Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums Online Auctions, eBay Craigslist Petroliana Criminal or Victim?

Im just wondering how do you tell if someone is intentionally passing off fakes, or if maybe they werent taken themselves and dont know it?
I ask because I am thinking of buying and selling petroliana as a hobby, but Im a newbie and despite the fact that I bought some books and am studying this, I wont have a forth of the knowledge that some of you guys have about spotting a fake. Im a little concerned that 1. I will be taken, and 2. that you guys would think I was a fraud if I tried to sell a fake that I thought was an original.
Finally, if you are sure something is a fake on ebay, shouldnt you make the seller and/or ebay aware of that?
Just wondering.
John

John:

Go ahead with your buying and selling. Just do as much homework as possible, ask us here if you have any doubts, and offer a 100% money back guarentee if not as advertized.

Give the buyer a week or so to check out their purchase - then it's theirs!

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Regarding e-bay: We try, but e-bay makes it harder and harder to alert newbies about fakes. And they don't always take the initiative to remove/punish those sellers that intentionally mis-lead or activately scam buyers.

Later . . .

Jim

Hi John- there is lots of knowledge here on site But the best way is to get to as many shows- swap meets etc as possible- Like show in feb- in conn- March Mason Dixon -April Metro petro- new one in Syracuse in June etc- Look at stuff in Antique shops but dont rely on their expertise- never found an antique shop that would admit to a reproduction item- Unless you know the History on an item if it seems "Too good to be true" it proabaly isnt- hope this helps-thanks Don- got any 5 qt cans- lots up your way were nailed to trees to collect Maple syrup

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Wanted 5 quart cans

Thanks for the advice. I bought some books so will study up before I get anything.
Don, Ill keep my eye out for them, have a pic so I know what Im looking for? Actually, Im about to go to the metal bin at the dump where I saw a fairly old looking oil can when I went last week. I was thinking of taking it then, decided against it and regretted it all week. Shh, dont tell my wife. She gets mad when I bring stuff home from the dump!