by Daniel Cohen
8th of October 2009

If you are reading this, chances are you've decided to list some lots in the Stamporama Auction. Let's try to increase the chances that your lots will receive bids. First, you have some big questions to consider.
 
The big questions:
 
Any potential auction seller needs answers to the following important questions before listing lots for sale:
 
Q. What are you selling? Generally speaking, Stamporama members are not big spenders. They seem to prefer less expensive, small accumulations of stamps rather than more expensive individual stamps or sets. Expensive individual stamps or large collections are unlikely to get bids.
 
Be very sure of the identification of your stamps. You won’t look like a knowledgeable seller if you describe Belgian stamps as French stamps, for example, or call pre-cancelled stamps “CTO’s.”
 
Q. What are the catalog numbers of the items you are selling, and what catalogues are you using? (Catalogue numbers would be expected only for individual stamps and sets, not for small or large accumulations.)
 
Remember that catalogues are not universal, and not all collectors have catalogues. In addition to catalogue numbers, the smart seller will indicate the year that stamps were issued, their subject, and their color, especially if an image is not provided.
 
Q: Are your stamps Used, Mint Never Hinged (MNH) or Mint Hinged (MH), Unused, Cancelled to Order (CTO) or pre-cancelled? (If you aren't sure of the meaning of these terms, have a look at the Stamporama Descriptive Terms FAQ.)
 
Q. What can you say about any particular stamp? Does it have faults such as tears, thins, stains, or short, blunted, worn or pulled perforation teeth? Does it have notable features such as outstanding color, "boardwalk" margins, or interesting color shifts? Is the cancellation noteworthy? Is it a catalogued variety? In short, note any pluses or minuses that would add to or detract. (Ethically, all defects must be described, even if they can be seen in a scan.)
 
Q. What is the catalog value of the lot, and what is the year of the catalog that you are using? Include date of issue for the stamps and indicate if they are singles or sets, unless of course it is a mixed lot from various countries.
 

 
Don't be afraid to list full catalogue value. It is understood that catalogue value describes a near-perfect stamp, with VF centering, and without faults. Collectors and dealers understand catalogue value as a benchmark which helps them to evaluate stamps.

The seller has other important decisions to make:
 
Category:
 
Within what auction category will you list your stamps? Collectors looking for Belgian stamps, for example, won't expect to find them listed under Eastern Europe!
 
Minimum bid:
 
There are two approaches you could take here. First, you could set your minimum bid at an amount you would willingly accept, regardless of the catalogue value, with the understanding that bidding might go higher. Alternatively, you could set a minimum bid lower than your expectations, hoping to generate initial interest and counting on the competitive spirit of those who, once engaged, hate to be outbid.
 
Another option is to watch the minimum bids and selling prices of comparable lots to see what the traffic will bear. The more common an item, generally speaking, the less you should expect. Recent commemoratives from the U.S. U.K., and Japan are generating between a nickel and a quarter, regardless of catalogue, with most other countries generating even less. Older material, priced at pennies, often generates a lot of interest. And a few rarer items, like the prestige U.S. Submarine booklet, are selling above catalogue price. These are not rules, but mere observations that are likely to change as the auction participants change. (It should be noted that expensive lots rarely sell in the Stamporama Auction. There's no harm in trying, however.)
 
Images are vital:
 
If possible, include images of your lots. Collectors expect to see images, and are more likely to bid if they can see large, clear images. But don't make them too big — images that take up more than the computer screen are no better than images that are too small to be seen clearly.
 
Be prepared to offer scans of both front and back of stamps and covers, assuming that the backs contain information that is difficult to describe in words. You probably don't need to scan the back of a MNH stamp or a lightly hinged stamp without a hinge remnant, but a stamp with gum damage might require a scan. Covers often have important postmarks on the back, and cover collectors want to see them. Scans of the back of such covers will help sell them. Again, if the backs of covers are damaged, it is important to show the damage, particularly on higher-priced items.
 
Shipping Terms:
 
Clearly state what the shipping costs will be. Some sellers, particularly those who sell only small quantities of stamps, charge a flat rate, or different flat rates for domestic and foreign shipments. Others charge actual postage. Clearly state your own policy.
 
Insured mail is important to consider for expensive lots; the cost is always passed on to the buyer. Insured mail is the only way to guarantee against financial loss. Registered and certified mail to do not guarantee delivery and do not protect against loss; they are used only to trace the package in the mail stream. Express mail often comes with a minimum level of insurance. Whatever country you live in, be sure you understand its postal regulations before you close a deal with a buyer.
 
Clearly state the means of payment that you require, and understand the factors to consider for each type of payment:

• Cash may be risky.
• Unless you know the buyer, cheques slow the process down because you should wait for them to clear the bank.
• Money orders are popular, but may cost more than the purchase!
• PayPal may be worth looking into if you intend to sell a lot of stamps, but you will pay fees for the privilege of using it. However, many collectors find PayPal the most convenient means of paying; if they only use PayPal to pay for purchases, they don't have to pay fees.
• You may be willing to accept mint, gummed stamps of your country as payment for low-value lots. They're as good as cash, and may save you trips to the post office to buy postage.

Note: Stamporama auctions are conducted in U.S. dollars, and unless you dictate other terms in your auction, dollars are the accepted currency of payment. You should not expect to dictate terms after the lot has sold.
 
Concluding the sale:
 
It is expected that both parties will contact one another within three days of the end of the auction to arrange payment. Any deviation from this should have been arranged before bidding. It is expected that the buyer will have sent payment within one week, and the seller will have mailed the lot within one week following receipt of payment. Some allowances can be made for international mails; bulky packages sent at discounted rates will take longer.
 
Questions & Problems:
 
Encourage contact from potential bidders. This requires that your e-mail address be provided with each listing. Be prepared to help any bidders to contact you and to respond immediately to questions or requests. Treat them as you would wish to be treated if you were the bidder on an item of theirs.
 
Returns:
 
In general, sellers are expected to stand behind their lots, and graciously accept returns for lots that are different from what the buyer expected. The buyer will be responsible for all shipping costs, but the seller should graciously refund the cost of the lot.
 
If your lots don't sell
 
If your lots don't sell, ask yourself why. You may have priced them too high. You'll know if you relist them at a lower opening bid and then sell them. Sometimes when you relist, you end up selling them for more than the original minimum bid!

• If your stamps don't sell, it may be that they are just too common. Why would anyone bid on stamps that they may already have?
• If your stamps don't sell, consider their condition. Ugly cancels, lousy centering, and obvious damage don't make stamps very collectible.
• If your stamps don't sell, it may be because they are both common and inexpensive. How many collectors want to spend more on postage than the stamps are worth? If would be better to combine several cheap lots into one more-expensive lot.

Having said all this, let me offer my help should you feel in the need of it. You can contact me, Dan Cohen, at cohendaniel64@yahoo.com.

Editors Note: Author Dan Cohen consulted with Stamporama Volunteers David Teisler, Liz Jones and Bob Ingraham in writing this article. David, who oversees the Stamporama Auction, can be reached by e-mail at teisler@aabt.org.