Posted By:
DavidI beleive that the best way to address this whole fraud thing, is through education. I think eBay should simply have a link to a brief but worthwhile overview of collecting Pre-War card or vintage cards in general, listing usefull books for research (ala SCD and Becett). The whole point is not to give the newbie a thorough education, but to have them think about what they are going to bid on. The guide has done its job if the potential bidder says, after reading it, "Maybe I should find someone to ask," "I think I will buy a Becket annual," or "I'm going to aske people which graders they like."
Obviously, the bidder who pay big money for AAA has now clue whatsoever about what they are doing, and a brief introduction would be useful.
Beckett, SCD and Tuff Stuff could pubish their own brief guides in their magazines-- simply a common sense guide to make beginners bidding more fruitful and enjoyable.