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Shop With Confidence At APS Stampstore - Seriously?

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Pillar Of The Community
United States
4149 Posts
Posted 03/29/2025   7:09 pm  Show Profile Check eyeonwall's eBay Listings Bookmark this reply Add eyeonwall to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
APS is just a pass thru for the sellers. The one advantage the buyer has is if you want to get it certified, the stamp is already there and you don't have to send it in or bargain with the seller.
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Pillar Of The Community
Learn More...
United States
1273 Posts
Posted 03/29/2025   7:27 pm  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add Al E. Gator to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
About 6 or so years ago I got into a discussion with some more noted philatelic gurus on another web site about faked Washington/Franklin coil stamps frequently showing up in APS circuit books. After a few posts, the APS got involved in the discussion and basically in the end said they didn't have the time or the staff to vet the books, so I'm not at all surprised if they are not vetting there listings.
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Bedrock Of The Community
12651 Posts
Posted 03/29/2025   8:14 pm  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add rogdcam to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
Call me harsh (go ahead, make my day) but if I were APS king for a day or three, I would pause accepting material for sale for a set period of time, have knowledgeable staff review existing stock for blatant abuse and notify the offenders that their membership was revoked and publish it.

The APS has a code of ethics:


Quote:
As a member of the American Philatelic Society

I agree to support and be governed by the Constitution and Bylaws of the APS and such amendments, resolutions, and policies as may be established.

I agree to abide by all federal, state, and local laws relating to philatelic matters.

I agree to conduct myself so as to bring no reproach or discredit to the APS, or to impair the prestige of membership therein, or to philately.

I agree neither to buy nor sell philatelic items of which the ownership is questionable, and to report promptly to the proper law enforcement agencies information on suspected stolen material.

I agree to correct promptly any error I may make in any transaction.

I agree to assist in the prosecution of violations, of which I have knowledge, of laws pertaining to philatelic matters, and to report promptly to the proper law enforcement agencies any such violations.

I agree not knowingly to sell, trade, produce, or advertise repaired, altered, or otherwise modified philatelic items unless that condition is clearly stated. I further agree not to sell, produce, or advertise counterfeit material in any form, in violation of any law.

I agree to fulfill all contracts made by me, either orally or written, to make prompt payments upon delivery, and to return promptly any item that is not satisfactory.

When exhibiting, I agree to display only material from my own collection or else to state clearly the contrary intent.

I agree that substitution of stamps or covers, in circuits, approval selections, auction lots, etc. is dishonest and is cause for expulsion.

I agree to bring known examples of irresponsible or unethical tactics to the attention of the societies in which I hold membership and which embrace this code.

I agree to conduct myself in accordance with accepted standards of morality and courtesy in philatelic activities not specifically cited in the code.
Requests for extension of time to return purchased material while awaiting expert opinion is not an acceptable reason to hold up payment for same. Prompt refund shall be from the seller should the material submitted for opinion be deemed other than as offered or described by the seller. Unless otherwise previously agreed, the seller shall also bear reasonable costs for obtaining the opinion if material is other than as offered or described. The buyer shall inform the seller immediately after receipt of any expert opinion. Requests for extension of time must be in writing.

I agree to read, understand, and be bound by the "terms of sale" conditions before submitting an auction bid or placing a philatelic order.
If I should be found guilty of unethical or unlawful conduct, the record thereof may be disclosed to other philatelic societies of which I am a member.
I agree that any dispute concerning philatelic transactions in which I am involved may be settled by arbitration mutually agreed upon by the parties involved.

I agree not to knowingly participate in any way in the advertisement, sale or trade of any philatelic material using any deceptive practices including, but not limited to, false or misleading claims of sales scarcity, value, condition or investment potential.

I agree that no dealer or auctioneer knowingly shall represent in any way, including, but not limited to, a prices realized report that a bona fide sale of a philatelic item at a given price has occurred when, in fact, no change of ownership did occur.

Every member is bound to adhere to the Code of Ethics. The Code is recognized and highly respected in the organized philatelic community.


It either means something or is just words.
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Pillar Of The Community
792 Posts
Posted 03/29/2025   9:18 pm  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add Oracle of Delphi to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
Revoking membership is a bit harsh perhaps as the initial step IMHO. It may be that a subset of the misrepresented material had been sent in by folks who simply didn't know what they had (and were perhaps bamboozled when they bought the material in the first place). I would suspend their ability to list in the APS StampStore unless they are consistently making simple blatant mistakes (such as passing off MH as MNH which happened in a number of my purchases) or had a pattern of misrepresentations of more valuable material over a reasonably large set of submissions indicating deliberate deception. Then, depending on circumstances, expulsion from the APS might be in order. I would also give all of the sellers advance notice of the investigation and possibility of suspension/expulsion and offer the chance for them to withdraw their material. That might help smoke out the bad characters.
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