From One New Collector - To Other New Collectors...... - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

Gary B · #1 07-08-23, 08:54 PM

Hi all,
As a relative newcomer to badge collecting, I just wanted to give any REALLY newbie collectors a few tips - just to save you all a few quid...

Firstly, ditch e-bay unless you know 100% that the e-bay trader you're about to give money to is a Forum member (just my opinion).

Secondly, always ask Forum members for their opinion when considering a purchase (even though they collect at a level light years above us newbies, they are all great people and they are always happy to help us less well-informed collectors. They also have plenty of patience!)

Thirdly, whenever possible, buy from Forum members directly via the forum. In the last month I've bought half a dozen badges that have blown me away - at rates some way below the standard e-bay rates - and each of them being 100% genuine (without doubt).

Fourthly (is that even a thing?) Scour the Forum via the search facility when considering any purchase - the information available is phenomenal and could/will save you £££'s (a fact that regrettably, I learned a little too late!)

Guys, I've no axe to grind here and certainly have no hidden agenda - I just want more people to enjoy this fantastic hobby (infatuation) and less people to lose money unnecessarily at the hands of unscrupulous dealers.... the Forum members will help you, just ask them!
G

Home Guard · #2 08-08-23, 06:19 PM

Gary, Well said. The members of this forum are truly some very exceptionally friendly people and always helpful.

Terry

Gary B · #3 08-08-23, 08:48 PM

Terry, hi
You're spot on, the members are all extremely helpful and I have to say - unbelievably knowledgeable!!

I can't thank them enough for helping me out time and time again (yourself included). A truly fantastic and unique collective I reckon!
G

Calpe · #4 11-08-23, 04:20 PM

Hi Gary,

I also totally agree with you. I have had some unpleasant experiences with eBay sellers. I have learned my lesson and only look for possible purchases from Forum members and trusted online dealers.

Ian

Gary B · #5 11-08-23, 07:15 PM

Ian, hi
I cancelled my e-bay account altogether - simply because I couldn't trust the vast majority of their traders. In fact the only ones that I could trust were Forum members (I lost one hell of a lot of money before I made THAT discovery!!) So I figured, why not just deal directly with Forum members rather than go via e-bay?? Since then I've bought some belting badges at great prices!!

The final straw was when I saw "a 100% genuine WW1 Parachute Regiment cap badge" at what the seller claimed was a bargain price (it had a Queen's Crown by the way...)

It's Forum members or nothing for me from now on mate!!
Happy collecting - GB

royston · #6 12-08-23, 03:38 PM

Why ditch ebay? I have purchased a vast number of badges from ebay, one at £70 from ebay America when Sally Bosley has the same badge at £1200 (See attechment). There again, there are not that many Royal Naval badges that are faked, apart from Royal Naval Division, which, of course, is also colleced by some others who do not collect RN.

Alan O · #7 12-08-23, 04:02 PM

Probably 80-90% of metal British cap badges on ebay are fake but their are bargains if you know what to look for, can avoid being sniped by a couple of dealers looking to populate their owner priced websites and have a lot of time on your hands to do some research!

Gary B · #8 12-08-23, 05:17 PM

Royston, hi
Alan's hit the nail on the head for me - yes there are some very reputable dealers on ebay, but there are sadly, so many more who are questionable.

I still look on there and if I see something that I'm 100% sure of, I'll buy it as "a guest." I'd rather deal with Forum members directly though - and I assume, if they sell directly outside of the e-bay mechanism, they get more from the deal anyway (I think ???).

Love your badge by the way but I'd have thought that buying cloth just on the evidence of a photo, was even riskier than buying metal? (But I'm new to this so am probably mistaken).

Mike B · #9 12-08-23, 07:19 PM

I agree the forum has lots to offer the new entrant into the badge collecting world - sellers also tend to offer items at very reasonable cost - and suspect items are policed / vetted by fellow members.
HOWEVER
Do not become too reliant on the forum alone
Choose a specialist area - local regiment or other area of interest - to provide focus. Expand this as expertise grows
Do research in your chosen area - do not try to collect everything. Then you can share your specialist learning and everyone will gain.
The ultimate aim must be to add to the total sum knowledge collectors posses, and then share it. Remembering others helped teach you.
The forum provides a form of apprenticeship, but do not be afraid to challenge convention - no one is a total expert - a newbie can often spot something new, after tired old eyes have missed it.
A forensic approach based on Research, Research and more Research is the way forward - also observing the mantra 'if in doubt, leave it out'.
Mike

royston · #10 12-08-23, 09:53 PM

Hi Gary B.

Cloth is no problem, easier than metal and after over 40 years collecting RN, and also having spent 33 years in the RN, I can tell the good from the bad. Some other ebay finds put together for a miliatia society at the attachment. So again do not neglect ebay, even ebay America or Canada since two of my items came from there.

John

Home Guard · #11 13-08-23, 02:07 AM

I agree, there are some good finds on eBay, in spite of all the fakes and fakers. I try to study everything I can if it's not something I am already familiar with. I'd rather lose out than lose my money now that I'm retired. But as has been said I prefer forum members and trusted dealers first.

Terry

Gary B · #12 13-08-23, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by royston

Hi Gary B.

Cloth is no problem, easier than metal and after over 40 years collecting RN, and also having spent 33 years in the RN, I can tell the good from the bad. Some other ebay finds put together for a miliatia society at the attachment. So again do not neglect ebay, even ebay America or Canada since two of my items came from there.

John

Some absolute belters there John!
I tend to collect items relating to my own and my families work & service - and with three matelots in my recent family lineage, I reckon I might start looking at more RN items now!

On a slightly different tack, I find researching RN family history a lot more difficult than the other armed forces - is there a reason for that or am I just looking in the wrong places?

Gary B

royston · #13 13-08-23, 08:11 AM

Hi Gary B

I thought that it was more difficult to obtain information on Army personel pre 2WW, since a number of records were destroyed in the blitz. I cannot find anything, or any lead on my father during the 1WW

From the internet:

How can I find my father's naval records?
The National Archives (TNA) holds most of the service records for men who served up to the 1920s. The National Museum of the Royal Navy holds some additional records at the Fleet Air Arm Museum.

I am trying to obtain my records under the freedom of information act through
The Royal Naval Disclosure Cell.

For anyone important VC, Admiral etc the there is always The Naval Historical Branch.

Reference badges, there are thousands of RN badges, different colours for the same design, different letters with the same design, Queens crown v Kings crown, etc, etc. I had a very large collection all of which is now sold off except my limited 1WW area. If you collect RN the specialize in one area, for instance gunnery or one period.

royston · #14 13-08-23, 08:19 AM

Gary B

Further to the last, again from the internet:

How do I find ww2 naval records?
How to find Royal Navy service records | Who Do You Think You ...
Records for Royal Navy personnel serving after 1924, including in the Second World War are held by the Ministry of Defence. They are generally only accessible to the individual concerned or their next of kin. If you meet the criteria, you can find out how to request the records here.

John

Calpe · #15 13-08-23, 09:25 AM

Hi Gary,

The other off putting thing with eBay is their Global Postage fees. Charging over £20 for delivery of one badge is a bit too much for me. Having to pay this amount for a badge that costs £5 or £6 is an exorbitant amount. Having said all this I have managed to find some good deals and also managed to get a reasonable postal fee from sellers. As has already been mentioned in this post, you have to do your research and not jump into the purchase. Like everything in this day and age there are good eBay sellers and there are not so good eBay sellers.

Happy hunting,

Ian