Firstly, I've never bothered to get the snipe program, it's not that I don't believe in it - I just never bothered. I use the KISS rule, Keep It Simple Stupid! There was an early US souvenir sheet I wanted - #630, the International Philatelic Exhibition (1926). It showed up on E-Bay many times and every time it did I put in a bid of $140, just below half CV. It took about 10 tries but eventually I got it! Don't stop dreaming, eventually it will be yours. It only takes once when the item slips under the radar!!!
Thanks Joe. Good advice. I should not be complaining. Some are just impossible to get, but one can still dream. In the same vein, and that is the mystery of these auctions, a number of Belgium Semi Postal stamps I wanted went for a song. I did exactly what you suggested, placed a low bid and went to sleep. Imagine my surprise when I had five out of 7 won at less than half my maximum bid! I suppose if I had won any of the Egypt, my stamp budget would have been exceeded several times over, bringing me in trouble with you know who...
Sniping would have done me no good for the Egypt Port Said o/p. Last second multiple bids doubled or even tripled the earlier bidding. I also checked (ebay does not disclose the buyers, but you can id them nonetheless by looking at the feedback numbers associated with the coded names). Looks like they were bought by 3 separate buyers, so even those with the budget for the stamps had to fight hard, and got just a portion of the set.
Wonder when these stamps will appear again on sale at a reasonable start price and without the obvious counterfeit characteristics.
rrr...
Bob, It is insane. Michael (Azurite1) on Hipstamp has it MNH under $6 ($3 with flaws)
rrr...
Some folks go loony when bidding at auctions. I decide what I will pay, enter a bid and WALK AWAY. If I win then, yay! If not, oh well!
Where these three stamps in the same envelope?
A closer look at the date seems to be Dec 21 for all three stamps.
About a week ago, I bid on a lot on Ebay. I had the high bid until 2 seconds were left. The snipers jumped in and in 2 seconds the bid was over double my bid. I have lost a lot of bids to snipers but I always bid my maximum and let the cards fall where they lay.
Richard - I do the same as you and I very rarely change my bid. If I get it, fine, if not, fine!
Seems like we all mostly agree - set a bid and avoid bidding wars.
The good news is that despite not winning as many lots recently, I'm seeing many high bids. Not so great if you're buying, but good news for the hobby overall. And - wow - what a difference from a year ago! Even with all the shipping delays, this is a good time to sell, yes?
Egypt Scott 121-124 Catalogs for $300M/$250u for the first 3 and $1600/875u for the last stamp. (note the surface defects of the #124, and it was No Gum!)
Rare and expensive. Seldom seen. Plenty of counterfeits. These looked authentic enough! (any expert opinion welcome?)
Yesterday I watched, and watched hoping...eternally the optimist.
Not even close! There were nearly 20 bids for each of the first 3 and 78 bids for the last one!
The auctions closed at above 50% of catalog value!
I did not even place a bid. These 4 slots are destined to remain empty. Who said dreaming was not allowed though? I would have been better off watching and possibly bidding on the other few missing gems that were also on auction. (Scott #167, #224, in particular. They went for 20-25% of catalog.)
I will keep on dreaming, or fill the spots with crude counterfeit stamp (plenty of those), if the price is right, although sellers seem to all think they have the authentic ones!
rrr...
re: Dreaming is still allowed.
Firstly, I've never bothered to get the snipe program, it's not that I don't believe in it - I just never bothered. I use the KISS rule, Keep It Simple Stupid! There was an early US souvenir sheet I wanted - #630, the International Philatelic Exhibition (1926). It showed up on E-Bay many times and every time it did I put in a bid of $140, just below half CV. It took about 10 tries but eventually I got it! Don't stop dreaming, eventually it will be yours. It only takes once when the item slips under the radar!!!
re: Dreaming is still allowed.
Thanks Joe. Good advice. I should not be complaining. Some are just impossible to get, but one can still dream. In the same vein, and that is the mystery of these auctions, a number of Belgium Semi Postal stamps I wanted went for a song. I did exactly what you suggested, placed a low bid and went to sleep. Imagine my surprise when I had five out of 7 won at less than half my maximum bid! I suppose if I had won any of the Egypt, my stamp budget would have been exceeded several times over, bringing me in trouble with you know who...
Sniping would have done me no good for the Egypt Port Said o/p. Last second multiple bids doubled or even tripled the earlier bidding. I also checked (ebay does not disclose the buyers, but you can id them nonetheless by looking at the feedback numbers associated with the coded names). Looks like they were bought by 3 separate buyers, so even those with the budget for the stamps had to fight hard, and got just a portion of the set.
Wonder when these stamps will appear again on sale at a reasonable start price and without the obvious counterfeit characteristics.
rrr...
re: Dreaming is still allowed.
Bob, It is insane. Michael (Azurite1) on Hipstamp has it MNH under $6 ($3 with flaws)
rrr...
re: Dreaming is still allowed.
Some folks go loony when bidding at auctions. I decide what I will pay, enter a bid and WALK AWAY. If I win then, yay! If not, oh well!
re: Dreaming is still allowed.
Where these three stamps in the same envelope?
A closer look at the date seems to be Dec 21 for all three stamps.
re: Dreaming is still allowed.
About a week ago, I bid on a lot on Ebay. I had the high bid until 2 seconds were left. The snipers jumped in and in 2 seconds the bid was over double my bid. I have lost a lot of bids to snipers but I always bid my maximum and let the cards fall where they lay.
re: Dreaming is still allowed.
Richard - I do the same as you and I very rarely change my bid. If I get it, fine, if not, fine!
re: Dreaming is still allowed.
Seems like we all mostly agree - set a bid and avoid bidding wars.
The good news is that despite not winning as many lots recently, I'm seeing many high bids. Not so great if you're buying, but good news for the hobby overall. And - wow - what a difference from a year ago! Even with all the shipping delays, this is a good time to sell, yes?