Pleasant (Thus Far) Transaction Involving A Cert.

Maybe this is a novelty, or maybe I've simply been incorrectly approaching the idea of how to obtain a cert. for a particular stamp when a seller/dealer has a stamp that pretty much requires one. In the past, when inquiring about obtaining one before a purchase, the stock answer has usually been "buy it, get a cert and if it comes back not clean/correct then I'll refund your money, and I get the cert you paid for." (Or something akin to that.) Well, the last time I did that from an unnamed seller it took the APS 3.5 months to return the stamp and I had to fight with the seller as their "rule" was after 3 months, no returns. Obviously, no fault of mine it took the APS to determine there was a cleaned cancellation, but it was also the last US stamp I purchased. Of course, I ate the cert fee as well. Not playing that game again where I pay for a dealer's mistake or lack of effort/knowledge/actually caring.

That said, have another stamp that fits that category, or more specifically the overprint. This go-round the seller (a different one) offered to send the stamp out to an organization I'm comfortable with and asked for a 10% deposit, with the balance refundable if the stamp/overprint does not come back clean; and I pay the cert. fee and remaining balance if it does. Seems like a pretty fair way to deal but curious what everyone else's experiences are with this type of "deal" for lack of a better term; and how you've negotiated this type of stuff?

Have several stamps on the radar that are going to fall in to this category, i.e. the Egyptian Port Faoud overprints to start that I'd like to add to the albums to essentially complete collections/albums.

Very few sellers will pay the full costs of a cert if it comes back other than described. They'll only refund your purchase price upon receipt of the returned item. Most sellers who do pay for a bad cert limit the amount they'll pay. I've not seen a single one who will also refund the charges for shipping both ways (to and from the certifying agency).

Unless the seller agrees to pay the full cost of the cert, I just refuse to send them the cert I paid for when I return a not as described item for a refund.

The APS store used to have a process that let the buyer pay for the stamp and have APS certify it before shipping. If the cert came back bad, the buyer was refunded and the consignee was charged for the cert, the sales commission, and required to either alter the description accordingly or remove the item from the APS store. I don't think that's true any more since APS moved to HipStamp. They've talked about it, but as far as I know, it hasn't happened yet.

uboatnut: here is at least one example of a dealer (me) refunding postage both ways if not as described - these Ts & Cs have worked well for me and my customers for the past 24 years. And I doubt I'm the only full-time dealer with these as I copied them from an old-timer when I got started. Steve

RETURN & EXTENSION POLICY:

All of items are sold as genuine (unless described otherwise) and "as described" and can be returned within 14 days of purchase with original plastic sleeve and invoice (or copy of credit card transaction) if not as described.

Any item without a Philatelic Foundation or American Philatelic Expertizing Service certificate issued within the past 5 years can be placed on extension.

Terms and conditions regarding extensions:

1) Purchases must be paid in full before placing on extension

2) Notification of extension via email within 7 days of purchase for mail orders, or at time of purchase for show purchases

3) Acceptable committees for USA postal history are the Philatelic Foundation, New York, NY; the American Philatelic Expertizing Service, Bellefonte, PA; or the Civil War Philatelic Authentication Service, Blacksburg, VA (Confederate covers only)

4) Item(s) must be sent for expertization within 7 days of receipt and a copy of the application emailed to me (or I can send the item directly if preferred)

5) Item on extension is at buyer's risk in case of a loss if not sent by me (if sent by me, my dealer's insurance policy covers it for the purchase price)

6) Unless advised and confirmed by email, items are assumed to have cleared after 90 days

7) A full refund of the purchase price plus the cost of the certificate and postage (if sent by you) will be made if the item is "not as described" or a partial refund to be agreed if you would like to keep the item.

8) A not-as-described item must be returned with original plastic sleeve, a copy of the purchase invoice or credit card transaction, and the expert committee certificate. Refund will be issued immediately upon receipt of returned item and refunded to your credit card (if paid by card) or US check mailed to you if paid by check or cash.

9) No refunds in cases of a "no opinion" or a "declined opinion"

10) Buyer is responsible for the cost of the certificate and postage (if sent by me) in the case of an "as described" opinion.