Mystic Rare Stamps

So, our favorite overpriced stamp vendor, Mystic Stamp Company has a new web site up: mysticrarestamps.com.

Any stamps over $500 you can make "interest-free monthly payments."

I don't have my 2012 US Specialized to compare their prices (iPad is in the car with the wife and kids) and see how much they're overpriced, but I do like the idea of making monthly payments on a stamp you can't afford right off the bat.

I'm curious if you get the stamp with your first payment or last.

I have never dealt with Mystic on things other than albums and supplies and it amazes me what their "sell prices" are on some seemingly common material, but I guess there are some die hard fans of theirs that will pay exhorbitant prices for the product and prompt mail order service that they provide.

What concerns me is not only are the rarities overpriced, but the common stuff is, too. For example, have noticed the Mystic general stamp catalog includes the quote that:




Considering that the Scott Catalog values stamps from that period in VF condition and with MNH gum, suggests that even paying Mystic's overpriced premium for a specific stamp will gain you a stamp that will be graded well below the Scott Catalog price, never mind the percentage of SCV that the most common stamps typically sell for on the secondary market.

I guess it comes down to the old adage "knowledge is power" and "whatever the market will bear" is fair game for these dealers. I suppose it's not that much different from paying high prices from ebay or other auction sites for similar low quality stamps offered at high prices.

I wonder how many of the "rare" mint stamps are regummed, reperfed, etc. I say this as I have seen from other dealers classic U.S. mint stamps that were sold by Mystic at high prices that have been regummed and reperfed without being noted. Unless you have a valid certificate from a third party, I wouldn't trust them.

Battlestamps That is my thoughts also. I buy supplies from Mystic and occasionally their specials but their prices seem to be triple Scott Value which by the way seems very low to me.

Could you elaborate on that please? -

In my efforts to buy inventory to sell, I advertise for collections in the Piedmont area of NC, I constantly run across people that have been screwed by Mystic. Most are people that were trying to "invest" in stamps 10 to 20 years ago. They were caught in the Mystic scheme that automatically sent them stamps to buy ever month. None of these people had computers or new much about stamps in the first place. One example was a guy from Morganton that saw one of my ads recently and called me. He was 79, retired and had no computer, but had bought all commemoratives from 2000-2010 from Mystic. He said he'd sell them to me for 1/2 price, but even at 1/2, I could get them cheaper on ebay. I think Sundman is shrewd to prey on the elderly and get them to buy every month. I think there are thousands of people that have done this.

Rich

I tend to agree with TinMan on this: the SCV seems way too small for the quality it assumes, and I find it's quite difficult to get sound MNH singles, with very fine+ centering, from the 30's, 40's, 50's, and 60's. My feeling is that a good proportion of the stamps sold as MNH from this period would probably certify as previously hinged using today's standards, or they are just not sound and VF+. I made the mistake of trying to buy them one by one, and they are too cheap to return, so even after buying many of them several times I still have a bunch of holes.

I_Love_Stamps


Just look in the Free Mystic Catalog at the price/value and then check the Scott Catalog or the P.O. Book. It's self explanatory.

Don't get me wrong sometimes Mystic will run some good (priced) special sales and I order from them and I buy all my supplies from Mystic.

Mystic sent me the 1960 mint comms last week to see if I wanted to buy them. I had to send in $18.00 plus $2.99 shipping, if I wanted them. I actually was wanting them, as mine were used hinged. I checked around and found out they were asking over twice what others were charging. I put them back in the envelope they provided and asked them not to send me anymore. I did order them today from iHobbs for $7.90. Shipping is higher there, but I bought quite a few other things which helps with the cost of shipping. I have bought a lot of supplies from Mystic and some stamps. I think they are great at helping new collectors and returning collectors like myself, though. I know I overpay on a lot of things, but I don't have any dealers where I live now, so everything I get is online. When I was living in Dallas it was so much easier!

Karen

Same here klkd. I have and do overpay for certain items but not exorbitantly so and only if I really need an item and can't find it easily. I have bought stuff from mystic years ago but learned better after joining SCF and understanding the Scott catalog valuation system. They must be making money hand over fist from the new collector or elderly. Sort of angers me but what can you do, knowledge is indeed power! (G.I. Joe had it right after all! lol)

Yep, they must be making a fortune! I bought 1960, 1964, and 1965 mint commemoratives for a little less than they were asking for 1960 alone.

Congrats! Got any scans to share?

Just ordered those today, so I'll have them in a few days. I also ordered some stamps from Costa Rica and the Netherlands.

My father got their stamps, and they were more often then not
badly centered, creased, torn, and even pinholed. Never hinged
or without gum though. They must regum them. I have also seen
stamps he got from them that were sold as 'mint', but when held
to a certain angle, you can see remnants of a cancel!