|
|
Phone collecting has
become a very popular and enjoyable hobby for many. The
number of phone collectors seems to grow daily. Many of
these collectors have a specific interest in their
collection being original although to others it doesn't
matter.
If you are interested in phone collecting as a hobby,
you should first decide if original in
lieu of reproduction is important to you.
If originality is important, be aware and informed of
what you buy. There are many reproduction phones/phone
parts out there. Phone parts are usually manufactured to
meet specific needs of collectors and "hard to find"
parts at a reasonable cost. Phone collectors are happy
and thankful to be able to find these needed parts.
In my
opinion, there is a big difference between
reproduction and counterfeit.
A counterfeit part or phone is one sold without the
seller disclosing it is a reproduction. When the buyer
is informed an item is a repro, then it is truly a
reproduction.
Bottom line is disclosure.
Sadly,
there are people out there who, either unknowingly or
knowingly, sell counterfeit parts/phones by not
identifying them as reproductions to the uninformed or novice. I
see this all too often on internet auctions. Sometimes
these parts or entire phones sell for a lot of money
(even higher that an original) and the purchaser may not
know for years that they purchased a counterfeit part
and they could have owned an original for less.
Some hints on buying:
-
If the seller doesn't identify an
item as "original" or "NOS" be careful. Remember
that most sellers, when selling an original want the
best price and therefore will most likely state it
is original. If they didn't, ask them if it is
original or a reproduction. They MAY tell you the
truth.
-
Ask advice from an experienced
collector. Most collectors I know of are more than
willing to help. Have pictures ready to show.
-
There are some very informative
phone collector books and guides available. The
minimal investment is well worth it.
|
