Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
'Received stamps today, thank you.
It took me nearly an hour to get them out of the envelope you mailed them in. I understand wanting to protect them from theft in mailing but this was one of the worst cases of over-protection I have received. Flaps on all four sides of the envelope were sealed to the backing. I had to work carefully with a knife getting the flaps open. I very nearly damaged the sheets.
Will leave good feedback. Not sure if I want to order again, however. Too dangerous getting into your mailings. Sorry. '
Why on earth do sellers do this stuff? I understand trying to protect against pilferage but I have never seen something so deliberately intended to forestall anyone- including the buyer- from opening a package.
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"Why on earth do sellers do this stuff?"
So that buyers receive their items safely and to help make sure there are no comebacks at a later date.
He did good. Just say 'thanks'.
Londonbus1
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Flaps on four sides of the enclosure were sealed tightly with glue that held like iron. Contents were a few mm away from where I had to cut to get the flap open. I ought to have taken and posted a picture of the mailing. I don't think you are getting how bad this was.
I got a reply this morning, joking about the 'little fortress' he uses in his mailings. I won't say anything negative in the feedback but won't be buying from him again. either.
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I've been the recipient of "Tape Mummies" in the past. One time I had purchased a plate number single of Scott 300. It was totally encased in tape, sandwiched between two small pieces of light cardboard, slightly bigger than the stamps. In the struggle to release the stamp, flexing the piece that was held fast and rigid caused the stamp to pop free from the selvage with the plate number. That ruined the piece.
So I contacted the seller and he was not helpful. He told me to glue the two parts back together with a hinge. He declined to refund saying "it was of no use to him split". I told him I'd just report it to Paypal and they'd refund me anyway, so he relented and refunded.
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Snick,
I understand your frustration, but the other end of the spectrum is an envelope that I received from a seller in India that had been neatly slit on the top edge and the stamps removed. I received a nice cover from India but that was all. I think I'd prefer your situation.
Regards ... Tim.
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And I agree with Tim on this one. I just know I have to be super careful, and over the years, I've been able to find the weak point in the envelope and extract the treasure.
BOB
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I have often felt the same frustration as snick. It is totally unnecessary to "bullet-proof" your packaging in such a way. Never in my life have I opened an envelope to find that a glassine flap had opened up while in transit, or that a paper wrapper had unfolded itself inside the envelope. Why in the world must someone overuse the tape like that? It is not making the contents any safer. On the contrary, it is making it very difficult to extract the items without causing damage to them.
When I worked in Quality Assurance for General Dynamics, the mantra pounded into us was, "Good enough is good enough," particularly when inspecting solder joints. More solder did not make for a better joint, but, in fact, introduced problems of its own. The same thing applies with tape.
It is not a binary, either/or, situation. The alternative to "too much tape" is not "unsecured loose stamps." The alternative to both is, "good enough."
Ted
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Geez! I believe I'd rather err on the side of overprotection myself. Once bought a U.S. #115 or #116 (can't remember which) , it fell out of the 102 card into the envelope and I cut the thing in half opening the envelope. I gave it to one of our fellow members.
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As Roseanne Roseannadanna would say, "If it's not one thing it's another" 
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I wish plastic (Scotch) tape was not used so much. Masking tape
would be better. I like getting stamps in glassines---easy to open, visible
enough to see what the contents, and will roll through sorting machines with
little damage. I've spent too many minutes digging out stamps from plastic
backing boards taped all around. But simple stock cards with the stamps
being loose can be secured by placing card in a glassine. (Did I spell glassine
correctly? I need to add it to the dictionary list of my spell checker.)
Tip of the day: Recycle glassines!
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Yes! Recycle glassines!
BUT -
please, please PLEASE don't tape them closed!!!!
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I prefer to mail my more expensive stamps in glassine envelopes sealed with black electrical tape, to protect from ESD. And it doesn't hurt to provide a few staples to act as a ground in the event of St. Elmo's Fire. Also, a staple, if properly aligned with the stamp, effectively seals the stamp within the glassine envelope.
Hope this is helpful.
Eric
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Windrinker usually a non-thermal plasma such as Saint Elmo's Fire can have highly excited electrons at a much higher temperature. Best to ship in one of those small fire-safe boxes.
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Did you want your new stamps to be pre-cancelled with a sharpie, too?
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Here's how I package my stamp shipments. I like to be sure that they're SAFE in transit.
Ernie
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And that safe is already opened ... someone didn't seal it with Gorilla Tape! lol 
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St. Elmo's fire is all fun and games until your "Western Cattle in Storm" gets zapped in transit and turns an unseemly shade of blue. Note the St. Elmo's Fire shooting from the pointy masts of this sailing vessel.
Ernie: That is a very nice safe, and perfect for mailing valuable stamps. You can never be too safe.
Purrfin: Hmmm? Gorilla tape may be preferable to my tried and true black electrical tape. Or maybe Gorilla glue?
Eric
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Crazy picture Eric,
I thought St. Elmo's fire was just some random flashes in the sky. Gives me something to read about
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07:50:06pm
Masts and Yardarms.
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"Here's how I package my stamp shipments. I like to be sure that they're SAFE in transit.
Ernie"
I take it your shipping and handling fees are just a shade over standard letter rates?
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at Ningpo,
Yeah, some might think they're a little on the high side but what price do YOU put on peace of mind.
Here's a typical auction lot
Rare and hard to find U.S. stamps.. EXCELLENT investment vehicle... Beautiful condition. Hurry BUY NOW
SHIPPING:
Zone 1 $750
Zone 2 $1000
Zone 3 $1000
Zone 4 $1000
Zone 5 $1500
Zone 6 $2000
Buyers in Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Guam and US Virgin Islands call for special shipping prices
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Sold to me. I'm not taking any chances with snail mail, I'm flying over to hand collect.
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Gotta love this one. An eBay seller cut this souvenir card to use as a stiffener around a stamp I bought. He cut the complete bottom edge off the stamp, ruining it. At least you'd think a collector would cut around the stamp! If he had cut it nice, I collect Ben Franklin and would've kept the stamp with the postmark!
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Ouch... Cut Ben's head off and sent it to ya..a Ben Franklin collector of all people!
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Copy/paste of a message I just sent to seller in Europe. I'd bought five souvenir sheets from him:
'Received stamps today, thank you.
It took me nearly an hour to get them out of the envelope you mailed them in. I understand wanting to protect them from theft in mailing but this was one of the worst cases of over-protection I have received. Flaps on all four sides of the envelope were sealed to the backing. I had to work carefully with a knife getting the flaps open. I very nearly damaged the sheets.
Will leave good feedback. Not sure if I want to order again, however. Too dangerous getting into your mailings. Sorry. '
Why on earth do sellers do this stuff? I understand trying to protect against pilferage but I have never seen something so deliberately intended to forestall anyone- including the buyer- from opening a package.
Login to Like
this post
re: Message to a Seller
"Why on earth do sellers do this stuff?"
So that buyers receive their items safely and to help make sure there are no comebacks at a later date.
He did good. Just say 'thanks'.
Londonbus1
3 Members
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re: Message to a Seller
Flaps on four sides of the enclosure were sealed tightly with glue that held like iron. Contents were a few mm away from where I had to cut to get the flap open. I ought to have taken and posted a picture of the mailing. I don't think you are getting how bad this was.
I got a reply this morning, joking about the 'little fortress' he uses in his mailings. I won't say anything negative in the feedback but won't be buying from him again. either.
Login to Like
this post
re: Message to a Seller
I've been the recipient of "Tape Mummies" in the past. One time I had purchased a plate number single of Scott 300. It was totally encased in tape, sandwiched between two small pieces of light cardboard, slightly bigger than the stamps. In the struggle to release the stamp, flexing the piece that was held fast and rigid caused the stamp to pop free from the selvage with the plate number. That ruined the piece.
So I contacted the seller and he was not helpful. He told me to glue the two parts back together with a hinge. He declined to refund saying "it was of no use to him split". I told him I'd just report it to Paypal and they'd refund me anyway, so he relented and refunded.
Login to Like
this post
re: Message to a Seller
Snick,
I understand your frustration, but the other end of the spectrum is an envelope that I received from a seller in India that had been neatly slit on the top edge and the stamps removed. I received a nice cover from India but that was all. I think I'd prefer your situation.
Regards ... Tim.
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this post
re: Message to a Seller
And I agree with Tim on this one. I just know I have to be super careful, and over the years, I've been able to find the weak point in the envelope and extract the treasure.
BOB
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this post
re: Message to a Seller
I have often felt the same frustration as snick. It is totally unnecessary to "bullet-proof" your packaging in such a way. Never in my life have I opened an envelope to find that a glassine flap had opened up while in transit, or that a paper wrapper had unfolded itself inside the envelope. Why in the world must someone overuse the tape like that? It is not making the contents any safer. On the contrary, it is making it very difficult to extract the items without causing damage to them.
When I worked in Quality Assurance for General Dynamics, the mantra pounded into us was, "Good enough is good enough," particularly when inspecting solder joints. More solder did not make for a better joint, but, in fact, introduced problems of its own. The same thing applies with tape.
It is not a binary, either/or, situation. The alternative to "too much tape" is not "unsecured loose stamps." The alternative to both is, "good enough."
Ted
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Auctions
re: Message to a Seller
Geez! I believe I'd rather err on the side of overprotection myself. Once bought a U.S. #115 or #116 (can't remember which) , it fell out of the 102 card into the envelope and I cut the thing in half opening the envelope. I gave it to one of our fellow members.
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re: Message to a Seller
As Roseanne Roseannadanna would say, "If it's not one thing it's another"
Login to Like
this post
12:24:29pm
re: Message to a Seller
I wish plastic (Scotch) tape was not used so much. Masking tape
would be better. I like getting stamps in glassines---easy to open, visible
enough to see what the contents, and will roll through sorting machines with
little damage. I've spent too many minutes digging out stamps from plastic
backing boards taped all around. But simple stock cards with the stamps
being loose can be secured by placing card in a glassine. (Did I spell glassine
correctly? I need to add it to the dictionary list of my spell checker.)
Tip of the day: Recycle glassines!
Login to Like
this post
re: Message to a Seller
Yes! Recycle glassines!
BUT -
please, please PLEASE don't tape them closed!!!!
2 Members
like this post.
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re: Message to a Seller
I prefer to mail my more expensive stamps in glassine envelopes sealed with black electrical tape, to protect from ESD. And it doesn't hurt to provide a few staples to act as a ground in the event of St. Elmo's Fire. Also, a staple, if properly aligned with the stamp, effectively seals the stamp within the glassine envelope.
Hope this is helpful.
Eric
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re: Message to a Seller
Windrinker usually a non-thermal plasma such as Saint Elmo's Fire can have highly excited electrons at a much higher temperature. Best to ship in one of those small fire-safe boxes.
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APS #222602 and Internet Philatelic Dealers Association #439
11 Jul 2016
11:49:19am
re: Message to a Seller
Did you want your new stamps to be pre-cancelled with a sharpie, too?
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01:26:39pm
re: Message to a Seller
Here's how I package my stamp shipments. I like to be sure that they're SAFE in transit.
Ernie
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APS #222602 and Internet Philatelic Dealers Association #439
11 Jul 2016
02:20:30pm
re: Message to a Seller
And that safe is already opened ... someone didn't seal it with Gorilla Tape! lol
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re: Message to a Seller
St. Elmo's fire is all fun and games until your "Western Cattle in Storm" gets zapped in transit and turns an unseemly shade of blue. Note the St. Elmo's Fire shooting from the pointy masts of this sailing vessel.
Ernie: That is a very nice safe, and perfect for mailing valuable stamps. You can never be too safe.
Purrfin: Hmmm? Gorilla tape may be preferable to my tried and true black electrical tape. Or maybe Gorilla glue?
Eric
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05:21:57pm
re: Message to a Seller
Crazy picture Eric,
I thought St. Elmo's fire was just some random flashes in the sky. Gives me something to read about
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Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
11 Jul 2016
07:50:06pm
re: Message to a Seller
Masts and Yardarms.
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re: Message to a Seller
"Here's how I package my stamp shipments. I like to be sure that they're SAFE in transit.
Ernie"
I take it your shipping and handling fees are just a shade over standard letter rates?
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09:28:36pm
re: Message to a Seller
at Ningpo,
Yeah, some might think they're a little on the high side but what price do YOU put on peace of mind.
Here's a typical auction lot
Rare and hard to find U.S. stamps.. EXCELLENT investment vehicle... Beautiful condition. Hurry BUY NOW
SHIPPING:
Zone 1 $750
Zone 2 $1000
Zone 3 $1000
Zone 4 $1000
Zone 5 $1500
Zone 6 $2000
Buyers in Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Guam and US Virgin Islands call for special shipping prices
1 Member
likes this post.
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re: Message to a Seller
Sold to me. I'm not taking any chances with snail mail, I'm flying over to hand collect.
Login to Like
this post
re: Message to a Seller
Gotta love this one. An eBay seller cut this souvenir card to use as a stiffener around a stamp I bought. He cut the complete bottom edge off the stamp, ruining it. At least you'd think a collector would cut around the stamp! If he had cut it nice, I collect Ben Franklin and would've kept the stamp with the postmark!
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08:29:48pm
re: Message to a Seller
Ouch... Cut Ben's head off and sent it to ya..a Ben Franklin collector of all people!
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