Delbert

I collect and sell antique cast iron cookware too. Ebay scammers and BS artists effectively ruined the hobby for a few years. The forums for collectors were used to try to alert bidders to fraud on ebay, before that became impossible, and to leave a record of scams and counterfeits for people in the hobby. I hope the members here keep up with the current crop of ebay fraudsters. They can ruin the market for collectible marbles and it could stay ruined for years. Scammers make the market for a collectibles into a minefield for new collectors. That damages the market for and interest in collectibles.

Very true.

If I listed broken marbles, I'd use the word "broken" in the title and description. To do otherwise is misleading, in my book.

I see what you're saying. For me as a newbie, it's very instructive to read criticisms of active auctions when the commentary is coming from experienced collectors and dealers. Also, completed listings sometimes don't have the pics attached once the listing ends. Maybe we need to cool the accusations of fraud and just comment on what we see. The lot you're referring to is something I would pay less than a hundred dollars for in a face to face deal. It's gone over $300 last I saw. Ebay distorts the market for collectibles sometimes. Commenting on what goes on there is a good thing as a learning tool for newbies like me.

Is that a 3pence coin?

It's probably pretty easy to carry off the bad guy act online. Anybody can brag about how he's tough as a two-dollar T-bone, but that doesn't make it so. In my experience, guys who make threats have done all they're going to do when they're finished talking. Classy move by the seller. That was the manly thing to do.

The box is satin lined and the compartment for the marbles doesn't match the rest of the interior. The paper covering the box is embossed and the box is stepped for the lid, That's a box for a hairbrush set or something like that.

Whoa, a compound contraction. Who woulda bleeved it was possible? Can I getcha oughtagraph?

Well, you know...the age of your house is essential to the storyline. Ebay sellers who don't have anything else to sell have to come up with a storyline that helps them sell a story. This seller is guilty of keyword spamming. She's also posting misleading titles in order to avoid having to write an accurate description of each item. Posting glass and mineral egg listings in the marble category is also a violation of ebay policy. You could report the listing violations, but it probably won't accomplish anything other than wasting your time. Anyway, the buyers who buy the story will get a bonus marble or egg to look at while they come to the realization that they have been had.

Well, you know.... when someone massages something with one of those, it IS kinda personal. ahaha

I notice that Alan is careful to clearly state the condition and his own conclusions about polishing. That's one big difference in the way the descriptions were done in the two auctions. I know that wasn't the point, but it's what struck me after reading both listings.

Yeah, I went from being bummed at having the listing pulled to laughing at ebay's quandary. Their system must have enough lag time that the item got bought and they couldn't charge the FVF.

Ebay's ban on Nazi items doesn't extend to coins or stamps. I had been in the habit of dumping any Nazi era German coins on ebay because I don't really have any other market for them and I get them in lots of other world coins, so when I got a Hitler Jugend knife, I listed it on ebay with a $155.00 BIN. It stayed up for several hours, then I got an email notice from ebay that I was in violation of their policy, etc. The listing was taken down within a few more hours, during which time I couldn't access it or end it myself. Here's the funny part..... about the time that the listing was removed by ebay, I got a paypal notice that the item had been paid for. Oddly, I never got the notice that the item sold other than the paypal notice with the item # and title. I shipped the knife to the buyer and was never billed for the final value fee by ebay. So, now they've banned ivory too. Ok, then. I still sell on ebay but nothing like I used to. Their loss as well as mine.

I personally wouldn't claim silver in the subtitle of the item description on ebay without knowing that it's silver. The listing has several baseless claims about the thing. Masonic, silver, bowling award, none of which are even apparent in the pics. The color's wrong for silver.

The mark isn't a silver hallmark. This has the color of a zinc/copper alloy on my monitor. That dull gray shade isn't typical of aged silver, unless it's been soaked in ammonia to remove tarnish. Production pieces from the US would be stamped with the silver content if made during the time period suggested by a machine ground agate sphere. Could be silver, but it's a little hard to tell from a photo.

That's yours? I saw the listing. No masonic symbols that I could see. Is there a sterling stamp anywhere? Nice looking marble on it, but the price is way out of my league.

Yep, Our family doctor and my daughter were discussing Led Zeppelin and referred to Page as " the world's greatest guitar player". I agreed but added the qualifier "living". He's great, but in their day, I liked Hendrix and Dwayne Allman more. They're both gone, so Page has it in that genre. In the country genre, it has to be Buddy Miller for my money.

So do I, especially in my ebay listings. I'll list sizes and weights in metric and Old English for the convenience of foreign and domestic bidders.

I'm a noob on marbles. The paperweight one looks like a paperweight to me. I have a little collection of paperweights.

Yes, but they 'except' Paypal.

Oh Lord, David. Perish the thought.... On John Boy and Billie's Big Show on radio, there's a character named Delbert "born ingnert and been backslidin' ever since." ;-) 'Course then there's Delbert McClinton, the great blues singer/songwriter. Maybe I fall somewhere in between.

Indeed, $5K here, $5K there and after awhile you're talking about big money....;-)

He's aiming at the US marble market. Note he also quotes shipping in dollars on the big "paperweight " marble in the text of the other listing.

Eugene ain't so bad. Jerry Clower used to tell about Newgene Ledbetter: " Newgene Ledbetter was the meanest youngin that's ever been in Amite County, Mississippi. He holds the record to this day...." Jerry Clower, rest his soul, was a great old time comedian. Be happy, at least your name ain't Delbert.

I've noticed that some ebay sellers just have a saved disclaimer that they leave in the box with every description. Putting it in small print isn't a good idea, IMHO. It's a dodge used by unscrupulous sellers in many cases who can then say "You shoulda read the fine print". ;-)