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  • wycombe1
    wycombe1 100% (87104x)
    premium

    1916 messages

    United Kingdom

    I sometimes wonder if I'm going loopy or not.:crying:

    Recently I have had several inquiries about the condition of stamps I am selling. The questions have all been whether the stamps in question are mint never hinged or mint hinged.

    In the title bar I always state 'mounted mint' or 'unmounted mint' or for used stamps 'used as scan' (with the latter I often get are these used or mint stamps).

    Am I doing something wrong or that is not clear when describing such items? Or am I attracting the lunatic fringe to my items?
  • xtf70
    xtf70 98% (9319x)
    free

    1490 messages

    United Kingdom

    I sometimes wonder if I'm going loopy or not.:crying:

    Recently I have had several inquiries about the condition of stamps I am selling. The questions have all been whether the stamps in question are mint never hinged or mint hinged.

    In the title bar I always state 'mounted mint' or 'unmounted mint' or for used stamps 'used as scan' (with the latter I often get are these used or mint stamps).

    Am I doing something wrong or that is not clear when describing such items? Or am I attracting the lunatic fringe to my items?
    • Created on Sep 19, 2013 at 10:10 AM
    • #464855
    There are so many badly or erroneously described items on Delcampe these days, no wonder people are resorting to asking what appear to be 'dumb questions'

    A little story: A few years ago I was involved in organising stamp fairs. I was carrying a sign (STAMP FAIR TODAY --->;) to the end of the road when a car pulled up opposite, the driver looked at the sign, looked at me, then asked "You got a stamp fair today?"

    What can you say...
  • emmbersplace
    emmbersplace 90% (13048x)
    standard

    908 messages

    Philippines

    I sometimes wonder if I'm going loopy or not.:crying:

    Recently I have had several inquiries about the condition of stamps I am selling. The questions have all been whether the stamps in question are mint never hinged or mint hinged.

    In the title bar I always state 'mounted mint' or 'unmounted mint' or for used stamps 'used as scan' (with the latter I often get are these used or mint stamps).

    Am I doing something wrong or that is not clear when describing such items? Or am I attracting the lunatic fringe to my items?
    • Created on Sep 19, 2013 at 10:10 AM
    • #464855
    Hi...your comment gave me the opportunity of looking at your store....great items!

    I must say that I get several daft questions too and sometimes wonder if lobotomies are common among the questioners......or maybe I had one and forgot

    It may just be that people from other countries use different descriptions. I see you use unmounted mint, mounted mint, UMM or MM throughout your descriptions which, as you say, is pretty clear.

    However, I always use the alternate descriptions with stars ie MH * or MNH **. Even if the wording is a tad old fashioned, the stars seem to be internationally self-explanatory. Just a thought........ perhaps they also think that the scan or the envelope is used rather than the stamps in the scan being used. Mmmmm

    Apart from that, as explained so well by xtf, your descriptions are hidden in plain sight.

  • briceropion
    briceropion 100% (629x)
    free

    591 messages

    Netherlands

    I sometimes wonder if I'm going loopy or not.:crying:

    Recently I have had several inquiries about the condition of stamps I am selling. The questions have all been whether the stamps in question are mint never hinged or mint hinged.

    In the title bar I always state 'mounted mint' or 'unmounted mint' or for used stamps 'used as scan' (with the latter I often get are these used or mint stamps).

    Am I doing something wrong or that is not clear when describing such items? Or am I attracting the lunatic fringe to my items?
    • Created on Sep 19, 2013 at 10:10 AM
    • #464855
    Hi,

    I have to say I agree with Emmbersplace about some people not being used to the expression "mounting" as opposed to "hinging" a stamp.

    In French, for example, "mount" translates to "monture" (a frame or support), not "charnière" (hinge) which is the philatelic term. So the average French person looking at your items will not immediately understand your meaning and will want to confirm his/her guess by asking you...

    Similarly, mounting a photograph means framing it in a cardboard mount, so that's the image your average photographer will get.

    Being fluent in French and English, and a philatelist and photogrspher, I'm quite a lunatic myself! :D

    All the more so that I once bought in Singapore in my earlier days a set of stamps that had been mounted in a decorative frame with a glass front. Needless to say when I ultimately opened it years later, lthis turned out to be a convenient way to mask a few thins.

    So you really never know! :)

  • wycombe1
    wycombe1 100% (87104x)
    premium

    1916 messages

    United Kingdom

    Hi,

    I have to say I agree with Emmbersplace about some people not being used to the expression "mounting" as opposed to "hinging" a stamp.

    In French, for example, "mount" translates to "monture" (a frame or support), not "charnière" (hinge) which is the philatelic term. So the average French person looking at your items will not immediately understand your meaning and will want to confirm his/her guess by asking you...

    Similarly, mounting a photograph means framing it in a cardboard mount, so that's the image your average photographer will get.

    Being fluent in French and English, and a philatelist and photogrspher, I'm quite a lunatic myself! :D

    All the more so that I once bought in Singapore in my earlier days a set of stamps that had been mounted in a decorative frame with a glass front. Needless to say when I ultimately opened it years later, lthis turned out to be a convenient way to mask a few thins.

    So you really never know! :)

    • Created on Sep 19, 2013 at 11:10 PM
    • #464913
    Many thanks for the two replies.

    The language implications in translating 'mounted' or 'unmounted' I must admit I had not considered before. Though my problems tend not to be with French speaking collectors but mostly Spanish, Russian, Portuguese and occasionally German speaking ones.

    I have been toying with including a small glossary with my listings to explain what terms like mint, used, mounted mint, unmounted mint, stock scan, circulated, uncirculated etc etc mean. But as most buyers seem to never read anything except the title bar of a listing I am not sure how useful this would be?!
  • emmbersplace
    emmbersplace 90% (13048x)
    standard

    908 messages

    Philippines

    Many thanks for the two replies.

    The language implications in translating 'mounted' or 'unmounted' I must admit I had not considered before. Though my problems tend not to be with French speaking collectors but mostly Spanish, Russian, Portuguese and occasionally German speaking ones.

    I have been toying with including a small glossary with my listings to explain what terms like mint, used, mounted mint, unmounted mint, stock scan, circulated, uncirculated etc etc mean. But as most buyers seem to never read anything except the title bar of a listing I am not sure how useful this would be?!
    • Created on Sep 20, 2013 at 11:37 AM
    • #465026
    Not very useful at all I guess. It seems that only a very small % of buyers travel much further than the title as you say.

    * or ** is pretty much universal though the condition of * varies considerably of course and needs further explanation if gum is defective or heavy hinge etc.

    Also with used or obliteree "used" is a moveable feast as far as condition is concerned from spacefiller to superb

    But, as a successful long-term member here you know all of this (and more) already.........

    My main problem has always been in describing non-perfect material (or for that matter ultra superb) in a way that all nationalities will understand.........I would have thought that scans of front & reverse (or backside as some nationalities interestingly call the "reverse"....) would be enough + comment in the description box....



  • xtf70
    xtf70 98% (9319x)
    free

    1490 messages

    United Kingdom

    Not very useful at all I guess. It seems that only a very small % of buyers travel much further than the title as you say.

    * or ** is pretty much universal though the condition of * varies considerably of course and needs further explanation if gum is defective or heavy hinge etc.

    Also with used or obliteree "used" is a moveable feast as far as condition is concerned from spacefiller to superb

    But, as a successful long-term member here you know all of this (and more) already.........

    My main problem has always been in describing non-perfect material (or for that matter ultra superb) in a way that all nationalities will understand.........I would have thought that scans of front & reverse (or backside as some nationalities interestingly call the "reverse"....) would be enough + comment in the description box....



    • Created on Sep 20, 2013 at 9:49 PM
    • #465087
    I've never come across * or ** until I started using Delcampe, and still don't know what it is supposed to mean - what's wrong with using real language?
  • briceropion
    briceropion 100% (629x)
    free

    591 messages

    Netherlands

    I've never come across * or ** until I started using Delcampe, and still don't know what it is supposed to mean - what's wrong with using real language?
    • Created on Sep 21, 2013 at 12:38 PM
    • #465178
    Hi Xtf70

    The question is: which language?

    With symbols you can cut through it all:

    * = MH, MM, NC ("neuf avec charnière"), etc.
    ** = MNH, UMM, NSC ("neuf sans charnière"), etc.

    Best regards,

    Brice



  • Account deleted
    Account deleted

    0 messages

    Italy

    Hi Xtf70

    The question is: which language?

    With symbols you can cut through it all:

    * = MH, MM, NC ("neuf avec charnière"), etc.
    ** = MNH, UMM, NSC ("neuf sans charnière"), etc.

    Best regards,

    Brice



    • Created on Sep 23, 2013 at 4:37 AM
    • #465377
    This information is no longer available because the user’s account has been deleted (GDPR)
  • xtf70
    xtf70 98% (9319x)
    free

    1490 messages

    United Kingdom

    This information is no longer available because the user’s account has been deleted (GDPR)
    • Created on Sep 23, 2013 at 12:58 PM
    • #465456
    Thank you both

    It's probable that I've never felt the need to find these symbols out since I don't use abbreviations either, preferring to write the description out in full - after all, you only have to write it once!
  • emmbersplace
    emmbersplace 90% (13048x)
    standard

    908 messages

    Philippines

    I've never come across * or ** until I started using Delcampe, and still don't know what it is supposed to mean - what's wrong with using real language?
    • Created on Sep 21, 2013 at 12:38 PM
    • #465178
    Well....that is surprising.

    I used those symbols on e**y when I first started selling stamps on the internet 12 years ago in 2001.......I was "alineandmike" in those far off days.

    Must admit that I thought that the usage was pretty much international, but I stand corrected.


  • xtf70
    xtf70 98% (9319x)
    free

    1490 messages

    United Kingdom

    Well....that is surprising.

    I used those symbols on e**y when I first started selling stamps on the internet 12 years ago in 2001.......I was "alineandmike" in those far off days.

    Must admit that I thought that the usage was pretty much international, but I stand corrected.


    • Created on Sep 23, 2013 at 10:24 PM
    • #465483
    We can't all be at the cutting edge of trends!

    When I first joined the Philatelic Society a mere 30 years ago members still addressed each other as 'Mr. So-and-so' or 'Mrs. Whatever' and I don't think it was until I became President several years later that first names became commonplace

    I'll get round to using abbreviations and symbols in due course...
  • emmbersplace
    emmbersplace 90% (13048x)
    standard

    908 messages

    Philippines

    We can't all be at the cutting edge of trends!

    When I first joined the Philatelic Society a mere 30 years ago members still addressed each other as 'Mr. So-and-so' or 'Mrs. Whatever' and I don't think it was until I became President several years later that first names became commonplace

    I'll get round to using abbreviations and symbols in due course...
    • Created on Sep 24, 2013 at 4:09 AM
    • #465496
    .........oh a mere 30 years! Best wishes for the next 30..... Mike
  • 4margins
    4margins 100% (16270x)

    132 messages

    United Kingdom

    I sometimes wonder if I'm going loopy or not.:crying:

    Recently I have had several inquiries about the condition of stamps I am selling. The questions have all been whether the stamps in question are mint never hinged or mint hinged.

    In the title bar I always state 'mounted mint' or 'unmounted mint' or for used stamps 'used as scan' (with the latter I often get are these used or mint stamps).

    Am I doing something wrong or that is not clear when describing such items? Or am I attracting the lunatic fringe to my items?
    • Created on Sep 19, 2013 at 10:10 AM
    • #464855
    The terms "mounted mint" and "unmounted mint" are specifically used in the British stamp market and mean little to those outside of that.

    US sellers nearly always use the terms "MH" ( mint hinged ) or "MNH" ( mint never hinged ) or "MNG" ( mint no gum ).

    Most European sellers will use the "*" and "**" abbreviations to denote hinged or unmounted mint.

    And most hilariously, the Australians speak of "unhinged mint" - which probably denotes some sort of madness in their stamp market! :)

    Hence the queries you will get when you use the almost exclusive British terminology.

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