To Authenticate Or Not? 2017 Ebay/Hipstamp Auction Purchases

As only being a "buyer," please be patient with my slow learning curve on scan files. The first files I try to get posted said too big? I got a snipping tool to make it smaller (downright tiny) but uploadable. One issue fixed a new issue faced.......I will try to do better in the future.

I have not found Anthony's dishonest in their business dealings?
I have their full assured if I authentic and it is a fake a refund will be issued. Hence my use of the board to get an opinion of obtaining a cert not an opinion on the stamp. To date, PSE has been pricey to use, so I'm trying to obtain opinions of the worthwhile nature of sending these off from an informed group.

You don't trust Anthony's? Do you see them not following the standard code of eithics of their membership organizations? If you know this as a fact (downright dishonest you stated), please advise ASAP I need to get these 2017 "wins" confirmed with a paid expert yesterday!

Why an 8 and 6b? A swing at the fences in 30 years time. (debatable at best I know!)

Sounds like to see if I was hit by I pitch I will be sending the 8 and 6b to PSE shortly.

In about 4 to 6 months I will let you all know if the stamps are fakes/altered and what Anthony's reaction is to the issue. I currently have full - via ebay timeless counterfeit policy - albeit possibly foolish faith Anthony's will not want to spit in ebay's eye to save a few $. I will have lost the PSE fee but I will have most of my bait back for the next wildcard fence swinger.......

Buyer Beware. Caveat Emptor. Return the earlies.

You have found the right site and experts. Learn. Ask. Listen.

Some of the members on SCF are/were the experizers. Why swing for the fences? The knowledge and answers are before you.

Wake up man!

Did you read Anthony's return policy?

Actually, you will see some very smart people avoid Anthony's and PSE.

Also, I am beginning to think we are being trolled. How can anybody be so determined to throw money away?

If you really want help, post some better images. It isn't that hard.

I'm counting on ebay counterfeit return policy not Anthony's weak two-week stuff. I thought Anthony's was reputable and a long-standing seller on ebay? I'm hearing a lot of negatives about them tonight?

If fake/altered, there is no expressed time limit with ebay sellers. Selling fake stamps is fraud and not good business. Therefore, I'm confident if this happens I get my $ back. I have been paying PSE to cert these, there are issues with sealed tears & re-perfs but that is my risk and I don't repeat with any seller that sells me crap (like Collect04, MOMAN). Anthony has not sold me anything that came back out-and-out as fake to date, just low quality issues so far.

thx

A suggestion on certification that holds no matter to whom you submit the stamps: whenever possible, send more than one item at the same time. Why? The shipping costs are the same for one or twenty, and you're paying it both directions. That shipping is usually Priority Mail with appropriate insurance; perhaps even Registered Mail for really valuable items. I always figure $40-$50 for the round-trip.

What will change when sending multiples is the cost of certification and to a far lesser extent, the cost of insurance. If you're an APS member, you can buy insurance for your collection, which also covers anything you're shipping out; just keep a scan of what you sent. I've had more than one USPS clerk tell me that while they will happily sell you insurance for your envelope, their Kansas City office that handles the insurance won't pay off if paper items (i.e. stamps, covers, checks) get lost; they only pay for lost merchandise. YMMV.

Why, as a beginning collector, would you be throwing money at stamps that require considerable knowledge and experience to accurately identify, rather than starting with basics and only spending nominal amounts until you gain experience? That makes no sense at all.

This approach to collecting can only turn out badly for you.

Let's see: "PSE has been expensive to use"
Not buying crap like "Moman" and "low quality issues so far"?

I'm in agreement with Winston, and wondered this from the start-- that's why I asked why the 6b and 8.....Methinks we're being trolled.....

Who puts a profile on a hobby board with the name "your opinion please"?

I always send to PSE in "batches" and use their economy service, still pricey ($30 for Scott #1 for example).

PSE Grading has been hard to brutal but only one outright fake to date reported back. Seller left ebay but PayPal helps you for up to one year if this happens and I got a full refund in time via the hitman of PayPal.

This is my play money but I dont want it to be completely dumb money that is flushed!

I'm not a russian troll farm hand but thanks for the compliment.

You came here asking if you should have the stamps certed. Apparently you do submit stamps for certing. Not sure what the point of this exercise is. Get them certed. Best of luck.

One other thing. If you are using your " play money" why would you not spend it at a reputable auction firm for items such as you desire? That is what smart money does. Smart money buys quality stamps that come with certificates. None of this makes any sense whatsoever.

Will be sending three of 4 stamps to PSE. Thank you everyone for your help.

btw Don from Stamp Smarted (GREAT GUY) suggested I write in on this board yesterday so I made an account today (YoP) to see what folks thought. I'm not a troll! Just a new collector trying to learn by doing. !

I am going to get me a double finger Scotch.

Ok guys, relax. He's new. We don't need to run the new guys off, there's other stamp boards that do a good job of that.

Ok, to the original poster, Your_opinion_please,

First off, ebay is FULL of misrepresented rarities and unfortunately we've seen a real pattern with Anthony's co it ually offering what are faked or misdescribed stamps and despite our efforts to educate them the behavior continues.

Second, for authentication I'd rather have a PF cert over a PSE cert. I just saw a stamp that catalogs $400 identified as one that catalogs $20,000 with a recent PSE cert.

New collectors getting hurt is NOT good for the hobby and we want to protect you.

If you aren't experienced enough to spot these stamps yourself (and it's totally OK if you're not) then don't buy them on ebay without either a certificate OR the right to get a certificate.

Sadly I see a huge number of incorrectly described classics that sell for way too muc, someone thinks that they're getting a bargain by buying a $2,000 stamp for $400 but they're really paying $400 for a $40 stamp.

One wonderful feature of this board is that we've not only got some great and experienced collectors but true experts that post here on a daily basis.

Stick around, we've got your back :)