Obtaining the highest possible price selling stamps

This guide will hopefully instruct you on how to obtain the highest possible price whilst selling your stamps on okay.
First and foremost make sure your stamp is properly identified. Never assume that your stamp is a scarce variety. Ask a knowledgeable philatelist if you are not 100% positive. I gee across misidentified stamps on okay on a daily basis. Personally speaking I will not look at a sellers other items if I see a misrepresented stamp. Im not just speaking for myself, most other bidders feel the same way.
Lets examine the title for your auction. The most effective title is to simply list your stamp as listed in the Scotts catalogue along with the grade and gum condition if you are selling an unused example. If you are selling a fine-very fine used example of Scott #73 your auction title should read:
Scott #73 1863 2c Black Jackson F/VF
If your stamp possesses a colored, circular date stamp or fancy cancel it would be a wise idea to include that information as well:
Scott #73 1863 2c Black Jackson F/VF Red Cancel
If you are selling an unused example be sure to include gum condition, including hinging information. Example:
Scott #73 1863 2c Black Jackson F/VF-OG-H
Avoid phrases and words like: LQQK, Antique, vintage, old, or rare. This is a waste of space in which you can use for valuable key words and most serious potential bidders overlook these phrases.
The most important geponent of your auction is the image. Most serious bidders overlook auctions with poor images. Photographs of stamps are generally not sharp enough to attract serious bids. Potential bidders wish to see the finely engraved lines and every miniscule detail upon their potential purchase. Scanned images work far better.
For the best result scan your stamp upon a black background using between 300dpi-600dpi resolution. The larger and clearer the image the more interest your auction will attract. A good image should be no less than 400X400 pixels. Small images turn-off potential customers. If you have the time and patience also scan the back of the stamp that you are offering.
Your auction description should be concise and to the point. Nobody is interested in the fact that you inherited a collection from your grandmothers uncles plumber. Simply state the facts relevant to condition.
Make sure you note all flaws from major to tiny miniscule imperfections such a perforation bends. If you are selling an unused example be sure to describe all relevant gum and hinging condition, including if the stamp possess a hinge remnant.
Note: never describe a used or no-gum example as NH. The fact is irrelevant to value and you can not be 100% sure anyway.
I have purchased several stamps on okay advertised as sound only to find when I received them that they had flaws - I NEVER purchase items from those sellers again.
I suggest offering a no-hassle return policy on all of your offerings. Personally speaking, I bid higher and more often on auctions that I know that I can return if not entirely satisfied.
If you are selling a scarce item - offer it with the right to certification if the customer desires. Offer to pay the certification fee if the stamp is returned not as described. If you are not willing to pay the certification fee it only signals potential bidders that you are not confident the item is as described.
Keep your shipping and handling costs to a minimum. Check and see what the shipping rate of the most prominent sellers is. I suggest offering to ship internationally as well. Many of my regular top paying bidders reside in Europe and Asia. Dont restrict yourself to only selling to the mainland U.S., you will lose a lot of potential revenue.
Keep your opening bid as low as possible. Over-priced stamps do not sell. I personally start all of my auctions at 99 cents knowing that potential bidders will be more than willing to bid my items up to what they are worth.
Finally, I suggest offering a wide variety of payment options such as paypal, personal checks and money orders. Again, personally speaking I avoid auctions where the sellers do not accept paypal. Paypals fees are more than made up for by generating more bids by offering to accept payments though it.
If you follow these simple steps your stamp auction will attract serious bidders and obtain the highest possible realization for your stamp on okay.