Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Also, this post by Mark may be of interest to many:
"Hi All!
I'll be sending out the following communication via email to Sellers shortly, but hopefully this is a start to answering any questions you may have:
I’m happy to report that HipStamp.com is now back open for business! Buyers can once again purchase items through HipStamp.com, and we’ll begin re-starting marketing efforts shortly.
I can also now confirm, per a joint Press Release issued by Stanley Gibbons and myself earlier today, that I will be purchasing bidStart - with the deal scheduled to close on or before August 1.
As you know, I started HipStamp to pick-up where we all left off together with bidStart, and since then, I’ve been working with Sellers like you, to not only build the best online marketplace for stamps - but the future of stamp collecting online. This mission will continue with HipStamp, and I’m looking forward to working on our future together. With that in mind, for the time being, bidStart will continue to operate independently (mostly as-is).
However, with regards to our automatic bidStart sync on HipStamp, we’ll be restarting this feature shortly. If you’ve since made changes to your listings directly on HipStamp, and do not want your listings to be synced from bidStart any further, please turn off this feature from the Members Area > Selling > Seller Tools > bidStart Sync page on HipStamp.
I’m sure there will be many questions, and I’m looking forward to providing more detailed and exciting updates soon! In the interim, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask me directly; and thank you again for all of your support - it’s been incredibly helpful to myself and my family these past few months.
Best Regards,
Mark Rosenberg
CEO & Founder - Hip eCommerce / HipStamp"
Now for the Press release:
" July 22, 2016 (Raleigh, NC) – Stanley Gibbons (US) Inc. and Mark Rosenberg are pleased to confirm that the latter has agreed to purchase bidStart from Stanley Gibbons for an undisclosed sum.
The deal will close on or before August 1, 2016.
The sale follows a review of Stanley Gibbons Ecommerce strategy in which it will refocus on serving collectors seeking rare and fine stamps and its world-renowned publications. Stanley Gibbons continued ownership of bidStart is at odds with this strategy and drove its desire to sell.
Mark Rosenberg, who recently launched HipStamp.com and HipComic.com, through his new venture Hip eCommerce, was the original founder and former owner of bidStart. He’s excited to bring the bidStart community and website back home, and is looking forward to working with bidStart’s over 100,000 members.
Stanley Gibbons recognizes that bidStart has a loyal customer and seller base and is delighted that these customers will continue to be served by the new owner.
Both parties share a passion for collectibles, and wish one another well in their endeavors to serve collectors and expand the market in the coming years.
For further information from Stanley Gibbons, please contact;
Stanley Gibbons
Martin Peterlechner, Group Marketing Director
mpeterlechner@stanleygibbons.com
For further information from Mark Rosenberg, please contact;
Hip eCommerce / Mark Rosenberg
Mark Rosenberg, CEO & Founder
mark@hipecommerce.com "
rrr...
Login to Like
this post
I got the messages too. I don't know. Every time things get going with Mark, something happens to drop it in the toilet. Guess I'll sit on the fence on this one.
Login to Like
this post
Just as an information notification.
Both BidStart and HipStamp sites are up and running and open for business. They are now owned and operated by Mark. The sync function will be turned back on by Tuesday. Both sites will continue to run.
For many of us, this is very good news. We now have available to us a wonderful selling platform here at SOR with the Approval Books and Auction, as well as being able to have an on-line store.
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
Thank you, Luree, for pointing out the different uses for the approvals and auctions vs a store like Bidstart or Hipstamp. Those sites are perfect for dealers who want to warehouse large inventories long term. The approvals and auctions are intended for shorter term offerings by our collector members. We also have a few friendly dealer participants, but by and large, our group is collectors selling to collectors - actually a sort of really round about trading in a way.
Login to Like
this post
Actually, this all makes me confused. Why have both HipStamp and BidStart running?
Maybe this will just work itself out and we can have StampWants back again. (Give me my games back!!!)
Login to Like
this post
Welcome back, Bob!
Hipstamps only sell stamps. BidStart sells Postcards and other items. It's good for me, because I do have a lot of cards listed.
I miss Ms. Pacman!
Login to Like
this post
And I also use BidStart to sell books and comics. 
Ted
Login to Like
this post
Ted, I thought Hipcomic was up and running, is it or was it down, too?
Login to Like
this post
Yes, HipComic is up and running.
Ted
Login to Like
this post
The latest news this morning - the Stanley Gibbons Marketplace is Closing next week.. The King Is Dead - Long Live The King !!
I assume as time goes on Hipstamp will replace Bidstart but it will be an orderly process. As a seller on Bidstart for almost 7 years now - I am very happy about this. The material I post in Approval Books and occasional Auctions here on StampORama always come first now. If things do not sell here - after a period of time - I move selected items over to Bidstart. The material is different in both places but I try to give StampORama members first choice of anything new I offer. The only exception may be for higher valued items which I may post directly on Bidstart since they do not really fit into an approval book format.
Steve
Login to Like
this post
I tried purchasing a few items from a seller on HipStamp that sold previously on bidStart. I had purchased from him many times on bidStart without a problem. One of the things I liked about buying from him is that he gave me the option to send a check instead of only allowing payments to be made through PayPal.
After placing about a half dozen items in my "shopping cart", I went to "Purchase Items" page. The only option I seemed to be given was to use PayPal. After some searching, I found a drop-down menu that allowed me to check that I would be making payment by check. However, a message kept coming up that my invoice would be canceled in a couple of hours if payment was not made by then. Since the only way that a payment could be made that quickly was through PayPal, I immediately sent the seller a message through the HipStamp messaging system. He sent a message back to me very early the next morning saying that he had no record of my purchases in the HipStamp system. I sent a check anyway and am now hoping that the items I tried to purchase are still in his inventory when my check arrives.
As a stamp collector, I try to use the postal system whenever possible to make payments. Why collect postage stamps if I am adverse to using them for such simple transactions? It also saves the seller from having those PayPal fees deducted from their payments; with small payment amounts, it can be a large percentage of the payment. I still remember Paypal from when it first started up with its promise of "Free Forever". Their no fees policy didn't last long but I have never forgiven them for that false promise.
Login to Like
this post
The site is active again.
Also, this post by Mark may be of interest to many:
"Hi All!
I'll be sending out the following communication via email to Sellers shortly, but hopefully this is a start to answering any questions you may have:
I’m happy to report that HipStamp.com is now back open for business! Buyers can once again purchase items through HipStamp.com, and we’ll begin re-starting marketing efforts shortly.
I can also now confirm, per a joint Press Release issued by Stanley Gibbons and myself earlier today, that I will be purchasing bidStart - with the deal scheduled to close on or before August 1.
As you know, I started HipStamp to pick-up where we all left off together with bidStart, and since then, I’ve been working with Sellers like you, to not only build the best online marketplace for stamps - but the future of stamp collecting online. This mission will continue with HipStamp, and I’m looking forward to working on our future together. With that in mind, for the time being, bidStart will continue to operate independently (mostly as-is).
However, with regards to our automatic bidStart sync on HipStamp, we’ll be restarting this feature shortly. If you’ve since made changes to your listings directly on HipStamp, and do not want your listings to be synced from bidStart any further, please turn off this feature from the Members Area > Selling > Seller Tools > bidStart Sync page on HipStamp.
I’m sure there will be many questions, and I’m looking forward to providing more detailed and exciting updates soon! In the interim, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask me directly; and thank you again for all of your support - it’s been incredibly helpful to myself and my family these past few months.
Best Regards,
Mark Rosenberg
CEO & Founder - Hip eCommerce / HipStamp"
Now for the Press release:
" July 22, 2016 (Raleigh, NC) – Stanley Gibbons (US) Inc. and Mark Rosenberg are pleased to confirm that the latter has agreed to purchase bidStart from Stanley Gibbons for an undisclosed sum.
The deal will close on or before August 1, 2016.
The sale follows a review of Stanley Gibbons Ecommerce strategy in which it will refocus on serving collectors seeking rare and fine stamps and its world-renowned publications. Stanley Gibbons continued ownership of bidStart is at odds with this strategy and drove its desire to sell.
Mark Rosenberg, who recently launched HipStamp.com and HipComic.com, through his new venture Hip eCommerce, was the original founder and former owner of bidStart. He’s excited to bring the bidStart community and website back home, and is looking forward to working with bidStart’s over 100,000 members.
Stanley Gibbons recognizes that bidStart has a loyal customer and seller base and is delighted that these customers will continue to be served by the new owner.
Both parties share a passion for collectibles, and wish one another well in their endeavors to serve collectors and expand the market in the coming years.
For further information from Stanley Gibbons, please contact;
Stanley Gibbons
Martin Peterlechner, Group Marketing Director
mpeterlechner@stanleygibbons.com
For further information from Mark Rosenberg, please contact;
Hip eCommerce / Mark Rosenberg
Mark Rosenberg, CEO & Founder
mark@hipecommerce.com "
rrr...
Login to Like
this post
10:42:48pm
re: Hipstamps seems to be active again
I got the messages too. I don't know. Every time things get going with Mark, something happens to drop it in the toilet. Guess I'll sit on the fence on this one.
Login to Like
this post
APS #222602 and Internet Philatelic Dealers Association #439
23 Jul 2016
12:50:44pm
re: Hipstamps seems to be active again
Just as an information notification.
Both BidStart and HipStamp sites are up and running and open for business. They are now owned and operated by Mark. The sync function will be turned back on by Tuesday. Both sites will continue to run.
For many of us, this is very good news. We now have available to us a wonderful selling platform here at SOR with the Approval Books and Auction, as well as being able to have an on-line store.
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
re: Hipstamps seems to be active again
Thank you, Luree, for pointing out the different uses for the approvals and auctions vs a store like Bidstart or Hipstamp. Those sites are perfect for dealers who want to warehouse large inventories long term. The approvals and auctions are intended for shorter term offerings by our collector members. We also have a few friendly dealer participants, but by and large, our group is collectors selling to collectors - actually a sort of really round about trading in a way.
Login to Like
this post
re: Hipstamps seems to be active again
Actually, this all makes me confused. Why have both HipStamp and BidStart running?
Maybe this will just work itself out and we can have StampWants back again. (Give me my games back!!!)
Login to Like
this post
APS #222602 and Internet Philatelic Dealers Association #439
23 Jul 2016
11:25:34pm
re: Hipstamps seems to be active again
Welcome back, Bob!
Hipstamps only sell stamps. BidStart sells Postcards and other items. It's good for me, because I do have a lot of cards listed.
I miss Ms. Pacman!
Login to Like
this post
re: Hipstamps seems to be active again
And I also use BidStart to sell books and comics.
Ted
Login to Like
this post
APS #222602 and Internet Philatelic Dealers Association #439
24 Jul 2016
02:46:16pm
re: Hipstamps seems to be active again
Ted, I thought Hipcomic was up and running, is it or was it down, too?
Login to Like
this post
re: Hipstamps seems to be active again
Yes, HipComic is up and running.
Ted
Login to Like
this post
Approvals
re: Hipstamps seems to be active again
The latest news this morning - the Stanley Gibbons Marketplace is Closing next week.. The King Is Dead - Long Live The King !!
I assume as time goes on Hipstamp will replace Bidstart but it will be an orderly process. As a seller on Bidstart for almost 7 years now - I am very happy about this. The material I post in Approval Books and occasional Auctions here on StampORama always come first now. If things do not sell here - after a period of time - I move selected items over to Bidstart. The material is different in both places but I try to give StampORama members first choice of anything new I offer. The only exception may be for higher valued items which I may post directly on Bidstart since they do not really fit into an approval book format.
Steve
Login to Like
this post
re: Hipstamps seems to be active again
I tried purchasing a few items from a seller on HipStamp that sold previously on bidStart. I had purchased from him many times on bidStart without a problem. One of the things I liked about buying from him is that he gave me the option to send a check instead of only allowing payments to be made through PayPal.
After placing about a half dozen items in my "shopping cart", I went to "Purchase Items" page. The only option I seemed to be given was to use PayPal. After some searching, I found a drop-down menu that allowed me to check that I would be making payment by check. However, a message kept coming up that my invoice would be canceled in a couple of hours if payment was not made by then. Since the only way that a payment could be made that quickly was through PayPal, I immediately sent the seller a message through the HipStamp messaging system. He sent a message back to me very early the next morning saying that he had no record of my purchases in the HipStamp system. I sent a check anyway and am now hoping that the items I tried to purchase are still in his inventory when my check arrives.
As a stamp collector, I try to use the postal system whenever possible to make payments. Why collect postage stamps if I am adverse to using them for such simple transactions? It also saves the seller from having those PayPal fees deducted from their payments; with small payment amounts, it can be a large percentage of the payment. I still remember Paypal from when it first started up with its promise of "Free Forever". Their no fees policy didn't last long but I have never forgiven them for that false promise.
Login to Like
this post