Where Do You Prefer To Go When Buying Stamps Online?

Reading the comments on the forum, I think I know where this will go,
but let's poll it just to be sure.

When buying stamps online, which auction site do you use?

Commentary welcome after your vote.

modern_who
May We Add Stampoffers To Te List?
I Think A Few Of Our Members Buy And Sell On The Site Also.
DJD

Done. Am not familiar with them but thanks for suggesting it, DJD.

ebay only, because I am not at all familiar with any of the other sites...but maybe that's something I should change. Thing is, I don't only buy stamps on ebay, I also buy other things (hockey jerseys, Hardy Boys books, coins, (Name witheld) and other types of magazines, hockey cards, jewellery (tie bars), vintage neckties, videos, etc.); they are a good "one-stop" type of place.

I also generally use ebay, because I've been a member for several years and collect other things. I have browsed Stampwants, Stampoffers, and the APS store but have never purchased.

I shop for items in the following order:

1. StampWants because items generally sell for less and the site is VERY user friendly.

2. StampOffers because items generally sell for less but the site is not as user friendly.

IMHO, the people and policies on these two sites are just great, BUT you still have to read the fine print (S&H - especially combined orders) on listings.

3. ebay for the iems I can't find from the sites above.

In the past I have purchased mostly from ebay. Because I was trying to build up my collection. I have had gread success and now have many spares that I share with others and also use to trade.

I have also purchased from this site. I am now in the process of trying to catalogue what I have emphasis on Trying.

Dianne

I voted for 'mostly ebay' but like Dianne, I also buy [and sell] through forums. Have had much success too in both. In fact, I have sold more through forums than any auction site and it's easy to understand why.

I am registered with StampWants and receive all the newsletters and often go to browse. However, I cannot buy or sell because I will not give them my credit card number and without that piece of info, they will not allow me zilch !! [Seems strange I can be a member but not able to buy or sell]. They do have a great flag section which includes some great errors. Prices are reasonable. Cinderella section not so hot.

I have sold a lot at Stampoffers but have not listed in a while. Not much of my interest to buy there though so do not browse often.Although I got some nice flags from DJD these last days !!Thanks David.

I do buy on ebay though simply because they have choice and I can usually find something I am looking for that I cannot elsewhere. Has many faults though including the sniping.

I notice Delcampe is absent from the list....because it's non-American maybe ? A superb Flags section often has me riveted for hours. Prices can be a bit high at times but shopping around pays dividends. Not many bidders so more likely to win.

Those are my opinions from my experiences.

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Londonbus1

ebay - Never and Never will for stamps

Stampwants - maybe some day

IHOBB - 100% of my on line Stamp Purchases

SCF - 100% of my direct one on buys & trades

Well..I guess with almost 5000 positive feedback's, all from buying, it is safe to say exclusively Stampoffers.

I do buy on occasion, from a great Canadian site, Stamphead, and I have made a few purchases on Stampwants.

I have purchased from several different sources online. From the most frequented to least frequented: Stamporama auction site, zillions of stamps, stampoffers, ebay, from dealers listed on the online magazines ie...Linns, Mekeel's .
Joel

I also voted mostly ebay, but I spend as much time on Stamp Wants as well. I would spend more time on stampoffers if it was more user friendly. There are also a couple of live auction sites that I regularly visit

I voted ebay exclusively. I have bought a great deal
of coins there over the years, and it has sorta followed
right along with my recent stamp collecting. However,
everything I have bought on ebay, I have shopped on
Stampwants, and have found I got it for considerably
less on ebay. Even stuff I have bid on, and didn't
win, I shop it on Stampwants before bidding, just to
see... ebay tends to be cheaper on the item and the
shipping. I will continue to shop both, but so far
my money has gone to ebay.

I suspect that with ebay doing so much changing, the
advantage will eventually go to another source. Like
mentioned above, some of the other sites I have visited
other than Stampwants are harder to navigate.

My .02...
Doesn't mean much at the moment though!
I had to put the whole .02 cents on credit!

Did you know that fraud in the stamp listings on ebay is estimated to be around 10%.

Here is a interesting report from MSNBC
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17171372/

Category Lots Fraud Estimate
United States 37,768 12 4,532
Australia 2,581 7 180
Canada 4,671 6 280
British Commonwealth 9,633 8 770
United Kingdom 6,116 7 428
Europe 23,275 7 1,629
Latin America 3,321 4 132
Other World 19,121 8 1,529
Philately 2,516 5 125
Topical 12,473 24 2,993
Totals 121,475 12,598 (10+% of total)

1. Forged stamps being offered as genuine stamps. These can in many instances be ascertained by examination of scans.

2. Faked covers being offered as genuine. This entails covers with stamps substituted or missing, as well as postmarks faked. This is often evident by examining the scans.

3. Manipulated or repaired stamp and covers being offered without description of the manipulation. Major faults or repairs not mentioned in description. This is often evident by examining the scans.

Here is another site of interesting ebay stamps fruads.

http://www.slingshotvenus.com/stamps/fakes.html

My "go to" is the APS Stamp Store. I very seldom got to ebay for anything anymore and, almost never for stamps.

Couple points:
Frauds can take place on any sale site.

You gotta be careful. Examine feedback with
extreme prejudice, only go with sellers that
have some sort of return or guarantee policy,
pay with PayPal, only buy from auctions with
detailed pics. If you can keep these rules,
you'll be as safe as you can be on any site.

I have been buying coins on the bay for many
years, so the rules are well ingrained into
my consumer thought processes.