In defence of this seller, she was just starting on eBay and this was the only piece of glass she's sold. I did buy it for $8.00 and the shipping she quoted was going to end in her getting something like $3.00 for the vase. To an untrained eye the piece looks OK; it's when you look at the base that it becomes clear. Craig as usual makes excellent sense. However, there's a residual bit of a gambler in me. I quite like taking chances, especially for under $15.00, but I do look over the seller's feedback and what has been sold recently before committing myself.
I'll put a picture of my shame on if anyone's interested. I suppose my feelings are slightly warped by the fact that I got an FT bird, two AVeM bowls, and a lovely little Archimede Seguso piece for not much about the same time. They're not great glass but solid. I'll put pictures of them on, too, perhaps later tonight. And the major triumph: they all arrived unblemished!
David