Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Having pondered this question before and running into a batch of MNG stamps today, as I am making up more lots, I am wondering what a good rule of thumb would be for pricing these little gems. Before this I have usually just listed MNG as used stamps, but today's stamps are all priced much higher as used, as opposed to Mint and I don't want to keep flip-flopping in the method of pricing them. There could obviously be many reasons for a MNG stamp and as a seller, of course, I don't feel like they should be offered at a much lower price than Mint, but as a buyer, naturally I would want them heavily discounted. Any serious suggestions as to a good criteria for the listing prices?
Mike
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Oh what a fun one to discuss there Mike!!!
I had several damaged by the way they were stored in the Garbage Bag Collection, and in some cases, the gum got soaked off, thus technically making them a MNG. I've also gotten quite a few in the mail recently that never got canceled and of course, soaking them removed the gum. I could be a dishonest seller and list them as MNG as well. Since they didn't cost me anything anyway, there was no loss of money for me, so I just listed any of them in that condition as used.
I think legally you can't use them as regular postage if they won't stick to the envelope on their own anymore, therefore making them "used", ALTHOUGH, that whole argument gets thrown out the window when you talk about the Scott # 735 or # 768!!!
Maybe you should list the prices as something in between Mint and Used. You might get away with listing them at face value too depending on what stamps they are. But as always, make sure you mention what is happening in the Full description area.
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Mike,
Some stamps were issued without gum, so if what you have fall into that category, just list them as Mint - no gum, but I would state that this is how they were issued.
For any other scenario, in my opinion, they can no longer be Mint if the gum that was once there is gone, I was taught that mint is synonymous with post office issued.
The safest bet would be to list them as unused or uncanceled.
Alyn
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Hi Mike
Good Question.
Sometimes I get some Br Colonial and WW oldies that has been hinged quite a few times and look quite ugly on the back, so on some I soak the hinges off,looks a lot nicer, and list them as unused, no gum, sometimes I start them at a penny, but the higher values I will mention the mint and unused price and pick a reasonable list price.
Would sure like to know what other members have to say.
Lee
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Lee, Mike, and other auction-lot sellers:
This is Pandora's box and we keep opening it. Have a look at the commentary in one of our older discussion topics concerning quote mint unquote and its definition. It will take you a full weekend to speed-read all the opinions. Let me predict that no unanimous definition of "MINT - NO GUM" will ever be achieved within Stamporama or elsewhere.
For me, a bidder, I grew up with, and still keep, the definition that MNG means a postage stamp originally printed and sold with no gum, but as yet unused for postage.
Good luck with your auction-lot descriptions.
John Derry
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Here's my take on the uncanceled stamps with no gum, which may repeat part or all of some of the other comments:
- if issued without gum and never hinged - mint, never hinged, no gum as issued
- if issued without gum and hinged - unused, hinged, no gum as issued
- If issued with gum, but gum is gone:
- if catalog has value for unused stamp with no gum, then pricing is based on that value
- if catalog does not value stamp unused with no gum:
- used value is italicized (or used value is higher than unused value) - take unused value and discount from catalog value as if a used stamp
- if unused value is higher than used value, take used value and discount as if a used stamp
That is how I evaluate stamps in that condition for pricing and listing. Also, check the stamp to make sure there isn't a faint cancel!
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I wasn't aware this issue had been discussed before, but will be happy to check past subjects for same and a clue as to where to look would be helpful, since many of the discussions start out as one subject and then seem to migrate to many others before they are finished. I did just do a search for mint no gum stamps, but it was a short post, with only one response.
My questions started in regard to normal postage stamps, these are all foreign by the way, that were issued with gum and do not have any indication they may have traveled through the mail systems. No traces of a cancellation, using a magnifier either. They are all good looking stamps and to me I would rather have a fine looking example of MNG stamp rather than a lesser looking stamp with gum. After all, who ever looks at the backs of your stamps anyway.
I think I will just continue with the system that seems to have worked so far, basically like Michael stated, whichever is to list it at the lower price of that issue. If that doesn't work, then maybe I will re-list it at a higher price and probably sell it. LOL
Thanks to all of you for your quick responses!
Mike
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Mike, you gave a "LOL" to raising the price on the unsold item and then selling it, but I tell you there is something to that. I will run a sale on items in my store, and get maybe an order or two. When the sale ends, I get orders for 25, 50 even 100 stamps at the original price. Whatever works, I say. Sales is a weird business (as is most anything when people are involved on both ends of the process).
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I'd call it exactly as it says at the bottom left corner. It is not a FDC since it doesn't have a first day cancel.
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Good afternoon everyone!
Having pondered this question before and running into a batch of MNG stamps today, as I am making up more lots, I am wondering what a good rule of thumb would be for pricing these little gems. Before this I have usually just listed MNG as used stamps, but today's stamps are all priced much higher as used, as opposed to Mint and I don't want to keep flip-flopping in the method of pricing them. There could obviously be many reasons for a MNG stamp and as a seller, of course, I don't feel like they should be offered at a much lower price than Mint, but as a buyer, naturally I would want them heavily discounted. Any serious suggestions as to a good criteria for the listing prices?
Mike
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re: How to list Mint No Gum stamps and FDCs without cancels
Oh what a fun one to discuss there Mike!!!
I had several damaged by the way they were stored in the Garbage Bag Collection, and in some cases, the gum got soaked off, thus technically making them a MNG. I've also gotten quite a few in the mail recently that never got canceled and of course, soaking them removed the gum. I could be a dishonest seller and list them as MNG as well. Since they didn't cost me anything anyway, there was no loss of money for me, so I just listed any of them in that condition as used.
I think legally you can't use them as regular postage if they won't stick to the envelope on their own anymore, therefore making them "used", ALTHOUGH, that whole argument gets thrown out the window when you talk about the Scott # 735 or # 768!!!
Maybe you should list the prices as something in between Mint and Used. You might get away with listing them at face value too depending on what stamps they are. But as always, make sure you mention what is happening in the Full description area.
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re: How to list Mint No Gum stamps and FDCs without cancels
Mike,
Some stamps were issued without gum, so if what you have fall into that category, just list them as Mint - no gum, but I would state that this is how they were issued.
For any other scenario, in my opinion, they can no longer be Mint if the gum that was once there is gone, I was taught that mint is synonymous with post office issued.
The safest bet would be to list them as unused or uncanceled.
Alyn
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this post
re: How to list Mint No Gum stamps and FDCs without cancels
Hi Mike
Good Question.
Sometimes I get some Br Colonial and WW oldies that has been hinged quite a few times and look quite ugly on the back, so on some I soak the hinges off,looks a lot nicer, and list them as unused, no gum, sometimes I start them at a penny, but the higher values I will mention the mint and unused price and pick a reasonable list price.
Would sure like to know what other members have to say.
Lee
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The past is a foreign country, they do things different there.
17 Dec 2012
03:33:07pm
re: How to list Mint No Gum stamps and FDCs without cancels
Lee, Mike, and other auction-lot sellers:
This is Pandora's box and we keep opening it. Have a look at the commentary in one of our older discussion topics concerning quote mint unquote and its definition. It will take you a full weekend to speed-read all the opinions. Let me predict that no unanimous definition of "MINT - NO GUM" will ever be achieved within Stamporama or elsewhere.
For me, a bidder, I grew up with, and still keep, the definition that MNG means a postage stamp originally printed and sold with no gum, but as yet unused for postage.
Good luck with your auction-lot descriptions.
John Derry
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04:21:06pm
re: How to list Mint No Gum stamps and FDCs without cancels
Here's my take on the uncanceled stamps with no gum, which may repeat part or all of some of the other comments:
- if issued without gum and never hinged - mint, never hinged, no gum as issued
- if issued without gum and hinged - unused, hinged, no gum as issued
- If issued with gum, but gum is gone:
- if catalog has value for unused stamp with no gum, then pricing is based on that value
- if catalog does not value stamp unused with no gum:
- used value is italicized (or used value is higher than unused value) - take unused value and discount from catalog value as if a used stamp
- if unused value is higher than used value, take used value and discount as if a used stamp
That is how I evaluate stamps in that condition for pricing and listing. Also, check the stamp to make sure there isn't a faint cancel!
1 Member
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Login to Like.
re: How to list Mint No Gum stamps and FDCs without cancels
I wasn't aware this issue had been discussed before, but will be happy to check past subjects for same and a clue as to where to look would be helpful, since many of the discussions start out as one subject and then seem to migrate to many others before they are finished. I did just do a search for mint no gum stamps, but it was a short post, with only one response.
My questions started in regard to normal postage stamps, these are all foreign by the way, that were issued with gum and do not have any indication they may have traveled through the mail systems. No traces of a cancellation, using a magnifier either. They are all good looking stamps and to me I would rather have a fine looking example of MNG stamp rather than a lesser looking stamp with gum. After all, who ever looks at the backs of your stamps anyway.
I think I will just continue with the system that seems to have worked so far, basically like Michael stated, whichever is to list it at the lower price of that issue. If that doesn't work, then maybe I will re-list it at a higher price and probably sell it. LOL
Thanks to all of you for your quick responses!
Mike
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06:02:04pm
re: How to list Mint No Gum stamps and FDCs without cancels
Mike, you gave a "LOL" to raising the price on the unsold item and then selling it, but I tell you there is something to that. I will run a sale on items in my store, and get maybe an order or two. When the sale ends, I get orders for 25, 50 even 100 stamps at the original price. Whatever works, I say. Sales is a weird business (as is most anything when people are involved on both ends of the process).
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06:26:36pm
re: How to list Mint No Gum stamps and FDCs without cancels
I'd call it exactly as it says at the bottom left corner. It is not a FDC since it doesn't have a first day cancel.
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