Be Aware Market Flooded with Counterfeit Stamps from China

[epicurean11]

If you buy postage for your business on eBay you will find an array of offers - pretty much all the bulk offers I have seen from sellers who are not stamp dealers are counterfeit. It is a criminal offence to sell them and a criminal offence to use them in the Royal Mail system. eBay don't seem that interested. Last year a couple trading on the site were sent to prison. They all pay high levels of promotion fees, so they appear at the top of any random search i.e. 1st class stamps. They offer commemoratives in sheets and bundles and whether gummed (the gum doesn't actually work properly) or self-adhesive, they are 100% counterfeit. Your customers will be charged £5 on arrival by Royal Mail if they spot them...the fact that their barcode machines aren't active at the moment means most will get through but if you're not a crook I suggest you buy your postage from recognised stamp dealers and not guys selling models, shampoo and/or cleaning products who have suddenly come across £20,000+ worth of stamps at 1/4 of the market value.  

[gly2010]

I have reported several sellers, allegedly stamp dealers, who are selling replica stamps on eBay. They call them MNH in the header, but MNH Replica in the description. Totally reprehensible. When challenged they say “ Read the description” EBay don’t care and say “ we investigated and found no issues” 

[jckl1957]

You are not covered by Paypal.  They changed their rules for refunds about a year ago.

They still allow a generous 6 months to claim for an item not received, but they only give you 30 days to start a return for an item which is not as described/fake etc.