Would You Buy A Stamp Online That Has A Stock Photo?

On several occasions I have seen a listing on ebay of a stamp that has a good description but the photo is indicated as being a stock photo.
Right now I am primarily filling holes of missing Washington or Franklin stamps from the earlier part of the 20th century. I am not comfortable without an actual picture of the stamp I would get.
What do you think? Does it make a difference if the stamp is modern or older? I am curious how others feel about this.

I'm with you Brad. I want to see just what I'm bidding on/purchasing. It would make a lot of difference to me no matter the time period. I don't bid/buy from those type listings, but then I don't collect anything past the Prixies, and only U.S. stamps. Just my opinion.

I have all the modern stamps (almost anyway) that I will ever want. For the actual stamps I need, all of which right now are Newfoundland, no way.

When it comes to the classics and B &F's no I am not buying from a stock photo. Come to think of it if they are not going to post the real photo then I probably wouldn't buy any stamp.

I don't mind new products from stock photos, such as cd's or dvd's etc..., but anything collectible needs to have an actual photo, or scan, of the actual item I'm getting.

No. If the seller can't be bothered to post a scan, how diligent can he be about the quality of the stamps being offered?

Terry

If the seller won't show the stamp, I suspect something is wrong.

I would re-phrase the question about whether you would buy a stamp on-line with a stock photo by asking this question:

"Would you buy a used car based on seeing only a stock photo?"

Of course not! Condition is everything and you MUST see the actual item you propose to purchase to know what you're getting. Besides, as mentioned by others, not only does the stock photo raise a red flag, but even if the seller is perfectly legitimate, if he can't be bothered to produce a scanned photo of the exact item, it raises more red flags than the con artist who will try and sell you the Brooklyn Bridge.

I agree with the comments already provided.
In fact for classic US stamps I also want to see the back to confirm condition.
For Mint classic US stamps, I usually pass up any listings that don't include the back of the stamp. There is too much to interpret from just a description!

Just my two cents worth: No!

Peter

Nope. I even go back and make sure the image of the stamp on the buyer's site matches the stamp in front of me after I've received it.

To me it would just be too dangerous.


-IBFS

As for me - no way

if it is a common new issue and the dealer has several of the same type, I don't think a generic scan is a problem. If the stamp is older and more valuable, the dealer should do a scan of the exact item in the listing.

I can give you an example where I would be completely fine with stock photos - South African Homelands.

There is nothing special about these issues. The stamps had no varieties and centering was never a problem. I would be happy to purchase any of the homelands stamps from a stock photo as long as the condition was mentioned (MNH, MM, or any other acronymns)

In a word "no". You just never know what you may be getting and would encourage such behavior by other sellers. It's just my personal preference to know exactly what I'm getting before hand.

Never, for all the reasons already posted.