How many times have you read something like this in an ad in the button listing area "I know nothing about buttons but here's an exceptionally rare 18th century gutta percha button". Huh? If you know nothing about buttons, where are you coming up with claims like this? What ever happened to sellers being concerned that they get it right instead of just guessing?
Ok, I am playing devil's advocate because there are plenty of button shoppers who don't mind idle guesswork. They figure they might swoop in and make a find few have noticed due to the ignorance of the seller. Come on, this might have happened when eBay was in it's infancy, but what items get overlooked these days which are worth bidding on? Never happens to the items I bookmark for bidding on later.
Of course, we should cut the uneducated a break which I'm more than willing to do, until they start with that "I know nothing" opening line and then go on to make all kinds of claims they can rarely back up and likely have no clue are true or not. I often contact sellers like this and try to help if I can. Most of the time they tell me to buzz off or swear they saw the same button in a book or in someone else's ad. They just don't "get it" that it really is THEIR responsibility to research what they are selling and try to get it right without copying other wrong descriptions or using sheer guesswork. Yes, it's "bidder beware" and we always have to remember that but I sure would like to see the uneducated quit guessing and writing fiction about the buttons they are selling. It's epidemic!
I just finished looking at an ad for a framed bunch of buttons described as "gutta percha". The buttons, in reality, were hard rubber (called "Goodyear" rubber by collectors due to the patent backmark) and dyed/pressed horn. Not one gutta percha in the lot. In fact, there are gutta percha buttons and they do look "something" like hard rubber but those designs are far and few between. Sheer guesswork in that ad I'd say. Another seller, new to buttons, wants to put "bakelite" on everything whether she's tested or has a clue what they are. She says they get more hits. Another keyword spammer in the making. And, today I saw 5 ads by one seller described as rare "satsumi" buttons when they were all glass. And, what's a "satsumi" anyway? I've heard of Satsuma but not that thing.
Ok, I'm ranting and raving again but...hey it beats kicking the boyfriend, LOL. Add your rants please. Let's keep it about the button listing area ok?
-Carol- Mad as heck and not going to take this anymore!
