The eBay BS Game: Questionable items, Stephen King signatures, sellers

[goheat]

What do the experts here think?

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...d=271881977510

I don't like it myself. I think it's forged, and signature looks shady exactly like this seller's other items.

[jhanic]

John

[Room 217 Caretaker]

All her auctions are highly suspect. She has been known for this in West Virginia.

Mulleins

[carlosdetweiller]

No bueno.

[tippy4]

No bueno.

Muy no beueno.

[Br!an]

[TCCBodhi]

Other than her reputation, what in this signature makes it look suspect? Does the swoop need to be down farther than it is?

[stroppygoblin]

Other than her reputation, what in this signature makes it look suspect? Does the swoop need to be down farther than it is?

There are a number of issues, beyond the reputation of the seller, the book is a BCE which is suspicious (low outlay for the seller) it's quite large and it actually looks like 'King' rather than 'Knig' which is more usual. No reserve is also an indicator that the seller believes the book has little value. Individually none of these things mean it's a fake, but all together...

There are other problems but most members do not wish to point them out for fear of forgers 'improving their work'

[dnemec]

I am no expert, but the first thing to jump out at me was the 'King' rather than 'Knig' like Simon said. I think all my signatures say "Knig," so that was a big flag for me.

[AKC]

It's wrong on so many fronts...

Didn't even pass the initial "eye" test. Slant, cramped, S is horrible, King is a mess, and the "g" isn't even close.

Other than that, a nice attempt.

[TCCBodhi]

Thanks, Appreciate the clues. I think there are a couple there that will give me a good chance at identifying them myself, or at least taking my first assessment before asking. You are all being really patient with me this last few weeks while I'm hanging around here more. I'm grateful.

[Br!an]

It's wrong on so many fronts...

Didn't even pass the initial "eye" test. Slant, cramped, S is horrible, King is a mess, and the "g" isn't even close.

Other than that, a nice attempt.

I know what you mean about the "initial "eye" test".

As soon as I saw it I thought no.

I also agree that it is a fairly good attempt.

[sgc1999]

Just awful and 17 bids??? This guy has tons of forgeries!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Stephen-King...3D271881977510

[jhanic]

John

[frik]

And 17 bids for this garbage? Amazing.

sk

[Merlin1958]

And 17 bids for this garbage? Amazing.

sk

Such is the state of the internet these days!!!

[zelig]

Spread between 4 bidders. It's a shame for the winner. I can't imagine how many forged books are out there on someone's shelf and they don't even realize it. The buyers need to visit TDT and get educated.

[TCCBodhi]

I think most peoples signatures pass the "scrawl" point of this one by the time they are in the 2nd grade.

[Johnny007]

Just awful and 17 bids??? This guy has tons of forgeries!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Stephen-King...3D271881977510

I sent him/her a polite request to pull the auction. Only 4 bidders and one or two looked to be very/fairly new. Maybe we'll get lucky and it will be pulled. Anyway, I hope to get an interesting reply, lol!

[Br!an]

I reported all of these as forgeries a week ago.

eBay doesn't care and neither does the seller.

[Room 217 Caretaker]

As mentioned a few threads above, EBay is just an avenue to sell products. They don't have a team of experts looking at everything being sold. It's up to the buyer to check and double check.

Sometimes I run into a seller that thanks me for the professional input and removes the suspect signature. Sometimes I run into a complete jerk who has no problem ripping people off (it's the sad world we live in today). However, I have the satisfaction of at least knowing I tried.

Don't be too hard on EBay. Again, they are an avenue for selling. King could put a small team together and EBay would listen. That's what big conglomerates do when fake Gucci items show up. It's the same with the movie industry and bootleg movies show up.

eBay does contact the seller when someone reports. I know, I tested it....haha

Mulleins

[TCCBodhi]

It's true that eBay doesn't care, but they SHOULD care because these bad transactions happening on their site do damage to THEIR reputation too, as minimally involved in it as they are. The real damage is me knowing that eBay has no interest in removing fraudulent sales makes me think twice about buying and selling through them..

[Room 217 Caretaker]

It's true that eBay doesn't care, but they SHOULD care because these bad transactions happening on their site do damage to THEIR reputation too, as minimally involved in it as they are. The real damage is me knowing that eBay has no interest in removing fraudulent sales makes me think twice about buying and selling through them..

My comment is just my opinion. I like EBay and use it everyday. I've ran into fakes on Abe Books, Craig's List, etc. My opinion still stands, "it's up to the buyer to do their homework".

Mulleins

[TCCBodhi]

Absolutely, people should do their homework, and I'm sure the fakes show up everywhere. This is why I MAINLY stick to S/L editions. I haven't used the other book-specific sites. I'm just annoyed that eBay as the Walmart of the bunch has little interest in protecting THEIR reputation as long as there is a sale of some sort, which results in more and more fakes out there every day. I'm sure I'm rehashing old ground. I'll shut up now.

[Br!an]

Caveat Emptor

That said hosting obvious forgeries seems, well, unseemly.