In order to use this site properly and take advantage of the opportunities offered for acquisitions and sales it is vital that you join in order that we may better know those who wish to transact and that we have their data in case of problems. There are different types of membership on this site. You can join as (free of charge) as a buying member or else as a selling member in which case two subscription options are open to you depending on the number of lots for sale.

Buying members have access to all the offers made on this site. A points system will keep keep track of the number of transactions made. This registration is valid for an indefinite period. It’s understood that both Philaclub and the member concerned may request an end to this subscription.

A buying member is required to provide precise identification and to respect the transactions he undertakes. He will also be expected to stand by his orders and pay for them within a reasonable time limit. Transactions are normally completed within a month.

He will not try to damage the site either by piracy or any other form of malicious damage, which might result in prosecution and permanent exclusion from the site.

Should a dispute arise with a selling member he may consult Philaclub's webmaster, but it would be preferable if he tried first to come to an amicable agreement with the vendor concerned. Our experience is that a real dispute rarely occurs between parties acting in good faith in this type of transaction.

A member of the Philaclub may becomea selling member after having been a subscribing member of the Philaclub for some time. This subscription may be paid in advance either annually or six-monthly, when he will become a selling member for the period he has chosen. He may renew his subscription as many times as he wishes. Should he wish to cancel his subscription he may do this by informing the webmaster or by not renewing it, in which case he will become once again a plain non-paying buying member. He can also definitely end his subscription by request to the Philaclub.

A selling member will automatically become a member of the Philaclub Association, which exists in parallel to this site and is non-profit making.

The responsibilities of the selling member are greater as he is expected not only to respect the conditions regulating the buying member regarding his purchases, but also to guarantee serious offers. If a person engages in any type of fraud he will be permanently excluded from the site and in a case of serious fraud Philaclub may take the matter to the Courts.

He will be expected to follow the rules governing the site, which are in effect the requirements of good sense. The Philaclub Association will of course welcome any positive suggestions which could improve the function of the site and contribute to good relations between existing members in order to guarantee the best operation of the site.

Philaclub.net is a site which enables philatelic transactions or exchanges at net direct sale prices. Transactions will therefore be faster for everyone at all times. A buyer may, in his spare time visit; the .site and make a choice of items he may be looking for without the risk of being beaten to it at the last moment… This is a permanently open showcase available 24 hours in 24 - even on Sundays and holidays…

The lots are indexed in what is known as the 'catalogue of offers' and it is here that users will view the array of products on offer. They may also examine the catalogue of any particular vendor in order to choose from the lots offered.

When the buyer decides that he has bought enough he looks up his reservation sheet to check his selection before concluding a firm order. This way he may cancel reservations if he changes his mind and these items will be instantly returned to their place without the aid of the vendor.

When he has chosen his items he may finally validate his selection, which will instantly become an order. Two E-mails will then be sent, one to the buyer and the other (or others) to the seller or successive sellers. These E-mails will act as sales slips.

It is important for both the buyer and the vendor then to contact each other in order to verify that all is in order and to agree on the method of payment and postage costs for the whole transaction. In France payment is usually made by check but other other methods of payment may be agreed. Payment in kind (only in the form of current banknotes or valid stamps) under cover of a letter is risky for both parties and any amount over 20 Euros should be sent by registered post. In the case of payment from abroad Paypal is a practical option despite its 4% commission.

The payment should normally arrive within a week - except during a postal strike or during holiday periods. If it does not we would advise the vendor to make enquiries. We would also advise him to prepare his orders a little in advance, especially if he is very busy, as this would allow him to pack and dispatch it as soon as payment is received. If the vendor has already made several successful sales to the same buyer he may like to take it upon himself to send of the order before complete payment is received.

When the vendor receives payment and it appears that all is in order, we would advise him to tick the item indicating that the transaction has been completed; this will allow us to record the transaction in question. The buyer usually receives his order one or several days later. We would recommend that he checks that the merchandise complies with the description. If this is not the case he must contact the vendor in order to come to some financial agreement or to obtain a reimbursement. He may inform the Webmaster who will judge the matter in good faith and, if necessary exclude the vendor in order to protect the other members.

If the transaction goes well the buyer must also confirm that it has been successfully completed, in which case the transaction is filed and the images which have consumed a large number of bytes are deleted leaving only the thumbnail as a record of the transaction.

Disagreements between buyer and vendor are usually settled amicably. Philaclub is merely a promotion and sales tool and does not in any way accept responsibility in these matters either on its own behalf or on that of its Committee. The vendor alone is responsible to the buyer. If Philaclub observes a flagrant irregularity it reserves the right to exclude a member. Should a serious case arise against Philaclub only the Tribunal of Strasbourg or of Schiltigheim (depending on the importance of the case) will be in a position to deal with the complaints. We would be happy to give legal advice in each individual case.

We now wish you many happy hours with PHILACLUB, which is a site NEW to France – it will help you show your collections and sell your duplicates. It satisfies many needs… Tell your friends; you’ll be doing them a service!