Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
What is wrong with who ever runs the site to let this happen ??
No one in their right mind buys a stamp without looking at it,or do they? I definitely would not no way .For one thing you cannot always trust the description ,Alright you can return it for wrongly described but that's not the point.
Sorry I think trying to sell a visual item without an image IMHO is ludicrous.
That's my opinion anyway.
Brian
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Brian,
I completely agree with you. On Stamp2Go, I routinely filter by "show only stamps with images"
Chris
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I recently was looking for some stamps that the empty spaces for had been bugging me for years. These are not so easily found, but they are not valuable either. My search on another site brought up two sellers. Neither had images for their stamps. I looked at their feedback, and it was all positive.
I went ahead and bought the stamps from them. This was the first time I bought stamps without having a picture of them. Everything arrived just fine, and all the stamps are in their new home in my albums.
I took the chance, not only because of the feedback, but I knew that if the stamps were not as described, I would have contacted the sellers for replacement or refund. If they refused that, I would have filed a dispute with PayPal, and also with the site. I was not overly concerned about getting swindled over those transactions. I have even bought from them again, and the stamps were as described.
Even though those transactions went well, I still would have preferred to see images of what was being offered. If other sellers would have had the stamps I was looking for, I most likely would have not bought from those two sellers.
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In the old days, back in the last century, we regularly bought stamps from printed lists that had no pictures. That was the way it was. Even early eBay auctions didn't have pictures. I started selling things by description, and then spent $100 for a scanner. That led to my first digital camera, a Sony Mavica for $700. Both investments paid for themselves in easier sales for higher bids.
Today we have the Internet and easy photography and scanning so being able to see stamps and covers before we buy has become the norm. Even with penny stamps in Stamporama approval books, we can choose our centering and cancellation. That's the way it is today. And sellers who aren't with the program will suffer.
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Like I said, I really wanted those stamps, and took a chance that they would be all right. I would have gladly paid more to a seller who has included images of those stamps. It has become the norm to include images. In fact, I believe that on the site where I bought those stamps images are required. I'll have to double check that.
"And sellers who aren't with the program will suffer."
I agree. No excuse for laziness. Such dealers say that they only add images for "valuable" stamps. Such comments are condescending to "regular" collectors. One day, the regular collectors will need to buy the valuable stamps, but they will probably pass up those sellers, because they will have developed good buyer/seller relationships with the sellers from whom they bought the cheap stamps.
Sellers are usually their own worst enemies.
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Jings! Crivvens! Help ma Boab!
The criticisms laid against sellers, (again).
It always reminds me of the workers who can ALWAYS do the Managers job better than he can.
Just because a sellers' business model does not meet your beliefs doesn't mean that the Seller is wrong, mad, an idiot, or doesn't know what he is doing.
He is doing what he wants to do, how he wants to do it, why he does it and in the end is probably very happy with the results.
Just look at the people who ARE millionaires who do not do the "norm".
I attend a couple of stamp auctions. One is run on the grounds of what is taught in business school the other is a bit more inefficient. The first one is run by a a guy who is just OK but the second one is run by a guy who is more approachable, a lot more laid back and he is a lot happier than the first and a pleasure to deal with.
The first guy seldom gets criticism but the second guy is always getting "advice" which he ignores and does his own thing (brilliant).
Of course the header of this thread could have read "Who would buy stamps online", considering all the stories of, "The item was not as described", "I've tried to contact the seller", "the item never arrived", " the packaging was poor and the stamps were damaged", "the seller wouldn't refund me", "The seller took my money and then closed all his accounts" etc etc etc!!!
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I have sold many thousands of stamps on Stamps2Go over the last several years and have always included scans of each stamp. However, very rarely do I offer minimum cat stamps and nothing under 10 cents. There are many people on S2G who sell stamps for as little as 2 cents each and I think they are nuts. Sure these guys don't offer scans but they would have to be thought insane if they did for that price. There is one guy who does not offer scans of his stamps and always asks 100% or more of catalog value. Until recently this guy had the most stamps for sale on the site and unbelievably, to me, had sold many thousands. This does not seem to prove anything except there are as many crazy buyers as there are sellers.
So how much time should a buyer expect a seller to put into selling a stamp that is basically worthless? Buyers who do not sell are pretty much clueless as to how much effort goes into selling stamps properly. I don't think buyers should expect a seller to provide scans for minimum cat stamps and if I could find .any I would buy them. I also would not have much trouble buying most modern (post 1960) without scans as they are usually pretty much the same as regards centering and aging.
The owner of S2G does a terrific job and poking him for not making scans required is just not well thought out. S2G requires much more data on each item to be listed than any other site that I am aware of. Are there any venues that do require scans?
To sum it up. I would not buy any stamp of value without a scan.
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I will not buy stamps sight unseen off any sales venue. Some of the worse are auction houses where from a scan of a single page they expect bids on a few hundred stamps or more. I will bid on a page or more of stamps, if all in the lot are shown.
There are a few auction houses in Canada that rarely scan more than a stamp or three, these I just do not bother to even look at for items. Possibly to my cost.
There are sites that, even with an album or number of stock books, will show a scan of each page, these I will purchase from even with a buyers premium.
Probably with more reputable dealers on higher priced items it would be ok but out of my league financially.
Antonio,
"and if I could find .any I would buy them"
Have you looked on our approvals, masses of minimum cat stamps with scans.
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This thread is not something against all sellers. It is a discussion of whether someone would buy stamps from a seller who doesn't include images of what they are selling.
The stamps I spoke about (didn't identify them, however) where complete sets, including a definitive set. A couple were on the cheap side, but the definitive sets were not. I took a chance, sight unseen, and the sellers came through all right. I think I did say that in my first response to this thread.
My position, and concluding statement was that the current trend is for sellers to include images of what they are selling. It's required here and on many other sites regardless of the value of the item. Sellers who don't provide images, in my opinion, lose sales, and miss out on developing a relationship with collectors who may eventually be looking for more valuable items. People who buy more valuable items most likely will buy them from the sellers with whom they have established a buy/sell relationship.
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Antonio, Yes, a couple times but no cigar. It's not surprising as most people do not have anything I need or want, in their duplicates. You can llok at my collection to see what I need. If you have anything I need I would probably buy it if priced right.
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"Who would buy stamps on line without an image?"
It happens often. When I buy a killoware there is no way I know what is inside.
Another example that comes to mind is ordering stamps online from the post office.
Buying a small lot of used stamps with no image will be a definite no-no.
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Snowy12, I take your point when it comes to valuable stamps and semi-costly stamps (which for me is anything over 50 cents!). But I have to disagree with your point about the lack of images for some stamps reflecting negatively on the Stamps2Go site.
I've really taken to that site, largely because I can usually find particular stamps for a lower price there than on eBay, and often the same stamp will be listed from a wider variety of sellers. If I'm spending, say, 20 cents or more for the stamp, yeah, I probably expect an image. (The exception would be if it's a seller I've purchased from before and the description promises a VF or superb condition. Having bought several hundred stamps in perhaps three dozen different transactions over the last year and a half on Stamps2Go, I've yet to be burned by a seller or received a stamp that did not match the described condition.)
I'm a cheapskate, and a worldwide collector, so when I locate on Stamps2Go a stamp I've been coveting (typically based on a picture I've seen), I'll look at that seller's listings for other areas/countries I'm focused on at the moment. Since I know I'm going to have to pay a flat-rate shipping fee (typically a buck), I figure, why not fill up on inexpensive stamps that may plug some gaps in my collection. So I'll focus on low-end stamps, anything from one to five cents each. Many of those stamps do not have an image of the actual stamp (though frequently the stock image is available, which helps me see whether the stamp might appeal to me or not). As a buyer, I don't begrudge a seller not uploading an individual image for every stamp he/she wishes to sell for five cents or under. I'm good with picking up a bunch of very cheap stamps on faith. (In fact, sometimes I feel slightly guilty about making the seller dig through his stock for that two cent bargain, but he decided to list it, not me!). I guess what I'm trying to say is, the Stamps2Go site can work the way you want it to work -- choose to browse only those stamps that have images, or go for the low end items at a bargain price and learn to manage without the image in those cases. Personally, I'm just really glad that site exists. Browsing it is a fun and relaxing activity for me, and then, of course, I get to look forward to my stamps showing up in my mailbox a mere two or three days later! It's one of those simple things that spice up my life.
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I have bought several lots on stamps2go ,but only from sellers who put up images .I like to see what I am buying also like the idea of fixed price postage.Trouble is there is a lot of the same low value items a little like it used to be on Delcampe, page after page of the same stamps.
One venue,The stamp store on the APS web site states all lots must have an image.
also you can find better quality and higher value stamps on there ,some way over priced though.
You have to join to buy and they have a two tier pricing structure you can join for free and pay the higher price or become a full member and pay the lower price,and cheaper postage.
Brian
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11:47:22am
" ... In the old days, back in the last century, we regularly bought stamps from printed lists that had no pictures ..."
It is so easy and convenient to create images, I don;t know why anyone would not include some for his or her product.
But yes, in the not too distant past, checking off the numbers from a printed list was the norm and if memory serves me well, it was satisfactory. I remember cutting a numerical list from Linns, Western Stamp Collector, Global Stamp news or other printed lists. What I do not recall is returning stamps for mis-descripting.
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Not many people in todays day and age especially with all of the technology at our disposal.
Jeremy
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I have bought many stamps on Stamps2Go that did not have images if it was low CV and from one of the sellers I had a history with. Pictures are good, but I would rather have an accurate description than a stock photo that isn't the stamp I am actually buying!
However, if you expect me to pay more than $5 for a stamp, I need to see a picture of the actual stamp I am buying!
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Like I said I do not list any stamps without pics but then I don't list minimum cat stamps.
I list stamps that catalog for 30 cents on up and sell for 1/3 of cat.
All of you guys that are complaining about minimum cat stamps without pics (especially those who have not sold before) please do something for me and then tell me how you think about it.
Take 50-100 minimum cat stamps and list them complete with pictures and a selling price of 1-2 cents. Since most of these stamps will be of the most common variety and few people will need them, you will be lucky to sell them in the first place. Of course there will be a great many more of the same stamps listed by other sellers which doesn't help your chances. If you did happen to sell everything you listed what would you have but a dollar or two for many hours work and having to keep track of them. Actually, you would have to sell more than double the 50-100 stamps in the same order to meet the minimum order fee. Of course you can't forget sellers fees which are a minimum of 50 cents per order, DO THE MATH!
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We all know that when we buy kiloware we buy unseen with all that entails.
However my pet peeve is off paper selections where no scan ( or worse a generic scan) is shown. With a cheap mixture I don't expect every stamp to be shown individually, but I do want to see an inclusive picture which gives some idea of the contents, and a mixture which contains a quantity of stamps filling a full side of a stock- book ( or lesser quantity) I expect to see illustrated properly, and I would never buy a single stamp or set unseen.
Now I accept that a seller can choose how they sell their material, but by not doing the basics they are losing a high percentage of potential buyers before they even list.
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"Now I accept that a seller can choose how they sell their material, but by not doing the basics they are losing a high percentage of potential buyers before they even list."
However, as Antonius pointed out already, when the stamps are minimum valued, listing them with images would result in a loss to the seller, because time costs money, opportunity costs etc. Thus, selling without images to loyal buyers that understand the economics of the deal really makes a lot of sense.
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HungryForStamps wrote
selling without images to loyal buyers that understand the economics of the deal really makes a lot of sense.
This may apply to some dealers who have built up a good rapport with their customers ,but it will not attract new customers,but to stamp collectors who are just selling their duplicates or unneeded stamps and have the time (Like me) am retired it is all part of the fun.
Even a dealer on this site include images even for stamps at 1c.
Brian
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08:15:46pm
" ... Take 50-100 minimum cat stamps and list them complete with pictures and a selling price of 1-2 cents. Since most of these stamps will be of the most common variety and few people will need them, you will be lucky to sell them in the first place. ..."
I think we have an excellent advertisement for our approval section here.
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I buy common stamps from online dealers without images. It was how I used buy stuff off a mailing list before the internet.
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Given the vast amount of modern forgeries, faked postmarks and other bogus stamps on the auctions pictures are a necessity if you buy anything of value.
The problem with pictures is that most of the sellers don't know how to post a decent image and it isn't an equipment issue.
It's either on purpose or just plain ineptness.
Not that many forgeries & fakes? - check a site like the German Stampx - they report 100's of fakes each month.
Stampsmarter use to do the same with limited participants.
Stamp forging has gathered the attention of very organized groups and given the abundance of new inexperienced collectors with money, it's a good business.
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08:16:02pm
" .... The problem with pictures is that most of the sellers don't know how to post a decent image and it isn't an equipment issue.
It's either on purpose or just plain ineptness. ...."
I vote for ineptness. At least in my case.
I gave up trying to scan and post some images efficiently shortly after I began trying.
I would not post stamps to sell if the image was not good enough to buy myself.
Most member/sellers have master the system and their offerings are clear and the size not only is enough to give as good idea of what stamp is being shown, when I open the details page the image size is at least 50% larger.
Then there are a few sellers who post fuzzy photos, or scans so small that even after reading their description I am not sure of what they are selling as well as scans that remain the same minuscule size even after opening the details page. A few sellers, obviously using a hand held camera, shoot from an angle that turns a square image to a trapezoid. Over time I have used the magical power of the wheel on the mouse to scroll down from their offerings as fast as my neurologically damaged fingers can manage.
As one might imagine, I favor several sellers and avoid a few others. *** (note) There a few whose lots come onto the "closing in 24 hours" page almost all with at least a minimal bid.
There are others who, posting the same number of lots, close with only ten or twenty percent of their lots having an actual live bid ( or less) and three days later, there are the same old tired lots relisted still for sale and usually still with no bid.
I think some sellers would be well served if they stopped, took a deep breath and imagined that they were the buyer coming upon their lots for the first time.
*** - No, I don't mean you, of course.
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Photos, scans etc is probably down to ineptness as Charlie says.
I got a new laptop and a new printer/scanner several months ago and I still do not fully understand the workings of the software/hardware.
I still miss my old 2004 machine. It was oh so simple!!! (like me??)
As for relisting the same old items I have a sneaky feeling that most buyers just click on the finishing in 24 hours or newly listed buttons.
I have put up Buy it Now items for 14 days with the result that they sell on day 1/2 or day 13/14, with no views between that time.
I shall repeat myself from previous different posts "Sellers will sell if they list the right stamps, in the right place, at the right time, at the right price".
If we all knew the answer to that statement we would all be millionaires!!!
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05:25:13pm
Mastering he art of selling HAS brought millions to people with vision.
Just not to me.
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I looked at Stamps2go and what I noticed right away was how loosely "Fine" and "Very Fine" are used. From those stamps that had images, there were clearly damaged stamps labeled "Very Fine". Buying a stamp with no image there will sooner or later end in disappointment.
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"I looked at Stamps2go and what I noticed right away was how loosely "Fine" and "Very Fine" are used. From those stamps that had images, there were clearly damaged stamps labeled "Very Fine". Buying a stamp with no image there will sooner or later end in disappointment."
That was exactly my experience several years ago. I bought a low cost stamp that was supposed to be "Superb" but was horribly centered. I then checked this sellers other listings and almost everything this seller listed was "Superb". All of my other purchases from other dealers had been satisfactory, so I notified the webmaster but they have a very hands-off attitude. I now only buy low-dollar items without scans from sellers I know, but I may consider buying blind from a new seller if that seller has actual images of more expensive stamps where the image matches the grading provided by the seller.
Having bought a lot of stamps from Stamps2Go, my advice if you are considering buying an inexpensive stamp without a scan, look at scans from that seller for more expensive stamps. See if they are properly identified and graded. If so, you may want to take a chance. For more expensive stamps, I agree that a scan is required, but I have gotten some good deals by simply sending a message to the seller asking for a scan.
Lars
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Auctions - Approvals
Who would buy stamps on line without an image?? Well on "stamps2go" it seems to be the norm to put stamps up for sale with either no image or a representative image???
What is wrong with who ever runs the site to let this happen ??
No one in their right mind buys a stamp without looking at it,or do they? I definitely would not no way .For one thing you cannot always trust the description ,Alright you can return it for wrongly described but that's not the point.
Sorry I think trying to sell a visual item without an image IMHO is ludicrous.
That's my opinion anyway.
Brian
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re: Who would buy stamps on line without an image??
Brian,
I completely agree with you. On Stamp2Go, I routinely filter by "show only stamps with images"
Chris
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11:39:47am
re: Who would buy stamps on line without an image??
I recently was looking for some stamps that the empty spaces for had been bugging me for years. These are not so easily found, but they are not valuable either. My search on another site brought up two sellers. Neither had images for their stamps. I looked at their feedback, and it was all positive.
I went ahead and bought the stamps from them. This was the first time I bought stamps without having a picture of them. Everything arrived just fine, and all the stamps are in their new home in my albums.
I took the chance, not only because of the feedback, but I knew that if the stamps were not as described, I would have contacted the sellers for replacement or refund. If they refused that, I would have filed a dispute with PayPal, and also with the site. I was not overly concerned about getting swindled over those transactions. I have even bought from them again, and the stamps were as described.
Even though those transactions went well, I still would have preferred to see images of what was being offered. If other sellers would have had the stamps I was looking for, I most likely would have not bought from those two sellers.
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re: Who would buy stamps on line without an image??
In the old days, back in the last century, we regularly bought stamps from printed lists that had no pictures. That was the way it was. Even early eBay auctions didn't have pictures. I started selling things by description, and then spent $100 for a scanner. That led to my first digital camera, a Sony Mavica for $700. Both investments paid for themselves in easier sales for higher bids.
Today we have the Internet and easy photography and scanning so being able to see stamps and covers before we buy has become the norm. Even with penny stamps in Stamporama approval books, we can choose our centering and cancellation. That's the way it is today. And sellers who aren't with the program will suffer.
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05:08:32pm
re: Who would buy stamps on line without an image??
Like I said, I really wanted those stamps, and took a chance that they would be all right. I would have gladly paid more to a seller who has included images of those stamps. It has become the norm to include images. In fact, I believe that on the site where I bought those stamps images are required. I'll have to double check that.
"And sellers who aren't with the program will suffer."
I agree. No excuse for laziness. Such dealers say that they only add images for "valuable" stamps. Such comments are condescending to "regular" collectors. One day, the regular collectors will need to buy the valuable stamps, but they will probably pass up those sellers, because they will have developed good buyer/seller relationships with the sellers from whom they bought the cheap stamps.
Sellers are usually their own worst enemies.
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07:04:36pm
Auctions - Approvals
re: Who would buy stamps on line without an image??
Jings! Crivvens! Help ma Boab!
The criticisms laid against sellers, (again).
It always reminds me of the workers who can ALWAYS do the Managers job better than he can.
Just because a sellers' business model does not meet your beliefs doesn't mean that the Seller is wrong, mad, an idiot, or doesn't know what he is doing.
He is doing what he wants to do, how he wants to do it, why he does it and in the end is probably very happy with the results.
Just look at the people who ARE millionaires who do not do the "norm".
I attend a couple of stamp auctions. One is run on the grounds of what is taught in business school the other is a bit more inefficient. The first one is run by a a guy who is just OK but the second one is run by a guy who is more approachable, a lot more laid back and he is a lot happier than the first and a pleasure to deal with.
The first guy seldom gets criticism but the second guy is always getting "advice" which he ignores and does his own thing (brilliant).
Of course the header of this thread could have read "Who would buy stamps online", considering all the stories of, "The item was not as described", "I've tried to contact the seller", "the item never arrived", " the packaging was poor and the stamps were damaged", "the seller wouldn't refund me", "The seller took my money and then closed all his accounts" etc etc etc!!!
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re: Who would buy stamps on line without an image??
I have sold many thousands of stamps on Stamps2Go over the last several years and have always included scans of each stamp. However, very rarely do I offer minimum cat stamps and nothing under 10 cents. There are many people on S2G who sell stamps for as little as 2 cents each and I think they are nuts. Sure these guys don't offer scans but they would have to be thought insane if they did for that price. There is one guy who does not offer scans of his stamps and always asks 100% or more of catalog value. Until recently this guy had the most stamps for sale on the site and unbelievably, to me, had sold many thousands. This does not seem to prove anything except there are as many crazy buyers as there are sellers.
So how much time should a buyer expect a seller to put into selling a stamp that is basically worthless? Buyers who do not sell are pretty much clueless as to how much effort goes into selling stamps properly. I don't think buyers should expect a seller to provide scans for minimum cat stamps and if I could find .any I would buy them. I also would not have much trouble buying most modern (post 1960) without scans as they are usually pretty much the same as regards centering and aging.
The owner of S2G does a terrific job and poking him for not making scans required is just not well thought out. S2G requires much more data on each item to be listed than any other site that I am aware of. Are there any venues that do require scans?
To sum it up. I would not buy any stamp of value without a scan.
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re: Who would buy stamps on line without an image??
I will not buy stamps sight unseen off any sales venue. Some of the worse are auction houses where from a scan of a single page they expect bids on a few hundred stamps or more. I will bid on a page or more of stamps, if all in the lot are shown.
There are a few auction houses in Canada that rarely scan more than a stamp or three, these I just do not bother to even look at for items. Possibly to my cost.
There are sites that, even with an album or number of stock books, will show a scan of each page, these I will purchase from even with a buyers premium.
Probably with more reputable dealers on higher priced items it would be ok but out of my league financially.
Antonio,
"and if I could find .any I would buy them"
Have you looked on our approvals, masses of minimum cat stamps with scans.
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10:01:26pm
re: Who would buy stamps on line without an image??
This thread is not something against all sellers. It is a discussion of whether someone would buy stamps from a seller who doesn't include images of what they are selling.
The stamps I spoke about (didn't identify them, however) where complete sets, including a definitive set. A couple were on the cheap side, but the definitive sets were not. I took a chance, sight unseen, and the sellers came through all right. I think I did say that in my first response to this thread.
My position, and concluding statement was that the current trend is for sellers to include images of what they are selling. It's required here and on many other sites regardless of the value of the item. Sellers who don't provide images, in my opinion, lose sales, and miss out on developing a relationship with collectors who may eventually be looking for more valuable items. People who buy more valuable items most likely will buy them from the sellers with whom they have established a buy/sell relationship.
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re: Who would buy stamps on line without an image??
Antonio, Yes, a couple times but no cigar. It's not surprising as most people do not have anything I need or want, in their duplicates. You can llok at my collection to see what I need. If you have anything I need I would probably buy it if priced right.
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re: Who would buy stamps on line without an image??
"Who would buy stamps on line without an image?"
It happens often. When I buy a killoware there is no way I know what is inside.
Another example that comes to mind is ordering stamps online from the post office.
Buying a small lot of used stamps with no image will be a definite no-no.
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re: Who would buy stamps on line without an image??
Snowy12, I take your point when it comes to valuable stamps and semi-costly stamps (which for me is anything over 50 cents!). But I have to disagree with your point about the lack of images for some stamps reflecting negatively on the Stamps2Go site.
I've really taken to that site, largely because I can usually find particular stamps for a lower price there than on eBay, and often the same stamp will be listed from a wider variety of sellers. If I'm spending, say, 20 cents or more for the stamp, yeah, I probably expect an image. (The exception would be if it's a seller I've purchased from before and the description promises a VF or superb condition. Having bought several hundred stamps in perhaps three dozen different transactions over the last year and a half on Stamps2Go, I've yet to be burned by a seller or received a stamp that did not match the described condition.)
I'm a cheapskate, and a worldwide collector, so when I locate on Stamps2Go a stamp I've been coveting (typically based on a picture I've seen), I'll look at that seller's listings for other areas/countries I'm focused on at the moment. Since I know I'm going to have to pay a flat-rate shipping fee (typically a buck), I figure, why not fill up on inexpensive stamps that may plug some gaps in my collection. So I'll focus on low-end stamps, anything from one to five cents each. Many of those stamps do not have an image of the actual stamp (though frequently the stock image is available, which helps me see whether the stamp might appeal to me or not). As a buyer, I don't begrudge a seller not uploading an individual image for every stamp he/she wishes to sell for five cents or under. I'm good with picking up a bunch of very cheap stamps on faith. (In fact, sometimes I feel slightly guilty about making the seller dig through his stock for that two cent bargain, but he decided to list it, not me!). I guess what I'm trying to say is, the Stamps2Go site can work the way you want it to work -- choose to browse only those stamps that have images, or go for the low end items at a bargain price and learn to manage without the image in those cases. Personally, I'm just really glad that site exists. Browsing it is a fun and relaxing activity for me, and then, of course, I get to look forward to my stamps showing up in my mailbox a mere two or three days later! It's one of those simple things that spice up my life.
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Auctions - Approvals
re: Who would buy stamps on line without an image??
I have bought several lots on stamps2go ,but only from sellers who put up images .I like to see what I am buying also like the idea of fixed price postage.Trouble is there is a lot of the same low value items a little like it used to be on Delcampe, page after page of the same stamps.
One venue,The stamp store on the APS web site states all lots must have an image.
also you can find better quality and higher value stamps on there ,some way over priced though.
You have to join to buy and they have a two tier pricing structure you can join for free and pay the higher price or become a full member and pay the lower price,and cheaper postage.
Brian
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Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
09 Sep 2017
11:47:22am
re: Who would buy stamps on line without an image??
" ... In the old days, back in the last century, we regularly bought stamps from printed lists that had no pictures ..."
It is so easy and convenient to create images, I don;t know why anyone would not include some for his or her product.
But yes, in the not too distant past, checking off the numbers from a printed list was the norm and if memory serves me well, it was satisfactory. I remember cutting a numerical list from Linns, Western Stamp Collector, Global Stamp news or other printed lists. What I do not recall is returning stamps for mis-descripting.
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12:02:15pm
re: Who would buy stamps on line without an image??
Not many people in todays day and age especially with all of the technology at our disposal.
Jeremy
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re: Who would buy stamps on line without an image??
I have bought many stamps on Stamps2Go that did not have images if it was low CV and from one of the sellers I had a history with. Pictures are good, but I would rather have an accurate description than a stock photo that isn't the stamp I am actually buying!
However, if you expect me to pay more than $5 for a stamp, I need to see a picture of the actual stamp I am buying!
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re: Who would buy stamps on line without an image??
Like I said I do not list any stamps without pics but then I don't list minimum cat stamps.
I list stamps that catalog for 30 cents on up and sell for 1/3 of cat.
All of you guys that are complaining about minimum cat stamps without pics (especially those who have not sold before) please do something for me and then tell me how you think about it.
Take 50-100 minimum cat stamps and list them complete with pictures and a selling price of 1-2 cents. Since most of these stamps will be of the most common variety and few people will need them, you will be lucky to sell them in the first place. Of course there will be a great many more of the same stamps listed by other sellers which doesn't help your chances. If you did happen to sell everything you listed what would you have but a dollar or two for many hours work and having to keep track of them. Actually, you would have to sell more than double the 50-100 stamps in the same order to meet the minimum order fee. Of course you can't forget sellers fees which are a minimum of 50 cents per order, DO THE MATH!
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03:18:18pm
re: Who would buy stamps on line without an image??
We all know that when we buy kiloware we buy unseen with all that entails.
However my pet peeve is off paper selections where no scan ( or worse a generic scan) is shown. With a cheap mixture I don't expect every stamp to be shown individually, but I do want to see an inclusive picture which gives some idea of the contents, and a mixture which contains a quantity of stamps filling a full side of a stock- book ( or lesser quantity) I expect to see illustrated properly, and I would never buy a single stamp or set unseen.
Now I accept that a seller can choose how they sell their material, but by not doing the basics they are losing a high percentage of potential buyers before they even list.
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re: Who would buy stamps on line without an image??
"Now I accept that a seller can choose how they sell their material, but by not doing the basics they are losing a high percentage of potential buyers before they even list."
However, as Antonius pointed out already, when the stamps are minimum valued, listing them with images would result in a loss to the seller, because time costs money, opportunity costs etc. Thus, selling without images to loyal buyers that understand the economics of the deal really makes a lot of sense.
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Auctions - Approvals
re: Who would buy stamps on line without an image??
HungryForStamps wrote
selling without images to loyal buyers that understand the economics of the deal really makes a lot of sense.
This may apply to some dealers who have built up a good rapport with their customers ,but it will not attract new customers,but to stamp collectors who are just selling their duplicates or unneeded stamps and have the time (Like me) am retired it is all part of the fun.
Even a dealer on this site include images even for stamps at 1c.
Brian
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Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
16 Sep 2017
08:15:46pm
re: Who would buy stamps on line without an image??
" ... Take 50-100 minimum cat stamps and list them complete with pictures and a selling price of 1-2 cents. Since most of these stamps will be of the most common variety and few people will need them, you will be lucky to sell them in the first place. ..."
I think we have an excellent advertisement for our approval section here.
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re: Who would buy stamps on line without an image??
I buy common stamps from online dealers without images. It was how I used buy stuff off a mailing list before the internet.
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12:04:16pm
re: Who would buy stamps on line without an image??
Given the vast amount of modern forgeries, faked postmarks and other bogus stamps on the auctions pictures are a necessity if you buy anything of value.
The problem with pictures is that most of the sellers don't know how to post a decent image and it isn't an equipment issue.
It's either on purpose or just plain ineptness.
Not that many forgeries & fakes? - check a site like the German Stampx - they report 100's of fakes each month.
Stampsmarter use to do the same with limited participants.
Stamp forging has gathered the attention of very organized groups and given the abundance of new inexperienced collectors with money, it's a good business.
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Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
18 Sep 2017
08:16:02pm
re: Who would buy stamps on line without an image??
" .... The problem with pictures is that most of the sellers don't know how to post a decent image and it isn't an equipment issue.
It's either on purpose or just plain ineptness. ...."
I vote for ineptness. At least in my case.
I gave up trying to scan and post some images efficiently shortly after I began trying.
I would not post stamps to sell if the image was not good enough to buy myself.
Most member/sellers have master the system and their offerings are clear and the size not only is enough to give as good idea of what stamp is being shown, when I open the details page the image size is at least 50% larger.
Then there are a few sellers who post fuzzy photos, or scans so small that even after reading their description I am not sure of what they are selling as well as scans that remain the same minuscule size even after opening the details page. A few sellers, obviously using a hand held camera, shoot from an angle that turns a square image to a trapezoid. Over time I have used the magical power of the wheel on the mouse to scroll down from their offerings as fast as my neurologically damaged fingers can manage.
As one might imagine, I favor several sellers and avoid a few others. *** (note) There a few whose lots come onto the "closing in 24 hours" page almost all with at least a minimal bid.
There are others who, posting the same number of lots, close with only ten or twenty percent of their lots having an actual live bid ( or less) and three days later, there are the same old tired lots relisted still for sale and usually still with no bid.
I think some sellers would be well served if they stopped, took a deep breath and imagined that they were the buyer coming upon their lots for the first time.
*** - No, I don't mean you, of course.
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10:16:23am
Auctions - Approvals
re: Who would buy stamps on line without an image??
Photos, scans etc is probably down to ineptness as Charlie says.
I got a new laptop and a new printer/scanner several months ago and I still do not fully understand the workings of the software/hardware.
I still miss my old 2004 machine. It was oh so simple!!! (like me??)
As for relisting the same old items I have a sneaky feeling that most buyers just click on the finishing in 24 hours or newly listed buttons.
I have put up Buy it Now items for 14 days with the result that they sell on day 1/2 or day 13/14, with no views between that time.
I shall repeat myself from previous different posts "Sellers will sell if they list the right stamps, in the right place, at the right time, at the right price".
If we all knew the answer to that statement we would all be millionaires!!!
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Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
19 Sep 2017
05:25:13pm
re: Who would buy stamps on line without an image??
Mastering he art of selling HAS brought millions to people with vision.
Just not to me.
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re: Who would buy stamps on line without an image??
I looked at Stamps2go and what I noticed right away was how loosely "Fine" and "Very Fine" are used. From those stamps that had images, there were clearly damaged stamps labeled "Very Fine". Buying a stamp with no image there will sooner or later end in disappointment.
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re: Who would buy stamps on line without an image??
"I looked at Stamps2go and what I noticed right away was how loosely "Fine" and "Very Fine" are used. From those stamps that had images, there were clearly damaged stamps labeled "Very Fine". Buying a stamp with no image there will sooner or later end in disappointment."
That was exactly my experience several years ago. I bought a low cost stamp that was supposed to be "Superb" but was horribly centered. I then checked this sellers other listings and almost everything this seller listed was "Superb". All of my other purchases from other dealers had been satisfactory, so I notified the webmaster but they have a very hands-off attitude. I now only buy low-dollar items without scans from sellers I know, but I may consider buying blind from a new seller if that seller has actual images of more expensive stamps where the image matches the grading provided by the seller.
Having bought a lot of stamps from Stamps2Go, my advice if you are considering buying an inexpensive stamp without a scan, look at scans from that seller for more expensive stamps. See if they are properly identified and graded. If so, you may want to take a chance. For more expensive stamps, I agree that a scan is required, but I have gotten some good deals by simply sending a message to the seller asking for a scan.
Lars
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