DO's and DONT'S of Buying Antique Lures

 How to Avoid Getting Burnt

by TARPOOOONER

1. Look for auctions with clear, crisp pictures...and lots of them from various angles. Yeah, I know that statement isn't rocket science, but if you're just starting into lure collecting, and looking at ads on Ebay, know well that if they don't show you the other side of the lure, there's a GOOD CHANCE that there is something drastically wrong with the side you can't see... same goes for the bottom of it, the top of it.... top sellers will show you what you are getting. There's some good bargains to be had out there from people who DON'T KNOW how to take good photos of their wares; just be alert, because there are alot of crooks out there, too... you'll run into them from time to time, guaranteed!!
2. If you are truly interested in thier lure, take a moment and READ THIER FEEDBACK!!! Crooks, basically evil people and genuine ROTTEN SELLERS have patterns show up in thier feedbacks that show their shining colors to every interested buyer. Even the top knotch sellers have a few negative feedbacks in thier histories; don't be deterred by these if they are not FLAMINGLY BAD REVIEWS.... sellers expose themselves to 99.9% great, honest people and at the same time, expose themselves to that other 0.1% of society's Total Fruitcakes and Nutjobs. When you start to sell on Ebay, you will have the honor and priviledge of dealing with them also.
3. Beware of knockoffs and repainted lures!!!! Easier said than done, as I've been burnt and bought a few myself. These sellers are usually VERY AWARE of what they've just sold you, and totally reluctant to refund your money. Know well, that if it looks too good to be true, it usually is.... case in point, when the Garrett, Indiana Creek Chub Bait Company plant closed their doors, they left alot of wooden Beetle blanks on the open market, many of which are RECENTLY being repainted and outfitted with newer hardware, and are showing up on Ebay every week now... nice lookin' lures, mind you, but not the Real McCoy, and NOT WORTH SPENDING A SMALL FORTUNE ON!!!! Keep your eyes peeled for a scam, and question your logic constantly.
4. Ask questions to the sellers up front.... no response? There could be good reason why. If they don't list their shipping charges, or say that they'll figure it out and let you know after the auction, BEWARE!!!! I've been burnt soooo many times by this ploy, that I no longer am surprised by it. People CAN AND WILL try to make money off their shipping to you, and THERE'S ALMOST NOTHING THAT YOU CAN DO to avoid it... bold statement? Case in point....you win an auction, and the seller tacks on a $13.55 shipping fee for a little bitty lure that could fit in a matchbox. You continuously request a more reasonable shipping fee, and get no response and your e-mails are ignored by the seller.... ten days pass by, the seller files a Non-Payment Notice, and three guesses who's at fault for not paying the $5.00 for the lure and the HIGH SHIPPING CHARGES!!!  DEFINE SHIPPING UP FRONT and SAVE YOURSELF A WHOLE LOT OF GRIEF AND AGGRAVATION!!!
5. If you don't pay for AIRMAIL shipping when buying lures from other countries, be ready for a LOOOONNNGGG wait to get your goods. Things go faster and easier through customs when Airmail is involved... it's even worse going the opposite direction.
6. Get yourself some good Lure Books.... Carl F. Luckey, Russell E. Lewis and Harold E. Smith have put out some fine publications on the subject, to name a few. Pay little attention to the $ values that they attribute to these lures, as the lures fluctuate sooo much that the $ values shown can either be extremely low or outrageously high for the item....very few times are the approximate dollars shown in the books right on the money, but the histories of the lure manufacturers and the dates that the lures were manufactured in are correct and it provides some fascinating reading.
7. When plastics first came out in the early part of the last century, it was a REVOLUTIONARY thing!!! Wood lures didn't hold up well over time, and lost thier paint and appeal after catching several fish, where plastics seemed like they stayed pretty much the same forever.... my point? Don't rule out plastic lures in your quest for old baits... MANY OF THEM ARE WAAAAYYYY OLDER THAN YOU ARE, and no doubt, look like they did when you were young. Keep an eye out for lures that look warped or bulged out, as a plastic lure will do that when left in a hot vehicle over time.
8. STAY AWAY FROM ITEMS WITH.... NO MONEY BACK, SALE IS FINAL, WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET Auctions.... these people could care less if you are happy overall....they want your money.... period. If you end up happy, well... that's a bonus with their auctions. Buy from sellers who appear like they actually care!!!!!
9. Consider joining a fishing lure collectors club... there are several available and there is one out there that holds a FINE reputation and has members all over the world. I think that it goes by the name of NFLCC National Fishing Lures Collectors Club; not a member yet personally, but have dealt with many of their members and have been thrilled every time. They have methods of rating lure quality, and other valuable information that is worth looking at. 
10. Most importantly....Relax, have a good time with it, and know well that the Lion's Share of your dollars invested in your lure collecting hobby is just that, A HUGE INVESTMENT!!!! Ebay gives you access to lures that you could spend a LIFETIME looking for in antique stores, and will be extremely satisfying entertainment if you keep it all in focus.... life's too short not to have fun with it... enjoy every Moment!!!