Thrift Shops And Stamps

Hi to all

My how things change quickly here in Australia.

One year ago I could go into any thrift shop near me and find stamps and discarded collections.

Now I am told that all stamps are sent to a central sorting agency where the stamps are sorted into countries and then sent to dealers and auction houses to deal with as the returns are better than selling to collectors.

I happen to know for a fact, that unfortunately this is not policed.
Persons in the shops are aware of stamps now, and when items come into individual shops, the "staff" sort through what they want and then the leftovers are sent to the sorting agencies.

I have actually overhead conversations between staff members discussing the latest finds they have made, and how they got fifty or so dollars from the stamp dealers for the albums.

All the thrift shops where I live, now tell me the same story, the items go to sorting agencies.
One extreme piece of vandalism that I saw was six empty stock books, and the selvedge of stamps with the printers imprint on the selvedge remaining in the albums.

Probably stamps worth a lot, as I heard one woman remark to another, I got a thousand dollars for an album, but the dealer told me I should not have torn off the bottoms pieces with the printing.

Greed, Greed, Greed, it what is driving the thrift shops now.
At least collectors, will love, cherish, and look after the stamps, and sometimes they make a welcome find to finance future purchases.
All thoughts and comments welcome.
Regards
Horamakhet

I have been told the same by Goodwill here in the U.S., but no way to verify. This is the natural outcome of a world driven by greed, poverty, and desperation. I think that's as much politics as I'm allowed to spout here...

I'm not sure if that's what's going on here, but I will say that I have resisted the urge to ask about stamps or albums at the stores because I don't want to "tip" anyone off. :P

Zuzu, you have to "back in," LOL. You say, "I am looking for a gift for a little collector, like baseball cards or model airplanes or Pokemon or stamps or coins..." Try to keep a straight face. Be a fussy airhead, we will nominate you for an Academy Award.

Hi to all
Further to my one message

I say that I am looking for stamps for my children as I am building up an album for each one.
Horamakhet

Ahh, I see... use my children! It wouldn't be an out-and-out lie, necessarily...




I'm visualizing my performance now... "Ooh, that red and blue one is pretty, but the old airplane is upside down..."

I already reported what I found last summer at a great price:

https://goscf.com/t/24937#24937

I am still sorting those small queens

Well I'm a voluntary on a charity thrift shop in Barcelona, in charge of collectibles. I try to put low prices on the good stamps that sometimes we get from donors.
I don't need to say that I'm one of my best customers!
Strangely enough, despite that we're in an area (Gràcia)that attracts many of the tourists that fill our city, not many people seems to be interested on stamps.