Fools Rush In..... To Buy Dreck

If you click the button to the left "Hot US Auctions" (1901-now used) you can see the sad picture of US Stamp selling. At least 50% of the most bid on US items are fake, with fake'y "certificates", and other undisclosed alterations. These are the stamps that collectors are RUSHING in to bid and buy - weird and sad.

And that is why I buy from reputable auction houses. Funny thing is that the prices at Siegel for some commonly sought after items are lower than ebay. I don't get it. A set of zeps at a Siegel auction will go for less than any purchased on ebay. Same with dollar value Columbians and so forth. Truly a mystery. Money is money. Why not deal with the best for LESS dollars. For small dollar items purchase a box or collection balance lot and bingo you have filled in those spaces at a nice price.

I assume the OP is talking about ebay? I don't see any 'Hot US auctions' category..

To the left of the OP

Peter

I go to Stamp Auction Network

OK, thanks for pointing me to that link, funny never noticed those before.

I note all the 'Blue Papers' offered by the seller in Greece, with the certificates you cannot read. Funny how those are mostly all out of focus. I'm not much of a specialist on those even though I own a couple. The ones he is selling just don't look right to me.

There is also a listing with an Alan Miller certificate.

Also; there are some e bay sellers very popular with lot's of buyers.The
moment they post a listing bid's start almost immmeadiatly.I've noticed this many times.Most of the time you will be paying more than let's say
another seller with the same stamp & type who does not have the quantity of followers.

Newsflash: One needs to be careful and cautious when buying on ebay.

*yawn*

And have a lot of time to waste wading through refuse.

Ok... everyone please pardon my rant, but it's time for one:

The incessant overgeneralization, both about ebay and the "state of the hobby", all couched in negativity, is frankly getting annoying. I thought I left all the Negative Nellies behind when I put Delphi in my rearview mirror... apparently not.

eBay/Hipstamp/Delcampe/whatever may not work FOR YOU. Yes, it may take time to weed through the chaff. It's not for everyone.

But blanket generalizations like those of the OP making universal statements about not only the material there but the buyers who participate there, are just plain wrong, not to mention insulting.

Many of us have quality and unusual material in our collections that we would not have were it not for ebay.

Here are some novel concepts:

Don't like ebay? Don't go there.

Think the hobby is dying and the sky is falling? Find another hobby. I hear fidget spinners are all the rage.

Sheesh!




There, I feel better now. kthksbai

So expressing an opinion negative to ebay means that I need to find another hobby. Laughable.

ebay does not do the hobby any favors by leaving a bad taste in newbies mouths when they find out that that "gem" they purchased is junk.

Imagine going to purchase a certain model widget and the store policy is that you are on your own. The widget may be fake, faulty, the wrong widget etc. and that you are completely on your own and have a nice day. Caveat Emptor is one thing but ebay is ridiculous.

To each their own however.

ebay has sellers of all types including members of APS and ASDA. The problem is some of even the APS and ASDA dealers have problems with accurately described material so not unique to ebay. What some dislike is the immense quantity so a lot to see rather than a few select items in some auction catalogue.

Quantity has nothing to do with anything unless we are talking about the quantity of misidentified stamps, faulty stamps, fake stamps, altered/repaired stamps etc. Quantity of good things is desirable. Having to examine every candidate for purchase with a jaundiced eye is not.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sturgeon%27s_law

Jim

That isn't what I wrote. You're connecting two separate concepts. I said that if you're gloom and doom and sky is falling, you need to find another hobby.




Apples and bowling balls.

ebay isn't the seller. ebay doesn't control the verbage and claims of every listing.

ebay is akin to a mall owner. They own the facilities but the conditions and quality of specific products are up to the individual store owners within the mall.