Guidance for a Novice Please: E-bay Use or Ignore? - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

Gary B · #1 09-03-23, 02:46 PM

A general enquiry guys, as a newcomer to badge collecting could you please advise whether or not e-bay should be used or ignored? Even a complete novice like me regularly comes across item descriptions that are absolute tosh (should this be allowed by the way? Trades Description Act etc.) If members have a list of sellers they are confident about - could that list be shared????
Any advice would be extremely well received.... the knowledge base on this Forum is staggering! Many thanks!

Luke H · #2 09-03-23, 02:49 PM

Fakes and repros abound on eBay but there are good badges and even gems occasionally. Blindly buying is highly inadvisable.

I would advise researching any badge you intend to buy against known good examples and copies in forum threads. That advice applies to dealers sites and specialist auction houses as even the best make mistakes.

magpie · #3 09-03-23, 02:58 PM

Or couldn't give a sxxt along as they get their money.

Gary B · #4 09-03-23, 03:10 PM

Great advice about researching - I've started doing that every time now - in fact I just spent an hour reading up a thread about the 7th Hampshire badge, which gave some brilliant advice about what to look for in terms of shape and markings. The badge I bought cost a bit more but I'm so much more confident that it's a good 'un now because of Forum members sharing their views - thanks again for the speedy response!

Alex Rice · #5 10-03-23, 05:40 AM

I would also recommend that if you have particular badges on your wants list, it would be worth asking here first as members may have genuine duplicates they are willing to part with, with would save the risk of buying fakes.
Cheers,
Alex

Gary B · #6 10-03-23, 04:24 PM

Alex, thanks so much, that makes perfect sense - from now on, I will!
Great advice !!

Gary B · #7 10-03-23, 04:35 PM

In fact - for any other recently hooked, newbie collectors, I have only just come across a wonderful piece written by the Forum's esteemed "Alan O" on the website of a wonderfully named Arnhem Jim.

Within the article, "Alan O" shares his stellar knowledge and tells us how to spot fakes, categorising badges by Corps to make a fantastic guide for beginners (I realise that 98% of the Forum membership will already know this stuff, but for over-keen collectors like myself, this is gold-dust!)

Needless to say, I was in tears after ten minutes, cursing honest-John the e-bay badge-bloke (there's dozens of 'em) and coming to terms with the fact that he/they had been ripping me off for months... BUT NO LONGER MY OLD MATES - I HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE NOW, COURTESY OF ALAN O !!!

Seriously, for any new collectors, find Arnhem Jim's site and download Alan O's brilliant piece - it will save you a fortune I promise you !! Happy Collecting !!!

Home Guard · #8 10-03-23, 05:46 PM

Gary, Don't beat yourself up too badly and we all share the learning curve and have picked up our share of fakes. Do you think it would do any good to contact the eBay seller and tell him you have learned the badges are fakes and want to return them for a refund?

Sadly it is a real minefield, but research and study can serve you well. Also, you will soon develop a cadre of trusted sources, and although even they might make a mistake, they will stand behind it. If you can, buy from reputable dealers or members here on he forum and then you can feel good about what you're buying.

I've been a collector for a good 40 years, but still learn something new everyday, and will tell you that this forum and the people on it have made this hobby very enjoyable for me, plus getting to meet some great people!

Stay with it and enjoy the hobby,

Terry

Gary B · #9 10-03-23, 06:25 PM

Terry, thanks so much, I really appreciate your understanding and guidance.
If anything, I'm now even more determined to convert my duffers to good 'uns, simply to respect of the heroes who wore them.
There's nothing better than picking up a well-worn badge, knowing that the person who wore it, did so to make our world a better place.
Also, I now have a box of duffers to replace, so that in itself is exciting isn't it?
Thanks again Terry - all the best mate
Gary B

Alan O · #10 10-03-23, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary B

In fact - for any other recently hooked, newbie collectors, I have only just come across a wonderful piece written by the Forum's esteemed "Alan O" on the website of a wonderfully named Arnhem Jim.

Within the article, "Alan O" shares his stellar knowledge and tells us how to spot fakes, categorising badges by Corps to make a fantastic guide for beginners (I realise that 98% of the Forum membership will already know this stuff, but for over-keen collectors like myself, this is gold-dust!)

Needless to say, I was in tears after ten minutes, cursing honest-John the e-bay badge-bloke (there's dozens of 'em) and coming to terms with the fact that he/they had been ripping me off for months... BUT NO LONGER MY OLD MATES - I HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE NOW, COURTESY OF ALAN O !!!

Seriously, for any new collectors, find Arnhem Jim's site and download Alan O's brilliant piece - it will save you a fortune I promise you !! Happy Collecting !!!

That's a good decade old. I really should update it! I wrote it for the ebay guide but they later deleted them all for all users.

dubaiguy · #11 10-03-23, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan O

That's a good decade old. I really should update it! I wrote it for the ebay guide but they later deleted them all for all users.

More Alan, I think I saw it in about 2008.
Mark

Alan O · #12 10-03-23, 07:28 PM

I am so old........

Alan O · #13 10-03-23, 07:29 PM

Definitely time for an update.
A copy of the original notes is here: https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2015/...96398360899092

Alan O · #14 10-03-23, 07:34 PM

One of my guides was removed by ebay because it indirectly alluded to the fact that Croft Collectables sold fakes. He complained to ebay and they removed it. He subsequently was convicted for fraud which rather showed that ebay is not on the side of the genuine collector. It remains a gold mine for badges but also the biggest source of fake badges and dodgy dealers selling over priced badge both genuine and all too often fake,

Gary B · #15 10-03-23, 07:47 PM

"Alan O" - I'm writing this from a position of absolute deference - one knee on the floor and head bowed.....(which is pretty tough because I can't see my keyboard, so apologies for any tipoes, sorry, typos...)

The piece you wrote all those years ago is probably more relevant now than it was then. I have so often sat and thought, "why should I waste hard earned money on bottle-tops? A lack of understanding/knowledge/education being the main reason for such depressing concerns....

That said, the Forum and people like you who share their knowledge to help goons like me, helps put things right. So I'm still collecting.

I agree, it IS time for an update and maybe (if law allows) a list of forum members who sell on e-bay so that we lesser-experienced collectors can buy with a little more confidence.

I spent £40 today on a badge that looks fantastic (really, I cant wait to see it in real life - just as soon as Postie comes off his industrial action). I think the dealer is a Forum member (??), but to know he/she is for certain, would make the transaction a whole lot easier. If we on-line buyers KNEW that the sellers were Forum members, I'm sure we'd spend more.

Anyway, thanks so much for the brilliant article - irrespective of how old it is - and yes, please update it....just gotta get up from my supplicant pose now...... Thanks Alan !!!!