Very Questionable Item for sale

On the Ebay "Kleinanzeige".

https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/80er-hoefner-hofner-halsplatte-neckplate-e-gitarre-bass/2086191744-74-6828

I have messaged the dealer with this:

As a dealer, you should know that offering this item could, or would lead to fraud.  I would seriously reconsider offering this for sale.

And the seller's reply:

Guten Tag. Als geschäftsfähiger mündiger Bürger muss auch jeder Käufer über die Sachlage und Konsequenzen illegalen Handelns Bescheid wissen. Darum wird die Platte ja auch zur Restaurierung angeboten.

Google translation:

Good day. As a business capable responsible citizen, every buyer must know about the situation and consequences of illegal actions. That's why the plate is also offered for a restoration.

The neck plate is also grossly overpriced...

I sent another reply:

I do not wish to start an argument, but...

A responsible businessman also has a responsibility to prevent a possibility of fraud - in this case with a neck-plate with the manufacturers name (not brand name) AND a serial number.

It is much too easy to slap such a neck plate on to a cheap guitar and then sell it for much more than it is worth - just because a potential buyer saw a known manufacturer's name and a serial number.

I personally know of two cases where a well known neck-plate was mis-used...

Good on ya for raising the issue with the seller Pete.

No doubt there is great potential to create mischief here. And if the price is indeed outrageously high it would indicate that he knows the value of what he has, and what it would ultimately be used for.

On the other hand, what do you do with such a part? A neck plate is not something that wears out or gets lost (unless it's a very extraordinary situation).

He definitely knows what he's got, as he mentions that it is found on Aria's and Vantages - among others.  At 47 Euros opposed to a Hoyer (no serial number, just the name) neck plate that he is offering for only 17 Euros...

At least the listing "make offer".

The seller conceded to my reasoning and removed the listing yesterday.