What do SLW and DLW stand for?
The abbreviation "SLW" stands for Single Line Watermark and "DLW" stands for Double Line Watermark.
Will you ship to ??? and how much will it cost?
I will ship anywhere in the world. If you purchase an item from my Store, the cost is $1.50 for the first
item ($1.00 within the U.S) and 25c for each additional item. If you purchase an item from my Auctions, the cost
is $2.00 ($1.50 within the U.S.) for the first item and 50c for each additional item. This is exclusive of any
Insurance or Registration costs. Those are basic costs for single-stamp lots. Larger items such as full sheets or
collections will cost more.
Is this stamp sound? Does it have any faults such as thins or creases?
Unless I specifically mention a fault such as a crease or thin spot you may assume that I believe that a particular
stamp is sound. Of course, if the stamp is found to be otherwise, I will happily refund your purchase price.
The difference between MY "Very Fine" and others.
If you do not pay attention to a seller's description when it comes to centering, then you need not read this one.
I do not pull a stamp's description of centering out of thin air or just throw it out there hoping you will believe
what I describe is true. I take great pains and, sometimes, agonize over how to classify a stamp's centering as
I feel that a potential buyer is relying on this description to render a decision as to whether or not to buy a stamp.
I happen to feel that it would be a good thing if ALL dealers graded their stamps similarly. Unfortunately, this is not
the case. What I can tell you is that I use Scott's catalogue as a basis for my classification. If you will
look in one of Scott's you will find that their classifications approximate my own. I will not tell you that "my Very Fine
is in regard to the overall shape a stamp is in." I feel that the overall condition needs to separated from its centering
when a description is given.
For example, here is a stamp that I described as Very Fine:
And, here are some other examples that were also described as Very Fine.
Would these match your definition of Very Fine?
Why is the catalogue value of your stamp different from another seller's?
This mainly applies to US stamps although it may also apply to foreign stamps. I use the current Scott catalogue values for
my listings. Other dealers may use such catalogs (for foreign stamps) as Edifil, Michel, Yvert, Bolaffi, Stanley Gibbons, etc.
As far as U.S. stamps are concerned, there are several reasons why stated values may be different. Some dealers like to use the
Brookman values which are actual RETAIL prices published by the Brookman company. Since the catalogue values tend to be higher
than Scott, you can see why they would use those values. Another reason is that they are using either the Scott Valueing
Supplement or the PSE Stamp Quarterly pricing guide. The latter is a guide published by the PSE Expertizing Group which states
values for stamps based on their condition. A fine stamp may have a value of $25 and the same stamp in XF condition may have a
value of $300. Scott's catalogue may only list this stamp as having a value of $50 so, again, you can see why they would use the
higher value. The problem I find with using that system is that the seller using that system is NOT properly grading their stamps
according to the grading guide published in the same catalogue. The stamp they offer I (and the PSE) would only grade as F-VF yet
they call the stamp XF and value it as such. Do you see a problem with that? In my opinion, if you're going to use a value system
such as the PSE Quartely (and that's fine with me) then the stamp you offer MUST be graded by them.
Is this stamp hinged?
All stamps offered can be assumed to have been hinged unless specifically noted as being Never Hinged.
Does this stamp have original gum?
You may assume that unless noted as either being regummed or without gum, the stamp's gum is original. And, I fully
stand behind all the stamps I sell and will cheerfully refund the price you paid for any stamp if it is determined
to have gum that is not original where I have described it as such. And, I will only accept opinions from nationally
recognized expertizing bodies that issue certificates along with their opinions. The opinion of your friendly local
stamp shop does not qualify in this regard.
When will my purchase(s) be shipped?
I usually ship on Monday, Tuesday and Friday. Although, if I have enough items to warrant a trip to the Post Office on
Wednesday or Thursday I will make a shipment on those days. Regrettably, the Post Office here does not have the extended
Saturday or Sunday hours as they did in Las Vegas. I try to ship the day after your payment arrives. If that is not possible
your item(s) will be shipped on the next ship day.
Can you let me know when you receive my payment?
I ALWAYS send a confirmation email as soon your payment has been received. If you have not received my confirmation
email then either I have not received your payment, your email client is blocking my emails or you simply discarded
the email I sent by mistake.
Is the stamp pictured the one I will receive?
Here is a summary how my photos are done. If I only have one of a particular stamp or set then, usually, the one
pictured is the one you will receive. This typically applies to ALL single U.S. stamps with a quantity of one. However,
if the item is a single or set of fairly common nature OR is of a single or set where the centering is fairly consistently
printed, such as the more modern foreign sets, then you may receive an item that is only similar to the one shown in
the photo. Also, if there is a listed quantity of more than one, then you may not receive the actual pictured item.
This saves me time in scanning the same items over and over. If I feel that, due to its appearance, a single or set
must be photographed, I will do so.
Thanks for letting me know that stamp was reperfed.
You're quite welcome. What was this person talking about? Well, I occasionally read through the listings on eBay,
just like any other buyer, to see if there is an item or two that I would like to buy. And, occasionally, I come
across a stamp that is obviously reperfed or not what the seller is claiming it to be. So, I will contact the high
bidder and let them know what I think. Why don't I contact the seller? I have done this on more than one occasion only
to be told to, basically, mind my own business. This usually does not happen with established and seasoned sellers as
most seasoned professionals would not blatantly offer such material as genuine or maybe they have overlooked some aspect
of a stamp's condition. I, myself, have been told that an item I was offering was not what I was claiming it to be and, in
such cases, I either remove or modify the listing.
No Reserve?
Do you find it as odd as I do when a seller lists a lot and proudly proclaims it as having "No Reserve" but it
has a starting bid of a couple hundred dollars? I always thought that "No Reserve" meant just that - NO RESERVE!
If an item has a starting price of more than 1c then, to me, it has a reserve price. If a seller puts a starting
bid of $100 for an item and then claims that they are selling the item with "No Reserve" do you not find that as
contradictory as I do? Er... sorry, but your reserve price is $100! Just one of my pet peeves.
Can I combine shipments from several days purchases?
Not only will I combine shipping amounts for multiple purchases made on the same day, I will allow you to combine
purchases made on several different days. I only ask that you restrict this to purchases made within one week.
Just let me know at the time of invoicing that you are bidding on something I have listed later in the week and
you would like to wait to make payment after that item has sold.
Will you ship lots I won in advance of payment?
I have wrestled with this one on more than one occasion. I try to treat my customers with the same freedom that they get
from the major auction houses. However, I have found that my bookkeeping cannot stand the strain of having some lots
shipped in advance and some waiting for payment. So, to help me keep my sanity, I have simply had to say no to this
request. As much as I would like to do this, I cannot at this time.