BEWARE = = = LONG POST = = = BEWARE
There is a point to being honest but there is also a point to turning a seeming detraction to the beauty and appeal of a stamp into something that people can appreciate rather than scorn.
The Statue of Liberty 15c, for example, has details calling the canceling heavy, the centering poor, and grading it.
Honest to a fault, kudos for that.
However you are not selling the stamp by drawing attention to someone's grading and idea about centering and cancel. Unless you are using these to help price an item. That makes sense.
I was thinking more of saying, instead of what you have, things differently. Not dishonest but just paying attention to the stamps strengths and features that perhaps not everyone would be aware of and that would make it valuable to some, perhaps not all, but some, the some that would buy it.
Grade: Used-f
Well used is OK but leave off on grading. You are teaching your customers to only look for what you call VF or Superb maybe. Let the customer sell the stamp to himself. If it strikes his fancy, even though it's not super centering nor grade, well, that's OK. You are not deceiving anyone, just allowing them to like what they like.
Cancellation: Heavy
Perhaps say, rather, that the cancellation is of the type Oval Parcel or whatever it is. tell me some good info here. Circular Date Stamp, Split Ring, Barred Numeral, etc.
Again, let the customer do the selling. All you have to do is make sure to tell him all the features. Makes it seem more valuable somehow and unique and special and desirable. Again, no dishonesty involved, just proper, friendly salesmanship skills involved. Subtle, hidden, if the customer didn't want a Liberty stamp he wouldn't be looking probably.
Be the expert with the good info that people enjoy coming back to.
Centering: Poor
Why even say it is poor? You just lost the sale by putting that last. If the centering was great or whatever this would work great having this benefit stated last. Now it is working against you.
Perhaps not to say anything in this case is best. If you don't have anything good to say, don't say it. It's different from drawing attention to a fault or problem (thin, rip, tear, hole, crease) that if not seen nor pointed out now will just result in a return later and a disgruntled customer.
There are a couple different things going on here with this last item and they all need to be paid attention to with every stamp.
So, if you are still with me, sorry I get carried away at times, it would be a Good Thing to Thank the customer for even looking and coming by. However you want to say it, but say it. Friendly is all it is. Polite and friendly.
Don't overwhelm them by flashing it at every opportunity or anything but just be friendly. I like friendly, most folks do too. Professionally friendly.
And if you want to sell also, add something in to your sentence or phrasing that mentions a purchase.
Thanks for viewing these great stamps (or stamp). Thanks for your purchases.
Now they are thinking about buying instead of eating supper or looking for a movie or leaving your site! Say it before they purchase anything. Really, sounds stupid, but it is nice and it helps.
Put the login and password on top somewhere and make it nice and friendly. It doesn't feel right where it is. Look at
ebay, see how they do it. Small, on top, easy to find, but hidden away on another page. I mean, if the big guys do it that way there must be a reason for it.
Now I should really go and read you blog.
Nice, very nice, I like it, Keep up the good work. First paragraph about stamp's colours should read Stamp's Colors with an apostrophe. and there is a phrasing problem with the last sentence somehow.
No, I hated English in school, I'm a late learner. This is all selling and not driving the customer away.
And sorry if I seemed pushy or telling you what to do. Nope. You are a friendly guy to start with, just think like you are a customer and what you would like to see and do. That works very well also.
Now the big question is When are you going to start selling Canada Picture Postage stamps?
Posted 04/12/2012 4:03 pm
