Hello, My last piece for a while as I have to go overseas on Monday.. although, if I get some free time in airport lounges or hotels I might send a postcard or two.
Two pieces of news.. One, courtesy of Glen Stephens
http://www.glenstephens.com/ and the StampBoards
http://www.stampboards.com/ stamp bulletin board group.
This is pretty important and relevant to us all … and another reason why membership of the IPDA should be promoted to sellers.. Think about the following - members of the Stampboards.com community have showed and I quote from Glen and the Board postings
“ one local idiot that he is not smarter than 100 sets of vigilant eyes. Real "People Power" at work. This thread started it all:
http://www.stampboards.com/viewtopic.php?t=88&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 We have this month managed to have TEN of his fake ebay stamp selling accounts closed down and de-registered, largely due to this board, and the fine information sharing stemming from this board. APTA have also got involved, and I am told have senior stamp collector contacts who work in the NSW Police who also are placing colleagues on this fellow's tail. APTA members internationally have been briefed on the fellow and his fakes, and none of them will likely be conned into buying them, as they are now fully aware of what is out there. Oxygen is starved. No outlets = no reason to keep offering the dud stamps, as he will get lumbered yet again. A job well done by all concerned I'd say. The TEN ebay fake handles involved - all now de-registered are:
aw1940
aussiestampsales
nswstamps
modlink2002
stampbuyers
indepbrokers
george0mighty
wynstoninvest
gregbear_61
bexapunk101
In my view, these were all the one person at work. He has a criminal record, and has served long jail sentences for other offences. This person is a fully trained and qualified medico, and one wonders what drives someone that smart into this kind of petty fraud. He knows enough about stamps to make more money selling legit things, but this all seems to be a giant game to him - "fleece the bunnies". Most fakes offered were Australian official perfins, and a small range of fake cancels and overprints were also involved including a few NZ issues.
Some were fairly convincing, and many were appalling. Where some ebay buyers get their brains from one really wonders. When you see total obvious fake rubbish attracting a raft of high bids to $190 for comically bad things like this below, [img]http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s113/ozstamps/Rabual10shebayonpiece.jpg[/img] clearly cancelled a few days before it was listed, with a cheap rubber stamp pad, and a laughable rubber cancel:
I err when I say 10 handles have been banned so far. Only 9 have. bexapunk101 ebay seem to have missed for some reason. And that one needs to get the same account closure. …”
My second piece is about the IPDA and courtesy of Roy Simpson a fellow Director who wrote this for us. And if you don’t already visit Roy’s blog I encourage you to.. good reading me thinks…
The IPDA Comes of AgeApril 2007 will be a date to commemorate the 5th anniversary of the founding of the
Internet Philatelic Dealers Association ( now IPDA inc)
In order to do this Michael Dodd who is the publicity director ( CDD Stamps, Sydney, Australia) has designed a special cover with a limited edition of 100.
These will be given free to all current members as a memento of the occasion. I only have a image of the cover in pdf format at the moment, but will add a picture here as soon as it is available to me.
I have written about the IPDA inc previously and as a member myself and fellow director I do believe it is a worthwhile organization to belong to, no matter if you are a big bucks dealer or just an ordinary fellow who deals and sells the odd philatelic item on eBay or Yahoo.
What do I get for my money I am often asked? Well for starters the fees are not expensive, at $20US per year, this works out at less than 38 cents per week. For this amount I can state with a clear conscience that as a member you will in the long run you get more than you pay for.
The IPDA inc will advertise your name and business on its well known website, you will receive a news letter 12 times a year. You may also add a banner onsite for a small amount, all revenue from advertising goes towards developing and promoting the association.
The association will also introduce you to contacts within the trade. But most important of all, worth more than all the tea in China and something you can not buy, this is, you get the respect and confidence of Internet buyers / sellers who will trade with you. I will even go so far as to say you will also get more business when people know that you are a member.
The Non profit making association was Incorporated this year and has a duly elected committee who insists on behalf of the membership that any new application for membership sign a disclaimer that they will abide by the associations rules and adhere to a strict code of conduct .
They (applicants) are also checked out fully before they are given a membership number. What are you waiting for? If you sell on the Internet (part or full time) or you have an Internet auction identity on eBay or Yahoo, or any other online auction for that matter you are welcome to apply for IPDA membership.
All new applicants over the next 6 months will also get the Special 5th anniversary cover sent to them free of charge as a token of gratitude. Apply today: I have included a direct link to their website above , or just click on
application form and fill in your details its as simple as that. Once accepted download the logo for 2007 and join the list of respected International Online Philatelic Dealers, which grows steadily year by year.
Thanks to Roy for that piece.. I will add the free cover is until the 100 are taken of course.
Best wishes.. Michael, Director and Publicity Officer
