| Original Message: Advice; Not "Judgment." |
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Hi Stefany, I do not believe Joyce has offered a suggestion that price is a sole determinant in authenticating a bead. I would imagine that she—and anyone—understands that it is always possible for a bead to be offered for a fraction of its value, if not recognized by the seller as being worth more. Finding such a bargain is something we all might hope to experience at one time or another. Nevertheless, a truism that I promote at any appropriate time is this: An unscrupulous seller will OFTEN try to sell a fake at a price that is higher then the actual value of the bead, but MUCH LOWER than the value if the bead were authentic. As an example, A Roman Period face bead might be worth $3000. A copy of this bead might be worth $30. The unscrupulous seller will try to get $300—thus making ten times the actual value of the item, all the while making it appear that he/she is letting it go at a great loss. THIS is what should make any potential buyer see a RED FLAG. Beads that seem to be offered at a severely reduced price are often misrepresented fakes. In the instance you are discussing, there is no overt misrepresentation—clearly—because the seller prices the bead low because he/she does not recognize it as valuable. It is not a suggestion that there are no bargains on the horizon. And, this is only one step in determining likely misrepresentation and attempted fraud. Jamey All rights reserved by Bead Collector Network and its users |
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