This Is Really Worth It?

I was looking around ebay for collections I can buy and absorb into my existing collection (We are Borg heh) when I came upon this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/WORLD-HUGE-550K...em3352581626

Now, I don't have that much money with me, but would you think it would be worth it?

I've seen this lot before and it's been running for awhile with no takers. Without seeing what's inside those boxes I wouldn't touch it. Someone from the UK needs to visit these folks and report back as to what's in the boxes o' mystery. There needs to be a better description as to the contents and better pics than boxes, stockbooks and envelopes.
Will

I've asked him about the items with pictures. Certainly looks interesting to me. He did answer two questions though:

Q: Hi, What would the shipping be (if it is not included) to Abu Dhabi, The United Arab Emirates....and can you give more information about this lot (Countries, items, conditions, etc), and are you open to offers? Best regards, Your customer, Bilal Jadayel Apr-18-10
A: Shipping is free to a Main Airport. Please check the description on the right of the picture on ebay for further information. Regards Paul
Q: are there stamps in these stockbooks and albums Apr-18-10
A: Dear Sir. This lot is in Stockbooks/Albums/Packets and loose or on pages etc. Regards Paul

It's still a very vague description. If they would just post a series of photos of actual contents they might have better luck. Also, what would the customs fees be on a lot like this?
Will

i could make a large pile of packages out of my stuff also..it seems to me that has to be A LOT of duplication..which means you would have to find a lot of buyers to try and get your money back ...

As a student from the school of hard knocks..i would say...buy what you would like in your collection...not what someone else wants to sell you !! And so Good Night !!

I can't possibly imagine paying that much money for a lot based on a picture of a bunch of boxes (mostly sealed), a weight, and a pretty generic description. This is not a knock on the seller, as they seem to have a pretty astronomical feedback rating. But that's not a small amount of money, even at the wholesale level. For that amount of money, you can purchase several decent large WW collections that would easily put you in the 75,000-100,000 different stamps range.

Also, 45 boxes! If you like mystery boxes, you'll have a lot of fun. But that's a lot of boxes that will keep you busy for a couple of years. Are you planning on becoming a dealer? Most collectors I know who purchase mystery boxes usually do so 1-2 at a time. I can't imagine a collector purchasing 45 mystery boxes without first having sampled a box or two.

Just my thoughts. Good luck! If you buy it, please let us know how it turns out.

k

I tend to agree. Most WW collections that are fairly decent are around $150 to $200 range. At least that my limit, at most $200 but I tend to stick to a $100 for a decent collection.




Good heavens no! If I had that much amount of money lying around I would but I don't! I was just wondering for example if someone were to pick up this lot would it be worth the money? Would the rate of duplication be high? The eternal questions of a collection buyer lol.

Wow as much as I would love to find that in the loft I don't think I could risk that much money on such a lot. I have bought a few surprise world lots before without really seeing what was there - and horror finding stamps glued/cellotaped to pages, pages of bogus issues, duplication of common definitives - Would rather spend that money on a single valuable stamp these days unless I intend to resell.

This is one huge rip off big time! The math does not work out!

50 kgs of stamps off paper = 750,000 stamps at 3,ooo stamps per stock book = 250 stock books at 2kgs per stock book = 500kgs Total = 550kgs

If I payed top dollar for 50kgs of Australian Decimal with lots of high denominations all off paper + postage = $45 per kg = $2,250 per 50 kgs

So they want $450 plus per kg of stamps off paper! No wonder they do not want you to see the stamps! I would be uneasy at $20 per kg of stamps off paper!

KGVcollector, you made a good point. However, while it serves as a solid reference point, you are comparing apples to oranges. The seller has stated the boxes also contains stockbooks and whatnot. There could also be covers and larger pieces in there. If you were out to buy simply bulk stamps only, then I would agree, it is not a good purchase. Without knowing further details about what is actually in the box, it's hard to say whether it is a good deal or not. Therein lies the problem. It seems silly of me for a seller to sell such a large "mystery" lot.

Unless someone has a fancy for mystery boxes, I think philb gave the best advice --




k

If you really take a good look at the boxes that are open, what is there just don't look like stamp albums or stock books. In the second pic, if you look in the upper right hand corner, the books that are in piles there look like just books. Granted they might be on stamp collecting themselves, but who needs that many copies of the same books? Most of the boxes are already wrapped and the boxes that are open do not give you a better view of what's in them. You can get a camera to take a shot of the inside of the box. This sounds like a BIG rip off and someone needs to give E-bay a heads up on it.

i have purchased boxes like that in the $140 to $250 dollar range..but NEVER before I rolled up my sleeves and went through the box top to bottom..lets say those guys paid 3 thousand dollars for that lets face it..its the leftovers that a dealer did not want and sent to auction..yeah they are paying the shipping..so 17 thousand bucks is a nice profit...i doubt if you will find TOO MANY sound 50 dollar stamps in those stockbooks !! Of course I am using approximate numbers..but most know what I mean....

My Prediction..that item XXX will not sell !!

Donna, I don't think they are included in the packages.

I agree that this doesn't seem to be a good purchase, but its fun to dream and say that it would be fun if a group of friends bought it and started sorting. Awesome fun would be had I would think.

My point exactly! I can't imagine anyone bidding on that without having thoroughly inspected the lot, since it is overpriced for a wholesale bulk lot. There must be some evidence of something super special in those boxes before someone can fork over that much money.

k