315 Candidate For Stamp~smarter?

I'm seeing perf holes on 3 sides...

There's 3 scans in the listing...
2 of which are more clear...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SCOTT-315-V...em1c53298601

Definitely not a 315 ...

Messaged the seller... no response (so far)...

There simply is no imperf issue of that design. Yet, there are currently 24 bids on that stamp as I sit here and the price is up to almost $75.00. I don't understand this, or am I loopy?

How can that seller have a 100% approval rating? Is there a way for a seller to fake that rating? I don't want to know how to do it, I just want to know if it can be done.


-IBFS

Look at the seller's other listings and completed listings...

Seller isn't only a stamp seller... jewelry and other items...
obviously no knowledge of what he/she is doing...

The bidding war is between 2 bidders... amateur collectors,
quite obviously... and quite clueless, as well...

Seller is also offering an alleged 8A... personally, I don't
know the Franklins well enough to ID it...

I think what would be best if the seller received multiple
messages from us to end the '315' listing... perhaps receiving
a number of messages will convince the seller it's not what
he/she thinks it is...

Or click on "Report Item" just above and to the right of the details and go thru ebay.

Not in *this* day and age... ebay will ignore it...

Even multiple complaints all from different users?

ebay does not do a damn thing when members use the "Report Item" webform, and how can they (?) since there is no longer any place to explain WHY you are reporting an item? And since ebay has no resident "experts" they don't have a clue whether a reported item should be pulled or not. So since that does no good at all, you are better off to report such an item to www.stampsmarter.com AND contact the seller with your questions/concerns. The marketplace will only ever become more honest if everybody pitches in and does their part.

Multiple comments to the seller has the best chance of getting the
listing ended... if, for nothing else - to provide a form of friendly
'intimidation' to the seller... for the (unknown fear) of being
reported to ebay... alot of sellers, including this one, who's of
the clueless type, will fear ebay where no fear really exists...

ebay has ceased to respond to "Report Item." Notifying the seller nicely and with an explanation is a good starting point. Stamp Smarter is another excellent option.

Maybe I am not remembering correctly, but there is an imperforate 5 cent stamp of that series (Along with the 1 cent)

You remember correctly - 315 is an imperf 5c Lincoln. I would call it an honest mistake on the part of IBFS.

This is one of those stamps that MUST be accompanied by a certificate or be purchased as an imperf pair in order to verify authenticity. Because of that, authentic 315's tends to sell for a much higher % of cat value than other stamps from this era. That is, there aren't many bargains to be had for this stamp, so beware of anyone offering one for cheap ...

Brian

The imperf does have a high catalog value but it's a perfect example on why Imperfs should be in pairs for authenticity.

Stallzer, there is no longer any reason for a singles collector to have to collect 315 as a pair; it can now be expertized reliably as a single. Brian's statement is correct - either a single with a cert or a pair is what is required for authenticity.

Here is my message to him, which apparently fell on deaf ears since the stamp is still there!

"This stamp is an obvious FAKE imperf. There are perf hole traces present, particularly at the botom edge. It was made by cutting off the perfs of a Scott #304. Anyone who buys this stamp (at any price)would suffer financial harm, something no honest seller would want. Since you ARE honest, please consider removing this fake. Thank you.

Bill Weiss (Weiss Expert Service)"