Learning On The Forum

Just want to say how much I learn on this forum from all of you.
I was in Chinatown in Toronto today and found, in a shop, a couple of small albums full of first day covers. I don't generally collect these, but they were interesting, mostly US and UN from the 1950s and 60s. Nothing really special. The smaller album they were asking $35 (CDN) for about 40 covers. So for a little less than $1 per cover I would have a ready made collection. Not really a fortune, but not what I can afford right now.
But reading some posts here recently I've learned that later FDCs just aren't worth a lot. I know a lot of them are mass produced and volume brings the value down.
If I'm buying something I'm not really interested in for my collection, I want to consider resale, so I can turn some of it around and buy items that suite my collection. Didn't work here. I couldn't talk the shop keeper down enough (she kept insisting they were antiques) so I walked away.
So there you go. Even a little knowledge is power. Have any of you folks also found what you've learned here has come in handy?

Neat story.

What do you mean? Are we supposed to read the posts? I just look at the pretty pictures.

Good Morning Jamesw,
here are my thoughts on the subject. The other day when the post
with the Messel pit went up I spent hours going back to that time.
It is not only learning new things it is also nice to know what 'people' are talking about.

Fifia

Hi James

I have learned through the forum here and with me personally, it has mainly been with either 'cinderella' stamps or for Chinese overprints.

Many other areas as well but those two are the most for me.

Chimo

Bujutsu

Hi James,

I have learned:
1. Things about unknowns in my collection
2. How beautiful an engraved stamp can be.
3. How so many people are willing to share their knowledge.
4. To be patient when looking for a stamp I want. Passed up a really nicely centered Canada fisheries #302 at a local show, swallowed hard and left it sit due to some wrinkly looking gum or something on the back. I thought later, what was I thinking, who was that guy again? But later found my stamp on ebay for less and its perfect.
5. I have relearned, really rekindled, my love for this hobby thanks to you and others who contribute to this forum. Lurked here for a short while - was a little apprehensive after my experience years ago with a stamp collecting newsgroup that had good info, but became a very nasty place with a lot of personal attacks due to a few ranters.. couldn't stand the poison. But here...

It's just grand, thank you all.

james... when you see next week in newspaper an article: "a million dollar fdc found in little shop in chinatown", will you open a topic "how forum screw you up"?

forgot to add : learned to laugh out loud at the posts and mystify my wife.

"How could anything to do with stamps be funny?
Aren't stamp collectors all a bunch of old grouches?"

thanks filipo

I think the first thing I learned was the meaning of the "T" mark on covers (Taxe or Postage Due).

At the beginning I could not use a computer.

Now I can do most of the things I use a computer for.
Like being an internet stamper and having a great time.

741opamp, thank you for understanding what I wanted to say... it is a real terror how I make so many mistakes in my English, although I am learning it for almost 25 years