Question About An Ebay Purchase?

Yes, you did the right thing as it was not listed as advertised. A photo is a visual description and if it's not the same as the received item, then item is not as described. You are in your rights to get a different one or money back. The second item has other faults beyond the straight edge compared to the nicer first photo - perf damage on right and blotchy postmark.

I've heard of other sellers doing this when they have multiples of the "same" stamp. Unless you have identical modern mint souvenir sheets at a fixed price or the like it's best to list items individually.

You did the right thing. I know of at least one commercial stamp seller on the bay that uses 'reference' scans of stamps 'to be taken as a guide' for what you will receive. I do not buy from them. Or any other seller that does this.

Terry

Hi,
Goodness, don't feel bad. If the ad showed a fully perforated stamp, that is what you should get. I'm a long time Ebayer (buyer and seller) and the vast majority of the stamp sellers will bend over backwards for you. They do not want negative feedback, for it will hurt future sales for sure.

BTW, before bidding on anything, check out the sellers feedback. That is usually an excellent indicator of the service you can expect.

I echo exactly what everyone is telling you: You had every right to feel unsatisfied with what you received and I would have definitely contacted the seller. The right side perfs are mangled and it's not a very attractive postmark. The photo the seller used shows perfect perfs all around and a nice crisp postmark. Glad to hear the seller was receptive to resolving the matter.

Dan

Based on the listing, there is no reasonable expectation to get the single that is pictured. So then it comes down to whether it is reasonable to want a different stamp than the one you received. If two or three had been sold, that straightedge was looming large as a distinct possibility.

I don't buy used stamps off of a stock photo, or in a listing with "five available." I don't like those listings; to be fair, at least this seller showed all 80 or so that make up his selling stock, so that a buyer would have a guesstimate at the overall level of quality of the seller's material.

My opinion is that this seller's system is far too unreliable for a buyer who has particular concerns about the stamp they are going to receive. This seller is catering to the buyer who just needs a space filled, and who is concentrating on price rather than condition.

I don't think you have to lose sleep over your decision to contact him, but in the grand scheme of things, with this auction listing you pay in your four bucks and you take your chances. Again, strictly my opinion.

Far safer to buy in an auction where the stamp pictured is the stamp sold. (Or, in this case, you don't have to try to guess which one in the scan is up next.)

You are well within your rights to return the stamp.
Tom

Agreed. If you did not return the stamp, it would bug the hell out of you every time you saw it from now until the end of your days.

Like others here, I only buy actual photos unless I am satisfied with a space filler.

Space filler is an excellent point also. Sometimes I just don't really care because if I do later on I can replace it.
Tom

I once received the wrong stamp (it only differed in perforation) ...but it was only worth a few cents so I just notified the seller and kept it. When you spend as much as you had to spend to get that stamp, you deserve to get the stamp pictured or one just as desirable. The stamp with the straight edge isn't it...I'd have done as you did and returned it.

I agree with everyone else, I wouldn't buy from a stock photo, I'd like to see the stamp I'm getting.

The stamp you received is clearly in the third photo. After counting the number sold and moving left to right was this the one you expected to receive? If not, then certainly you have a right to return it.

But even so, since the seller agreed you could return it, I wouldn't worry about it and just return it and get another.

Thank you. I just wanted to be sure I was doing the right thing.