Ebay Vs APS Circuits

In my duplicates pile, I've got enough of a couple of countries to put together a few decent circuit books for sale.

I do sell a few things on ebay, but I am curious, not including the potential size of the audience, what are some compelling reasons to sell via APS circuits as opposed to ebay?

Just poking around for some thoughts...

I have no experience with APS circuits, either buying or selling. The biggest thing that would hold me back is that it would take so long to get my money from the APS circuit, up to 18 months if I understand correctly.

ecmorgan.....why would you want to sell thru APS circuit books???

The list of people it goes to is about 6-8....in 2 month span???
Is that exposure to sell stamps??? 6-8 people???
On ebay 6-8 can view per hour or less???

Cleaner customers.

No competitor-sellers looking to muddy-up your works.

No refunds six months after the sale (one hopes).

Just saying, as they say.

Dont understand this comment???
Because you are a APS member you shower more???



How is a competitor "muddy-up" your works??



If you sell a item described properly you have no need to
worry about returns

As a buyer from both APS circuits and ebay, they both offer some advantages. To me, the advantage of circuit books allows me to physically examine the stamp before buying without feeling rushed or obligated to buy with a dealer watching over me. It also allows me to examine stamps close-up for perfs, printing varieties, shades, watermarks, etc. I've learned a lot about stamps by examining them in the circuit books. There is also an "enjoyment factor" in going through the books that ebay doesn't provide. Sometimes there is a long wait between circuits and occasionally the books just don't contain the stamps I'm seeking.

ebay, however, is available 24/7, new stuff coming on all the time, its possible to look at thousands of stamps in a relatively short time. The latter is especially helpful if shopping for covers. Also a relatively easy return policy with ebay. Downside is an occasional shifty seller, poor scans, occasional slow delivery, and difficulty searching for specific items by catalog number.

Bottom line -- both are good, both have drawbacks. I use both.

Don

I agree with Don. I have only myself to blame if I select an item from a circuit and it turns out to be, say, wrong Scott number. I have been screwed a number of times by ignorant/unscrupulous sellers on ebay.

As for sellers, I believe there is a sizable portion of the buying audience that does not trust ebay, or are not technically proficient in basic web skills. True, the $$ comes in slowly. But, if you price your circuits aggressively, you might be surprised at how fast you are paid. Be sure to put all your small audience lots in one book, and your "probably will go fast" lots in others. The small audience stuff may take a while.

Don Sellos and Thomas Galloway: nice intelligent well-thought out responses. Thank you

kevin504, Greetings:

In a circuit book, as that page is turned, the (would be) seller has the (would be) buyer all to themselves.

SCFers who spend much more of their lives on ebay than I ever have (or, hopefully, ever will) have discussed competitors posing as buyers to leave negative feedback to muddy-up reputations.

The APS has been known to bounce members off of their rolls - the name & shame page is public information - but the dispute resolution takes place between two paying members, and I suspect most bystanders have a great deal of confidence in its neutrality & fairness.

ebay's extension of SNAD claims to 180 days has also been the subject of discussion, here on SCF, amongst experienced sellers.

It would seem to me that items sold thru APS circuit books would be more likely to stay sold; especially, as Don notes, the physical examination takes place, at leisure, before the sale.

I apologize if my initial response read like fortune cookies; I figured, incorrectly, that everyone was familiar enough with all of these issues to recognize my short-hand references.

Lastly, the average APS circuit buyer spends less of their time in front of a screen than the average eBaiter and, therefor, can be relied upon to bathe more often ;)

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

It doesn't have to be an either-or proposition. My revenues go to ebay, but most of my worldwide stuff goes to the APS store. I don't do circuits though.

The APS commission rate is steep at 20% on items up to $100, but you don't have to deal with order fulfillment or payment issues.

As a buyer, I find the APS online stamp store more useful than circuits. Far too many times I've ended up spending $5+ to forward on a circuit in which I found nothing to purchase. Shopping at the online store costs nothing. The downside is that the images on the stamp store are really craptacular... very poor.

Thank you for the feedback.

My position is that I'm not a dealer. I just sell of excess stuff, but I couldn't really come up with a GOOD reason to sell via circuits. That said, I enjoy shopping the circuits, though as often as not, I'm forwarding them with no purchases made, just as Revenuecollector pointed out. I also shop the online stamp store and have used it quite successfully to find some nice newspaper stamps.

I think part of me just wants to be supportive of what APS does, particularly of a service I enjoy. That said, I know others have, but I've yet to have an "issue" buying or selling on ebay. I think I'm fortunate there.

I don't know if it is permitted to mention other sites here, but there is another option other than ebay or APS approvals. Stamporama has an approval book sales format that is free and very lively. I've had excellent luck there both buying and selling.

I left that stamp forum because of the attitude toward forgeries.:(

Not to derail the thread, but what attitude would that be?

ebay is fast and easy. I do get more money through the APS circuit books , but it takes nearly 1-1/2 years for me to see it. If you are going to do the circuit books it is a long term commitment. I have a friend that forces himself to submit 12 books every month. He has been doing this for years and he gets a nice check every month along with the books of remainders that he had out for over a year. He takes the remainders books and puts them as one lot in a local consignment auction. He does very well, but he has to stay very committed to it every single month.

The time delay is one reason the online APS store can be a better alternative to circuits. Also, if stamps aren't selling, you can go in and change the prices on your stamps, an option you do not have with circuits.