Joined Jun 2007
L5: Journeyman
Forum Thread
Forever Stamps on eBay
September 14, 2019 at
06:19 PM
There are a bevy of new (access less than two months old) sellers on eBay with a plethora (usually a dozen, but sometimes hundreds across multiple listings) of assorted Forever stamps in sheets and booklets, and new sellers who repeatedly list and sell 1 Forever coil. These kind of listings are suspicious to me. These listings priced at around 70% of FV sell very quickly and people purchase hundreds of dollars worth of stamps if multiple coils or dozens of sheets are in a lot.
What are the probability of Forever stamps sold on eBay by third parties (not the official USPS store) being counterfeit and what recourse does a consumer have if they receive counterfeit stamps? Moreover, will employees at a USPS post office authenticate the stamps and if they indicate they are counterfeit, does the person inquiring get detained/arrested, is the person free to go but the stamps automatically forfeited, or is the person free to go home with the stamps and seek a refund from the eBay seller?
I have not heard or read any public service announcements in media from the USPS cautioning consumers about buying Forever stamps from third parties on eBay.
There are hundreds of Forever stamps sold by third parties daily on eBay. Why are people willing to take such a risk? I personally would only buy Forever stamps on eBay from the official USPS store.
What are the probability of Forever stamps sold on eBay by third parties (not the official USPS store) being counterfeit and what recourse does a consumer have if they receive counterfeit stamps? Moreover, will employees at a USPS post office authenticate the stamps and if they indicate they are counterfeit, does the person inquiring get detained/arrested, is the person free to go but the stamps automatically forfeited, or is the person free to go home with the stamps and seek a refund from the eBay seller?
I have not heard or read any public service announcements in media from the USPS cautioning consumers about buying Forever stamps from third parties on eBay.
There are hundreds of Forever stamps sold by third parties daily on eBay. Why are people willing to take such a risk? I personally would only buy Forever stamps on eBay from the official USPS store.
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printing their postage. I bet most are real , who wants to be stuck with a bunch of forever stamps. I'm sure a few counterfeits are also being sold. I would pass on the
eBay stamps.
I'm sure some enterprising employees have figured out this low risk embezzlement scheme.
Or send an email that arrives in 10 milliseconds for free? Hm....
What are the probability of Forever stamps sold on eBay by third parties (not the official USPS store) being counterfeit and what recourse does a consumer have if they receive counterfeit stamps? Moreover, will employees at a USPS post office authenticate the stamps and if they indicate they are counterfeit, does the person inquiring get detained/arrested, is the person free to go but the stamps automatically forfeited, or is the person free to go home with the stamps and seek a refund from the eBay seller?
I have not heard or read any public service announcements in media from the USPS cautioning consumers about buying Forever stamps from third parties on eBay.
There are hundreds of Forever stamps sold by third parties daily on eBay. Why are people willing to take such a risk? I personally would only buy Forever stamps on eBay from the official USPS store.
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It is illegal under 18 U.S. Code § 501. Postage stamps, postage meter stamps, and postal cards
Prosecution can occur under 18 U.S. Code § 501. Postage stamps, postage meter stamps, and postal cards.
He was incredibly embarrassed.
A guy actually tried it & it was just returned. He said the PO says it wasn't illegal. The counterfeit ones usually have a flag on them & blue on it is brighter. Sounds like ones I bought on eBay but they work. No returns.