Bill Langs Passed Away

Their weekly Internet sales have had some of the Langs material lately.

Not sure if they publish prices realized for those ...

I'm still getting weekly emails from "Bills Bargain Stamps" that direct me to a HipStamp site with what looks like 1000s of stamps still listed. Didn't bid on any of them just to see if the listings were still active since I have no interest in buying any of this stuff. I thought the inventory was passed on to Kelleher to auction off so I am surprised that I'm still getting these emails. Does anyone know what the story is here?

I believe they are still running "sales" and the business trying to offload any material via retail channels simultaneously.

I've been wondering the same thing. While there have been several Kelleher auctions with his holdings, including the latest collections and accumulations, I am a little surprised as it feels as though his personal collection and better quality holdings haven't been made available yet. Much of the material auctioned thus far has been on the medium to low end, including the error catalog albeit there were a number of exceptions.

I know he had a lot of error sheets, and perhaps there is an issue with bringing them to market considering they would be priced based on quantities known/available and he may be the only holder of. I am eagerly awaiting a motherload of material to drop. As Tom Petty said, the waiting is the hardest part.

What we have seen offered so far is going to be it. There is no secret stash of "Wow" stuff IMO. They would have offered it (there is zero benefit to waiting) at Kelleher. I have never understood what the game plan is with the auctioning of Lang's collection and stock versus the retail side still in operation simultaneously. A strange animal indeed.

I had been watching a single item for some time on the BAY and offered what I thought was a fair price. It was accepted and my item arrived today as expected. It was "as described" and I happy to add it to the collection. I had previously seen a few items that I know were already sold in recent auctions so there remains some clean up work but at least in this case, an item was still available and was processed and received.

Hobsun

In the last 24 hours, I've received 3 unsolicited e-mails from the "Bill's Bargain..." encouraging me to check out their inventory online. I still find the stuff to be overpriced for what's being offered.

It's always been overpriced. That was his business method. If there's something you want, don't be afraid to make an offer at 50% (or less).

Of the 4 or 5 items I bought from them in the past few months, had to return all except for 1.

What were the issues?

Significant gum issues not disclosed in the description.

It sounds like the business model is unchanged.

I would occasionally buy from Bill, but I always assumed that what I was buying had at least a small fault or detractor, which it usually did.

Me too (and, unfortunately, true for many other dealers on ebay)

Looks like a liquidation of his hipstamp listings is underway. I have noticed significant discounts being added and revised downward on every listing (ie 60% off+) Very atypical historically at these levels for his stuff.

Good timing, given that HS is running a $1,000 rebate on a $5,000 purchase today only (Oct 28 2021).

Did the rebate go out to all customers or just a select few? I don't see any reference to it.