Each year in the United States, there are thousands of individuals who search high and low for new stamps to add to their collections. Many of these stamps are new in the literal sense; however, others will be new to a stamp collection, but have withstood the test of time. All stamp collectors, especially those looking to one day sell their collections, are encouraged to familiarize themselves with stamp values and their importance. After all, a stamp and its value can have a significant impact on a stamp collector’s ability to profit from his collection.

Stamp collectors who are interested in purchasing new stamps, such as from a stamp dealer, are urged to familiarize themselves with their local stamp collecting catalogue. This catalogue often varies from country to country. For example, in the United States, the catalogue used to guide stamp collectors on which types of stamps should be collected for profits and their values, is the Scott Catalogue. The catalogue most often used in Great Britain is the Stanley Gibbons catalogue. These catalogue tend to be released annually and most are available for sale online and copies may even be found available to borrow in libraries.

Another way to determine the estimated value of a stamp or a stamp collection in whole is by scheduling an appointment with a stamp collection dealer. Most stamp collecting dealers are professional and knowledgeable when it comes to stamp values. With that in mind, if you are visiting a stamp dealer to either buy or sell stamps, use your best judgment. When looking to sell your stamp collection, it may be a wise idea to pay for an accurate appraisal and then visit other stamp dealers to sell your collection. This will prevent any low appraisals from dishonest stamp dealers who are just looking to make a profit.

As important as value is and should be to many stamp collectors, especially those who are considered investors, stamp condition should also be taken into consideration. All stamp collectors are urged to take proper care of their stamps. This proper care involves carefully handling all stamps, by using stamp tongs, and storing stamps in a heat and humidity free environment. One important point that many new stamp collectors forget is that many stamps will increase in value over the years, but if those stamps are not properly cared for, their value will decrease or remain the same. For that reason, investors who are in stamp collecting solely from the profit of doing so, often go through great lengths to find stamps, especially rare stamps, that are in good condition to begin with.

Stamp values and conditions are not the only factors that should be considered. Hobbyists have a bit more freedom when collecting stamps, as they are often collecting just for the fun of it. Investors or those looking to sell their stamp collections for a profit one day, are encouraged to do as much research as possible. This research can either be done online or with printed resources, such as a guide to collecting stamps for profit.

For my readers who were selling or contemplating selling digital products on eBay, eBay has scheduled a workshop to help you through the transition to physical products. This workshop will be held on Friday, April 11th from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Pacific time. Quoting my notification:

The recent change in the Digital Download policy has some sellers of items delivered by download confused and concerned about the viability of their businesses on eBay. Have no fear! Sellers of “delivery by download” merchandise now have an excellent opportunity to adjust their selling and marketing to increase their visibility and their potential sales. eBay’s Brian Burke and Jim “Griff” Griffith with be available during this workshop to provide tips and advice to all sellers of downloadable media. They’ll explain and highlight the policy details, and show you how to:

-Take full advantage of the Classified Ad format
-Utilize effective marketing and promotion of your content items
-Offer content on physical media to boost sales
-Make sure all your digital content listings are in full compliance with eBay policy.

Brian and Griff will also answer any questions or concerns you might have about the recent policy change.

Workshops are hosted in discussion threads on the Workshops Board. To get to the Workshops Board:

* Go to www.ebay.com
* Click on Community at the top of the page
* Click on “Workshops” in the “Events” section
* This will bring you to the threaded Workshops Board

Printed books and digital ebooks abound on the subject of selling on eBay. Many of them suggest selling digitally delivered info-products (ebooks). In fact, many products we recommend suggest and tell you how to get started in an online business by offering ebooks on eBay. Be aware: As of March 31, 2008, digitally delivered products can no longer be listed on eBay except in one category and only in a “Classified Ad” type listing. Sellers currently listing ebooks and other digital products or products that do not involve a physical delivery (such as domain names) discovered March 25 that their new listings were blocked.

This has, of course, sent shockwaves through the online community, and sellers are scrambling to find other venues for their sales or different methods of delivering their products. As you can tell by a glance at this blog’s “Archives,” this is a new website. I began this website and blog as a step in my plans to market my original products on eBay. Although I planned to present my products, all related to stamp collecting, first in a digital-only format (PDF files), this new eBay ruling will prevent my offering them in auction or Buy It Now format on eBay.com. I had every intention of continuing to develop the line to present additionally the options for CD format or print format. It will take a bit more time for me to ready the products for physical delivery, but I will do it (and they will, of course, bear a higher price).

I write this post today to alert my customers and other readers to be aware of eBay’s new rules when purchasing printed or electronic resources dealing with marketing on eBay or attempting to apply the lessons contained in those materials. eBay changes constantly, reacting to market demands and misuse of its websites. The reasons given for the new policy seem “thin” at best, and I am certain that there’s more to the “big picture” than was contained in the announcement. Here is the original announcement:

http://www2.ebay.com/aw/core/200803241300132.html

The statement “Digital goods are often reproduced at little to no cost to the seller” is true - regarding reproduction. It is not necessarily true regarding production! And, as Wal-Mart serves as the prime example, reducing production costs and speeding product delivery has long been a primary goal of business. Digital delivery of products is the goal toward which many, many business are striving — that’s what people want! So, I question the wisdom of foregoing a huge and growing-daily segment of the marketing world. (But then, I am not a billionaire, so put that in perspective!) eBay is surely going after abuse of its system, but perhaps throwing out the baby with the bathwater in the process. I am certain that the policy will be refined in the days and weeks to come. Many writers on this topic feel that there are other ways that eBay can filter out abuse of the feedback system, which, as mentioned in the press release, figures prominently in their decision to change their policies.

So, eBay sellers have been thrown a curve, but they will adapt. Those who have good products and operate honest businesses will find other methods of delivering their products to their customers. It does, though, set back those whose only online presence is eBay and who have no other source of online income.

Remember, the only constant is change. The information that you read in previously-published books on eBay is probably still primarily valid. Before committing a lot of dollars, time, and effort into any new venture that includes eBay as a selling venue, be certain to check the eBay website for policies, rules, regulations, and suggestions. The site abounds with places to find help and answers, from the blogs to the community forums. It will take some time to sift through all that is available, but it will be time well spent in the long run.

While you can sell most things on eBay, quite a few things are banned or restricted. If you try to sell any of these things, eBay will remove your auction and all bids will be void. Here is eBay’s full list of topics dealing with prohibited or questionable items. All but a couple are clickable links (on the eBay website), and a complete statement of eBay’s policies is outlined with examples given. You should click the link related to your item and read carefully before preparing and posting your listing.

Click here to read more

Through the years, eBay has introduced all sorts of different auction types, in an effort to give people more options when they buy and sell things on eBay.

Normal Auctions

These are the bread-and-butter of eBay, the auctions everyone knows: buyers bid, others outbid them, they bid again, and the winner gets the item. Simple. You set your opening bid amount, hoping, of course, that there are many bidders and the price continues to go up. This doesn’t always happen, so be prepared to sell your item for the amount of your opening bid. If there is only one bidder and no one bids against him, he will win the auction at closing. You can’t change your mind then and decide not to part with your treasure at that low price.

Reserve Auctions

Reserve auctions are for sellers who don’t want their items to sell for less than a certain price - a concept you’ll know about if you’re familiar with real auctions. They work just like normal auctions on eBay, except that the buyers will be told if their bids do not meet the reserve price you set, and they’ll need to bid again if they want the item. If no one is willing to meet your price, then the auction is canceled, and you keep the item.

Many people do not like the concept of a “reserve” price, primarily because the reserve amount is not displayed to the bidder. Many feel that if a seller wants a certain amount for his item, then he should begin the auction at that price. There are pros and cons regarding using a Reserve auction, and you should research the concept a bit before using it as your listing format. It is best “reserved” for higher-dollar items, like an entire stamp collection, for example.

Fixed Price (’Buy it Now’) Auctions

“Buy It Now” auctions can work in one of two ways. You can add a “Buy it Now” button to a normal auction, meaning that buyers can choose either to bid normally or to simply pay the asking price and avoid the whole bidding process. Some sellers, though, now cut out the auction process altogether and simply list all their items at fixed price. This lets you avoid all the complications of the auction format and simply list your items for how much you want them to sell for.

Recently, eBay added a twist to fixed price auctions: the “Best Offer.” This means that buyers can contact you to negotiate a price, which could be a good way to get sell some extra stock at a small discount. The only downside to reserve and fixed price auctions is that you pay a small extra fee to use these formats.

Multiple Item (’Dutch’) Auctions

These are auctions where you can sell more than one of a certain item. Dutch auctions can be done by bidding. Buyers bid a price and say how many items they want, and then everyone pays the lowest price that was bid by one of the winning bidders. If you have trouble getting your head around that, then don’t worry - everyone else does too! These auctions are very rare.

What is more common is when a seller has many of a certain item, and lists it using a combination of two auction types: a multiple-item fixed price auction. This just means that you can just say how many of the item you have, and offer them at a fixed price per unit. Buyers can enter how many they want and then just click “Buy it Now” to get them.

It will more than likely take some experimenting and experience to see which auction format works best for you, and the format you use may be governed by the items you are selling.

Stamp Tools and Their Uses

If you are serious about starting and maintaining a good stamp collection, you cannot begin without the following tools.

Stamp Tongs - Stamp tongs are specially designed tools that look like tweezers. That given, you may be tempted to ask whether tweezers would do instead. The answer to that is a resounding “No!” Stamp tongs are built with blunt edges as opposed to the angular, sharp edges tweezers have. Tongs are especially designed to pick up and handle stamps so they do not damage or mark them in the process. Stamps, although they are used in heavy duty postal service, are actually sensitive artifacts.

If you are tempted to handle your stamps with your bare hands, for goodness’ sakes, don’t. This will only increase the chances that you damage your stamps. And, of course, damaged stamps are a tragedy to any serious collector, especially if it is a rare one.

Magnifying Glass - These optical instruments help you examine your mini treasures up close and personal. Stamps tend to be tiny, and even the larger ones have text that is hard to decipher. A good set of magnifying tools can help you spot damage, tears, and detail of stamps. Being able to examine your stamps up close is important as the value of your stamps is dependent on their condition, however, minuscule they may be.

Transparent Envelopes - If you are looking for transit storage for your stamps - a place to put them before mounting them in your collection - glassine envelopes are the way to go. Avoid using paper envelopes as they have a high acid content that could very well damage your stamps. These envelopes also make a great container when mailing or giving stamps to other people.

Perforation Gauge - perforation gauges help collectors count how many perforations a stamp has per 2-cms. Perforations are those jaggy semicircle holes at the sides of your stamps that are formed when the stamps are separated from each other. Perforations are another feature that an avid stamp collector should pay attention to.

Watermark Detector - this is very handy in viewing hidden, embossed or imprinted patterns that stamps may or may not have. It is interesting to note that some stamps may seem similar, but upon closer inspection will reveal that they have different watermarks. Being a serious stamp collector means you have to pay attention to even minute details.

Stamp Albums - this is where you store your stamps and should be the centerpiece among your tools. A good stamp album protects your stamps against chemicals, the elements, dust and dirt. Shop around and compare products well before choosing a stamp album for purchase.

Stamp Collecting Supplies

So you’ve decided that you want to get started as a seller on eBay. There are a few things that you really need to know before you throw yourself in at the deep end.

What to Sell

First, you need to decide what it is you’re going to sell. What will be your speciality? You’ll do far better on eBay if you become a great source for certain kind of product, because people who are interested in those products will come back to you again and again. You won’t get any loyalty or real reputation if you just sell rubbish at random. You may want to begin by selling used items that you no longer need, just to get a feel for how transactions occur on eBay, but for long-term, you may want to consider buying to sell on eBay.

When you think about what to sell, there are a few things to consider. The most important of these is to always sell what you know. If you try to sell something that you just don’t know anything about then you’ll have difficulty writing good descriptions or pricing the items realistically.

You might think you’re not especially interested in anything, but if you think about what kind of things you usually buy and which websites you go to most often, I’m sure you’ll discover some kind of interest. If all else fails, mention it to your friends and family: they may say “Oh, why don’t you sell …”, and you’ll slap your forehead for not having thought of it.

Don’t worry if you think the thing you’re selling is too obscure - it isn’t. There’s a market for almost everything on eBay, even things that wouldn’t sell once in a year if you stocked them in a shop. You’ll probably do even better if you fill a niche than if you sell something common.

How Will You Collect Payment?

Before you decide to go big-time on eBay, make some transactions yourself. Purchase a few items that you want or need so that you can see how the process works, particularly how you pay for your items. Being on the buying end helps you understand the concerns of your future customers. In browsing to decide on a item to bid on or purchase, you will notice that each seller establishes his own policies regarding payment and shipping. Some use eBay’s built-in payment system, while others use third-party payment processors. Fine-tuning your policies will come after you have some experience, but do formulate some plan for payment and shipping before you ever post your first listing. This may involve opening a PayPal account and a separate bank account that you reserve just for your business. Decide whether you will accept checks or money orders. Decide whether you will sell outside of the US (or your country, for eBay has sites in many countries). Be aware that payment processors, such as PayPal, charge transaction fees to the buyer and conversion fees for foreign currency. You must take these small charges, as well as eBay listing fees, into consideration when establishing your pricing.

Tax and Legal Matters

If you decide to sell on eBay on a full-time basis, you should register as a business. You may be required to collect and remit sales taxes, and this involves some paperwork (and time). In the early days of the Internet and eBay, individual transactions might have been almost “anonymous,” but no longer. Thousands of people earn their full-time living on eBay and millions of dollars change hands every day. You’ll be better served in the long run to accept that if you intend to earn a lot of money on eBay, you are a “business” and must behave and be governed by local, state, and federal laws that regulate businesses. Accept that there may be some expense in setting up your business properly and legally.

Prepare Yourself

There are going to be ups and downs when you sell on eBay. Don’t pack it in if something goes a little wrong in your first few sales. The sellers who are successful on eBay are the ones who enjoy it, and stick with it, whatever happens. You will learn as you encounter new situations. The important thing is to be honest with your buyers, be willing to admit mistakes and to make it right if you did make an error. Good communication with your buyers is the key.

Selling Your Stamps or Coins on eBay

If you are a coin or stamp collector, you may have considered selling your excess or unwanted items on eBay. This is an excellent idea. First, do a lot of browsing on eBay in the categories you might want to sell in. Look for items like the ones you have. You will be competing against the “big boys,” but eBay is one of the “fairest” markets you could possibly find. Realize, though, that stamps and coins rarely actually sell for the value you may see in printed catalogs. You’ll probably want to group your stamps rather than attempting to sell them individually, unless the item you have is rare or really valuable. Just as you’d want to see what you are buying, your potential customers will want good visual images of the items you are selling. The condition of stamps and coins is so important; the images you provide in your listings must clearly show the condition of your items. So, you’ll need a good digital camera or scanner, and you’ll need to know how to process those images to get them into the proper format for posting to your listing.

If you have extras that you want to sell as a lot, it may not be necessary to photograph each and every one, but don’t over-price your lot unless you are absolutely certain of the value of what you have and can provide a comprehensive list of the lot contents.

The costs of shipping stamps is less of a consideration than other commercial items, but do consider shipping costs and methods before you post your listings.

Are you interested in enjoying coin collecting as a hobby?  If you are, you are definitely not alone.  One of the many reasons why coin collecting is a popular hobby is because it is relatively easy to do.  With that in mind, if you are looking to develop a coin collection that makes you proud or a coin collection that can later be sold for a profit, there are a number of important points that you will want to take into consideration.

Perhaps, the most important step in creating a coin collection that you can later sell for profits or a coin collection that you can be proud of involves research.  In fact, you will want to research, research, and then research some more.  Some of the most successful coin collectors in the world are those who have taken the time to research and examine coin collecting as a whole.  Topics concerning coin collecting that you will want to examine include the history of coin collecting, the types of coins that can be collected, coin values, recommended coin collecting supplies and much more.

Beginners may want to start out collecting as many coins as possible.  You may want to save all coins that come your way until you are able to further examine them.  This is a great approach for beginners, as many are unaware of what they have, especially if coin values and conditions were first not examined.  When taking this approach, it won’t be long before a large collection of coins has developed, possibly too many.  At this point in time, coin collectors are encouraged to examine their collection and separate the valuable coins from the not so valuable ones.  From there on out, after you have some experience, it is often a wise idea for coin collectors to change their coin collecting habits.

Once a coin collection has been developed and that first set of coins and been examined and sorted, it is important to take storage into consideration.  Unfortunately, many new coin collectors make mistakes concerning storage.  Many simply toss their coins into a jar or a box.  This approach will definitely store coins, but may result in damage.  If you have rare, older, or limited edition coins that may increase in value later on, proper care is important.  Generally speaking, coin holders are not advised, especially for long-term storage, but they are great for displays.  For long-term storage of a coin collection, coin folders and coin albums are best.

Knowing before you buy is another important component of developing a coin collection that you can be proud of or one that can later be sold for a profit.  Many coin collectors, possibly just like you, are in search of rare or valuable coins and the best way to find these coins is through purchases.  Most professional coin dealers have an accurate view and understanding of how much their coins are worth.  This means that you generally do not have to worry about being scammed, but it is still wise to first examine coin values, conditions, and to use your best judgment.  Always research a coin that costs more than $20.

In addition to coin dealers, many coin collectors looking to expand their collections turn to the Internet, namely online auction websites.  This is a great approach for beginners, as it is easy.  What you may find may surprise you.  Many former coin collectors sell their whole collections online.  When buying coins it is important to use caution.  Many individuals who sell coins through online auction websites, as opposed to through a dealer, do not know the full value of their coins.  This often results in over estimating the average worth or value of a coin.  Without having the proper knowledge, this can result in overpayment.

These are just a few of the many tips that new coin collectors will want to take into consideration.  Should you later decide that coin collecting isn’t right for you, use your best judgment with the coins that you have acquired.  Before simply giving away your coins or actually using them, take a close look at your collection, your coins, and their values.  Is there anything that you can sell for a profit, even just a small one?

Are you a beginner who is interested in starting a stamp collection? Whether your purpose of collecting stamps is to one day have a valuable stamp collection to sell for a profit or if you would like a valuable stamp collection that can be passed down to future family generations, you may be looking for more information. One of the most commonly asked questions by beginners and new stamp collectors concerns what should be collected.

From a stamp collector standpoint, it is important to remember that you have a number of different options. Stamp collectors collect for a number of different reasons, including for personal fulfillment and for profit. If your main goal is to develop a stamp collection that can be profitable, you will want to pay more close attention to the stamps you collect. On the other hand, those who are stamp collecting just for the fun of it or to have a stamp collection to pass down to their children, your options are unlimited.

Many professional stamp collectors, especially those who are in it for profit, opt to choose a stamp collecting theme. This stamp collection theme may include a wide range of stamps, such as stamps with a flower pictured or a more detailed theme, such as stamps from the 1910s that are in perfect to semi-perfect condition. A topical collection contains stamps relating to a given subject, such as flowers, endangered species, Christmas stamps, or Red Cross stamps. Many collectors choose a speciality, such as pre-cancels, perfins, booklets, coils, or plate blocks. A few popular types of stamps collected are outlined below.

Holiday stamps are one of the most widely collected types of stamps, especially by beginners and children. Holiday stamps will always be a classic for stamp collectors. Because of the frequency of issuance and number printed, holiday stamps may be of less long-range value, unless they are limited edition special stamps or from the late 1800s or early 1900s.

Cartoon and other television or related movie stamps are popular, particularly among young collectors. Many of these stamps are issued only as limited edition stamps. This restricts the number of stamps that are in circulation. For a cartoon or television or movie related stamp to be valuable, there are a number of important things to consider, including the availability. How many stamps were issued? The cartoon, movie, or television show in question, as well as its age or the year it was popular, may have an impact on value as well.

Collectors often concentrate on stamps dealing with subjects they are interested in, such as the Civil War, airplanes, lighthouses, authors, or birds. Topical collectors can define their collection further by collecting stamps and all related postal items on a single topic from one country, or stamps on a single topic from many countries. The possiblities are endless, which makes each collection unique.

Are you interested in taking up stamp collecting as a hobby? One question commonly asked by hopeful stamp collectors concerns supplies. Many associate needed supplies and accessories with startup costs. The good news is that stamp collecting is a relatively affordable hobby. In fact, no special supplies, expect for the stamps themselves, are really required to get started. There are several things, though, you really should consider having on hand.

Basic stamp collecting supplies

The most widely used stamp collecting tool is a magnifying glass. Magnifying glasses are used to examine the condition of stamps. This can assist in determining the approximate value of your stamp collection. If you intend to purchase stamps from a professional stamp dealer, a magnifying glass is a tool that you will want to invest in. This tool can help to prevent you from overpaying.

Stamp tongs are widely used by professional stamp collectors and dealers. Stamp collecting tongs resemble tweezers, but they are somewhat different. The ends of stamp tongs look like small paddles. This design enables the easy and careful handling of stamps, which is important to prevent damage and maintain value. As with most other stamp collecting supplies, stamp tongs are not required; however, they can help to prevent damage, including the transfer of oils and other debris from your fingertips, from occurring.

Stamp stock books are used as a way to carefully and safely store stamps. Stamp stock books, although they do vary, are similar in nature. They contain clear protective sheets that often have horizontal rows, which are often designed to fit a wide range of stamp sizes. Some have individual slots in each row.

Stamp albums differ from traditional stamp stock books in that they are categorized. For example, a stamp collector who specializes in collecting international stamps would have separate pages, or even separate albums, devoted to stamps from the United States, Canada, Great Britain, and so forth. Most albums include blank spaces or pages for additional stamps.

Stamp hinges are special little pieces of paper with a light adhesive on one side that you use to place your stamps in albums. Stamps that have been hinged are of less value than stamps that have never been hinged, but albums with sleeves for each stamp are much more expensive than albums that do not provide this. Stamp mounts are stamp protectors that have adhesive on the back so that the stamp itself is not afixed to the album page. Most collectors use stamp mounts for their new or mint stamps. Some collectors use mounts for all stamps, but this is, of course, much more expensive than using hinges.

If you live in a large town or city, you can probably find a stamp dealer or hobby shop that sells stamp collecting supplies. But if there is not one near you, stamp collecting supplies are easily located on the Internet.

Stamp collecting kits

Although many stamp collecting kits are targeted towards children or beginners in particular, they do come in a number of different formats. Stamp collecting kits often contain a large collection of valuable stamp collecting tools, including the above-mentioned stamp albums, magnifying glasses, stamp tongs, as well as stamp collecting resources or guides. Do some research before buying, though. A kit may be a good way for a beginner to get started, but you may find that you outgrow your “beginners kit” very quickly.