Fake Picks - eBay
OK, so I finally got fed up of seeing all the fake picks on eBay and decided to put a page here to warn people. This is a page in progress and I will be adding a blacklist on here, of sellers who are known within collector circles. I will also add my list of trusted sellers.
eBay is FULL of fake picks, and unscrupulous sellers who make their living selling fakes. If they have a page stacked with picks. Ask yourself how they managed to get so many 'genuine' picks, day in, day out.
eBay is FULL of fake picks, and unscrupulous sellers who make their living selling fakes. If they have a page stacked with picks. Ask yourself how they managed to get so many 'genuine' picks, day in, day out.
How do you spot a fake pick?
There are different types of fakes.
'SIGNED BY'
Firstly there are picks that are supposedly 'Signed by' the artist. AVOID! These are normally rubbish. Picks are normally tossed in to the audience, not carefully signed! But what if your favorite artist has signed their pick? It isn't impossible that it could've happened.
OK, so look at their other items for sale AND their feedback. You're not interested in the 700 people who are delighted with their 'SIGNED BY PARAMORE' or whoever picks, that they got for $2 or $20. They're simply fans who think they've struck gold and are happy to have the pick. BUT if the seller has sold MORE than one of the same signed pick in the past, then ask yourself how realistic it is that the artist is going to stand there signing picks all evening, that they know would end up on eBay? A genuine fan/collector is likely to have ONE of the exact same pick.
There is a seller at the moment who has been flogging FAKE SIGNED picks since 2006...and they're getting away with it. (eBay aren't interested because it is all income to them). If you check their ID history, they have used at least 9 different ID names since 2006.
Just because someone claims to be a 'guru' doesn't necessarily mean they are 100% legit.
There are a couple of Facebook groups that keep a blacklist of sellers who have sold/been selling fake picks. Basically, if you sell fake picks sometimes, then your whole listing of picks can't be trusted. If you're happy to screw over people, then you deserve to be blacklisted. If you work in the industry, making picks for other people and you decide to keep a few bags for yourself or your wife to sell on eBay, you are blacklisted!
Examples of some: All their picks look blank (no manufacturer make like Dunlop etc.) with a signature scribbled on them. They list them such as:
'My Chemical Romance Autographed Signed Guitar Pick FRANKIE',
'Avenged Sevenfold Autographed Signed Guitar Pick ZACKY V' or Paramore, Green Day, Avenged Sevenfold, 30 Seconds to Mars etc.
There are different types of fakes.
'SIGNED BY'
Firstly there are picks that are supposedly 'Signed by' the artist. AVOID! These are normally rubbish. Picks are normally tossed in to the audience, not carefully signed! But what if your favorite artist has signed their pick? It isn't impossible that it could've happened.
OK, so look at their other items for sale AND their feedback. You're not interested in the 700 people who are delighted with their 'SIGNED BY PARAMORE' or whoever picks, that they got for $2 or $20. They're simply fans who think they've struck gold and are happy to have the pick. BUT if the seller has sold MORE than one of the same signed pick in the past, then ask yourself how realistic it is that the artist is going to stand there signing picks all evening, that they know would end up on eBay? A genuine fan/collector is likely to have ONE of the exact same pick.
There is a seller at the moment who has been flogging FAKE SIGNED picks since 2006...and they're getting away with it. (eBay aren't interested because it is all income to them). If you check their ID history, they have used at least 9 different ID names since 2006.
Just because someone claims to be a 'guru' doesn't necessarily mean they are 100% legit.
There are a couple of Facebook groups that keep a blacklist of sellers who have sold/been selling fake picks. Basically, if you sell fake picks sometimes, then your whole listing of picks can't be trusted. If you're happy to screw over people, then you deserve to be blacklisted. If you work in the industry, making picks for other people and you decide to keep a few bags for yourself or your wife to sell on eBay, you are blacklisted!
Examples of some: All their picks look blank (no manufacturer make like Dunlop etc.) with a signature scribbled on them. They list them such as:
'My Chemical Romance Autographed Signed Guitar Pick FRANKIE',
'Avenged Sevenfold Autographed Signed Guitar Pick ZACKY V' or Paramore, Green Day, Avenged Sevenfold, 30 Seconds to Mars etc.
PRIVATE auctions
If you can't see their feedback, then ask yourself why do they want to hide what they have sold? Do they not want you to see that they have sold 100's of the same 'genuine' pick?!
If you can't see their feedback, then ask yourself why do they want to hide what they have sold? Do they not want you to see that they have sold 100's of the same 'genuine' pick?!
'STAGE USED'
Yeah, but probably only by the seller at his last crappy little gig!
Yeah, but probably only by the seller at his last crappy little gig!