The Rush for Stamp Valuation is Fraught With Fraud

The rush for stamp valuation is fraught with fraud sadly because it is initiated by folks who just found a cache of stamps via inheritance or the classic garage sale and now believe a few old stamps will buy them a new car, a new house or a new life. Like they hit some sort of strange lottery.

You need a few stamp facts to help you understand the reality of stamps and stamp collecting:

1. Stamps are Personal: Most stamp collections are comprised by collectors who loved the stamps. Loved collecting them. Sorting them. Mounting them. Viewing them. Stamps has always been fascinating as art objects, history and geography lessons, and inexpensive ways to feel like your collection is going somewhere. Also before the age of digital miniaturization -- stamps were one of the best ways to have and store tiny things of personal value.

2. Stamp Market is Flooded: Because of the Internet and places like Ebay and Facebook, the stamp market is flooded with tens of billions of stamps dumped by family members who are not interested in collecting stamps. In real term values stamps have dropped nearly 80% from their value since the 1980's. It is not a coincidence this is around the time email, the internet and digital platforms started growing and people could communicate more than ever in the past.

3. Stamps Are Generally Not Valuable:  Only the rarest of stamps hold any true value. And in the stamp world rare means rare. Stamps are not like coins. Old coins even in bad shape have some value. Old stamps are still in abundance even at over 100 years old. Age in stamps means pretty much noting,. A $5 stamp bought in 2000 is still worth more than nearly all the 1875 stamps you can. muster on a strictly individual basis. Don't be impressed. Don't be fooled.

4. Stamp Groups Are Not Always There to Help You  Some stamps groups were created to cherry pick your stamps (that you often send pics) and buy them at a song. Or worse, many will point you to appraisers whom they get a cut of the money from. Understand this: the chances are very high -- very high, your appraisal will cost more than the entire collection is worth. After this you are already out of money and you will be disgusted when trying to sell something on pennies on the dollar.

5. Signs to Watch for To Protect Yourself: keep your comments and pics public if you choose to pursue Facebook stamp groups:

a. If someone (individual, moderator or admin) asks for private nonpublic pics of stamps
Likely just cherry picking.

b. If someone (individual, moderator or admin) suggests you get a appraisal for pay (they are getting a cut and you likely getting robbed)

c. If someone (individual, moderator or admin) suggest a paid stamp organizing program they are getting a referral fee for efforts.


There are free sites that can shed some light on stamp valuation. The main problem with the most popular websites is the stamp vocabulary and jargon is written for stamp collectors. You'll have to learn how to understand what you have in order to see what true value there is. It's not easy and therefore any plenty who will take advantage of your lack of experience. If fact so many refer you to these sites I often wonder if they expect you to fail so you can come back to them thinking they are honest until they suggest something easier and quicker (code for your credit card.)

stampworld.com

colnect.com

The above sites are the best to look up stamps. You can invest in expensive compact discs, downloads or big reference books but the horrible truth is those cost more than your entire collection is likely worth. At my best guestimate nearly 96% of stamp collections proposed for any sort of valuation are worth less than $200. And $200 is not what you will be offered by anyone remotely interested -- this will be a person because a dealer will only seek out the rarest of the rare. Your chances are at best $50. The compact discs, downloads and reference books cost a great deal more. The average stamp catalog is over $50. If you choose to own all the catalogs from around the world is price is an astounding $1000. There is simply more money to be made from the support of stamps than the stamps themselves. A good stamp book is about $40 and once you buy the hinges, mounts, magnifying glass, tongs -- you are at $65.

6. Ebay is a Poor Way to Valuate  I know it seems easy if you actually locate a stamp of yours on Ebay stamp selling stores. But the real issue you must face is how unrealistic is their price to start with? Many sell for whatever they believe they can get. Ironically the typical ebay stamp seller receives more money than the stamp is worth now or in the future. But if the market allows this, so be it. You on the other hand will not receive even 25% value of any stamp you decide to sell. And though it is possible, plausible and advisable to sell your stamps on Ebay, you would be forced to sell them in very small groups or individually to see any profit. This is a pain staking process of photographing, detailing their Scott no., condition and description and perhaps taking months on end to make a few more dollars. Decide for yourself if that is worth all the effort.

Final Word  I have been kicked out of stamp groups, blocked, temp removed from comments just because I am willing to educate people that stamps are ultimately for fun and education. If you don't want to pursue that path that is fine, just be aware of the pitfalls of you thinking a paycheck is going to magically appear. It is not. Keep them for your kids one day. Or donate them to organizations like Stamps for the Wounded that use stamps to help with military veterans therapy in hospitals. But please do something more than get used, get robbed or get someone else their dream while yours is still floundering around.


Produced by Kids Need Stamps 2
https://kidsneedstamps2.blogspot.com