Sign Of The Times.

I am hoping it is just because of the economy and is not the way stamp dealings are heading. Within the past 15 years of ebay buys I have filed only 2 cases. Now I have found that within the past year that number has climbed to 16. Just recently 4 refunds for winning a great deal on a auction but item never sent probably because just to good of a deal for me and not the seller. Then the damaged ones returned with excuse from the seller that he was new and did not know but he has been selling stamps for years. And don't even let me tell you about all the shill bidding that has been reported.
Yes the market is getting flooded with tons of stamps and prices are going down with deals to be had. But along with the good seems many bad ones are it coming in to make a fast buck.

Just had to vent but I should be back again with more.

I have not had the bad luck that Mac has had, in fact I have never had one bad deal on ebay either as buyer or seller.
Twice when selling high value items, the buyer did not want to pay the $2 for registered and on both occasions I was suspicious. So I sent them registered at my own expense just to be sure. [Maybe annoyed them but I don't care].

I have had another problem lately which may or may not have something to do with ebay policies and Fee changes. A high percentage of sellers will no longer ship to anywhere other than 'Westernized' nations. Israel is on those lists of 'no-go' areas and it's something very new.
Last night I found an item I rarely come across and had to plead with the seller to change his settings to allow me to bid. Thankfully he did [must have been the clownish way I pleaded with him ].
But it is a worrying trend for me, at least.

Londonbus1

1775mac, sorry to mention Shill Bidding but collector friends and I noticed a alarming escalation in this 'unscrupulous practice on E/BAY'.
Sellers guilty of this scummy behavior should be viewed/treated as Horse thieves in the old American West.

As others have advised, collectors/buyers should distance themselves from Shill inflated items and Sellers engaged in this practice, permanently.

The old axiom "Caveat Emptor - let the buyer be aware" is never more true on ebay now adays - have had very few bad deals over the years but have certainly noticed like 'finches' the practice of "shilling" becoming more prevalent on ebay in recent times - when I bid for an item I usually leave it to the last moment now and never ever bid more that I am willing and prepared to pay - if I win fine and if I lose fine

I should mention, ebay Stamp sellers that don't shill bit always get return business. Items won at a 'happy to pay price' makes one feel comfortable buying/bidding on his/her other items.

A known shill bidder never gets a look-in regardless, I'll/we do without the item instead of doing business with penny pinching undesirables fleecing buyers finance.