An Ebay Listing To Pass On

[Roger Young]

If it wasn't so gross, I probably would not bother, but these exaggerated eBay listings for supposedly "vintage', "authentic", older "display sample" canoes seem to be making a renewed effort of late. Often outright scams, and always totally misrepresented fakes, these things are really just imported repro toys, usually from China and/or Indonesia. Sellers who really know nothing, but claim to have researched them, often describe them as being made by "Old Town", and dating back to the early 1900's. In most cases, they are perhaps 20 years old or less, and are made of cheap balsa with mesh seats, nothing whatsoever like the quality North American cedar and hardwoods, along with caned seats that went into early factory samples made in Canada and the US. Here's just the latest example - something worth about $35 in a souvenir store, but listed for $900 opening bid by a seller who claims it "matches Old Town design":

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Ca...299252?hash=item23a235f034:g:7lQAAOSwzDBbEej6

There have been several such listings recently. Hope no one will be fooled into believing this stuff is anything more than cheap schlock. Caveat Emptor.

 

[Roger Young]

Have to add that, with a little 'encouragement' and a whole lot more accurate info provided to him about what he actually was offering, this seller seems to have thought the better of the situation and has withdrawn his listing. Commendable!!! Wish that others would also be more forthright - two similar pieces have sold recently on eBay for hundreds of $$, passed off as "Old Town samples". In another case, a normally circumspect, well-known, live-sale auction house currently has one of these Chinese imports listed as a "Maine style, ca. 1930 sample", when it is nothing of the sort. Really disturbing in this latter case, since that sales venue not so long ago set the record for the sale of an authentic Old Town 4' display sample at $29,900. You'd kinda think they should recognize an 'impostor' and be able to distinguish it from the real thing. But, then, in this day of "alternative facts", the truth often loses out, it seems. Be on guard.

 

[MGC]

Literally, to pass on....

 

[Leigh]

I was wondering why some of the samples were listed at such a high price.

 

[Roger Young]

Leigh:
Here are a couple of previous 'Forum' threads that should help explain why some samples - those which are authentic, antique, factory 'display' samples or rarely seen Indigenous items - often bring far more money than replica miniatures or cheap, imported toys. Record high prices of $30,000 and even $40,000 for both Indigenous and factory pieces have been set at public auction where there is stiff competition between highly knowledgeable serious collectors, lovers of advertising and sample memorabilia, outdoor enthusiasts, museums and decorators who are all chasing very scarce examples of the real thing. Sometimes, scammers and 'would be' sellers try to pass off fakes/replicas as being authentic; those cases of highly inflated asking prices are unrealistic. Sometimes, vendors who have very little real knowledge of what they are offering become convinced that it is a rare and early item, in which case asking prices can again be unrealistic. It is important to know the difference, as well as to deal with reliable vendors who offer both a written, full description, backed up by a money-back guarantee if unsatisfied. Hopefully the following will give you some insight:

http://www.wcha.org/forums/index.php?threads/asking-prices-canoe-model-or-salesmans-samples.14078/

http://www.wcha.org/forums/index.php?threads/prices-for-antique-‘display-sample’-canoes-holding-up-well.14498/

If you have further questions, just ask away.

Cheers,
Roger Y.

 

[Lickboot]

Thank you