This GUIDE will explain what to expect when you see this word (ACCUMULATION) in EBAY auction lot titles and help you with your bidding.

Accumulations:

• selection of stamps where you will find quite a significant amount of duplication.
• if you are not looking for traders, then stay away from these types of lots
• if you are looking for varieties, then this is for you.
• if you are looking for postmarks, then, yes, this is for you.
• if you are a dealer or want to be a dealer, then this is for you
• if you just want to re-sell stamps in circuit books, then this is for you.
• you can expect to find some stamps in mixed condition....
• .....i.e. there may be some bends, creases, short perfs, or other faults amongst the material that you will receive.
• Does the SELLER clearly state what types of faults that you can expect to find?
• read the auction lot description carefully
• check to see if the SELLER, has scanned in a representative selection
• sometimes, the SELLERS, scan in a generic representative sample and then keep re-using the same scan.
• in those cases, be aware that what you see, is not what you will get
• many times the SELLER will not tell you what is the quantity
• don't be shy, contact the SELLER and ask him a question.
• but remember, that he may then place your question on eBay
• therefore , at all costs, in order to remain anonymous, don't sign your name or ebay userid id at the end of the message ( he already knows who sent the message).
• you don't want the other bidders to know that you are interested, until you bid.
• lastly, check the postage and handling costs, as these types of lots tend to have a greater cost, simply because of the weight of the stamps.

GOOD LUCK WITHE THE BIDDING~!!!

P.S. Different eBAY sites will give you some very different RESULTS. ( as at July 10, 2006)

Search was done on the ACCUMULATION on the following sites. These are the results.

eBAY in the USA = 186 listings

eBAY in the UK = 93 lots listed

eBAY in Australia = 281 lots were found

CONCLUSION:

When searching auction listings with a "WORD", I strongly recommend that you visit numerous sites.

The material that you find may surprise you.