Is This A 'Bad' Listing?

I think the price indicates that the seller is hoping someone will fall for it. I suppose he can say the "facsimile" overprint constitutes a use or a cancellation. Now, I doubt very much the seller is breaking any laws with this listing, but it certainly is morally dubious, I think. There's also an obvious tear along the left side that isn't mentioned.

As sellers we always want to maximize our sales prices, but at a certain point we have a moral obligation to price things fairly as well and not even try to sell 50 cent items for $300. It would be one thing if a legitimate bidding war drove up the price, but this is a fixed price listing. Again, the seller isn't breaking any laws, so I'm not saying they should be put in jail, suspended from ebay, etc. But I also see nothing wrong with calling them out on it, for whatever good it would do.

I do not know a thing about newspaper stamps, but to me this is not a good description. The word "facsimile" means just that in my opinion. If it were used that would have been fraudulent, but it does not appear used.
I believe the correct description should read "facsimile with faults" or something similar?

Peter

I agree with Peter ..Ken

The word "facsimile" means It is a fake. I don't see the ad as misleading. It is just that his price is "Out of the world" Ridiculously high. An item is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. He is dreaming asking $299 for the stamp.

Just as a comparison, consider this "sold" lot of Facsimile newspaper stamps -- 25 in all -- that sold for only $35 just last month ... that comes out to about $1.40 per stamp. Quite a difference.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/US-Newspape...047675.l2557

Not a bad listing, just an uninformed seller.

And frankly if an inexperienced buyer doesn't notice the very clear indication that this is a facsimile, well it will be a very good lesson for them to pay attention to everything in a listing (and of course they can get an immediate refund if applied for).

I have a collection of newspaper stamps and keep a pretty good eye on the offerings.

You see a lot of facsimiles, fakes and forgeries among U.S. newspaper stamps for sale on ebay.

Yes, the photo clearly states "facsimile" but neither the description nor headline state that fact, and I believe they should. The pricing is very suspect.

I don't decry stamp dealers for pricing a product ridiculously high - it is their business - but I agree that the listing description and the price might lead an inexperienced collector, or someone not paying close attention to the photo - to believe this is the real deal.

I collect newspaper stamps and I think I paid about $100 for my copy - it is used, average condition (and that's being generous) and has some thinning and minor damage. Last year, a really nice (VF) used copy with a blue brush cancel and expertised went for $1035 in auction.

I would expect that the description should match the photo but in this case the description suggests that this is an authentic used stamp rather than the facsimile shown in the photograph. How can a facsimile legitimately be used anyway? Yes, a buyer should be paying attention but this description is misleading.

To my mind, the best course of action is a quick, polite note to the seller, and if that goes nowhere, let the tarring and feathering begin.

I don't count a marked facsimile as a fake, per se, but there is no circumstance where a facsimile marking makes it "used."

Now, if it was marked facsimile and it was used, then he'd have something...

My 2d.

ebay should pull the listing, as the rules state that the REPLICA should be in the title and description. I vote bad listing, and thanks for all you do at stamp smarter

The title states it is Scott PR25. It clearly is not and hence is incorrectly described. You could win a case with ebay should you purchase this under the false assumption implied by the title.

simple to me - bad listing. It is claimed to be a SC#PR25, it is not. Whatever the pic may show.

Agree - bad listing. BUT (there's always a but) while the title is misleading, the image clearly shows a defective stamp with facsimile overprinted on it. So I'd say buyer beware (the exorbitant price tag should be your first red flag), the seller should also be notified of his error.

It is clearly a misleading and deceptive listing. The TITLE says it is a PR25. It is not. It is a FASCIMILE of PR25. The TITLE says it is USED. It is not. It is exactly the reason StampSmarter needs to exist - to call out deceptive listings.

That all being said, I am not accusing this seller of purposeful deception, but the result sure is. Further, only a blind man would NOT see the "FASCIMILE" and immediately realize the pictured item doesn't match the title. But maybe not. And should the onus be on the buyer? Not the seller to describe accurately? Shouldn't the title accurately reflect the item being sold? If not, why not?

I am rather surprised at the high percentage of folks who don't see this as a deceptive listing. I sure do.....