Mystic Stamp Company

I have been trying to sell my collection for a while and I stumbled on these people--I have heard of them.. I contacted them and they sent me a box to put my stamps in--this included a US#1, #26 on cover, patiotic covers, a one dollar trans mississippi, 1869 issue complete to 15 cents, a baby zep on a flown cover, 5 used sets of pan american issue, ducks, covers, almost complete and catalogued wash franklin set, I had 5 albums full of stuff--I was looking at around 1500 to 2000 for this collection--they offered 600 LOL--what an insult--I told them to ship it back--so skip this company--and if your in the market to get some good us used stuff e mail me or message me here

I went through a similar experience a few years back. That is why I still have those stamps and a bunch more. It has been a hard last couple of years selling stamps. They don't want to buy anymore unless you are willing to give them away.

yes the markey is flat--but id rather sell to someone that wants them at a discount then to those chiselers

Sundman (or whatever the owner of mystic's name is) didn't come up with $900,000 for the "Z" Grill by paying top dollar for Stamps. He only sells for top Dollar.

Just got a catalog in the mail from Mystic the other day. They're asking $715 for a used Scott Scott #1 alone!

Mystic maybe a good source for stamp albums and certain supplies, but when it comes to stamps, I'd look elsewhere -- both in buying and selling!

well I will have to look here--which has some good people on it

Now don't take this as an insult and I'm not defending Mystic, I wouldn't do business with them either, but let's be honest, you can't expect retail prices selling to a retail store. If you collection is worth $1800, say, just to pick a mid-value, then you're not going to get $1800 selling to them or any other retailer. They have to turn around and sell the collection to someone else and still make a profit. That's how business works. They are the ones taking all the risk. They are only going to offer you 1/3-1/2 of the retail value at best. If you want a better price, go sell it to an end-buyer, not to a middleman.

That kind of thing drives me crazy on shows like Pawn Stars where people walk in and want top retail dollar when selling to a pawn shop. It's like... Hello?!?!?!?

Actually I'm surprised at how much they actually pay for many
of the items. Especially the young guy, when he takes over the shop
they'll go broke in a month.
They seem to be too generous in many cases but then again I suppose
they don't want to look like shysters taking advantage of
some poor naive sucker.
It is a TV show after all.

When I worked at car dealerships, I would tell people not to expect $$ for their trade vehicle. I made out all the paperwork, so I would see what trade in value people got, and what it sold for either at auction or as a used car on the lot. Customers could always get more money for it if they sold it themselves.

When someone in business buys something for resale, they can't pay resale up front. They won't make a profit because no one will pay average retail PLUS markup. As long as you understand that selling to a reseller is more of a way to get rid of something, and not to get top dollar, then it is OK to do so.

BUT, look at the prices those businesses are reselling at. Some people try to sell stuff for WAY too much. Sometimes, as with cars, they had to pay a bit too much for the item up front. In order to at least break even, they have to jack up the resale price.

If Mystic offers silly-low prices for stamps, then resells them at high prices (which I remember them having years ago), then someone is making a bit too much profit.

There are a few TV shows out there that follow various people buying and selling things like antiques, and I just can't watch them. Half of the time, the buyer has NO clue what they are buying, and they think they know the market for it. When I can say "uh, no way... too much money", and the "professional" can't, something is wrong...

When in a hobby, unless you buy new things at close-to-retail prices, it really helps to at least try to pay some attention to sale prices and values.

Just my 2-cents...

There is no such thing as "too much profit"

If mystic would give me 1/3 to 1/2 of what my collection (what I have cataloged of it so far) is worth via scott prices, I would be a very happy camper..

I only have a 10% investment of what scott says it is worth..

But you know that your collection, unless all very high-end items, are not worth what Scott says they are. Most stamps are worth maybe 25% of Scott and if you sell to a dealer, you'll get maybe 10% Scott if that.

ah, but I have some nice items in my collection...

Have you tried offering only what Mystic doesn't have in stock? What they're currently sold out of? Not many holes in their catalog but some. Wouldn't you have a little more leverage then?

"Have you tried offering only what Mystic doesn't have in stock?"

A total waste of time. Mystic can pick up the phone to 300 dealers around the globe and get anything they want in 20 minutes. They are predators.

Hi Max Power,

SG would probably offer you less than Mystic did, and these are the guys touting stamp collecting as an investment vehicle. Can't see how that will work for the investor if they sell to them at top CV then up ahead buy back at 35% to 40% CV or auction their stuff off for them and charge 35% or so commission for the privilege. I am working my way up the Trans Mississippi set, any chance of a peep at your $1.

Terry