Album Stripping.

[HetzersGonnaHtz]

Good morning folks,

Just woken up and a question popped into my head and thought I’d share it here. What is this forums stance on album stripping? (eg the removal of individual photos from an album to sell separately for more profit, thereby destroying the history)

I think it’s utterly despicable and unfortunately I’ve seen it occur in the E-stand section here. One particular case very recently of a very rare, expensive, and incredible interesting album that was originally posted for sale as it had been since the war, and later as separate lots removed from the album they had been in for 70+ years.

The E-stand is a very active area and probably the best Sales section on any militaria forum, so I imagine that if people are album stripping it has just been missed by admin rather than allowed, but if someone was to be caught very evidently, what happens to them? My personal view would be a swift ban, as in my opinion someone cannot purport to be a lover of history and Militaria and wanting to preserve the past, but then also destroy a photo album. Would also like to add that I see no issue in making profit on an item or a quick turn around, but if that profit has come from album stripping, then the seller should be ashamed.

Kindest regards and thanks in advance,
H

[Simon O.]

It's a subject that's been brought up many times over the years. I also dislike it intensely but there are those out there and here whose primary or only concern is money. It's something that isn't restricted to photo albums either, groupings are split up all the time with much information being lost in the process. In fact one of my latest document groupings, which i posted here, illustrated that as i've had the soldier's photo albums in my collection for the last 15 years, but until i found the documents i had no name and likewise if i hadn't the photo albums i'd have no face to go with the name.

[senders221]

I am also against stripping down albums. It's happening a lot and I know dealers are doing this. All for the extra $/€

Ruining history!

[HetzersGonnaHtz]

Thank you for the responses guys, I wholeheartedly agree. It’s a shame to see it going on, fortunately there are still some good dealers who keep everything together, but it should be the norm for all dealers to do that. As you say, some are just in it for the money. I can’t personally see how Album strippers can consider themselves worthy of being on a forum like WAF where there are countless members who strive to protect history, instead choosing to destroy it for a quick profit.

Making my feelings explicit about the topic as I’m hoping the scum who do it will see this post.

Kindest regards to everyone but album strippers,
H

[TheMadBaron]

The practice should be banned on WAF if this community is truly dedicated to history rather than money. There are one or two egregious offenders in this respect who are prominent sellers on E-Stand. They won't like it, but who cares. Take the sleaze to E-Bay.

[Simon O.]

I agree with you guys, but among the arguments I've seen here are 'it's my property, I can do as I like with it'. Another is 'I tried selling the album, but nobody would pay the price so I'm forced to split it up' . That's been used as a threat in sales threads as well.

[HetzersGonnaHtz]

I’m glad more people are in agreement too, thanks for the replies gents.

re Simon’s reply: Yeah when they threaten that it’s an incredibly sh*tty thing to do, makes you question how they sleep easy at night, but they probably do it so often it’s second nature.

re TMB’s reply: Definitely. There are some that do it who are some of the most active sellers in the E-stand for photos! Can’t believe it’s been allowed to go on for so long.

[Akira Takiguchi]

There are several types of collectors - as long as there are collectors who buy "the best photos only", such a custom will not disappear. I keep everything as intact as possible since even the non interesting photos sometimes help identification of locations and time, but I guess I am in a smaller league of the collectors. Banning the action is not realistic, in my humble opinion. None the less, I believe we have to voice our opinions and buy to keep valuable group unsplit.

Since digitizing everything is far easier these days. I hope album splitters will keep at least digitized editions in complete form.

[Max Wünsche]

Its simple, if you take photos out of an album to sell individually you should be burnt at the stake....

[Akira Takiguchi]

Recently I had to spend 5,500 instead of the best-only 2,500. Such is the price to keep a nice group together...

[W Petz]

I too am against splitting up albums or groupings. There have been many times that I had to bid on split up groupings or albums to keep them together which turns out to be a much more expensive venture.

[Lutfen]

Stripping an album destroys so much - particularly the context of the photos and the story that goes with them!

Michael

[stgeorge64]

The E-stand is a very active area and probably the best Sales section on any militaria forum, so I imagine that if people are album stripping it has just been missed by admin rather than allowed, but if someone was to be caught very evidently, what happens to them? My personal view would be a swift ban, as in my opinion someone cannot purport to be a lover of history and Militaria and wanting to preserve the past, but then also destroy a photo album. Would also like to add that I see no issue in making profit on an item or a quick turn around, but if that profit has come from album stripping, then the seller should be ashamed.

I agree wholehartedly with your noble sentiment however, anyone continually stripping albums and punting them out on the e-stand for an inflated profit is not interested in history, he is interested in money, nothing more, nothing less. Unfortunatly, many do not see a problem with this and continue to buy individual photos at astronomical prices, this keeping the seller very happy indeed.

[TheMadBaron]

I agree wholehartedly with your noble sentiment however, anyone continually stripping albums and punting them out on the e-stand for an inflated profit is not interested in history, he is interested in money, nothing more, nothing less. Unfortunatly, many do not see a problem with this and continue to buy individual photos at astronomical prices, this keeping the seller very happy indeed.

Which is why it should be banned on the forum. Current Association Members who sell photos stripped from albums could be grandfathered in for the duration of their present membership and carry on, but when that expires, they cannot continue to do it if they choose to renew. That way there's no "breach of contract" and WAF stops becoming a source of broken-up estates.

[panzer1432]

The practice should be banned on WAF if this community is truly dedicated to history rather than money. There are one or two egregious offenders in this respect who are prominent sellers on E-Stand. They won't like it, but who cares. Take the sleaze to E-Bay.

Fine summary...well spoken !