We have noticed an increase in the number of items listed on the web as ‘Made in Nippon’ or where the word ‘Nippon’ is used as a substitute for ‘Japan’ somewhere in title, category or description. In each instance it was apparent this had been done for the sole purpose of including that important keyword in the listing, though it is actually only relevant to an entirely different collecting niche.

SMALL SUBJECTS - GREAT PHOTOS: On the Internet, good photos sell products – without them items may languish without so much as a peek from a potential customer. Your photos should reflect pride in your site and the items you offer. Attractive photos signal that you mean business, literally. They should engage the viewer, enticing them to look further, to read the description, and then hit the "Purchase Now" button.

It is probably safe to say that the metric system is not a mode of measurement most shop owners or customers in the United States are proficient in deciphering despite the U.S. Government’s attempt some years ago to bring the metric system into practical use in the United States. Older Americans, in fact, tend to avoid using it altogether. Meanwhile, most of the rest of the world uses it exclusively.

"Bright Red Glass Vase - a Lovely Shade of Sky Blue!"

OK, just how is it that something red can also be blue? If the above title grabbed your attention only because it seemed a somewhat silly, illogical statement, then it should be easy to understand why a misnamed glass item in a listing might also grab the attention of someone knowledgeable about glass.

Visitors and Ruby Lane shop owners are invited to contribute articles to the Ruby Lane Notes from The Lane Blog. Topics may include educational information on virtually any aspect of collecting or selling online, as well as personal experiences in the field, tips for e-commerce success, and even stories with a humorous tone.

Attribution is a term often misunderstood and/or misused. The meaning is sometimes confused with, or intended to be a substitute for the word identification. An attribution remains only the subjective declaration or opinion of the researcher(s), even after careful research of a unique unmarked item is conducted and documented, with an aim toward arriving at a credible conclusion.

Design patents refer to any new ornamental design for manufactured items. The patent number found on a piece of jewelry is usually the design patent. This type of patent only protects appearance; it does not cover or protect structure or the utilitarian functions of the item. To help date items with patent numbers that reference original inventions or mechanical operation, please see the Patent Date Table 1836 –1990 article.

Vintage is a popular word to use when referencing antiques or collectibles and it is open applied inappropriately. On one e-commerce website we found 40,000 listings that utilize the term, so obviously it is a popular adjective. Frequently the term ‘vintage’ is used poorly and often in such a way as to be misleading because it implies an item is of considerable age when it is not.

The post office usually delivers a glossy new retail catalog or two (or fifty) to most homes during the holiday season. Whether offering children's toys, jewelry, or country hams, the cover of a commercial catalog will suggest itself to be full of superlative items for gifting or entertaining. What would one tend to think if inside the cover of a "Country Smokehouse" catalog the full page display of an item for sale had only a two word description:

Online you will find e-commerce antique and collectible site owners who sell as authoritative individuals in their chosen field, and some who are just starting out. The Internet plays host worldwide to respectable and serious minded professional individuals, malls and galleries, as well as 'Mom and Pop' shops. Some sell full time as established businesses, while others see their online shop as only a part-time endeavor to supplement their income.