Confirmed, reported, or rumor? A collector’s evidence ladder
Early information can be valuable, but only when the label matches the evidence. A simple evidence ladder helps keep excitement from becoming misinformation.
Confirmed
Use confirmed for information supported by a direct, attributable source such as a manufacturer announcement, retailer release page, official event communication, or another source with clear authority over the claim.
Reported
Reported means there is observable evidence but not yet an official confirmation. Examples include multiple independent store sightings, credible photographs, or consistent location-specific reports. Reported information can be highly useful while still carrying uncertainty.
Rumor
A rumor is an unconfirmed claim whose original source may be unclear, indirect, or incomplete. Rumors are not automatically false; they simply have not earned a stronger label yet.
No evidence yet
Sometimes the most useful answer is that there is no supporting evidence available. A lack of evidence should not be filled with a guess merely because the question is popular.
Watch how labels change
Evidence can evolve. A rumor may become reported after store sightings appear, and later become confirmed by an official announcement. Good collector intelligence preserves the timeline instead of rewriting the past as if the final answer had always been known.