Got a story? Tell the world. Please back up with evidence.
Ebay Deceptions
Updated 1/11
If you see a scam on ebay let us know. We will investigate.
Jan 2011 - Seller ID wrexcwrex - Status- Active
A letter from viewer documents the story, below the story is the sellers response.
I'm a collector (ebay id withheld by editor), but had a most disturbing purchase from a big dealer I wanted to share with you - he's not on your list, and I'm not suggesting it.
I purchased a 478 from wrexcwrex (3000+ 100% feedback). The stamp was described as having a gum wrinkle - but, under magnification it was a clear reattachment of a torn off corner (well done). I returned it and he told me how sorry he was. Cost me $3 in postage, but not a big deal.
Then, I found the same stamp sold by buystamps to Old US Stamps a week before I bought it described by buystamps) as a reattached corner. Old US Stamp has now relisted the stamp, but is still not disclosing the repair. The stamp has sold again to another unsuspecting collector.
Here's the Buystamp sold to wrexcwrex
What the reader purchased and returned
Interestingly, the price keeps going up. wrexcwrex told me he was recovering from hip surgery and hired a person to help him out.
View of the re-attachment
Sellers response;
There is no evidence of a re-attached corner.
Editors note: See image above
Seller ID =golden-hoarde- Status = In-active under this name, changed name
I have recieved several letters about Golden Hoarde, this one is typical...
I wanted to inform you of my experience with golden-hoarde.
I followed your procedure and contacted the seller (Golden-hoarde) on another item (140388414181). They asked me to send back the stamp (a 10-cent supposed imperforate US stamp, but it is almost likely a 10-cent perforated that was cut down - the three pearls were missing). A stamp expert looked at my pictures and stated it is definitely a cut #35. I sent it back around 2 April 10. They received by 11 April 10 and asked for some time to review it (3 weeks). Of course this took it past the time window for me to open a case. They still have not rectified it. I have just now asked them to rectify my original query.
I have all the original correspondence to and from them. Additionally, eBay felt qualified to give them a "Top-rated seller" rating - it continues at this time. You should therefore be willing to look into this matter more closely. I followed your procedures, was a willing buyer on eBay, but now it appears that I am "too late."
I have retained all correspondence with this seller.
Seller ID = ericwatts1955 - Status = Active
Discovered by Bill Boender
Look at his feedback as seller and the items sold. Every item he has sold is the same Special Delivery scam. He has only succeeded twice in duping the innocent, but he keeps on trying.
All are newer Rotary Press cheap items listed as old high value Flat Plates and he ignores emails to him highlighting this.
The block being sold by the scammer is actualy E15
The retail value is approximately $2
E15 is a ROTARY press printing and can be easily identified by the
11 x 10 ½ perforations. An example of E12 is shown below
E12 is a FLAT press printing and is easily identified by the
11 x 11 perforations. It's retail value is $100.
It should be noted that the scammer also does with E13 and E16, the 15¢
Orange Special Delivery.
Listing and selling E16's as E13's. These
two stamps share the same difference in perforations.
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Seller ID = rubystamps - Status = No longer a registered user
Discoveries by Bill Boender and Ray Carr
STORY #1
I constantly warn against purchasing high value perf variation stamps when the same design was made in either a coil or an imperf. In fact many of my listings will state certificate required. Well here is a smart buyer, after purchasing a stamp from a dealer on ebay that has a feedback higher than 99% (you would think that would be good, would'nt you?) he thought that he should at least double check it. Readers of this web site will know about my tales of caution with Ruby Stamps, and this gentleman heeded them. So he submitted the stamp for a certificate and lo and behold, it is a fake. The buyer wrote to Ruby Stamps with a copy of the certificate requesting a refund, and as I so often here the refund was refused. Although ebay has a policy against selling faked items it is inexcusable that their top stamp seller is consistantly allowed to break this rule.
STORY #2
There has been no proofs issued on cards for the last fifty years, yet Ruby Stamps claims to have found one, and it could be yours, all for the humble price of $39.99. On closer examination of the stamp (shown below) you can see the impression is not the best, you can even see perforations on the proof. Quite the bargain.
There is a small chance that this is in fact a photocopy of a block of #1622 that has been pasted to a piece of card. Two emails to Rubystamps and they stubbornly refuse to concede, that maybe all is not what is seems.
An example of the listing is shown below.
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Seller ID = Unknown
There are only two 85A's, the most famous grill of all, a 1¢ Z grill. Only one of them is not in a museum and it is insured for two million dollars. The insurance company may be interested to know that it found its way into a rather rubbish general US collection sold by a seller on ebay in late March. Not only did the seller show the stamp, but displayed a large image of the back of the stamp showing the correct Z grill. This cannot really be called a scam, as it is a joke to attempt to sell a $2,000,000 stamp on ebay. But it does illustrate that one should check before buying, even the most experienced seller can miss one!
An example of the listing is shown below.
