My Very Own Stamp Exchange

In 1969 and a few later I ran an exchange through the mail. An ad in the "Western Stamp Collector" attracted victims. Stamps were mounted on sheets or in small booklets with catalog number and value indicated. Each victim paid postage both ways plus a ten percent exchange fee to me in trade. Current Scott prices predominated. Each member had a number to write in the space where a selected stamp was removed from. Several members became good friends although we never met in person. I had to reject many beginners (possibly con artists) that submitted pages of stamps all incorrectly attributed. Many of the cheaper Germany and Ireland stamps with easy to see watermarks were labeded as being the more expensive variety. The members I retained were honest and we all benefitted for years but it was a lot of work. At the time time postage was six cents an ounce, there were only two volumes of Scott (there was a combined edition).
Today the situation is different. Acquiring a set of Scotts can exceed the budget of many collectors. Very few shipments were lost in the mail and I split the value with the victim. It wasn't a great problem.
My exchange was meant for worldwide collectors and I never had more than 20 members.
How is trading done today?
Lizardly,
halflizard

I there is isn't a sucker born every minute, enough hatch from eggs to make up the difference.

Don't you mean victims?

As a professional writer that has sold articles, poems and stories, I recognize the need to avoid using the same word repeatedly. As far as I am concerned anyone I deal with is a victim. If you read something I wrote, you are a victim. It doesn't matter if you like what I wrote or not. Actually we are all victims.
Lizardly,
halflizard

Never let anyone make of fool of you if you can do a better job yourself.

Ok that makes half sense HalfLizard. I did know I was victimized by the Philatelic addiction.

Halflizard, 30 years ago or so I used to trade using the Linns Posthorn...i ran into my share of "dirtyoldmen" who requested specific areas and returned creased,dirty junk in return..but every so often I would find a good match and we would trade for sometimes a year and a half or two years..nothing lasts forever !!

Every activity engaged in by humans, lizards, extraterrestrials and toads has an associated level of risk and this should be estimated by all parties and planned for. For years I ran a used internet book business and shipped books all over the world (except Africa and South America). I seldom insured shipments and had few lost packages but there were always a few. What still bothers me is that there is no way to determine which boxes were really lost and how many times I was deliberately cheated. All my sales arrived by E-Mail as victims wanted to be sure the book was available before sending payment. Many of my best stamps originated from customer payments with great high values from Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, France, Germany, Ireland etc. For over a year I had a merchant account for accepting credit cards. This increased business but decreased the number of good stamps. I was lucky that a friend of mine found a credit card terminal in a dumpster. This terminal was worth $400 at the time and could be reprogrammed over the telephone so I could use it. Credit cards are a con scheme for everyone. I paid 4% commission plus 35 cents per transaction and an $8 monthly fee. Naturally I had to raise prices. A return also cost 35 cents. There was a $20 fee for chargebacks. Many orders were for a $2 book and a $4 shipping fee. For any complaint it was best to do a refund immediately. Better to lose the book and mailing cost than have to pay the $20 penalty. This didn't happen often but I'd like to know which books got damaged in transport and how many were actually stolen by dishonest victims. It was cheaper for me to absorb the loss rather than buy postal insurance (actually a ferocious con scheme). Fortunately I came out ahead but I'm sure some victims cheated me. Most of my books came out of dumpsters but that is another story. Sometimes I found sealed cases of brand new books. Sometimes there was a layer of broken glass or hippopotamus snot above the books.
There was definitely work and hazard involved.
Lizardly,
halflizard

If you never do anything, there is no way you can possibly make a mistake.

The halflizard is on a roll.

As a victim who enjoys his victimhood (at least the parts I recognize) I do enjoy your meanderings halflizard, through the world of philately and related topics.

You mention of the Hippos was arresting to say the least. Reminded me of an older science fiction poem I read and half remember that read somewhat boringly (not that your's is at all!) but ended with a line about steaming mounds of elephant droppings or some such wording. Quite stunning and image evoking and hit-you-in-the-gut kind of statement and one that will be remembered (hopefully with the remainder of the writing too!).

I agree with your assessment of the risks involved in anything and the need for self awareness and world awareness in such matters. A person hopes that he can balance the awareness aspects and the worldly pursuits and not come out broken or shattered in the end or along the way.

As for insurance, take 25c (or so) out of every transaction and put it in a jar and when something happens that requires insurance use the jar that holds the insurance funds. Jars are fun, especially with jelly in!



Don't put the money in the jelly jar!