Questions for APS regarding its support of eBay stamp offerings.
Questions of Process:
1. As we understand it, the process is initiated by any eBay
user who submits a complaint regarding an offering using the link entitled
"Report listing violations or problems with another eBay member" at the
bottom of the "Selling Stamps"
page or any other standard report. (This page is accessed by following
the Help link found at the top of most, if not all, of eBay pages. Help>A-Z
Index tab>S link>Selling Stamps link.) This report is received by
the eBay Safe Harbor personnel and, upon recognition as a stamp related
item and the complaint regards compliance with the Code of Conduct, it is
forwarded to the " Stamp Community Watchgroup ", a number of whom (8) have
already been selected by eBay and all but two of whom are APS members. If
two of the " Stamp Community Watchgroup " agree that the item does not comply
with "The APS "Code of Conduct" for selling philatelic items on eBay," the
complaint will be forwarded to to the APS staff who will assess the complaint.
If APS staff agrees, the seller will be notified of the complaint and
its nature. The seller will be told that the listing must be either
defended (e. g. submission of an existing expertization for the item), corrected
(e.g. changed description), withdrawn within 24 hours depending on
the nature of the complaint, or, alternatively, appeal the question to eBay.
The target for completion of this assessment is within 24 hours after
the complaint. Failure by the seller to comply within 24 hours will result
in notification to eBay that the item does not comply with the requirements.
eBay will then, at its discretion, promptly delete the item. eBay
expects deletion would be the normal course of events. Lots requiring
expertisation can be resubmitted upon successful expertisation. APS
plans to make APEX certificates available at no cost (other than return postage?)
for such removed lots. A pattern of continuing non compliance by the
seller would be viewed as grounds for permanent suspension by eBay. Does
this correctly portray the procedure?
2. Is it clear that the process starts when a user, whether a member
of the Stamp Community Watchgroup or not, submits a complaint within the
scope of the Code of Conduct to Safe Harbor using the link noted above?
Questions of Regulations:
1. Do you contemplate that the "Code of Conduct" would be revised,
particularly regarding the part "I agree to abide by all federal, state,
and local laws relating to philatelic matters" to encompass all eBay users
and sites whether selling or buying?
2. Would one have to back-mark a certified United States Scott
#3 as a reproduction? If not, what part of the APS/eBay "Code of Conduct"
applies? Could this be handled by eliminating items which are official government
reprints?
3. It is clear that modifications such as reperforations, and,
to the extent they might be identified, regums are covered; however,
how do unidentified defects (e.g. tears, thins, scuffs) or fake cancels,
grills, or overprints enter into the criteria? Are such items required
to be described? Do visible but unrevealed defects qualify for returns
and refunds?
4. Is there a conclusion on how "illegals" as defined by the U.P.U.
are to be treated? Are they already included? If so, how?
5. Are actions underway to expand eBay's list of approved expertisers
to enhance the ability of the non-United States users to comply with the
Code of Conduct? Has anyone considered the list of expertisers on the AskPhil
site of the Collector's Club of Chicago at http://www.askphil.org/b35.htm
?
6. What is included in the definition or forgeries which require backstamping?
For example, are stamps with fake cancels, grills, and overprints considered
to be forgeries and therefore require backstamped identification to be sold
on eBay?
Questions of Scope:
1. Do the requirements apply to all eBay sites? For example,
are ebay.uk and ebay.de included?
2. Do the requirements apply to all items which are philatelic,
e. g. are used picture postcards listed under postcard categories included?
General Questions:
1. Is it your understanding that this is the way that eBay understands
the process/system?
2. One of the concerns is whether the APS can adequately assess
world-wide compliance. This has several sub questions: a. does the
" Stamp Community Watchgroup " and the APS staff have the skills or access
to the skills to respond properly to the expected range of querries? b.
Will there be enough resources for both the SCW and the APS to keep up with
the workload? c. Are there people in the processing staffs with language
skills sufficient to encompass all the eBay sites? d. Will ways have to
be found to meet the needs of a truly world-wide approach? e Are such
changes underway?
3. Is it practical or desirable to expand the breadth of the Stamp
Community Watchgroup? Would an expert from the International Association of Stamp Experts
at http://www.aiep.net/ but not an APS member be an appropriate addition?
Why is membership in APS deemed a significant requirement? Would
not recognized expertise, judgment, and integrity be sufficient?