Buying Lots For Reselling

Hello. I have one question, and think that this is a right place for it, despite many users on this forum are from the USA. Would like to know is there some online auction house or some online store (from europe to save shipping costs) that sell bigger lots for reselling. What do I need? Some low valued stamps, but nice looking classic, not modern stamps (would like Africa, Asia, colonies, Great Britain, German Reich...) Thanks in advance.

The_Pope,

I buy bigger lots from the Stamp Auction Network online. Many auction houses list auctions on the site, including many international sellers. You should be able to find it with a Google search.

Amy

Without looking at the lots yourself ,you are setting yourself up for disappointment .

You can try Delcampe in Belgium.

Thanks for the replays. Yes, I was searching some auctions on the google and some online store offers, but they offers are too expensive. Guess I was looking at the wrong places. Agree with floortrader. I see its disappointments without buying it. Checked and harcested from couple of hands, I guess. And then price lounched in the stars. Not material for reselling.

I would have to be able to buy a collection. So I would have to find a stamp show or store in my area so I could see what I was buying.


-IBFS

I'll echo what Amy said. I've seen some lots listed on various auctions in the Stamp Auction Network. From descriptions, they SOUND like what you are looking for, but I've not viewed them personally.

There are very few places to buy stamps for resale . Most auction houses are selling picked over material and that's not once picked over but most likely been reviewed and cleared out two or three times before the auction house gets the lot . The second problem is you are bidding on a manufactured lot ,that is a stamp lot that has been put together strictly so it reads good in the auction describtion . Then there are lots that the stamp auction firm places in the auction that are estimated cheap to get excitement from the bidders but has a high reserve and your not getting it anywhere near the stated estimate of value . HA ! the fun of being the sucker in a room of stamp professionals .

POPE welcome to this chat board . Think about joining in on more discussions and ask any type of questions ,you are going to learn a lot .

Hi Pope And to SCF!

I have been buying stamp lots blind for what must be over 15 years now.

Still have never been to an auction but I really would like too.

Buying lots to resell is like anything we have to learn by experience and get to know the way the lots are described at any given auction house. The describer will tell you a lot if you keep reading and buying smaller lots or cheap lots and your knowledge base will build up to buy some of the bigger lots or more expensive lots.

I use to buy big messy lots fix them up and send them back to the auction house that suited those type of stamps.

I buy a lot of stamp lots on ebay and have found the larger lots of one type of stamp sell for very good prices.

Four years ago I started selling on ebay Australian stamps from 1860 to the 1930 it did not work. I now sell Australia from 1990 to now and have found this is my area to buy and sell stamp in.

I use to by from 17 auction houses but now there is only one or two as most.Many have closed their doors. A lot of my stock now comes from people contacting me to sell there stamps.

Stamps seem to sell for a very good price for the seller in the UK. The US is one of the very cheap to by stamp counties. But this is not true in some specialist areas.

I see a lot of very good buys on ebay and their buyer protection is worth its weight in gold.

Now to spend to day in front of the TV sorting kiloware which is our bread and butter for selling.

I live in the front area of the large Sea Horse looking Island.



A very Fresh image of where I will be sitting in about 5 mins!



Always Happy Stamping.
KGV

I've actually had quite a bit of luck on my purchases from Stamp Auction Network. I only purchase from a few auction houses, though. I'm not looking for the high-dollar stuff, so I don't assume I will find any rare stamps. However, I always have been pleased with what I got, usually with surprise bonuses I didn't expect. I've been able to keep what I want, and sell what I don't...usually for at least what I paid for the lot. I've never been to an auction in-person, because there aren't any anywhere close to where I live. I'd much rather buy from auction houses than ebay, based on my recent experiences. Also, the collections aren't always as picked-over as you might think. They don't have the time to closely look at everything...at least the ones I buy from. Apfelbaum has reliably sent me great lots on my last three auction purchases. They also take returns if you aren't satisfied.

One caveat, though....read the fine print and terms of sale for each auction house and each auction. Many add buyers premiums (I avoid those). most likely don't take returns, and it may depend on the auction. I guess it all depends on what you're looking for, though.

Amy

I don't know anything about European auctions but I know it is possible to buy box lots in US auctions and make a profit by breaking them down and reselling on ebay. I recently attended the Dutch Country Auction in Wilmington DE. where they specialize in accumulations, collections and box lots. Large boxes of stamps were selling for $100-200 per box.

I think buying boxes of stamps and breaking them down and selling on ebay is a great way to get started. By the time you search through the boxes and identify everything, decide on how to group it for sale, decide on auction or fixed price, shipping terms etc. you will have learned a lot. After you sell 100-200 lbs of material you will be an experienced ebay seller, have a good feedback count and know if you like doing it.

One word of caution, it is not an easy way to make money. Say for example you buy 100 lbs. of box lots for $10/lb. ($1000) break it down into 200-300 lots and sell it successfully and double your $, you've only made $1000. IF that works out to $10/hr you'll be lucky, but it's fun and you will learn a lot.