DON'T BE FOOLED BY SELLERS USING QUESTIONABLE SALES TACTICS -

BE CAREFUL!

SUCH GLASS is NOT AUTHENTIC MURANO or ITALIAN or VENETIAN Or ROMAN GLASS or from ITALY

HOW TO IDENTIFY FAKE MURANO GLASS

An important warning to buyers:

Sadly, there are numerous sellers on eBay who claim their items are something they are not.  If you want junky, cheap pieces of FAKE Murano glass (including vases, paperweights, bowls, flowers, purse and handbag vases, candle holders, hats, birds, clowns, animals, sailboats, perfume bottles, and much more), you will find plenty of these inferior items on eBay.

PLEASE READ:

Murano Glass is created in ONE PLACE - MURANO ITALY.  Murano Glass is NOT made in other countries!

You will see sellers of fake Murano glass (made in China) writing ridiculous things about Murano glass being produced in other countries besides Italy.  This is complete fantasy.  For example - an American Glass Artist studies with a famous Murano Glass Master in Murano, Italy, learning his techniques, color combinations and forms.  After studying with this Italian Glass Master, he returns to the United States and proceeds to make glass pieces employing the techniques, color combinations and forms he learned in Italy.  Does he call his work Murano Glass?  Of course not!  He made these pieces in America, not in Italy - so his work is American - from the United States.  His work is NOT Murano.  

TO HELP YOU IDENTIFY FAKE MURANO ITEMS ON EBAY, HERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT CLUES AND CHARACTERISTICS TO LOOK FOR: 

===> Many of these sellers have starting prices of $0.01 or $0.99 or $9.99, etc., and use the exact same photo over and over in their listings.  Look at the seller's previous listings and you will see the exact same photos used over and over and over! 

===> You will almost certainly NOT receive the item in the photos.  This is similar to BAIT and SWITCH schemes.  These sellers lure you in, making you think the item in the brilliant photo/s is the one you will be receiving.  Remember that you will most probably NOT receive the actual item in the photo/s.  Please read the fine print, which may, or may not, disclose (often in very poor English) that you will receive another, substitute item that is not the one photographed.   

===> Often, their shipping costs are extremely high - $25 or $27 or $28 or $30 or more.  Since so many of their items sell for such little amounts of money (often just one penny to $10), these sellers make most of their profit on high shipping and handling amounts.

===> Some of these questionable sellers include a truly unbelievably high value in their titles - like $625 or $775 or $595, etc. - again, trying to fool you!  These Chinese-made inferior pieces are often worth less than $5.00 - FIVE DOLLARS!

===> You may also see huge, staged (vibrant and gaudy) photos of these fake Murano items in their listings, and the photos may make them look far better than they do in real life.  Plus - You will almost certainly NOT receive the item in the photos. 

===> Another ploy is to use fake Italian or Roman or Venetian or Murano names or phrases, to make you think these Chinese pieces are made in Italy. 

===> In fact, some sellers even display pictures of prepacked boxes and/or "the glass factory," and you may clearly see Asian writing / calligraphy in the photos.  This is a big sign for you:  BUYER BEWARE!

===> Most of these sellers list these fake items under the category "ITALIAN GLASS"

===> They almost always include the word "MURANO" or "ITALIAN" or "VENETIAN" or "ITALY" in their Titles - trying to fool you. 

All of the above tactics are against eBay rules! 

===> Some of these sellers' listings even display photos of Italian cities - Venice / Murano / Rome - hoping to deceive you and make you think these bogus items are made in Italy --- but they are not.  They are usually made in China.

===> You will also see some of these sellers offering multiples of the item listed - within the same listing.  Please note that 5 of the same vases will almost certainly be those poorly made Chinese vessels - not Murano glass!  A real Murano art glass item is one of a kind - not mass produced! 

===> Some of these listings include a section about the history of Murano glass.  Such blather is intended to make you think the item is from Italy when, in reality, it is not -- the item is usually made in China. Unfortunately, this practice shows that some sellers purposely choose to take advantage of buyers, by offering misrepresented items at prices that are, actually, too good to be true. 

===> Did you ever notice that, and wonder why, so many of these questionable sellers are offering the exact same items?  These vessels and figurines are not from Italy!  Murano artists do not make the same piece over and over - every piece would be unique, not alike.

===> In Bargain and Discount Shops all over the United States, you can find many of these MADE in CHINA fake Murano Italian items for prices starting at $3.99, or less.  These mass-made, cheap, poor quality items are NOT made in Italy. 

===> Some of these questionable sellers even print up, or obtain Fake Murano labels / stickers that they then apply to these Made in China items. This practice is used to fool you. 

===> Read everything on a seller's listing page.  Once in a while you will see a sentence at/near the end of the listing (and usually in very tiny print) stating either (1) that the item is not made in Italy, or (2) that it is made in China (sometimes in very poor English - with misspellings).  Read Everything!

===>  Sometimes a seller will offer one or two real Murano items along with 5O to many hundreds of pieces of fake Murano glass. - Be Careful!

===> Check the seller's feedback record carefully --- You should read each seller's feedback and examine his/her use of the English language.  If you see lots of negative and neutral and withdrawn feedbacks with phrases like --- "lots of flaws "- "not from Italy" - "seller says it is out of stock" (it has not arrived from China yet) - "ugly item" - "defective" - "very poor quality" - "does not look at all like item in photo" - "has 'Made in China' sticker" - "definitely not Murano" - "junky glass" - "inferior product" ---  all these are more clues to BEWARE.

===> Also be aware of many dishonest sellers with multiple names/stores on ebay.  Some sellers who are suspended from ebay - start again with a Brand New Name and Store.  Read the listings carefully and be aware of similarities in language and so-called rules in these listings of fake Murano glass.

===> Finally, remember this -- if you do get the item and realize or find it is not real Murano, and even if you are able to convince the seller to take back the item and give you a refund, the seller will usually only refund the actual $0.01 or $0.99 sales price --NOT any of the shipping costs, and you will still have to pay to ship the item back to the seller.  Thus, at the end of the day, you will have paid for shipping from the seller and then back to the seller, only to get a $0.01 or $0.99 refund.  This is why it is important that you not be taken-in by a "low price" but, instead, consider all the information available to you from the sellers' item descriptions, photos, shipping costs, disclaimers, and feedbacks.

===>  Also be aware of dishonest sellers who, once they have received dozens of negative feedbacks or are suspended from ebay, open another ebay store with a new name.  Please note that some of these sellers sell on multiple ebay sites with various names.  You can almost always find great similarities or exact replications (in descriptions, photos and/or payment instructions) among these stores, so don't be tricked by their deceptive tactics.

===

Everyone is looking for a bargain on eBay - but it is highly unlikely that you will be able to find an Authentic Murano piece for a penny or 99 cents! 

Be Careful --- Don't be duped by sellers who use highly questionable practices

Most fish themed art glass (PAPERWEIGHTS and VASES) on ebay are NOT made in Murano Italy - These poor quality pieces are made in China

IT TAKES EXPERIENCE TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REAL MURANO ITEMS AND BAD REPRODUCTIONS

Real Murano Glass is Expertly Executed - with Fine Details, Superb Lines and Elegant Quality Glass.  Pieces from China are often crudely made, lacking finesse, sometimes lopsided, and have numerous noticeable flaws and gross imperfections. 

CLOSELY EXAMINING AND HANDLING MANY PIECES WILL HELP YOU IDENTIFY REAL ITEMS FROM FAKE ITEMS.  EVENTUALLY YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THE GREAT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THEM - EVEN IN PHOTOS.

Check out my Guide below to Further Identify Fake Murano Glass:

http://reviews.ebay.com/Fake-MURANO-Glass-READ-b4-You-BID-Know-REAL-from-PHONY_W0QQugidZ10000000000700426

PLEASE KNOW THAT THERE ARE ALSO MANY AUTHENTIC MURANO ART GLASS ITEMS ON EBAY - AND HONEST SELLERS WHO OFFER REAL MURANO PIECES AT REALISTIC PRICES.

The Winged Phoenix

For Example:  YOU CAN FIND WONDERFUL VINTAGE MURANO ITEMS LIKE THESE

Cranberry Geode with Lemon Vaseline Encasement

Very Rare and Unusual Big Opalescent Seashell with Label

Purple and Blue Gorgeous Vessel

Complex Blue Opalescent Seashell

Fantastic Polveri Green Beauty

Gold and Silver Bullicante Glowing Vessel

Superb Butterfly Shaped Large Purple Plum Persimmon Bowl

Glimmering Bronze Gold Star Pattern Large Vessel

Very Modern Clear and Cobalt Blue Bowl

Uranium Laden Vaseline Blue Bowl with Original Label

Click on Both Links Below to See My Authentic Murano Glass:

The Winged Phoenix

195Os MURANO GLASS

PS:  When you read this Guide, notice how many people have said this Guide was helpful, or not.  If you see a lot of "not helpful" responses, this Guide is fulfilling its purpose.

Question:  Who do you think has likely seen this Guide, and claimed it was "not helpful?" 

Answer:  Could it be those very sellers who pretend to sell real Murano glass, but are actually selling inferior glass made in China?  You be the judge...   

A KNOWLEDGEABLE BUYER IS A SMART BUYER

Copyright 2005 2006 2007 2008 The Winged Phoenix

Do Not Plagiarize Guides

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