Reliable, Trustworthy Sellers?

sinclair2010, I think you should reconsider soaking the stamp so that 'the seller will be forced to sell the stamp as it is'. If you do so, you will be returning the stamp in a condition different than you received it in. You might as well stamp the stamp in bold - "DAMAGED", or tear it in two. I see your only recourse at this point to return the stamp as you received it, state (or re-state, I suppose) your belief that it is repaired, and let the seller do whatever he may after that. If he re-posts it as sound, then YOU'VE learned something about the seller. I suppose you could not leave feedback now, and if he re-posts the stamp as sound, THEN you could leave negative feedback stating what you have learned. THEN receive negative feedback yourself.

There are people that will argue that a repaired stamp has the same (or less, too, I suppose) value as that stamp after it has been repaired. But this isn't about value - it's about returning the stamp in the condition in which it was received. In the end, you can only control your own behavior.

Please don't mistake what I said as being critical of you. Quite the contrary - I admire it. I understand your desire to protect the vulnerable buyer. Even so, I think returning the stamp in a condition different than received is wrong.

I don't believe ebay sellers are allowed to leave neg feedback for buyers anymore.

The good old days on ebay have passed for me. I enjoyed it when there were plenty of auctions and not so much BIN. Also I won't buy anything on ebay for more than I can afford to lose.

mootermutt987, I haven't soaked the stamp mostly because I need to be able to return it in the condition I received it. That is why I asked for permission to soak it... which I have not received as of yet.

It is actually such a nicely done repair that the stamp should probably remain as is with maybe a couple pencil marks pointing to the repairs. None of this would be a problem with a good seller.

I have actually now heard from the seller. It took a long time but better late than never, especially in this case. I have permission to soak the stamp but I believe I will mark the repairs with pencil and return the stamp so that it can be resold with an accurate description. My ethics? A seller absolutely did the right thing (with my help), keeping his good reputation, and a buyer with a feedback rating of 256 was spared from buying a dud. I don't feel bad at all!

I have been away and missed the latest on this thread. Sinclair, I am glad it worked out well. Thanks for the update. It is heartening to see that some people CAN do the right thing, even though it may cost them $$$. Integrity? Priceless.

My hero!

The original question was "Is there a list somewhere of reliable and trustworthy dealers, auction houses and ebay sellers?" -- I recommend you buy from dealers who are members of ASDA and/or APS. Both organizations have codes of conduct and will discipline members who break those codes. Both maintain lists of dealers that are searchable. ASDA now has an arrangement with ebay where the ASDA logo is shown by member's listings.

Very wry smile.

The ASDA/APS membership is a start but no guarantee. There was a separate thread here on recommended dealers but as usual not everyone agrees on the list. One area is how diligent the dealer is in knowing what the are selling. They are human and not expert in all areas. When they buy stamps or sell consigned material they may not check the stamps.

The ASDA logo means nothing. Do a search for NYStamps and ASDA.

Or Anthony's