Your Local Stamp Store

What's yours like? When I was a kid, I remember there being many many more stores. Every town of a reasonable size would have two or three. Since returning to the hobby I've found that they are now few and far between.

I'm off today to check out the 'Stamp and Coin Place' in Mount Vernon WA.

Back when I moved here in 1986, there were 3 stamp dealers in town. That shrank to one about 1993. The one remaing shop was initially primarily stamps with some coins, then over the course of time the proportion of stamps has declined to the point now that it is 90% coins and 10% stamps. I collect both coins and stamps, so it's still a place to go for me.

That said, even though he doesn't keep a retail stock of singles, because he's the only game for about 100 miles, he gets some great lots and collections coming in over the counter, and I've been able to get some great bulk lot deals. I've posted pictures of quite a few of them here on the board.

The owner is 70 years old now though, so I don't know how much longer he'll be around, although he's said that he has no plans to retire. He has no partners, and no relatives with interest in stamps. I imagine that once he is no longer with us someone will pick up the coin side of the business, but the stamp side will evaporate into the wind.

I don't know what I'll do for my weekly "fix" at that point... I guess that's why I'm buying so many bulk lots now and simply socking them away for the future...

Ever since the internet came into being, there has been a large decline in brick and mortar stamp shops. Practically all the stamp and coin dealers are going online and a lot of them also operate their businesses from their homes.

The closest stamp shop for me is about 65 miles (100 KM) south of me.

Chimo

Bujutsu

I live in Jerusalem (Israel). 20 years ago there were two very active shops down town and another one in the old city. All had very good range of Israeli and foreign stamps. The one in the old city had a tremendous stock of Arab states' stamps especially Jordanian and Egyptian ones and the owner was extremely knowledgeable. About 15 years ago two of the shops converted into touristic souvenir shops. The remaining one was closed after the owner passed away 5-6 years ago.

Miracles, however do happen and 2 years ago a stamp and coins shop was opened and the owner keeps on refreshing his stock.

So if you happen to visit Jerusalem you will also be able to enjoy the city philatelistic wise...

Plenty od Stamp Shops in Tel Aviv still. I like to sit in the old places when in the city.
Seahorse...where is the shop in Jerusalem ??

pretty sure I would have to drive 2-3 hours to hit a shop that is maybe 1/10th stamps and the rest whatever is moving at the time. You would think there would be a bit of a market but odds are it would be alot more buying than selling especially with the economy.

I've got one close to home that's about 95% coins and precious metals, the stamps and stamp supplies are few and far between. The other one is right by work and I swear, it's a front for a drug operation. They're hardly ever open, when you go to the door, they have to buzz you in and inside, it's just piles of crap everywhere, there's no way to actually find anything and the two guys who work there are the most rude jerks I've ever seen. They won't help you and all they do is say "what do you want?"

So needless to say, I do just about everything online.

that does not sound like a legit stamp shop to me..they are probably into other goods....

Just got back from a visit to one of my local store. Not really local, it was a 70 mile round trip. The store is called 'The Stamp and Coin Place' and like most stores was about 50% coins, 20% comics, 20% baseball cards & collectables, and 10% stamps. The stamp bit was stuck in the corner. There was no one there to help, I just rummaged around the boxes and discount bins picking out stuff for myself. I spent maybe $20 on Showgard mounts and maybe $20 on stamps. Mostly US 40's and 50's MNH at 10c a pop. Here's what the place looked like......



See how the stamp section is stuck in the corner of the store, no one to offer any help.....



Maybe the stamp guy was out to lunch....

I can recall 4 or 5 as a kid. One left and it is the same content as you have all said. Tiny stamp section stuck in a corner. Such a shame for such an enjoyable hobby to be nearly lost among video games and reality tv

I couldn't tell anyone where my nearest stamp shop is!
There are a few in London, including the Stanley Gibbons store on The Strand, but I find these cold and unwelcoming places. The aim is to sell peripheral stuff rather than stamps.
I was surprised at the large number of shops there are in Germany compared to other countries I have visited.
I miss the browsing and friendly chat of stamp shops.

Just curious, why do you WANT a local stamp shop. What could they possible sell that you can't find cheaper on the internet? Which of course is why they are all going out of business.

Just reminiscing on the good old days.... dollars and cents is not the bottom line for me. I like the idea of meeting like minded folk in these places and sitting down for a hour or so poking through all the bargain stuff.

This is a timely topic for today.

We are actually visiting relatives in Kansas at the moment. On Friday we stopped by the local stamp store in Topeka.
Like others have mentioned, it is 95% coins and 5% stamps. The owner was busy helping about 5 guys with coins and wasn't too attentive to our questions about stamps. My sons picked out a few from his "penny box" and I bought the three packets of foreign stamps he had. All in all, we spent about $5.

Today, we visited my sister in Salina, KS, where there is another stamp store. I called to ask about hours and got a message- he is only open "by chance" or by appointment. Very disappointing.

Back home, our "local" stamp store is about 45 minutes away and is also mostly coins.

I do have a closer local stamp store that is exclusively stamps...... Aurora Stamps in Edmonds (North of Seattle). I'll make a visit next weekend and post a few photographs.

In my town, San Angelo, TX, with an approx. population of 90,000, there is just one store that sells stamps, but his major market is coins. Only four collectors in our area including me. One guy, who is not an active collector and very old, has an almost complete Ryukyu collection (he's missing one). The owner of the stamp/coin store is an active collector, so we have some great conversations about our latest triumphs. I've only met the fourth collector one time, but he's renowned for picking up a massive collection including all three Zeps (US C13-15) at an estate auction for $400. The store itself is really just good for paraphernalia and conversation, and not stamps. Maybe that's good enough.