what if the news is going to be disappointing, what then?

This is a true story, I had to learn the hard way. I not only lost a customer but he chose to back out of a purchase because I told the truth. From this end it looked like I was going behind his back. But I had nothing to gain, the only thing I wanted to do was gain the confidence of a new customer.

This customer who will remain nameless lived outside of Philadelphia and had heard about me and we arranged to meet. He fell in love with a pair of Meissen mirrors and arraanged to buy them.

He also showed me a collection of 'Meissen" he had just purchased from a dealer known to me. My mistake was telling him I knew about this dealer. He then asked me my opinion about his purchases telling me that although he had agreed to buy them he hadnt hadnt handed over any money. There were about a dozen or so pieces and he told me they had cost him a hundred grand. When I told him that items were not only over priced but half were Meissen fakes, he was taken a back he didnt believe me.  Since he knew I knew the dealer he had bought the items from he thought I was giving him information that I wanted to give other than what he wanted to hear. Of course no one wants to hear bad news and it pains me everytime I have to tell but I believe i in honesty ,  I had nothing to gain, he thought differently, three months later he purchased one of the mirrors and I never heard from him again.  I was sad and disappointed because telling the truth cost me a customer. I was sad to because this collector might make the same mistake again. 

About fve years ago I ran into some collectors who knew me althouth were not my customers. They too had bought some 'Meissen' from and Irish dealer, but had not paid, I told them to return the items if they could!.

Please be aware that it pains me everytime I have to deliver bad news but, I believe the truth is important even if pain is inevitable.  We all can make mistakes, I have made my fair share and would like to think I learn from them. Buymeissen is about learning and sharing. If any of you wish to do so you can ask a question in the forum and anyone is free to answer and give their opinion.