This is a short introductory, to purchasing,  Authentic,  Native americana , Indian Relics ,On Ebay .  I hear alot of  stories ,from some of my customers , about thier bad experiances , purchasing  artifacts, on ebay , And I have to admit , that  I  have had my Share, Also.

The first 2 purchases, Were from, The same dealer , Back In 1999, Both of the  artifacts had a 7 day return Policy , I purchased them , The seller held them a few days , Before , he sent them to me , By the Time , I got them , It was too late to return them .The seller would not take them back, So ,  I was out my money ,and had  a few fakes, to show for it. Was it the sellers fault , absolutely. Did, I  buy from them , again,   Of Course Not !

There are Plenty of Good , Honest Artifact Dealers, on Ebay .Heres what , I look for When Purchasing artifacts, on Ebay.

 #1,  Return Policy , Ebay auctions, are not like most auctions, as , You are buying from a Picture, Not actually , Holding the Item , and Examining it . Most All  sellers that , I buy from ,offer a return Privalege. Most will accomodate , Your  Needs , If you need 30 days , On a relic, that does not have a paper, That should not be a problem.If the seller ,does not mention a return policy , email him , and ask Him , about the relic , and his return policy , Before you Bid . Some sellers already , have items Papered, and  Offer No returns , I understand , where they are coming from .As they did go that Extra , To get the relic papered, So please ask the seller , Before you bid , not after. I have, Got some Great Deals, On relics, Some were papered , Some were not .I  have purchased relics , from sellers that , did not offer a return policy, thier policy was , Quote , this is an auction , if you dont  like it , dont bid , Unquote.  and , I do understand , where , they are coming from , Because , I ,personally have been to thousands of auctions, across the united states , and once the hammer falls , You Own It !No returns , All Sales are Final ! I get some great deals at these auctions also . Sometimes you must man up ! If they ,dont Offer  a  return policy ,of some kind ,  It might be best to move on .

#2 Feedback , I always,  check the sellers, feedback . I like to see a 97%  or better 100% feedback , Is Great , but almost, impossible, for a large seller, Just remember, the seller, is selling to the world, and , Lets face it , As a Seller , You, are not Going , to please Everybody , Some People , cannot be satisfied, most can .Ebay ,set up the feedback policy,  As,  a reward to the safe buyers ,and sellers of ebay. Remember , There are always, two sides to the story.

#3 Honesty,  Some relics come with a great story  , try to buy the artifact, Not the story. If a seller doesnt know , where the artifact came from . Dont be alarmed , as I have purchased many  authentic ,collections, from all over the U.S. , Where, The widow or the  sons, Did not Know, where they were from , as dad collected them , and now He is dead , With no records .Remember This , Death  disease, and divorce, Is,  what makes the artifact hobby, Rock. Sad But True . If , I ask , another dealer, Where the relic, came from and he says , Gil , I bought that from  Jo  Smo's wife, and Jo's passed away , But , It looks like it is a Ohio Dovetail,  If  I like it , I will Most likely Buy it , as the dealer was Honest , and didnt come with a Story . I would say that over 50% of all relics sold , the  Story, Has been lost .I, have lost many sales ,over the years, Because I didnt Know , Exactly ,where the relic Came from, Or, Who found it ,But ,Was truthful, and didnt make up , a Story.   

#4 Integrity.    If you  Buy relics , from a dealer , Who , dogs,  His competition, Beware  . My father , had, a friend , He talked ,about everybody, When , My father, would visit Him  .When my father left , It wasnt long , He would ,be talking about  him . Dont get me wrong , I love ,a good story. But ,I try not to get caught up ,in  gossip .If  you are an Artifact dealer, you  should never ,  tell  Bad stories, about  your competition,  Even If they are true .You  Should  Stay  away, from chat lines . Most of the people talking on them , have thier own agenda ,Some for Thier Own Business,Organizations,Etc.   Some just like To listen, to themselves. I sponser some, and they  talk about me  lol ..If a Dealer Tells you , He's the only Dealer that sells , authentic relics , That would worrie Me.?? If a dealer says , I have never sold a fake , That would worrie me , As all Dealers, Get Fakes , If you have ever ,purchased a Collection . There  are always , a few relics, In Question. You should never dog someone, or thier relics . An old collector ,once told me to never burn Bridges , Once you cross them , as you may want to go back ,down the road , Again Remember artifacts is a big business , there is plenty , To go around . But some want it all ,and will go to great lengths, to discredit thier competition..There are alot of great artifact Dealers on ebay.

#5 Organizations . Are a great  thing,  Especially the ones, that you are a paying member , as they have some great books , the kind , I like  with alot of pictures , of relics , mostly , in color.  But,  Just Because a seller , Is  a member of a certain organization, Doesnt mean ,  that he sells, good Relics . The relic, is only as good ,as the Guy ,that stands ,behind that relic !. Some  Sellers , join  Free  organizations , Just to get the banner , to sell you Questionable relics , It has happened!

#6 Authenicator's,  I get this question alot , Gil , Who, do you think, is the best authenicator??  My answer is this . there are plenty of qualified authenicators , in the hobby , Chose one that you trust, and stick with them . But please use common sense!  In most circumstances, but not all ,An authenicator in Alaska  , Most likely , will not know  a piece of coshocton flint , from a piece of Kanahwa flint .as both flints outcrop here in the midwest , one in ohio , one, in west Virginia ! and trust me , on this folks , not all flint, patinates, the same. I know some collectors that , say, quote , papers are for wiping your behind, Unquote. If they want to collect  relics , That havent been , Authenticated , Thats fine . But Think about, How much money , Authenicators , have saved people, Especially here on Ebay .

 Bottom Line is This , Relic Sellers ,are only Human ,and they are going to make mistakes, once in awhile.The ones, that stand ,behind thier Mistakes, are the ones, that you, want to deal ,With . Dont assume, that Every relic dealer , Is an expert. Most are not , thats why ,Our Hobby, Has  Paid authenicators , People that actually get paid to,  authenicate your relic's . there are plenty to chose from , Find one, that you trust ,and have your Relics Papered , If they are are worth over 200.00 , Its not a bad idea. You may know that there authentic , But when you pass away, Your Family wont .and remember to never buy , from a family member off ebay, as that is  shill bidding ,and your competition, Will Turn you in for It .  Buy wisely ,  and I hope My 30 years, of collecting  artifacts, and the wisdom , I have learned ,Will help You . God Bless us all . Gil