Ethical issues selling items you don't think are authentic

[Leon]

Originally Posted by glchen

I don't think you should do it since the evidence strongly points to the item not being authentic. However, if you think there is still a reasonably good chance it may be genuine, then I think you must offer the buyer a very generous return policy, like a lifetime, no questions asked, return policy. Therefore, if the customer ever decides in the future to have their own experts that they trust review the item and decide they don't like it, they can return it whenever they want, even years into the future.

I am of the opinion that if you are 100% honest and transparent then you can sell anything. So if you think there is a 75% chance something isn't good, and clearly state it, then it's ok. As long as someone knows exactly what they are buying then I have no issue selling it. To each their own though.....BTW, I think there would be as many differing opinions on this as there are members on the board.

[glchen]

Hi Leon, I know what you're saying, but I guess I've seen too many fake Ruth cards sold on ebay with some kind of description stating that the seller took it to some hobby store where the owner said it was authentic, but others have said it may not be authentic or other cases where the seller said it may or may not be good, and it's up to the buyer to decide. And these sellers always have a no returns accepted policy, and even when you send a message to the seller saying the card is no good, they don't change or take down the listing (and reporting to ebay does not work either).

[Leon]

Originally Posted by glchen

Hi Leon, I know what you're saying, but I guess I've seen too many fake Ruth cards sold on ebay with some kind of description stating that the seller took it to some hobby store where the owner said it was authentic, but others have said it may not be authentic or other cases where the seller said it may or may not be good, and it's up to the buyer to decide. And these sellers always have a no returns accepted policy, and even when you send a message to the seller saying the card is no good, they don't change or take down the listing (and reporting to ebay does not work either).

Hey Gary
I am right with you on this. But I have seen people say something is FAKE or a REPRINT and then people still bid like no tomorrow. I told myself a long time ago that I won't help protect stupidity. If I say something is fake and someone buys it thinking it's real, more power to them. I don't think I did anything wrong. And since we are on Ruth, here is one that would be hard to authenticate....but has been done to my satisfaction.

[JimStinson]

“So far, about morals, I know only that what is moral is what you feel good after and what is immoral is what you feel bad after.”

― Ernest Hemingway

__________________
jim@stinsonsports.com

Vintage autographs for sale Daily on my website
stinsonsports.com

[bigtrain]

If I tell my buyer that I don't think it is real or there is a good chance that it is not real, then obviously I am not concerned about him being cheated. I am still concerned about him passing off the item as real and scamming the next guy. I cannot say that once it is out of my hands, I don't care. I don't want to contribute in any way to another collector being scammed. I would rather destroy the item or simply keep it in my collection as a reminder.

[Deertick]

Originally Posted by bigtrain

if i tell my buyer that i don't think it is real or there is a good chance that it is not real, then obviously i am not concerned about him being cheated. I am still concerned about him passing off the item as real and scamming the next guy. I cannot say that once it is out of my hands, i don't care. I don't want to contribute in any way to another collector being scammed. I would rather destroy the item or simply keep it in my collection as a reminder.

+1000

[Republicaninmass]

put an honest ad on the BST boards and see the responses

[dgo71]

Originally Posted by bigtrain

If I tell my buyer that I don't think it is real or there is a good chance that it is not real, then obviously I am not concerned about him being cheated. I am still concerned about him passing off the item as real and scamming the next guy. I cannot say that once it is out of my hands, I don't care. I don't want to contribute in any way to another collector being scammed. I would rather destroy the item or simply keep it in my collection as a reminder.

+ another 1000. Putting something questionable into the market in my opinion is never a good idea.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by JimStinson

“So far, about morals, I know only that what is moral is what you feel good after and what is immoral is what you feel bad after.”

― Ernest Hemingway

__________________
jim@stinsonsports.com

Vintage autographs for sale Daily on my website
stinsonsports.com

Agree too. And even though I say I wouldn't protect stupidity I probably still couldn't sell something advertised as Fake, to someone who thinks it's real. As your saying goes, I would feel bad .

[djson1]

Originally Posted by Leon

....BTW, I think there would be as many differing opinions on this as there are members on the board.

Some good feedback on here. I think Leon was spot on about the differing opinions. I, myself, have differing opinions on the matter.

[Scott Garner]

If in doubt take the high road.
Chalk up any losses that may occur as a result to be the cost of becoming a better educated collector. We all have been there, BTW.