View Full Version : Secret Serial Numbers-Why?
Frequently, when people advertise instruments for sale, they list the serial number as 18XXX, or some other way of giving an indication of vintage, but withholding the specific serial number. Why do people do this? Is there some reason why people want to keep the serial number of their specific mandolin a secret? Does this have something to do with identity theft or the Patriot Act? Looking forward to ideas from people who are smarter than me.
Cheers,
Brent
There is absolutey no reason they can not publicly state the serial number unless it is stolen or they are just not knowledgable. All it does is ID the instrument and give info of when it was made. It's not like posting your social security number. People do not counterfeit a particular mando because they have a serial number.
grsnovi
Mar-06-2004, 11:11am
Some folks are extremely paranoid.
I suspect the logic goes like this: I have serial number 12345, I advertise that I am offering serial number 12345 for sale, you fabricate bogus documents/sales receipts indicating that you had purchased serial number 12345 twenty years ago and that it was stolen thinking that the holder of stolen goods ends up high and dry.
Not sure how you get around the lack of a filed police report and/or insurance claim.
or the xxx's are unreadable, as is the case with lot's of older gibsons.
delsbrother
Mar-06-2004, 3:38pm
Most reputable dealers will disclose SNs if asked. Some will not. Non-disclosure doesn't mean the person is dealing in stolen goods... But it could. If non-disclosure bothers you, shop somewhere else. In other words, caveat emptor.
[edit] That's all I have to say about that. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif
John Ely
Mar-06-2004, 4:50pm
I also think it is minor paranoia, because try as I might, I can think of no good reason. Counterfeiters know the accurate serial number ranges, so it can't fight fakes.
mikeomando
Mar-06-2004, 11:31pm
It's one thing to tell a S/N to ONE interested buyer. It's another thing to broadcast it over the 'net. It's not the reasons you can think of that you should or shouldn't display the entire S/N, it's the reasons you can't think of. I don't see many people putting their social security number or their driver's license number, or for that matter, their home phone number in the signatures of their posts.