Why aren't my new 1st class stamps selling?

[retro*store]

Am I missing something and not listing my stamps in the correct category or is the listing title wrong? Because I'm selling my 1st class barcoded stamps for a decent discount off their actual value but I'm not even getting any views on my listing. Here's my listing: 

£135 Value Self-Adhesive Stamps: 43 1st Class Large Letter [10, 20, 30, 40, 45]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/205673915510

I put the different numbers in the title as that's what i think people will search for such as "10 1st class stamps".

[lucy_farmer]

Possibly because ebay is *not* the place to be buying *current* stamps.

There's way too many chinese fakes, on online marketplaces, for anybody to be confident that the post office will actually accept them.

[papso22]

Maybe people are suspicious that they might be fake, after all, you appear to be selling them at a loss.

[retro*store]

Is there some other place to sell them?

[*guinevere*]

As most people are wised up on fake stamps they would probably steer clear just in case. Wouldn't it be a bit like selling pound coins at 50p each?

[retro*store]

No. You could say that about selling any new item. You're just selling your unused stamps that you were planning to use for future parcels but no longer need. 

[sml192 · Accepted solution]

That appears to be the correct category although some other similar listings are in the 'Charles III' sub category.  I can't see that would make much difference though. 

Your title seems fine although I don't think the numbers you have put in brackets are necessary and could be confusing. 

The photo you have used is definitely misleading as it shows 3 different types of stamps (1st, 2nd, and 1st Large) when the listing is only for one type.  It would be much better to take actual photos of the booklets.

Finally, they are listed with Simple Delivery but they are actually not supposed to be sent with Simple Delivery:

Restricted or prohibited items

The following items aren't allowed to be posted with Simple Delivery:

• Stamps, any stamp or stamped document issued by a government or related official agencies, other than those that have expired for use or cannot be used to send items

[thesmi42]

Prospective buyers might be put off buying such items from a private seller because eBay gives a warning that "consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not apply".

[technthread]

Your pricing seems to be ok, it lines up roughly with the discount I would get from a stamp dealer I have bought from before for this type.

The issue I would have is why buy from an unknown eBay seller over an established stamp dealer for the same sort of price, knowing how flooded the market is with fakes. You have mentioned the swap out scheme which is good but it is still a leap of faith from the buyer to accept this. 

It isn’t ideal that you are showing stamps in the photo that aren’t part of the listing. It caused me to double take and doubt what was being offered for a second.

If I were you I’d make the price slightly more appealing and upload better photos.

I also suggest things like simple delivery on eBay is reducing the number of sellers using stamps now. I still do but I’m using up my last few hundred of stamps then I’m done with it I won’t be buying more. I’m sure many other sellers will be the same. 

[forapersona1]

I've never understood why RM don't invoke the VERO thing to have these sales of stamps banned on ebay.

[sml192]

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@forapersona1 wrote:

I've never understood why RM don't invoke the VERO thing to have these sales of stamps banned on ebay.

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Probably because the actual sale of the stamps isn't costing them anything, it is only when the stamps are used, and applying surcharges instead provides a good revenue stream. 

[roger_roger_over_and_nowt]

I get 2 or 3 items a day.I haven't had anything with a stamp on for at least 18 months.

The P.O.used to buy them back with a comission of about 15%.Not sure if that's still the case.

[gjalp]

Use a photo depicting the actual stamps for sale. Lose the numbers in brackets. State that they are genuine but no longer needed due to ebay managed shipping. (edited cos I managed to click the wrong listing)

I buy and use actual stamps (and I like discounted ones) but my preference is for commemorative and I don’t use large letter stamps but make up values, again commemorative ones. 

Being a private seller wouldn’t put me off buying as I can usually sniff out a fake stamp and you can get refunded for those in a case through ebay but for me personally, its the type of stamp that stops me buying plus the photo and numbers in brackets are confusing.

[gjalp]

Actually, just been poking around. Try removing the booklet IS. When I search for current stamps, just 2 listings come up as results with all others coming under results with few matching words.

i looked via Stamps>Great Britain>Elizabeth II>Decimal (1971-2022) which threw up 2 results with title GB mint stamps for postage

[vinylscot]

There is another possible reason why your stamps aren't selling.

Many buyers on eBay are also sellers. Assuming that the majority of them are private sellers, they will no longer be able to use stamps on their sales packages because of Simple Delivery. Therefore, it is logical to assume that demand has lessened.

[gjalp]

That only really applies to ebay and private sellers. I know of many business sellers who use stamps (myself included) and it helps when we can buy them below face value.

[vinylscot]

Of course it does. But sensible business sellers will obtain their stamps from a more dependable source than some random on eBay. Without accusing the OP personally of any wrongdoing, that's just asking for trouble. (And I did say that the majority would be private sellers, not all., and that it would explain a lessening in demand, not an absolute end to it.)

[technthread]

I use make up value stamps and add them to total a 2nd class letter at 87p. I tend to get those for 40/50% off face value.

I don’t see much point in paying for 1st class stamps due to the inflated price nowadays, even if you can get them at 70% face value. That will be affecting the resale potential for the OP as well.

Rather than use a 1st class stamp on a letter (£1.70) I’d prefer to overpay for a 2nd class LL label on eBay / RM click and drop (£1.55) and hope to get the delivery confirmation scan on the order. 

Then you have the risk of an eBay MC011 if no proof of delivery is ever obtained. The risk may be minimal for established sellers but who knows longer term, everything seems to be heading towards needing tracking for online sales to protect yourself. 

[honeymonster007]

Did a quick search using *1st class stamps* and yours didn't come up on the first 5 pages.

It might be worth checking out the sold listings to see what others are putting in their titles.

Personally after a quick glance I'm not sure what your selling, 1st class stamps, 2nd class, large stamps, a mix of all 3?

[kyanyama]

Think lots of sellers are i the same position as you - a surplus of stamps since only eBay labels are permitted now.  I have quite a few 2nd Class Large Letter stamps left over.  I sell 2nd class LL size items and I used a LL 2nd class stamp on the envelope and then either paid for signed-for at the PO or used 2 x 2nd class LL stamps and just paid the difference.

There seems to be a 'difference' in the last few months about what is 'seen' on eBay search now.  I used to sell about 1 - 2 items a week.  I have gone back to selling but there are very few views on my listings and less watchers.  All the tweaks that used to work before no longer work.  Not sure why but seems the site is using more AI and I read somewhere on the boards or on the web that 'sell similar' is no longer the 'new' item like it used to work if there aren't quite a few changes to photos / item specifics, etc.