MY 18 GUIDELINES FOR A BETTER

 EBAY ART OR OTHER PURCHASE

• I am a buyer as well as a seller and I want my buyers to have all of the knowledge I have gleaned as a buyer on eBay as they make their purchases of art. The fakes, forgeries, and import factory offerings have cheapened or hurt the reputation of eBay as an art sales venue. Most people I talk to are concerned when I tell them I buy and sell on eBay. They almost always remark how they just heard about some rip off, fraud, or forgery, or scam concerning eBay. The buyers are feeling more cautious and have doubts! Many do not know how to find the reputable sellers. If my buyers will do these things your purchases SHOULD be trouble free.
•  1) The seller I would begin to take seriously must have at least a 20 feedback.
•  2) all feedback must be very positive.
•  3) Must take Paypal.
•  4) All text must explain clearly without innuendo, or ambiguity what condition, and all features of said item clearly.
•  5) All shipping costs must be disclosed or a shipping calculator in the auction.
•  6) If "too many" demands or warnings or threats are written into the auction text I do not bid. We have an angry, demanding seller here and transaction will not be friendly.
•  7) Any thing I am unsure of I ask about! Before bidding!
•  8) If shipping seems a bit out of line, Say no media rate offered on books, or say a 1 cent painting with $52.00 shipping, I DO NOT BID.
•  9) If there are a number of grave spelling or grammatical errors in the listing it is a red flag for me. I may not bid.
•  10) If insurance and tracking are required on a 3.00 purchase, I do not bid.
•  11) I read and reread every auction before I bid.
•  12) If the seller mentions that they are NOT responsible for any loss or damage on an uninsured purchase, I do not bid. It should not be mentioned because It causes suspicion toward the seller. I wonder If he is going to punish me for not buying ins. for my 3.00 purchase and just not send it...the buyer thinks...
•  13) Any art seller with "private feedback" is someone to avoid at all cost! They are trying to hide something!
•  14) You will not find an original Picasso for 200.00 on eBay! if it sounds too good to be true, It Is!
•  15) Many ink jet prints, embellished ink jet or laser prints, graphited over prints, and varnished over prints are being sold as originals on eBay. If you recieve one of these you can tell by looking at the surface with a jewelers loop. If you see a dot. spray dither dot, or pixel pattern anywhere in the piece it is a print or based on a printed canvas or paper surface. This seller will likely sell the same images several times a year and they are all alike! BEWARE!
• 16) If you are bidding on a painting and find you are out bid by a zero feedback bidder registered from the same location as the seller, be VERY careful especially if the bidder just registered around the same time as the auction taking place. You probably have a shill bidder.
• 17) If the listing says "in the style of and signed" not "signed BY"...it could be as good as saying "probably isn't by, but looks like"! ASK QUESTIONS in this case!
• 18) NEVER SEND WESTERN UNION FOR AN EBAY PURCHASE. It is almost certain you will lose your money. USE PAYPAL with a credit card wherever possible.
• 19) If the photograph is difficult to see ask for the seller to email detail shots to you to see. It helps to see the brushwork and surface to help guarantee it is an original and that it is skillfully done.  
  
  
  

There are some GREAT deals on great art from real LIVING artists here on eBay. Just take the initiative and be savvy!

  PAMELA WILHELM