Cheap Mint "Forever" Stamps

I see every day dozens of listings on various websites for mint stamps described as USPS forever stamps. Many of these are listed at half of even less than the current first class rate being charged by the USPS. Are these typically genuine USPS stamps? If so, how can these sellers obtain such stamps and sell them at this low price and, or course, still make a profit?

Because they are more than likely counterfeits produced in China. I would be sure not to buy and use them or you could be charged for defrauding the USPS postal system if detected. I cant understand why the USPS does not go after ebay for this. ebay is complicit in facilitating this illegal activity, allowing such goods to be sold on their website. I would think that the authorities would use the legal system to stop this illegal activity.

Edit- moved s into proper position in word counterfeits

Counterfeits

Use the forum search engine to find voluminous results regarding this topic.

They are Chinese counterfeits, not worth anything, but scamming gullible people online is incredibly common.

They're not all gullible. Enough of them are onboard with using counterfeit postage to save money.

There isn't much for discussion in this thread, but - has anyone else thought that the legitimate discount postage business is (also) suffering because of these crooks?

Aren't percentages for legit discount postage going down, or is this a misperception on my part?

John

I looked at the last Kelleher collections sale and the face value lots realized +/- 50% of face value including commission. The face lots that were mostly Forever stamps did somewhat better, say 60%. Not sure historically how that compares. There are likely (?) still enough people that are honest enough to not touch the obviously counterfeit material. Can you imagine a philatelic dealer getting bagged using fake stamps?

Stuart Katz, who does a lot of business in discount postage, is paying the following. He doesn't want Forevers due to the counterfeiting issues with them.

1¢-9¢ Paying 25% Full commemorative or definitive sheets, booklets or rolls

10¢-99¢ Paying 35% Full commemorative or definitive sheets, booklets or rolls
Sheets cut down from press sheets should be counted as scrap.

1¢-19¢ Scrap Paying 20%

20¢-99¢ Paying 25%

$1, $2 or $5 values paying 55% for scrap or sheets

Other high values $1 or higher paying 50% for scrap, souvenir sheets, rolls. 55% for sheets $1 values or higher.

"has anyone else thought that the legitimate discount postage business is (also) suffering because of these crooks?"

yes, it has been negatively affected