Linn's To Return To Printed Issues

The Mystic business model is a mystery to me. Although I have purchased some albums and supplies from them, and a few stamps to fill in random holes, their typical stamp offerings are badly centered and overpriced. But they seem to be thriving, acquiring other companies, and otherwise contributing as a very valuable member of the philatelic community with their contributions such as the reward for the inverted Jenny and efforts to recruit new members for the APS. Are there that many new or inexperienced collectors who patronize their stamp offerings, or folks who appreciate the convenience of buying in quantity at one place, when the same stamps in better condition could easily be found for less on ebay or HipStamps? I guess the answer is yes.

Mystic has been the number one recruiter for APS. They spend a lot of money advertising seeking new customers with their ads and they can apparently find enough to feed their business that includes approvals. These costs reflect in their pricing and their customers initially are unaware that they are very expensive. They are a private company (employee owned) so no vulture capital investors forcing them to think short term. The owners like stamps and want to keep it going. They are an investor in Scott Stamp LLC.

The good old days - on newsprint, usually 1 color (red), and if they did 4 color it was poorly registered, They had a lot of dealer price lists on full page ads.

I remember when they had columns on subjects like running stamp clubs. There is nothing like today. The current Linn's is mostly new issue information. There is little for a beginner to learn much.

I have heard numerous times that people do not "take in" information nearly as well from a digital source compared to a physical, printed source. And I believe it, too...

The digital version of first printed issue is available. It is 36 pages with a few more ads from dealers than the digital only edition. It did include an update on the Boston exhibit controversary with a statement by the National jury without Banchik's name and a response by Ken Lawrence (previously posted here).

I would like them start getting the issue date to get closer to the actual date.

Be careful what you ask for. With the post office these days, you might not get the issue delivered until October.

2026? I had a ebay lot mailed to me on April 10th from Florida and I didn't receive it until May 7th. I still haven't received my September Scott's Monthly. I called Linn's yesterday and they told me call back if haven't received by Monday.

To stay on topic i'm simply going to say I have not received my copy of Lynn's either.

Regarding mail problems today I received a postcard through the postcrossing group from a young lady in Moscow that was mailed 385 days ago. The card is in perfect shape with absolutely no indication of why it took so long to get to Detroit, Michigan.

Anyone else receive 2-ISSUES of the September Scott Stamp Monthly? I received 2 on Wednesday this week. Mailed a week apart, received on same day.

Also, the new issues SC# assignment section appears to be somewhat different, (missing information on 'BARBIE' unique design # assignment). On multi design sheets, the SC# assignment is usually unique w/alpha designation or individual SC# assigned. (Still haven't figured out why they use 2-assignment systems/methods.) I think it is just an editing omission, but my OCD is having a field day with me.