HipStamp And The American Philatelic Society Announce Strategic Partnership

Just got this email today from HipStamp:

"HipStamp and the American Philatelic Society announce a strategic partnership, bringing the APS's StampStore marketplace exclusively to the HipStamp platform enabling world-class browse and search capabilities custom built from the ground up for stamp collectors.

With eCommerce playing an increasingly critical role in business, companies recognize the need for cutting-edge technology to deliver fast and intuitive experiences. At the same time, trust has never been more critical as marketplaces continue to define the eCommerce landscape. The HipStamp-APS partnership brings together a world-class eCommerce experience built for stamp collectors, by stamp collectors, with the trust and confidence of the world's largest stamp collecting organization established in 1886.

For StampStore sellers, the APS will provide the same services as before: scanning, posting, fulfillment, and taking questions from buyers. The only change will be moving our complete inventory to the HipStamp platform. You will still work with APS staff to sell your stamps.

"We're excited to welcome the APS's StampStore, which will be moving exclusively to the HipStamp platform on October 1, 2022; at which time HipStamp will additionally be designated as the official marketplace of the APS," said Mark Rosenberg, CEO & Founder of Hip eCommerce, which operates HipStamp. "This is just the beginning of our partnership, and our collective members can look forward to many exciting collaborations and marketplace features in the future. With both HipStamp and the APS focused on promoting stamp collecting for people of all ages, we're excited by what we can accomplish together in the world of philately."

"Since our founding, the APS and its membership have been critical to a safe and trustworthy marketplace, and this partnership ensures we'll continue that mission in the 21st-century marketplace," said Scott English, Executive Director of the APS. "At the same time, we're going to meet collectors where they are aggressively, and we recognize the online community is an integral part of that. We're glad to have HipStamp join us in that cause."

To further establish trust through APS membership, HipStamp will bring an APS badging and filtering feature to listings and stores on the HipStamp platform later this year.

HipStamp will also expand its presence at APS sanctioned events, including the Great American Stamp Show.

By leveraging HipStamp's next-gen technology and more than 100,000 members, with the trust, confidence, and more than 26,000 members of the American Philatelic Society, the collaboration represents a bold leap forward in how both organizations address the needs of the stamp collection community.

Hip must have bought one hell of a dinner.

Anytime you hitch your wagon to a horse, the horse can either go in the right direction or the wrong direction.

Hoping this works out for everyone.
Don

(Just the pointless comments of an APS Life Member...)

I am not sure that horse is being used as the correct mammal metaphor. In fact balloon mail comes to mind with all the hot air being created in the press release. Anyway, let's get this wagon rolling:




I hope this does not negatively impact the APS, hitching itself to a previously failed internet company which is still trying to be relevant in the philatelic market place. Given the concerns brought forward here on SCF threads, the cited behaviors of HIP, if an APS member, would have resulted in some admonishments, if not suspension or expulsion. Miracles of synergy and gestalt happen, perhaps such will occur here.

Edit:



I think the bar tab,if not entertainment, likely did more good. Anyway, this is a stamp forum so I will add these:

Doxies unite!!!!

It would offload APS IT resources to maintain APS Stamp Store infrastructure. Now if only could improve the hipstamp search.

Would have been nice of it had been put to a vote by the membership with for and against arguments.

As somebody once said:

"Sit down, shut up and write a check for your membership dues. We will tell you what you want and need."

Surprised that APS did not ask to be the one to announce this news first. Also that HS will now have all the sales info for the APS Store (although I guess that isn't top secret); getting this new influx of members/sales data is quite a benefit for HS. I wonder if APS buyers and sellers who previously did not do any business with HS will now be recipients of HS spam emails?
Don

The announcement was placed on the APS website today, probably concurrently with HipStamp.

Regarding the comment about a membership vote on the matter, that is why the APS membership elects a board of directors.

Time for some changes such as members consent, or referendum vote with triggers for same.

Would love to see the board meeting minutes regarding this decision and will be asking for same.

Members should see the contractual agreement between Hip and the APS.

Interesting announcement . Guess most of us will need to see how this works out over time .

Does anyone know if this new partnership was done on a "sole source" basis? Or were multiple firms considered?

If you read the announcement, it accomplishes two things:

1. Move the StampStore to HipStamp instead of running our own site. The APS StampStore is unstable today and suffers downtime outages longer than acceptable industry standards. This has been a sellers' frustration, and we recognize that. The cost of operating on the HipStamp site is the recoupment cost of credit card transaction fees. So there is no net increase in cost. The sellers continue to send the stamps to us, where APS staff manage the scanning, posting, fulfillment, and buyer questions. Conversely, we had 2,300 buyers last year - 2,000 APS members. HipStamp offers a larger buyer universe for StampStore sellers by a significant factor.

2. A badge and filter system for APS sellers on the HipStamp site. For those members, who elect to post their items, buyers can filter searches to exclusively APS members. We believe this allows the APS to become a more effective arbiter of the Code of Ethics online. We're not going to be perfect out of the gate, but, candidly, this is something we should have mapped out 20 years ago.

eBay and HipStamp have both proposed the badging/store system. Please note that the ASDA agreed to work with eBay on the badging system. I'll let ASDA members who use it speak on whether it works for them.

We elected HipStamp because stamps are the site's core business, and the cost of managing our StampStore did not increase. Building the API did not require a massive outlay, and the offer to the badge and filter APS members was a member benefit for online stamp sellers and buyers.

For sellers, nothing will change in their relationship with StampStore, but we believe the agreement will expose more people to the APS and more eyes to the stamps for sale in StampStore.

Scott

Hi Scott,
Thank you for adding more information.
If it has not already been considered, I would recommend that during the initial population of the new APS/HS accounts that the HS option for 'Yes, I would like to receive HS promotional emails' be de-selected (by default I believe this option is selected when adding a new HS account). This should help prevent push back during the transitionary period for APS Store sellers and help make for a smoother changeover.
Don

The fact Scott English posted here shows that the APS is serious about this and has a goal of improved services for membership.

I will be waiting to form an opinion after the beast (as in a beast of a conversion and learning curve for all involved) is operational. Until then here is my full disclosure:

Have purchased from the APS on eBay (Items were posted as part of a summer class series on internet selling).
Have purchased publications from APS directly.
Have made many APS circuit book purchases.
Have never purchased anything from the APS stamp website.
Have never purchased anything on Hip Stamp.
Have purchased items listed on Hip Stamp from buyers also selling on eBay.
Have purchased well over twelve thousands items on eBay in the past 17.5 years.
Have never personally sold on eBay, Hip nor APS.
APS member between 45-50 years.