipes that barely smoke at all.
I wish I had my money back!
- Blackie
Kevin Kunz
were done by an apprentice, then why did you buy the pipe?? His site has
nice clear closeups.
Real interesting that Blackie and Tim both pop up on the same server
refresh with almost word for word complaints and both posts were
inaugural posts for these guys.
Here is 'Tim's post for comparison:
-------------------------------------
Hey Everybody,
I thought I should warn you about Yanik meerschaum pipes.
His work was good before, but his quality of late has been really slipping.
The carvings look like they are done by an apprentice and signed by
"Yanik" later. The signatures don't even match.
If that isn't bad enough, he has been waxing his pipes excessively which
either causes the meerschaum to develop stress cracks after you smoke
it, or the wax itself is splitting when it expands at a different rate
than the meerschaum.
I explained this theory to another meerschaum expert who assured me that
the problem most likely lies with poor quality meerschaum with cracks in
it to start with. The extra wax is designed to hide and fill the flaws
in the meerschaum.
Anyway, I have many many Yanik pipes and I thought I should warn
everyone about what has been going on lately with the Yanik line.
Don't spend a lot of money on a Yanik... you might just regret it.
I do. I spent lots of money on a pile of junk that barely smokes at all.
I wish I had my money back!
-------------------
hmmmmmmmm
So can tell us who are your working for?
--
Kevin
ladd...@gmail.com
--
Kevin
I am working for myself. So I don't know how to post in a group like
this.
Big deal. I'm a newbie poster.
But I'm a meerschaum fan , collector and up until this day... a fan of
yanik.
But no more.
If YOU want to spend the money YOU earn on cracked pipes - feel free,
but for those considering buying a yanik????
Stay clear.
I considered asking who YOU work for, but I'm not suspicious of those
who use only one name.... even if it is probably a fake name.
haha
Mario Persico
eagle claw holding a broken egg,...asignature design. The pipe is exquisite
in every way
FWIW
Mario Persico
Kevin Kunz
> I considered asking who YOU work for, but I'm not suspicious of those
> who use only one name.... even if it is probably a fake name.
>
> haha
>
Even though you just considered asking, I'll tell you:
I work for a publicly traded IT firm, and I am doing contract work for
the US Government. I have no financial interest in any meerschaum pipes
or their carvers. I just know of the quality of Yanik's work, and I am
astute enough to recognize an attempt to destroy his good name and sales
while sending potential customers to another carver.
The tactic reminds me of an old bazaar merchant's trick, commonly used
by the less reputable hucksters in every country.
Lets see, my full name is displayed in my email, however I only sign my
posts with my first name as this newsgroup is a gathering of friends. I
don't send three posts from three different accounts to attempt to
tarnish the reputation of anyone.
Your turn to respond -, Tim, Blackhouse1, laddfrith, or whoever you are
this time, who do YOU recommend instead of Yanik? Who is this carver
that is so desperate to gain a name that he resorts to these base
tactics? We need a name and link to compare his work to that which you
despise.
--
Kevin
black...@gmail.com
The desperate carver is yanik. You have to send a western union money
order - no refunds - no claims can be filed. Read the past posts in
this forum... you will notice how many people say that their yanik pipe
arrived busted. I own SEVEN yanik pipes and the only ones with faulty
workmanship are the ones from yanik himself. HIS pipes are poor
quality.
As far as his photos go, a photo on ebay will NOT show the numerous
file scratches and gouging on the chipped plastic stem. A photo on ebay
will NOT show the scuffs and burn marks on a silver fitting which has
been glued to the pipe with model cement. A photo on ebay will NOT show
the hairline cracks through an entire pipe that appear when the pipe is
heated.
As far as identity issues go, why not check yanik? He just reverted to
his old ebay ID because he knows that his main one is losing respect.
People are starting to realize that he is lowering the standards for
his quality.
And if you actually own a yanik pipe you will see that the CARVING is
great, but the pipes smoke TERRIBLY. The draw hole is way too small.
The tenon inserts are cut incorrectly which cause you to "drink" from
the well. Heck yanik even GLUED the tenon insert into my $220 FEZ pipe,
used a scratched silver cap with some kind of plastic spacer in it to
hold it in! It can not be removed - ever!
That's just AMATEUR work and there are MANY MANY people who know these
things and feel that yanik is a FAKE, but they are too afraid to say so
or he will put them on his "blocked ebay list".
So if you want to know WHY I am telling these FACTS about yanik, don't
think that I am working for another meerschaum seller or meerschaum
carver. I don't work for anybody but myself and I am not a meerschaum
broker seller or store.
I am a collector of meerschaum and that's why I am warning others NOT
to buy an inferior yanik pipe!
yanik sold me inferior and poor quality pipes.
Sure, some of his carvings are great, but the pipes smoke like crap and
have inferior meerschaum....
And then there's his bad business dealings.
So take my message any way you wish, but if you spend $300 on a yanik
and it cracks....
don't say I never warned ya.
Cuz I just did.
black...@gmail.com
"Even though you just considered asking, I'll tell you.
I work for a publicly traded IT firm, and I am doing contract work for
the US Government. "
------------
Is that NewSpeak for:
"I work for AT&T and I spy on all Americans"?
No wonder you are suspicious of free speech.
Rad Davis
<black...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1148487204.3...@i39g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> That's just AMATEUR work and there are MANY MANY people who know these
> things and feel that yanik is a FAKE, but they are too afraid to say so
> or he will put them on his "blocked ebay list".
>
This statement makes no sense.
If these "MANY MANY people " think Yanik is a fake and an amateur, why would
they be afraid of being blocked from bidding on his pipes?
Rad
Alex
by him on eBay.
Alex
blue insert. I see they have already been snapped up. Would have been
a good his and hers set for a smoking couple.
black...@gmail.com
If these "MANY MANY people " think Yanik is a fake and an amateur, why
would
they be afraid of being blocked from bidding on his pipes? "
----------
yanik is a great CARVER and people want to collect his works for that
aspect.
They believe that a $150 or $225 yanik pipe will most likely go up in
value in the coming years and to their eyes it's a good investment.
So these investors don't really want to rock the boat with yanik. He
bans people all the time from his ebay auctions. One word or question
about his work will set him off and they won't be allowed to invest
their money in his sculpture. So they keep quiet. Even when they see
questionable work by him they will be quiet. Even when he insults them
or acts like an arrogant ass.
Being a great carver is no excuse for treating customers with
disrespect.
But now, I see the great carvings..... and I also see the throwaway
carvings.... I have seen the perfection and I have seen the wanton
disregard for quality. I have seen the signatures and I have seen the
"signatures".
As a collector of fine art I know what happens to investments when
imitations or knockoffs occur. It throws the whole
collection/investment idea into the disposal because few can discern
which is a fake and which is an authentic piece.
As a collector of pipes, I have an opinion on the smoke-ability of
meerschaum pipes as well and the yanik pipes get clogged easily, draw
hard, and are generally sub-standard for actual smoking.
Add to that the abusive attitude of yanik himself - EVEN IF YOU ARE A
CLIENT IN GOOD STANDING WITH HIM....
I just can't recommend a yanik pipe or the "yanik experience" to
anybody:
1) the quality and carvings of some of his pipes lately is poor and
perhaps not even his work
2) the quality of his material lately is poor
3) the pipes crack
4) the pipes smoke hard
5) his behavior is rude
Since this is a PIPE SMOKERS forum, I am telling you my experiences
with the SEVEN yanik pipes I own.
The FIVE that I got from other sources are good.
The TWO I got from yanik directly are poor.
So my warning to ALL OF YOU is to be very careful about dealing with
yanik. If you are gonna drop $300 on pipes and they crack and then
yanik won't honor his "guarantee" (ha!).... what have you invested in?
It's simple: If you took your car to a mechanic who ruined your car and
later I said that you should not have gone to that guy cuz he ruined my
car too... ya might say or think:
"Well why didn't you WARN me???!!!???"
So I am warning you now.
BE CAREFUL DEALING WITH yanik!
- B
Rad Davis
<black...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1148499404.5...@j73g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> yanik is a great CARVER and people want to collect his works for that
> aspect.
> They believe that a $150 or $225 yanik pipe will most likely go up in
> value in the coming years and to their eyes it's a good investment.
This make even less sense.
His pipes are a good investment for the carving quality, even though they
will crack all to pieces when smoked?
When the original "investor" sells such a pipe to get a return on his
investment, knowing the problems, and the buyer smokes it, and it starts to
crack to pieces because of the heat, your bullshit, etc., isn't the original
investor setting himself up for a whole bunch of problems with his buyer?
Seems to me there are easier ways to make money than that.
Rad
Kevin Kunz
casting doubt on honest artisans- I must sit at the feet of a master
such as yourself and study before I can go into the world spouting
new-speak.
I just documented my bona fides for someone who prefers to hide behind
three email addresses.
Shoot me an email and I'll send you enough information on who I am so
you can calm your paranoia. I can send you snail-mail proof of just what
I did to protect free speech, even the free speech of fools. As for
the fictitious domestic spying, I just surveil non-US intelligence
sources. Your posts show that you will never have a worry about being
mistaken for an intelligence source!
However, having said all that, I am suspicious of unsolicited trash talk
without some proof. The regular posters to this group give thoughtful
critiques, and if they find fault with a carver or a brand, they supply
evidence, not hearsay and rational criticism.
How about posting some pictures of the pipes. There are plenty of free
sites to post photos. So as we say in the neighborhood: Put up or shut
up. Show the proof or default as a unsubstantiated rumor-monger.
--
Kevin
arya.ho...@gmail.com
I read this review before buying and decided not to buy an expensive pipe until I have done business with him to feel him out. Instead I decided to keep bidding on his auctions until I get lucky for a good price. So I bid on a pipe for $0.99 but I put a maximum bid of $75 which was of course a VERY good deal. Then I realized it was used and withdrew my bid which had reached 29.50, then I rebid on the item for $30. I apologized profusely and shortly later I was outbid anyways. He responded saying it's no problem.
So I did a auction-search for "Yanik pipe" and watched/bid on several auctions. They all had very difficult-to-read titles but I was determined that I wanted to do SOME sort of business with this guy. I quickly got outbid on several items but I was the winning bidder on one of them. I took a closer look at the images and found that pipe appears to have a very small bowl. I looked through the title/description carefully and noticed it says "Yanik pipe Cheroot holder". I did a google search for this to find that Cheroot translates to cigarette - something I never smoke.
I looked at the bid amount which was $5.50 (almost NOTHING) - so I withdrew my bid. This brought the bid ammount to $3.25. There are still 3 days and all I did was drop the price $2.25. So I didn't feel bad withdrawing my bid again.
I sent him an e-mail and asked why the pipe is label as cheroot holder so I can bid again if it's just a big pipe and I am mistaking. He responded saying he always "puts yanik pipe" for all of his listings. He then said he is going to "have to ban me".
We all know that meerschaum artists make pipes that double as cigarette holders. This is FALSE ADVERTISING. I told him that I am not mad about him making a mistake. I simply don't want him to ban me because I want to buy one of his $300-500 dollar pipes from the Buy It Now in the future and I just want to get some experience with his quality of work and with caring for precolored meerschaum.
He responded saying I'm complaining too much and to "have a nice day" and didn't address any of my issues or thank me for informing him that "cheroot" means nothing in the US - or for complimenting his artwork and wanting to spend $300-500 on something that costs him $40 to make (and of course time).
Judging by S. Yanike's rude behavior and inability to own up when he makes a mistake. I have to say this poster is most likely telling the truth. This artist has gotten cocky and greedy - like many successful people do.
I am currently waiting to see if he will respond. I tried to be humble and told him his art is amazing and I don't want to ruin my relationship with him. But if HE makes a mistake and blocks me for it, then I certainly will tell people about what kind of customer service he is providing.
JtN ©2015
BTW you sound like an idiot not knowing what your bidding on and then withdrawing your bids when you realize you have no clue on what you bid upon and then question the lister because your an ignant bidder who has no clue as to what your looking at or what your reading in the listed description.
His customer service is superb and your just an ignant stupid weenie who is upset because your not getting your way.
JtN ©2015
Jim Beard
similar.
Perhaps Blackie and arya.hosseinian are one and the same? Just one more
attack on Yanik.
Is this really a childish attack, or a ploy to get people to look at
Yanik's offerings on e-bay? I have no idea, but doubt I will bother to
look and try to figure it out.
Cheers!
jim b.
--
UNIX is not user-unfriendly; it merely
expects users to be computer-friendly.
Al Lanman
and the BS of reposting under different names tells me there is skulduggery a foot. Note how he basically noted how he was, in the interest of protecting himself until he was "sure of the quality" of the product trying to steal a pipe with low bidding? If he wanted to protect himself all he had to do was buy his pipe from a reputable dealer like Smokingpipes.com, who would show him detailed pictures of the actual pipe he was buying, and do have follow up service on the pipes they sell.
And even if he buys on eBay, a product that is not as described can be returned at the seller's expense and with a full refund with an INAD (Is Not As Described) complaint. does not cover damage from abuse of course. LOL Every EBay seller knows about buyers like this and yes they ban them from bidding on their items, quickly and regularly. [it is rumoured that some of us even trade names of crazy buyers, so not all of us have to learn that one is a bad apple the hard way. LOL]
some of the EBay stories will make you cringe, as people try to return ripped or stained clothing, sometimes not even the right brand or color. And they all seem to know the trick of changing their names regularly, forgetting that their ISPs are harder to cloak.
random
one with certain words or phrases. I didn't read the whole original
(recent) post, the first bit seemed like maybe the poster was a
competitor. Like you, I'm not going to worry about it, JtN seems to
have done the worrying.
But out of curiosity, and a recent desire for some meers, what's the
deal with this Yanik? He seems to have come on the scene after I
stopped making pipes, I don't recall the name, and I'm too lazy (read:
busier than a one-armed paper hanger) to dig around for something that
will help me spend money I don't really have right now.
btw, since Google bought DejaNews years ago, I haven't done much
searching of the usenet archives, how does one do that these days?
--
random.2l...@gmail.com
Jim Beard
> The only reason to quote a post that old is because you went looking for
> one with certain words or phrases. I didn't read the whole original
> (recent) post, the first bit seemed like maybe the poster was a
> competitor. Like you, I'm not going to worry about it, JtN seems to
> have done the worrying.
>
> But out of curiosity, and a recent desire for some meers, what's the
> deal with this Yanik? He seems to have come on the scene after I
> stopped making pipes, I don't recall the name, and I'm too lazy (read:
> busier than a one-armed paper hanger) to dig around for something that
> will help me spend money I don't really have right now.
>
> btw, since Google bought DejaNews years ago, I haven't done much
> searching of the usenet archives, how does one do that these days?
Google search, and got 404 errors. The following will get you into the
newsgroup on Google, and I guess you can search there for a topic.
https://groups.google.com/advanced_search?hl=en&q=&hl=en&
Is the old advanced search still around? How do you find it? Should one
just use a normal google search and include alt.smokers.pipes as one of
the terms?
taaz...@gmail.com
TaaZen
Travis
would be some camaraderie in meer collectors, right?
T
FWIW, I've got a meer that refuses to have any color on the bowl. The
shank is dark as can be. Go figure. Smokes nice.
Old Dark Fired in a no-name bent meer.
Bill
Travis
meerschaum carver in the mid-70's?
Smoking one of his right now, that I got while in the navy in 1971.
Love it.
T
On Thu, 28 Apr 2016 15:55:16 -0700 (PDT), Bill <w...@blevins.email>
wrote:
Bill
qmech...@gmail.com
Wow commenting on this after 12 years is quite something. In answer to the fellow from Norway, Yanik can be very temperamental. So I do not doubt your story.
The best way to acquire a Yanik pipe for much less is eBay. You have to wait until he auctions the pipe off starting around .99 or so. Pipes that he tries to sell for 125-440 can be bought at 80-50% off what he lists them for.