Bad Experience With Seller AR Kassel

I recently bought a few items from a Hawaiian seller named AR Kassel (Antonios on BidStart). His material tends to be expensive but I was seeking to fill in a few gaps.

Two of the stamps I purchased were listed as having multiple copies in stock. As an example, here is an image of a Belgium stamp he shipped me with a stain visible front and back (issued in 1983, and NOT the one in the lot image).





Another stamp had a significant crease/fold, again not the stamp pictured. Here is the email string between us:

Hi:

The Belgium stamp sent has a stain visible both front and back. See attached.

Given that you have multiple copies, why pick out the one with a stain (and a pulled perf at top) preferentially?

I gave him three days to respond, but he didn't. So I gave him well deserved negative feedback. Suddenly, after receiving the feedback he miraculously found his way into his emails. First response:

Hey Ed don't let the door hit you on the way out. Merry Christmas 2U TonyK

And here is his second response:

You are persona non grata and I have blocked you from any further dealings. Bye Bye.

Caveat emptor.

*** Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. ***

http://www.amazon.com/Hawaiian-Miss...p/1461157560

The author lives in Hawaii and has collected stamps for most of his life. He has read hundreds of books and articles on History. Following his passion he attended Washington 2006 a World Cass Philatelic Exhibition. At that show he first viewed some stamps that are also called Hawaiian Missionaries. These stamps are quite rare. Also on display were some similar looking stamps called the Grinnells which are thought by some to be forgeries. Flying back to Hawaii he read more about the Grinnell missionary stamps. The author is an expert in identifying the work of great European stamp forgers, specifically Sperati and Fournier. Kassel's impression of the Grinnel missionary stamps was that they are of exceptional quality and in need for further study. The author spent five years researching the Hawaiian Missionaries both the people and the stamps. To understand and solve a mystery that has intrigued philatelists for decades requires an understanding of the people who created the Hawaiian Missionary postage stamps. Amazing details were uncovered in the quest for information. These are endearing stories that everyone will enjoy. The author is an Electrical Engineer who worked in Silicon Valley for fifteen years then returned to graduate school where he earned an Masters of Science degree in Microelectronics and Photonics from the University of Arkansas. Go Hogs!

I had a similar experience (but on Delcampe) where the seller sent me a stamp different than pictured in the listing and then refused to make it right. I simply filed a Paypal dispute for "item not as described" and received a refund from Paypal. Life is too short to waste time on these loser sellers.

Well, I've read hundreds of books and articles "on History", but I don't think it gives me carte blanche to treat the world with contempt ...

Knowledge and/or intelligence is not a guarantee of integrity...sad, but true.

I quickly put sellers with integrity problems in the rear view mirror

KGB- thanks for the resume, but I don't see anything in the synopsis about business or personal ethics. Thanks for the supportive thoughts Jenny, Geoff, and Bob.

sherm, nor is there anything about his being witty. Poor fellow can only muster sarcasm. I hope BidStart has an effective complaint department so that you can recover your money.

shemae,
Did the listing mention that the images were stock images or that you might not get the stamps shown?
Don

Thanks for sharing this with us. I'll make sure not to do business with him.

51- No, the listing did not mention that I would or would not get the exact stamp pictured. It doesn't matter. If the seller has multiple copies of the stamp, in my view they are obligated as a matter of ethics to provide a copy equivalent to the one pictured. Sending a stained copy is nothing more than a penny ante bait and switch. I gave this seller 3 days to respond to my concerns and he chose to ignore me. Only after receiving negative feedback did he come up for air. Pretty clear how he runs his "business."

If any seller on this site disagrees with me that I should expect a stamp at least as good as the one shown in a stock picture, please let me know so I know not to do business with you in future.

You got the shaft.

Bait and switch clearly. If a seller shows a particular stamp for sell them you should receive said stamp or get a refund.

Yep! Swapping a stamp that is different to the listing image is not a good look.

I have some standard images for kiloware lots.

Sometimes in 1,500 listings per week a listed stamp goes......

Your impatiens may be to blame... not everyone can respond to an email within 3 days.
Dealers often travel especially on weekends. Also there's the Holidays, weather or a thousand other reasons why he may be delayed in responding.

Maybe you should have waited longer, perhaps a week, before posting a negative feedback.