How To Buy Stamp Lots From Ebay?

I finally did it, and now I am collecting stamps.
Now I have a stamp album and a Scott_2008 catalog.
I spread the news to my family and friends and eventually I got some used or as you all name it canceled stamps.


I have decided to start with a one from every country, and after a google search it appears that now we have a total of 257 countries in our modern world.

I think this is a good list to start with. I have managed to collect 23 countries up till now.

I searched ebay for worldwide stamp lots and I found many sellers placing different lots with the same picture???! and some others don't.

And my question is;
Do these lots contain stamps in a good condition or when I receive such packages I will find some worthless stamps.? I mean torn, bent...etc

I know that I will pay a small amount of money for these lots, no more than $5 but when they reach me here in Egypt, our customs will make me pay tripple this value. "Well that what happens with coins I receive".

So it means that I will pay more than its value and might even get nothing in return and thats why I am a little bit worried about buying these lots and need your previous experience if anyone has purchased such lots. How to buy stamp lots from ebay? Any tips?

P.S. I dont have any shops where I live to buy stamps from

Do you mean that your Customs inspects every envelope?

If they do, I would suggest you inform the seller to place a low value on the customs declaration. That may help.

If letters are not inspected, I suggest you buy only small quantities which can be put in a letter-sized envelope without a customs declaration label.

If you buy large quantities from a seller, ask the seller to send your stamps in small quantities in several envelopes.

You can make arrangements with sellers for that to happen.

I'm not suggesting you do anything illegal......but if you can save money by trying different legal methods, why not give it a try?

If the stamps are placed in a letter sized envelop and shipped regular mail, their will be a probability of never reaching Egypt and if sent registered, then it is 100% going to be opened by customs.

And to save on shipment it is much better to send all in one pack than several ones as most seller place a fixed shipment value regardless of the weight and some even try to profit from shipment!

Well, I am not trying to bypass the customs, but just want to make sure that all the money and trouble I will go through will be worth something.




Egypt is the land of Mystery, it is legal to receive coins, notes and probably stamps "as this will be my first time" and the customs will place some fees "according to your luck, may be half, equal, double or even triple the value" and BTW, it has nothing to do with the value written on the envelop. They decide the value of the package regardless of what is written. Simply they know everything.!

The amazing thing is that it is illegal to send coins or notes by mail????! So, here is where I try to hide the coins and notes I send for my friends outside Egypt

if a stamp is used and stamped then it is nolonger of postal value, espically if it is not from Egypt, I would think a German stamp would have no value in Egypt thus having no real value unlike a coin that can be used over and over. mayby you can argure that? OR do they assign a value knowing it may be collectible?

however I live in the US so I don't have experience with this, I can ask US customs tomorrow when I go thru on my way back home. however I dont think it will help your scenario as they wont know anything about egypt

the old world is a corrupt world...

You could start here http://philatelyinegypt.com/famous.htm I didn't rummage through the site but it appears to hold some links that might lead you to otheer collectors in your neck of the woods. Try and find local Stamp clubs and find out how they are obtaining their goods. As far as ebay lots go, it all depends what you're looking for. Some have a couple of plums in them, but the majority are run of the mill material and don't fall for the "These lots have not been picked through" you're not going to find a mint Penny Black or a $400.00 Sydney Harbor Bridge in these lots. I won a lot of Great Britain stamps for $8.00 US and found 2
QV 5d type 1's that catalog for $90.00 ea. so there are some lots with the proverbial plums.

Consult your local Post Office they should have a listing of the Customs regulations. I have sent many ebay items to other countries as "Gifts" and only had a problem with Italy and Germany. The German Customs really had a good one. I was sending some Hummels and they were returned because country of Manufacture was "West Germany". They were returned as "NO SUCH COUNTRY" How stupid is that!

If you wish I will be glad to send you some Stamps marked as "Gifts" to see what happens. Just email me your address.

Sending a package to Germany with country of Manufacture as "West Germany" is a bit insensitive.

I can also send you something from UK if you send me your address EgCollector.

revstampman, do you mean that the reunified Germany chooses to deny the existence of West Germany now (and presumably of the DDR)?

I would assume that the "Country of Manufacture" is a generic question designed for new goods, so they would expect the answer to refer to a current state. As West Germany no longer exists as a country, this would not be seen as a valid reponse. Pedantic? undoubtedly yes, but thats beaurocracy for you.

EgCollector,
The mixed lots on ebay can be a bit Hit and Miss as regards quality and value for money. I suggest starting out with some cheap lots and if you find a dealer that you like, stick with them.

ebay may not be your best source of stamps, given the complications you describe. You have more than 50 posts here, so you can buy/trade on SCF. You may find this is better value for money. You've had one offer already on this thread!

Also the suggestion to look for other collectors within Egypt is a good one. Even if they don't live close by, you can still share experiences and advice with them. Oh yes - and stamps, too!

I don't know if there are any other SCF members in Egypt. Perhaps if you start a thread with EGYPT in the title, that might catch the eye of other Egyptian collectors who are members, or Lurkers. Or you could edit this thread title to something like, "Difficulties stamp collecting in Egypt", or something like that.

Just a few suggestions. Good luck!

Not insensitive at all. Just factual, they were marked "W. Germany". Any Large box must have the large customs form and It requires a country of mfg.




I guess so! Or at least the inspector who returned it does.

EgCollector,
The following is from the USPS International Mail Customs Regulations:

Prohibitions

Coins; banknotes; currency notes; securities payable to bearer; travelers' checks; manufactured and unmanufactured platinum, gold, silver; precious stones; jewelry; and other valuable articles unless sent in insured parcels.

Medals resembling Egyptian or foreign currency.
Obscene or immoral books, engravings or printed matter.
Perishable infectious biological substances.
Perishable noninfectious biological substances.
Radioactive materials.

Restrictions

Import permits issued in advance by the appropriate Egyptian authorities are required for gramophone records of Arabic songs, cinema films and recording tapes; medicines, plants and parts of plants.

Minted coins and gold and silver ingots may only be sent in insured parcels.

Thank you all for your help and suggestions.

stampgal: thanks for the advice, and I think I will try the buy section here on SCF with all you respectable members, I think this will be more safe.

Regarding the trade section,...i really don't have any to trade as I am completely new to stamp collecting and all I have will not exceed 60 used stamps..till now

revstampman
Thanks for your concern.
Its amazing that they permit receiving but not sending coins, notes and stamps. Offcourse the other items are prohibited for both exporting and importing. Especially the last 3 items

Thanks again for your concern and for your help

Regards

revstampman and AnthonyUK, thank you for your generous offer. I am not concerned about customs, I got used to it , but I am concerned about the content of the large mixed lots.

I think I will try the lots that will be posted in the sell section, if affordable and hope that these lots will give me a good start.

Thanks again for your generosity, much appreciated

Kind Regards