US Personalized / Personalised Photo /Zazzle /Endicia Stamps

Zazzle stamp received on cover from an SCF member 2008

I think that's his cat in the icebox.

A Photo stamps topic here:
https://goscf.com/t/23781

I just received a CD in the mail yesterday from Stamps.com offering a free 30-day trial of their software with a free digital postal scale, free postage and labels to print on. I might go for it, just to get the digital scale!

I guess they're one way to get postage that doesn't say "Forever" on it.

There are about 60 countries who offer personalized stamps option. Some philatelists like them, some don't. Can't the same thing be said about pretty much ANY category under the large tent of philately? Some like used stamps, some don't. Some like stamps on cover, some don't. Etc.
You can never please everybody at the same time, generally speaking. Of course, there are possible exceptions.
I say collect what makes YOU happy. :)

Agree. Don't get in it to try and make money. Leave that to the pros.
Tom

sdtom, that advice is good for the whole world of philately, and many other human activities.
Can't we say, as well: "yes, start being a stamp collector/philatelist, but don't expect to make money; only the pros/stamp dealers can really make enough money to make a living out of it"? Even they have a hard time now...
However, some implications and interpretations of what you said are debatable.
You imply that "only the pros" make money from something. But isn't it true that money, more or less, is being "made by all kinds of people (the majority of mankind), in various activities, even if they are not necessarily "pro(fessional)s" in that field?
I agree, of course, that the pros/experts (in any field) are the most knowledgeable, by definition, and they have the greatest chance of being successful, including at investing/making money.
For most of us, philately (including the designing of personalized stamps) is just a hobby, and we spend more than what we gain, overall.

I agree that my answer was very generalized and there are of course some exceptions. Speaking for myself I enjoy the hobby for what it has to offer and I really don't care what the value of my collection is. Since I'm now retired from the work force I can enjoy the stamps and listening to classical music and soundtracks at the same time. This works for me. The discovery of this forum for me is like icing on a cake as it further enhances the hobby. The years I spent in the retail camera business watching other people buying at a garage sale thinking there was money to be made to find out on further examination that the cost of the repair was going to exceed the value of the item. Projector bulbs can be an expense similar to ink cartridges if you get the jist of what I'm trying to say.
Tom