You spotted a fake, had your seizure,and I learned nothing.

[Zach Wheat]

DP,

Completely agree with you. This was probably one of the most frustrating things I encountered when I started using the Forum a number of years ago. Re: fakes, some times it is a lot of little things that are just not consistent with an authentic card including intangibles like seller feedback & descriptions.

There is a lot to learn from people on this board. There is just so much accumulated knowledge, I would hate to be a fraud steer trying to pull one over on people.

Do a quick search on some of the April fools day posts. Early on someone would try to create fraudulent cards with a backstory....just for fun...to see if they could fool people. It always amazed me how fast people could figure things out. Makes for good reading if you can find the links.

Z Wheat

[EvilKing00]

I would also love to hear the reasons / differences bet fakes and the real deal in what ever card is in question. Love learning new things.

[D.P.Johnson]

Originally Posted by Zach Wheat

DP,

Completely agree with you. This was probably one of the most frustrating things I encountered when I started using the Forum a number of years ago. Re: fakes, some times it is a lot of little things that are just not consistent with an authentic card including intangibles like seller feedback & descriptions.

There is a lot to learn from people on this board. There is just so much accumulated knowledge, I would hate to be a fraud steer trying to pull one over on people.

Do a quick search on some of the April fools day posts. Early on someone would try to create fraudulent cards with a backstory....just for fun...to see if they could fool people. It always amazed me how fast people could figure things out. Makes for good reading if you can find the links.

Z Wheat

Thanks. One of the problems with the growth of message boards (and the internet in general) is the VAST storage of knowledge. Nowadays, people don't necessarily have to EVER ask any questions or start new threads if they simply search long and hard enough. That being said, if a message board wants to grow and accumulate new members, they need to encourage all members (and especially the veteren members) to ask questions and/or participate in the threads. If not, people will not feel welcome, they won't participate, and they'll find somewhere else to go. Eventually the board will stagnate and die...

[Leon]

Originally Posted by D.P.Johnson

Thanks. One of the problems with the growth of message boards (and the internet in general) is the VAST storage of knowledge. Nowadays, people don't necessarily have to EVER ask any questions or start new threads if they simply search long and hard enough. That being said, if a message board wants to grow and accumulate new members, they need to encourage all members (and especially the veteren members) to ask questions and/or participate in the threads. If not, people will not feel welcome, they won't participate, and they'll find somewhere else to go. Eventually the board will stagnate and die...

I have confidence we won't stagnate. We average 100+ new, registered members per month and have for several years running. I merely pointed to the alterations section because there is great info there. That being said, I agree with Barry in that no one should fear asking any hobby related question. That's what the board is here for, essentially.

[CaramelMan]

Originally Posted by D.P.Johnson

Thanks. One of the problems with the growth of message boards (and the internet in general) is the VAST storage of knowledge. Nowadays, people don't necessarily have to EVER ask any questions or start new threads if they simply search long and hard enough. That being said, if a message board wants to grow and accumulate new members, they need to encourage all members (and especially the veteren members) to ask questions and/or participate in the threads. If not, people will not feel welcome, they won't participate, and they'll find somewhere else to go. Eventually the board will stagnate and die...

But three is nice polite way, and a wise ass way to ask for something...

There is a difference and for me personally it matters in wanting to help someone or not..

When I first read your post, I thought you were a scammer trying to figure out how to do a better job next time...that's how you came across newbie.

[D.P.Johnson]

Originally Posted by caramelman

when i first read your post, i thought you were a scammer trying to figure out how to do a better job next time...that's how you came across newbie.

Wut???

[Runscott]

I think he was referring to your 'bull in a china closet' entrance.

[D.P.Johnson]

Originally Posted by Runscott

I think he was referring to your 'bull in a china closet' entrance.

I didn't start the thread......

[Runscott]

Sorry about that - you and the OP seemed to be on the same wavelength, and I got the two of you confused.

My apologies.

[barrysloate]

For people who have been in the hobby for a long time, fakes are often easy to detect, and will usually have something obviously wrong with them. For a beginner, it is of course more difficult.

Most of the discussions on this board concerning fakes, as well as virtually every aspect of card collecting, are about T206's. And most of the bad cards we see come from that set. Typically, a fake T206 will have the wrong font, the wrong color lettering (black instead of brown), wrong back color (such as red Piedmonts or Sovereigns), have borders that are too wide, or have a front/back combination that cannot possibly exist. Learning all of this takes time, and nothing is better than to handle as many actual cards as possible. It is always easier to spot a fake or altered card by holding it, not by viewing a scan.

Sometimes the fakes are not as obvious, and much more difficult to detect online. In these cases, often the "tell" is the wording of the description. When you see a really funky looking card, and the seller states his grandfather left it to him when he died, you should always be really suspicious.

And of course you should feel free to ask questions on this board without fear of reprisal.