Anthony's Llc Dismal PF Report Card = Follow Up To 10/23/17 Discussion

I will go out on a limb here, because I have been following Anthony's listings for years. They have not sold a genuine #315, #356, #491 1908 experimental coil or 3-15 cent bluish paper on ebay, EVER. Sure, they pepper in some lower value, genuine stamps to give their firm some sense of legitimacy. But, no "rarity" of consequence is EVER accurately represented with this firm, at least not on ebay. I would challenge anybody on this board (or elsewhere) to prove this to the contrary. Yes, there are a lot of problem sellers on ebay and elsewhere, but few that have as shaded and sketchy a history as Anthony's. Whether it is premeditated fraud or just naivety, I will leave to the opinion of others. But, there are few, if any, problems to our hobby as great as this company. Yes, I agree...Anthony's is a compelling reason for all of us to educate ourselves before spending our hard-earned money on collectible stamps. But, in the same breath, I will not absolve ebay's responsibility to police their marketplace. As I said previously, they have committed themselves to legitimacy in the numismatic marketplace, but they don't seem to take the philatelic marketplace anywhere near as seriously.

So true.

And every time a newby reads that they should not spend more than 25% and then sees a dealer asking more than that, they think they are trying to rip them off.

I posted that above but did not mean it in the literal sense that it is being taken. I said I like to pay about 25% of catalog for most items. I never said full VF quality, which most are not. Centering is not top of my "look for" list usually. I am more concerned with faults, OG, and not hinged or lightly hinged. Yes VF costs more, of course. I cannot afford the VF so I had to choose what aspect of perfect to loose. My reasoning was centering is not a human fault, all else is.

There is also the opposite where a person gets a catalog and thinks all their stamps are worth catalogue yet many dealers will not pay 25%.

I am always annoyed by the suggestion that if something doesn't sell or hasn't sold at a specified price, then it is overpriced, and that value is defined as what a stamp would sell for in the fleeting seven days of an unreserved auction on ebay.

They occasionally have some uncommon items on ebay, even with certs.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/US-Stamps-....m2749.l2649

Anthony's now shows the ASDA logo with every item for sale on their site. Feel better?

Note to self...avoid any seller displaying an ASDA logo.
Don

Regardless of what the puffery in "American Stamp Dealer & Collector" is intended to lead people to believe, in my opinion ASDA membership means absolutely nothing with respect to ethical business practices.

Just as BBB rating and ebay's "Top Rated Seller" status are also meaningless with respect to business practices. Far too many ways for members to buy or scrub their ratings clean.

EDIT: Was writing this while Don posted. While I wouldn't go as far as Don't sentiment, as there ARE some good eggs in the ASDA basket, membership is no assurance of ethical behavior.

I was, of course, intentionally over stating for humor. I assume that the ASDA logo usage is meant to be a 'stamp of Good Housekeeping' but obviously this is not the case. if they cannot police their own ranks than it clearly undermines any value in the logo. This really sucks for the good dealers who are paying their dues.
Don

Edit: just added smiley to improve communciation

Can someone tell me who MG is?

MG = Marc Guitmann

I will likely deal with APS members in good standing only moving forward as the ASDA is predicted to take no action on this case. He is a conman with long zep roots. This logo Abuse of the membership goes deep to his fathers Howard (actual registered member for Anthony's LLC). Possibility the so called expert describes he has on staff?

This is especially true now that Angloamericanappraisal displays the ASDA logo on all their ebay lots. A more dodgy dealer there has never been. Ever. Devoutly to be ignored.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bermuda-St...AOSwN3xZ1lyX

There is a basic misunderstanding here. The ASDA logo is being displayed by ebay based on an agreement negotiated with the ASDA. Sellers who are ASDA members have no control over the logo display once ebay is advised that the seller is a member. Even with what has been written here, buying from an ASDA member is more likely to produce a satisfactory outcome than picking some random ebay seller. If buyers have a specific complaint, it can be brought before the ASDA or the APS if the dealer is an APS member. It should also be noted that ASDA members normally accept returns and will refund payments. Failing to do can be reported to the ASDA.

Potential buyers should check listings for completeness including better quality images. Incomplete descriptions or poorly rendered images would indicate that the seller may not have examined his material carefully. Sellers who continue to offer uncertified stamps identified in the Scott Catalog as needing certificates would deserve to be avoided, but sharpshooting is allowed. Sometimes, but not often mistakes favor buyers.

ASDA credibility is on the line, not only with buyers, but with many members. Failure to take action could result additional membership losses. While direct communication with most ebay sellers is unlikely, direct communication with the ASDA is possible.

It is possible to find sellers who will watch out for the interests of their buyers, but don't expect the lowest price. Some sellers make their profit from "sliders" with obscure quality issues or altered stamps pretending to be a low-cost supplier. If a stamp appears too good to be true it is. There is no free lunch. Good stamps are scarce.