Now, ladies. . .
Having been the object of this forum's scorn, I can only say that it is no fun to be in your sights, regardless of how innocent a seller may be. Self-appointed brats try to justify their accusatory tone and aggressive behavior because there have been frauds, but your style is ready, FIRE, aim. Just because a guy doesn't know the specs or the model of a guitar, you start stacking the wood for the witch burning? Think I exaggerate? Check how many of these e-bay and for sale posts begin with suspicion of a seller. It's epidemic. Methinks you guys enjoy this aspect of your alembic ownership too much. You stare down from your hippie sandwich Olympus and accuse the poor of trying to steal all your sacred copper.
I have had a couple alembics recently that I thought about keeping, but whenever I looked at them, I thought of how ugly the forum members can be, and I decided that I really didn't want anyone to think I belonged to that club, even by association.
There are two schools of thought on serial numbers, in case you astute ebay members haven't noticed. There is the school that offers full disclosure and the school that does not release the serial number. Both claim to be concerned with security. And that's THEIR choice, not yours. They paid for their auction. If you don't like it, click your mouse and move on--but it doesn't indicate a thief. Of course when a scammer does list an item, he either has to give the SN or hide it, so this is the old eating carrots causes car wrecks argument. And, btw, I have had a bass packed when I was asked a question and I too refused to unpack it.
I see hundreds of hijacked identity auctions for gibsons, fenders and rickenbackers every week, but nobody has ever accused me of selling a fake fender or gibson because of someone else's auctions.
Isn't this a forum for adults who can take care of themselves, by themselves? I mean, really, is this what gentlemen do after they buy a nice guitar? Preen and coo and accuse? You should be ahsamed of yourselves.