Hi... Ebay Bidders...  Please,  Oh,  Please do a little research  before you bid on your  "Dream of a Life-Time"...   "Antique/Vintage",   Doll/Baby,    Buggy/Carriage/Stroller  on Ebay.

So many of these so called   "Fine",   "Antique",   "right out of Grand-Ma's Attic" (sic),    Buggies are  **Brand New**,   Wholesale,   "Child Slave-Labor Made",   Taiwan,   Imports...   **{like Item #310111905634}!.

Kudos to all of those Honest Dealers who mark their  "new items"  Correctly!     Kudos to:  #'s250358588780,  220346801889,  390025312630,  280304338789,  370144499295,  370130228566,  310116451885,  290290293818,  25035741-355.   All Marketed Honestly! 

But...  Also See The Uh-Oh's!   FAKERS!!!

#390035494790  (beware of the word  "style";  especially if it is  "out of normal grammatic order"  in the Heading or the Description...  the same rule applies to the word  "new".}

#140294791130  (absolutely  "hand-crafted"  by  "child-slave-labour in Taiwan!").  

#380096851861  (Yikes...  Please compare this Fake to "all other reproduction buggy photos!"...  And Note the similarities).

#170294699661  (...  "rare bedding?!?").

#310111905634  ("spurious"  use of the word  "new"  along with the word  "Victorian"...  {do you Believe there Really is any  "New Victorian?"}).   If so I have a Victorian Bridge for sale...

#180321376921  (YIKES!).

And  #'s...  270329181586,  120363129988,  1103370214,  300287580505. 

Now...  Maybe these  Sellers  were/are  really fooled  "by these fakes"...  But that is no reason for us  "Ebay Bidders/Buyers"  to also be fooled! 

There are always bunches of  "Antique/Vintage"  Buggies/Carriages/Prams/Strollers  on ebay...   See:  {"antique,  wicker,  doll,  baby,  old,  vintage"...   "carriage,  pram,  buggy,  stroller,  cart"}.  Learn to campare  All  of the  Details  in the  Pictures!

Use your head...  When you View Pictures that are  "Basically"  the Same...  Pictures for a  "So-Called Antique"  and  For A  (properly listed)  New/Reproduction...  Then,  No Matter What You May Think  (or what the seller claims!)...  The Buggies are  Probably From The Same  "Over-Seas Source!". 

     1).  Notice the wheel hubs on a  Fake/Reproduction  {#140294791130}  -or-  On a properly listed piece {#390025312630...  Kudos to this Honest Seller}.   Antique buggy wheels were generally Not Made This Way!  {looks a lot like  "tinker toy"  construction}. 

     2).  Look at the  "Wicker  and its  Color"!  {nearly all reproductions,  of this type,  will look almost exactly the same  "color-wise"  {just slightly different styles and sizes}.  Up-Date... Many of the Fakers are now Painting the buggies to further Fool ebay Bidder/Buyers! 

     3).  Look at the black fabric  "hood/bonnet/top"...  Nearly every one has the  "Same Fake Dust/Dirt"  from the factory. 

     4).  Look at the lace used on Other Styles of Fakes...  Almost Always the Same in Design,  Texture,  Etc..

     5).  Look at the  "Curl"  where the  "Push-Bar  Handle"  is attached...  The only actual  "Old Buggies"  that I know of that have this  "Curl"  are  Fresh,  European,  Imports...  While,  nearly Every One of the   "New"   "Antique"   "Wholesale",   buggies feature this distince  "Curl". 

American Carriages do not,  as a general rule,  ever have this  "Curl"...   {I suppose,  if you want a  Fresh  European  Import,   they are o.k....  So Long As You Know What You Are Buying!?!}.

But,  if you are going to  Spend  Good  Money,  and want to make a type of   "Investment"   for  Your Hard  Earned  Cash...  Why not choose to  Purchase  a  Quality,  Antique/Vintage,  American,  Piece? 

{See...  #'s  220344869611,  220344869862,  130281648638 (is missing its bonnet/hood/top),  370145844525,   380097107870  (is missing its bonnet/hood - in need of some wicker repair),  260348072082,  290290359694,  290290721317,  400022514498,  250356015534 ("under-carriage"  is  "smashed/bent down",  needs some repair to wicker as well),  280302592738 (re-sell the 2  "newer dolls" on ebay  -or-  perhaps this  "new seller"  will  "take an offer"  just on this Great Buggy!,  180322224266,  350155684984 (probably an  "Older  European  Import"),  290290729544...    and #'s... 190277401301,  350127995780,  370147497136,  260345517806,  250351084725  {we have seen many Fakes go for this kind of money!}. 

In my opinion...  Doing a little  "ebay research"   "Before  You  Bid";   is part of the  "fun of ebay fun"!  Do Not be so easily dupped!  Take just a little extra time...  The Pictures  "will tell the story";   if you Do Some Comparing  and  Examine  Photos  Carefully. 

I think that if the seller will not answer questions...  Or if the seller is very vague {"not sure how old it is"  Is A  "Vague Favorite"  I Hear All The Time...  Just a "Vague Way of Excusing Their Conscience"  for lieing to you}...  Or if shipping  {on a  "Doll Size Buggy"  is over  $25.00 - 60.00  or so}...  Maybe you should not bid. 

Please Remember:  Some Antique/Vintage Buggies Are Costly to Ship!  {due mainly to Greedy USPS/UPS/FedEx Increases...  Some Can No Longer be Economically Shipped at all...  {thus  "Pick-Up Only"}.  If shipping,  in your opinion,  seems too high...  Then  Respectfully  ask about the  Possibility of a lowered shipping rate  {are they able/willing to do some minor dis-assembly?  thus making the carton smaller?} ...   -or-   Ask about  "Local Pick-Up"  {if you are local or will be in their area}   -or-   "Just Don't Bid On This One"!  Another  Will  Come  Along!

Make sure to give  "Good  Sellers"  a break...  Buggies Are very tough to  Pad,  Package,  and  Ship  Properly  {for safe delivery to you}.

Believe me there are  Ligitemate,  Antique/Vintage,  Buggy/Carriage/Stroller/Pram/Cart  choices  A-Plenty  on ebay!   Missing out on this  One  "Dream  Buggy";   while you take a little extra time to do some research,   may just be the  "Happiest  Mistake/Accident",  you have,  while buying on ebay,  this year. 

Just imagine,  if you will,  the  Huge  Distress   that the  "Happy Winner"  of   #170294699661    -or-  #310111905634   -or-    #380096851861   will go through when  he/she  visits a  Gift/Souvenir  Shop  some where this summer and sees   "20  Exact  Replicas"   of  their   "Rare  Antique  Dream Carriage"  for sale for  $7.95  -  $37.95  ea.!?!  {which is  "Common Retail"  at   Cedar  Point,   6  Flags,   Sea  World,   Frankenmuth,   Knotts  Berry  Farm,   Disney  Land/World,   Epcott,   Michaels,   Hobby  Lobby,   Etc.,   Etc....   (even less $$$ at  ANY  Florists   "Wholesale  Supply"    Store in the  Land?!?)}. 

Why  buy/bid-on  one of these  Brand  New,  Import,  "Child  Slave  Labour  Buggies"...  When there are alway numerous,  Actual  Antique/Vintage  Pieces  Available?   "If  You  Happen  To  Love  The Looks  Of  An  Import";  at least  Buy  From  The Dealer  Who  Is  Honest  About  What  They Are  Selling!!! 

Why,  oh why,  Buy a  Mass-Produced  Reproduction:  when the  "Real Mc Coy"  is to be found?  Remember...  Not All  Antique/Vintage  Carriages  Need  Repair...  Some Are Mint!!!  

So...  Good Luck in  '09' ...  Have Fun!...  Enjoy ebay...  Find  A  "Good-One...  Patty.