I THINK ITS STERLING SILVER???

I HAVE SEEN THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS IN MANY LISTINGS FOR ITEMS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE STERLING SILVER. STATEMENTS: IT FEELS LIKE STERLING, IT LOOKS LIKE STERLING, THATS WHAT THE ANTIQUE DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS. THATS WHAT THE AUCTIONER SAID IT WASWHEN I WAS BIDDING ON IT. ITS NOT MARKED BUT I KNOW ITS STERLING. I AM SELLING FOR A FRIEND AND THAT ISWHAT THEY TOLD ME IT WAS. WE ONLY GO BY WHAT THE ACTUAL SELLER TELLS US. I AM SURE YOU HAVE HEARD THEM ALL TOO, BUT WHY IS IT THAT NEVER, NOT EVEN ONCE WAS THE ITEM ACTUALLY STERLING? ALSO ANY LISTING THAT CLAIMS THE ITEM TO BE "STERLING?" AND THERE IS A QUESTION MARK AFTER THE WORD STERLING, {SO FAR FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN}, 100% OF THE TIME IS WAS NOT STERLING. WHO DO THESE PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE FOOLING? MY ADVICE IS NOT TO BID ON ANY SUCH ITEMS. LASTLY, MY FAVORITE SITUATION IS WHEN A SELLER STATES THAT THE ITEM IS STERLING SILVER IN THE TITLE BUT LISTS THE gePOSITION AS SILVERPLATE. MAYBE JUST AN ERROR YOU SAY? I SAY NOT, AND I SAY STAY AWAY FROM THAT SELLERS ITEMS. P.S. MAKE SURE YOU LIST THE CORRECT WEIGHT OF STERLING SILVER ITEMS. SCALES DON'T LIE BUT PEOPLE SURE DO..