I may have over-stepped my boundaries...

[Jim]

I just found this item listed on greenbay and couldn't help myself...

1950s ROYAL CROWN COLA DOUBLE SIDED TIN / IRON FLANGE ADVERTISING SIGN
Rare Original Two Sided Sign For Royal Crown Cola

Correct me if I'm wrong, and I'm not trying to be ebay police, but does anyone else see an issue with this item as being fraudulent...?
I sent the following message:

Hello,
In an attempt to be fair to potential customers, I would like to inform you that this is sign is a reproduction!  I have several re-issues as well as their original counter-parts just so I could verify signs that may be sold as "Original Old".
The sign is marked, "Manufactured By Stout Marketing, St. Louis, Mo 9511238 / Authorized by Royal Crown Co., Inc. / Total Production - 750" to eliminate the confusion between an "Originally Old" & "Re-Issued" signs.  Back in the late 1980's early 1990's quite a few signs were reproduced and ALL where labeled with Production Numbers such as your sign!
Moreover, I can see the edge has NO Paint which is constant with the Re-Issue version, and original flange signs have paint on the edges!
Lastly, test the sign with a magnet and you will be surprised to find it is not tin!
I sincerely hope you correct this misleading item within the short time left or be forced to deal with ebay's fradulent department.
Thank you for your time & consideration!

I normally don't jump in on things like this, but something told be to set things right!
Any input or suggestions welcome...

[jholmgren]

I just found this item listed on greenbay and couldn't help myself...

1950s ROYAL CROWN COLA DOUBLE SIDED TIN / IRON FLANGE ADVERTISING SIGN
Rare Original Two Sided Sign For Royal Crown Cola

Correct me if I'm wrong, and I'm not trying to be ebay police, but does anyone else see an issue with this item as being fraudulent...?
I sent the following message:
I normally don't jump in on things like this, but something told be to set things right!
Any input or suggestions welcome...

Jim if you are 100% certain, I don't think you've overstepped at all.  It is very disappointing for what appears to be a very reputable vendor on eBay to be so blatantly incorrect.  Hopefully it is a simple matter of being mislead by whomever they purchased it from and they will remove or edit the auction.   If anyone is curious and wants to stop by their shop with a magnet     they are located in Brewster, MA.

[Eric]

It even says “Total production of 750....” There should be a date also in the rest of that small text.
These are Kenny Seahs signs produced around 1995 or so... These are great if you can't afford the
high price of a mint original... These were dated.  Shame the seller doesn't mention the date.

[HowDueYouDue]

I agree, if youre 100% right, no bounds overstepped.

Personally, I think its good when people try to help with matters like this.

[collecture]

There were no production numbers printed on signs from the 50's! Why?
This guy hasn't answered you (I'm guessing) and he probably won't.
I used to tell eBay sellers of their listing mistakes, but don't anymore. A few would inform their bidders, some would say thanks for the info (but never change the listing) and most would just ignore my message.
Buyer Beware!

[Eric]

There was also a time at eBay you could “click” on the bidder and warn them about the item I remember doing that a couple times
when the seller wouldn't change the posting... So always bid on what you know... the “Total Production” statement should be enough
for a seasoned collector.

[jholmgren]

There was also a time at eBay you could “click” on the bidder and warn them about the item I remember doing that a couple times
when the seller wouldn't change the posting... So always bid on what you know... the “Total Production” statement should be enough
for a seasoned collector.

There is a "Report Item" link, I think you could report it as fraudulent.

[jholmgren]

I thought I would chime in with Jim and see if maybe multiple emails might get a reply.  I got a response in a few hours:

Thanks Jim,
You are the first to mention this but we will surely inform the high bidder - everything we sell has an unconditional, life time guarantee of authenticity and we certainly do not want to mislead anyone.
Thanks again,
Tom

- walnutts

Well - I guess IF TRUE that is a fair response.

- Jim

Jim

[davethebirdman]

There is no truth in that statement... Jim (the other one) has already told him this and yet the auction continues. Why tell the high bidder and not everyone else.
Lying scumbag...

[jholmgren]

There is no truth in that statement... Jim (the other one) has already told him this and yet the auction continues. Why tell the high bidder and not everyone else.
Lying scumbag...

You know Dave - after I posted, I thought the same thing you did - why only tell the high bidder?   Regarding his "you are the first to mention it" comment, I could see maybe if Jim and I were the only two to contact him, and they have a lot of messages about their auctions, perhaps mine was the first message he read.   

Then I was even tempted to BE the high bidder and see if I was told this nugget of information.  He would already have my eBay ID from my prior email and I really don't have the time to mess with it, so I put that thought out of my head pretty quickly.

[jbrooks]

there is a bunch of these conversations going on over at oldgas right now.  they have been reporting the items to ebay and have been having lots of success

[Jim]

The seller replied with the following:

Thanks,
You are the first to mention this but since eBay does not allow us to end an auction in the last 12 hours we will surely inform the high bidder and cancel the sale - everything we sell has an unconditional, life time guarantee of authenticity and we certainly do not want to mislead anyone.
Thanks again,
Tom

So, if he's sincere, he'll follow through with what he states...
After reading, I see that I'm redundant with Jim

[Eric]

Really?.. I thought you could end an auction anytime....
Also... He could contact the bidders now... or update the info or at least post the messages that have been sent.
I'm going watch this just to see the buyers feedback....

[rayg]

I'm with you on this one Jim, anyone selling something can make a mistake, but when someone of your credibility points out it's a repo any honest person would then update the describe of the item to reflect that it's a repo and not an original. By doing what he say (I have my doubts) just telling the highest bidder he already falsly drove up the price of the item

[BrianS]

In a little late on this, but I don't see how giving multiple pieces of factual information could be overstepping your boundaries.  It might be one thing if it was just a hunch and you sent a nastygram calling it a fake, but a well written email with multiple verifiable facts should be looked at as a favor by the seller if they are actually concerned with selling a legitimate product.  I was glad to read you comments.  I think old signs are great but have never really pursued any due to a lack of knowledge about them.  I just learned a couple good facts for future reference.

[davethebirdman]

Its not possible to end an item in the last 12 hours if you have a bid on it. So the seller is right there. Perhaps on reflection he is going to do the decent thing
and allow the auction to end and then inform those bidding that its a repro. Hope so. He does have his money back gaurantee so maybe he is a good guy.
We'll have to wait and see, from his feedback in due course.

[bcharlton]

Jim,

I can not see where the sign reads Stout Sign 750 etc.  Is it in the EBAY pictures?

Brian

[Eric]

It's in the fold/break of the flange... you can't read it from the pictures but can see it.... check completed listings you can see one there.
I have one of these signs... nice for $30 but not $200+