Q: Buying From APS Website Vs. Online Auctions

Hi,
I'm a new APS member, so my experience level is low regarding their stamp store.

However, it seems to me that anyone deliberatly selling fraudulent or misrepresented goods stands the chance of losing their APS membership. Somehow I think the vast majority of members would not want to risk that.

Mobilman: I agree with the prior posters in that the vast majority of APS members don't submit fraudulent items knowingly and that for buyers, it is still "buyer beware." I don't do ebay; it seems like too much hassle and my PayPal account doesn't function well. When I go on line, the APS store provides what I'm usually looking for. A nice find in in the past two years was two first flight covers from the late 1940s from Bissau in Portuguese Guinea; one to San Juan PR and the other to Trinidad.

Unfortunately, from one perspective, my primary area for collecting; I have several areas; is Portuguese Colonies. You can find dozens of dealers in Linn's and on line who sell primarily, or solely, US stamps. Portuguese, not as easy.

The biggest plus to the aps store is that you're always protected. You can always return items that ard not as described. Also, you can choose expertization during checkout for uncertain or difficult items. If it comes back as described you pay the fee. If it comes back with undescribed faults or not what it is sold as, you pay nothing and are not obligated to purchase.