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Low value stamps and Sets under the New fee structure

  • stevehillstamps
    stevehillstamps 100% (14575x)
    PRO standard

    223 messages

    United Kingdom

    Following on from the new fee structure set out in the Delcampe Blog :

    Link (https)

    I'm interested in the thoughts of both buyers and sellers on how to handle low value sets and singles under the new fee structure. A EUR0.3 buyer fee on a low value stamp or set is likely to change how buyers view these lots.

    For me as a seller I am just over one of the volume tiers and am working on reducing the number of lots I offer. I'm doing this by grouping low value definitive stamps previously offered as singles into part or full sets. This will hinder somone looking for that one stamp to complete the set, but will mimimise fees for someone looking for more. It also has the disadvantage that low value varieties (perf, shade, watermark) dont really fit into a simple part set and are unlikely to sell as a single so will just be ignored rather than listed separately.

    Where complete sets are just low value in general (e.g. 1960-1970's commemoratives) I'm going to continue to list a copy at present so that a buyer can purchase if needed (even with the high fee).

    How will the proposed changes impact your buying and selling habits of low value stamps?
  • grahamshanghai
    grahamshanghai 100% (589x)
    free

    40 messages

    United Kingdom

    Following on from the new fee structure set out in the Delcampe Blog :

    Link (https)

    I'm interested in the thoughts of both buyers and sellers on how to handle low value sets and singles under the new fee structure. A EUR0.3 buyer fee on a low value stamp or set is likely to change how buyers view these lots.

    For me as a seller I am just over one of the volume tiers and am working on reducing the number of lots I offer. I'm doing this by grouping low value definitive stamps previously offered as singles into part or full sets. This will hinder somone looking for that one stamp to complete the set, but will mimimise fees for someone looking for more. It also has the disadvantage that low value varieties (perf, shade, watermark) dont really fit into a simple part set and are unlikely to sell as a single so will just be ignored rather than listed separately.

    Where complete sets are just low value in general (e.g. 1960-1970's commemoratives) I'm going to continue to list a copy at present so that a buyer can purchase if needed (even with the high fee).

    How will the proposed changes impact your buying and selling habits of low value stamps?
    • Created on 8 Mar 2024 at 07:32
    • #1697743
    Quite so ! I (and many others) will face the same challenge with low value postcards (here and on other well known auction sites). A quick calculation using the new Delcampe fees (and the new Royal Mail postage rates from 2nd April !) suggest that anything priced below £2.50 will simply not be worth the effort for the likely return as a single card sale. And that is before taking into account any input "stock" cost for the card.

    The solution, as you say, is bundling low value stamps/cards into small lots, unless the seller is prepared to take the risk that low value stamps/cards will be bought as multiple purchases. And by focussing on better quality items that will make more profit for a higher selling price.

    The reality is that some cheap items, sold singly, simply cannot make a profit on online platforms. Buyers will have to accept this too, and maybe aim to buy their cheap fillers at face to face events, or buy bundles and become sellers to dispose of the balance !
  • moonstone
    moonstone 100% (54742x)
    advanced

    1023 messages

    United Kingdom

    Following on from the new fee structure set out in the Delcampe Blog :

    Link (https)

    I'm interested in the thoughts of both buyers and sellers on how to handle low value sets and singles under the new fee structure. A EUR0.3 buyer fee on a low value stamp or set is likely to change how buyers view these lots.

    For me as a seller I am just over one of the volume tiers and am working on reducing the number of lots I offer. I'm doing this by grouping low value definitive stamps previously offered as singles into part or full sets. This will hinder somone looking for that one stamp to complete the set, but will mimimise fees for someone looking for more. It also has the disadvantage that low value varieties (perf, shade, watermark) dont really fit into a simple part set and are unlikely to sell as a single so will just be ignored rather than listed separately.

    Where complete sets are just low value in general (e.g. 1960-1970's commemoratives) I'm going to continue to list a copy at present so that a buyer can purchase if needed (even with the high fee).

    How will the proposed changes impact your buying and selling habits of low value stamps?
    • Created on 8 Mar 2024 at 07:32
    • #1697743
    My thoughts would more or less equate with yours. Low value singles will, in all likelihood, be grouped together. It has always been a question for me of whether it is better to list definitive sets as individual values or as a set. Over the years, I have tried both approaches and I can't say that one is definitively better than the other, though I do think that in the last few years, buyers have been more inclined towards sets.
    I will generally continue to offer varieties such as watermark or perf differences as singles, as in many cases, these varieties catalogue, and therefore price, a good bit higher than the original stamp, thus making the extra Delcame charge not just so much of an issue.
    I have recently taken to grouping shades of 1 value together ( well before these changes were thought of), and have found this approach successful.
    I imagine this is probably exactly what Delcampe wants as each such grouping will considerably reduce server space for Delcampe, a very significant point of their exercise as far as I can determine.

    I am undecided whether to try to reduce my store to under 10k items from its current 14k+, although the grouping as above will reduce the number by quite a few.
    My average value of items for sale is more than £2.50 (total value of items listed divided by the number of items listed), which, if I did drop below 10k, could mean that, in order to save £15 or thereabouts per month, I could easily lose a lot more than that in sales just because the items were not available for sale - a classic case of 'cutting off my nose to spite my face', to paraphrase the British saying.
    Obviously averages don't always mean an awful lot, particularly as it is the lower value items which would go first, thus increasing the average for what is left, but would that equate to maintaining the status quo as far as monthly sales values is concerned - we just don't know.

    We're probaly going to have to 'suck it and see' for a period, and when we have greater definition of how these charges are to be levied an an ongoing basis, then a more permanent decision can be made.
  • stevehillstamps
    stevehillstamps 100% (14575x)
    PRO standard

    223 messages

    United Kingdom

    Thanks for the thoughts so far.

    I built my store with the idea of multiple sales to allow buyers flexibility,

    I like the idea of 'shade studies' of values where appropriate. Also I agree where a single variety is higher value a single listing makes sense.

    Moonstone I think you are being sensible in not reducing below 10k items with that number of listings unless you have other reasons for shrinking your store. Theres a grey zone just above the limit that you want to move one way or the other, and you are over that. I'm only doing so because I was only 400 over the limit and realised that I needed to group definitives. I've already removed 250 listings by doing this as I list/relist so will easily be under that by the time the change is made.
  • moonstone
    moonstone 100% (54742x)
    advanced

    1023 messages

    United Kingdom

    Thanks for the thoughts so far.

    I built my store with the idea of multiple sales to allow buyers flexibility,

    I like the idea of 'shade studies' of values where appropriate. Also I agree where a single variety is higher value a single listing makes sense.

    Moonstone I think you are being sensible in not reducing below 10k items with that number of listings unless you have other reasons for shrinking your store. Theres a grey zone just above the limit that you want to move one way or the other, and you are over that. I'm only doing so because I was only 400 over the limit and realised that I needed to group definitives. I've already removed 250 listings by doing this as I list/relist so will easily be under that by the time the change is made.
    • Created on 8 Mar 2024 at 11:58
    • #1697983
    Yes, at that level of listings there is a point in doing as you say.

    If anything, my problem is the opposite - if I do stay well above the 10k limit, then the incentive effectively which Delcampe offer is to grow my store - theroretically I could multiply it x7, remain within the 100k point and it wouldn't cost any more per month (the chances of this happening are nil - I don't do Delcampe 24/7/365 nor have any intention of doing so).

    As I'm writing this I realise that that is exactly Delcampe's point - increase your sales of better quality items, the Delcampe fee becomes less relevant to a buyer but brings in a lot more for them, and also for the seller.

    It would be interesting to know how many of the 100 million items Sebastian quotes have hung around for more than 5, 10 or more years - too many I would imagine so I'm not surprised this step has been taken

    Sam
  • stevehillstamps
    stevehillstamps 100% (14575x)
    PRO standard

    223 messages

    United Kingdom

    Yes, at that level of listings there is a point in doing as you say.

    If anything, my problem is the opposite - if I do stay well above the 10k limit, then the incentive effectively which Delcampe offer is to grow my store - theroretically I could multiply it x7, remain within the 100k point and it wouldn't cost any more per month (the chances of this happening are nil - I don't do Delcampe 24/7/365 nor have any intention of doing so).

    As I'm writing this I realise that that is exactly Delcampe's point - increase your sales of better quality items, the Delcampe fee becomes less relevant to a buyer but brings in a lot more for them, and also for the seller.

    It would be interesting to know how many of the 100 million items Sebastian quotes have hung around for more than 5, 10 or more years - too many I would imagine so I'm not surprised this step has been taken

    Sam
    • Created on 8 Mar 2024 at 12:45
    • #1698022
    I did some quick research on the aged stock question. It wasnt as bad as I was expecting.

    I picked a random country (Ascension) set it at 480 per page and checked the listing date on the top item on each page which vaguely gives an answer to the old stock for stamps. Its probably skewed slightly being a british commonweath rather than french though.

    Page 7 - Sunday, 10 April 2022 at 11:42
    Page 8 - Thursday, 12 August 2021 at 23:14
    Page 9 - Monday, 1 February 2021 at 00:51
    Page 10 - Thursday, 2 April 2020 at 13:17
    Page 11 - Wednesday, 12 December 2018 at 02:26
    Page 12 - Wednesday, 13 April 2016 at 20:09
    Page 13 - Tuesday, 13 November 2012 at 20:50

    From this I'd guess that 10%-15% of listings are older than 10 years, and 30%-35% or so are older than 5 years. Collectibles is very much a long tail sales process though.

    I was suprised that over 50% of listings were from the last 2 years, I wonder how many of these are listed (and relisted continually I guess) by the API leading to the additional fee for that.

    I can see exactly what listings Delcampe is aiming for, but how will it differentiate itself from the elephant in the room in that space which has dominated for years. Delcampe used to do this via smaller lots and significantly cheaper fees. Now both of these are gone I fear interesting times ahead unless its sales rate increases with these changes.
  • moonstone
    moonstone 100% (54742x)
    advanced

    1023 messages

    United Kingdom

    I did some quick research on the aged stock question. It wasnt as bad as I was expecting.

    I picked a random country (Ascension) set it at 480 per page and checked the listing date on the top item on each page which vaguely gives an answer to the old stock for stamps. Its probably skewed slightly being a british commonweath rather than french though.

    Page 7 - Sunday, 10 April 2022 at 11:42
    Page 8 - Thursday, 12 August 2021 at 23:14
    Page 9 - Monday, 1 February 2021 at 00:51
    Page 10 - Thursday, 2 April 2020 at 13:17
    Page 11 - Wednesday, 12 December 2018 at 02:26
    Page 12 - Wednesday, 13 April 2016 at 20:09
    Page 13 - Tuesday, 13 November 2012 at 20:50

    From this I'd guess that 10%-15% of listings are older than 10 years, and 30%-35% or so are older than 5 years. Collectibles is very much a long tail sales process though.

    I was suprised that over 50% of listings were from the last 2 years, I wonder how many of these are listed (and relisted continually I guess) by the API leading to the additional fee for that.

    I can see exactly what listings Delcampe is aiming for, but how will it differentiate itself from the elephant in the room in that space which has dominated for years. Delcampe used to do this via smaller lots and significantly cheaper fees. Now both of these are gone I fear interesting times ahead unless its sales rate increases with these changes.
    • Created on 8 Mar 2024 at 13:54
    • #1698046
    Interesting, not quite as bad as I would have thought given, as you say it is a long tail sale process. I wonder how many of those have been relisted as new, I suspect some percentage - nothing wrong with that, I've done it myself on occasion, but Delcampe may well see it differently.
    The item number gives it away, though, I did the same thing you did and a couple of the items I checked at random, albeit professing to have been 1st listed in 2021 or 2022, were 9 digit item numbers beginning with 2--------. In reality these are more like 10-12 years old, from my own experience, when I was starting to sell here.

    Anyhow, you have summed the whole thing up well in your final paragraph. I hope they succeed as I have made many good sales to many excellent customers over the years, and hopefully this will continue.

    Sam
  • oceania
    oceania 100% (967x)
    free

    111 messages

    New Zealand

    The new fees make low value single item sales non-profit. In my case low value items are priced around $10 but it really has to rise to $15 per item. In the past I have always allowed a buyer to stack up their wins and pay in bulk. ( I call this 'Banking'. If this is still possible I need not alter my prices...but I am not sure I can stack (bank) their sales. This saves on the expensive postage and money fees and transfers. I wonder if this is still allowable? It means I can list most items as single and buyers don't have to buy items they don't want- to get what they want. Or ask me to separate the item they want and list it again for them.
    board
  • stevehillstamps
    stevehillstamps 100% (14575x)
    PRO standard

    223 messages

    United Kingdom

    The new fees make low value single item sales non-profit. In my case low value items are priced around $10 but it really has to rise to $15 per item. In the past I have always allowed a buyer to stack up their wins and pay in bulk. ( I call this 'Banking'. If this is still possible I need not alter my prices...but I am not sure I can stack (bank) their sales. This saves on the expensive postage and money fees and transfers. I wonder if this is still allowable? It means I can list most items as single and buyers don't have to buy items they don't want- to get what they want. Or ask me to separate the item they want and list it again for them.
    • Created on 8 Mar 2024 at 16:12
    • #1698106
    I'm unaware of any planned changes 2to the way buyers/sellers combine lots for postage so your current method should still work unless further changes are announced.
  • oceania
    oceania 100% (967x)
    free

    111 messages

    New Zealand

    I'm unaware of any planned changes 2to the way buyers/sellers combine lots for postage so your current method should still work unless further changes are announced.
    • Created on 9 Mar 2024 at 02:12
    • #1698172
    Hope you are right. I mean for the buyer to pay for an entire stack of many items - as a total - as one payment, instead of individually as he buys them.
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    Sweden

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  • stevehillstamps
    stevehillstamps 100% (14575x)
    PRO standard

    223 messages

    United Kingdom

    This information is no longer available because the user’s account has been deleted (GDPR)
    • Created on 9 Mar 2024 at 07:10
    • #1698316
    Completely agree baltija, even as a professional seller I have listed low value items in the hope that the buyer will then buy a selection. If not I have not made much money, but at least I have filled a hole on someones collection.

    I always list with country, year, title, denomination (and perf/watermark/colour if it makes a difference and has been checked) followed by SG number as I list commonwealth. The more you put in the title the better chance it dings in someones seach.

    I once saw a seller complaining they were not getting any sales. I checked, and their listings were titled "Antigua Scott #24" and similar. I said why not add some more detail as I do and they said that it was how they found their stamps so why bother!
  • Account deleted
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    0 messages

    Sweden

    Completely agree baltija, even as a professional seller I have listed low value items in the hope that the buyer will then buy a selection. If not I have not made much money, but at least I have filled a hole on someones collection.

    I always list with country, year, title, denomination (and perf/watermark/colour if it makes a difference and has been checked) followed by SG number as I list commonwealth. The more you put in the title the better chance it dings in someones seach.

    I once saw a seller complaining they were not getting any sales. I checked, and their listings were titled "Antigua Scott #24" and similar. I said why not add some more detail as I do and they said that it was how they found their stamps so why bother!
    • Created on 9 Mar 2024 at 07:44
    • #1698328
    This information is no longer available because the user’s account has been deleted (GDPR)
  • tris_nerima
    tris_nerima 97% (58179x)
    advanced

    449 messages

    Canada

    Interesting comments,which I agree with. I think the time has come for both buyers and sellers to use their
    prefered catalogues with a different view. Scott and Gibbons show low value retail prices at 25 cents and 10p.Michel the same thing.
    This new online selling and buying reality makes those prices irrelevant. I am currently reducing my old stock,bloody time consuming. However I need to make room for higher priced items. Goodbye to items under $1. I still believe that low priced items are the bread and butter for sellers and Delcampe will feel their decision,we"ll see.I sell a lot of low to medium priced items per order. Some buyers look for volume and load up with inexpensive items.Others pick and choose what they need.
    I have found very little success in grouped items.
    My big problem is that as sellers we rent this space to sell. And as such we should bear the costs of the "overhead"
    and the buyer should not be be effected at all. In what retail environment are there levies charged to a buyer? If I were a buyer here I would definetly go elsewhere. Lets see what happens...
  • Account deleted
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    0 messages

    Sweden

    Interesting comments,which I agree with. I think the time has come for both buyers and sellers to use their
    prefered catalogues with a different view. Scott and Gibbons show low value retail prices at 25 cents and 10p.Michel the same thing.
    This new online selling and buying reality makes those prices irrelevant. I am currently reducing my old stock,bloody time consuming. However I need to make room for higher priced items. Goodbye to items under $1. I still believe that low priced items are the bread and butter for sellers and Delcampe will feel their decision,we"ll see.I sell a lot of low to medium priced items per order. Some buyers look for volume and load up with inexpensive items.Others pick and choose what they need.
    I have found very little success in grouped items.
    My big problem is that as sellers we rent this space to sell. And as such we should bear the costs of the "overhead"
    and the buyer should not be be effected at all. In what retail environment are there levies charged to a buyer? If I were a buyer here I would definetly go elsewhere. Lets see what happens...
    • Created on 11 Mar 2024 at 16:38
    • #1699717
    This information is no longer available because the user’s account has been deleted (GDPR)
  • tris_nerima
    tris_nerima 97% (58179x)
    advanced

    449 messages

    Canada

    This information is no longer available because the user’s account has been deleted (GDPR)
    • Created on 11 Mar 2024 at 17:06
    • #1699735
    This is not an auction house. Delcampe does not list the items. They do not collect payments.They do not ship items nor list or describe items.
  • Account deleted
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    0 messages

    Sweden

    This is not an auction house. Delcampe does not list the items. They do not collect payments.They do not ship items nor list or describe items.
    • Created on 11 Mar 2024 at 17:33
    • #1699738
    This information is no longer available because the user’s account has been deleted (GDPR)
  • Account deleted
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    0 messages

    Sweden

    Interesting comments,which I agree with. I think the time has come for both buyers and sellers to use their
    prefered catalogues with a different view. Scott and Gibbons show low value retail prices at 25 cents and 10p.Michel the same thing.
    This new online selling and buying reality makes those prices irrelevant. I am currently reducing my old stock,bloody time consuming. However I need to make room for higher priced items. Goodbye to items under $1. I still believe that low priced items are the bread and butter for sellers and Delcampe will feel their decision,we"ll see.I sell a lot of low to medium priced items per order. Some buyers look for volume and load up with inexpensive items.Others pick and choose what they need.
    I have found very little success in grouped items.
    My big problem is that as sellers we rent this space to sell. And as such we should bear the costs of the "overhead"
    and the buyer should not be be effected at all. In what retail environment are there levies charged to a buyer? If I were a buyer here I would definetly go elsewhere. Lets see what happens...
    • Created on 11 Mar 2024 at 16:38
    • #1699717
    This information is no longer available because the user’s account has been deleted (GDPR)
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    Sweden

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    • Created on 11 Mar 2024 at 18:27
    • #1699753
    This information is no longer available because the user’s account has been deleted (GDPR)
  • stevehillstamps
    stevehillstamps 100% (14575x)
    PRO standard

    223 messages

    United Kingdom

    This information is no longer available because the user’s account has been deleted (GDPR)
    • Created on 11 Mar 2024 at 19:27
    • #1699759
    How you get paid for Handling costs is one of the most important parts of selling low value lots. Just because you cant add a Handling Charge they are still being paid somewhere. I donrt use Handling Charges at all as I think they just complicate things for the buyer, a simple charge structure is preferable.

    If you're selling EUR10+ lots they can fade slightly into the background but on a EUR0.30 you are often losing money if they are bought singly.

    For Every item I need to recover
    What I paid for the item
    Packaging costs
    Paypal percentage fee (if applicable for item cost)
    Delcampe Fees (at present)
    My time for creating listing and finding item to disptach

    For every order I need to recover
    Postage
    Envelope
    Card Stiffener
    Paper for Packing Slip
    1 or 2 postage labels (2nd is for customs label)
    Printer Ink for 2 or 3 sheets
    Paypal transaction fee (if applicable)
    Paypal percentage fee (if applicable for postage cost)
    My time for packaging.

    In addition every order pays towards my fixed costs e.g. Club+, accounting, insurance etc.

    If you cannot recover the full order costs as a postage & packing charge and/or handling charge it needs to be added on to the item cost
  • Account deleted
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    Sweden

    How you get paid for Handling costs is one of the most important parts of selling low value lots. Just because you cant add a Handling Charge they are still being paid somewhere. I donrt use Handling Charges at all as I think they just complicate things for the buyer, a simple charge structure is preferable.

    If you're selling EUR10+ lots they can fade slightly into the background but on a EUR0.30 you are often losing money if they are bought singly.

    For Every item I need to recover
    What I paid for the item
    Packaging costs
    Paypal percentage fee (if applicable for item cost)
    Delcampe Fees (at present)
    My time for creating listing and finding item to disptach

    For every order I need to recover
    Postage
    Envelope
    Card Stiffener
    Paper for Packing Slip
    1 or 2 postage labels (2nd is for customs label)
    Printer Ink for 2 or 3 sheets
    Paypal transaction fee (if applicable)
    Paypal percentage fee (if applicable for postage cost)
    My time for packaging.

    In addition every order pays towards my fixed costs e.g. Club+, accounting, insurance etc.

    If you cannot recover the full order costs as a postage & packing charge and/or handling charge it needs to be added on to the item cost
    • Created on 12 Mar 2024 at 05:56
    • #1699930
    This information is no longer available because the user’s account has been deleted (GDPR)
  • tris_nerima
    tris_nerima 97% (58179x)
    advanced

    449 messages

    Canada

    This information is no longer available because the user’s account has been deleted (GDPR)
    • Created on 12 Mar 2024 at 06:35
    • #1699948
    In a perfect world 100% of catalogue sounds great...however only if the item(s) are VF to XF I never see grading on this site. Condition and scarcity is everything.

    What I would really like to know is the actual cost for buying and selling an item. Let's say I have 10000 listings and plus club. I sell an item for 5 euros or dollars. What does the 5 dollar item net the seller and how much does the buyer pay?

    Next issue is I sell the 5 dollar item plus 1 item for 1 dollar now the calculation is 6 dollars. How much for the 2 items?
  • Account deleted
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    Sweden

    In a perfect world 100% of catalogue sounds great...however only if the item(s) are VF to XF I never see grading on this site. Condition and scarcity is everything.

    What I would really like to know is the actual cost for buying and selling an item. Let's say I have 10000 listings and plus club. I sell an item for 5 euros or dollars. What does the 5 dollar item net the seller and how much does the buyer pay?

    Next issue is I sell the 5 dollar item plus 1 item for 1 dollar now the calculation is 6 dollars. How much for the 2 items?
    • Created on 12 Mar 2024 at 10:17
    • #1700038
    This information is no longer available because the user’s account has been deleted (GDPR)
  • Account deleted
    Account deleted

    0 messages

    Sweden

    How you get paid for Handling costs is one of the most important parts of selling low value lots. Just because you cant add a Handling Charge they are still being paid somewhere. I donrt use Handling Charges at all as I think they just complicate things for the buyer, a simple charge structure is preferable.

    If you're selling EUR10+ lots they can fade slightly into the background but on a EUR0.30 you are often losing money if they are bought singly.

    For Every item I need to recover
    What I paid for the item
    Packaging costs
    Paypal percentage fee (if applicable for item cost)
    Delcampe Fees (at present)
    My time for creating listing and finding item to disptach

    For every order I need to recover
    Postage
    Envelope
    Card Stiffener
    Paper for Packing Slip
    1 or 2 postage labels (2nd is for customs label)
    Printer Ink for 2 or 3 sheets
    Paypal transaction fee (if applicable)
    Paypal percentage fee (if applicable for postage cost)
    My time for packaging.

    In addition every order pays towards my fixed costs e.g. Club+, accounting, insurance etc.

    If you cannot recover the full order costs as a postage & packing charge and/or handling charge it needs to be added on to the item cost
    • Created on 12 Mar 2024 at 05:56
    • #1699930
    This information is no longer available because the user’s account has been deleted (GDPR)
  • Account deleted
    Account deleted

    0 messages

    Sweden

    This information is no longer available because the user’s account has been deleted (GDPR)

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