As patch collecting is becoming more popular, more and more people are selling patches on e-bay.  When buying patches look carefully at a sellers feedback rating and other sale items.  Large feedback ratings and multiple items from the same agency generally indicate that the seller is a patch manufacturer, or has other ties to the manufacturing process, to obtain these patches.

As a general rule the agencies represented by the patches do not know that their patches are for sale on e-bay, and would not generally allow their identification to be sold to the general public.  Some law enforcement agencies have their patch copyrighted, and also consider the design as "real property".  This is also a violation of e-bay policy, regarding the selling of current issue law enforcement uniforms and or parts of uniforms.

If in doubt as to wether a patch is current issue or an older style, information may sometimes be obtained by looking at a particular agencies web site and looking for logos and uniforms located in the pictures.  If first hand knowledge is available that a patch is current issue for a particular agency, report the item number to e-bay for review as a possible listing violation.

These rules regarding the selling of law enforcement items are not intended to hurt the honest collector, but rather the few unscrupulous characters in the world who would use a uniform for personal gain, or ill intent.