Seller Asking Exorbitant Prices

Just curious if anyone tells sellers that they are pricing their material at ludicrous prices when they are doing so?

I'm not referring to someone asking 100% of Scott for a premium, XF MNH type item where they might be hoping to get that buyer that falls in love to pay a premium, but the sellers that advertise a $3.00 stamp for $24.00 with all the well and overused terms like "rare" and "gem" and "superb example"...we all know that language...

I want to say something to sellers that I see doing that a lot, but not sure if it will help; and maybe not my place to say anything at all.


Really just don't want to see anyone ripped off.

The sellers you are referring to most likely don't know what they are doing, or are trolling for suckers, and as such all you will end up doing is getting yourself blocked.

Like it or not, any seller has the right to price their merchandise as they see fit, no matter how high it may seem to you... and you have the right to not purchase. That's the dynamic here.

Once you start policing prices, it's a slippery slope. I've seen countless collectors claim that "anything over XX% of Scott is a ripoff!", yet they are completely clueless about the myriad of cancels and varieties and usages that can turn a 50-cent catalog-value item into a several-hundred or several-thousand dollar item. The last thing I want to see is pricing policies set by, or enforced by, the masses or the nonspecialists.

No, it's best to let pricing be. If you feel the need to vent about it, this forum is the place for it, but spending your time telling sellers they have priced their wares too high, is not only a thankless task of monumental proportion, but candidly, it's ultimately nobody else's business how a seller prices things. The marketplace will ultimately decide if something is too expensive.

People are allowed to ask anything that they want to ask. I shy away from RARE and other descriptors, and I sometimes ask them what is so rare about this common item. I never get a reply. Just move on.

At SCF, this topic is an ongoing source of concern for some, and sometimes amusement for others.

"If you feel the need to vent about it, this forum is the place for it"

Hence why I am "venting" here! That said, I know the value(s) of what I am looking for. (If we were discussing Chinese cancellations as an example; would certainly sit on the sidelines and learn without speaking.) Also freely admit I get a bit peeved when I see a stamp with a Scott "value" of $3 on that is listed for $20 that is advertised as the deal of a lifetime; being such a rarity as advertised.

Totally agree that sellers can list anything for any price they want; am certainly not trying to regulate a free market; just more wondering if said sellers/dealers actually do make sales with what I would consider to be "iffy" advertising/descriptions.

Guess I am more wondering if some sellers think we are all naïve?

Some members, In this case John Becker, tend to frown upon venting about certain topics. This is a quote from yesterday:

"Rogdcam, We all know you hate ebay and do not use it. You continue to deride it in post after post. Apparently you had some bad experience there in the past. It's time you stopped flogging the horse. It's dead. Many of us get a considerable livelihood from ebay and are tired of listening you harp on and on. If you don't have anything nice to say about ebay, then SHUT UP."

https://goscf.com/t/68101

Do not let a few angry people dissuade you from expressing polite opinions. This forum overall is a Godsend to philately.

Sellers may ask what price they may. Buyers have the choice to buy or not.

Rogdcam, since you mention me, I feel compelled to answer. Yes, I will hereby retract my comment that you "hate" ebay. ebay has warts ... lots of them ... and plenty of beauty marks too - especially for the knowledgeable buyer. Stamps shows and auction houses also have their heroes and villains. However, your continued negative posts about ebay WITHOUT providing any disclaimer within these posts that you "have not been an active buyer or seller on ebay for X years", or something to that effect, demonstrates a lack of transparency on your part. Please practice fuller disclosure and honesty. My previous post to you was not made in anger, I meant it! If you choose to avoid participation in a particular segment of the marketplace for some personal reason, please be silent about it and let those of us who enjoy it alone. And sign your real name!

The broader aspect is the repetitiveness of these threads. There are too many improperly described stamps and sellers of questionable character on ebay but most threads turn into a bashing ebay discussion as if they must solve the problem. I ignore most of them now since nothing really is learned.

When people post these here do they think they are warning people about something or just a continual rag on ebay? I am all for education (knowing more about some fakes) but usually do not see much of that.

Yes. These threads make me feel like I'm sitting next to a table of angry old men in a coffee shop.

ebay is a flea market, not a hobby shop. Plenty of sellers who just randomly list at a ridiculous price figuring that they need to hook only one sucker. Be amused by them but do not engage.

Get off of my lawn!

"These threads make me feel like I'm sitting next to a table of angry old men in a coffee shop"

That's funny. Made me laugh. I'd wager that most people here both older and male. So add a coffee shop and a bit of anger, and there you have it!

I agree that too many posts just rehash the same old claims over and over: ebay is bad. Why do sellers price material at such ridiculously high prices? This stamp is misidentified. And so on. Some of that -- a misidentified stamp, for example -- is actually useful and educational. I learn from those posts. But a lot is just someone venting. It may be best to ignore such posts.

ebay is a very useful tool, one of the best in fact, for stamp collecting. It has its faults, clearly, and important ones should be pointed out (dishonest dealers, for example). But for stamps and stamp materials it's generally very good. Those items I've purchased on ebay that weren't as described I've returned for a refund. Most of the time I've been happy with my purchases. Most importantly, ebay gives me a way to buy stamps easily. Stamp shops have disappeared. I don't get to very many stamp shows. How else are collectors supposed to buy stamps easily and comfortably? I do buy form some online dealers, but that's pretty hit or miss. ebay is far more comprehensive, and I like it.

Sellers overpricing items is as old as the world. Who cares? Don't buy overpriced items. The idea that you would "contact a seller" to inform them you think their item is overpriced is very strange. Just don't buy it. The market will show whether the price was a good one or not. On the other hand, if they've misidentified a stamp, or mixed it up with another stamp (which happens all the time, sometimes innocently), feel free to let the seller know in a friendly way. But if there's no response, forget it. You're not the Internet Police.

I am one old male who is a regular ebay buyer (as well as a sometimes buyer from other sites). I know there can be difficulties for sellers, but have rarely had a problem as a purchaser. I only buy from those with very high reputations, so that helps. I am happy with my purchases. A dealer friend of mine did tell me that HipStamp is growing quite a bit among sellers.

We have a couple of ebay sellers here in Australia trying to sell NSW material and just crazy prices. I filter them out in my saved searches which saves a lot of angst, and thins out the search results quite heavily, leaving a lot less to wade through.

If you want the really "angry old men" threads about ebay, just peruse the stamp forum down under. Some posters there make it their full time job to rail on about ebay...

Personally, I find it a useful venue, along with Hipstamp, Delcampe and auctions (through SAN or direct). So long as one does due diligence and filters out the junk listings.