Pre-stamped envelopes being sold on ebay

southerly

I am stocking up on stamps before the price rise, and was surprised to see there are people selling stamps already stuck on to envelopes, for much less than the usual price for sheets of 100. Bought some late yesterday when I was tired, I was a bit puzzled why they were so cheap. Had the horrible thought today that they must be pre-used stamps that they have stuck onto envelopes! When they arrive I will probably have no way of knowing, I wouldn't have bought them if I had thought of this. I have seen loads of unfranked but used stamps being sold on ebay and selling for a lot, not something I would want to be involved in as a seller or buyer.

Just looked back at the listings, I bought a set of 1st and 2nd, both of them have put the condition as '---', not new and not used, so definitely think they must be used, I am wondering whether to ask them to cancel the sale.

xshootingstarsx

Royal Mail Surveys give participants prestamped envelopes so they can participate in the surveys that are set. The stamps are genuine and most of the time are attached to a normal white envelope.

Lomast

xshootingstarsx wrote: »

Royal Mail Surveys give participants prestamped envelopes so they can participate in the surveys that are set. The stamps are genuine and most of the time are attached to a normal white envelope.

This is true but they only provide the number you need to complete that weeks task, so unless they have been seriously fleecing the survey then there is no way you would get any sizable number of pre stamped envelopes from them

When i last did the survey (im on a 6mnth break) i would get on average 5-6 items to post a week, normally a mix of 1-2 DL envelopes, 2-3 Jiffy bags and 1-2 Large brown (A4) with the odd box every so often.

The only logical idea i can think of is if someone stamped a lot of envelopes for a mailshot and had leftovers that may of been 'written off' by the company or something similar

skitler

they are stamps that have been used, removed from old envelope dipped to remove the franking, and pre glued to envilopes as the glue is the hardest part to do on loose stamps so they pre stick them to envilopes.

jeffuk

OP can you post a link please.

skitler

jeffuk wrote: »

OP can you post a link please.

when the stamps arrive.:rotfl:

southerly

this is one I bought from, (the other has no more for sale) I think they have too many for sale to have got them from surveys, will try and do a link;
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100-SELF-SEALED-DL-ENVELOPES-WITH-1ST-OR-2ND-CLASS-STAMPS-ATTACHED-ON-/161222046845?pt=UK_Stamps_BritishStamps&var=&hash=item258995347d

I have messaged them both to confirm the stamps are not used, as it would be fraudulent for me to reuse them, if not I want to cancel the sale. If they have already sent them I will refuse to sign for them and not accept them, they should be sent by registered post.

southerly

skitler wrote: »

they are stamps that have been used, removed from old envelope dipped to remove the franking, and pre glued to envilopes as the glue is the hardest part to do on loose stamps so they pre stick them to envilopes.

I started to think something like that today, when I bought them last night I was too tired to think of the reason why they were so cheap, and it seemed odd that they had not sold that many, other buyers have obviously been more wary. There are bottles of liquid sold in the stamps category quite openly for removing used stamps!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/G-B-1st-Class-2nd-Class-Unfranked-Self-Adhesive-Stamp-Remover-100ml-Bottle-/221377261487?pt=UK_Stamps_Philatley&hash=item338b1cefaf

campdave

southerly wrote: »

There are bottles of liquid sold in the stamps category quite openly for removing used stamps!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/G-B-1st-Class-2nd-Class-Unfranked-Self-Adhesive-Stamp-Remover-100ml-Bottle-/221377261487?pt=UK_Stamps_Philatley&hash=item338b1cefaf

That's fine - collectors will use it to remove stamps from paper for mounting.

The item you linked to is less than 80% face value - most dealers will sell unused mint stamps for anything between 75% and 90% of face value. Taking into account the cost of the envelopes, I think these are most likely stamps that have been used but not postmarked.

sequence

They must be used stamps at that price. There's no way they can be new and unused at that price.

Sparkling_Dust

I inadvertently once bought pre-stamped envelopes like these but found the discount price was far outweighed by having to refund angry buyers £1 + face value as the stamps regularly fell off in the post.

Never again.