The Internet Stamper

I have been trying to be an Internet stamper now for about 18 months.
Have still only scraped the surface so far.
Computer skills are still low but learning very slowly.
Have never purchased a stamp on-line.
I have a lot to learn in the next 6 months about the Internet.

The image is some of the auctions that I use totally as a postal mail experience. I have looked at e-bay but it does not compete with the old fashion way of buying stamps that I use. Maybe I am not looking in the right place on-line.

I have a great deal of respect for people that are Internet stampers but they do not understand my way of stamping mostly.

Just trying to understand the 2 different approaches to stamping. Or is it just one approach? KGV

The internet is great for chat, pictures and finding certain types of stamps but I think there will always be a place for traditional actions.
To ignore one or the other is cutting down your available options.
I'm guessing this is similar to a conversation someone had in the past regarding these 'new fangled' postal auctions.

That is a very good point of view! Thanks AnthonyUK

I have found it very interesting that some on-line stampers have collections of stamp images and the amazing information that goes with it. True works of art. All at the tip of there fingers.

After saying this Rod222 has to get a mention. His help in putting together Australian KGV stamps explained was amazing. At the time I had never seen this sort of data base in use. Thanks Rod!

KGV
Most of the stamps I bought since I am back collecting 5 years ago are on-line. The reason is there is thousands of sellers on-line and you can always find the items you want. ebay USA is where I bought the most but I also buy on Delcampe, Stampwants and Zillion of stamps which is a group dealers offering stamps at fixed price (operated by Linn). Over the years I had very few bad experience and I won auction at price I couldn't get through traditional auction house.

In Canada I bought stamps from two major auction house. They sure have interesting stamps and collection but for what I am looking for I can often get it cheaper on-line. But if I want to spend on an expensive stamp or a collection they could be a good option.

On-line buying has been safe for me. Some stamps dealer on ebay and other site also operate a traditional store or use to operate one. Allot of dealers went on-line because an internet store doesn't incur expense like a store on the street. But still they are the same professional stamp dealers.
Daniel

Thanks for your information Daniel!

That sums up a big part of the journey ahead of me.

I have been reading for about 2 weeks on SCF about the specific information on on-line auctions. There is so much information there. Which is great stuff!
I read till my eyes water. My eyes still do not like the bright light of the screen. Which holds me back a bit.

Very interesting topic - I am an internet stamper, went to one live auction this year and did not win anything, have bought a few things from fairs and markets but the majority of my purchases are online. I have a general idea what I am looking for and from the comfort of home I can research any item up for sale on say ebay or a dealer site etc. Then make a decision on what price I am prepared to pay, and this can all be done at whatever time I please. I often find when at a fair/market my knowledge wanes as I dont have the info at hand and cannot compare prices, and with this I get flustered and impulse buy.

I am also a collector of images - I don't think I am anywhere near Rod though, but lately for the wiki I have been collecting images of the stamps I will never buy because I will never want them in my collection. It is quite funny I get just as excited for collecting an image of something I dont have as I do in getting a real stamp. A perfect example are the control blocks of South Africa - I dont want them but do want images of them.

I have had only one issue with an online purchase with a dealer leaving out a stamp from a set and then never answering emails. It wasn't anything valuable, I do take extra precaution when buying something a bit more expensive but feel most of my stamps are still in the little leagues.

Im blabbering now but I remember my weirdest experience online was bidding on a live auction at Harmers - You connected to their website and they provided a live feed to the auction house. You could hear the auctioneer and the hammer and when I bid, he told the auction house we have an internet bidder. It was good fun and I got one of my favourite stamps that day.

Drew

Thanks heaps Drew!

The information is great stuff.
So glad to have put this thread up.
I have been thinking of doing so for some time now.

Sometimes it is hard to share our weak areas in stamping!

KGV: Nothing will replace mailbids and brick and mortar shops. I am glad to have them at my disposal. I do like to buy local when I can.

smauggie! That is music to my old fashion ears.

Hello

Long time ago, I bought many lots on on-line auctions, not more, now I only follow the auction but never buy.

And, are you forgot the trades, a fast way to find people to trade in all world, I advertise my trades in many sites, and almost all weeks have a partner to trade.

Fernando Moscoso
Ecuador


Fernando Moscoso
Ecuador

You're welcome John.
I have squillions more pages of KG5 material,
but I have not had time to scan the material,
and I often wonder if it is useful, when I presume
all this material is amongst the Australian Specialists Catalogue.

When the original material was written ther was a lot of conjecture and
mis information. It is still cool to read though.

My dream was to purchase a $15,000 duplex book scanner,
I'd like to digitise all the Australian stamp magazines,
I was just about ready when I bought the country house :(
so back to square 1.

Well I have sesquinsequillions of Tuvalu material, so there!

Trumped!

yeah! well I have... oh forget it.

Anything you can do,
I can do better.
I can do anything
Better than you.

Anything you can be
I can be greater.
Sooner or later,
I'm greater than you.

I can shoot a partridge
With a single cartridge.
I can get a sparrow
With a bow and arrow.
I can live on bread and cheese.
And only on that?

Any note you can reach
I can go higher.
I can sing anything
Higher than you.

Anything you can buy
I can buy cheaper.
I can buy anything
Cheaper than you.