Bill Langs Passed Away

Keep in mind that sellers will frequently list high-dollar or high-profile items to procure clicks. The primary intent of those listings isn't to sell them, but as a marketing tool. The seller is perfectly content with waiting for an acceptable offer or selling it through a different channel (Posner is a show dealer as well), so they're not motivated to clear everything out at the lowest dollar possible, or even "current market value".

I have several items in my ebay inventory that I'm not inclined to discount heavily. If they don't sell at the price I want, I'm fine with not selling them.

Sellers are not obligated to price their wares in a race to the bottom, just as buyers are not obligated to buy from them.

Different strokes and all that.

That said, while Langs did price his wares to the moon online, unlike Posner, Momen, Malack, Nalbandian, and other "full retail" dealers, Langs was frequently willing to discount HEAVILY from the asking price, at times 50% or more. I purchased several interesting items from him over the years.

Not everyone agreed with his methods or business ethics, but they obviously worked for him... and that's really all that matters.

"and that's really all that matters"
???

rogdcam - I with you on this auction; I'll be sitting it out. I could only find one stamp in my area of interest that I would consider bidding on. Considering the risk involved with the material - I'd want to get a new cert, it's just not worth my time.

You guys go ahead and sit out. Less competition.

RLSNY - Just because of that I am going to bid. Kindly provide your lot list.

rogdcam said:



119b's are great stamps and relatively obtainable used.

https://www.hipstamp.com/listing/11...-17/34613919

https://www.hipstamp.com/listing/us...-20/32442744

This according to auction Siegel's Auction 737 Lot 460 1991-04-20 "1991 Rarities of the World" has an undisclosed pinhole and went for 5k then. Did the pinhole just magically disappear?

A reminder for folks to do due diligence.

First it went in Posner's 119b Siegel 956 lot 121 Siegel went for $8000. Then sale 1019 Lot 462 for $6250. 8 years later he's still is trying to unload it. Problem is the faults will prevent appreciation with better ones always on the market.

Markets have changed in recent years, and data points are available with just a few mouse clicks.

There is no positive marketing aspect of hyping a damaged stamp. That's bad marketing except promoting high prices for subpar stamps. You market things as saleable items.

You want marketing? How about leaving off the negative aspects...(sarcasm) (119b). Light cork cancel leaves frame and inverted vignette clearly visible, rich colors, small tear at left center, small closed tear at top right, two light diagonal creases, pulled perf at right not mentioned on accompanying certificate. Clearly no reason to mention the pulled perf.

Makes me sad. I have bought stuff from him, and think he has good material, but if you do plan on spending thousands research what you buy.

Very interesting reading but I have a question. Approximately what % of Bill Langs material was description challenged? He must of had a lot of bread and butter items that were OK as listed? Are the questionable items 1%, 10% more?

Are you kidding us with the 1%?

I'm not kidding I have no idea, I never buy US.

'I'm not lying...I'm advertising'


Don

How do you define "challenged" - does that include puffery? Or are you asking about outright misrepresentation. How about this ebay lot - "6LB11 #1 RARE COMBO COVER WITH PF CERT WL2640"
https://www.ebay.com/itm/6LB11-1-RA...AMXQt5ZRYqMJ
The description is factually correct - there is a PF Cert. However, the description omits to mention that the PF cert (scan in the description) states "decline opinion as to whether the carrier stamp originated"

Since the store is still in operation, and I have bought from him, I can just say this. I believe he truly believed he knew better than anyone about them. It was an ego driven operation. As far as the percentage, it's hard to say because of sheer volume. But even in this thread, even an amateur can find problematic listings. The scary part with this perspective, is then, how deep does it run into the fringe.

I think he acquired a lot of questionable material that he knew could be fairly easily misconstrued.

That's the scorpions alluded to above. Yes, there is obviously the unquestionable stuff too. He has a great collection amid the wackadoo stuff. The "bargain" in his store name, is a purposeful misnomer and should easily raise suspicion as I don't think there is a single stamp _listed_ at a fair market value (normalized percentage of scott). .


Personally I was hoping the missing Nixon stamps would turn up from the US v Robie case.

I bought a few things over the years from Bill. Made offers well below his asking price and he said yes. Met him at stamp shows. I was never disappointed in what I got - though admittedly I never bought anything over $1000 from him and so maybe just didn't reach the danger threshold. He did seem like a person with a big ego and was not one for long conversations. I've seen mistakes on ebay and I've seen him correct them when pointed out. I can't imagine being able to maintain an inventory that large (typically over 70,000 items on ebay at any given time) without making mistakes. My opinion of him is just not as negative as many have expressed here. I don't expect to change any minds but I thought it worth expressing another view.