Top TEN Red Flags That a Seller is Offering a Fake:

• 1. The seller offers no guarantee of authenticity or the ad is full of disclaimers regarding age and origin of the item
  
  
• 2. The seller found the piece at an "estate sale" of a 90 year old lady, at a flea market under some rusty tools, or in the "Southern Hills" (thank you Fayes_Southern_Memories)
  
  
• 3. The jar has a very distinct, heavy crazing covering the entire jar, usually inside and out
  
  
• 4. The seller has many, many auctions, all featuring vintage ceramic items with the above descriptions.
  
  
• 5. The Size is not quite right -- lightweight or shorter; The colors seem "off". Know your pieces.
  
  
• 6. You've never seen or heard of the jar, but the seller has sold more than one (Learn to check closed auctions). Any phrase like "never put into production" or "not in the collector books" should make you hit the back button IMMEDIATELY
  
  
• 7. Many more bidders than what is typical. Fake sellers are notorious for shill bidding.
  
  
• 8. It is a private auction or private feedback or both. Ceramics sellers with private feedback is a HUGE red flag. No reputable seller will ever do this.
  
  
• 9. Uses "new", "new unused condition" or "new production" in describing the item. Look to see what eBay category the item is listed in, vintage or modern. Report fakes listed in the wrong category.
  
  
• 10. Seller never actually says made by (**vintage company**), but instead refers to the mark, saying "marked --- " or "has --- on the bottom".