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24-Sep-08 |
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Ethics question
When you see an obvious error in a description on ebay where a seller is mistakenly attributing an item to a certain designer, do you ever feel obligated to email them and tell them of their error?
For example, there is a seller right now selling what he/she is calling a "Saarinen tulip chair" with a starting price of 95 USD. It's obviously a Burke. The seller didn't say Saarinen style or era or manner or any other of those words that hedge his/her bets.
Do you think the seller wants/needs to know of their error? Or do you just let it slide? Is that just being snooty because you know more than they do, or is it truly a public service to educate them (and their potential buyers)?
I kind of feel like the seller should be told. What do you think?
http://cgi.ebay.com/modern-fiberglass-Saarinen-Tulip-Chair-4...
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posted by Riki
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24-Sep-08 |
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If you let 'em know nicely, then
they should appreciate your knowledge. Most of the incorrect listings are due to ignorance.
If, however, the seller's trying to pull a fast one, then they might get pissed.
Either way, there's no moral issue about correcting anyone at anytime, so long as you do it nicely.
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posted by barrympls
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24-Sep-08 |
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I usually let the seller...
I usually let the seller know that the piece is a knock-off. I have a daybed that is a knock-off of the Hans Wegner daybed. My parents bought it for me when I graduated. Anyhoo, I saw the same daybed selling on ebay a few months back being listed ads a Wegner piece. I informed the seller that is was a knock-off. He was convinced it was an authentic piece. Many sellers are just clueless about what they actually have. If it looks similar, they think it must be by the big-name designer.
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posted by Cloudburst2000
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24-Sep-08 |
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Any item held out to the world at public auction...feel free to inform.
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posted by azurechicken
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25-Sep-08 |
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I always try to be positive
I've informed a few people that something is mislabeled. Most times I'll say it like "Is this labelled Knoll? Because it looks a little like a Burke piece." Or "I think this is a Burke piece - but there is still a market for collecting Burkes"
Only once did I have someone get really snarky on me. He listed a clear Plycraft lounge as Herman Miller, claiming HM authorised other manufacturers to make variations on the chair. When I politely informed him he was mistaken he got all huffy and claimed he had written information proving it. Written info that, when requested by me, wasn't delivered. Lol. Not surprisingly.
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posted by LuciferSum
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26-Sep-08 |
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In the case of the above...
In the case of the above "Saarinen" chair, I probably wouldn't say anything because he's not stating it's KNOLL, ORIGINAL, or AUTHENTIC. Sure, perhaps he should pair "style" with
"Saarinen", but almost nobody does. It's only if they were to state "KNOLL", "Authentic", "Original", etc with the word "Saarinen" would I say anything. And I do correct sellers when they have something wrong.
fm
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posted by Fungus Mungus
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29-Sep-08 |
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ethics vs. legal
Riki,
Ebay is not bound by an ethical code, only a legal doctrine (and rather loose at that). The best way to be become a better map maker is to show your map to another map maker. Share your knowledge.
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posted by Ark of Decorative Arts
edited on 30-Sep-08 05:46 AM [edit]
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30-Sep-08 |
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Run-on sentence?
"2 Original off white eggshell color late 1950's Eero Saarinen Knoll associates although i believe these are pre knoll Fiberglass Modern industrial eames miller furniture era tulip armchairs each armchair is numbered under fiberglass they sit on a rare one piece base aluminum molded swivel pedestals they turn 360 degrees and are in very good condition and are solid."
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posted by woodywood
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An interactive place to share your questions and reflections about
modern & post-modern design. |
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