I take what sellers say with a grain of salt, and figure on doing my own cleaning if I get an estate pipe. I usually try to make informed choices based on the photos. My biggest complaint is when an advertiser has little to say, or very little description, and says the photos are part of the description, and for your information about the pipe. But when I look at the pictures, many times they're dark, blurry, poor resolution, etc. When they can't even be bothered to list the stampings on the pipe, and their photos are so bad you can't tell what it says, I just move on. Whether they're trying to be evasive about the condition, or stampings, or whether they're just lazy, stupid, or don't care. I don't feel the need to do business with them. Like the saying, "There's plenty of fish in the sea", I just look else where.
If I sell anything on any site, I try to treat the buyer like I would like to be treated myself. Good descriptions, with total disclosure, and decent pictures so they know just what they're buying. I know you can't please everyone, but it really doesn't take that much effort to at least try.
Ok, I'm done preaching now. Take a deep breath and go smoke something you like!
