Deceptive/Dishonest sellers

[Badhammer]

Question.

Was looking at a Buck on the big auction site and noticed that in none of the photos was the entire blade shown. A photo of the front half and one of the back half but nothing that shows the full blade (we're talking about less than 6" of blade) and the front half photo looks off. Also (this is a folder) in the closed position the knife is positioned so that the tip of the blade isn't quite visible. Then I notice that the length of the blade is listed in the description as less than standard length.

Pretty sure that if a person was shown the full length blade they'd know it had been broken and a new tip formed. IMHO putting the correct, shorter blade length in the description doesn't out weigh what I feel are deceptive photos. Kind of puts me off anything else that seller is offering. I realize it's always "buyer beware" but was wondering what you all think. Does a valid/accurate description make it OK to get a little creative with the pics?

 

[sitflyer]

There's a lot of that out there! I like the sellers who show the knife
laid besides a ruler... if I see questionable pics I check out their other items listed.
Some are just not knife folks and don't understand how to properly show an item.
Others... Well... caveat emptor...

 

[DeSotoSky]

I queried my inventory. I have purchased 80 knives on eBay or about 40% of my collection.
Here's the negative stats.

1 knife lost in mail, seller had delivery confirmation, PO really did loose it.
1 knife differed from picture, seller had more than one, I received a new knife but different variation
1 knife badly misrepresented in description "beautiful unused condition" and the pictures were soft.

I only feel taken by the third one, there were a lot of bidders and I wanted it.... ;o)

The only other negative I have to add is about the shipping.... the seller stuffs a boxed knife in a padded envelope and the box arrives crushed. I had to start "requesting" any boxed knife to be shipped in a separate box. I did have a pocket knife in a early two piece box arrive with the box completely wrapped with tape once also.

All in all I've been pleased with my eBay purchases, just don't get me started on PayPal....
I do tend to be careful about who I buy from generally, good feedback and good pictures, but sometimes it pays to venture a little... I have dealt with many buyers helpful with questions and great number of knives were pleasantly better than described. I think the bad apples are a minority and most of them are more clueless than malicious, but they leave the longest lasting bad taste.

 

[BG42EDGE]

It's a jungle out there.

the bad apples are a minority and most of them are more clueless than malicious

That's about it.....you have to protect yourself against both the dumb and the devious.