I'm six out of seven for instruments on e-Bay. I've bought an SS Stewart archtop, a Yamaha 12-string, a bouzouki, a Yamaha classical, an SS Stewart banjo, and a couple of old Kay archtops. Only got burned on one of the Kay archtops (neck separated from the body), which the seller claimed ignorance about, and I believe she was truly ignorant. It just didn't show up in the pix. If YOU know what you're looking at you will seldom get burned, and it's better to ask for close-up pictures than to ask questions. NicoleC is quite right- the vast majority know exactly what they have, and you should be suspicious of the "...looks like a dreadnought, but I'm not sure..." guys. Sorry your experience with the Hagstrom was so bad- hope you didn't pay much for it.