Are you a glass seller? Do you sell the odd piece of glass or china, maybe stuff you pick up at an estate sale? Do you know what are the three most important points?
- Condition
- Condition
- Condition.
I recently bought depression glass from a new eBay seller who tried so hard to do everything right. Good communication, fast shipping, she combined purchases to save me money. Unfortunately she didn’t know how to check glass for damage so I ended up with two Georgian Lovebirds dinner plates with large chunks missing and cups riddled with damage. She replaced what she could and was gracious and professional about it. Sadly the replacement cups were also full of small chips around the rim.
She tried, she really did. Of course I left her positive feedback – I’m not going to blast someone who so obviously wants to do a good job – but glass just isn’t this lady’s thing.
The trick is to check everything, and I do mean everything. Every rim on the top and both sides. The handle. The foot. Hold the glass up to see wear. Look in good light. Feel carefully and check anything that is rough or discontinuous. Then describe it as accurately as possible and take good close up photos to show the damage.
As a buyer your best friend is the “ask a question” box. If you know the pattern tends to get nicked on the inner rim then ask. The seller may not notice damage or may be genuinely unaware the inner rims get nicked. If you get glass with undisclosed damage then contact the seller. Remember that honey catches more flies than vinegar so be kind but firm.
What about you? Have you found problems buying glass? Have you found problems selling glass?