Important : Stamp-Paradise is not responsible for trades and traders

Tips for happy stamp exchanges

1- WHAT TO DO BEFORE A STAMP TRADE?

Define the trade
Quality, definitive, commemoratives, used, mint, CTO, topical, country, price, quantity …
Specify before if you send or accept duplicates.
You can work by face value exchange as well.
After a time your stamp collection may be advanced, then you should probably work by stamp lists (Scott, Yvert, SG numbers).
Do you accept CTO? Canceled To Order: very beautiful stamps for commercial use only. They have a low value.
Some philatelic definitions on this page.

Who is this stamp trader ?
When you are in contact with a new stamp trader you never know who is this person.
Ask your contact to give you some emails of past traders as reference.
Bad traders are mostly acting at the first trade: so consider first package as a test only.
Don't accept too interesting trade quickly, this may be suspect.
Avoid sending more than 50 stamps in the first package.
Avoid sending high-value stamps in the first package.
Avoid exchanging stamps according stamp mailing lists. This is unsafe and unfiltered, bad traders are mostly using this way.
You can use a scanner for your stamp. For high values scan each side of stamps.

Trick:
Avoid sending first if someone contacts you first. The one who contacts first, is usually the one who is sending first.

Trick:
Accept to send more than initial trade if the other sends first (60 for 50).
Send only what you would be happy to receive.

Do you have a little doubt? Don't trade high-value stamps.
Do you have a little doubt? Do a quick search about this person on the net before (Google is your friend).

Good & Bad trader list:
See here the good stamp trader list. here . [free registration is needed for this]. This can help.
Most of stamp cheaters are famous and mostly already identified on a stamp black list.
In addition I recommend you to visit this usefull site about philatelist black list. here

What's about the Postal service ?
If you don't send by registered letter, accept letters to be lost or stolen sometimes.
Don't use too attractive stamps on your postage.
Give a good protection to your stamps, cardboard is the best.

What is a normal trade agreement ?
Generaly when someone gives his postal address, this person agrees the trade.
Golden Rule: In any case if you are not satisfied a philatelic trade may be cancelled. "I refuse your stamps, please send my stamps back".
Stamps must be in perfect condition: no transparency, no tearing off, no colouring, no fold.
Defective stamps should be returned and exchanged if possible, without discussion as a quality warranty.
Accept that sometimes stamps could be lost on the way and never arrived.

2- WHAT TO DO AFTER A STAMP TRADE?