SCF Member Serious Collector V Turned Serious Ebay Seller?

How do you feel about a SCF member that was a serious collector that has now turned into a serious eBay seller/dealer? I fit this description! And I have no one else in mind!

There is no way you can offend me. A few have already tried.
I am very interested!
KGV.

I don't think that is necessarily a concern to anyone is it?
I have not sold stamps on Ebay, but I have sold to local club members, the difference is that it is face to face instead of across the internet. It may sound pompous and/or naive, but its just a matter of treating people how you yourself would wish to be treated isn't it?
On the other hand I do sometimes converse with ebay dealers who themselves are collectors, one is especially knowledgable on old GB stamps.
Are you continuing to collect, or is this a way of selling off all or part of your collection?

KGV Collector, no problems it's your democratic right and might I add with your morals/generosity the future looks happy and successful. We're temporary custodians of our accumulations, eventually the time comes when one must sell some items to new custodians.

P.S. I don't have is a Salmon Eosin KGV 1d. How are you for those.?

If things were different I would not be selling my collection at all.
It was so hard to put together but for family I am selling heaps for at least the next 3 to 4 year. There will not be much left by then. My wife is a lot happier with money not totally stressing her out and she is not ageing as much now. It is one of the family rewards I am getting that does count for me. I can only buy at my auctions after family approval and it is taken very seriously. I am not afraid to say it is hurting me!

But no one gets my penny reds but to be honest my family does not know I am holding them back.

finches I do not have or ever had a beautiful Salmon Eosin penny red.
The closest I ever got was with an onion bag of penny reds I sorted for a stamp dealer when I was 6 years old believe it or not. One was a darker shade and 2 lighter shades. Never found any ever again. I put them in the very unusual pile. There was a good postmark pile, and many shade piles with a fine used pile next to each shade pile that were made up by myself but the dealer liked how I did it and I felt very special.

Always Happy Stamping! John

Good for you my friend! A happy home is important, and I think you are making choices that definitely show you respect and value your relationships with your family!

I have a similar rule: (although I have been breaking it lately) I can only spend $coots on stamps once I have sold some extras, that way I never dip into the households finances.

Good Luck with all your sales!

Skilo54

No problem here...i don't think I would ever qualify as a serious eBay seller..but I have disposed of some unneeded items on eBay...i enjoy the buying/collecting more than the sales !!

KGV, I actually applaud your decision and I do not think there is any detriment at all to the forum just because a knowledgible and committed collector has changed focus to become a knowledgible and committed dealer. It is sharing the love and lore of collecting that is important to the success of this forum.

There is a very interesting sub-thread going on here as well. Just how to successfully continue to work with stamps without damaging family relationships. Especially if your nearest and dearest do not share your enthusiasms and, admittedly, your occasional over-enthusiastic approach to acquisitions.

I know that in my case money has always been a consideration. Even in retirement, anything more than out of pocket purchases is done with the knowledge and approval of my spouse. That is why most purchases are of collections or accumulations rather than coveted single items. The hours of work outweigh the joy of a perfect item for me and there is an opportunity to sell on and at least partially finance the next purchase.

Because we are contemplating a move into new accomodations in a new city, there may now have to be a sale of at least some of my main collection but I do not regret the decision to do this if necessary. It's just part of the evolution of my life circumstances and that is something that ties in more than just me.

Best of luck, KGV, and I hope to continue to enjoy your postings for years to come.

No worries on this end. I sell occasionally too (less lately). I think it's another terrific avenue for getting rid of extra stuff, funding the kitty to buy more. It's a means to an end as far as I'm concerned.

John,

Congratulations on your decision to put family first. I can't speak for the others but that just increases your stature in my book! Best of luck to you on your eBay venture.

Steve

I'm just wondering how you can afford the fees. I'm opting out of selling on Ebay because the fees are ridiculous.

It is so nice to wake up and read all the very kind words, thanks to all.
This issue was dragging me down that is for sure. For me it is very much being court between two stamping worlds of selling and collecting. It has been hard getting use to being a seller.So many of my collecting habits have changed. But their are new stamping habits that are giving me a lot of fun. All I need is a bit more time and it will balance out. It means a great deal to me that so many people have reached out to help me. Some situations at times get very lonely for us all. It is good to share with other on SCF. Thanks again.

Always Happy Stamping. John

Hi jimjamtwo.
We have been listing on the USA's .com because it is the best and cheapest eBay in the world. We also have a store and were listing about 200 lots per week and selling about 35% of lots on offer. We have a bronze power sellers rating and looks like we will have a top rated sellers rating on the 20th of this month.Our positive feed back is at 287 at a 100% and have sold over a 1000 lots so far.Our profit is about 50% of sales, which we are very happy with. All the paper work is done for us, we also get heaps of free listings. I am not a well person and this work load is taking its toll on me. My wife and daughter help me plus my son at times. All of a sudden everyone in my house is interested in stamps.lol But not for the right reasons.lol Things have changed as we approach Christmas and we have changed our approach to listing. Over the last week we have listed 500+ lots, with 200 ready to go. The idea of this is all I have to do is re-list up until Christmas and then list only 10 lots per week over Jan 2012 for a well earnt rest from the pressure of it all.
Well that is how it works for us basically.

Always Happy Stamping. John.

John,
A: what is your ebay seller name.
B: At one time or another everyone has to make a tough call. Putting family first is a no brainer. It doesn't make it any easier I know.
If I had to sell my stamps to support my family, I would do it in a heartbeat. I would be very sad, but I would do it. Good luck to you.

Hi KGV

As a recent "Just come back to stamp collecting" I feel for you. I also collect rare books, and sometimes I have to sell something to increase the finances.

It is like chopping off an arm. However, like you I have items that I would not sell, for example I would never sell my Library of Egyptology as it is a working library and it is the largest private Egyptological library in Australia and even though I have had many offers from universities and libraries to buy the collection I will never ever sell until it is my choice.

My wife understands this and I am allowed to increase and buy Rare Egyptological works. (Most I get from second hand book shops who specialize in other areas and are not interested in them.)

As for stamps, in a nice way, collecting again was forced on me, and I enjoy the chase even though at present I do not know what I am doing. Maybe one day I will have your expertise in stamps. Good luck with your ebay venture and I hope that it exceeds beyond your wildest dreams.
Regards
Horamakhet

Hi! stampvirgin.

kg5 collector is our user name. kgv collector was taken.

Selling is working for us as it is but if anybody uses this info please tell me you are from SCF. John.

Heh KGV Collector and Horamkhet, I envy you guys.
Listen as far as I'm concerned, sell, sell, sell and
then sell some more.

I've got old stamps, I've got old books, I've got a whole
bunch of other old things all over the house.

I wish I could get rid of most of this stuff....
but selling is just not in my blood.