Collectors - Beware of fraud, misrepresented, and counterfeit antique postage stamps on eBay

[tucsonnative]

Dear eBay Stamp Collector Community,

I wanted to warn the community that many of the antique postage stamps being advertised by Sellers are fraudulent.   Incorrect Scott catalogue numbers, regumming, reperforation, removed cancellations all being advertised as high-value MINT NEVER HINGED stamps.  Since it takes approximately 2-months to get a stamp authenticated, the 30-day return policy or 90-day eBay “Money Back Guarantee” is worthless.  There should be no limitations on reporting and taking action against fraudulent sales.  Fraud is stealing.  Fraud is illegal, yet eBay is providing a platform to allow the fraud to occur.  Doesn’t eBay bear some responsibility for vetting their Sellers?  

Please provide your thoughts on this matter.  If you have a similar bad experiences with certain sellers, where the seller has decided to not offer a full refund, please provide their names so collectively we can protect ourselves from fraud.

Thank you!

[bonjourami]

Members are not allowed to name and shame on the boards.

[tucsonnative]

I understand your point for posting.  How do you propose to protect ourselves from fraudulent sales?  

[simba6]

Well  things like that are just part of stamp collecting.  Like mucking out is part of dressage.

Collectors have to always be on guard for such items coins artwork and sports cards too have a big problem with it.   eBay can't catch every one.

[spark-chaser1]

EBay has its hands full as it is. It is  / should be up to the BUYER to read listings, read  seller feedback, and make informed decisions, as with all decisions made in life.

As a lifelong collector, I have had mostly myself to blame when I made purchases that I should have known better than to make.  I can always choose to walk away from a  potential scam when things don’t seem right.  Deceptive sellers rely heavily on people making uneducated decisions… they fail when the BUYER takes control.

Its too easy to blame EBay…  easier than doing a little soul searching and realizing that we are all ultimately responsible for making the right decisions on our own and not be babysat.

[tucsonnative]

This issue that when a trend for a certain seller is established, why are they still allowed to do business on the platform?  You cannot rely on Buyer feedback, since there is never an ill word said about a seller.  Other than “buyer beware” are suggestions that we can provide?  For example, that eBay extend the Money Back Guarantee for fraudulently sold items (not just 90-days)?

[tucsonnative]

I appreciate your feedback.  So basically you are saying that it is okay for the Seller to lie about a listing and as a Buyer, I can choose not to buy from them.  It is not incumbent on a Seller to be truthful and not lie?  Sounds like Sellers and a platform that has some serious ethical problems.  What keeps this from being a storefront for fraud and stolen merchandise?  It would imply that eBay is just an electronic fencing operation. 

[spark-chaser1]

But, although you want to, you can’t overlook  the 1 ton gorilla in the room… with collectibles, it IS “buyer beware”. Don’t make hasty purchases, avoid big ticket items you can’t inspect personally, know what you are buying ahead of time.  Be prepared to lose money, because no matter what eBay or anyone else does, losses will happen. You ultimately have the choice to control the situation yourself.

whenever it happens, no matter what THEY do, the platform will be blamed for “ letting it happen”…. They will be darned if they do and darned if they don’t. 30 days won’t be enough. 90 days won’t be enough, too restrictive buying opportunities, too liberal buying opportunities… why would they bother?

Ultimately, collectibles  is a realm where adults are responsible for making adult decisions. Much of the time, a persuit better made in BandM and in- person transactions than online when things are questionable.

[stacy_pme]

and i can't help but chime in, because some sellers like me are not professional appraisers, we do our homework the best we can, and sell what we believe it is... but ultimately we could be wrong.... Some resellers like myself are reselling bulk used items, we aren't professionally trained in every arena of sales.  I sell video games, to jewelry, to antiques, to ???   There is just a huge world out there and many are doing the best they can, they aren't out to scam anyone.  I have found fake coins and the like, and simply kept them as examples to show my customers what to look for, or destroy them...  I'm not out to scam anyone.  I think sometimes people expect way too much out of the sellers.  When I sell a silver ring, I have no idea sometimes if it is a real stone, what kind of stone it is, or if it is lab created, or fake.... I try and do my best and research.... but ultimately, I'm not a gemologist.  Buyers need to pay close attention to who they are buying from as well.  Ask questions, ask the seller their qualifications.... or maybe this would be a great thing to add to seller profiles - a field to fill in qualifications, degrees, etc.... but Honestly.... how many times have you read a seller's bio before purchasing from them?  Do you do all of your homework?

[tucsonnative]

I appreciate that you at least try.  What I am saying is that there are Sellers out there that do not even try.  All they do is launder the asset.

[tucsonnative]

I agree that collectibles are for adults.  As adults we rely on professional opinions to evaluate if an item is genuine or not (since we are not experts).   What my point is that the eBay policy does not allow sufficient time for professional appraisal before “time runs out”.  All I am requesting is that sufficient time be allowed for a professional opinion to be documented.

[12345jamesstamps]

I understand what you are saying. I have been taken sometimes as well. 

But, like anything....gym shoes, purses, watches and stamps can be fake.

To hit one market seems a bit unfair.

And here's the kicker.....some of the early fake stamps sell very well as fake stamps as the buyers know they are fake stamps.

I do laugh sometimes where sellers are selling a stamp on eBay for $10,000. only for it to be worth one penny.

It humors me of course.

And you take a chance of thinking a stamp is worth a lot and getting it authenticated and find out it isn't.

If it isn't authenticated with the APS form to began with when a seller is selling it...well, then, don't buy it.

Thinking you are going to get lucky buying a stamp worth hundreds when you paid maybe ten bucks for a stamp is not the way to go either.

Not all stamp sellers are dishonest on eBay. There are a lot of good hard working sellers on eBay giving a lot of enjoyment to stamp collectors.

[tucsonnative]

Agree 100%.  There are many honest Sellers.  There are also a few bad apples that have been doing business for many years and still have not been delisted.  When you get 3 of 3 fake from the same seller that has sold over 104,000 stamps, it makes you wonder a little.

[spark-chaser1]

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@tucsonnative wrote:

I appreciate your feedback.  So basically you are saying that it is okay for the Seller to lie about a listing and as a Buyer, I can choose not to buy from them.  It is not incumbent on a Seller to be truthful and not lie?  Sounds like Sellers and a platform that has some serious ethical problems.  What keeps this from being a storefront for fraud and stolen merchandise?  It would imply that eBay is just an electronic fencing operation. 

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Uh, NO. Not so fast, there, sport. Nice deflection. 

I am saying what I SAID.

[spark-chaser1]

... As others have stated, a seller may put something up for sale they know nothing about. If you buy it and realize its not as you think it should be, the seller isn't automatically a thief, nor should they be treated as such. 

 You are looking for a third party to arbitrate and potentially punish some of these sellers for selling items that may not pass the muster, when all along, you yourself should know what you are buying and the potential risks for doing so. Its too easy to ask eBay to create a moral and ethical  police force to scan  internet sales they can't personally monitor  and create a myriad of new policies and punishments that will more than likely affect honest sellers  making things ten times harder when A little self awareness would suffice.