I was looking at the auctions a little while ago and saw the same cheap stamp listed 6 times - I thought you were only allowed to do 3!
Harvey:- If I remember correctly the three rule only applies to the Approvals. Technically you can put dozens of the same stamp in the auction.
I must agree with Ian.
"Here is the bonus of stopping the practice. Your higher priced stamps will show up better because buyers will stop excluding you as a seller from the auctions when they view."
"Our Approval Books rules are vague I know, but rule 4 states: #4 The book offers stamps in topics [b]clearly described by its title[/b]?
There is NO worldwide category allowed...as a matter of fact, there is no legitimate place to put it! Worldwide, just like Stamps, Duplicates, Miscellaneous, A bit of everything, Floor droppings...etc... are just equally NOT acceptable."
I have found some interesting stamps in WW books, but it is rare and I have to be in the right kind of mood to check them out. Some of them are so disorganized with absolutely no obvious thought at all. I find countries and even series all over the place and I'm sure I miss stamps I want. Some books are so frustrating that I can't manage to get through them. I am not talking about Ian's books, even though he claims they are "as they come out of the box" there always seems to be some sort of organization. I also don't like seeing damaged stamps, even though sometimes they are identified as such. All this is just me opinion, and we all know what that's worth!
" "as they come out of the box" there always seems to be some sort of organization."
Just a comment about "out of the box": My wife and I started collecting in 1972 when we were in university. Sometimes we would hitch hike to Halifax (from Wolfville, if anyone knows Nova Scotia) on the New Ross Highway, where you would see a car every 15 minutes or so. We did this to visit a couple stamp stores on Barrington Street. One shop had a huge apple barrel of stamps and we'd take an hour or so rummaging. In that "box" of stamps we used to see "yes, wonderful things"! I remember once coming up with an interesting looking stamp that turned out to be a $30 ish Danish West Indies stamp. I know this was way off topic but it was fun to think back on those days when there were real stamp stores in most cities - at least four in Halifax at that time.
".but we have opened up a pandora box by allowing anything, and some is truly and distressingly disorganised, and "junk". "
"Why not put these items into an Approval Book. The time taken to scan and list these must be horrific."
Greg:-
I have no problem with penny auctions. I can appreciate the reasons behind them.
At least with your penny auctions you are not putting up three of the same stamp of which one out of the three is damaged in some form.
Make ya wonder! There were times I noticed people with 10 listings of very common used stamps at a nickel apiece, and a dollar postage! There was no way it would make sense to buy from that person. They just hadn't thought that through.
Right now there are 1077 listings under USA, and the person who will remain nameless has 627 of those. Other than that, the listings are more robust than I remember in a long time. Varied sellers, with some interesting older items... in fact I just bought a $20 item!
Aye! If you don't look you don't find.
Maybe it will be better if it will be possible to add a new tool on auction for buy it now option by putting duplicates for sale by one posting for MNH stamps to allow to several buyers to purchase the same stamp instead to obliged seller to post several times the same stamp. Also, to extend this to used stamps by giving the maximum info about cancellation, etc of stamps state.
Abderrahmane
You are partially describing what are known as "Dutch Auctions".
"Maybe it will be better if it will be possible to add a new tool on auction for buy it now option by putting duplicates for sale by one posting for MNH stamps to allow to several buyers to purchase the same stamp instead to obliged seller to post several times the same stamp"
"All lots, except as otherwise provided, must include at least one image of the actual item being offered for sale. Representative images are not permitted.
"
Coming a bit late to this discussion, I noticed the huge amount of trivial stuff wasting space in the auction as well. I too wonder about the business model behind these entries because if I could sell 100 grams of that kind of material, I would do so immediately. In the real world I can't even give them away, let alone sell them.
Now the main question is, what to do with this? Perhaps the problem solves itself. If one cannot sell anything after six attempts, why try it a seventh time? On the other hand, the bulk uploading tool makes it too easy. It is like sending spam: it takes time and energy, but if you can send a million emails with one click and have a handful of sales, it is already worth the effort...
Thinking in solutions: we do not want to introduce fees for putting items in the auction, even though it would be an effective way of reducing the junk. An alternative would be to limit the amount of items one can sell at one time. Problem with that could be that we have just introduced a paid membership scheme where a higher fee means one can use the selling platforms. Without limitation...
This discussion pops up every now and then. Let's hope these sellers give up when they find themselves in a "cordon sanitaire", that is everyone avoids them like a - hmm - virus.
"This discussion pops up every now and then. Let's hope these sellers give up when they find themselves in a "cordon sanitaire", that is everyone avoids them like a - hmm - virus."
I will assume (which I should not do) that we are once again talking of penny auctions? I will say I have no idea if anyone but me is doing that - penny auctions. Most of my penny auction stamps have a cv of less than 50 cents because I really don't expect more than one bid. They are a venue to perhaps get a collector to maybe bid on something else, something like Walmart does by putting something on sale at Christmas time to get you in the store and then sell you a bunch of other things in addition that you may not have purchased if you weren't there. I don't list minimum cat stuff at auction unless it is in an area that is very nice like say Ryukyu Islands. So I really do expect a penny. But common stamps are not the easiest to find sometimes. That is the only explanation I can come up with to explain how one of my current penny auctions, that ends NEXT week, that has a cv of 70 cents has a bid of $1.79. I don't think a blanket statement can be made that these cheap stamps are junk. If you need the stamp - it isn't junk to you. Again, I have no idea what others are selling as the only area I check is revenues and such from time to time.
I try not to fill up the auctions with repetition. I think my maximum number of BIN Monday night auctions has never exceeded 150 in the over 2 years I have been running them. Certainly I have mastered the spreadsheet, and yes it is time consuming to check it and double check it each week. However, I do draw the line at a 6 week listing, as well as approximately 150 listings 40 of them being new each week. I do that in fairness to anyone else who sells. I could easily do 500 listings a week and probably sell a good number of them. They are not your common "junk". To charge for auction listings would probably mean sellers would simply raise prices here as they do everyplace else that raises the fees each year on listings. It would not be the seller that is affected, but rather the buyer.
Greg
Greg, I do not think we were discussing what you assume we were discussing. At least I was not and I do not think Ian was either.
We were talking about individuals who put multiple copies of the same stamp on sale for 9 or 10 cents where the real value is close to 0.01 cent. Those trying to sell the unsellable.
Greg:-
Its not the penny auctions, its the 3 to 4 copies of the same common stamp listed one after the other priced at 5-8cents, then another 3 copies etc etc. In some cases the whole auction page is full of these cheap common definitive stamps.
I do not understand the sellers logic. The time taken to scan and list 50 of these stamps in the auctions MUST be prohibitive especially when you can put 100 in the approvals in 3 or 4 or 5 scans!!!
Your Penny Auctions are fine because you ain't listing 3 of the same stamp one after the other and as you say some of them sell well over the penny.
This is a bit off topic but, since we are now self sufficient why don't we have a new section, pretty much like approvals and autions but dealing with stamps that members may be looking for?
I see tons of stamps listed on both sections, approval and auction that go by the wayside, what if we can lists stamps that members are looking for instead?
Tony (StampCollector) we have a wanted section on the discussion board where we can post a wants list, something I have done on a couple of occasions to a good conclusion.
Bear in mind that different folks use various catalogues so a brief description of the stamps needed avoids confusion.
I was not aware of such a section, but what I had in mind is pretty much a section with actual pictures of the stamp itself this way catalog numbers would be unnecessary. This is how I feel it should work, let's say Denmark, everyone with needs for Denmark stamps will post a picture, when there are enough stamps posted it will be easy for approvals and auctions members to see which stamps other members are looking for.
The facility already exists whereby a member can post an image of the stamps that they are seeking in the "Stamps I want to Buy" Topic which is just a couple of topics below this "Auction Discussion Topic".
I suggest that included in your "want" is what price or percentage of catalogue price you are willing to pay.
As to saying what % of CV you are willing to pay... With me, and probably others as well, it's more complicated than that. There are some cheaper stamps that never seem to show up, so I might be willing to pay more that normal for these. For example, the Russian BOB stuff, not stuff like airmails or postage dues, I mean the Russian Offices in other areas or the "protectorates", rarely shows up. For some of this odd stuff in our collections we might pay a bit more. Also, if the item finishes a series or a page, I might pay a bit more. In other words, it's quite often how much we really want the stamp. I won't overpay to some ridiculous amount but I will quite often pay a bit more. Another example, I saw a video on "tin can mail" and saw a great cover on E-Bay. I bid way more than I should but it still got to the point where I had to quit - someone was being even more stupid than me!!
Problem with posting an image is that if it's a stamp you need, you are unlikely to actually have an image.
The catalogues do not post pictures of every stamp in a set and some images vary widely from the title. Far better to describe the stamp as year, value, image, watermark or variety if there is a choice. If you can put catalogue(s) name and number all to the better.
And if you are looking for stamps of minimum value how much you are willing to pay for shipping, handling and paypal fees if that is how you are planning to pay.
Carol (Webpaper), If the stamps fill my gaps I'm happy to pay the s&h and PayPal. Some used stamps never come to sale and for those I'd probably pay 2-3 times catalogue.
An example would be the used 1997 QE definitives of Hong Kong that were issued in Litho, minimum CV but scarce as hens teeth. Masses mint but even dealers are unable to supply used.
As Harvey says, it really depends on how badly the buyer wants the stamp.
Jings!.....Crivvens!.....Help Ma Boab!
Any "I want" section I avoid like the plague. It is always far more complex than simply "I want" then "I get".
I have enough hassle in my life without going looking for it.
I think that what I had in mind has been taken out of context, how this thread has turn into a pricing contest is something that only stamp dealers will argue about, I'm not talking about the Black Penny or the Guiana Magenta here, but that usually under a buck stamp missing in a set, so the price shouldn't even enter the equation.
I personally didn't buy that stamp on the approval or auction section simply because it wasn't worth the 55 cents postage but if I had another 10 or 15 stamps to go along with it, it would have been a sale.
"I personally didn't buy that stamp on the approval or auction section simply because it wasn't worth the 55 cents postage but if I had another 10 or 15 stamps to go along with it, it would have been a sale."
Exactly my point. "Not worth the 55 cents postage". Amazingly enough probably 20 per cent of my sales on Hipstamp are for an 8 cent stamp and $1.50 S/H/ Paypal/fees etc. I sent out 4 such orders today.
If you garden and you buy a single seed packet you will find many charge a minimum of between $4 and $6 to mail it to you.
"if I had another 10 or 15 stamps to go along with it, it would have been a sale. "
"I'm not talking about the Black Penny or the Guiana Magenta here, but that usually under a buck stamp missing in a set, so the price shouldn't even enter the equation."
I had no idea people were listing multiple copies of the same stamp at auction at the same time. Makes no sense. I see it on Ebay as well as people consign to the big sellers (NYStamps and Noblespirit) who will take 10 copies of the same stamp and put them up at a starting bid of 99 cents. I wish I could find a way to sell stamps with multiple copies. I have this huge collection from a woman that I am selling for her (which is where all the US I list comes from) and I have things like 50 copies of US 297. Pointless to pit one copy against another, anyplace. So they sit in stock books.
Carol interesting you mention about very inexpensive stamps selling on Hipstamp with the p/h charges being what they are. I don't for the most part list anything there with a selling price of under 40-50 cents or so, and on ebay for under $2 because there I give free shipping. I figure no one would spend $1.35 postgae for a 10 cent stamp. Maybe I'm wrong about that. However with the changes in the tax code for 2022 (which I will NOT discuss) I am looking for increased sales on both platforms and working on ways to do it. Ebay I figured out, Hip I may just get into the "budget" stamps and see how they do.
Greg
I have been avoiding saying anything here since it started out a discussion about auctions. I rarely do any auctions here. As for approval books and the stamps I sell on Hipstamp - I am always amazed when a buyer will but one single stamp at 15 cents and is willing to pay the shipping fee (expecially if it is non US) for what I consider a rather common stamp. At least here I give them time before I invoice to give them a chance to add other items. On Hipstamp since they need to pay right away they get hit with the shipping charge just for that single common stamp. I have one buyer over on Hip that buys a single stamp and a few days later comes back and buys another one. This pattern continues for awhile.I have told the buyers when this happens that they can use the pay later function over there and wait but NO they just buy and pay one or two stamps at a time. I guess if someone is desperate for a stamp to fill a hole - they will pay anything for it.. Steve
Steve, same here. I don't understand it at all. While I am not selling 5 cent stamps there, I do have some for under a dollar.
Greg
I sold 50 this week, 219 week before last
100-300 at a time on hips
" I am always amazed when a buyer will but one single stamp at 15 cents and is willing to pay the shipping fee (expecially if it is non US) for what I consider a rather common stamp"
I feel the same way that musicman feels, but I've still had several items cancelled because the seller assumes I won't want the order. I wish sellers would check with me first. I know someone is going to tell me it's up to me to tell them, but that's not the way it tends to go here. I will try to make sure it doesn't happen again, but sometimes I just lose track of those single cheap items that I want regardless of postage. I just bought a Poland stamp from a seller I usually don't buy from. I have to remember to tell him in a week or so that I really do want that cheap stamp because it fills a page. It's sometimes not easy to find more items from someone who rarely features the areas I collect.
I'm with Randy on this.
" I know someone is going to tell me it's up to me to tell them, but that's not the way it tends to go here"
I agree with Ian - send an invoice, no matter what!
Just because its dirt-cheap doesn't mean we don't want it!
As an alternative to just sending an invoice and expecting payment - where a buyer has only purchased a couple items and the total is less than the postage cost, I prefer to ask if they want me to invoice or hold the items to my next "sales cycle" (at which point I will invoice). For example, of 22 buyers in Q1, 6 asked me to hold off invoicing for now when I asked, and one said "invoice me and send the stamps" - overall, their purchases averaged just $0.80.
Then I look at what those folks collect and try to find stamps they might be interested in next time. Sometimes it works, and sometimes they just don't buy anything else. Regardless, I will invoice them after providing another opportunity to buy more. Some do, some don't, and most will pay (although after PayPal fees it is often a loss-leader for me). But an occasional person will not even respond to my multiple PMs asking them what they want to do (even when I offer to cancel the purchase if they prefer).
Frustrating that they can't even reply! But bottom line, it isn't enough to bother me. There are lots of members who are very considerate, so I'm willing to be as flexible as possible to put my "extra" stamps in the hands of another member who can use them. This isn't a business for me after all.
Cheers, Dave.
When I send an invoice at the end of the month to those that have a couple of cheap stamps it is not a "demand" for payment. It is more of a reminder and of course invoices can be altered and added to.
I don't want to dissuade you from accommodating, sometimes even anticipating, the needs of others; that's part of what makes SOR so wonderful.
from an administrative PoV, note the auctioneers will enforce SOR's rules. once you create your own, you're on your own.
I sometimes end up with a few stamps from a seller, especially if it's someone who usually doesn't stock the countries I buy. If they invoice I pay, if they ask me if I want to wait until the next invoice period I do that. I think it's up to the sellers and I really like it if they contact me because I sometimes don't, when I should. I really don't appreciate having an order cancelled without warning. According to the rules it is your right to do so, and it has happened to me several times, especially with Poland stamps. That seems to be rather odd, but maybe it's because one dealer deals in Poland and nothing else I want. I haven't really looked into it and I blame it on me rather than the seller, I have to learn to make contact myself. 'nuff said!!
Yup! Communication is the key!
In some cases the Seller is looking after 10's of items from 10's of Buyers whereas a Buyer may have only several stamps from several Sellers or in some cases 2 or 3 stamps from 2 or 3 Sellers.
Some Buyers expect Sellers to look after their interests. Sellers try to look after their Buyers.
It should work both ways.
Ya never know what somebody will buy!
I just put up six approval books of covers. I figured I didn’t want to list them all one at a time in Auctions.
Wouldn’t ya know.. the two covers I debated about listing are sold!
I put up 224 today, already sold 66
I thought this was supposed to be about multiple copies of the same cheap stamp, not multiple cheap stamps. But, I could be wrong!
Mine are both, multiple cheap and single cheap, so I guess I'm OK posting here, right?
I put up multiple copies of cheap stamps (up to three, like the approvals)
So I'm still on topic right?
you are on the topic of this thread if you want to discuss the idea of them
Thank you, it sounded like other posters didn't want me to talk about it because I was off topic
We currently have approx 6000 items in the auctions.
I have a question for the sellers that list 2 to 3 copies of the same common cheap stamp or a host of stamps under 10 cents.
Why?
Do you actually sell any of these?
Why not put these items into an Approval Book. The time taken to scan and list these must be horrific. Just think, to place these into an approval book even 12 to 24 of these per page is only one scan and you can leave them as a book for weeks rather than having to relist them. Think of the time and electricity you could save.
Here is the bonus of stopping the practice. Your higher priced stamps will show up better because buyers will stop excluding you as a seller from the auctions when they view.
Just a thought.
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
I was looking at the auctions a little while ago and saw the same cheap stamp listed 6 times - I thought you were only allowed to do 3!
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
Harvey:- If I remember correctly the three rule only applies to the Approvals. Technically you can put dozens of the same stamp in the auction.
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
I must agree with Ian.
"Here is the bonus of stopping the practice. Your higher priced stamps will show up better because buyers will stop excluding you as a seller from the auctions when they view."
"Our Approval Books rules are vague I know, but rule 4 states: #4 The book offers stamps in topics [b]clearly described by its title[/b]?
There is NO worldwide category allowed...as a matter of fact, there is no legitimate place to put it! Worldwide, just like Stamps, Duplicates, Miscellaneous, A bit of everything, Floor droppings...etc... are just equally NOT acceptable."
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
I have found some interesting stamps in WW books, but it is rare and I have to be in the right kind of mood to check them out. Some of them are so disorganized with absolutely no obvious thought at all. I find countries and even series all over the place and I'm sure I miss stamps I want. Some books are so frustrating that I can't manage to get through them. I am not talking about Ian's books, even though he claims they are "as they come out of the box" there always seems to be some sort of organization. I also don't like seeing damaged stamps, even though sometimes they are identified as such. All this is just me opinion, and we all know what that's worth!
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
" "as they come out of the box" there always seems to be some sort of organization."
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
Just a comment about "out of the box": My wife and I started collecting in 1972 when we were in university. Sometimes we would hitch hike to Halifax (from Wolfville, if anyone knows Nova Scotia) on the New Ross Highway, where you would see a car every 15 minutes or so. We did this to visit a couple stamp stores on Barrington Street. One shop had a huge apple barrel of stamps and we'd take an hour or so rummaging. In that "box" of stamps we used to see "yes, wonderful things"! I remember once coming up with an interesting looking stamp that turned out to be a $30 ish Danish West Indies stamp. I know this was way off topic but it was fun to think back on those days when there were real stamp stores in most cities - at least four in Halifax at that time.
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
".but we have opened up a pandora box by allowing anything, and some is truly and distressingly disorganised, and "junk". "
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
"Why not put these items into an Approval Book. The time taken to scan and list these must be horrific."
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
Greg:-
I have no problem with penny auctions. I can appreciate the reasons behind them.
At least with your penny auctions you are not putting up three of the same stamp of which one out of the three is damaged in some form.
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
Make ya wonder! There were times I noticed people with 10 listings of very common used stamps at a nickel apiece, and a dollar postage! There was no way it would make sense to buy from that person. They just hadn't thought that through.
Right now there are 1077 listings under USA, and the person who will remain nameless has 627 of those. Other than that, the listings are more robust than I remember in a long time. Varied sellers, with some interesting older items... in fact I just bought a $20 item!
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
Aye! If you don't look you don't find.
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
Maybe it will be better if it will be possible to add a new tool on auction for buy it now option by putting duplicates for sale by one posting for MNH stamps to allow to several buyers to purchase the same stamp instead to obliged seller to post several times the same stamp. Also, to extend this to used stamps by giving the maximum info about cancellation, etc of stamps state.
Abderrahmane
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
You are partially describing what are known as "Dutch Auctions".
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
"Maybe it will be better if it will be possible to add a new tool on auction for buy it now option by putting duplicates for sale by one posting for MNH stamps to allow to several buyers to purchase the same stamp instead to obliged seller to post several times the same stamp"
"All lots, except as otherwise provided, must include at least one image of the actual item being offered for sale. Representative images are not permitted.
"
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
Coming a bit late to this discussion, I noticed the huge amount of trivial stuff wasting space in the auction as well. I too wonder about the business model behind these entries because if I could sell 100 grams of that kind of material, I would do so immediately. In the real world I can't even give them away, let alone sell them.
Now the main question is, what to do with this? Perhaps the problem solves itself. If one cannot sell anything after six attempts, why try it a seventh time? On the other hand, the bulk uploading tool makes it too easy. It is like sending spam: it takes time and energy, but if you can send a million emails with one click and have a handful of sales, it is already worth the effort...
Thinking in solutions: we do not want to introduce fees for putting items in the auction, even though it would be an effective way of reducing the junk. An alternative would be to limit the amount of items one can sell at one time. Problem with that could be that we have just introduced a paid membership scheme where a higher fee means one can use the selling platforms. Without limitation...
This discussion pops up every now and then. Let's hope these sellers give up when they find themselves in a "cordon sanitaire", that is everyone avoids them like a - hmm - virus.
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
"This discussion pops up every now and then. Let's hope these sellers give up when they find themselves in a "cordon sanitaire", that is everyone avoids them like a - hmm - virus."
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
I will assume (which I should not do) that we are once again talking of penny auctions? I will say I have no idea if anyone but me is doing that - penny auctions. Most of my penny auction stamps have a cv of less than 50 cents because I really don't expect more than one bid. They are a venue to perhaps get a collector to maybe bid on something else, something like Walmart does by putting something on sale at Christmas time to get you in the store and then sell you a bunch of other things in addition that you may not have purchased if you weren't there. I don't list minimum cat stuff at auction unless it is in an area that is very nice like say Ryukyu Islands. So I really do expect a penny. But common stamps are not the easiest to find sometimes. That is the only explanation I can come up with to explain how one of my current penny auctions, that ends NEXT week, that has a cv of 70 cents has a bid of $1.79. I don't think a blanket statement can be made that these cheap stamps are junk. If you need the stamp - it isn't junk to you. Again, I have no idea what others are selling as the only area I check is revenues and such from time to time.
I try not to fill up the auctions with repetition. I think my maximum number of BIN Monday night auctions has never exceeded 150 in the over 2 years I have been running them. Certainly I have mastered the spreadsheet, and yes it is time consuming to check it and double check it each week. However, I do draw the line at a 6 week listing, as well as approximately 150 listings 40 of them being new each week. I do that in fairness to anyone else who sells. I could easily do 500 listings a week and probably sell a good number of them. They are not your common "junk". To charge for auction listings would probably mean sellers would simply raise prices here as they do everyplace else that raises the fees each year on listings. It would not be the seller that is affected, but rather the buyer.
Greg
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
Greg, I do not think we were discussing what you assume we were discussing. At least I was not and I do not think Ian was either.
We were talking about individuals who put multiple copies of the same stamp on sale for 9 or 10 cents where the real value is close to 0.01 cent. Those trying to sell the unsellable.
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
Greg:-
Its not the penny auctions, its the 3 to 4 copies of the same common stamp listed one after the other priced at 5-8cents, then another 3 copies etc etc. In some cases the whole auction page is full of these cheap common definitive stamps.
I do not understand the sellers logic. The time taken to scan and list 50 of these stamps in the auctions MUST be prohibitive especially when you can put 100 in the approvals in 3 or 4 or 5 scans!!!
Your Penny Auctions are fine because you ain't listing 3 of the same stamp one after the other and as you say some of them sell well over the penny.
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
This is a bit off topic but, since we are now self sufficient why don't we have a new section, pretty much like approvals and autions but dealing with stamps that members may be looking for?
I see tons of stamps listed on both sections, approval and auction that go by the wayside, what if we can lists stamps that members are looking for instead?
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
Tony (StampCollector) we have a wanted section on the discussion board where we can post a wants list, something I have done on a couple of occasions to a good conclusion.
Bear in mind that different folks use various catalogues so a brief description of the stamps needed avoids confusion.
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
I was not aware of such a section, but what I had in mind is pretty much a section with actual pictures of the stamp itself this way catalog numbers would be unnecessary. This is how I feel it should work, let's say Denmark, everyone with needs for Denmark stamps will post a picture, when there are enough stamps posted it will be easy for approvals and auctions members to see which stamps other members are looking for.
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
The facility already exists whereby a member can post an image of the stamps that they are seeking in the "Stamps I want to Buy" Topic which is just a couple of topics below this "Auction Discussion Topic".
I suggest that included in your "want" is what price or percentage of catalogue price you are willing to pay.
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
As to saying what % of CV you are willing to pay... With me, and probably others as well, it's more complicated than that. There are some cheaper stamps that never seem to show up, so I might be willing to pay more that normal for these. For example, the Russian BOB stuff, not stuff like airmails or postage dues, I mean the Russian Offices in other areas or the "protectorates", rarely shows up. For some of this odd stuff in our collections we might pay a bit more. Also, if the item finishes a series or a page, I might pay a bit more. In other words, it's quite often how much we really want the stamp. I won't overpay to some ridiculous amount but I will quite often pay a bit more. Another example, I saw a video on "tin can mail" and saw a great cover on E-Bay. I bid way more than I should but it still got to the point where I had to quit - someone was being even more stupid than me!!
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
Problem with posting an image is that if it's a stamp you need, you are unlikely to actually have an image.
The catalogues do not post pictures of every stamp in a set and some images vary widely from the title. Far better to describe the stamp as year, value, image, watermark or variety if there is a choice. If you can put catalogue(s) name and number all to the better.
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
And if you are looking for stamps of minimum value how much you are willing to pay for shipping, handling and paypal fees if that is how you are planning to pay.
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
Carol (Webpaper), If the stamps fill my gaps I'm happy to pay the s&h and PayPal. Some used stamps never come to sale and for those I'd probably pay 2-3 times catalogue.
An example would be the used 1997 QE definitives of Hong Kong that were issued in Litho, minimum CV but scarce as hens teeth. Masses mint but even dealers are unable to supply used.
As Harvey says, it really depends on how badly the buyer wants the stamp.
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
Jings!.....Crivvens!.....Help Ma Boab!
Any "I want" section I avoid like the plague. It is always far more complex than simply "I want" then "I get".
I have enough hassle in my life without going looking for it.
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
I think that what I had in mind has been taken out of context, how this thread has turn into a pricing contest is something that only stamp dealers will argue about, I'm not talking about the Black Penny or the Guiana Magenta here, but that usually under a buck stamp missing in a set, so the price shouldn't even enter the equation.
I personally didn't buy that stamp on the approval or auction section simply because it wasn't worth the 55 cents postage but if I had another 10 or 15 stamps to go along with it, it would have been a sale.
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
"I personally didn't buy that stamp on the approval or auction section simply because it wasn't worth the 55 cents postage but if I had another 10 or 15 stamps to go along with it, it would have been a sale."
Exactly my point. "Not worth the 55 cents postage". Amazingly enough probably 20 per cent of my sales on Hipstamp are for an 8 cent stamp and $1.50 S/H/ Paypal/fees etc. I sent out 4 such orders today.
If you garden and you buy a single seed packet you will find many charge a minimum of between $4 and $6 to mail it to you.
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
"if I had another 10 or 15 stamps to go along with it, it would have been a sale. "
"I'm not talking about the Black Penny or the Guiana Magenta here, but that usually under a buck stamp missing in a set, so the price shouldn't even enter the equation."
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
I had no idea people were listing multiple copies of the same stamp at auction at the same time. Makes no sense. I see it on Ebay as well as people consign to the big sellers (NYStamps and Noblespirit) who will take 10 copies of the same stamp and put them up at a starting bid of 99 cents. I wish I could find a way to sell stamps with multiple copies. I have this huge collection from a woman that I am selling for her (which is where all the US I list comes from) and I have things like 50 copies of US 297. Pointless to pit one copy against another, anyplace. So they sit in stock books.
Carol interesting you mention about very inexpensive stamps selling on Hipstamp with the p/h charges being what they are. I don't for the most part list anything there with a selling price of under 40-50 cents or so, and on ebay for under $2 because there I give free shipping. I figure no one would spend $1.35 postgae for a 10 cent stamp. Maybe I'm wrong about that. However with the changes in the tax code for 2022 (which I will NOT discuss) I am looking for increased sales on both platforms and working on ways to do it. Ebay I figured out, Hip I may just get into the "budget" stamps and see how they do.
Greg
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
I have been avoiding saying anything here since it started out a discussion about auctions. I rarely do any auctions here. As for approval books and the stamps I sell on Hipstamp - I am always amazed when a buyer will but one single stamp at 15 cents and is willing to pay the shipping fee (expecially if it is non US) for what I consider a rather common stamp. At least here I give them time before I invoice to give them a chance to add other items. On Hipstamp since they need to pay right away they get hit with the shipping charge just for that single common stamp. I have one buyer over on Hip that buys a single stamp and a few days later comes back and buys another one. This pattern continues for awhile.I have told the buyers when this happens that they can use the pay later function over there and wait but NO they just buy and pay one or two stamps at a time. I guess if someone is desperate for a stamp to fill a hole - they will pay anything for it.. Steve
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
Steve, same here. I don't understand it at all. While I am not selling 5 cent stamps there, I do have some for under a dollar.
Greg
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
I sold 50 this week, 219 week before last
100-300 at a time on hips
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
" I am always amazed when a buyer will but one single stamp at 15 cents and is willing to pay the shipping fee (expecially if it is non US) for what I consider a rather common stamp"
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
I feel the same way that musicman feels, but I've still had several items cancelled because the seller assumes I won't want the order. I wish sellers would check with me first. I know someone is going to tell me it's up to me to tell them, but that's not the way it tends to go here. I will try to make sure it doesn't happen again, but sometimes I just lose track of those single cheap items that I want regardless of postage. I just bought a Poland stamp from a seller I usually don't buy from. I have to remember to tell him in a week or so that I really do want that cheap stamp because it fills a page. It's sometimes not easy to find more items from someone who rarely features the areas I collect.
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
I'm with Randy on this.
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
" I know someone is going to tell me it's up to me to tell them, but that's not the way it tends to go here"
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
I agree with Ian - send an invoice, no matter what!
Just because its dirt-cheap doesn't mean we don't want it!
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
As an alternative to just sending an invoice and expecting payment - where a buyer has only purchased a couple items and the total is less than the postage cost, I prefer to ask if they want me to invoice or hold the items to my next "sales cycle" (at which point I will invoice). For example, of 22 buyers in Q1, 6 asked me to hold off invoicing for now when I asked, and one said "invoice me and send the stamps" - overall, their purchases averaged just $0.80.
Then I look at what those folks collect and try to find stamps they might be interested in next time. Sometimes it works, and sometimes they just don't buy anything else. Regardless, I will invoice them after providing another opportunity to buy more. Some do, some don't, and most will pay (although after PayPal fees it is often a loss-leader for me). But an occasional person will not even respond to my multiple PMs asking them what they want to do (even when I offer to cancel the purchase if they prefer).
Frustrating that they can't even reply! But bottom line, it isn't enough to bother me. There are lots of members who are very considerate, so I'm willing to be as flexible as possible to put my "extra" stamps in the hands of another member who can use them. This isn't a business for me after all.
Cheers, Dave.
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
When I send an invoice at the end of the month to those that have a couple of cheap stamps it is not a "demand" for payment. It is more of a reminder and of course invoices can be altered and added to.
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
I don't want to dissuade you from accommodating, sometimes even anticipating, the needs of others; that's part of what makes SOR so wonderful.
from an administrative PoV, note the auctioneers will enforce SOR's rules. once you create your own, you're on your own.
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
I sometimes end up with a few stamps from a seller, especially if it's someone who usually doesn't stock the countries I buy. If they invoice I pay, if they ask me if I want to wait until the next invoice period I do that. I think it's up to the sellers and I really like it if they contact me because I sometimes don't, when I should. I really don't appreciate having an order cancelled without warning. According to the rules it is your right to do so, and it has happened to me several times, especially with Poland stamps. That seems to be rather odd, but maybe it's because one dealer deals in Poland and nothing else I want. I haven't really looked into it and I blame it on me rather than the seller, I have to learn to make contact myself. 'nuff said!!
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
Yup! Communication is the key!
In some cases the Seller is looking after 10's of items from 10's of Buyers whereas a Buyer may have only several stamps from several Sellers or in some cases 2 or 3 stamps from 2 or 3 Sellers.
Some Buyers expect Sellers to look after their interests. Sellers try to look after their Buyers.
It should work both ways.
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
Ya never know what somebody will buy!
I just put up six approval books of covers. I figured I didn’t want to list them all one at a time in Auctions.
Wouldn’t ya know.. the two covers I debated about listing are sold!
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
I put up 224 today, already sold 66
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
I thought this was supposed to be about multiple copies of the same cheap stamp, not multiple cheap stamps. But, I could be wrong!
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
Mine are both, multiple cheap and single cheap, so I guess I'm OK posting here, right?
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
I put up multiple copies of cheap stamps (up to three, like the approvals)
So I'm still on topic right?
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
you are on the topic of this thread if you want to discuss the idea of them
re: Multiple Common Cheap Stamps Filling the Auctions
Thank you, it sounded like other posters didn't want me to talk about it because I was off topic