Our online store provides members with a hassle-free selling experience  to sell philatelic material worldwide - no internet experience or special equipment needed.  We do the work for you.  Sellers simply complete a submission sheet for each item and mail them to the APS. We take care of scanning images and uploading item descriptions, advertising, answering buyer questions, payment processing, shipping, and handling returns/refunds. All communication with the buyer is handled by the APS; the seller remains anonymous and is identified only through a seller ID number. Sellers can view reports, change prices, and receive monthly payments for items that sell.

 If you are not a member, we invite you to join today!

Terms of Sale

Item submissions constitute agreement of our StampStore Terms of Sale. Please take a moment to review the terms which provides basic information such as the length of time items will be listed for sale, your commissions, when statements/checks are mailed to sellers, etc.

Three Steps to Begin Selling:

1. Complete a form for each item

Complete a separate Submission Form  for each item to be sold (sets from a country may be sold as a single item). 
Use the corresponding form for submitting either stamps or covers/post cards.

Download form from provided links or order a supply from the APS - click here.

 

2. Batch & Ship to APS

Complete a Batch Cover Sheet indicating seller contact information and ship to APS.  Priority mail with signature confirmation is recommended so that you can track delivery.  For more expensive packages, registered mail should be considered. A Death Authorization Form also must be signed by each seller providing us with a name and address of the person authorized to receive unsold items and/or proceeds in the event of death (only need to provide with your first submission - we will keep the information on file).

3. Watch your Sales

The APS staff will notify via email when the items are received and then again when officially uploaded to the site. Sellers can then view reports, change prices, and receive monthly payments for items that sell.

Be Concise in Your Descriptions
 - Buyers can search by looking for words included in your description of the item. Use of standard terms and topics may lead to more buyers reviewing your material. Some terms you may consider for inclusion: booklet, coil, proof, specimen, essay, or precancel. If you are submitting a topical item use an appropriate keyword such as train, bird, truck, etc.
Do not include Avg., F, F-VF, XF in your description — this will not be listed on any sales form unless a certificate confirming that grading is supplied with the submissions.

Faults such as thins, creases, pulled perfs, etc., even if visible, must be clearly described otherwise they will be returned along with a fine.
Pricing Guidelines
 - Items must be priced at $1 or more any item priced below this amount will be returned. We recommend sellers to competitively price their material to fall within the 40%-60% of the catalog value for a grade of very fine (unless a certificate is provided to confirm grading). Our more successful sellers price their items below the 50% level.

Faults, such as pulled perfs, thins, tears, scuff marks, no gum on mint stamps, etc., would reduce the asking price considerably.

If you price items higher than other sellers who are submitting material your sales will suffer in comparison to those who use the above pricing guidelines. **Click for additional help for pricing and mounting material
Affix Items Neatly and Securely
 - Affix the item(s) in the large box on the top half of the form using a clear mount. Items are scanned as submitted so it is very important that the mounts are clear, the items are mounted straight, and all items being sold are either visible for scanning or are listed in the description. Do not use hinges - WE WILL RETURN ALL ITEMS THAT ARE MERELY HINGED TO A SUBMISSION SHEET - THEY WILL FALL OFF. Items which cannot be scanned as submitted may be returned at the owners expense. 

APS no longer sells mounts. Mounts for use on the forms are available from ClearBags.com.

Suggested sizes listed:
• For reg. singles/standard commemorative - 1 5/8” x 1 1/2” + Flap, Crystal Clear Bags® [SKU: B1X1] (View)
• For larger singles and regular blocks of 4 - 2 1/2” x 2 1/2” + Flap, Crystal Clear Bags® [SKU: B2X2] (View)
• For normal commemorative plate blocks - 4 1/2” x 2 13/16” + Flap, Crystal Clear Bags® [SKU: B4X2] (View)
• For No. 6 ¾ envelopes - 6 11/16” x 4 3/4” + Flap, Crystal Clear Bags® [SKU: B56M] (View)
• For No. 10 envelopes - 9 7/8” x 4 7/16” + Flap, Crystal Clear Bags® [SKU: B49XL] (View)
**APS members can SAVE 5% on EVERY order with ClearBags.com by using Promo Code: APS5
If other types of mounts are used, please note they should be closed on at least two sides, preferably three sides, so the items are secure thus no loss or damage can occur - if any tape is used we recommend Scotch® Magic™ Tape which allows for easy peel off so the stamps will not get damaged when trying to remove the mount from the submission sheet. 

When affixing a set, each stamp must be visible. If the item is too large for the space provided, mount it on a separate sheet of paper and attach it to the submission form. Each sheet is hole punched for storage so keep items away from the left edge of the form. **Click for additional help for pricing and mounting material  

 

Security and Protection
 - DO NOT list your name and APS number on the submission sheets. For seller security, we make every attempt to not release names and APS member numbers to buyers. Your seller ID now automatically appears with your listings encouraging buyers to view other items available for sale by using the seller ID – you remain anonymous. However, if you wish to advertise in “The AP” or other places and release your name and seller number, that is your prerogative. To locate your Seller ID log in and go to MyAPS, then MyStamps the ID is located at the top of your MyStamp area.
Sample Form
 - Click here to view a sample completed submission form.
 

Costs:

Submission Fee + Commissions + Return Fee for unsold material -
NOTE: Beginning Jan. 1, 2021 submission fee per item will be 25¢ and commissions will be a flat 20% on all items sold (tiered commissions will no longer apply).
(**Fees are also charged for the return of unsold items and misdescriptions - see the terms of sale for complete information.)

A completed submission form constitutes agreement of our StampStore Terms of Sale.

Contact StampStore

If you have additional questions, our Sales staff is ready to help, email StampStore@stamps.org or call 814-933-3803, ext. 270

Contact StampStore

Carol Hoffman
Sales Unit Director
814-933-3803 ext. 270

Tammy Emel
Internet Sales Associate
814-933-3803 ext. 271

 

 

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