USPS Sold $78 Million In Philatelic Products In 2014

An interesting factoid on today's USPS Lite website. Of course, the USPS could manipulate the data to their advantage depending on what is or is not included in that number. Nonetheless, it does give some insight into the monetary value of philatelic product sales last year.

If anyone finds these products collectible, by all means, enjoy them.

I have had no interest in USPS philatelic products for well over a decade. They keep the presses running putting little images on little pieces of paper for huge profits (at least on the philatelic items), but the choice of subjects are of no interest to me any more.

Think of the nice classic stamps one could buy for the cost of all the new issues. I know I'd appreciate having a 19th century classic in my collection more than the Harry Potter and other recent issues.

It would be interesting to know how many of these products will retain their original value, increase in value and decrease in value. Sometimes one is overpaying for certain new issue items that are over promoted.

I agree the #'s can well be manipulated, and that if someone has an interest in these new issues...by all means collect them. I cut off my personal collection in 2000 and have greater interest in the more classic period.

If the #'s are even close, it does indicate there are still many collectors...and that makes me happy considering all the chatter about the hobby dying off. Every collector should consider trying to get just one other person interested in stamp collecting and to that end, maybe we can do our part in keeping the hobby we've enjoyed alive for many years to come.

I didn't start collecting myself with increasing values as a factor, and I would doubt that aspect is really a driving factor today...as we all know, increases in values over the past decades is just not a reality. The USPS has certainly been churning out stamp after stamp for profit for many years. I too, would much rather have a 19th century classic than anything recently issued. But that's what makes this hobby interesting. There are many diversified collectors who choose what they want...and it would seem new issues are of interest to many.

From what I just read from the responses why not do away with them? We could save 78 million dollars. One generic stamp would work in most cases. This 78 million doesn't include the number of people who would be laid off.

The $78 million number actually is far smaller than I would have expected, given the size of the country plus overseas buyers. It is a pittance in contribution of revenue to the USPS's budget as a whole. It is also a gross sales number and it would be interesting to know what the net margin is.

If you want to be truly depressed regarding all things USPS, read their financials, which are here.

http://about.usps.com/who-we-are/fi.../welcome.htm

Interestingly, the 2014 10-K (annual report) does not use the words "philatelic" or "collector" anywhere. We are not a significant enough segment to report. The $78 million in philatelic sales isn't broken out separately.

It would be very interesting to see some numbers from the USPS.

Today's "factoid" from the USPS seems to fit the theme of this thread, too: