Another 315 Wannabe

On ebay? Very, very rarely. In over 1500 Stamp Smarter Reviews there are only a handful (<10) where the listing issue was 'in favor' of the buyer. Without question the metrics are that listings will almost always favor the seller and marketing 'puffery'.

Just this week I had one seller justify using listing deceptions with 'it is ebay, everyone else does it so I do too'.
Don

I should point out regarding Gay's mentioning "contacting him directly" (see my previous post of 7/19 at 9:30am) that he was contacted directly through ebay's "ask a question" process on July 14th. and the ensuing follow up posts of his and mine through July 15th., fully at least 4 days prior to the listing ending. I waited until the 18th. to start this thread; adequate time for a revision to the listing to clarify that the stamp being offered would not be recognized by the philatelic community as a #315, because it would not meet the criteria for a clean certification. There was sufficient time for some action to be take well before the "12 hour window". An APS Member/Dealer with several years experience in buying and/or selling stamps, should have a clear understanding about the criteria involving this particular stamp. Stating "as is" in the listing is ambiguous and could mean many things but doesn't substitute for the fact that the stamp, whether a #315 or an altered #304, has no chance of acceptance as a #315. If Gary felt the stamp had a legitimate chance of being genuine, securing a good cert. and noting that in the listing would command a much higher final price. No mater the intend, the consequence, the outcome, of the listing is clear. It was sold. Gary is to be commended for doing the right thing in contacting the buyer and cancelling the sale.

It appears that I may have jumped to an incorrect conclusion. Unless Gary didn't take your messages and the stated facts seriously, then I have to ask if anyone knows of a source for food-grade crow.

This is pretty much the exact response I would have expected from KL considering that he has sold at least three fake #388 coils on ebay in the last year or so, all "AS IS" and raked in about $1,500. for his trouble. The "AS IS" (unfortunately) still doesn't set off a light bulb in some folk's brains, and they end up buying this
often-worthless crap and get seriously financially harmed. I believe all of these sales are recorded on Stamp Smarter.

It is also disingenuious to argue that a seller "can't send every item in for a cert". Correct, he can't. But he CAN damn well send those that are notorious for being faked, and that includes 315s AND the flat plate coils KL mentions in his post, which is interesting he chose those as an example of widely-faked stamps, yet he preferred to sell THREE of one of the VERY MOST FAKED flat plate coils "AS IS" rather than get certs. The three most-faked flat plate coils are 356, 388 and 389, so why would any dealer EVER sell one "AS IS"??

Kevin, I do appreciate your willingness to share your opinion.

Getting the most bang for the buck without regard to consequences is not what philately is about.

I see many ebay auction lots which are carefully crafted to get the most attention from the buyer and allow for the least responsibility from the seller. And if someone catches someone a seller at it, they can say, "Well . . . I wasn't sure. I did say 'as is'.

It seems to me that if a stamp dealer calls a stamp one thing in the listing title and they either are not sure what it is, or know very well that it is not what they are claiming it is, it is called lying, or as Burl Ives says in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, mendacity.

Some are happy to note that stamps without faults have none, but faulty stamps do not have their faults mentioned in the listing, and instead these faulty stamps are called "Choice". More mendacity.

Some state that you should only by a high-grade stamp with a graded cert, but then offer a stamp which they claim a high grade with a cert, but the cert does not contain a grade. Oh and picture of the cert is placed in the auction lot sideways to discourage people from actually reading it. More mendacity.

Some sell stamps that have been reperfed to make them look high grade, but neglect to mention it. More mendacity.

I am not saying who does these things, but he who has eyes to see, let him see.

Stamp dealing is an honorable profession wherein there is no place for such mendacity.

smauggie....thanks

BW - it only took you 6 hours to reply to my post.
You must have been busy yesterday.
You commrade replied in less than 1 hour!!

BW - YES....I have sold questionable items before.
I have ALWAYS stated this in the description.
I have started EVERT ITEM @ 99c.
I also list them as REFERENCE ONLY!

I stand behind my reputation!
I do not need you/Don/Stamp Smarter to tell
me how to sell stamps.
I have a 100% UNHAPPY=RETURN POLICY!

For future posts....I still will make to others....
help, suggest, offer, etc....
No furthur comments to you/Don.
Have a great day.

If you can look in the mirror after selling fake stamps to people for big bucks, God Bless you my Son.

B.

Kevin,
Obviously we do not see eye-to-eye on what a quality seller entails. And just as obviously, you can ignore my suggestions for improvements. Improvements that help you avoid expensive returns and unhappy customers. Improvements that also help the hobby in the long run.

Yes you can certainly 'troll for suckers' to make a quick buck. But in my opinion this is short sighted.

For example, I am not sure how you justify this listing..
http://www.ebay.com/itm/PSAG-CERT-E...em418c735058 br /

The listing title says in bold letters "PSAG CERT - ERROR - #767 -- GOLD OMITTED, NH" yet the cert you attached to the listing clearly states "NO OPINION AS TO GOLD OMITTED".

It takes all about 3 seconds to write a better title that would not trap a harried buyer into thinking this stamp has a good cert and is a real gold omitted stamp.

Kudos for attaching the cert; this is better than some sellers I have seen. But in my opinion you could greatly improve the listing by changing the title.

If suggestions for improvement is offensive to you, if you perceive this as 'telling me how to sell stamps' then I guess I am guilty. I am simply trying to help you and philately in general.
Don

... and "sheetguy2" becomes entry number 8 in my spreadsheet of " ebay sellers to avoid".

cjpalermo1964.....No worries here.
Tell me your ebay id and I will just add
you to the blocked bidder list....
Just incase you forget and bid by accident.