Dealing With Fakes

Nothing is more disappointing than finding out that the beloved antique you put so much thought and effort into (as well as a fair amount of money) is not the genuine article you thought it to be. This can come as a real blow to someone who has spent a great deal of time working on obtaining a certain piece or a lot of money purchasing what they thought was a valid piece of history. However, once you’ve recovered from the shock there are some important steps you can take to either get your money back or to take action against the dealer who sold it to you if you believe it was an intentional mislead on their part.

The most important thing to have in your possession when it comes to fake antiques is a cope of authentic documentation stating what the piece is with a fair amount of description and how the piece came into possession of the dealer as well as it’s history, any repairs or extensive cleaning that may have been done to it as well as a rock solid guarantee that the piece is authentic. If you have this kind of documentation you’ll be much better off when it comes to recuperating lost funds after discovering the truth about a piece. It’s also wise to have copies of any research you have done that will back up your claims of in-authenticity as well as any appraisal work you have done.

If you suspect that your dealer intentionally mislead you then there are some important things you need to consider before you take any action against them. The first is being certain that the dealer was certainly aware of the pieces true origin and was scamming you for profit. If you see six of your “antique” sitting on the shelf in another store it’s safe to say the dealer knew it was a fake simply because he would have had to acquire it from  a wholesale manufacturer to sell it. If the piece has had a great deal of “fixing or repair work done to it that may have decreased it’s value or to make the piece look to be something other than it is that is also grounds for you taking serious steps. Now there are circumstances when a good dealer may be unaware of a pieces authenticity just like you were so before doing anything drastic simply return to the dealer and explain the situation as well as your knowledge of it and ask for a full refund. If the dealer claims ignorance then let it be so long as you get all of your money back.

Now if your dealer insists that you should be taking the fall and won’t return your money that’s when you have to get serious with him. Be polite but firm and request that all your money be returned because of the pieces in-authenticity regardless of whether or not the dealer was aware of it. If the dealer still continues to refuse to return your money then you may want to threaten to sue or file charges of some kind in order to get your money back. This should concern your dealer enough that they’ll offer to make some kinds of amends but be sure to hold up your end. Any false threats of legal action will be seen right through by an experienced dealer so mean what you say. It’s your money and you deserve to have it returned to you so don’t take no for an answer. Remind them that a lawsuit can very well ruin the reputation of an antiques dealer and be frank about how serious you are.

If the dealer still continues to refuse to give you your money back then hold good on your promises and file charges against the dealer and press to have your money returned to you immediately. More often than not when the threat of a serious lawsuit shows up a dealer will want to get it settled as quickly and quietly as possible so that there aren’t any negative effects on their end. Be firm but polite in your dealings and you’ll more than likely get your money back sooner rather than later.