Jay Smith & Associates Ordering Information

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Terms of Sale, Payment, Postage, Abbreviations, and Image Information

Terms of Sale Payment Methods and Options Postage & Shipping Information Abbreviations, Quality, and Condition Examples of Centering Appearance Image Information: Exact/Actual vs Representative

Terms of Sale

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Prices are in U.S. dollars. See Payment Methods and Options. North Carolina residents please add 7% sales tax. Though prices are subject to change without notice, I will make every reasonable effort to honor the listed prices. Not responsible for typographical errors.

If I am not able to fill your order completely, you will receive a prompt refund check if you paid by check or money order. If you would prefer to receive credit for future orders, please advise, and I will gladly maintain a credit for you.

Authenticity. My exclusive money-back lifetime guarantee assures to the purchaser every item is genuine (unless specifically stated otherwise) and as described.

Your Satisfaction is Guaranteed & Returns of Small Items. All individual stamps, sets, covers, and other single or small items, may be returned within ten days of receipt, for exchange, credit, or full refund. Returns after 30 days may be subject to a 20% restocking fee. After 90 days or for items returned in different condition/quality than when sent, "returns" will be considered offers to sell the item to me at a price that I would normally pay when buying such material; I will make an offer to purchase which you may accept or reject (in which case the offered item will be returned to you).

Returns of collections, books, albums, heavy items, and items with high shipping costs. I do not normally send on approval collections, books, albums, heavy items, and items with high shipping costs. If you are not sure if you will want an item, please ask questions first. Items in these categories that have been received in defective condition may be returned within ten (10) days of receipt, for exchange, credit, or full refund. Please inspect any items immediately upon delivery. Before making a return of such an item please contact me for a "return merchandise authorization" (RMA). Items in these categories that are returned that have not been given an RMA, or are returned more than ten (10) days after receipt, may either not be accepted or may be subject to a restocking fee. Shipping & handling costs of items in these categories are not normally refunded unless the item is defective and has been returned within ten (10) days.

Approvals are Available. You may view virtually any item on approval. Exceptions typically include collections, books, albums, and heavy items -- if you have any questions, please ask before requesting. (This service is subject to credit approval and is not automatically available for all material, for all people, or to all destinations.) Your want list for any Scandinavian material is welcome. Most of my clients prefer to select their stamps via approvals -- it is my most popular service.

Please List Your Alternate Choices. Many items are one of a kind. To avoid disappointment, please include alternates with your order. Alternates will be sent only if something you have ordered is sold out.

Payment Plans are Available. If you wish to purchase any item (or selection) for which making payments would be more convenient, interest-free payments plans are often available (subject to credit approval).

If you need to make a return... For your protection, any returns should be sent by insured or registered mail, with full value declared. Whomever places an item in the mails remains responsible for it until it is successfully received by the addressee. I may send items by either normal mail or certified mail; I take the "sending risk" when I do so. However, if you are making a return, unless you have private stamp insurance, the only way you can protect yourself against loss in the mail is to use insured or registered mail. The method that I may have chosen to originally send the package (at my risk) is not relevant to how you should send a return. The choice, and "return risk", is yours. See above about returns of collections, books, albums, heavy items, and items with high shipping costs.

Payment Methods and Options

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Checks, drafts, and money orders should be payable in U.S. Dollars, drawn on a U.S. bank and made out to Jay Smith & Associates. Checks drawn on non-U.S. banks often require several weeks to clear and may incur significant bank charges. International postal money orders are also accepted, however please be aware that, from some countries, they may take several weeks to reach me. I may, at my discretion, require time for personal checks to clear prior to shipping an order.

Visa and MasterCard are welcome, but these are the only credit cards that I currently accept. Your credit card is not charged until your order is shipped. If I already have your current credit card information on file, I can process your purchase immediately upon you email, phone, fax, or postal mail instructions. If I do not yet have your credit card information, or the information that I do have is not or may not be current, you can supply your credit card information via my SECURE WEB SITE. Or you may supply it via phone, fax, or postal mail. Be sure to include the complete number, expiration date, and your name as it appears on the card. You will use the Jay Smith & Associates secure web server and your credit card bill will indicate that your purchase is from Jay Smith & Associates. I am a fully qualified Visa and MasterCard merchant and thus process your purchase directly. There are no fees for using your credit card and your order is sent immediately upon authorization. Your credit card is charged in U.S. Dollars; if your credit card statement is in a different currency, your credit card company does the currency conversion; their currency rates are usually the best that you can possibly get.

Alternatively, you may supply your credit card information by calling toll-free from US and Canada 1-800-447-8267 (outside US and Canada call 336-376-9991). You may send faxes to my 24-hour fax: 336-376-6750.

If only the expiration date has changed, you are welcome to email me with the new date. Please include the last four digits of your credit card number, but not the full number if you are using email.

Cash in U.S. Dollars and other currencies sent through the mail is done so at risk of the sender. I do not recommend sending cash through the mail, but sometimes it is a practical solution. I do suggest that you use Registered Mail. Additionally, do not use "greeting card" size (larger, taller) envelopes as postal workers generally know that such envelopes often contain cash. I can accept cash payment in U.S. & Canadian Dollars, Scandinavian currencies, and Euros. It is a good idea to let me know, by some other means, that you have sent cash, so that I may be on the lookout for it.

Merchandise credit in exchange for your duplicates or unneeded stamps and coverscan be a great way to add to your collection. If you have Scandinavian philatelic material, or even non-Scandinavian material, send what you have, with your asking price. Once an agreement is reached, you will receive merchandise credit which you may use in payment for any type of purchase. (I do not trade "item for item" or "value for value" as this is usually too complicated and time consuming.)

Full gum U.S. and Scandinavian postage can sometimes be accepted as payment (merchandise credit is given). In the case of U.S. postage, the percentage of face value paid depends upon the denominations and my current needs. U.S. postage must be sorted, packaged, and labeled by denomination. In the case of Scandinavian postage, the percentage of face value paid depends upon the specific countries and stamp issues involved.

Approvals are Available. You may view virtually any item on approval. (This service is subject to credit approval and is not automatically available for all material, for all people, or to all destinations.) Your want list for any Scandinavian material is welcome. Most of my clients prefer to select their stamps via approvals -- it is my most popular service.

Payment Plans are Available. If you wish to purchase any item (or approval selection) for which making payments would be more convenient, interest-free payments plans are usually available (subject to credit approval).

I Also Buy: I am interested in buying Scandinavian philatelic material including collections, single items, and accumulations. Rarities, covers, and "unusual" material are especially needed. When sending material, please use registered mail and include your asking price. Your offer will receive my personal attention. I also have many clients seeking non-Scandinavian stamps too -- if you have a non-Scandinavian collection which is no longer active, consider using its value to help build your Scandinavian collection.

Postage & Shipping Information

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Stamp & Cover orders totalling over $40.00, shipped within the U.S., are POSTPAID, unless otherwise stated. Stamps and covers are sent by first class mail. For postage costs on smaller orders, please see the table below. All books, albums, supplies, collections, lots, and bulky/heavy items usually are subject to a postage & handling charge.

Stamp & Cover shipped OUTSIDE the U.S. are subject to a postage & handling charge. There is always a postage and handling charge for stamp/cover (and all other items as well) orders sent outside the U.S. There is a minimum $3.00 charge, but the amount will vary by weight, size, value, destination, and type of postal service. Registered or Express Mail shipping is required to a few countries. Please note that as of May 2007, all surface mail services from the U.S. were discontinued. The only shipping options available are some form of airmail, priority, or express service.

Book orders from the "normal" literature pages: Within the U.S. There is a $3.00 flat shipping fee per order for shipment by Media Mail (if the items qualify for Media Mail shipping), unless otherwise stated in the item description. An order with this flat fee may include any number of books (from the "normal" literature pages, but does NOT include books from the "Specials" pages) to be shipped in the same package. Priority and Express Mail shipping are available at additional cost. If you require insurance, the cost is additional.

Book orders: Outside the U.S. Shipping & handling is additional. You may have the choice of receiving your books via Express Mail, Priority Mail, or Air Letter Mail. To some destinations, we may require shipment via Express Mail, registered mail, and/or with insurance. Please advise of any special shipping or customs requirements when placing your order.

Book Ordering: Especially when placing your order by postal mail, please advise us of your shipping preferences; if you will be paying by check, you are welcome to call to inquire about specific shipping costs. (If you order via the website or email, you will receive a reply with the shipping options and costs.) Using your VISA or MasterCard greatly simplifies the process and speeds along your order.

Whenever possible, the shipping costs will be combined and reduced. For this reason, the easiest and most convenient and accurate method of payment is MasterCard or Visa.

Clients outside North America should include $18.00 for Registered Mail, if it is desired. I may have to require that Registered Mail or Express Mail be used for certain destinations.

The following are guidelines for estimating shipping costs:

Type of Order	From $	To $	Please Add

Stamp/Cover Orders: Within the U.S.:	$0.01	$10.00	$4.00
	$10.01	$20.00	$3.00
	$20.01	$40.00	$2.00
	$40.01	--	Postpaid

Stamp/Cover Orders: OUTSIDE the U.S.:	$0.01	$10.00	$4.00 minimum; potentially with additional costs for large, heavy or bulky items. Please inquire for exact costs.
Stamp/Cover Orders: OUTSIDE the U.S.:	$10.01	--	$3.00 minimum; potentially with additional costs for large, heavy, bulky, or valuable sendings. Please inquire for exact costs.

Album Orders	all	all	Varies with weight and destination. Please inquire.

"Specials Pages" Orders of all Books, Albums, Lots, Collections, and heavy/bulky items (from the "Specials" pages)	all	all	Varies with weight and destination. Please inquire.

Book Orders To the U.S.: (Not including books from the "Specials" pages-- see above.)	all	all	$3.00 ($4.00 for orders of $10.00 or less) flat fee for Media Mail. Order as many books from the "normal" literature pages as you wish in a single order for one low shipping fee. If an order includes a mix of books from the "normal" literature pages and from the "Specials" literature pages, an appropriate adjustment will be made. Priority Mail shipping, if desired, is additional.

Book Orders To Canada:
Please specify your preference for fastest or most economical shipping method. There are no longer any low-cost shipping methods to Canada.			Varies, please inquire.

Book Orders, Overseas:
Please specify your preference for fastest or most economical shipping method. There are no longer any surface mail or low-cost shipping methods to other countries.			Varies, please inquire.

Abbreviations, Quality and Condition, and Images:

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	Superb	VF	F-VF+	F-VF	Fine+	Fine	Average

Superb	Perfectly centered.
XF	Extremely Fine. A descriptive term usually found in descriptions of U.S. stamp issues. A middle range between Superb and VF.
VF	Very Fine. Will please the most discriminating collector. Perforated Stamps: Very well centered with almost equal margins. Perforated Stamps with Naturally Small Margins: Very well centered, however, depending upon the standards of the stamp issue, the perforations may cut or touch the design on one or two sides. Imperforate Stamps: All four margins are clear of the design and will not cut or touch the design.
F-VF+	Fine to Very Fine Plus. A middle range between VF and F-VF.
F-VF	Fine to Very Fine. A middle range between Fine and VF. Perforated Stamps: Well centered, but off in one direction with two opposite margins roughly equal. Perforated Stamps with Naturally Small Margins: Depending upon the standards of the stamp issue, the perforations may cut or touch the design on two or three sides. Imperforate Stamps: Three margins are clear of the design. Margin may cut or touch the design on one side.
F+ or Fine+	Fine Plus. A middle range between F-VF and Fine.
F or Fine	Fine. Perforated Stamps: Design off in two directions, however, the perforations do not cut or touch the design. Perforated Stamps with Naturally Small Margins: Depending upon the standards of the stamp issue, the perforations may cut or touch the design on three or four sides. Imperforate Stamps: Two margins are clear of the design. Margin may cut or touch the design on two sides.
Ave	Average. Perforated Stamps: The perforations do cut or touch the design on one or more sides. Perforated Stamps with Naturally Small Margins: Depending upon the standards of the stamp issue, the perforations may cut or touch the design on all sides. Imperforate Stamps: Margin may cut or touch the design on three or four sides.
SD	Slightly Damaged. A presentable example, but may have a thin, crease, pulled perf, etc. that it usually not fully obvious or detracting from the front.
SF	Space Filler. A seriously damaged example with obvious defects, even to the extent of a piece missing.
NH, UM,	Never Hinged Original Gum, Unmounted, Postfrisk.
Mint, MM	Mint Hinged, Mounted Mint Stamps are Mint with original gum, but are hinged. Generally this will also indicate that the stamps are Lightly Hinged (LH) unless otherwise mentioned.
LH	Stamps are Mint Lightly Hinged with original gum.
OG	Original Gum.
NG	No Gum.
RG	Regummed.
pp	Pulled perforation.
Used	In most general sense, means stamps are not mint, i.e. the stamps are canceled. Will generally mean stamps are postally used.
Postally Used	Stamps are genuinely Postally Used, thus are not canceled to order and not with first day cancels, etc.
Canceled	In most general sense, means stamps are not mint, i.e. the stamps are canceled. Specifically will mean that the stamps may be canceled to order, have first day cancels, or perhaps may be postally used but that cannot be determined positively.
fl, flr, fluor	Fluorescent, sometimes also listed in catalogs as phosphorescent. Shows reaction under Ultraviolet (UV) light. The color of the reaction depends upon the chemicals used in or on the paper. For Scandinavian stamps, a LONG-WAVE UV light source is required. For stamps of other areas, including the U.S. a SHORT-WAVE UV light source is often required. See this article for more information.
nfl, nonfluor	Non Fluorescent. No reaction under UV light.
yfl	Yellow Fluorescent reaction under UV light.
wfl	White Fluorescent reaction under UV light.
FDC	First day cover.
Unaddressed	In the context of First Day Covers: No address has been written or typed onto the FDC, thus it could not have been mailed. In some cases, an address may have been printed on the FDC at the same time the cachet was printed (if it has a cachet); in those cases, the address is considered to be part of the cachet and the FDC is not considered to be addressed.
Addressed	In the context of First Day Covers: An address has been written, typed, or labeled onto the FDC, thus it may have been mailed. In some cases, an address may have been printed on the FDC at the same time the cachet was printed (if it has a cachet); in those cases, the address is considered to be part of the cachet and the FDC is not considered to be addressed.
Addressed Used	In the context of First Day Covers: An address has been written, typed, or labeled onto the FDC, and there is postal evidence, such as postmarks or sorting machine marks, that the FDC actually passed through the mail.
Registered	In the context of First Day Covers: The FDC has been sent through the mail via registered mail and thus usually bears a registered mail label and usually bears postal markings on the reverse. Covers having been sent in this manner often also have manuscript notations of delivery attempts by postal workers; these are not considered to be defects on registered mail FDCs. Of course the FDC must have been addressed to be sent by registered mail.
Covers will show signs of wear normal for passage through the mails.

IMAGES: "Exact Actual" v.s. "Representative"

Some images are of the "actual" item being sold. Other images are representative of what the design of the item looks like, but not specifically the condition or quality of the item. When you hover with your mouse pointer over the image, you should see text that states if it is an "exact actual" image of the actual item OR if it is a "representative" image.

"Exact Actual" Images: For unique items the image shown is the actual image of the specific item that will be supplied. A good example of this is are covers or postmarks or stamps with specific, detailed descriptions. Also, older stamps that are described with more than just basic condition and quality information (i.e. more than just "Used VF") normally have actual images of the specific item being offered.

"Representative" Images: For "normal stamps" or any other item that I have multiple examples of that are all served by the same description, representative images are usually used. Such images show the DESIGN of the item or stamp, but NOT the specific details of the condition and quality. The most common example is that "normal stamps" are often offered with up to 14 prices for various levels of condition and quality -- yet the same image is used for all of them. In this case, the image is used only to help indentify the design of the stamp. Another example would be images of Swedish booklet stamps which exist with straight edges on one side or the other -- the image is only showing one random position and not the specific right or left (or top or bottom) straight edge side. (If a specific position is needed, it should be requested by sending a want list.) Representative images are generally used whenever the description of the item (WITHOUT condition and quality) information would be the same for all examples offered -- the description plus the condition and quality information is what fully defines the item.

NOTE: There is a problem for users on tablets and phones. Currently if your computer does not have a mouse to use to hover over the image, then you cannot see the text about the image. I am working on fixing the problem. However, some logic can be used: If the image is of a canceled stamp, then (in our system) the image MUST be Actual. If the image is of a UNcanceled stamp AND if the same image is repeated on quality rows (or even if there are simply multiple quality rows for the same database product number (which use 5 or 6 digits), then the image must be Representative. If you are using a tablet or phone, this information will help.

If you are still unsure if the image is "exact actual" or "representative", please feel free to email and ask.

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