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Roseville Pottery
American Art Pottery
Modern Art Pottery
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On the Net: November/December 2003
Internet sellers are seeing a dramatic increase in the use of counterfeit cashier’s checks and money orders. Over the last month or so, I have heard of numerous cases of fraudulent payments on items ranging from televisions, automobiles and even a farm combine. While I have not heard of the problem directly affecting pottery dealers as of yet, one can only assume that these would-be thieves will soon be hitting the art pottery market. For brick and mortar store sellers, as well as show and Internet dealers there are some important points to keep in mine in order to protect your business from counterfeit cashier’s checks and money orders. The most important thing to remember if you accept bank drafts, cashier’s checks, or money orders is that the payment is worthless until it clears the issuing bank. It is a common misconception that once cashier’s check or money order funds are available in your account that you are safe. Unfortunately, as I have recently come to understand that is simply not the case. Until the payment actually clears the bank that issued the original payment, you are not safe. Reports have indicated that cashier’s checks can take 2 weeks to clear the issuing bank and not the 2 to 3 days commonly believed by most people. As a result, some sellers are now holding shipment or release of the items purchased for up to 2 weeks or until verification is received that the payment has cleared the issuing bank. Another method to minimize your risk of becoming a victim of counterfeit payment fraud, is to insist that the check be drawn on a bank that is local to you and if possible your own bank. That way you can confirm that the account number is valid and the check is good. In our own business, we have recently modified our shipping policies for new customers due to this increased risk. A great resource for additional information on the proliferation of payment fraud related to cashier’s checks, bank drafts, money orders and escrow fraud can be found at www.carbuyingtips.com/fraud.htm. The site offers many applicable tips to avoid fraud and includes photo examples of counterfeit cashier’s checks as well as snapshots of the fraudulent escrow services that have been or are in the process of being shutdown. On a more positive note, PayPal has announced a new fraud protection program that will provide buyer’s coverage up to $500 for not-as-described items or for non-delivery of purchases. Coverage is only available for items sold on eBay and paid for through PayPal. Buyers are limited to two claim awards per year. Regarding last issues’ discussion on the current state of the art pottery market and the future of online buying and selling, I was pleasantly surprised at the number of responses I received. Below are excepts of a few of the comments received: From Peter Siqueland-Gresch: Any brick-and-mortar antiques business may never again evaluate its trade outside of the national and global market framework brought on by the Internet. The traditional customer base has either shifted largely to the online market (collectors) or has taken to the sidelines (interior decorators and homemakers) - sometimes in a sense of bewilderment - due to the rapid price and supply developments of the market. From Ken Stalcup and Dennis Warden: We have been fortunate to recently sell two important pieces on the net… a 1905 Fujiyama vase by Gazo Foudji and a RV blue script dealer sign. The Internet is not dead! These two great pieces sold within a week of each other. From Tom Turnquist: EBay is very well suited for pottery collectors searching for esoteric pots. There is nothing close to eBay that offers rare and hard to find clay objects Rare pots appear on eBay that would never show up at a generic antique mall. I collect pottery by modernist potter Walter Sullivan Roche. Over this last year I have acquired wonderful examples on eBay and the net and none in shops. From Steve Belhorn: I might add that another factor contributing to the lower prices being realized on eBay auctions now is the fact that one person’s definition of “mint” may be much different than another’s. I had a dealer tell me last week that he purchased five items described as “perfect” condition on eBay last month and three of them had either been repaired or had damage. From Ken and Sharon Ballentine: The reduction in quality pots on eBay is definitely dramatic compared to the peak. If you had bought most of your great pots on eBay during the peak you certainly wouldn't want to be listing them now unless you were willing to take quite a loss! Bottom line, I believe this is a great time to be buying on eBay if you have the spare cash, the spare room and the time to sit on the pots (so to speak) until the next boom. Thanks to all for your participation and if you have suggestions for upcoming issues please email me at gregmy@justartpottery.com.
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