23 MAR 2000 -- Here is an example of the Misdescribed Stamp Scam. This stamp was recently purchased on E-Bay from a very prominent philatelic dealer who offers a considerable amount of material for sale on the Internet Auction. Below is how the stamp appeared in the auction scan.
The total description consisted of the following "CSA #2b Used, small thin, dark blue, CV $240.00." The scan looks like a gorgeous stamp with only a small thin which is not particularly significant. The stamp sold for $130.00 against a catalog value of $240.00 which is a fair price based on the description. What the description did not say is that the thin was actually very large encompassing 20-25% of the entire stamp and what was even worse is that the stamp had been significantly repaired. The repair work was done by someone obviously familiar with repairing stamps but was really not a true expert as the repair work can be detected without much difficulty. The enlarged scan below points out the repair work at the top and the sealed tear at the upper right. But still this type of repair work could easily be missed by the average collector. If an average collector had purchased the stamp, there is a very good chance that these defects would not have been noticed. These defects do bring the stamp down to the level of a "Spacefiller" which should really sell for no more than 10% of Catalog Value and most certainly would not have sold for the $130.00 bid had the actual defects been described and known to the bidder.
Is this an example of an intentional attempt to deceive or is it an oversight made by an inexperienced employee hired to do the describing? Who can really say. The point is that this was offered by a professional philatelist who really should be more careful and should not make such mistakes. It has been noted in extensive discussion on the E-Bay Stamps Chat Board in the fairly recent past that this particular seller has routinely offered misidentified and misdescribed stamps. When this particular misidentified stamp was pointed out to the seller, a refund was offered using what appeared to be a form style E-Mail. It is good that a refund was offered, and this particular seller apparently always issues refunds when requested. But that still does not compensate for the disappointment on receiving a significantly damaged and misdescribed stamp. However, the stamp is now in my possession and under my ownership and will not be returned to the seller so that I can use it as a demonstration on my website. Be Careful Out There.
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