Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Can someone explain to me WHY we have so many inexpensive, common, and seemingly random stamps listed individually in Auctions, with all the limitations the Auction platform has...individual image, category, description, short expiration date etc..? And multiple, multiple copies!
I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND!
Do any of these stamps sell? Do we have any statistics?
Just curious
rrr...
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rrraphy
The reason we have so many low value items in the Auctions is down to one member listing up to 3 copies of the same common stamp at 7cents or 8cents Buy It Now. Not all their items are set at these prices.
There are currently 3905 items in the Auction. If you take out that particular sellers items there are only 1841 items in the Auctions.
As you say their reasoning is unsound considering these common items could be put in an Approval Book.
However if you look at what they are offering and examine the descriptions these scans have been done over a long period of time.
The conclusion one can come to is that the seller has tried to sell these items on one or other sales platforms during the past few years without success.
Is it time to put in minimum pricing in the auctions? OR Reduce the number of the same stamp that a member is allowed to list in the Auctions?
Before you say it I am not travelling on the road to Damascus!!!
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I confess, I am guilty of throwing a few penny stamps out on the auction listings. My problem for approvals is, I have to list all of the stamps on a page with the same price. If I have 4 stamps at 8c, 6 stamps at 8c, 3 stamps at 10c and 2 stamps at 12c, then I have sort out all the stamps by price and put up 4 pages. Not to mention the minimum number required to be listed. The single stamps I list on auction are usually broken sets (who wants to buy an incomplete set?). If there is only one stamp missing for the set, I'll consider listing the entire broken set as a lot. As approvals go, I do like the idea of throwing up a single picture file for multiple items. I guess my ideal for approvals would be to allow individual pricing for the stamps on a single page. Also, I could list multiple sets on a page with each having different prices. I mean that's the way I remember getting approval books and sets way back when approvals were the rage... uh-oh, did I just date myself?!
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Hi I list lower price stamps. The seller is not making much by the time you scan & list a 5 cent stamp. Some collectors collect different ways. by color, cancel, fly speck. or they like the stamp. precancel, faulty. I have sold lot of lots starting low. some higher price stamps start low. Rember to collect the way you want to Keep the fun in it. You can search the sellers you want and not the ones you don't.
Keep on Stamping
Richard
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What I don’t understand is why there seems to be such a short margin between the minimum bid price and buy now price, sometimes less than 10%?
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It doesn't take any longer to list stamps at auction than to make an approval book. And the added benefit is you do'nt have to be worried about your entire book being deleted because of a simple error. And if you follow the rules you can't put a stamp with a short perf in the approval pages even with notation. Moderator enforcement shows no consistency 0 not sure if it depends on the moderator or the submitter.
Question - I note one seller who places stamps in the row and labels it "1 - 4" or "1 -6" in the margin. If this is allowable I could start putting up approval books again. I have arthritis in one hand and ulner neuritis in the other and trying to use tiny numbered tags is very time consuming and frustrating. Using digital numbers likewise plus if you make a mistake you start from scratch. Another plus is you get a lot more stamps on a page. It would also cut my prep time by at least 75%.
Thoughts please.
Thank you.
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This is how I do my approval books:-
I use Hagner pages with moveable numbers with either 12 or 15 stamps go on each sheet. The top strip is left blank so I can put in Price, Page Number and Scan Number.
When a book is sold I can remove what stamps are left and refill and rescan for the sheet to go into another book.
Its a bit of work to start with but once it is up and running it is easy-peasy.
The one joy is you dont have to use hinges to stick the stamps on a paper sheet.
I must also add I have never bought a Hagner sheet brand new. They have all come from various auction lots I have bought locally. I have also used black pages from broken stockbooks.
It works for me.
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I have no problem with any member listing stamps under 10 cents.
BUT
To list 3 stamps of very very very common descent at 7cents or less each with many many many different listings is a bit much and demeans the Auction on this site.
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3 of the same item is are the rules at many auction sites. I can't find a limit on SOR, so if you don't like the rules, you should limit the number of items to a number that that suits you.
Brechinite:
I'm glad you don't have a problem with it as they sell pretty well.
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" as they sell pretty well."
russromei
Oh Aye they sell well but they sell even better in an Approval Book.
I can list 120 stamps with 10 scans while you need 120 scans!
I make 10 entries for 120 you need 120 entries.
But each to their own way of working.
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You can scan a whole page of stamps and process the page image with PMGS StampFix to separate the stamps into individual images. There is no need to do a separate scan for each image.
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Somehow, I've never heard of PMGS Stampfix, but I'll try it today
Edit: OK, I've played with it and it works fine with stamps, but I couldn't get the program to recognise blocks on a sheet.
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Aye
It may reduce the scanning time but you still have to List them and describe them and enter the images onto the system.
Whereas doing an approval book of 120 stamps is 10 scans or less = 8 minutes or less. Loading onto the system another 8 minutes or less.
Loading 120 stamps on the Auctions is a heck of a lot longer than 16 minutes or less.
Edit
I've looked at PMGS but what a palaver. At least if you scan a page for an approval book you press a button and Hey Presto 29 seconds later it is in your computer ready to be downloaded when you need it.
You would have to be a masochist to use PMGS for Approval Books or the Auctions!!!!!!!
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Ian,
If you use the bulk uploader and store your images on an image server with the URL of the images in the bulk upload file, you can upload 120 auction entries in seconds.
You may prefer doing things manually, but, since I am not a masochist, I prefer to let the computer do the work.
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sounds like you each have your favorite approaches for your favorite platforms. That's wonderful.
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Yes, One can use the Bulk Uploader BUT the info etc still has to go into the Bulk Uploader. Once an item is sold from the Bulk Uploader it has to be removed from the Uploader. For the auctions I use the Bulk Uploader at times.
However my main point was/is that listing dozens of 3 very very common items at minimal cost in the Auctions is detrimental to the look and appeal of the Auctions here.
Of course us "Old Hands" just go and block the seller so we don't have to see them ever again( which goes against the spirit of the club) Thank Goodness for the seller filter.
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I was the one that requestd the buyer blocker, to prevent curmudgeons that constantly comment on other buyers, sellers and site personal from having to deal with them.
There is one loquacious, curmudgeon that posted 973 comments, and that is ORIGINAL comments, no telling how many replies. (I'm guessing many more than the original ones)
Seems abusive to the sites and the users
For those piling on, I have 19,000 individual lots in my catalog I can post all 19,000 in one upload if I had the will to do so, I can make them put up as few duplicates as I wish. I chose 3 because thats what most sites allow.
I appreciate the comments from other sellers trying to help me improve my process.
Did you ever wonder why only a very few vocal members use the chat rooms on most sites?
This is why
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One of the advantages of auction listings over approvals is that the items can be presented in catalog number order irrespective of price. With approvals all items on the same page must have the same price so catalog order is not preserved. While auction listing may involve more effort on the part of the seller, it seems to me that there is only an advantage to the buyer.
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To look at hfbaker's post a different way... If the seller makes it easier for the buyer to find what their looking for, then that might turn out to be an advantage for the seller, as the buyer will be looking through those listings more often to find what they want. I know it works for me as a buyer. In the auctions I can search for keywords, buyers and countries. I am searching for specific items. For those auction sellers that are posting multiple duplications of common items, I just filter them out. As it is, finding what I am looking for in approvals is more of an effort... but, that's just me.
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A) I must draw sellers attention to Auction Rule G5. It is noticeable that some sellers are NOT adhering to it.
"G5. The items cannot be listed on Stamporama and be offered for sale elsewhere at the same time."
B)
"One of the advantages of auction listings over approvals is that the items can be presented in catalog number order irrespective of price."
Unfortunately this is not always the case as each item listed is given an individual number by the stamporama system. The numbers allocated may not be consecutive therefore it is not guaranteed that they would be in catalogue order.
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Think what a mess it would create if we didn't adhere to Item G5.
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it is paramount that folks follow G5, the prohibition against listing stamps elsewhere while they are listed here.
Thanks Ian
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"Unfortunately this is not always the case as each item listed is given an individual number by the stamporama system. The numbers allocated may not be consecutive therefore it is not guaranteed that they would be in catalogue order."
Ian,
I have found that the numbers will be consecutive when using the bulk upload file.
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hfbaker
Yes there are situations that the numbers will be consecutive BUT there are situations that they will not be.
It also depends on an individuals settings of the Item column in the Edit/View Lots.
Have you clicked on the word "item" and see what happens? (To Quote Micheal Caine "Not Many People Know That.")
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Terry:
If you request that a multi word search be implemented, results would be returned if ANY of the words were found in the title or description.
The way it currently works is a 1 word (string) result is returned. In other words an exact must be found, So "UK 755", the words would have to be ajacent to each other (string) only if the sting is found . if the item is "UK 1988 MNH 755" the current search won't find it. a multiword search would with "UK","755"
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Russ... The pool for StampoRama is not even close to the pool for, say, eBay. So, when I go fishing, entering "755" might be sufficient. If I am missing a couple stamps, or a set from El Salvador, then a search for "Salvador" may hook what I am hoping to find. I am happy to work with the tools provided.
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"Yes there are situations that the numbers will be consecutive BUT there are situations that they will not be."
As long as the items are in proper order in the load file they will be displayed in order when filtered for a specific seller.
I don't find sorting on item to be helpful unless the items are named in a standard format such as Country name, catalog number + other descriptors. To force the lexicographic sort to be in catalog number order the seller should pad catalog numbers with extra blanks on the left so they are of uniform width. If the bulk upload feature is used with a properly sorted file, the buyer should have no need to sort on item title.
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Terry:
10-4
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Since we have allowed a Worldwide stamp category in Approval Books. Since we have reduced the minimum number of stamps in an Approval book to 100 (or as low as 20 if you just stick a label of "Large" on it). Since you don't have to define each stamp individually, or organize the Approval Book in any shape or form, or even group your stamps...etc..etc..
Can someone explain to me WHY we have so many inexpensive, common, and seemingly random stamps listed individually in Auctions, with all the limitations the Auction platform has...individual image, category, description, short expiration date etc..? And multiple, multiple copies!
I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND!
Do any of these stamps sell? Do we have any statistics?
Just curious
rrr...
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06:35:29pm
re: I don't understand 5-10c stamps listed in Actions
rrraphy
The reason we have so many low value items in the Auctions is down to one member listing up to 3 copies of the same common stamp at 7cents or 8cents Buy It Now. Not all their items are set at these prices.
There are currently 3905 items in the Auction. If you take out that particular sellers items there are only 1841 items in the Auctions.
As you say their reasoning is unsound considering these common items could be put in an Approval Book.
However if you look at what they are offering and examine the descriptions these scans have been done over a long period of time.
The conclusion one can come to is that the seller has tried to sell these items on one or other sales platforms during the past few years without success.
Is it time to put in minimum pricing in the auctions? OR Reduce the number of the same stamp that a member is allowed to list in the Auctions?
Before you say it I am not travelling on the road to Damascus!!!
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re: I don't understand 5-10c stamps listed in Actions
I confess, I am guilty of throwing a few penny stamps out on the auction listings. My problem for approvals is, I have to list all of the stamps on a page with the same price. If I have 4 stamps at 8c, 6 stamps at 8c, 3 stamps at 10c and 2 stamps at 12c, then I have sort out all the stamps by price and put up 4 pages. Not to mention the minimum number required to be listed. The single stamps I list on auction are usually broken sets (who wants to buy an incomplete set?). If there is only one stamp missing for the set, I'll consider listing the entire broken set as a lot. As approvals go, I do like the idea of throwing up a single picture file for multiple items. I guess my ideal for approvals would be to allow individual pricing for the stamps on a single page. Also, I could list multiple sets on a page with each having different prices. I mean that's the way I remember getting approval books and sets way back when approvals were the rage... uh-oh, did I just date myself?!
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re: I don't understand 5-10c stamps listed in Actions
Hi I list lower price stamps. The seller is not making much by the time you scan & list a 5 cent stamp. Some collectors collect different ways. by color, cancel, fly speck. or they like the stamp. precancel, faulty. I have sold lot of lots starting low. some higher price stamps start low. Rember to collect the way you want to Keep the fun in it. You can search the sellers you want and not the ones you don't.
Keep on Stamping
Richard
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re: I don't understand 5-10c stamps listed in Actions
What I don’t understand is why there seems to be such a short margin between the minimum bid price and buy now price, sometimes less than 10%?
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06:41:14am
re: I don't understand 5-10c stamps listed in Actions
It doesn't take any longer to list stamps at auction than to make an approval book. And the added benefit is you do'nt have to be worried about your entire book being deleted because of a simple error. And if you follow the rules you can't put a stamp with a short perf in the approval pages even with notation. Moderator enforcement shows no consistency 0 not sure if it depends on the moderator or the submitter.
Question - I note one seller who places stamps in the row and labels it "1 - 4" or "1 -6" in the margin. If this is allowable I could start putting up approval books again. I have arthritis in one hand and ulner neuritis in the other and trying to use tiny numbered tags is very time consuming and frustrating. Using digital numbers likewise plus if you make a mistake you start from scratch. Another plus is you get a lot more stamps on a page. It would also cut my prep time by at least 75%.
Thoughts please.
Thank you.
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12:21:14pm
re: I don't understand 5-10c stamps listed in Actions
This is how I do my approval books:-
I use Hagner pages with moveable numbers with either 12 or 15 stamps go on each sheet. The top strip is left blank so I can put in Price, Page Number and Scan Number.
When a book is sold I can remove what stamps are left and refill and rescan for the sheet to go into another book.
Its a bit of work to start with but once it is up and running it is easy-peasy.
The one joy is you dont have to use hinges to stick the stamps on a paper sheet.
I must also add I have never bought a Hagner sheet brand new. They have all come from various auction lots I have bought locally. I have also used black pages from broken stockbooks.
It works for me.
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12:29:18pm
re: I don't understand 5-10c stamps listed in Actions
I have no problem with any member listing stamps under 10 cents.
BUT
To list 3 stamps of very very very common descent at 7cents or less each with many many many different listings is a bit much and demeans the Auction on this site.
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02:26:32pm
Auctions
re: I don't understand 5-10c stamps listed in Actions
3 of the same item is are the rules at many auction sites. I can't find a limit on SOR, so if you don't like the rules, you should limit the number of items to a number that that suits you.
Brechinite:
I'm glad you don't have a problem with it as they sell pretty well.
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12:07:34pm
re: I don't understand 5-10c stamps listed in Actions
" as they sell pretty well."
russromei
Oh Aye they sell well but they sell even better in an Approval Book.
I can list 120 stamps with 10 scans while you need 120 scans!
I make 10 entries for 120 you need 120 entries.
But each to their own way of working.
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re: I don't understand 5-10c stamps listed in Actions
You can scan a whole page of stamps and process the page image with PMGS StampFix to separate the stamps into individual images. There is no need to do a separate scan for each image.
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re: I don't understand 5-10c stamps listed in Actions
Somehow, I've never heard of PMGS Stampfix, but I'll try it today
Edit: OK, I've played with it and it works fine with stamps, but I couldn't get the program to recognise blocks on a sheet.
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10:00:58am
re: I don't understand 5-10c stamps listed in Actions
Aye
It may reduce the scanning time but you still have to List them and describe them and enter the images onto the system.
Whereas doing an approval book of 120 stamps is 10 scans or less = 8 minutes or less. Loading onto the system another 8 minutes or less.
Loading 120 stamps on the Auctions is a heck of a lot longer than 16 minutes or less.
Edit
I've looked at PMGS but what a palaver. At least if you scan a page for an approval book you press a button and Hey Presto 29 seconds later it is in your computer ready to be downloaded when you need it.
You would have to be a masochist to use PMGS for Approval Books or the Auctions!!!!!!!
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re: I don't understand 5-10c stamps listed in Actions
Ian,
If you use the bulk uploader and store your images on an image server with the URL of the images in the bulk upload file, you can upload 120 auction entries in seconds.
You may prefer doing things manually, but, since I am not a masochist, I prefer to let the computer do the work.
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re: I don't understand 5-10c stamps listed in Actions
sounds like you each have your favorite approaches for your favorite platforms. That's wonderful.
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01:45:24pm
re: I don't understand 5-10c stamps listed in Actions
Yes, One can use the Bulk Uploader BUT the info etc still has to go into the Bulk Uploader. Once an item is sold from the Bulk Uploader it has to be removed from the Uploader. For the auctions I use the Bulk Uploader at times.
However my main point was/is that listing dozens of 3 very very common items at minimal cost in the Auctions is detrimental to the look and appeal of the Auctions here.
Of course us "Old Hands" just go and block the seller so we don't have to see them ever again( which goes against the spirit of the club) Thank Goodness for the seller filter.
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04:26:33pm
Auctions
re: I don't understand 5-10c stamps listed in Actions
I was the one that requestd the buyer blocker, to prevent curmudgeons that constantly comment on other buyers, sellers and site personal from having to deal with them.
There is one loquacious, curmudgeon that posted 973 comments, and that is ORIGINAL comments, no telling how many replies. (I'm guessing many more than the original ones)
Seems abusive to the sites and the users
For those piling on, I have 19,000 individual lots in my catalog I can post all 19,000 in one upload if I had the will to do so, I can make them put up as few duplicates as I wish. I chose 3 because thats what most sites allow.
I appreciate the comments from other sellers trying to help me improve my process.
Did you ever wonder why only a very few vocal members use the chat rooms on most sites?
This is why
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re: I don't understand 5-10c stamps listed in Actions
One of the advantages of auction listings over approvals is that the items can be presented in catalog number order irrespective of price. With approvals all items on the same page must have the same price so catalog order is not preserved. While auction listing may involve more effort on the part of the seller, it seems to me that there is only an advantage to the buyer.
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re: I don't understand 5-10c stamps listed in Actions
To look at hfbaker's post a different way... If the seller makes it easier for the buyer to find what their looking for, then that might turn out to be an advantage for the seller, as the buyer will be looking through those listings more often to find what they want. I know it works for me as a buyer. In the auctions I can search for keywords, buyers and countries. I am searching for specific items. For those auction sellers that are posting multiple duplications of common items, I just filter them out. As it is, finding what I am looking for in approvals is more of an effort... but, that's just me.
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07:29:31pm
re: I don't understand 5-10c stamps listed in Actions
A) I must draw sellers attention to Auction Rule G5. It is noticeable that some sellers are NOT adhering to it.
"G5. The items cannot be listed on Stamporama and be offered for sale elsewhere at the same time."
B)
"One of the advantages of auction listings over approvals is that the items can be presented in catalog number order irrespective of price."
Unfortunately this is not always the case as each item listed is given an individual number by the stamporama system. The numbers allocated may not be consecutive therefore it is not guaranteed that they would be in catalogue order.
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08:33:56pm
re: I don't understand 5-10c stamps listed in Actions
Think what a mess it would create if we didn't adhere to Item G5.
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re: I don't understand 5-10c stamps listed in Actions
it is paramount that folks follow G5, the prohibition against listing stamps elsewhere while they are listed here.
Thanks Ian
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re: I don't understand 5-10c stamps listed in Actions
"Unfortunately this is not always the case as each item listed is given an individual number by the stamporama system. The numbers allocated may not be consecutive therefore it is not guaranteed that they would be in catalogue order."
Ian,
I have found that the numbers will be consecutive when using the bulk upload file.
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05:43:30am
re: I don't understand 5-10c stamps listed in Actions
hfbaker
Yes there are situations that the numbers will be consecutive BUT there are situations that they will not be.
It also depends on an individuals settings of the Item column in the Edit/View Lots.
Have you clicked on the word "item" and see what happens? (To Quote Micheal Caine "Not Many People Know That.")
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05:58:49am
Auctions
re: I don't understand 5-10c stamps listed in Actions
Terry:
If you request that a multi word search be implemented, results would be returned if ANY of the words were found in the title or description.
The way it currently works is a 1 word (string) result is returned. In other words an exact must be found, So "UK 755", the words would have to be ajacent to each other (string) only if the sting is found . if the item is "UK 1988 MNH 755" the current search won't find it. a multiword search would with "UK","755"
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re: I don't understand 5-10c stamps listed in Actions
Russ... The pool for StampoRama is not even close to the pool for, say, eBay. So, when I go fishing, entering "755" might be sufficient. If I am missing a couple stamps, or a set from El Salvador, then a search for "Salvador" may hook what I am hoping to find. I am happy to work with the tools provided.
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re: I don't understand 5-10c stamps listed in Actions
"Yes there are situations that the numbers will be consecutive BUT there are situations that they will not be."
As long as the items are in proper order in the load file they will be displayed in order when filtered for a specific seller.
I don't find sorting on item to be helpful unless the items are named in a standard format such as Country name, catalog number + other descriptors. To force the lexicographic sort to be in catalog number order the seller should pad catalog numbers with extra blanks on the left so they are of uniform width. If the bulk upload feature is used with a properly sorted file, the buyer should have no need to sort on item title.
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03:23:50pm
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re: I don't understand 5-10c stamps listed in Actions
Terry:
10-4
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