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How Can I Assess a Sellers Reputation Before I Buy?

by: josephklevenefineart( 225Feedback score is 100 to 499) Top 5000 Reviewer
15 out of 17 people found this guide helpful.
Guide viewed: 2149 times Tags: Fine Art | Safety | Scams | How To Buy | Fraud


Unsure as to whether an eBay Seller is selling Fake Art?

Did you want to know more about that Seller in Switzerland who continues to offer Andy Warhol Reproductions, yet he also says these same Reproductions are allegedly signed by Andy Warhol and want to know more about that Seller?

Do you think the eBay Lot you just viewed is too good to be true?

Wouldn't it be great if eBay offered more than only Seller Feedback?

Now there is a simple solution that may save you money now so you don't have a dispute later.

You can easily search any eBay Seller's ID Name at onlineverif dot com to determine if they have received any complaints regarding fraud/fakes/bad business practices, etc.

There thousands of eBay Sellers, many with feedback that on the surface appears terrific, who continue to sell obvious fakes, counterfeits and "signed" reproductions by Edgar Degas, Keith Haring, David Hockney, Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein, Henri Matisse, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Piere Renoir, Cindy Sherman, Donald Sultan, Frank Stella, Wayne Thiebaud, Andy Warhol, etc.

Some of these eBay Art Sellers are now concealing their feedback by making it private so the eBay buyer is unable to read anything from their prior eBay transactions. It is one thing to conceal the buyer's name when making an Auction Private, but concealing all eBay historical feedback should be a quick signal to the eBay art buyer to want to find out more before bidding.

Some Sellers are now even selling "Signed Reproductions" by Andy Warhol. Now how is that possible? A signed Andy Warhol Reproduction, especially when the Reproduction was published in 1989; Warhol died in 1987.

Furthermore, that so called Andy Warhol eBay Lot reproduction also comes with a fake Warhol Signature! eBay needs to implement a formal review Committee that actually could take a position, instead of condoning fakes, and taking no position.

If so, in the case illustrated, they would determine that the Work being sold had a purported Andy Warhol Signature on a reproduction published after 1988. Totally impossible, yet some buyer will most likely buy this fake lot and many others that fill eBay listings, and kick themselves later, yet eBay sits back, does nothing and collects listing revenue.

Many eBay Sellers offer obvious fakes, reproductions and counterfeits, many with fake COA's that are clearly worthless. The only common bond these Sellers share is a zero respect for the eBay Buyer.

eBay has thousands of active fake art listings on its site right now as evidenced by the lack of a formal fraud protection program. The lack of an overt effort to protect the eBay art buyer demonstrates that eBay clearly prefers listing revenue instead of providing any real and meaningful art fraud protection.

Protect yourself and enter ANY Seller's ID Name at onlineverif dot com as it may save you money now and mostly likely prevent you from a dispute later.

Be sure that the Fine Art Lot you buy on eBay is truly Fine Art rather than an unwelcome surprise of Fake Art. It is a mistake you just don't want to make.


Guide ID: 10000000001395077Guide created: 07/13/06 (updated 09/27/08)

 
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josephklevenefineart
josephklevenefineart( 225Feedback score is 100 to 499) About Me
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Member has an eBay StoreJoseph K Levene Fine Art Ltd

 


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