Dot the i's and cross the t's

[clubesquire]

It's not kosher, it would seem, to use the words 'almost extinct' when describing some extremely rare item!!

The item in question dates back to the 1920's and is indeed excrutiatingly rare. We haven't seen another, anywhere, for many years now and are always looking for them because of their rarity and the prices they demand if you happen onto a goodie.

But, our use of the words 'almost extinct' has been bitterly challenged - in other words, we've been 'caught out' being dishonest. It seems that a particular (lucky) fellow has seventeen (allegedly - but I seriously doubt it) of this item in his own collection. The inference therefore is that we are being misleading and deceptive. Really?

There is one known large collection owned by a fellow in Leicester, England. Outside of that, you just don't come across them now.

Almost extinct? Bad choice of words, or do some people just have too much time on their hands? Seriously!!

I answered politely, of course 🙂

Melina.

[countessalmirena]

Melina, did you have a little fun with the reply?

"Dear [eBayer],

Thank you so much for your enormously helpful communication. The Canalis fumi "nicotiana tabacum" has been classified by the IUCP as having the conservation status of "critically endangered", and thus your report of a significant domestic community of this item numbering 17 is tremendously important.

A representative of the IUCP will be contacting you within the next 48 hours to arrange protection for this rare collection, to ensure its preservation status. You may be eligible for compensation and the IUCP will be informing you of the avenues for pursuing that.

It is in the highest degree imperative that you do nothing to disturb the items of the collection, as any undue handling of these may result in catastrophic damage. Heavy fines and a term of imprisonment of not less than 10 years may be imposed upon anyone endangering members of this rare Canalis fumi "nicotiana tabacum" subgroup.

Yours faithfully,

[name]

[lm-entertainment]

sounds like an absolute knob if you ask me. 

as a poor attempt at an anology - if i had a dinosaur fossil and advertised it as extinct and rare.. the guy with 17 is the equivalent of an archaeological museum or foundation contacting me and saying "well, we've got hundreds.. so you're WRONG!" 

i wouldn't give him the time of day. i don't see anything wrong with the use of words - if he's the only one complaining - he would apparently have that view before buying anyway. you could always go with "extremely rare" or "rare" but i guess that'd raise the same argument from this twit :]

[gutterpunkz05]

Sorry Melina,  10 virtual lashes required.   Maybe the owner of those 17 items is willing to part with them, an offer of a couple of

sheckles for the lot might be in order, given that they are now known to be in such abundance, hardly worth collecting.

[gec2002]

Sounds like Advertising Puffery to me, which is OK not even the the ACCC regards it as misleading.

(‘Puffery’ - Wildly exaggerated or vague claims about a product or service that no one could possibly treat seriously.)

[clubesquire]

Ah Gawd, you've gotta larf!! I just did at the Countess' suggested response 🙂 🙂

Puffery? Is that what it is? I'm a puffer. That's good - dovetails nicely with what we're selling.

It's  all good. I guess the words rare and extremely rare are so often used these days for things that just aren't rare, that they've lost their impact, natural meaning, and are very commonplace. Perhaps the use of the words 'almost extinct' has upset the natural order of things.

I did tell him that we'd pay handsomely for them and to send some pics if he was interested. Nothing back, yet. Seventeen - what a scoop!!

Oh well, Funtime over. Back to work 🙂

Melina. The Puffer!

[enigmabear]

That really needs a Sir David Attenborough voice over

[wide-world-of-stamps]

---

@clubesquire wrote:

Puffery? Is that what it is? I'm a puffer. That's good - dovetails nicely with what we're selling.

Melina. The Puffer!

---

I must have a warped sense of humour (always have had, actually).

I just got a mental image of a PUFFIN in a maroon smoking jacket laying back smoking a very expensive pipe!

Anyone able to illustrate that for me?

[*tippy*toes*]

No maroon jacket, but close enough?

Spoiler

I want a pet Puffin!

[enigmabear]

A puffin Hugh Hefner